CHEESECAKE FACTORY INC (Form: 10-Q, Received: 11/02/2022 17:02:56)

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q


☒	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 27, 2022


☐	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number: 0-20574

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		51-0340466
(State or other jurisdiction		(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)		Identification No.)

26901 Malibu Hills Road
Calabasas Hills, California		91301
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(818) 871-3000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:


Title of Each Class	Trading Symbol	Name of Each Exchange on which Registered
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share	CAKE	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer	☒	Accelerated filer	☐

Non-accelerated filer	☐	Smaller reporting company	☐
		Emerging growth company	☐

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

As of October 24, 2022, 51,420,136 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, were outstanding.

Table of Contents

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED

INDEX

			Page Number

PART I	FINANCIAL INFORMATION
	Item 1.	Financial Statements:
		Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)	1
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of (Loss)/Income (Unaudited)	2
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss)/Income (Unaudited)	3
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (Unaudited)	4
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)	6
		Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)	7
	Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	20
	Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	33
	Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	34

PART II	OTHER INFORMATION		35
	Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	35
	Item 1A.	Risk Factors	35
	Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	35
	Item 6.	Exhibits	36

Signatures			37

Table of Contents

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share and per share data)


	September 27,		December 28,
	2022		2021
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	133,157	$	189,627
Accounts and other receivables		67,661		100,504
Income taxes receivable		23,692		36,173
Inventories		62,275		42,839
Prepaid expenses		30,953		36,446
Total current assets		317,738		405,589
Property and equipment, net		755,524		741,746
Other assets:
Intangible assets, net		251,639		251,701
Operating lease assets		1,267,241		1,241,237
Other		141,932		157,852
Total other assets		1,660,812		1,650,790
Total assets	$	2,734,074	$	2,798,125

LIABILITIES, SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	59,030	$	54,086
Gift card liabilities		174,725		211,182
Operating lease liabilities		147,413		131,818
Other accrued expenses		225,000		239,187
Total current liabilities		606,168		636,273

Long-term debt		467,528		466,017
Operating lease liabilities		1,215,009		1,218,269
Other noncurrent liabilities		121,873		147,400
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)
Series A convertible preferred stock, $.01 par value, 200,000 shares authorized; none issued		—		—
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, other than Series A convertible preferred stock, 4,800,000 shares authorized; none issued		—		—
Common stock, $.01 par value, 250,000,000 shares authorized; 106,156,302 and 105,365,678 shares issued at September 27, 2022 and December 28, 2021, respectively		1,062		1,054
Additional paid-in capital		880,215		862,758
Retained earnings		1,187,280		1,169,150
Treasury stock, 54,485,868 and 53,139,172 shares at cost at September 27, 2022 and December 28, 2021, respectively		(1,744,005)		(1,702,509)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(1,056)		(287)
Total stockholders’ equity		323,496		330,166
Total liabilities, Series A convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ equity	$	2,734,074	$	2,798,125

See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements

Table of Contents

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF (LOSS)/INCOME

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)


	Thirteen		Thirteen		Thirty-Nine		Thirty-Nine
	Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended
	September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021		September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021

Revenues	$	784,001	$	754,474	$	2,410,354	$	2,150,847

Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales		197,774		169,418		590,457		474,237
Labor expenses		293,040		279,957		893,322		784,501
Other operating costs and expenses		217,009		201,490		643,844		582,518
General and administrative expenses		50,324		45,802		149,638		138,457
Depreciation and amortization expenses		22,651		22,576		66,764		66,805
Impairment of assets and lease termination expenses		—		—		313		594
Acquisition-related contingent consideration, compensation and amortization expenses		1,081		685		2,920		12,592
Preopening costs		4,327		3,169		9,038		9,804
Total costs and expenses		786,206		723,097		2,356,296		2,069,508
(Loss)/income from operations		(2,205)		31,377		54,058		81,339
Interest and other expense, net		(1,315)		(1,794)		(3,906)		(9,194)
(Loss)/income before income taxes		(3,520)		29,583		50,152		72,145
Income tax (benefit)/provision		(1,122)		(3,097)		3,731		1,882
Net (loss)/income		(2,398)		32,680		46,421		70,263
Dividends on Series A preferred stock		—		—		—		(18,661)
Undistributed earnings allocated to Series A preferred stock		—		—		—		(5,804)
Net (loss)/income available to common stockholders	$	(2,398)	$	32,680	$	46,421	$	45,798

Net (loss)/income per common share:
Basic	$	(0.05)	$	0.65	$	0.93	$	0.98
Diluted (Note 11)	$	(0.05)	$	0.64	$	0.92	$	0.96

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic		49,653		50,212		50,124		46,624
Diluted		49,653		51,113		50,708		47,675

See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS)/INCOME

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)


	Thirteen		Thirteen		Thirty-Nine		Thirty-Nine
	Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended
	September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021		September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021

Net (loss)/income	$	(2,398)	$	32,680	$	46,421	$	70,263
Other comprehensive (loss)/gain:
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(724)		(238)		(769)		155
Unrealized gain on derivative, net of tax		—		—		—		3,464
Other comprehensive (loss)/gain		(724)		(238)		(769)		3,619
Total comprehensive (loss)/income		(3,122)		32,442		45,652		73,882
Comprehensive income attributable to Series A preferred stockholders		—		—		—		(24,872)
Total comprehensive (loss)/income available to common stockholders	$	(3,122)	$	32,442	$	45,652	$	49,010

See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements

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THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2022:


													Accumulated
	Series A Convertible						Additional						Other
	Preferred Stock			Common Stock			Paid-in		Retained		Treasury		Comprehensive
	Shares	Amount		Shares	Amount		Capital		Earnings		Stock		Loss		Total
Balance, December 28, 2021	—	$	—	105,366	$	1,054	$	862,758	$	1,169,150	$	(1,702,509)	$	(287)	$	330,166
Net income	—		—	—		—		—		23,163		—		—		23,163
Foreign currency translation adjustment	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		255		255
Cash dividends declared common stock, net of forfeitures	—		—	—		—		—		22		—		—		22
Stock-based compensation	—		—	608		6		5,569		—		—		—		5,575
Common stock issued under stock-based compensation plans	—		—	55		0		83		—		—		—		83
Treasury stock purchases	—		—	—		—		—		—		(3,938)		—		(3,938)
Balance, March 29, 2022	—	$	—	106,029	$	1,060	$	868,410	$	1,192,335	$	(1,706,447)	$	(32)	$	355,326
Net income	—		—	—		—		—		25,656		—		—		25,656
Foreign currency translation adjustment	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		(300)		(300)
Cash dividends declared common stock, net of forfeitures, $0.27 per share	—		—	—		—		—		(14,260)		—		—		(14,260)
Stock-based compensation	—		—	(40)		0		6,141		—		—		—		6,141
Common stock issued under stock-based compensation plans	—		—	41		0		0		—		—		—		0
Treasury stock purchases	—		—	—		—		—		—		(10,879)		—		(10,879)
Balance, June 28, 2022	—	$	—	106,030	$	1,060	$	874,551	$	1,203,731	$	(1,717,326)	$	(332)	$	361,684
Net loss	—		—	—		—		—		(2,398)		—		—		(2,398)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		(724)		(724)
Cash dividends declared common stock, net of forfeitures, $0.27 per share	—		—	—		—		—		(14,053)		—		—		(14,053)
Stock-based compensation	—		—	32		1		5,664		—		—		—		5,665
Common stock issued under stock-based compensation plans	—		—	94		1		0		—		—		—		1
Treasury stock purchases	—		—	—		—		—		—		(26,679)		—		(26,679)
Balance, September 27, 2022	—	$	—	106,156	$	1,062	$	880,215	$	1,187,280	$	(1,744,005)	$	(1,056)	$	323,496

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For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2021:


													Accumulated
	Series A Convertible						Additional						Other
	Preferred Stock			Common Stock			Paid-in		Retained		Treasury		Comprehensive
	Shares	Amount		Shares	Amount		Capital		Earnings		Stock		Loss		Total
Balance, December 29, 2020	200	$	218,248	98,645	$	986	$	878,148	$	1,110,087	$	(1,696,743)	$	(3,785)	$	288,693
Cumulative effect of adopting ASU 2020-06	—		(4,763)	—		—		—		4,763		—		—		4,763
Balance, December 29, 2020, as adjusted	200		213,485	98,645		986		878,148		1,114,850		(1,696,743)		(3,785)		293,456
Net income	—		—	—		—		—		3,868		—		—		3,868
Foreign currency translation adjustment	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		174		174
Change in derivative, net of tax	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		1,738		1,738
Cash dividends declared common stock, net of forfeitures	—		—	—		—		—		399		—		—		399
Stock-based compensation	—		—	293		3		5,480		—		—		—		5,483
Common stock issued under stock-based compensation plans	—		—	570		6		20,417		—		—		—		20,423
Treasury stock purchases	—		—	—		—		—		—		(3,957)		—		(3,957)
Cash dividends declared Series A preferred stock, $25.35 per share	—		—	—		—		—		(5,070)		—		—		(5,070)
Balance, March 30, 2021	200	$	213,485	99,508	$	995	$	904,045	$	1,114,047	$	(1,700,700)	$	(1,873)	$	316,514
Net income	—		—	—		—		—		33,715		—		—		33,715
Foreign currency translation adjustment	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		219		219
Change in derivative, net of tax	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		1,726		1,726
Cash dividends declared common stock, net of forfeitures	—		—	—		—		—		15		—		—		15
Stock-based compensation	—		—	44		1		5,540		—		—		—		5,541
Common stock issued under stock-based compensation plans	—		—	118		1		4,361		—		—		—		4,362
Common stock issuance	—		—	3,125		31		167,019		—		—		—		167,050
Treasury stock purchases	—		—	—		—		—		—		(603)		—		(603)
Series A preferred stock cash-settled conversion	(150)		(160,114)	—		—		(283,637)		—		—		—		(283,637)
Series A preferred stock conversion to common stock	(50)		(53,371)	2,401		24		53,273		—		—		—		53,297
Deemed dividends on Series A preferred stock	—		—	—		—		—		(13,591)		—		—		(13,591)
Balance, June 29, 2021	—	$	—	105,196	$	1,052	$	850,601	$	1,134,186	$	(1,701,303)	$	72	$	284,608
Net income	—		—	—		—		—		32,680		—		—		32,680
Foreign currency translation adjustment	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		(238)		(238)
Cash dividends declared common stock, net of forfeitures	—		—	—		—		—		135		—		—		135
Stock-based compensation	—		—	59		1		5,441		—		—		—		5,442
Common stock issued under stock-based compensation plans	—		—	38		0		—		—		—		—		—
Treasury stock purchases	—		—	—		—		—		—		(681)		—		(681)
Balance, September 28, 2021	—	$	—	105,293	$	1,053	$	856,042	$	1,167,001	$	(1,701,984)	$	(166)	$	321,946

See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)


	Thirty-Nine		Thirty-Nine
	Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended
	September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	46,421	$	70,263
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expenses		66,764		66,805
Impairment of assets and lease termination expense		250		394
Deferred income taxes		(2,633)		(5,227)
Stock-based compensation		17,220		16,329
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts and other receivables		23,835		8,121
Income taxes receivable/payable		12,481		(3,749)
Inventories		(19,442)		(3,907)
Prepaid expenses		5,487		5,596
Operating lease assets/liabilities		(13,758)		(4,386)
Other assets		18,447		(5,682)
Accounts payable		11,177		(3,771)
Gift card liabilities		(36,448)		(23,143)
Other accrued expenses		(30,904)		1,517
Cash provided by operating activities		98,897		119,160
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property and equipment		(78,053)		(49,158)
Additions to intangible assets		(489)		(482)
Other		485		(1,283)
Cash used in investing activities		(78,057)		(50,923)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Acquisition-related deferred consideration and compensation		(7,187)		—
Repayment on credit facility		—		(150,000)
Convertible debt issuance		—		345,000
Convertible debt direct and incremental costs		—		(10,074)
Series A preferred stock cash-settled conversion		—		(443,751)
Series A preferred stock conversion direct and incremental costs		—		(74)
Series A preferred stock dividends paid		—		(18,661)
Common stock issuance		—		175,000
Common stock issuance direct and incremental costs		—		(7,950)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		84		24,785
Common stock dividends paid		(28,350)		(337)
Treasury stock purchases		(41,496)		(5,241)
Cash used in financing activities		(76,949)		(91,303)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(361)		11
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		(56,470)		(23,055)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		189,627		154,085
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	133,157	$	131,030

Supplemental disclosures:
Interest paid	$	4,706	$	7,749
Income taxes paid	$	13,603	$	9,128
Construction payable	$	10,545	$	3,236

See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated and its wholly owned subsidiaries (referred to herein collectively as the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our”) and are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). All intercompany accounts and transactions for the periods presented have been eliminated in consolidation. The unaudited financial statements presented herein include all material adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair statement of the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the period. However, these results are not necessarily indicative of results that may be achieved for any other interim period or for the full fiscal year. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2021 filed with the SEC on February 22, 2022.

We utilize a 52/53-week fiscal year ending on the Tuesday closest to December 31 for financial reporting purposes. Fiscal year 2022 consists of 53 weeks and will end on January 3, 2023. Fiscal year 2021, which ended on December 28, 2021, was a 52-week year.

Use of Estimates

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Impacts to our Operating Environment

We have experienced significant disruptions to our business as federal, state and local restrictions have fluctuated over time to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. While most of our restaurants operated with no restrictions on indoor dining during the 2021 fiscal year and 2022 fiscal year to date, our operations were notably impacted during periods of accelerating case counts which led to restaurant staff quarantines and a shift in consumer behavior towards sheltering-in-place and social distancing. We have incurred and may continue to incur additional costs to address government regulations and the safety of our staff members and customers. During fiscal year 2022 to date, along with COVID-19, our operating results have been impacted by geopolitical and other macroeconomic factors, leading to increased commodity and wage inflation and other increased costs.

The ongoing effects of COVID-19 and its variants, along with other geopolitical and macroeconomic events, could lead to further government mandates, including but not limited to capacity restrictions, shifts in consumer behavior, wage inflation, staffing challenges, product and services cost inflation and disruptions in the supply chain. If these factors significantly impact our cash flow in the future, we may again implement mitigation actions such as suspending share repurchases and dividends, increasing borrowings on our credit facility or modifying our operating strategies. Some of these measures may have an adverse impact on our business.

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2020-06, Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity, which is intended to simplify the accounting and measurement of convertible instruments and the settlement assessment for contracts in an entity’s own equity. This pronouncement is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021 and early adoption is permitted. The guidance allows for either full retrospective adoption or modified retrospective adoption. We adopted this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 utilizing the modified retrospective method and, accordingly, recorded a $4.8 million cumulative adjustment to retained earnings to reverse previously recorded beneficial conversion features.

As further discussed in Note 5, we issued certain convertible senior notes due 2026 (“Notes”) during the second quarter of fiscal 2021, and the accounting for these instruments was based on the guidance in ASU 2020-06. Additionally, the impact on diluted earnings per share of the Notes was calculated based on the if-converted method, as further described in Note 11.

2. Fair Value Measurements

Fair value measurements are estimated based on valuation techniques and inputs categorized as follows:

●

Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

●

Level 2: Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities; and

●

Level 3: Unobservable inputs in which little or no market activity exists, therefore requiring the Company to develop its own assumptions.

The following tables present the components and classification of our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):


	September 27, 2022
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets/(Liabilities)
Non-qualified deferred compensation assets	$	73,721	$	—	$	—
Non-qualified deferred compensation liabilities		(73,462)		—		—
Acquisition-related deferred consideration		—		(21,898)		—
Acquisition-related contingent consideration and compensation liabilities		—		—		(18,414)


	December 28, 2021
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets/(Liabilities)
Non-qualified deferred compensation assets	$	92,588	$	—	$	—
Non-qualified deferred compensation liabilities		(92,012)		—		—
Acquisition-related deferred consideration		—		(21,642)		—
Acquisition-related contingent consideration and compensation liabilities		—		—		(23,894)

The following table presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of the fair value of the acquisition-related contingent consideration and compensation liabilities categorized as Level 3 (in thousands):


	Thirty-Nine		Thirty-Nine
	Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended
	September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021

Beginning balance	$	23,894	$	7,465
Payment		(7,187)		—
Change in fair value		1,707		11,555
Ending balance	$	18,414	$	19,020

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The fair value of the acquisition-related contingent consideration and compensation liabilities was determined utilizing a Monte Carlo model based on estimated future revenues, margins and volatility factors, among other variables and estimates and has no minimum or maximum payment. The undiscounted range of outcomes per the Monte Carlo model utilized to determine the fair value of the acquisition-related contingent consideration and compensation liabilities at September 27, 2022 was $0 to $204.0 million. Results could change materially if different estimates and assumptions were used. The significant decrease in the fair value of the contingent consideration and compensation liabilities during the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 primarily related to the payment of $7.2 million per the Fox Restaurant Concept LLC (“FRC”) acquisition agreement.

The fair values of our cash and cash equivalents, accounts and other receivables, income taxes receivable, prepaid expenses, accounts payable, income taxes payable and other accrued liabilities approximate their carrying amounts.

As of September 27, 2022, we had $345.0 million aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding. The estimated fair value of the Notes based on a market approach as of September 27, 2022 was approximately $269.1 million and was determined based on the estimated or actual bids and offers of the Notes in an over-the-counter market on the last business day of the reporting period. The decrease in the fair value of the Notes was primarily due to a decline in our stock price from the date of the issuance of Notes. See Note 5 for further discussion of the Notes.

3. Inventories

Inventories consisted of (in thousands):


	September 27, 2022		December 28, 2021
Restaurant food and supplies	$	29,255	$	27,877
Bakery finished goods and work in progress⁽¹⁾		25,140		7,951
Bakery raw materials and supplies		7,880		7,011
Total	$	62,275	$	42,839

(1)

The increase in bakery finished goods and work in progress inventory primarily relates to lower than typical levels at December 28, 2021 due to challenges ramping back up after the initial COVID-19 shutdown, as well as higher valuations at September 27, 2022 due to the significant cost inflation experienced during fiscal 2022.

4. Gift Cards

The following tables present information related to gift cards (in thousands):


	Thirteen			Thirteen	Thirty-Nine		Thirty-Nine
	Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended
	September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021		September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021
Gift card liabilities:
Beginning balance	$	182,295	$	169,098	$	211,182	$	184,655
Activations		20,650		18,364		69,847		67,316
Redemptions and breakage		(28,220)		(25,949)		(106,304)		(90,458)
Ending balance	$	174,725	$	161,513	$	174,725	$	161,513


	Thirteen		Thirteen		Thirty-Nine		Thirty-Nine
	Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended
	September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021		September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021
Gift card contract assets:
Beginning balance	$	17,061	$	15,811	$	18,468	$	17,955
Deferrals		2,268		2,273		8,159		7,980
Amortization		(3,674)		(3,814)		(10,972)		(11,665)
Ending balance	$	15,655	$	14,270	$	15,655	$	14,270

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5. Long-Term Debt

Revolving Credit Facility

On March 30, 2021, we entered into a Second Amendment (the “Second Amendment”) to our existing Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated July 30, 2019 (as amended by that certain First Amendment, dated as of May 1, 2020 and by the Second Amendment, collectively, the “Amended Credit Agreement”). The Amended Credit Agreement, which terminates on July 30, 2024, consists of a $400 million revolving loan facility (the “Revolving Facility”), including a $40 million sublimit for letters of credit. The Amended Credit Agreement also provides the ability to increase the Revolving Facility in an amount not to exceed (a) during the Covenant Relief Period (as defined below), $125 million and (b) thereafter, $200 million. The funding of any such increases are subject to receipt of lender commitments and satisfaction of customary conditions precedent. Certain of our material subsidiaries have guaranteed our obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement.

The Second Amendment, among other things, (i) extended the prior covenant relief period during which the testing of the net adjusted debt to EBITDAR ratio covenant (the “Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio”) and the EBITDAR to interest and rent expense ratio covenant (the “EBITDAR Ratio”) was suspended until the quarter ending December 28, 2021 (the “Covenant Relief Period”), (ii) continued to impose a monthly Liquidity covenant of $100 million (with “Liquidity” being the sum of (a) unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and (b) the unused portion of the Revolving Facility) until the Company demonstrated compliance with the financial covenants as of the quarter ending December 28, 2021, (iii) provided that the obligations thereunder be secured by a first priority security interest in substantially all of our and any guarantor’s property, with such property to be released upon (a) the termination of the Covenant Relief Period, (b) the Company’s compliance with the Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio and the EBITDAR Ratio as of the quarter ending on March 29, 2022, (c) neither the Company nor any of the guarantors having incurred unsecured debt using certain debt baskets under the Revolving Facility unless such debt is convertible debt or subordinated on customary debt subordination terms reasonably acceptable to the administrative agent and (d) no default or event of default having occurred or continuing, (iv) amended certain negative covenants during the Covenant Relief Period, including certain restrictions on capital expenditures, restricted payments, investments and indebtedness, and (v) permitted the payment of cash dividends with respect to our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Series A preferred stock”) for each fiscal quarter of 2021 in an amount not to exceed $5.25 million per quarter. Subsequent to the Covenant Relief Period, we are required to maintain (i) a maximum Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio of 4.75 and (ii) a minimum EBITDAR Ratio of 1.9. Our Net Adjusted Leverage and EBITDAR Ratios were 3.7 and 2.1, respectively, at September 27, 2022. Our compliance with the financial covenants set forth in the Revolving Facility as of September 27, 2022 was measured under the Fourth Revolving Facility (as defined in Note 13 below), and as of such date we were in compliance. Concurrently with our delivery of the compliance certificate demonstrating our compliance with the financial covenants in the Amended Credit Agreement as of December 28, 2021, the Covenant Relief Period was terminated.

Borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement during the Covenant Relief Period bore interest, at our option, at a rate equal to either: (i) the adjusted LIBO Rate (as customarily defined, the “Adjusted LIBO Rate”) plus 2.5%, or (ii) the sum of (a) the highest of (1) the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the prime rate in effect in the United States, (2) the greater of the rate calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the effective federal funds rate or the rate that is published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as an overnight bank funding rate, in either case plus 0.5%, and (3) the one-month Adjusted LIBO Rate plus 1.0%, plus (b) 1.5%. During the Covenant Relief Period, we also incurred a fee of 0.4% on the daily amount of unused commitments.

Subsequent to the Covenant Relief Period, borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement bear interest, at our option, at a rate equal to either: (i) the Adjusted LIBO Rate plus a margin that is based on our net adjusted leverage ratio, or (ii) the sum of (a) the highest of (1) the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the prime rate in effect in the United States, (2) the greater of the rate calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the effective federal funds rate or the rate that is published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as an overnight bank funding rate, in either case plus 0.5%, and (3) the one-month Adjusted LIBO Rate plus 1.0%, plus (b) a margin that is based on our net adjusted leverage ratio. Subsequent to the Covenant Relief Period, we will also incur a fee of 0.1% to 0.2% on the daily amount of unused commitments.

Letters of credit bear fees that are equivalent to the interest rate margin that is applicable to revolving loans that bear interest at the adjusted LIBO Rate plus other customary fees charged by the issuing bank. We paid certain customary loan origination fees in conjunction with the Amended Credit Agreement. At September 27, 2022, we had net availability for borrowings of $238.5 million, based on a $130.0 million outstanding debt balance and $31.5 million in standby letters of credit.

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The Amended Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, including limits on cash dividends and share repurchases with respect to our equity interests, and restrictions on indebtedness, liens, investments, sales of assets, fundamental changes and other matters. The Amended Credit Agreement also contains customary events of default that include, among others, non-payment of principal, interest or fees, violation of covenants, inaccuracy of representations and warranties, bankruptcy and insolvency events, material judgements, cross defaults to material indebtedness and events constituting a change of control. The occurrence of an event of default could result in the termination of commitments under the Revolving Facility, the declaration that all outstanding loans are immediately due and payable in whole or in part and the requirement of cash collateral deposits in respect of outstanding letters of credit.

Convertible Senior Notes

On June 15, 2021, we issued $345.0 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2026 (“Notes”). The net proceeds from the sale of the Notes were approximately $334.9 million after deducting issuance costs related to the Notes.

The Notes are senior, unsecured obligations and are (i) equal in right of payment with our existing and future senior, unsecured indebtedness; (ii) senior in right of payment to our existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated to the Notes; (iii) effectively subordinated to our existing and future secured indebtedness, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing that indebtedness; and (iv) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, and (to the extent we are not a holder thereof) preferred equity, if any, of our subsidiaries. The Notes were issued pursuant to, and are governed by, an indenture (the “Base Indenture”) between us and a trustee (“Trustee”), dated as of June 15, 2021, as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture (the “Supplemental Indenture,” and the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), dated as of June 15, 2021, between the Company and the Trustee.

The Notes accrue interest at a rate of 0.375% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on December 15, 2021. The Notes will mature on June 15, 2026, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. Before February 17, 2026, noteholders will have the right to convert their Notes only upon the occurrence of certain events. From and after February 17, 2026, noteholders may convert their Notes at any time at their election until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date. We will have the right to elect to settle conversions either entirely in cash or in a combination of cash and shares of our common stock. However, upon conversion of any Notes, the conversion value, which will be determined over an “Observation Period” (as defined in the Indenture) consisting of 30 trading days, will be paid in cash up to at least the principal amount of the Notes being converted. The initial conversion rate is 12.7551 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, which represents an initial conversion price of approximately $78.40 per share of common stock. The conversion rate and conversion price will be subject to customary adjustments upon the occurrence of certain events. In addition, if certain corporate events that constitute a “Make-Whole Fundamental Change” (as defined in the Indenture) occur, then the conversion rate will, in certain circumstances, be increased for a specified period of time. As of September 27, 2022, the conversion rate is 12.9717 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes, which represents a conversion price of approximately $77.09 per share of common stock. In connection with the cash dividend that was declared by our Board on October 26, 2022, on November 14, 2022 we will adjust the conversion rate (which is expected to increase) and the conversion price (which is expected to decrease) of the Notes in accordance with their terms.

The Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part (subject to certain limitations described below), at our option at any time, and from time to time, on or after June 20, 2024 and on or before the 30th scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, at a cash redemption price equal to the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date, but only if the last reported sale price per share of our common stock exceeds 130% of the conversion price on (i) each of at least 20 trading days, whether or not consecutive, during the 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the trading day immediately before the date we send the related redemption notice; and (ii) the trading day immediately before the date we send such notice. However, we may not redeem less than all of the outstanding Notes unless at least $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of Notes are outstanding and not called for redemption as of the time we send the related redemption notice. In addition, calling any Note for redemption will constitute a Make-Whole Fundamental Change with respect to that Note, in which case the conversion rate applicable to the conversion of that Note will be increased in certain circumstances if it is converted after it is called for redemption.

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If certain corporate events that constitute a “Fundamental Change” (as defined in the Indenture) occur, then, subject to a limited exception for certain cash mergers, noteholders may require us to repurchase their Notes at a cash repurchase price equal to the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date. The definition of Fundamental Change includes certain business combination transactions involving us and certain de-listing events with respect to our common stock.

The Notes contain customary provisions relating to the occurrence of “Events of Default” (as defined in the Indenture), which include the following: (i) certain payment defaults on the Notes (which, in the case of a default in the payment of interest on the Notes, will be subject to a 30-day cure period); (ii) our failure to send certain notices under the Indenture within specified periods of time; (iii) our failure to comply with certain covenants in the Indenture relating to our ability to consolidate with or merge with or into, or sell, lease or otherwise transfer, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or substantially all of our assets and our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to another person; (iv) a default by us in our other obligations or agreements under the Indenture or the Notes if such default is not cured or waived within 60 days after notice is given in accordance with the Indenture; (v) certain defaults by us or any of our significant subsidiaries with respect to indebtedness for borrowed money of at least $20,000,000; (vi) the rendering of certain judgments against us or any of our significant subsidiaries for the payment of at least $25,000,000, where such judgments are not discharged or stayed within 60 days after the date on which the right to appeal has expired or on which all rights to appeal have been extinguished; and (vii) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization involving us or any of our significant subsidiaries.

If an Event of Default involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization events with respect to us (and not solely with respect to a significant subsidiary of ours) occurs, then the principal amount of, and all accrued and unpaid interest on, all of the Notes then outstanding will immediately become due and payable without any further action or notice by any person. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then, the Trustee, by notice to us, or noteholders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, by notice to us and the Trustee, may declare the principal amount of, and all accrued and unpaid interest on, all of the Notes then outstanding to become due and payable immediately. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, we may elect, at our option, that the sole remedy for an Event of Default relating to certain failures by us to comply with certain reporting covenants in the Indenture consists exclusively of the right of the noteholders to receive special interest on the Notes for up to 180 days at a specified rate per annum not exceeding 0.50% on the principal amount of the Notes.

As of September 27, 2022, the Notes had a gross principal balance of $345.0 million and a balance of $337.5 million, net of unamortized issuance costs. Total amortization expense was $0.5 million and $1.5 million during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2022, respectively. The effective interest rate for the Notes was 0.96% as of September 27, 2022.

6. Leases

Components of lease expense were as follows (in thousands):


	Thirteen Weeks Ended		Thirteen Weeks Ended		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended		Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
	September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021		September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021
Operating	$	34,629	$	33,034	$	102,282	$	97,889
Variable		19,723		18,972		60,073		54,664
Short-term		27		71		80		212
Total	$	54,379	$	52,077	$	162,435	$	152,765

Supplemental information related to leases (in thousands):


	Thirty-Nine		Thirty-Nine
	Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended
	September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows for operating leases	$	102,675	$	103,318
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities		51,436		50,953

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7. Derivative

We terminated our interest rate swap agreement, which was designated as a cash flow hedge, in the second quarter of fiscal 2021. This interest rate swap, which would have matured on April 1, 2025, was established to manage our exposure to interest rate movements on our credit facility. The interest rate swap entitled us to receive a variable rate of interest based on the one-month LIBO rate in exchange for the payment of a fixed interest rate of 0.802%. The notional amount of the swap agreement was $280.0 million through March 31, 2023 and $140.0 million from April 1, 2023 through April 1, 2025. The differences between the variable LIBO rate and the interest rate swap rate were settled monthly. Prior to termination, the interest rate swap was determined to be an effective hedging agreement. No gains or losses representing amounts excluded from the assessment of effectiveness were recognized in earnings in the first two quarters of fiscal 2021.

The following table summarizes the changes related to the interest rate swap in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”), net of tax, during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2021 (in thousands):


Beginning balance	$	(3,464)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications		2,514
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		950
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax		3,464
Ending balance	$	—

We classified this interest rate swap within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy described in Note 2. Our counterparty under this arrangement provided monthly statements of the market values of this instrument based on significant inputs that were observable or could be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. The impact on the derivative liability for our and the counterparty’s non-performance risk to the derivative trade was considered when measuring the fair value of derivative liability.

8. Commitments and Contingencies

On June 7, 2018, the California Department of Industrial Relations issued a $4.2 million wage citation jointly against the Company and our vendor that provides janitorial services to eight of our Southern California restaurants, alleging that the janitorial vendor or its subcontractor failed to comply with various provisions of the California Labor Code (Wage Citation Case No. 35-CM-188798-16). The wage citation seeks to recover penalties and other monetary payments on behalf of the employees that worked for this vendor or its subcontractor. On June 28, 2018, we filed an appeal of the wage citation. On July 7, 2022, the parties participated in voluntary mediation and reached a tentative settlement on the wage citation. The settlement is subject to documentation and final agency approval. We have reserved an immaterial amount for settlement purposes.

On June 22, 2018, the Internal Revenue Service issued a Notice of Deficiency in which they disallowed a portion of our §199 Domestic Production Activities Deduction for tax years 2010, 2011 and 2012. On September 11, 2018, we petitioned the United States Tax Court for a redetermination of the deficiency. The tax court assigned docket number 18150-18 to our case. On April 29, 2022, the parties filed a Settlement Stipulation and a Proposed Stipulated Decision (the “Decision”) with the tax court stipulating to the amount of income tax deficiency. On May 11, 2022, the court entered the Decision in accordance with the stipulation of the parties. We have recorded an immaterial amount in connection with the Decision.

Within the ordinary course of our business, we are subject to private lawsuits, government audits and investigations, administrative proceedings and other claims. These matters typically involve claims from customers, staff members and others related to operational and employment issues common to the foodservice industry. A number of these claims may exist at any given time, and some of the claims may be pled as class actions. From time to time, we are also involved in lawsuits with respect to infringements of, or challenges to, our registered trademarks and other intellectual property, both domestically and abroad. We could be affected by adverse publicity and litigation costs resulting from such allegations, regardless of whether they are valid or whether we are legally determined to be liable.

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At this time, we believe that the amount of reasonably possible losses resulting from final disposition of any pending lawsuits, audits, investigations, proceedings and claims will not have a material adverse effect individually or in the aggregate on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity. It is possible, however, that our future results of operations for a particular quarter or fiscal year could be impacted by changes in circumstances relating to lawsuits, audits, proceedings or claims. Legal costs related to such claims are expensed as incurred.

9. Stockholders’ Equity and Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

Common Stock Issuance

On June 15, 2021, we issued 3.125 million shares of our common stock for $175.0 million. In connection with the issuance, we incurred direct and incremental costs of $8.0 million.

Common Stock – Dividends and Share Repurchases

On July 21, 2022, our Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.27 per share that was paid on August 23, 2022 to the stockholders of record of each share of our common stock at the close of business on August 10, 2022. Future decisions to pay or to increase or decrease dividends are at the discretion of the Board and will be dependent on our operating performance, financial condition, capital expenditure requirements, limitations on cash distributions pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement (as defined in Note 13 below) and applicable law, and such other factors that the Board considers relevant. (See Notes 5 and 13 for further discussion of our long-term debt and dividends declared subsequent to September 27, 2022, respectively.)

Under authorization by our Board to repurchase up to 56.0 million shares of our common stock, we have cumulatively repurchased 54.5 million shares at a total cost of $1,744.0 million through September 27, 2022, with 889,309 shares and 1,346,696 shares repurchased at a cost of $26.7 million and $41.5 million during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2022, respectively. Our objectives with regard to share repurchases have been to offset the dilution to our shares outstanding that results from equity compensation grants and to supplement our earnings per share growth.

Our share repurchase program does not have an expiration date, does not require us to purchase a specific number of shares and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time. Share repurchases may be made from time to time in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, accelerated share repurchase programs, issuer self-tender offers or otherwise. Future decisions to repurchase shares are at the discretion of the Board and are based on several factors, including current and forecasted operating cash flows, capital needs associated with new restaurant development and maintenance of existing locations, dividend payments, debt levels and cost of borrowing, obligations associated with the FRC acquisition agreement, our share price and current market conditions. The timing and number of shares repurchased are also subject to legal constraints and covenants under the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement that limit share repurchases based on a defined ratio. (See Notes 5 and 13 for further discussion of our long-term debt and increased authorized amount under our share repurchase program, respectively.)

Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

On April 20, 2020, we issued 200,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $200 million, or $1,000 per share. In connection with the issuance, we incurred direct and incremental costs of $10.3 million, including financial advisory fees, closing costs, legal expenses, a commitment fee and other offering-related expenses. These direct and incremental costs reduced the Series A preferred stock balance at the issuance date and were recognized through retained earnings on June 30, 2020, the first measurement date. Upon adoption of ASU 2020-06 in the first quarter of fiscal 2021, we recorded a $4.8 million cumulative adjustment to retained earnings to reverse beneficial conversion features recorded during fiscal 2020.

On June 15, 2021, we paid $443.8 million in connection with the cash-settled conversion of 150,000 shares of our outstanding Series A preferred stock (effected through a repurchase agreement), which was recognized through additional paid in capital. We also share-settled the conversion of the remaining 50,000 shares of our outstanding Series A convertible preferred stock into 2,400,864 shares of our common stock. These are both based on the then current Liquidation Preference per share of $1,067.42 and conversion price of $22.23.

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During the first quarter of fiscal 2021, we declared a cash dividend of $5.1 million, or $25.35 per share, on the Series A preferred stock. During the second quarter of fiscal 2021, $13.6 million in payments were made in connection with the conversion of the preferred stock, consisting of $3.9 million, or $19.72 per share of accrued dividends and $9.7 million of an inducement, which was also deemed to be a dividend.

10. Stock-Based Compensation

We maintain stock-based incentive plans under which incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares and restricted share units may be granted to staff members, consultants and non-employee directors.

On March 24, 2022, our Board approved an amendment to our The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for grant under the plan to 19.8 million shares from 17.5 million shares. This amendment was approved by our stockholders at our annual meeting held on May 23, 2022.

The following table presents information related to stock-based compensation, net of forfeitures (in thousands):


	Thirteen		Thirteen		Thirty-Nine		Thirty-Nine
	Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended
	September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021		September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021

Labor expenses	$	2,237	$	2,137	$	6,621	$	6,240
Other operating costs and expenses		74		72		224		218
General and administrative expenses		3,302		3,185		10,375		9,871
Total stock-based compensation		5,613		5,394		17,220		16,329
Income tax benefit		1,379		1,325		4,229		4,010
Total stock-based compensation, net of taxes	$	4,234	$	4,069	$	12,991	$	12,319

Capitalized stock-based compensation ⁽¹⁾	$	52	$	48	$	161	$	137

(1)

It is our policy to capitalize the portion of stock-based compensation costs for our internal development department that relates to capitalizable activities such as the design and construction of new restaurants, remodeling existing locations and equipment installation. Capitalized stock-based compensation is included in property and equipment, net on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Stock Options

We did not issue any stock options during the third quarter of fiscal 2022 or fiscal 2021. Stock option activity during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2022 was as follows:


				Weighted-
				Average
		Weighted-		Remaining
		Average		Contractual	Aggregate
	Shares	Exercise Price		Term	Intrinsic Value ⁽¹⁾
	(In thousands)	(Per share)		(In years)	(In thousands)
Outstanding at December 28, 2021	1,716	$	46.14	5.1	$	0
Granted	—		—
Exercised	(2)		40.16
Forfeited or cancelled	(29)		48.19
Outstanding at September 27, 2022	1,685	$	46.11	4.4	$	0

Exercisable at September 27, 2022	1,119	$	48.10	3.5	$	0

(1)

Aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between our closing stock price at fiscal period end and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options and represents the pre-tax amount that would have been received by the option holders, had they all exercised their options on the fiscal period end date.

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There were no options exercised during the third quarters of fiscal 2022 or 2021. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021 were $4.9 million and $7.1 million, respectively. As of September 27, 2022, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested stock options was $3.1 million, which we expect to recognize over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.9 years.

Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units

Restricted share and restricted share unit activity during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2022 was as follows:


		Weighted-
		Average
	Shares	Fair Value
	(In thousands)	(Per share)
Outstanding at December 28, 2021	2,123	$	44.82
Granted	783		37.64
Vested	(356)		46.03
Forfeited	(110)		41.91
Outstanding at September 27, 2022	2,440	$	42.47

Fair value of our restricted shares and restricted share units is based on our closing stock price on the date of grant. The weighted average fair value for restricted shares and restricted share units issued during the third quarter of fiscal 2022 and 2021 was $28.59 and $51.95, respectively. The fair value of shares that vested during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2022 was $1.9 million and $16.4 million, respectively. The fair value of shares that vested during the thirteen weeks and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2021 was $2.1 million and $13.3 million, respectively. As of September 27, 2022, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested restricted shares and restricted share units was $53.3 million, which we expect to recognize over a weighted-average period of approximately 3.0 years.

11. Net (Loss)/Income Per Share

Basic net (loss)/income per share is computed by dividing net (loss)/income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, reduced by unvested restricted stock awards. At September 27, 2022 and September 28, 2021, 2.4 million and 2.1 million shares, respectively, of restricted stock issued were unvested and, therefore, excluded from the calculation of basic earnings per share for the fiscal periods ended on those dates.

Diluted net (loss)/income per share is computed by dividing net (loss)/income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common stock equivalents outstanding for the period. Common stock equivalents for the Notes are determined by application of the if-converted method, and common stock equivalents for outstanding stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units are determined by the application of the treasury stock method.

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Holders of our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Series A preferred stock”) participated in dividends on an as-converted basis when declared on common stock. As a result, our Series A preferred stock met the definition of a participating security which required us to apply the two-class method to compute both basic and diluted net (loss)/income per share. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that treats participating securities as having rights to earnings that would otherwise have been available to common stockholders. In addition, as our Series A preferred stock was a participating security, we were required to calculate diluted net (loss)/income per share under the if-converted method in addition to the two-class method and utilize the most dilutive result.


	Thirteen		Thirteen		Thirty-Nine		Thirty-Nine
	Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended
	September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021		September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021

	(In thousands, except per share data)
Basic net (loss)/income per common share:
Net (loss)/income	$	(2,398)	$	32,680	$	46,421	$	70,263
Dividends on Series A preferred stock		—		—		—		(18,661)
Undistributed earnings allocated to Series A preferred stock		—		—		—		(5,804)
Net (loss)/income available to common stockholders		(2,398)		32,680		46,421		45,798
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding		49,653		50,212		50,124		46,624
Basic net (loss)/income per common share	$	(0.05)	$	0.65	$	0.93	$	0.98

Diluted net (loss)/income per common share:
Net (loss)/income available to common stockholders		(2,398)		32,680		46,421		45,798
Reallocation of undistributed earnings to Series A preferred stock		—		—		—		114
Net (loss)/income available to common stockholders for diluted earnings per share		(2,398)		32,680		46,421		45,912
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding		49,653		50,212		50,124		46,624
Dilutive effect of equity awards ⁽¹⁾		—		901		584		1,051
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding		49,653		51,113		50,708		47,675
Diluted net (loss)/income per common share	$	(0.05)	$	0.64	$	0.92	$	0.96

(1)

Shares of common stock equivalents related to outstanding stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units of 3.3 million and 3.8 million as of September 27, 2022 and September 28, 2021, respectively, were excluded from the diluted calculation due to their anti-dilutive effect. No shares of common stock equivalents related to the Notes were included in the diluted calculation due to their anti-dilutive effect.

12. Segment Information

Our operating segments, the businesses for which our management reviews discrete financial information for decision-making purposes, are comprised of The Cheesecake Factory, North Italia, Flower Child, the other FRC brands, our bakery division and Grand Lux Cafe. Based on quantitative thresholds set forth in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 280, “Segment Reporting,” The Cheesecake Factory, North Italia and the other FRC brands are the only businesses that meet the criteria of a reportable operating segment. The remaining operating segments (Flower Child, our bakery division and Grand Lux Cafe) along with our businesses that do not qualify as operating segments are combined in Other. Unallocated corporate expenses, capital expenditures and assets are also combined in Other.

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Segment information is presented below (in thousands):


	Thirteen		Thirteen		Thirty-Nine		Thirty-Nine
	Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended
	September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021		September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021
Revenues:
The Cheesecake Factory restaurants	$	602,902	$	592,555	$	1,853,576	$	1,698,635
North Italia		54,113		44,357		163,108		120,747
Other FRC		52,193		44,326		171,045		127,978
Other		74,793		73,236		222,625		203,487
Total	$	784,001	$	754,474	$	2,410,354	$	2,150,847

(Loss)/income from operations:
The Cheesecake Factory restaurants	$	42,122	$	66,791	$	169,893	$	194,470
North Italia		1,655		1,962		10,381		5,320
Other FRC		4,109		3,403		18,231		14,565
Other		(50,091)		(40,779)		(144,447)		(133,016)
Total	$	(2,205)	$	31,377	$	54,058	$	81,339

Depreciation and amortization:
The Cheesecake Factory restaurants	$	15,874	$	16,414	$	47,736	$	49,221
North Italia		1,556		1,068		4,076		2,893
Other FRC		1,661		1,208		4,712		3,423
Other		3,560		3,886		10,240		11,268
Total	$	22,651	$	22,576	$	66,764	$	66,805

Impairment of assets and lease termination expenses:
The Cheesecake Factory restaurants	$	—	$	—	$	(59)	$	—
North Italia		—		—		—		—
Other FRC		—		—		—		—
Other		—		—		372		594
Total	$	—	$	—	$	313	$	594

Capital expenditures:
The Cheesecake Factory restaurants	$	19,176	$	10,680	$	48,097	$	22,606
North Italia		3,281		2,606		11,110		9,095
Other FRC		5,175		3,614		11,014		10,979
Other		4,039		1,356		7,832		6,478
Total	$	31,671	$	18,256	$	78,053	$	49,158

Preopening costs:
The Cheesecake Factory restaurants	$	2,757	$	968	$	5,163	$	3,616
North Italia		1,341		1,057		2,755		3,335
Other FRC		84		849		357		1,948
Other		145		295		763		905
Total	$	4,327	$	3,169	$	9,038	$	9,804


	September 27, 2022		December 28, 2021
Total assets:
The Cheesecake Factory restaurants	$	1,564,945	$	1,653,161
North Italia		303,130		270,029
Other FRC		296,465		276,369
Other		569,534		598,566
Total	$	2,734,074	$	2,798,125

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13. Subsequent Events

On October 6, 2022, we entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (the “Fourth Amended Credit Agreement” and the revolving credit facility provided thereunder, the “Fourth Revolving Facility”). The Fourth Amended Credit Agreement amends and restates in its entirety our prior Amended Credit Agreement. The Fourth Revolving Facility, which terminates on October 6, 2027, provides us with revolving loan commitments that total $400 million, of which $50 million may be used for issuances of letters of credit. The Fourth Revolving Facility contains a commitment increase feature that, subject to certain conditions precedent, could provide for an additional $200 million in revolving loan commitments. Our obligations under the Fourth Revolving Facility are unsecured. Certain of our material subsidiaries have guaranteed our obligations under the Fourth Revolving Facility. On October 6, 2022 we repaid the outstanding balance under the Revolving Facility and borrowed the same amount on the Fourth Revolving Facility. As of the date of this report, we had net availability for borrowings of $238.5 million, based on a $130.0 million outstanding debt balance and $31.5 million in standby letters of credit under the Fourth Revolving Facility.

Under the Fourth Revolving Facility, we are subject to the following financial covenants as of the last day of each fiscal quarter: (i) a maximum ratio of net adjusted debt to EBITDAR (the “Amended Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio”) of 4.25 and (ii) a minimum ratio of EBITDAR to interest and rent expense of 1.90. The Amended Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio includes a rental expense multiplier of six as compared to eight in the Amended Credit Agreement.

Borrowings under the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement bear interest, at the Company’s election, at a rate equal to either: (i) the sum of (A) adjusted term SOFR (as defined in the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement, the “Term SOFR Rate”) plus (B) a rate variable based on the Amended Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio, ranging from 1.00% to 1.75%, or (ii) the sum of (A) the highest of (x) the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the prime rate in effect in the United States, (y) the greater of the rate calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the federal funds effective rate or the rate that is published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the overnight bank funding rate, in either case, plus 0.50%, and (z) the one-month Term SOFR Rate plus 1.00%, plus (B) a rate variable based on the Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio, ranging from 0.00% to 0.75%. The Company will also pay a fee variable based on the Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio, ranging from 0.125% to 0.25%, on the daily amount of unused commitments under the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement.

Letters of credit bear fees that are equivalent to the interest rate margin that is applicable to revolving loans that bear interest at the adjusted SOFR plus other customary fees charged by the issuing bank. We paid certain customary loan origination fees in conjunction with the Loan Agreement.

We are also subject to customary events of default that, if triggered, could result in acceleration of the maturity of the Fourth Revolving Facility. Subject to certain exceptions, the Fourth Revolving Facility also limits distributions with respect to our equity interests, such as cash dividends and share repurchases, based on a defined ratio, and also sets forth negative covenants that restrict indebtedness, liens, investments, sales of assets, fundamental changes and other matters.

On October 26, 2022, our Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.27 per share to be paid on November 28, 2022 to the stockholders of record of each share of our common stock at the close of business on November 15, 2022.

On October 26, 2022, our Board increased the authorization to repurchase our common stock by 5.0 million shares to 61.0 million shares. See Note 9 for further discussion on our repurchase authorization and methods.

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

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information included in this Form 10-Q and other materials filed or to be filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as well as information included in oral or written statements made by us or on our behalf, may contain forward-looking statements about our current and presently expected performance trends, growth plans, business goals and other matters.

These statements may be contained in our filings with the SEC, in our press releases, in other written communications, and in oral statements made by or with the approval of one of our authorized officers. These statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as codified in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (together with the Securities Act, the “Acts”). This includes, without limitation, statements regarding corporate social responsibility (“CSR”) and in our CSR report, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our financial condition and our results of operations, accelerated and diversified revenue growth as a result of the acquisition of North Italia and Fox Restaurant Concepts LLC (“FRC”), financial guidance and projections as well as expectations of our future financial condition, our focus on returning to pre-pandemic margins, results of operations, sales, target growth rates, cash flows, quarterly dividends, menu pricing, corporate strategy, plans, targets, goals, objectives, performance, growth potential, competitive position and business, and statements regarding our ability to: leverage our competitive strengths, including investing in or acquiring new restaurant concepts and expanding The Cheesecake Factory® brand to other retail opportunities; maintain our aggregate sales volumes; deliver comparable sales growth; provide a differentiated experience to customers; leverage sales increases and manage flow through; manage inflation and other cost pressures, including, but not limited to, impacts to wage rates, commodities and services costs, utilities expenses, insurance costs and legal expenses, and stabilize margins; grow earnings; remain relevant to consumers; attract and retain qualified management and other staff; manage risks associated with the magnitude and complexity of regulations in the jurisdictions where our restaurants are located; increase shareholder value; find suitable sites and manage increasing construction costs; profitably expand our concepts domestically and in Canada, and work with our licensees to expand our concept internationally; support the growth of North Italia and other FRC restaurants; operate Social Monk Asian Kitchen and other concepts; and utilize our capital effectively and continue to issue cash dividends and repurchase our shares. These forward-looking statements may be affected by various factors including: the rapidly evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures, including the potential for a complete shutdown of our restaurants, international licensee restaurants and our bakery operations; supply chain disruptions and inflation; the geopolitical environment, demonstrations, political unrest, potential damage to or closure of our restaurants and potential reputational damage to us or any of our brands; economic, public health and political conditions that impact consumer confidence and spending, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other health epidemics or pandemics on the global economy; acceptance and success of The Cheesecake Factory in international markets; acceptance and success of North Italia and the FRC concepts, Social Monk Asian Kitchen and other concepts; the risks of doing business abroad through Company-owned restaurants and/or licensees; foreign exchange rates, tariffs and cross border taxation; changes in unemployment rates; changes in laws impacting our business, including laws and regulations related to COVID-19 impacting restaurant operations and customer access to off- and on-premises dining; increases in minimum wages and benefit costs; the economic health of our landlords and other tenants in retail centers in which our restaurants are located, and our ability to successfully manage our lease arrangements with landlords; unanticipated costs that may arise in connection with a return to normal course of business; the economic health of suppliers, licensees, vendors and other third parties providing goods or services to us; the timing of our new unit development; compliance with debt covenants; strategic capital allocation decisions including any share repurchases or dividends; the ability to achieve projected financial results; the resolution of uncertain tax positions with the Internal Revenue Service and the impact of tax reform legislation; adverse weather conditions in regions in which our restaurants are located; factors that are under the control of government agencies, landlords and other third parties; the risks, costs and uncertainties associated with opening new restaurants; and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC. Such forward-looking statements include all other statements that are not historical facts, as well as statements that are preceded by, followed by or that include words or phrases such as “believe,” “plan,” “will likely result,” “expect,” “intend,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimate,” “project,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “should” and similar expressions. These statements are based on our current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in such statements.

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In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Acts, we have identified and are disclosing important factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements made by us, or on our behalf. (See Part II, Item 1A of this report, “Risk Factors,” and Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2021.) These cautionary statements are to be used as a reference in connection with any forward-looking statements. The factors, risks and uncertainties identified in these cautionary statements are in addition to those contained in any other cautionary statements, written or oral, which may be made or otherwise addressed in connection with a forward-looking statement or contained in any of our subsequent filings with the SEC. Because of these factors, risks and uncertainties, we caution against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying forward-looking statements are currently reasonable, any of the assumptions could be incorrect or incomplete, and there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required to do so by law.

The below discussion and analysis, which contains forward-looking statements, should be read in conjunction with our interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes in Part I, Item 1 of this report and with the following items included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2021: the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes in Part IV, Item 15; the “Risk Factors” included in Part I, Item 1A; the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in Part II, Item 7; and the cautionary statements included throughout this Form 10-Q. The inclusion of supplementary analytical and related information herein may require us to make estimates and assumptions to enable us to fairly present, in all material respects, our analysis of trends and expectations with respect to our results of operations and financial position.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Impacts to our Operating Environment

The ongoing effects of COVID-19 and its variants, along with other geopolitical and macroeconomic events could lead to further government mandates, including but not limited to capacity restrictions, shifts in consumer behavior, wage inflation, staffing challenges, product and services cost inflation and disruptions in the supply chain. If these factors significantly impact our cash flow in the future, we may again implement mitigation actions such as suspending share repurchases and dividends, increasing borrowings on our credit facility or modifying our operating strategies. Some of these measures may have an adverse impact on out business.

General

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated is a leader in experiential dining. We are culinary forward and relentlessly focused on hospitality. We currently own and operate 314 restaurants throughout the United States and Canada under brands including 210 The Cheesecake Factory^®, 32 North Italia^® restaurants and a collection within our FRC business. Internationally, 29 The Cheesecake Factory^® restaurants operate under licensing agreements. Our bakery division operates two facilities that produce quality cheesecakes and other baked products for our restaurants, international licensees and third-party bakery customers.

Overview

Our strategy is driven by our commitment to customer satisfaction and is focused primarily on menu innovation, service and operational execution to continue to differentiate ourselves from other restaurant concepts, as well as to drive competitively strong performance that is sustainable. Financially, we are focused on prudently managing expenses at our restaurants, bakery facilities and corporate support center, and leveraging our size to make the best use of our purchasing power.

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Investing in new Company-owned restaurant development is our top long-term capital deployment priority, with a focus on opening our concepts in premier locations within both new and existing markets. We expect our acquisition of North Italia and FRC to further accelerate and diversify our growth opportunities. For The Cheesecake Factory concept, we target an average cash-on-cash return on investment of approximately 20% to 25% at the unit level. We target an average cash-on-cash return on investment of approximately 35% for the North Italia concept and 25% to 30% for the FRC concepts. Returns are affected by the cost to build restaurants, the level of revenues that each restaurant can deliver and our ability to maximize the profitability of restaurants. Investing in new restaurant development that meets our return on investment criteria is expected to support achieving mid-teens Company-level return on invested capital.

Our overall revenue growth is primarily driven by revenues from new restaurant openings and increases in comparable restaurant sales. For The Cheesecake Factory concept, our strategy is to increase comparable restaurant sales by growing average check and maintaining customer traffic through (1) continuing to offer innovative, high quality menu items that offer customers a wide range of options in terms of flavor, price and value, (2) focusing on service and hospitality with the goal of delivering an exceptional customer experience and (3) continuing to provide our customers with convenient options for off-premise dining, as we believe there is opportunity for a longer-term elevation of our off-premise mix compared to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. We are continuing our efforts on a number of initiatives, including menu innovation, a greater focus on increasing customer throughput in our restaurants, leveraging our gift card program, working with a third party to provide delivery services for our restaurants, increasing customer awareness of our online ordering capabilities, augmenting our marketing programs, enhancing our training programs and leveraging our customer satisfaction measurement platform.

Average check is driven by menu price increases and/or changes in menu mix. We generally update The Cheesecake Factory menus twice each year, and our philosophy is to use price increases to help offset key operating cost increases in a manner that balances supporting both our margin objectives and customer traffic levels. In prior years, we have targeted menu price increases of approximately 2% to 3% annually, utilizing a market-based strategy to help mitigate cost pressure in higher-wage geographies. Due to the inflationary cost pressures we are experiencing, we implemented menu price increases above our historical levels in the first and third quarters of fiscal 2022 to support our longer-term restaurant-level margin objectives and are in the process of implementing an incremental price increase in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. Future near-term pricing actions may also be at levels above historical norms to keep pace with any significant cost increases. In addition, on a regular basis, we carefully consider opportunities to adjust our menu offerings or ingredients to help manage product availability and cost.

Margins are subject to fluctuations in commodity costs, labor, restaurant-level occupancy expenses, general and administrative (“G&A”) expenses and preopening expenses. Our objective is to recapture our pre-COVID-19 pandemic margins and longer-term to drive margin expansion, by leveraging incremental sales to increase restaurant-level margins at The Cheesecake Factory concept, leveraging our bakery operations, international and consumer packaged goods royalty revenue streams and G&A expense over time, and optimizing our restaurant portfolio.

We plan to employ a balanced capital allocation strategy, comprised of: investing in new restaurants that are expected to meet our targeted returns, repaying borrowings under our Revolving Facility and returning capital to shareholders through our dividend and share repurchase programs, the latter of which offsets dilution from our equity compensation program and supports our earnings per share growth. Future decisions to pay or to increase or decrease dividends or to repurchase shares are at the discretion of the Board and will be dependent on a number of factors, including limitations pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement and applicable law.

Longer-term, we believe our domestic revenue growth (comprised of our targeted annual unit growth of 7%, in aggregate across concepts, and comparable sales growth), combined with margin expansion, planned debt repayments and an anticipated capital return program will support our long-term financial objective of 13% to 14% total return to shareholders, on average. We define our total return as earnings per share growth plus our dividend yield.

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Results of Operations

The following table presents, for the periods indicated, information from our condensed consolidated statements of (loss)/income expressed as percentages of revenues. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any other interim period or for the full fiscal year.


	Thirteen		Thirteen		Thirty-Nine		Thirty-Nine
	Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended
	September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021		September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021
Revenues	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%

Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	25.2		22.5		24.5		22.0
Labor expenses	37.4		37.1		37.1		36.5
Other operating costs and expenses	27.7		26.7		26.7		27.1
General and administrative expenses	6.4		6.1		6.2		6.4
Depreciation and amortization expenses	2.9		3.0		2.8		3.1
Impairment of assets and lease termination expenses	—		—		0.0		0.0
Acquisition-related contingent consideration, compensation and amortization expenses	0.1		0.1		0.1		0.6
Preopening costs	0.6		0.4		0.4		0.5
Total costs and expenses	100.3		95.9		97.8		96.2
(Loss)/income from operations	(0.3)		4.1		2.2		3.8
Interest and other expense, net	(0.1)		(0.2)		(0.1)		(0.4)
(Loss)/income before income taxes	(0.4)		3.9		2.1		3.4
Income tax (benefit)/provision	(0.1)		(0.4)		0.2		0.1
Net (loss)/income	(0.3)		4.3		1.9		3.3
Dividends on Series A preferred stock	—		—		—		(0.9)
Undistributed earnings allocated to Series A preferred stock	—		—		—		(0.3)
Net (loss)/income available to common stockholders	(0.3)	%	4.3	%	1.9	%	2.1	%

Thirteen Weeks Ended September 27, 2022 Compared to Thirteen Weeks Ended September 28, 2021

Revenues

Revenues increased 3.9% to $784.0 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 27, 2022 compared to $754.5 million for the comparable prior year period, primarily due to an increase in comparable restaurant sales, as well as additional revenue related to new restaurant openings.

The Cheesecake Factory comparable sales increased by 1.1%, or $6.3 million, from the third quarter of fiscal 2021 and increased 9.5% from the third quarter of fiscal 2019. The increase from fiscal 2021 was primarily driven by an increase in average check of 1.0% (based on an increase of 6.0% in menu pricing, partially offset by 5.0% negative impact from mix) and increased customer traffic of 0.1%. Sales through the off-premise channel comprised approximately 23% of our restaurant sales during the third quarter of fiscal 2022 as compared to 28% in the third quarter of fiscal 2021. Off-premise sales mix remains elevated versus the pre-pandemic level of 15% during the third quarter of fiscal 2019, even as customers continue to return to on-premise dining. We account for each off-premise order as one customer for traffic measurement purposes. Therefore, average check is generally higher for off-premise orders as most are for more than one customer. In turn, the lower mix of sales in the off-premise channel during the third quarter of fiscal 2022 compared to the prior year third quarter comprised approximately 2% of the negative change in mix with a positive correlative impact to traffic. We implemented effective menu price increases of approximately 3.25% and 4.25% in the first and third quarters of fiscal 2022, respectively, and are in the process of implementing an incremental 2.8% price increase in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. The Cheesecake Factory average sales per restaurant operating week increased 1.1% to $222,884 in the third quarter of fiscal 2022 from $220,362 in the third quarter of fiscal 2021. Total operating weeks at The Cheesecake Factory restaurants increased 0.6% to 2,705 in the third quarter of fiscal 2022 compared to 2,689 in the prior year.

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North Italia comparable sales increased approximately 10% from the third quarter of fiscal 2021 and increased 18% from the third quarter of fiscal 2019. The increase from fiscal 2021 was primarily driven by increased customer traffic of 5%, as well as an increase in average check of 5% (based on an increase of 8% in menu pricing, partially offset by a 3% negative impact from mix). We implemented effective menu price increases of approximately 2.0% and 5.5% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 and second quarter of fiscal 2022, respectively, and are in the process of implementing a 4.3% price increase in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. North Italia average sales per restaurant operating week increased 7.8% to $136,994 in the third quarter of fiscal 2022 from $127,098 in the third quarter of fiscal 2021. Total operating weeks at North Italia increased 13.2% to 395 in the third quarter of fiscal 2022 compared to 349 in the prior year.

Restaurants become eligible to enter the comparable sales base in their 19th month of operation. At September 27, 2022, there were three The Cheesecake Factory restaurants and seven North Italia restaurants not yet in the comparable sales base. International licensed locations and restaurants that are no longer in operation, including those which we have relocated, are excluded from comparable sales calculations.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales consists of food, beverage and bakery production supply costs incurred in conjunction with our restaurant and bakery revenues, and excludes depreciation, which is captured separately in depreciation and amortization expenses. As a percentage of revenues, cost of sales was 25.2% and 22.5% in the third quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively, primarily due to inflation across most categories in excess of menu price increases (2.6%).

Labor Expenses

As a percentage of revenues, labor expenses, which include restaurant-level labor costs and bakery direct production labor, including associated fringe benefits, were 37.4% and 37.1% in the third quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. This increase was primarily due to increased staffing levels compared to the prior year (0.5%), as well as wage rate inflation in excess of menu price increases (0.3%) and training costs (0.2%), partially offset by a decline in group medical insurance costs due to lower claim activity (0.7%) in the third quarter of fiscal 2022.

Other Operating Costs and Expenses

Other operating costs and expenses consist of restaurant-level occupancy expenses (rent, common area expenses, insurance, licenses, taxes and utilities), marketing, including delivery commissions, other operating expenses (excluding food costs and labor expenses, which are reported separately) and bakery production overhead and distribution expenses. As a percentage of revenues, other operating costs and expenses were 27.7% and 26.7% in the third quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. This variance was primarily driven by utilities (0.5%) and building maintenance expense (0.4%) inflation in excess of menu price increases.

G&A Expenses

G&A expenses consist of the restaurant management recruiting and training program, restaurant field supervision, corporate support and bakery administrative organizations, as well as gift card commissions to third-party distributors. As a percentage of revenues, G&A expenses were 6.4% and 6.1% in the third quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. This variance was primarily driven by higher travel and meeting expenses as we return to more normalized business operations (0.3%).

Depreciation and Amortization Expenses

As a percentage of revenues, depreciation and amortization expenses decreased to 2.9% in the third quarter of fiscal 2022 from 3.0% in the comparable prior year period due primarily to sales leverage.

Acquisition-Related Contingent Consideration, Compensation and Amortization Expenses

We recorded $1.1 million and $0.7 million of acquisition-related contingent consideration, compensation and amortization during the third quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively, reflecting changes in the fair value of the deferred and contingent consideration and compensation liabilities, and amortization of acquired definite-lived licensing agreements.

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Preopening Costs

Preopening costs were $4.3 million and $3.2 million in the third quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. We opened one The Cheesecake Factory, one North Italia and one Other FRC locations in the third quarter of fiscal 2022 compared to two North Italia, one Other FRC location and one Other location in the comparable prior year period. Preopening costs include all costs to relocate and compensate restaurant management staff members during the preopening period, costs to recruit and train hourly restaurant staff members, and wages, travel and lodging costs for our opening training team and other support staff members. Also included are expenses for maintaining a roster of trained managers for pending openings, the associated temporary housing and other costs necessary to relocate managers in alignment with future restaurant opening and operating needs, and corporate travel and support activities. Preopening costs can fluctuate significantly from period to period based on the number, mix and timing of restaurant openings and the specific preopening costs incurred for each restaurant.

Interest and Other Expense, Net

Interest and other expense, net was $1.3 million and $1.8 million for the third quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Income Tax (Benefit)/Provision

Our effective income tax rate was 31.9% and (10.5%) for the third quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. The increase was primarily due to a cumulative benefit recorded in the fiscal 2022 third quarter tax provision resulting from a decline in annual forecasted pre-tax income from the second quarter to the third quarter of fiscal 2022, a benefit recorded in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 arising from an increase to our fiscal 2020 loss carryback as a result of repaying 100% of the FICA taxes that were deferred in fiscal 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“the CARES Act”) and higher nondeductible losses in the third quarter of fiscal 2022 as compared to the comparable prior year period on our investments in variable life insurance contracts used to support our non-qualified deferred compensation plan (“ESP”). These factors were partially offset by a higher proportion of employment credits in relation to pre-tax income in the third quarter of fiscal 2022.

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2022 Compared to Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2021

Revenues

Revenues increased 12.1% to $2,410.4 million for the three quarters of 2022 compared to $2,150.8 million for the comparable prior year period, primarily due to an increase in comparable restaurant sales, reflecting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the first three quarters of fiscal 2021, as well as additional revenue related to new restaurant openings.

The Cheesecake Factory comparable sales increased by 8.2%, or $137.3 million, from the first three quarters of fiscal 2021 and increased 10.2% from the first three quarters of fiscal 2019. The increase from fiscal 2021 was primarily driven by increased customer traffic of 9.2% primarily due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the prior year, partially offset by a decline in average check of 1.0% (based on a 5.8% negative impact from mix, partially offset by an increase of 4.8% in menu pricing). Sales through the off-premise channel comprised approximately 25% of our restaurant sales during the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 as compared to 33% in the comparable prior year period as more customers have returned to on-premise dining, whereas consumer behavior had shifted towards the off-premise channel during the prior year period due to the pandemic. However, off-premise sales mix remains elevated versus the pre-pandemic level of 16% during the first three quarters of fiscal 2019. The lower mix of sales in the off-premise channel during the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 versus the comparable prior year third quarter comprised approximately 4% of the negative change in mix with a positive correlative impact to traffic. The Cheesecake Factory average sales per restaurant operating week increased 8.4% to $228,470 in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 from $210,801 in the first three quarters of fiscal 2021. Total operating weeks at The Cheesecake Factory restaurants increased 0.7% to 8,113 in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 compared to 8,058 in the comparable prior year period.

North Italia comparable sales increased approximately 17% from the first three quarters of fiscal 2021 and increased approximately 21% from the first three quarters of fiscal 2019. The increase from fiscal 2021 was primarily driven by increased customer traffic of 14%, as well as an increase in average check of 3% (based on an increase of 5% in menu pricing, partially off by a 2% negative impact from mix). North Italia average sales per restaurant operating week increased 15.1% to $141,833 in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 from $123,211 in the first three quarters of fiscal 2021. Total operating weeks at North Italia increased 17.3% to 1,150 in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 compared to 980 in the prior year.

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Cost of Sales

As a percentage of revenues, cost of sales was 24.5% and 22.0% in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively, primarily due to inflation across most categories in excess of menu price increases (2.2%).

Labor Expenses

As a percentage of revenues, labor expenses were 37.1% and 36.5% in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. This increase was primarily due to wage rate inflation in excess of menu price increases (0.9%), partially offset by a decrease in group medical insurance costs due to lower claim activity (0.6%) in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022.

Other Operating Costs and Expenses

As a percentage of revenues, other operating costs and expenses were 26.7% and 27.1% in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. This variance was primarily driven by sales leverage within occupancy and building costs (0.3%).

G&A Expenses

As a percentage of revenues, G&A expenses were 6.2% and 6.4% in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. This variance was primarily driven by lower corporate incentive compensation expense (0.2%).

Depreciation and Amortization Expenses

As a percentage of revenues, depreciation and amortization expenses decreased to 2.8% in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 from 3.1% in the comparable prior year period due primarily to sales leverage.

Impairment of Assets and Lease Terminations Expenses

During the first three quarters of fiscal 2022, we recorded impairment of assets and lease terminations expense of $0.3 million related to lease termination costs and accelerated depreciation for two Grand Lux Cafe locations that closed during the first quarter of fiscal 2022. During the first three quarters of fiscal 2021, we recorded impairment of assets and lease terminations expense of $0.6 million related to lease termination costs for two Other restaurants, one of which closed during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 and one that closed at the beginning of the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

Acquisition-Related Contingent Consideration, Compensation and Amortization Expenses

We recorded $2.9 million and $12.6 million during the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively, of acquisition-related contingent consideration, compensation and amortization. This decrease is primarily related to the impact of an amendment to the FRC acquisition agreement in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 that, among other things, extended the measurement period through fiscal 2026.

Preopening Costs

Preopening costs were $9.0 million and $9.8 million in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. We opened one The Cheesecake Factory, two North Italia, one Other FRC and one Other location in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 compared to one The Cheesecake Factory, five North Italia restaurants, two Other FRC and two Other locations in the comparable prior year period.

Interest and Other Expense, Net

Interest and other expense, net was $3.9 million and $9.2 million for the three quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. This decrease was primarily due to higher interest expense in the prior year ($4.1 million), mainly related to our interest rate swap, which was terminated in June 2021 ($3.3 million).

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Income Tax (Benefit)/Provision

Our effective income tax rate was 7.4% and 2.6% for the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. The increase resulted primarily from nondeductible losses in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 as compared to non-taxable gains in the comparable prior year period on our investments in variable life insurance contracts used to support our ESP and a benefit recorded in 2021 arising from an increase to our fiscal 2020 loss carryback as a result of repaying 100% of the FICA taxes that were deferred in fiscal 2020 under the CARES Act, partially offset by a higher proportion of employment credits in relation to pre-tax income in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 and our reserve for an uncertain tax position recorded in the comparable prior year period.

Non-GAAP Measures

Adjusted net (loss)/income and adjusted if- converted net (loss)/income per share are supplemental measures of our performance that are not required by or presented in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. We calculate these non-GAAP measures by eliminating from net (loss)/income available to common stockholders and diluted net (loss)/income per common share the impact of items we do not consider indicative of our ongoing operations. To reflect the potential impact of the conversion of our Series A preferred stock into common stock for the period that it was outstanding prior to the conversion on June 15, 2021, we excluded the preferred dividend and assumed all convertible preferred shares had been converted into common stock. (See Note 9 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report for further discussion of our preferred stock.) We use these non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision-making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. Our inclusion of these adjusted measures should not be construed as an indication that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or infrequent items. In the future, we may incur expenses or generate income similar to the adjusted items.

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Following is a reconciliation from net (loss)/income available to common stockholders and diluted net (loss)/income per common share to the corresponding adjusted measures (in thousands, except per share data):


	Thirteen		Thirteen		Thirty-Nine		Thirty-Nine
	Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended
	September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021		September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021

Net (loss)/income available to common stockholders	$	(2,398)	$	32,680	$	46,421	$	45,798
Dividends on Series A preferred stock		—		—		—		18,661
Net income attributable to Series A preferred stock		—		—		—		5,804
COVID-19 related costs ⁽¹⁾		—		—		—		4,917
Impairment of assets and lease termination expenses		—		—		313		594
Acquisition-related contingent consideration, compensation and amortization expenses		1,081		685		2,920		12,592
Termination of interest rate swap		—		—		—		2,354
Uncertain tax position		—		—		—		2,471
Tax effect of adjustments ⁽²⁾		(281)		(178)		(840)		(5,318)
Adjusted net (loss)/income	$	(1,598)	$	33,187	$	48,814	$	87,873
Diluted net (loss)/income per common share	$	(0.05)	$	0.64	$	0.92	$	0.96
Dividends on Series A preferred stock		—		—		—		0.35
Net income attributable to Series A preferred stock		—		—		—		0.11
Assumed impact of potential conversion of Series A preferred stock into common stock ⁽³⁾		—		—		—		(0.11)
COVID-19 related costs ⁽¹⁾		—		—		—		0.09
Impairment of assets and lease termination expenses		—		—		0.01		0.01
Acquisition-related contingent consideration, compensation and amortization expenses		0.02		0.01		0.06		0.23
Termination of interest rate swap		—		—		—		0.04
Uncertain tax positions		—		—		—		0.05
Tax effect of adjustments ⁽²⁾		(0.01)		(0.00)		(0.02)		(0.10)
Adjusted if-converted net (loss)/income per share ⁽⁴⁾	$	(0.03)	$	0.65	$	0.96	$	1.64

(1)	Represents incremental costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic such as additional sanitation, personal protective equipment, sick and vaccination pay, and healthcare benefits associated with furloughed staff members.

(2)	Based on the federal statutory rate and an estimated blended state tax rate, the tax effect on all adjustments assumes a 26% tax rate.

(3)

Represents the impact of assuming the conversion of preferred stock into common stock (0 and 5,908,167 shares for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2021, respectively), resulting in an assumption of 51,112,650 and 53,582,824 weighted-average common shares outstanding for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2021.

(4)	Adjusted net (loss)/income per share may not add due to rounding.

Fiscal 2022 Outlook

Based on our fiscal 2022 year-to-date performance and recent trends, we anticipate total revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 to be approximately $900 million to $930 million, including the impact of the 53rd operating week. Fourth quarter-to-date through October 25, 2022, The Cheesecake Factory comparable sales increased approximately 2.8% and 14.0% compared to the comparable periods in fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2019, respectively. Fourth quarter-to-date through October 25, 2022, North Italia comparable sales increased approximately 9% and 25% compared to the comparable periods in fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2019, respectively.

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We are currently estimating the following expenses for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. However, there remains measurable risk associated with cost fluctuations driven by the current environment. We anticipate commodity inflation of approximately 15% and expect net labor inflation of approximately 5% when factoring in wage rates and channel mix, among other components such as payroll taxes and benefits. We anticipate other operating costs and expenses as a percentage of revenues to be approximately 25.5%. In addition, we expect G&A expenses of approximately $55 million to $56 million, preopening costs of approximately $7 million and depreciation and amortization expenses of approximately $25 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, including the 53rd operating week, and are utilizing a tax rate of 8% for modeling purposes.

We plan to open as many as 13 new restaurants in fiscal 2022, including three The Cheesecake Factory restaurants, four North Italia restaurants and as many as six restaurants within our FRC business, which includes three Flower Child locations. We anticipate approximately $130 million in cash capital expenditures to support this level of unit development, as well as required maintenance on our restaurants. Restaurant opening dates may be impacted by supply chain challenges and permit approval delays.

Fiscal 2023 Outlook

Based on our fiscal 2022 year-to-date performance and recent trends, we anticipate total revenue for fiscal 2023 to be approximately $3.5 billion to $3.6 billion. We anticipate commodity and net labor inflation to be in the mid-single digit range.

We plan to open as many as 21 to 24 new restaurants in fiscal 2023, including four to five The Cheesecake Factory restaurants, seven to eight North Italia restaurants and ten to eleven restaurants within our FRC business, which includes three to four Flower Child locations. We anticipate approximately $150 million to $170 million in cash capital expenditures to support this level of unit development, as well as required maintenance on our restaurants.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our corporate financial objectives are to maintain a sufficiently strong and conservative balance sheet to support our operating initiatives and unit growth while maintaining financial flexibility to provide the financial resources necessary to protect and enhance the competitiveness of our restaurant and bakery brands and to provide a prudent level of financial capacity to manage the risks and uncertainties of conducting our business operations under various economic and industry cycles. Typically, cash flows generated from operating activities are our principal source of liquidity, which we use to finance our restaurant expansion plans, ongoing maintenance of our restaurants and bakery facilities and investment in our corporate and information technology infrastructures. However, given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations, during fiscal 2020 we increased borrowings under our credit facility and issued convertible Series A preferred stock to increase our liquidity. During fiscal 2021, we used net proceeds from issuing convertible senior notes and additional common stock to fund the repurchase of the majority of our Series A preferred stock and the conversion of the remaining Series A preferred stock into common stock, simplifying our capital structure and eliminating future convertible preferred stock dividends. We also utilized a portion of the net proceeds to reduce borrowings under our credit facility.

Similar to many restaurant and retail chain store operations, we utilize operating lease arrangements for all of our restaurant locations. Accordingly, our lease arrangements reduce, to some extent, our capacity to utilize funded indebtedness in our capital structure. We are not limited to the use of lease arrangements as our only method of opening new restaurants. However, we believe our operating lease arrangements continue to provide appropriate leverage for our capital structure in a financially efficient manner.

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During the first three quarters of fiscal 2022, our cash and cash equivalents decreased by $56.5 million to $133.2 million. The following table presents, for the periods indicated, a summary of our key cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities (in millions):


	Thirty-Nine		Thirty-Nine
	Weeks Ended		Weeks Ended
	September 27, 2022		September 28, 2021
Cash provided by operating activities	$	98.9	$	119.2
Additions to property and equipment		(78.1)		(49.2)
Acquisition-related deferred consideration and compensation		(7.2)		—
Convertible debt issuance, net of issuance cost		—		334.9
Common stock issuance, net of issuance cost		—		167.1
Repayments on credit facility		—		(150.0)
Series A preferred stock cash-settled conversion		—		(443.8)
Series A preferred stock dividends paid		—		(18.7)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		0.1		24.8
Common stock dividends paid		(28.3)		(0.3)
Treasury stock purchases		(41.5)		(5.2)

Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Cash flows from operations decreased by $20.3 million from the first three quarters of fiscal 2021 primarily due to lower net income and higher fiscal year-end 2021 liabilities related to increased sales and staffing levels that were paid in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 compared to those accrued at fiscal year-end 2020 and paid in the first three quarters of fiscal 2021. These factors were partially offset by collection of our fiscal 2020 net operating loss carryback refund.

Property and Equipment

Capital expenditures for new restaurants, including locations under development, were $36.9 million and $23.6 million for the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. Capital expenditures also included $37.3 million and $21.7 million for our existing restaurants and $3.9 million and $3.9 million for bakery and corporate capacity and infrastructure investments in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. We currently anticipate fiscal 2022 capital expenditures to be approximately $130 million.

Acquisition-Related Deferred Consideration and Compensation

During the first quarter of fiscal 2022, we made a payment of $7.2 million for contingent consideration and compensation related to the FRC acquisition.

Convertible Senior Notes

On June 15, 2021, we issued $345.0 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes (“Notes”), which will mature on June 15, 2026, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. The net proceeds from the sale of the Notes were approximately $334.9 million after deducting issuance costs related to the Notes. At September 27, 2022, the conversion rate for the Notes was 12.9717 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes, which represents a conversion price of approximately $77.09 per share of common stock. In connection with the cash dividend that was declared by our Board on October 26, 2022, on November 14, 2022 we will adjust the conversion rate (which is expected to increase) and the conversion price (which is expected to decrease) of the Notes in accordance with the terms. (See Note 5 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report for further discussion of the Notes.)

Common Stock Issuance

On June 15, 2021, we issued 3.125 million shares of our common stock for $175.0 million. In connection with the issuance, we incurred direct and incremental costs of $8.0 million.

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Credit Facility

On March 30, 2021, we entered into an amendment to our existing loan agreement (the “Amended Credit Agreement,”) which terminates on July 30, 2024, and consists of a $400 million revolving loan facility (the “Revolving Facility”), including a $40 million sublimit for letters of credit. The Amended Credit Agreement also provides the ability to increase the Revolving Facility in an amount not to exceed $200 million. The funding of any such increases are subject to receipt of lender commitments and satisfaction of customary conditions precedent. Certain of our material subsidiaries have guaranteed our obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2021, we utilized a portion of the net proceeds from our Notes and common share offerings to reduce the balance on our Revolving Facility by $150.0 million. At September 27, 2022, we had net availability for borrowings of $238.5 million, based on a $130.0 million outstanding debt balance and $31.5 million in standby letters of credit.

Under the Fourth Revolving Facility, we are subject to financial covenants as of the last day of each fiscal quarter. We are also subject to customary events of default that, if triggered, could result in acceleration of the maturity of the Fourth Revolving Facility. Subject to certain exceptions, the Fourth Revolving Facility also limits distributions with respect to our equity interests, such as cash dividends and share repurchases, based on a defined ratio, and also sets forth negative covenants that restrict indebtedness, liens, investments, sales of assets, fundamental changes and other matters.

(See Notes 5 and 13 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report for further discussion of our long-term debt and the October 6, 2022 amendment.)

Series A Preferred Stock

During the second quarter of fiscal 2021, we paid a cash dividend on our Series A preferred stock of $5.1 million. Additionally, during the second quarter of fiscal 2021, we paid $457.3 million in connection with the cash-settled conversion of 150,000 shares of our outstanding Series A preferred stock (effected through a repurchase agreement), and the share-settled conversion of the remaining 50,000 shares of our outstanding Series A preferred stock into 2,400,864 shares of our common stock, of which $13.6 million was deemed to be a dividend. (See Note 9 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report for further discussion of our preferred stock.)

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Common Stock Dividends

Common stock dividends of $28.3 million and $0.3 million were paid in the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, respectively. The increase is primarily due to the resumption of our quarterly dividend in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 after the suspension that began in fiscal 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19 on our business and in conjunction with the terms of our Amended Credit Agreement. As further discussed in Note 13 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report, in October 2022, our Board declared a quarterly dividend to be paid in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. Future decisions to pay or to increase or decrease dividends are at the discretion of the Board and will be dependent on our operating performance, financial condition, capital expenditure requirements, limitations on cash distributions pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement and applicable law, and other such factors that the Board considers relevant.

Share Repurchases

Under authorization by our Board to repurchase up to 56.0 million shares of our common stock, we have cumulatively repurchased 54.5 million shares at a total cost of $1,744.0 million through September 27, 2022. We repurchased 1.3 million shares at a cost of $41.5 million during the first three quarters of fiscal 2022 compared to 0.1 million shares at a cost of $5.2 million during the comparable fiscal 2021 period. $26.2 million of the increase is due to the resumption of our share repurchase program in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 after the suspension that began in fiscal 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19 on our business and in conjunction with the terms of our Amended Credit Agreement. The remaining variance represents the change in repurchases made to satisfy tax withholding obligations on vested restricted share awards.

Our objectives with regard to share repurchases have been to offset the dilution to our shares outstanding that results from equity compensation grants and to supplement our earnings per share growth. Our share repurchase program does not have an expiration date, does not require us to purchase a specific number of shares and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time. Future decisions to repurchase shares are at the discretion of the Board and are based on several factors, including current and forecasted operating cash flows, capital needs associated with new restaurant development and maintenance of existing locations, dividend payments, debt levels and cost of borrowing, obligations associated with the FRC acquisition, our share price and current market conditions. The timing and number of shares repurchased are also subject to legal constraints and covenants under the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement that limit share repurchases based on a defined ratio. (See Notes 9 and 13 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report for further discussion of our repurchase authorization and methods and increased authorized amount under our share repurchase program, respectively.)

Cash Flow Outlook

We believe that our cash and cash equivalents, combined with expected cash flows provided by operations and available borrowings under the Revolving Facility, will provide us with adequate liquidity for the next 12 months and the foreseeable future.

As of September 27, 2022, we had no financing transactions, arrangements or other relationships with any unconsolidated entities or related parties. Additionally, we had no financing arrangements involving synthetic leases or trading activities involving commodity contracts.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions for the reporting periods covered by the financial statements. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Our critical accounting estimates have not changed materially from those previously reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2021.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 1 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report for a summary of new accounting standards.

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

The following discussion of market risks contains forward-looking statements and should be read in conjunction with our interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes in Part I, Item 1 of this report and with the following items in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2021: the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes in Part IV, Item 15; the “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A; the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7; and the cautionary statements included throughout the report. Actual results may differ materially from the following discussion based on general conditions in the commodity and financial markets.

We purchase food and other commodities for use in our operations based on market prices established with our suppliers. Many of these commodities can be subject to market volatility driven by supply and demand factors outside of our control, including the relative availability of labor and distribution, weather, natural disasters, inventory levels, and political and economic conditions. Climate change may further exacerbate a number of these factors. During fiscal 2021, we began to experience certain supply shortages and transportation delays largely attributable to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. These shortages have continued and have been exacerbated by the geopolitical unrest in fiscal 2022. The aggregate impact of these and other factors have contributed to significant cost inflation.

We negotiate short-term and long-term agreements for some of our principal commodity, supply and equipment requirements, such as certain dairy products and poultry, depending on market conditions and expected demand. We continue to evaluate the possibility of entering into similar arrangements for other commodities and periodically evaluate hedging vehicles, such as direct financial instruments, to assist us in managing risk and variability associated with such commodities. As of September 27, 2022, we had no hedging contracts in place. Commodities not subject to fixed price and volume agreements can be subject to unforeseen supply and cost fluctuations, which at times may be significant. Additionally, the cost of commodities subject to governmental regulation, such as dairy and corn, can be especially susceptible to price fluctuation. Commodities we purchase on the international market may be subject to even greater fluctuations in cost and availability, which could result from a variety of factors, including the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies, international trade disputes, tariffs, varying global demand and the geopolitical environment. We may or may not have the ability to increase menu prices or vary menu items in response to food commodity price increases. For the third quarters of fiscal 2022 and 2021, a hypothetical increase of 1% in food costs would have negatively impacted cost of sales by $2.0 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

We are exposed to market risk from interest rate changes on our funded debt. This exposure relates to the component of the interest rate on our Revolving Facility that is indexed to market rates. Based on outstanding borrowings at both September 27, 2022 and December 28, 2021, a hypothetical 1% rise in interest rates would have increased interest expense by $1.3 million, on an annual basis. (See Note 5 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report for further discussion of our long-term debt.)

We are also subject to market risk related to our investments in variable life insurance contracts used to support our non-qualified executive deferred compensation plan to the extent these investments are not equivalent to the related liability. In addition, because changes in these investments are not taxable, gains and losses result in tax benefit and tax expense, respectively, and directly affect net (loss)/income through the income tax (benefit)/provision. Based on balances at September 27, 2022 and December 28, 2021, a hypothetical 10% decline in the market value of our deferred compensation asset and related liability would not have impacted income before income taxes. However, under such a scenario, net (loss)/income would have declined by $1.9 million and $2.3 million at September 27, 2022 and December 28, 2021, respectively.

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We have established and maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only a reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management was necessarily required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of September 27, 2022.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) during the fiscal quarter ended September 27, 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

See Note 8 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

A description of the risk factors associated with our business is contained in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2021 (“Annual Report”). These cautionary statements are to be used as a reference in connection with any forward-looking statements. The factors, risks and uncertainties identified in these cautionary statements are in addition to those contained in any other cautionary statements, written or oral, which may be made or otherwise addressed in connection with a forward-looking statement or contained in any of our subsequent filings with the SEC.

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

The following table presents our purchases of our common stock during the fiscal quarter ended September 27, 2022 (in thousands, except per share data):


				Total Number of	Maximum Number
				Shares Purchased	of Shares that May
	Total Number			as Part of Publicly	Yet be Purchased
	of Shares	Average Price		Announced Plans	Under the Plans or
Period	Purchased ⁽¹⁾	Paid per Share		or Programs	Programs
June 29 — August 2, 2022	373	$	27.63	369	2,027
August 3 — August 30, 2022	261		31.51	254	1,765
August 31 — September 27, 2022	255		31.92	251	1,510
Total	889			874

(1)	The total number of shares purchased includes 15,294 shares withheld upon vesting of restricted share awards to satisfy tax withholding obligations.

Under authorization by our Board to repurchase up to 56.0 million shares of our common stock, we have cumulatively repurchased 54.5 million shares at a total cost of $1,744.0 million through September 27, 2022 with 889,309 shares repurchased at a cost of $26.7 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2022. Our share repurchase program does not have an expiration date, does not require us to purchase a specific number of shares and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time. The timing and number of shares repurchased are subject to legal constraints and covenants under our credit facility that limit share repurchases based on a defined ratio. (See Notes 9 and 13 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this report for further discussion of our repurchase authorization and methods and increased authorized amount under our share repurchase program, respectively.)

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Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Item	Form	File Number	Incorporated by Reference from Exhibit Number	Filed with SEC

3.1	Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated	10-Q	000-20574	3.2	8/6/18
3.2	Certificate of Designations of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated, dated April 20, 2020	8-K	000-20574	3.1	4/20/20
3.3	Bylaws of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated, amended and restated on October 26, 2022	—	—	—	Filed herewith
4.1	Indenture, dated as of June 15, 2021, between The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee	8-K	000-20574	4.1	6/15/21
4.2	First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 15, 2021, between The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee	8-K	000-20574	4.2	6/15/21
4.3	Form of certificate representing the 0.375% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.2)	8-K	000-20574	4.3	6/15/21
10.1	Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association dates as of October 6, 2022	—	—	—	Filed herewith
31.1	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of the Principal Executive Officer	—	—	—	Filed herewith
31.2	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of the Principal Financial Officer	—	—	—	Filed herewith
32.1	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Principal Executive Officer	—	—	—	Filed herewith
32.2	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Principal Financial Officer	—	—	—	Filed herewith
101.1	The following materials from The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 27, 2022, formatted in Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language (iXBRL): (i) condensed consolidated balance sheets, (ii) condensed consolidated statements of income, (iii) condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income, (iv) condensed consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity, (v) condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, and (vi) the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements	—	—	—	Filed herewith
104.1	The cover page of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 27, 2022, formatted in iXBRL (included with Exhibit 101.1)	—	—	—	Filed herewith

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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 thereunto duly authorized.

Date: November 2, 2022	THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED

	By:	/s/ DAVID OVERTON
		David Overton
		Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
		(Principal Executive Officer)

	By:	/s/ MATTHEW E. CLARK
		Matthew E. Clark
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
		(Principal Financial Officer)

Exhibit 3.3

BYLAWS

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED

Amended and Restated on October 26, 2022

ARTICLE I.

OFFICES

Section 1.1Registered Office. The registered office of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (the “Corporation”) is in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware.

Section 1.2Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

ARTICLE II.

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 2.1Place of Meetings. Meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation must be held at such places, either within or without the State of Delaware, as are designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting will not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as provided under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). If a meeting of stockholders by remote communication is authorized by the Board of Directors, stockholders and proxy holders not physically present but attending by remote communication will be deemed present in person, subject to compliance with such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt.

Section 2.2Annual Meetings. Annual meetings of stockholders for the election of directors must be held on such dates and at such times as are designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting. At each annual meeting, the stockholders may vote for election, in accordance with Section 3.2 of these Bylaws, those directors belonging to the class or classes of directors to be elected at such meeting, and may transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

Section 2.3Special Meetings. Unless otherwise prescribed by law, special meetings of stockholders may be called only by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if there be one, or the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the Board of Directors for adoption). Business transacted at all special meetings of stockholders must be confined to the

matters set forth in the notice. The Chairman of the Board of Directors or the Board of Directors may determine the date, time and place of any special meeting.

Section 2.4Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by law, notice of all meetings must be given stating the date, time and place of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL, the notice of any meeting must be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at that meeting not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting.

Section 2.5Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, a majority of the shares entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, constitutes a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders. Withdrawal of any stockholders present or represented by proxy at any meeting of stockholders does not cause failure of a duly constituted quorum at that meeting. Shares of the Corporation’s own stock belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, is neither entitled to vote nor may they be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing does not limit the right of any corporation to vote stock, including but not limited to its own stock, held by it in a fiduciary capacity. The Chairman of the meeting or the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy by vote of a majority of the shares represented, may adjourn the meeting despite the absence of a quorum.

Section 2.6Adjournments. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and the place thereof, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken or are provided in any other manner permitted by the DGCL. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting must be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

Section 2.7Voting.

(a)Votes Per Share. Unless otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders is entitled to one (1) vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question. In the election of directors, and for any other action by stockholders, voting need not be by written ballot.

(b)Vote Required. Except as set forth in Section 3.4 of these Bylaws, elections and questions must, unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon present in person or by proxy at the meeting.

Section 2.8Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, which proxy must be filed with the Secretary of the Corporation at or before the meeting at which it is to be used, but no such proxy may be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy. Execution may be accomplished by the stockholder or such stockholder’s authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing such person’s signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means including, but not limited to, by electronic signature. A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telegram, cablegram, or other means of electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any such telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder. If it is determined that such telegrams, cablegrams or other electronic transmissions are valid, the inspectors, or if there are no inspectors, such other persons making that determination must specify the information upon which they relied. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to Section 212(c) of the DGCL may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction must be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission. A duly executed proxy is irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only so long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy, which is not irrevocable, by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing with the Secretary an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or another duly executed proxy bearing a later date.

Any stockholder directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other stockholders must use a proxy card color other than white, which shall be reserved for the exclusive use by the Board.

Section 2.9List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger must prepare and make, or cause to be prepared and made, no later than the tenth (10^th) day before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Nothing in this Section requires the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on that list. The list must be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of ten (10) days ending on the day before the meeting date: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting; or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation.

Section 2.10Stock Ledger. The stock ledger of the Corporation is the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list of stockholders required by Section 2.9 or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

Section 2.11Notice of Stockholder Nominations and Other Business.

(a)Proper Business; Nominations. No business may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders, other than business that is: (i) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof); (ii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof); or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by a stockholder present in person who (A) (1) was a record owner of shares of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.11 and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (3) has complied with this Section 2.11 in all applicable respects or (B) properly made such proposal in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (as so amended and inclusive of such rules and regulations, the “Exchange Act”). The foregoing clause (iii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose business or nominations to be brought before an annual meeting of the stockholders. The only matters that may be brought before a special meeting are the matters specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling the meeting pursuant to Section 2.3, and stockholders shall not be permitted to propose business to be brought before a special meeting of the stockholders. For purposes of this Section 2.11, “present in person” shall mean that the stockholder proposing that the business be brought before the annual meeting of the Corporation, or a qualified representative of such proposing stockholder, appear at such annual meeting. A “qualified representative” of such proposing stockholder shall be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or any other person authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders. Stockholders seeking to nominate persons for election to the Board of Directors must comply with this Section 2.11.

(b)Timeliness. Without qualification, for business or nominations to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must (i) provide Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation, (ii) provide the information, agreements and questionnaires with respect to such stockholder and its proposed business or candidate for nomination as required to be set forth by this Section 2.11 and (iii) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.11. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary (other than a request for inclusion of a proposal in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act) must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the Corporation’s principal executive offices (addressed to the attention of the Secretary) not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. Provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within thirty (30) days before or after

such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder in order to be timely must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the Corporation’s principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or such public announcement of the date of the annual meeting was made, whichever first occurs, or no less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the annual meeting (such notice within such time periods, “Timely Notice”). In no event may a Soliciting Person (as defined below) provide Timely Notice with respect to a greater number of director candidates than are subject to election by shareholders at the applicable meeting. In the event that the number of a class of directors to be elected is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.11 will also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if the notice is delivered to, or mailed and received at, the Corporation’s principal executive offices (addressed to the attention of the Secretary) not later than ten (10) days following the day on which the Corporation makes such public announcement. The requirements set forth in this Section 2.11(b) will apply to all stockholders’ notices with respect to nominations of persons to be elected to the Board of Directors.

(c)Information Required. The stockholder’s notice pursuant to this Section 2.11 must include all of the following:

(i) as to each person whom the Soliciting Person proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, (A) all information with respect to such candidate for nomination that would be required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice pursuant to this Section 2.11 if such candidate for nomination were a Soliciting Person, (B) all of the information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act and Rule 14a-11 thereunder (including such nominee’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement and accompanying proxy card as a nominee and to serving as a director for a full term if elected), (C) a description of any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement between or among any Soliciting Person, on the one hand, and each candidate for nomination or his or her respective associates or any other participants in such solicitation, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K if such Soliciting Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the candidate for nomination were a director or executive officer of such registrant, and (D) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement as provided in Section 2.11(m);

(ii) as to any other business that the Soliciting Person proposes to bring before the meeting, (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of each Soliciting Person, (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), (C) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (x)

between or among any of the Soliciting Persons or (y) between or among any Soliciting Person and any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder, and (D) any other information relating to such item of business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that the disclosures required by this paragraph (ii) shall not include any disclosures with respect to any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Soliciting Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these Bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner;

(iii) as to each Soliciting Person, (A) the name and address of such Soliciting Person (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Corporation’s books and records); and (B) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such Soliciting Person, except that such Soliciting Person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of the Corporation as to which such Soliciting Person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future; and

(iv) as to each Soliciting Person, (A) the full notional amount of any securities that, directly or indirectly, underlie any “derivative security” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(c) under the Exchange Act) that constitutes a “call equivalent position” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(b) under the Exchange Act) (“Synthetic Equity Position”) and that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by such Soliciting Person with respect to any shares of any class or series of shares of the Corporation; provided that, for the purposes of the definition of “Synthetic Equity Position,” the term “derivative security” shall also include any security or instrument that would not otherwise constitute a “derivative security” as a result of any feature that would make any conversion, exercise or similar right or privilege of such security or instrument becoming determinable only at some future date or upon the happening of a future occurrence, in which case the determination of the amount of securities into which such security or instrument would be convertible or exercisable shall be made assuming that such security or instrument is immediately convertible or exercisable at the time of such determination; and, provided, further, that any Soliciting Person satisfying the requirements of Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (other than a Soliciting Person that so satisfies Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act solely by reason of Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)) shall not be deemed to hold or maintain the notional amount of any securities that underlie a Synthetic Equity Position held by such Soliciting Person as a hedge with respect to a bona fide derivatives trade or position of such Soliciting Person arising in the ordinary course of such Soliciting Person’s business as a derivatives dealer, (B) any rights to dividends on the shares of any class or series of shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Soliciting Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (C) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such Soliciting Person is a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Corporation, (D) any other

material relationship between such Soliciting Person, on the one hand, and the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation, on the other hand, (E) any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement of such Soliciting Person with the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement), (F) a representation that such Soliciting Person intends or is part of a group which intends to deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal, otherwise solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal, or to solicit proxies in support of any proposed nominee in accordance with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act and (G) any other information relating to such Soliciting Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such Soliciting Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that the disclosures required by this paragraph (iv) shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Soliciting Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these Bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner.

For purposes of this Section 2.11, the term “Soliciting Person” shall mean (i) the stockholder providing the notice of business or nomination proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the business or nomination proposed to be brought before the annual meeting is made, and (iii) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such stockholder in such solicitation.

(d)Updates. A Soliciting Person shall update and supplement its notice to the Corporation of its intent to propose business at an annual meeting, and a candidate for nomination as a director by a stockholder of record shall further update and supplement the materials delivered pursuant to Sections 2.11(m) and (n), if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other Section of these Bylaws shall not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder

to amend or update any proposal or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding matters, business or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.

(e)Compliance with Exchange Act. In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.11 with respect to any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting, each Soliciting Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such nominations. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.11, unless otherwise required by law, (i) no Soliciting Person shall solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Corporation’s nominees unless such Soliciting Person has complied with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act in connection with the solicitation of such proxies, including the provision to the Corporation of notices required thereunder in a timely manner and (ii) if any Soliciting Person (1) provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) subsequently fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) and Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act, including the provision to the Corporation of notices required thereunder in a timely manner, or fails to timely provide reasonable evidence sufficient to satisfy the Corporation that such Soliciting Person has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act in accordance with the following sentence, then the Corporation shall disregard any proxies or votes solicited for the Soliciting Person’s candidates. If any Soliciting Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act, such Soliciting Person shall deliver to the Corporation, no later than seven (7) business days prior to the applicable meeting, reasonable evidence that it has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act.

(f)Inclusion in Company Proxy Statement. This Section 2.11 is expressly intended to apply to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders other than any proposal made in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the Corporation’s proxy statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.11, in order to include information with respect to a stockholder proposal in the Corporation’s proxy statement and form of proxy for a stockholder’s meeting, a stockholder must provide notice as required by the regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. Nothing in these Bylaws is deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act or any successor rule.

(g)Special Meeting Nominations. At any special meeting of the stockholders, only such business may be conducted as is brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. In the event that a special meeting of the stockholders is called for the purpose of electing one nor more directors, nominations of a person or persons for election may be made (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by a stockholder who complies with the procedures in this Section 2.11 if such stockholder is a stockholder of record both on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 2.11 and at the time of the meeting and is entitled to vote at such special meeting, and such stockholder (A) provides timely notice in writing and in proper form to the Corporation’s Secretary, (B) provides the information with respect to such stockholder and its candidate for nomination as required by this Section 2.11 and (C) provides any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.11. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice for nominations to be made at a special

meeting must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such notice of the date of the special meeting was mailed or such public announcement of the date of the special meeting was made, whichever first occurs, or no less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the special meeting.

(h)Determination of Proper Business. Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.11 will be eligible to serve as directors and only such business may be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as is brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.11; provided, however, that once business has been properly brought before a meeting in accordance with such procedures, nothing in this Section 2.11 will be deemed to preclude discussion by any stockholder of any such business (subject to any rules for the orderly conduct of the meeting as may be adopted by the Chairman of the meeting or the Board of Directors). The Chairman of the meeting and the Board of Directors each has the power to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.11 and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Section 2.11, to declare that such defective proposal be disregarded and not presented for stockholder action.

(i)No New Time Period. In no event will the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual or special meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice.

(j)Exchange Act. In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.11 with respect to any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting, each Soliciting Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such nominations.

(k)Public Announcement. For the purposes of this Section 2.11, a “public announcement” includes disclosure in a press release issued to a national news service, in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with, or furnished on Form 8-K to, the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act, or other method deemed to be a public announcement under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(l)Delivery(i). For purposes of this Section 2.11, delivery of a proxy statement or delivery of a form of proxy includes sending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials in accordance with Rule 14a-16 under the Exchange Act.(m)(n)(o)

(m)Requirements. To be eligible to be a candidate for election as a director of the Corporation at an annual or special meeting, a candidate nominated by a stockholder of record must be nominated in the manner prescribed in this Section 2.11 and such candidate for nomination must have previously delivered (in accordance with the time period prescribed for delivery in a notice to such candidate given by or on behalf of the Board of Directors), to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (i) a completed written questionnaire (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Corporation upon written request of any stockholder of record therefor) with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such proposed nominee and (ii) a written representation and

agreement (in form provided by the Corporation upon written request of any stockholder of record therefor) that such candidate for nomination (A) is not and, if elected as a director during his or her term of office, will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given and will not give any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such proposed nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation or reimbursement for service as a director that has not been disclosed therein, (C) if elected as a director of the Corporation, will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading and other policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to directors and in effect during such person’s term in office as a director (and, if requested by any candidate for nomination, the Secretary of the Corporation shall provide to such candidate for nomination all such policies and guidelines then in effect) and intends to tender, promptly following such person’s election or reelection, an irrevocable resignation of the type described in Section 3.4 of these Bylaws, and (D) if elected as director of the Corporation, intends to serve the entire term until the next meeting at which such candidate would face re-election.

(n)Additional Information. The Board of Directors may also require any proposed candidate for nomination as a director to furnish such other information as may reasonably be requested by the Board of Directors in writing prior to the meeting of stockholders at which such candidate’s nomination is to be acted upon in order for the Board of Directors to determine the eligibility of such candidate for nomination to be an independent director of the Corporation and to comply with the director qualification standards and additional selection criteria in accordance with the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Principles and Guidelines. Such other information shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (or any other office specified by the Corporation in any public announcement) not later than five (5) business days after the request by the Board of Directors has been delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Soliciting Person.

(o)Director Eligibility. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no candidate for nomination by a stockholder of record shall be eligible to be seated as a director of the Corporation unless nominated and elected in accordance with Section 2.11.

Section 2.12Inspectors of Election. Before any meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors must appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report of the meeting. The Board of Directors may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of the meeting must appoint one or more inspectors. No nominee for the office of director may be appointed inspector. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of inspector, must take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability. The duties of these inspectors are as follows:

(i)Ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each;

(ii)Determine the shares represented at a meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots;

(iii)Count all votes and ballots;

(iv)Determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors; and

(v)Certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting, and their count of all votes and ballots.

The inspector(s) may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of the duties of the inspectors.

Section 2.13Organization.

(a)Chair and Secretary of Meeting. Except as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, at every meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or, if a Chairman has not been appointed or is absent, the Chief Executive Officer, or, if the Chief Executive Officer is absent, the President, or, if the President is absent, a Chairman of the meeting chosen by a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote, acts as Chairman. The Secretary, or, if the Secretary is absent, an Assistant Secretary or other person directed to do so by the Chairman of the meeting, acts as secretary of the meeting.

(b)Stockholder Meeting Rules. The Board of Directors of the Corporation is entitled to make such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders as it deems necessary, appropriate or convenient. Subject to such rules and regulations of the Board of Directors, if any, the Chairman of the meeting has the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such Chairman, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, establishing an agenda or order of business for the meeting, rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present, limitations on participation in such meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation and their duly authorized and constituted proxies and such other persons as the Chairman may permit, restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof, limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants and regulation of the opening and closing of the polls for balloting on matters which are to be voted on by ballot. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting must be announced at the meeting. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders are not required to be held in accordance with rules of parliamentary procedure.

ARTICLE III.

DIRECTORS

Section 3.1Number. The Board of Directors consists of not less than five (5) nor more than thirteen (13) members, the precise number thereof to be fixed from time to time by vote of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the number of directors may not be reduced so as to shorten the term of any director at the time in office.

Section 3.2Term of Office; Vacancies. Each director shall be elected for a term expiring at the next annual meeting following such director’s election. Unless the stockholders are permitted to fill a vacancy pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors, (i) any vacancy on the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors shall be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and (ii) any other vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors shall be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Any director appointed to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall have the same remaining term as that of his or her predecessor. If the stockholders are permitted to fill a vacancy at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, nominees shall be elected to such vacant directorships and to any other directorships otherwise subject to election by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote thereon. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, whenever the holders of any one or more classes or series of preferred stock issued by the Corporation, if any, have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, removal, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorships is governed by the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation applicable thereto.

Section 3.3Nominations. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at any annual meeting of stockholders, or at any special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors: (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, including by any committee or persons authorized to do so by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws or (b) by any stockholder of the Corporation present in person who: (i) was a stockholder of record both on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in Section 2.11 and at the time of the meeting, (ii) is entitled to vote at such meeting and (iii) timely complies with all of the procedures set forth in Sections 2.11 as to such notice and nomination. No person is eligible for election as a director unless such candidate for nomination and the Soliciting Person seeking to place such candidate’s name in nomination has complied with this Section 3.3. If the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the meeting determines that a nomination was not made as set forth in this Section 3.3, the Chairman must declare to the meeting that the nomination was defective and that such defective nomination must be disregarded and any ballots cast for the candidate in question (but in the case of any form of ballot listing other qualified nominees, only the ballots cast for the nominee in question) shall be void and of no force or effect.

Section 3.4Election of Directors / Resignation Policy. Directors of the Corporation shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of the shares entitled to vote thereon.

(a)For purposes of this Bylaw, (i) “Uncontested Election” means any stockholder meeting with respect to which the number of nominees for director does not exceed the number of directors to be elected at that meeting and (ii) a “Majority Vote” means the votes cast “for” a nominee exceed the number of votes cast “against” the nominee. For purposes of clarity, votes cast with respect to a nominee exclude the following: abstentions as to that nominee, shares present at the meeting by proxy for which authority has been withheld to vote as to that nominee, and shares otherwise treated as present for purposes of determining a quorum with respect to that meeting but not entitled to vote as to that nominee.

(b)In order for a person to be eligible for nomination for director election by the Board of Directors or consideration for nomination by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, he or she prior to nomination must agree that if elected he or she will submit an irrevocable resignation to the Secretary of the Corporation promptly following his or her election or reelection that will be effective upon (i) such director’s failure to receive a Majority Vote for reelection in any Uncontested Election at which he or she is subject to reelection, and (ii) acceptance of that resignation by the Board of Directors in accordance with these Bylaws and any policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors for such purposes; provided, however, that this sentence shall not apply to a director who has previously submitted a resignation.

(c)Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors:

(i)After receipt of the report of the inspector of elections with respect to any meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected, the Board of Directors may consider the resignation of any nominee for election at that meeting who failed to receive a Majority Vote in an Uncontested Election (such a nominee being an “Unsuccessful Incumbent”) and may accept or reject the resignation of the Unsuccessful Incumbent within ninety (90) days following the date of the Corporation’s receipt of the report of the inspector of elections. In determining whether or not to accept or reject the resignation, the Board of Directors may consider any information, factors and alternatives that the Board of Directors deems appropriate.

(ii)The Board of Directors may request that any director who is an Unsuccessful Incumbent abstain from participating in the consideration or the decision of the Board of Directors regarding whether to accept or reject his or her resignation. If a majority of the members of the Board of Directors are Unsuccessful Incumbents, then the Independent Directors then serving on the Board of Directors who received a Majority Vote may appoint an ad hoc committee (the “Ad Hoc Committee”) from amongst themselves, consisting of such number of directors as they may determine to be appropriate, solely for the purpose of considering and making a recommendation to the Board of Directors with respect to the tendered resignations.

(iii)Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Ad Hoc Committee would have been created but fewer than three directors would be eligible to serve on it, the entire Board of Directors (other than the director whose resignation is being considered) may make the determination to accept or reject a tendered resignation without the creation of an Ad Hoc Committee.

(d)If the Board of Directors determines to accept the resignation of an Unsuccessful Incumbent, then the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors may recommend a candidate to fill the vacancy created by the resignation and the vacancy may be filled in accordance with Section 3.2 of these Bylaws.

(e)Each member of the Board of Directors serves from the date of his or her appointment or election to the Board of Directors until death, resignation or removal or until the election or appointment of a successor.

Section 3.5Removal. A director may be removed without cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the capital stock of the Corporation outstanding and entitled to vote thereon.

Section 3.6Resignation. Any director may resign at any time by delivering his or her notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Secretary, such resignation to specify whether it will be effective at a particular time, upon receipt by the Secretary, or upon the happening of another event or at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. If no such specification is made, it is deemed effective at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. A resignation that is conditioned upon the director failing to receive a specified vote for reelection as a director may provide that it is irrevocable. When one or more directors resigns from the Board of Directors, effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, may fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations become effective.

Section 3.7Duties and Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation are managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

Section 3.8Meetings. The Board of Directors may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without call or notice at such time and at such place as may from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman or a majority of directors. Notice thereof stating the place, date and hour of the meeting must be given to each director either by mail not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the date of the meeting, by telephone (including a voice messaging or other system or technology designed to record and communicate messages), electronic mail or other electronic means, facsimile or telegram on twenty-four (24) hours’ notice.

Section 3.9Quorum. Except as may be otherwise specifically provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at all meetings of the Board of Directors a majority of the exact number of directors fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum is the act of the Board of Directors. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the

Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.

Section 3.10Actions without a Meeting. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee thereof. Such filing must be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and must be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

Section 3.11Meetings by Conference Telephone. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 3.11 constitutes presence in person at such meeting.

Section 3.12Conduct of Meetings. The Chairman of the Board of Directors or in his or her absence a chairman chosen by a majority at the meeting presides at meetings of the Board of Directors. The Secretary acts as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence, the Chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

Section 3.13Remuneration. The directors may be paid such remuneration, if any, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. Any remuneration so payable to a director who is also an officer or employee of the Corporation or who is counsel or solicitor to the Corporation or otherwise serves it in a professional capacity must, unless the Board of directors otherwise determines, be in addition to such director’s salary as such officer or employee or to his or her professional fees as the case may be. In addition, the Board of Directors may by resolution from time to time award special remuneration out of the funds of the Corporation to any director who performs any special work or service for or undertakes any special mission on behalf of the Corporation outside of the work or service ordinarily required of a director of a corporation. The directors may also be paid such sums in respect of their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors or otherwise in respect of the performance by them of their duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. Confirmation by the stockholders of any such remuneration or payment is not required.

Section 3.14Interested Directors. No contract or transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, is void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because his or their votes are counted for such purpose if: (a) the material facts as to his or their

relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or the committee, and the Board of Directors or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or (b) the material facts as to his or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (c) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof or the stockholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee, which authorizes the contract or transaction.

Section 3.15Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. Any such committee and each member thereof serves at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence of any such designation of one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, the Board of Directors may fill any vacancy occurring in any such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such person or persons constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by law and to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, has and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. No such committee has the power or authority in reference to amending the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of dissolution, or amending these Bylaws; and unless the resolution expressly so provides, no such committee has the power or authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board may make, alter and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules, each committee must conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to these Bylaws.

ARTICLE IV.

OFFICERS

Section 4.1General.

(a)Board Elected Officers. The officers of the Corporation elected by the Board of Directors are a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, a Secretary, one (1) or more Executive Vice Presidents and such other officers as the Board of Directors may deem expedient, and those officers elected in such manner and hold their offices for such terms

as the Board of Directors may prescribe. The Board of Directors may elect the Chairman of the Board of Directors as an officer of the Corporation, provided that the Chairman may not be regarded as an officer of the Corporation unless the Board of Directors so determines at the time of election in accordance with these Bylaws. The same person may hold any number of offices, unless otherwise prohibited by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. The officers of the Corporation need not be stockholders of the Corporation nor, except in the case of the Chairman of the Board, need such officers be directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may from time to time, in its discretion, assign titles, powers, duties and reporting arrangements for any elected officer. Any office of the Corporation may be left vacant from time to time at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The salaries and other compensation of the officers of the Corporation may be fixed by or in the manner designated by the Board of Directors.

(b)Other Officers. In addition to the officers elected by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 4.1(a), the Corporation may have a Treasurer, one or more appointed Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, or other officers, who are also officers of the Corporation (each an “Appointed Officer”). Appointed Officers are appointed by the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer may from time to time, in his or her discretion, assign such titles, powers, duties, scope of job responsibilities and reporting arrangements for any Appointed Officer, consistent with Section 4.2 below.

Section 4.2Tenure and Duties of Officers.

(a)Tenure. All officers hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, unless sooner removed. Any officer elected by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors. Any Appointed Officer may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. If the office of any Appointed Officer becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be left vacant or be filled by the Chief Executive Officer. Nothing in these Bylaws is to be construed as creating any kind of contractual right to employment with the Corporation.

(b)Duties. The officer(s) bearing the titles set forth below have the powers and duties set forth below unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors.

(i)Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board of Directors presides at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors, unless the Board of Directors determines otherwise. Unless the Board of Directors appoints a separate Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board is the Chief Executive Officer and has the same powers and duties of the Chief Executive Officer. The Chairman of the Board of Directors must perform such other duties and has such other powers as the Board of Directors designates from time to time.

(ii)Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer has, subject to the oversight of the Board of Directors, general supervision, direction and control of the business and the officers, employees and agents of the Corporation. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, if such officer is a director, presides at all meetings of the Board of Directors, unless the Board of Directors determines

otherwise. The Chief Executive Officer must perform such other duties and has such other powers as the Board of Directors may designate from time to time.

(iii)President. Subject to the oversight of the Board of Directors and the supervision, control and authority of the Chief Executive Officer, the President has general supervision, direction and control of the business and the officers, employees and agents of the Corporation. The President must perform such other duties and has such other powers as the Board of Directors may designate from time to time.

(iv)Vice Presidents. The Vice Presidents (however designated and whether elected by the Board of Directors or appointed by the Chief Executive Officer) have the powers and perform the duties that pertain to, or relate to, such Vice President’s designated job or business function and has such other powers and perform such other duties as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer designates from time to time.

(v)Secretary. The Secretary must keep, or cause to be kept, a book of minutes of all meetings of directors, committees of directors, and stockholders. The Secretary must give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and performs such other duties and has such other powers as the Board of Directors designates from time to time. If the Secretary is unable, or refuses, to cause to be given notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and if there is no Assistant Secretary, then either the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board may choose another officer to cause such notice to be given. The Secretary has custody of the seal of the Corporation, and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, if there is one, has the authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and, when so affixed, such seal may be attested by the signature of the Secretary or by the signature of any Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing of his or her signature. The Secretary must see that all books, reports, statements, certificates or other documents and records required by law to be kept or filed are properly kept or filed, as the case may be. It is the duty of the Assistant Secretaries to assist the Secretary in the performance of the Secretary’s powers and duties generally to have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be delegated to them by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

(vi)Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer keeps or causes to be kept the books of account of the Corporation in a thorough and proper manner and must render statements of the financial affairs of the Corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of Directors. Unless the Board of Directors appoints a separate Treasurer, the Chief Financial Officer is the Treasurer and, subject to the order of the Board of Directors, has the custody of all funds and securities of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer performs other duties commonly incident to the office and must also perform such other duties and has such other powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President may designate from time to time.

(c)Resignation. Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice to the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Any such resignation takes effect on the date of receipt of such notice or at any later time specified therein; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation is not necessary to make it effective. Any such resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.

ARTICLE V.

SHARES OF STOCK

Section 5.1Form and Execution of Certificates. Every holder of stock in the Corporation represented by certificates is entitled to have a certificate signed, in the name of the Corporation, by: (a) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President or a Vice President; and (b) the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation. Any or all of the signatures may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate ceases to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. Any stock certificate may also contain such legend or other statement as may be required by law or by any agreement between the Corporation and the issue thereof.

Section 5.2Lost Certificates. A new certificate or uncertificated shares may be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen, or destroyed. The Corporation may require, as a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or uncertificated shares, the owner of such lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate or certificates, or the owner’s legal representative, to agree to indemnify the Corporation in such manner as it requires or to give the Corporation a surety bond in such form and amount as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed.

Section 5.3Transfer Agents and Registrars. The Board of Directors may from time to time appoint one or more transfer agents and registrars in one or more cities; may require all certificates evidencing shares of stock of the Corporation to bear the signature of a transfer agent and registrar; and may provide that such certificates may be transferable in more than one city.

Section 5.4Transfers. Transfers of record of shares of stock of the Corporation may be made only upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by attorney duly authorized, and, in the case of stock represented by certificate, upon the surrender of a properly endorsed certificate or certificates for a like number of shares. The Corporation has the power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes of stock of the Corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.

Section 5.5Fixing Record Dates.

(a)For Notice and Meetings. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which record date may not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date must, subject to applicable law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders is at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders applies to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

(b)For Other Purposes. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which record date may not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date must be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose is at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

Section 5.6Registered Stockholders. The Corporation is entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and is not bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person whether or not it has express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.

ARTICLE VI.

NOTICES

Section 6.1Written Notice. Whenever written notice is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, to be given to any director, member of a committee or stockholder, such notice may be given by mail, addressed to such director, member of a committee or stockholder, at his or her address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice is deemed to be given at the time when the same is deposited in the United States mail.

Section 6.2Notice to Directors. Notice stating the place, date and hour of the meeting must be given to each director either by mail not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the date of the meeting, by telephone (including a voice messaging or other system or technology designed to record and communicate messages), electronic mail or other electronic means, facsimile or telegram on twenty-four (24) hours’ notice.

Section 6.3Notice by Electronic Transmission to Stockholders. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, its Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws is effective if given by electronic transmission directed to the stockholder’s electronic mail address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. Notice given pursuant to this Section is deemed given: (i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to such stockholder’s electronic mail address (unless the stockholder has notified the Corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail or such notice is prohibited by the DGCL to be given by electronic transmission); (iii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (a) such posting and (b) the giving of such separate notice; and (iv) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. A notice by electronic mail must include a prominent legend that the communication is an important notice regarding the Corporation. A notice by electronic mail will include any files attached thereto and any information hyperlinked to a website if such electronic mail includes the contact information of an officer or agent of the Corporation who is available to assist with accessing such files or information. Any notice to stockholders by electronic transmission other than by electronic mail may only be given in a form consented to by such stockholder. Any such consent is revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any such consent is deemed revoked if (i) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent and (ii) such inability becomes known to the secretary or an assistant secretary of the corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation does not invalidate any meeting or other action. An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent or their agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission is, in the absence of fraud, prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. For purposes of these Bylaws, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

Section 6.4Notice to Stockholders Sharing an Address. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation is effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom notice is given. Any consent is revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. A stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Corporation, within 60 days of having been given written notice by the Corporation of its intention to send the single notice will be deemed to have consented to receiving the single notice.

Section 6.5Waiver. Whenever any notice is required by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, is deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting constitutes a waiver of notice of that meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the

express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors or members of a committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation.

ARTICLE VII.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 7.1Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting, and may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, deems proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for any proper purpose, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve.

Section 7.2Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation must be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 7.3Corporate Seal. The corporate seal, if any, must have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation and may be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors.

Section 7.4Electronic Signatures. Any document, including, without limitation, any consent, agreement, certificate or instrument, required by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws to be executed by any officer, director, stockholder, employee or agent of the Corporation may be executed using a facsimile or other form of electronic signature to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. All other contracts, agreements, certificates or instruments to be executed on behalf of the Corporation may be executed using a facsimile or other form of electronic signature to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

ARTICLE VIII.

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 8.1Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings Other Than Those by or in the Right of the Corporation. Subject to Section 8.3, the Corporation must indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against costs, charges (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and

reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, does not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

Section 8.2Power to Indemnify in Actions Suits or Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation. Subject to Section 8.3, the Corporation must indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against costs, charges, expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her (including attorneys’ fees) in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; except that no indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person is adjudged to be liable for gross negligence or misconduct in the performance of his or her duty to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of such liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such costs which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court deems proper.

Section 8.3Authorization of Indemnification. Any indemnification under this Article VIII (unless ordered by a court) may be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such director or officer has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 8.1 or 8.2, as the case may be. Such determination must be made with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination: (i) by a majority vote of the directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum; (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum; (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or (iv) by the stockholders. To the extent, however, that a present or former director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she must be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case.

Section 8.4Good Faith Defined. For purposes of any determination under Section 8.3, a person is deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner such person

reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, if such person’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Corporation or another enterprise, or on information supplied to him or her by the officers of the Corporation or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Corporation or another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Corporation or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Corporation or another enterprise. The term “another enterprise” as used in this Section 8.4 means any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent. The provisions of this Section 8.4 are not exclusive nor do they limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 8.1 or 8.2, as the case may be.

Section 8.5Indemnification by a Court. Notwithstanding any contrary determination in the specific case under Section 8.3, and notwithstanding the absence of any determination thereunder, any present or former director or officer may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware for indemnification to the extent otherwise permissible under Sections 8.1 and 8.2. The basis of such indemnification by a court must be a determination by such court that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such director or officer has met the applicable standards of conduct set forth in Sections 8.1 or 8.2, as the case may be. Neither a contrary determination in the specific case under Section 8.3 nor the absence of any determination thereunder is a defense to such application or create a presumption that the director or officer seeking indemnification has not met any applicable standard of conduct. Notice of any application for indemnification pursuant to this Section 8.5 must be given to the Corporation promptly upon the filing of such application. If successful, in whole or in part, the director or officer seeking indemnification must also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such application.

Section 8.6Expenses Payable in Advance. Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a director or officer in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding must be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article VIII. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees, and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Corporation deems appropriate.

Section 8.7Nonexclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Article VIII are not exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any Bylaw, agreement, contract, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or pursuant to the direction (howsoever embodied) of any court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, it being the policy of the Corporation

that indemnification of the persons specified in Sections 8.1 and 8.2 must be made to the fullest extent permitted by law. The provisions of this Article VIII do not preclude the indemnification of any person who is not specified in Sections 8.1 or 8.2 but whom the Corporation has the power or obligation to indemnify under the provisions of the DGCL, or otherwise.

Section 8.8Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article VIII.

Section 8.9Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Article VIII, references to “the Corporation” include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors and officers, so that any person who is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee fiduciary or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, will stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued. For purposes of this Article VIII, references to “fines” include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” include any service as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee fiduciary or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan is deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Article VIII.

Section 8.10Survival of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VIII, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation and inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

Section 8.11Limitation on Indemnification. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article VIII to the contrary, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification (which is governed by Section 8.5), the Corporation is not obligated to indemnify any present or former director or officer in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

Section 8.12Indemnification of Employees and Agents. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation similar to those conferred in this Article VIII to directors and officers of the Corporation.

Section 8.13Enforceability. The provisions of this Article VIII are applicable to all actions, suits or proceedings pending at the time or commenced after the adoption of this Article VIII, whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring, or based on claims asserted, before or after the adoption of this Article VIII. If this Article VIII or any portion hereof is invalidated on any ground by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation must nevertheless indemnify each director, officer, employee and agent of the Corporation as to costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in any judgment or settlement with respect to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including any action by or in the right of the Corporation, to the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article VIII that is not invalidated and to the full extent permitted by applicable law.

ARTICLE IX.

FORUM SELECTION

Section 9.1Forum Selection. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (a) the Court of Chancery (the “Chancery Court”) of the State of Delaware (or, in the event that the Chancery Court does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware or other state courts of the State of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action, suit or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action, suit or proceeding arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time) or (iv) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine; and (b) subject to the preceding provisions of this Article IX, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause or causes of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including all causes of action asserted against any defendant to such complaint. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of clause (a) of the immediately preceding sentence is filed in a court other than the courts in the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the provisions of clause (a) of the immediately preceding sentence and (y) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this Article IX. This provision is intended to benefit and may be enforced by the Corporation, its officers and directors, the

underwriters to any offering giving rise to such complaint, and any other professional or entity whose profession gives authority to a statement made by that person or entity and who has prepared or certified any part of the documents underlying the offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Article IX shall not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts of the United States have exclusive jurisdiction.

If any provision or provisions of this Article IX shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever, (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article IX (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Article IX containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

ARTICLE X.

AMENDMENTS

Section 10.1Bylaw Amendments. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed in whole or in part, or new Bylaws may be adopted, by the stockholders or by the Board of Directors, provided, however, that notice of such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption of new Bylaws is contained in the notice of such meeting of stockholders or Board of Directors, as the case may be. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, all such amendments must be approved by either the holders of at least eighty percent (80%) of the combined voting power of all of the then outstanding capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, or by a majority of the entire Board of Directors then in office.

Section 10.2Entire Board of Directors. As used in this Article X and in these Bylaws generally, the term “entire Board of Directors” means the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies.

Exhibit 10.1

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT

dated as of

October 6, 2022

among

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED,

The Lenders Party Hereto

and

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Co-Syndication Agents

and

BANK OF THE WEST,

as Documentation Agent

___________________________

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Sole Bookrunner and Sole Lead Arranger

TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS		1
	SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms	1
	SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings	32
	SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally	32
	SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP	33
	SECTION 1.05. Interest Rates; Benchmark Replacement Notification	34
	SECTION 1.06. Letter of Credit Amounts	34
	SECTION 1.07. Divisions	34
ARTICLE II THE CREDITS		35
	SECTION 2.01. Commitments	35
	SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings	35
	SECTION 2.03. Requests for Revolving Borrowings	35
	SECTION 2.04. Swingline Loans	36
	SECTION 2.05. Letters of Credit	37
	SECTION 2.06. Funding of Borrowings	42
	SECTION 2.07. Interest Elections	43
	SECTION 2.08. Termination and Reduction of Commitments	44
	SECTION 2.09. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt	45
	SECTION 2.10. Prepayment of Loans	46
	SECTION 2.11. Fees	46
	SECTION 2.12. Interest	47
	SECTION 2.13. Alternate Rate of Interest	48
	SECTION 2.14. Increased Costs	51
	SECTION 2.15. Break Funding Payments	53
	SECTION 2.16. Withholding of Taxes; Gross-Up	53
	SECTION 2.17. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs	57
	SECTION 2.18. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders	59
	SECTION 2.19. Defaulting Lenders	60
	SECTION 2.20. Increase in Commitments	63

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)


		Page
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES		64
	SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers	64
	SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability	64
	SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts	64
	SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change	64
	SECTION 3.05. Properties; Liens	65
	SECTION 3.06. Litigation and Environmental Matters	65
	SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements	66
	SECTION 3.08. Margin Regulations; Investment Company Status	66
	SECTION 3.09. Taxes	66
	SECTION 3.10. ERISA	66
	SECTION 3.11. Subsidiaries; Equity Interests	66
	SECTION 3.12. Labor Matters	66
	SECTION 3.13. Disclosure	67
	SECTION 3.14. Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions	67
	SECTION 3.15. Affected Financial Institutions	67
ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS		67
	SECTION 4.01. Effective Date	68
	SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event	69
ARTICLE V AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS		70
	SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements and Other Information	70
	SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events	71
	SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business	72
	SECTION 5.04. Payment of Obligations	72
	SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance	72
	SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights	72
	SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws	73
	SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit	73
	SECTION 5.09. Additional Guarantors	73

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)


		Page
ARTICLE VI NEGATIVE COVENANTS		73
	SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness	74
	SECTION 6.02. Liens	75
	SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes	76
	SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions	77
	SECTION 6.05. Hedge Agreements	78
	SECTION 6.06. Restricted Payments	78
	SECTION 6.07. Transactions with Affiliates	80
	SECTION 6.08. Restrictive Agreements	80
	SECTION 6.09. Financial Covenants	80
	SECTION 6.10. Sale and Leaseback	81
	SECTION 6.11. Sale of Assets	81
ARTICLE VII EVENTS OF DEFAULT		82
	SECTION 7.01. Events of Default	82
	SECTION 7.02. Remedies Upon an Event of Default	84
	SECTION 7.03. Application of Payments	84
ARTICLE VIII THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT		86
	SECTION 8.01. Authorization and Action	86
	SECTION 8.02. Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Limitation of Liability, Etc	88
	SECTION 8.03. Posting of Communications	90
	SECTION 8.04. The Administrative Agent Individually	91
	SECTION 8.05. Successor Administrative Agent	92
	SECTION 8.06. Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Banks	93
	SECTION 8.07. Certain ERISA Matters	94
	SECTION 8.08. Guarantee Matters	96
ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS		96
	SECTION 9.01. Notices	96
	SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments	97
	SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Limitation of Liability; Indemnity; Etc.	99

-iii-

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

		Page
	SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns	101
	SECTION 9.05. Survival	105
	SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution	106
	SECTION 9.07. Severability	107
	SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff	107
	SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process	108
	SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL	108
	SECTION 9.11. Headings	109
	SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality	109
	SECTION 9.13. Interest Rate Limitation	110
	SECTION 9.14. USA PATRIOT Act	110
	SECTION 9.15. California Judicial Reference	110
	SECTION 9.16. Judgment Currency	111
	SECTION 9.17. No Fiduciary Duty, etc	111
	SECTION 9.18. Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions	112
	SECTION 9.19. Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs	112
	SECTION 9.20. Amendment and Restatement	113

-iv-

TABLE OF CONTENTS


	Page
SCHEDULES:

Schedule 2.01 – Commitments
Schedule 2.05 – Existing Letters of Credit
Schedule 3.06 – Disclosed Matters
Schedule 3.11 – Subsidiaries and Equity Interests
Schedule 6.01 – Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 6.02 – Existing Liens
Schedule 6.08 – Existing Restrictions

EXHIBITS:

Exhibit A – Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit B – Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit C – Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates

This FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT is dated as of October 6, 2022, among THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation, the LENDERS party hereto, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

The Borrower, certain lenders and the Administrative Agent are parties to that certain Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of July 30, 2019 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time to date, the “Existing Loan Agreement”). The parties hereto agree that the Existing Loan Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

“ABR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is or are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

“Acquisition” means any transaction, or any series of related transactions, consummated on or after the date of this Agreement, by which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (a) acquires any ongoing business or all or substantially all of the assets of any Person, or division thereof, whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise or (b) directly or indirectly acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) at least a majority (in number of votes) of the Equity Interests of a Person which has ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other similar management personnel of a Person (other than Equity Interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) or a majority (by percentage of voting power) of the outstanding Equity Interests of a Person.

“Act” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.14.

“Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR” means an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Daily Simple SOFR, plus (b) 0.10%; provided that if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR Rate as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.

“Adjusted Term SOFR Rate” means, for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period, plus (b) 0.10%; provided that if the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.

“Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.

“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

“Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.

“Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

“Agent-Related Person” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.03(d).

“Agreement” means this Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“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 Term SOFR Rate for a one month Interest Period as published two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day (or if such day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the immediately preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day) plus 1%; provided that for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for any day shall be based on the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on such day (or any amended publication time for the Term SOFR Reference Rate, as specified by the CME Term SOFR Administrator in the Term SOFR Reference Rate methodology). Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, respectively. If the Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to ‎Section 2.13 (for the avoidance of doubt, only until the Benchmark Replacement has been determined pursuant to ‎Section 2.13(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.

“Alternative Currency” means any currency other than dollars that is a lawful currency that is readily available, freely transferable and not restricted and able to be converted into dollars.

“Ancillary Document” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.06(b).

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

“Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the total Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment; provided that in the case of Section 2.19 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Applicable Percentage” shall mean the percentage of

the total Commitments (disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) represented by such Lender’s Commitment. If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination.

“Applicable Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any ABR Loan, Term Benchmark Revolving Loan or RFR Revolving Loan, or with respect to the Unused Fees payable hereunder, as the case may be, (i) from the Effective Date to the date on which the Administrative Agent receives a certificate pursuant to Section 5.01(c) for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2022, 0.375% per annum for any ABR Loan, 1.375% per annum for Term Benchmark Loans and RFR Revolving Loans and 0.20% for the Unused Fee and (ii) thereafter, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “ABR Spread”, “Term Benchmark/RFR Spread” or “Unused Fee”, as the case may be, based upon the Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent compliance certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(c):

APPLICABLE RATE


Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio	Term Benchmark/RFR Spread	ABR Spread	Unused Fee
< 2.00x	1.00%	0.00%	0.125%
2.00x < x < 2.75x	1.125%	0.125%	0.15%
2.75 < x < 3.50x	1.375%	0.375%	0.20%
≥ 3.50x	1.75%	0.75%	0.25%

For purposes of the foregoing, each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio shall be effective during the period commencing on the date that is five Business Days after the date of delivery to the Administrative Agent of such compliance certificate indicating such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change, provided that if the Borrower fails to deliver the annual or quarterly consolidated financial statements and related compliance certificate required to be delivered by it pursuant to Section 5.01, the Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio shall be deemed to be at the highest level in the grid set forth above during the period from the expiration of the time for delivery thereof until such consolidated financial statements and related compliance certificate are delivered.

If at any time the Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio used to determine the Applicable Rate for any period is incorrect as a result of any error, misstatement or misrepresentation contained in any financial statement or compliance certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01, and as a result thereof, the Applicable Rate paid to the Lenders at any time pursuant to this Agreement is lower than the Applicable Rate that would have been payable to the Lenders had the Applicable Margin been calculated on the basis of the correct Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio, the Applicable Rate in respect of such period will be adjusted upwards automatically and retroactively, and the

Borrower shall pay to each Lender such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as are necessary so that after receipt of such amounts such Lender receives an amount equal to the amount it would have received had the Applicable Rate been calculated during such period on the basis of the correct Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio. Additional Amounts shall be payable 10 days following delivery by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower of a notice (which shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) setting forth in reasonable detail the Administrative Agent’s calculation of the amount of any Additional Amounts owed to the Lenders.

“Approved Electronic Platform” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.03(a).

“Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04.

“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form (including electronic records generated by the use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Commitments.

“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 component thereof) or payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof), as applicable, that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period for any term rate or otherwise, for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated 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 (e) of ‎Section 2.13.

“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, 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).

“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy”, 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 or has had any order for relief in such proceeding entered in respect thereof; 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, so long as 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.

“Benchmark” means, initially, with respect to any (i) RFR Loan, the Daily Simple SOFR or (ii) Term Benchmark Loan, the Term SOFR Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event and the related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the Daily Simple SOFR or Term SOFR Rate, as applicable, 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) of Section 2.13.

“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)Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR; or

(2)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 in the United States and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor for any setting of such Unadjusted 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 and/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 dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time.

“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement and/or any Term Benchmark Loan, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Alternate Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “U.S. Government Securities 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, the 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, with respect to any Benchmark, the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to such 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); or

(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be no longer representative; provided, that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (3) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.

For the avoidance of doubt, (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, with respect to any Benchmark, the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to such 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);

(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, the CME Term SOFR Administrator, 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), in each case, 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, or as of a specified future date will no longer be, representative.

For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

“Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, with respect to any Benchmark, 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 such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.13 and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.13.

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

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

“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”.

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

“Borrower” means THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation.

“Borrowing” means (a) Revolving Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Term Benchmark Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, or (b) a Swingline Loan.

“Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03.

“Business Day” means any day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks are open for business in New York City; provided that, in addition to the foregoing, a Business Day shall be (a) in relation to RFR Loans and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such RFR Loan, or any other dealings of such RFR Loan and (b) in relation to Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or any other dealings of such Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, any such day that is only a U.S. Government Securities Business Day.

“Canadian Dollar” means lawful money of Canada.

“Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases or financing leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of one or more of the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender (as applicable) and the Lenders, as collateral for LC Exposure, obligations in respect of Swingline Loans, or obligations of Lenders to fund participations in respect of either thereof (as the context may

require), cash or deposit account balances or, if the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender shall agree in their sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to (a) the Administrative Agent and (b) the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender (as applicable). “Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

“Cash Equivalents” means any of:

(a)direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

(b)investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from S&P or from Moody’s;

(c)investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within 1 year from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

(d)fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (c) above; or

(e)money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000.

“Cash Interest Expense” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, Interest Expense, minus the portion thereof which is not payable in cash.

“Cash Management Bank” shall mean, with respect to any Cash Management Services, any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender (or any Person that was a Lender or Affiliate of a Lender at the time any arrangement with respect to such Cash Management Services was entered into) providing such services.

“Cash Management Services” means each and any of the following bank services provided to the Borrower or any Subsidiary: (a) credit cards for commercial customers (including, without limitation, “commercial credit cards” and purchasing cards), (b) stored value cards, (c) merchant processing services, and (d) treasury management services (including, without limitation,

controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, any direct debit scheme or arrangement, overdrafts and interstate depository network services and cash pooling services).

“CFC” shall mean a “controlled foreign corporation” as defined in Section 957 of the Code.

“Change in Control” means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof), of Equity Interests representing more than 35.0% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower; (b) occupation at any time of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower by Persons who were not (i) directors of the Borrower on the Effective Date, (ii) nominated or appointed by the board of directors of the Borrower or (iii) approved (which approval may or may not include an endorsement) by a majority of the board of directors of the Borrower as director candidates prior to their election; or (c) the acquisition of direct or indirect Control of the Borrower by any Person or group.

“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) compliance by any Lender or the Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 2.15(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in the implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

“Charges” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.13.

“Class”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans or Swingline Loans.

“CME Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited, as administrator of the forward-looking term SOFR (or a successor administrator).

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

“Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans

hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08, (b) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.20 and (c) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Commitments is $400,000,000.

“Communications” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.03(c).

“Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

“Consolidated Total Assets” means at any time the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis as of such time.

“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

“Convertible Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Borrower permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Agreement that is either (a) convertible into common stock of the Borrower (and cash in lieu of fractional shares) and/or cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such common stock) or (b) sold as units with call options, warrants or rights to purchase (or substantially equivalent derivative transactions) that are exercisable for common stock of the Borrower and/or cash (in an amount determined by reference to the price of such common stock).

“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.

“Co-Syndication Agents” means each of Bank of America, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.

“Credit Party” means the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender.

“Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to SOFR for the day that is five U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to (i) if such SOFR Rate Day is a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, such SOFR Rate Day or (ii) if such SOFR Rate Day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately preceding such SOFR Rate Day, in each case, as such SOFR is published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website. Any change in

Daily Simple SOFR due to a change in SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in SOFR without notice to the Borrower.

“Debt” means the outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries of the nature referred to in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) and (h) of the definition of “Indebtedness”; provided, that for the purpose of this definition and for the avoidance of doubt, clause (e) of the definition shall not include any earn-out obligations or similar deferred obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred or created in connection with either of the Project North Acquisitions (as defined in the Existing Loan Agreement) in accordance with the Project North Acquisition Agreements (as defined in the Existing Loan Agreement) and based upon such agreements as set forth in the closing certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(f) (of the Existing Loan Agreement). The Debt 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 provide that such Person is not liable therefor. For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood and agreed that any amounts classified as Deemed Landlord Financing Liabilities shall not be deemed to be Debt for purposes hereof.

“Deemed Landlord Financing Liabilities” means any deemed landlord financing liabilities as determined in accordance with GAAP so long as such liabilities are not evidenced by a note or similar instrument and are repayable solely through the payment of Rental Expense (or the Borrower is not required to repay such liability).

“Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

“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 three 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 Swingline Loans 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 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 or the Borrower, 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) to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of

Credit and Swingline Loans under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Credit Party’s or the Borrower’s, as applicable, receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, or (d) has become the subject of (A) a Bankruptcy Event or (B) a Bail-In Action.

“Denomination Date” means each of the following: (i) each date of issuance of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (ii) each date of an amendment of any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency having the effect of increasing the amount thereof, (iii) each date of any LC Disbursement with respect to any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, and (iv) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank shall determine.

“Designated Alternative Currency” means Canadian Dollars and any other Alternative Currency that has been designated by the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank as a Designated Alternative Currency at the request of the Borrower.

“Disclosed Matters” means the actions, suits and proceedings and the environmental matters disclosed by the Borrower in its periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to the Effective Date or such matters that have occurred prior to the Effective Date and are expected to be disclosed in such a report to be filed after the Effective Date, which are described in Schedule 3.06.

“Documentation Agent” means Bank of the West.

“dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

“EBITDA” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Net Income for such period plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Net Income, without duplication: (i) Interest Expense for such period, (ii) the net provision for Federal, state, local and foreign income taxes payable by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense for such period, (iv) the amount of noncash stock option expense for such period, (v) other non-recurring expenses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries reducing such Net Income for such period which do not represent a cash item in such period or any future period, (vi) to the extent paid in cash or accrued during such period, reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition (whether or not such Permitted Acquisition is consummated) and supported by documentation provided to the Administrative Agent, (vii) non-cash Rental Expense for such period, (viii) non-recurring integration costs for such period and (ix) pre-opening expenses in connection with Permitted Acquisitions and expenses relating to business restructuring and strategic initiatives for such period, provided that the aggregate amount added back to EBITDA pursuant to this clause (ix) shall not exceed 15% of EBITDA for such period (calculated after giving effect to such add-backs), and minus (b) to the extent included in calculating such Net Income, without duplication, (i) all noncash items increasing Net Income for such period, (ii) all EBITDA of any joint venture or other non-wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower for such

period, except to the extent of any amounts distributed to the Borrower in cash and (iii) cash payments made during such period in respect of non-cash Rental Expenses added back pursuant to clause (a)(vii) above for a prior period.

“EBITDAR” means, for any period, EBITDA for such period plus, to the extent deducted from Net Income, the Rental Expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period.

“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.

“Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).

“EITF” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.10.

“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.

“Environmental Laws” means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to (a) the environment, (b) preservation or reclamation of natural resources, (c) the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or (d) health and safety matters.

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

“Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest, but excluding any debt securities convertible into any of the foregoing.

“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(a)(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), 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.

“Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.01.

“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires

such interest in the Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.18(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.16, 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, Letter of Credit or Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.16(f) and (d) any withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

“Existing Letters of Credit” means the letters of credit listed on Schedule 2.05 that were issued by the Issuing Bank (as defined in the Existing Loan Agreement) for the account of the Borrower.

“Existing Loan Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, known as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code 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 the NYFRB’s 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 of America.

“Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower.

“Floor” means the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in this Agreement initially (as of the execution of this Agreement, the modification, amendment or renewal of this Agreement or otherwise) with respect to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, the initial Floor for each of Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR shall be 0.00%.

“Foreign Lender” means a Lender that is not a U.S. Person.

“FSHCO” shall mean an entity that owns (directly or indirectly) no material assets other than Equity Interests (or Equity Interests and debt interests) of one or more CFCs.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, 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.

“Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

“Guaranteed Cash Management Obligations” means the obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, 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 Cash Management Services provided by any Cash Management Bank.

“Guaranteed Hedge Obligations” means the obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under any and all Hedge Agreements between the Borrower or any such Subsidiary and any Hedge Counterparty.

“Guarantors” means, collectively, (a) The Cheesecake Factory Restaurants, Inc., (b) MIDDLE EAST IP CORPORATION, (c) TCF Co. LLC, (d) North Restaurants LLC, (e) TCF California Holding Company, (f) Fox Restaurant Concepts LLC and (g) any other Subsidiary that executes a joinder to the Guaranty pursuant to Section 5.09.

“Guaranty” means the Fourth Amended and Restated Guaranty, dated as of the Effective Date, made by the Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lender Parties.

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

“Hedge 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 the Subsidiaries shall be a Hedge Agreement.

“Hedge Counterparty” shall mean, with respect to any Hedge Agreement, any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender (or any Person that was a Lender or Affiliate of a Lender at the time such Hedge Agreement was executed) party thereto.

“Holdout Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(c).

“Increase Effective Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(c).

“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding (w) trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business, (x) any earn-out obligation until such obligation becomes or would constitute a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP, (y) expenses accrued in the ordinary course of business and (z) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller, unless such amounts or obligations would constitute a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty and (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, as applicable, except to the extent (i) such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person or (ii) such Person’s liability for such Indebtedness is otherwise limited in recourse or amount, but only up to the amount of the value of the assets to which recourse is limited or the amount of such limit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Permitted Warrant Transactions (and any obligations thereunder) shall not constitute Indebtedness.

“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 assigned to such term in Section 9.03(c).

“Indenture” means, that certain Indenture and that certain First Supplemental Indenture thereto, each dated as of June 15, 2021, between the Borrower and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, providing for the issuance of 0.375% convertible senior notes due 2026, and any supplements thereto.

“Ineligible Institution” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).

“Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.07.

“Interest Expense” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of all interest (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations), premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection with borrowed money or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets, in each case to the extent treated as interest expense in accordance with GAAP.

“Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan (other than a Swingline Loan), the last day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date, (b) with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period and the Maturity Date, (c) with respect to any RFR Loan, each date that is on the numerically corresponding day in each calendar month that is one month after the Borrowing of such Loan (or, if there is no such numerically corresponding day in such month, then the last day of such month) and the Maturity Date, and (d) with respect to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Loan is required to be repaid and the Maturity Date.

“Interest Period” means with respect to the initial Interest Period hereunder, the period commencing on the date of the initial Borrowing and continuing for such number of days as the Borrower and Administrative Agent may agree and with respect to any subsequent Term Benchmark Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding date in the calendar month that is one, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect; provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing only, such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Term Benchmark Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no

numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

“Issuing Bank” means Bank of the West in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.05(i). The Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of the Issuing Bank, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate. Each reference herein to the “Issuing Bank” in connection with a Letter of Credit or other matter shall be deemed to be a reference to the relevant Issuing Bank with respect thereto.

“JPMorgan” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

“LC Disbursement” means a payment made by the Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

“LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The LC Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time. The LC Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the LC 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 Bank and the Lenders shall have no further obligations to make any payments or disbursements under any circumstances with respect to any Letter of Credit.

“LC Sublimit” means $50,000,000.

“Lender Parent” means, with respect to any Lender, any Person as to which such Lender is, directly or indirectly, a subsidiary.

“Lender Parties” means (a) the Lenders, (b) the Administrative Agent, (c) each Issuing Bank, (d) each Hedge Counterparty, (e) each Cash Management Bank, (f) each Indemnitee pursuant to Section 9.03(c) and (g) the successors and permitted assigns of each of the foregoing.

“Lender-Related Person” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.03(b).

“Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank.

“Letter of Credit” means the Existing Letters of Credit and any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement.

“Liabilities” means any losses, claims (including intraparty claims), demands, damages or liabilities of any kind.

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset or (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset.

“Loan Documents” means, collectively, (a) this Agreement, (b) the Guaranty, and (c) any other agreement or certificate executed by a Loan Party from time to time in connection with this Agreement, including, in each case, all appendices, exhibits and schedules thereto, and all amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto, and shall refer to this Agreement or such Loan Document as the same may be in effect at any and all times such reference becomes operative (but specifically excluding any agreements with respect to any Cash Management Services and Hedge Agreements).

“Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower, the Guarantors and their respective successors and assigns, and the term “Loan Party” shall mean any one of them or all of them individually, as the context may require.

“Loans” means the loans and advances made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, including Swingline Loans.

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, property or financial condition of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or (c) any of the material rights of or remedies available to the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents.

“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit) or obligations in respect of one or more Hedge Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $20,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Hedge Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Hedge Agreement were terminated at such time.

“Maturity Date” means October 6, 2027.

“Maximum Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.13.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

“Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

“Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio” means, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, the ratio of (a) the sum of (i) Debt as of such measurement date plus (ii) the product of (x) six times (y) Rental Expense for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such measurement date (other than non-cash Rental Expense for such period, but including cash payments made during such period in respect of non-cash Rental Expense for a prior period) minus (iii) unrestricted domestic cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in excess of $25,000,000 as of the measurement date to (b) EBITDAR for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such measurement date.

“Net Income” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (in accordance with GAAP but excluding extraordinary gains and extraordinary losses) for that period.

“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 any and all obligations, indebtedness, or liabilities of any kind or character owed to any Lender Party by the Borrower or any other Loan Party and arising directly or indirectly out of or in connection with this Agreement, the Guaranty, or the other Loan Documents (in each case as amended, supplemented, modified or restated from time to time) plus all Guaranteed Hedge Obligations and Guaranteed Cash Management Obligations, including all such obligations, indebtedness, or liabilities, whether for principal, interest (including any and all interest which, but for the application of the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, would have accrued on such amounts), premium, reimbursement obligations, fees, costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant hereto), or indemnity obligations, whether heretofore, now, or hereafter made, incurred, or created, whether voluntarily or involuntarily made, incurred, or created, whether secured or unsecured (and if secured,

regardless of the nature or extent of the security), whether absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, or determined or indeterminate, whether Borrower or any Subsidiary is liable individually or jointly with others, and whether recovery is or hereafter becomes barred by any statute of limitations or otherwise becomes unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, including any act or failure to act by any Lender Party; provided, however, that the definition of “Obligations” shall not, with respect to any Loan Party, include any Excluded Swap Obligations (as defined in the Guaranty) of such Loan Party.

“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan, Letter of Credit 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 2.18).

“Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurodollar transactions denominated in Dollars by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions (as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on the NYFRB’s Website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate.

“Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.

“Participant Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c).

“Payment” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.06(c).

“Payment Notice” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.06(c).

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

“Permitted Acquisition” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.04(e).

“Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction” means any call or capped call option (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) on the Borrower’s common stock purchased by the Borrower in connection with the issuance of any Convertible Indebtedness; provided that the purchase price for such Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction, less the proceeds received by the Borrower from the sale of any related Permitted Warrant Transaction, does not exceed the net

proceeds received by the Borrower from the sale of such Convertible Indebtedness issued in connection with the Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction.

“Permitted Encumbrances” means:

(a)Liens imposed by law for Taxes, assessments or governmental charges that are not yet due and delinquent or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

(b)carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, suppliers’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

(c)pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

(d)pledges and deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(e)judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Section 7.01;

(f)precautionary financing statements regarding leases (other than capital leases), subleases, licenses or consignments entered into by Borrower or any other Loan Party;

(g)easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(h)Liens on any cash earnest money deposits made in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement in connection with an Acquisition or investment;

(i)customary rights of first refusal, “tag-along” and “drag-along” rights, and put and call arrangements under joint venture agreements for joint ventures permitted hereunder;

(j)leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to third parties in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(k)Liens in favor of a banking or other financial institution arising as a matter of law or in the ordinary course of business under customary general terms and conditions encumbering deposits or other funds maintained with a financial institution (including the right of set-off) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry or arising pursuant to such banking institution’s general terms and conditions;

(l) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods (other than fixed or capital assets) and proceeds thereof of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods in the ordinary course of business;

(m)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 so long as such Liens only cover the related goods; and

(n)Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes.

“Permitted Investments” means any of:

(f)other investments to the extent permitted under the Borrower’s Investment Policy dated May 31, 2006 (without giving effect to any amendments thereto).

“Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness issued or incurred (including by means of the extension or renewal of existing Indebtedness) to modify, refinance, refund, extend, renew or replace existing Indebtedness (“Refinanced Indebtedness”); provided that

(a)the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such modifying, refinancing, refunding, extending, renewing or replacing Indebtedness is not greater than the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Refinanced Indebtedness, except by an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon plus other reasonable amounts paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, extending, renewal or replacing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder;

(b)such modifying, refinancing, refunding, extending, renewing or replacing Indebtedness has a final maturity date that is no sooner than, and a weighted average life to maturity that is no shorter than, such Refinanced Indebtedness (it being understood that if such Refinanced Indebtedness is with respect to Convertible Indebtedness, the final maturity date of such modifying, refinancing, refunding, extending, renewing or replacing Convertible Indebtedness has a final maturity date that is no sooner than six (6) months after the Maturity Date); and

(c)if such Refinanced Indebtedness is subordinated to the Obligations, such modifying, refinancing, refunding, extending, renewing or replacing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms, taken as a whole, at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing such Refinanced Indebtedness.

“Permitted Warrant Transaction” means any call option, warrant or right to purchase (or substantively equivalent derivative transaction) on the Borrower’s common stock sold by the Borrower substantially concurrently with any purchase by the Borrower of a related Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction.

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

“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.

“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.

“Proceeding” means any claim, litigation, investigation, arbitration or administrative, judicial or regulatory action or proceeding in any jurisdiction.

“Property” of a Person means any and all property, whether real, personal, tangible, intangible, or mixed, of such Person, or other assets owned, leased or operated by such Person.

“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 assigned to it in Section 9.19.

“Recipient” means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) any Issuing Bank, as applicable.

“Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is the Term SOFR Rate, 5:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the day that is two U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the date of such setting, (2) if such Benchmark is Daily Simple SOFR, then four Business Days prior to such setting, or (3) if such Benchmark is none of the Term SOFR Rate or Daily Simple SOFR, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

“Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(b).

“Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

“Related Parties” means, 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 and/or the NYFRB, or, in each case, any successor thereto.

“Relevant Rate” means (i) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or (ii) with respect to any RFR Borrowing, the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, as applicable.

“Rental Expense” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, total rental expense as calculated in accordance with GAAP.

“Replacement Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(c).

“Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments representing at least 50.1% of the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments at such time (but subject to Section 2.19(b) with respect to Defaulting Lenders).

“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests in the Borrower or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in the Borrower.

“Revolving Credit Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans, its LC Exposure and its Swingline Exposure at such time.

“Revolving Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.03.

“RFR Borrowing” means, as to any Borrowing, the RFR Loans comprising such Borrowing.

“RFR Loan” and “RFR Revolving Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings 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 date 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, (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 economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the U.S. government, including those administered 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 or any European Union member state, His Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority.

“Significant Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary (including such Subsidiary’s interest in its direct and indirect Subsidiaries) of the Borrower that:

(a)accounted for at least 5% of consolidated revenues of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or 5% of EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in each case for the four fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending on the last day of the last fiscal quarter of the Borrower immediately preceding the date as of which any such determination is made; or

(b)has total assets which represent at least 5% of the consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of the last fiscal quarter of the Borrower immediately preceding the date as of which any such determination is made;

provided that in no event shall the Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are not Significant Subsidiaries (i) account for more than 20% of consolidated revenues of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or more than 20% of EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in each case for the four fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending on the last day of the last fiscal quarter of the Borrower immediately preceding the date as of which any such determination is made; or (ii) have total assets which represent more than 20% of the consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of the last fiscal quarter of the Borrower immediately preceding the date as of which any such determination is made. In the event that any Subsidiaries would not constitute Significant Subsidiaries but for this proviso, the Borrower shall designate which such Subsidiaries shall be Significant Subsidiaries in order to comply with this proviso.

“SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.

“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.

“SOFR Rate Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.

“Specified Currency” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.16.

“subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such

financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Borrower.

“Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 9.19.

“Swingline Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time. The Swingline Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total Swingline Exposure at such time.

“Swingline Lender” means JPMorgan, in its capacity as lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.

“Swingline Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.04.

“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), value added taxes, or any other goods and services, use or sales taxes, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

“Term Benchmark” 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 Term SOFR Rate.

“Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning assigned to it under the definition of Term SOFR Reference Rate.

“Term SOFR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m. (Chicago time), two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, as such rate is published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator.

“Term SOFR Reference Rate” means, for any day and time (such day, the “Term SOFR Determination Day”), with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the rate per annum published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator and identified by the Administrative Agent as the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR. If by 5:00 pm (New York City time) on such Term SOFR Determination Day, the “Term SOFR Reference Rate” for the applicable tenor has not been published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR

Rate has not occurred, then the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such Term SOFR Determination Day will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate was published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator, so long as such first preceding Business Day is not more than five U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Term SOFR Determination Day.

“Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower and the Guarantors of the Loan Documents, the borrowing of Loans and the use of the proceeds thereof, and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.

“Type”, 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 Term SOFR Rate, the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR or the Alternate Base Rate.

“UK Financial Institutions” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

“Unused Fee” means the fee payable by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.11(a).

“U.S. Dollar Equivalent” means, on any Denomination Date, (a) with respect to any amount in dollars, such amount and (b) with respect to any amount in an Alternative Currency, the equivalent of such amount in dollars determined by using the rate of exchange for the purchase of dollars with the Alternative Currency last provided (either by publication or otherwise provided to the Administrative Agent) by the applicable Thomson Reuters Corp., Refinitiv, or any successor thereto (“Reuters”) source on the Business Day (New York City time) immediately preceding the date of determination or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide a rate of exchange for the purchase of dollars with the Alternative Currency, as provided by such other publicly available information service which provides that rate of exchange at such time in place of Reuters chosen by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion (or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide such rate of exchange, the equivalent of such amount in dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent using any method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion) and (c) if such amount is denominated in any other currency, the equivalent of such amount in dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent using any method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion.

“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.

“U.S. Person” means a “United States Person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

“U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.16(f)(ii)(B)(3).

“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.

SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Loan” or an “RFR Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Revolving Loan” or an “RFR Revolving Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Borrowing” or an “RFR Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing” or an “RFR Revolving Borrowing”).

SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns,

(c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (e) any reference to any law, rule or regulation herein shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law, rule or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time and (f) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP. (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, 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 (i) any election under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 825 (or any other 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 (ii) any treatment of Indebtedness under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 or 2015-03 (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.

(b)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 1.04(a) or in the definition of “Capital Lease Obligations,” any change in accounting for leases pursuant to GAAP resulting from Accounting Standards Codification 842 (“ASC 842”), to the extent ASC 842 would require treating any lease (or similar arrangement conveying the right to use) as a capital lease or a financing lease where such lease (or similar arrangement) would not have been required to be so treated under GAAP as in effect on December 31, 2018, such lease shall not be considered a capital lease or a financing lease for purposes of this Agreement, and all calculations and deliverables under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be made or delivered, as applicable, in accordance therewith.

(c)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 1.04(a) or otherwise in this Agreement, for purposes of calculating non-cash Rental Expense for any period of four fiscal quarters, the Borrower shall be permitted to assume that the portion of such non-cash Rental Expense for such period resulting from adjustments related to the adoption of ASC 842 is

$21,000,000, so long as the Borrower reasonably believes that the actual amount of such adjustments for such period is within $5,000,000 of such amount.

SECTION 1.05. Interest Rates; Benchmark Replacement Notification. The interest rate on a Loan denominated in dollars may be derived from an interest rate benchmark that may be discontinued or is, or may in the future become, the subject of regulatory reform. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Section 2.13(b) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission, performance or any other matter related to any interest rate used in this Agreement or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof, including without limitation, 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 existing interest rate being replaced or have the same volume or liquidity as did any existing interest rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates and/or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of any interest rate used in this Agreement or any alternative, successor or alternative rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) and/or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any interest rate used in this Agreement, any component thereof, or rates referenced in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

SECTION 1.06. Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the 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.

SECTION 1.07. 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 Equity Interests at such time.

ARTICLE II

The Credits

SECTION 2.01. Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees to make Revolving Loans denominated in dollars to the Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result (after giving effect to any application of proceeds of such Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.09) in (a) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Commitment or (b) the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures exceeding the total Commitments. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.

SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Revolving Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.

(b)Subject to Section 2.13, each Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Term Benchmark Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan. Each Lender at its option may make any Term Benchmark Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(c)At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $2,500,000 and not less than $5,000,000. At the time that each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000; provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the total Commitments or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(e). Each Swingline Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $2,000,000. Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of five Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowings outstanding.

(d)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.

SECTION 2.03. Requests for Revolving Borrowings. To request a Revolving Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (a) in the case of

a Term Benchmark Borrowing, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

(i)the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

(ii)the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii)whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Term Benchmark Borrowing;

(iv)in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”; and

(v)the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.06.

If no election as to the Type of Revolving Borrowing is specified, then the requested Revolving Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

SECTION 2.04. Swingline Loans. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans to the Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding $10,000,000, (ii) the Swingline Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding its Commitment; or (iii) the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures exceeding the total Commitments; provided that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans.

(b)To request a Swingline Loan, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (confirmed by telecopy), not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the requested date (which shall be a Business Day) and amount of the requested Swingline Loan. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of any such notice

received from the Borrower. The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to the Borrower by means of a wire transfer to the account designated by the Borrower on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.

(c)The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Business Day require the Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding. Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans in which Lenders will participate. Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each Lender, specifying in such notice such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.06 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender. Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from the Borrower (or other party on behalf of the Borrower) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear; provided that any such payment so remitted shall be repaid to the Swingline Lender or to the Administrative Agent, as applicable, if and to the extent such payment is required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof.

SECTION 2.05. Letters of Credit. (a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit for its own account denominated in dollars or, to the extent the Issuing Bank then issues letters of credit in any Designated Alternative Currency, in such Designated Alternative Currency, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, the Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Issuing Bank shall have no obligation

hereunder to issue, and shall not issue, any Letter of Credit the proceeds of which would be made available to any Person (i) to fund any activity or business of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country or (ii) in any manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by any party to this Agreement. All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Effective Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.

(b)Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Issuing Bank) to the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, but in any event no less than three Business Days) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof, the currency thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. If requested by the Issuing Bank, the Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on the Issuing Bank’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the LC Exposure shall not exceed the LC Sublimit, (ii) the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures shall not exceed the total Commitments and (iii) the aggregate number of Letters of Credit outstanding at any one time shall not exceed 15.

The Issuing Bank shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

(i)any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such Issuing Bank from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any law applicable to the Issuing Bank shall prohibit, or require that such Issuing Bank refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the Issuing Bank with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Effective Date, or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense that was not applicable on the Effective Date and that the Issuing Bank in good faith deems material to it; or

(ii)the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the Issuing Bank applicable to letters of credit generally.

(c)Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire (or be subject to termination by notice from the Issuing Bank to the beneficiary thereof) at or prior to the close of business on the

earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) unless such Letter of Credit is cash collateralized as provided in paragraph (j) hereof, the date that is five Business Days prior to the Maturity Date.

(d)Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the Issuing Bank or the Lenders, the Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Lender, and each Lender hereby acquires from the Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by the Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason, including after the Maturity Date. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

(e)Reimbursement. If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Borrower prior to such time on such date, then not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the day of receipt, or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that, if such LC Disbursement is not less than $1,000,000, the Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 or 2.04 that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan. In the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in any Alternative Currency, the Borrower shall reimburse the Issuing Bank in such currency, unless (A) the Issuing Bank (at its option) shall have specified in the notice of such LC Disbursement that it will require reimbursement in dollars, (B) in the absence of any such requirement for reimbursement in dollars, the Borrower shall have notified the Issuing Bank promptly following receipt of the notice of drawing that the Borrower will reimburse the Issuing Bank in dollars or (C) the Borrower shall have requested that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan. In the case of any such reimbursement in dollars of a drawing under a Letter of Credit denominated in any Alternative Currency, the Issuing Bank shall notify

the Borrower of the U.S. Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the drawing promptly following the determination thereof. If the Borrower fails to make any such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrower in respect thereof (which in the case of any payment in any Alternative Currency shall be the U.S. Dollar Equivalent thereof) and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Borrower (which in the case of any payment in any Alternative Currency shall be the U.S. Dollar Equivalent thereof), in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.06 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and the Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Revolving Loans or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement. In the event that (A) a drawing denominated in any Alternative Currency is to be reimbursed in dollars and (B) the dollar amount paid by the Borrower, including pursuant to an ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan, shall not be adequate on the date of that payment to purchase in accordance with normal banking procedures a sum denominated in such Alternative Currency equal to the drawing, the Borrower agrees, as a separate and independent obligation, to indemnify the Issuing Bank for the loss resulting from its inability on that date to purchase such Alternative Currency in the full amount of the drawing.

(f)Obligations Absolute. The Borrower’s obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by the Issuing Bank 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, (iv) any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of any Alternative Currency to the Borrower or in the relevant currency markets generally, or (v) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower’s obligations hereunder. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor the Issuing Bank, nor any of their Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder),

any error in interpretation of technical terms, any error in translation or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Bank 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 Bank’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 or willful misconduct on the part of the Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), the Issuing Bank 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 Bank 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.

(g)Disbursement Procedures. The Issuing Bank shall, within the time allowed by applicable law or the specific terms of the Letter of Credit, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. The Issuing Bank shall promptly after such examination notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower by telephone (confirmed by telecopy or electronic mail) of such demand for payment and whether the Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse the Issuing Bank and the Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.

(h)Interim Interest. If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the reimbursement is due and payable, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans and such interest shall be due and payable on the date when such reimbursement is payable; provided that, if the Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.12(c) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse the Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

(i)Replacement or Resignation of the Issuing Bank. The Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of the Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.11(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of the Issuing

Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank 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. Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Issuing Bank, the Issuing Bank may resign as Issuing Bank at any time upon thirty days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Lenders, in which case, the Issuing Bank shall be replaced in accordance with this Section 2.05(i).

(j)Cash Collateralization. If (i) any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50.1% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph or (ii) the Borrower shall request the issuance of a Letter of Credit with an expiry date subsequent to the fifth Business Day prior to the Maturity Date, the Borrower shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders, an amount in cash equal to the LC Exposure as of such date (or, in the case of clause (ii), in the face amount of such Letter of Credit) plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of Section 7.01. Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the Obligations. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed, together with related fees, costs and customary processing charges, and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50.1% of the total LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other Obligations. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

SECTION 2.06. Funding of Borrowings. (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 1:00 pm, New York City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders; provided that Swingline Loans shall be

made as provided in Section 2.04. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by wire transfer to the account designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request; provided that ABR Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Issuing Bank.

(b)Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.

SECTION 2.07. Interest Elections. (a) Each Revolving Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.

(b)To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Revolving Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower. This Section shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.

(c)Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

(i)the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions

thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

(ii)the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii)whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Term Benchmark Borrowing; and

(iv)if the resulting Borrowing is a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

(d)Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

(e)If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Revolving Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Term Benchmark Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

SECTION 2.08. Termination and Reduction of Commitments. (a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

(b)The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.10, the Revolving Credit Exposures would exceed the total Commitments.

(c)The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the

Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination or reduction of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or other pending transaction, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.

SECTION 2.09. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on the Maturity Date, and (ii) to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the Maturity Date and the first date after such Swingline Loan is made that is the 15th or last day of a calendar month and is at least two Business Days after such Swingline Loan is made; provided that on each date that a Revolving Borrowing is made, the Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans then outstanding and the proceeds of any such Borrowing shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to repay any Swingline Loans outstanding.

(b)Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

(c)The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

(d)The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(e)Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form.

SECTION 2.10. Prepayment of Loans. (a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (b) of this Section.

(b)The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) by telephone (confirmed by telecopy or electronic mail) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Revolving Borrowing, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, one Business Day before the date of prepayment, or (iii) in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, not later than 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.08, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.08. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Revolving Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.12.

(c)If the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower at any time that the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures exceed an amount equal to 105% of the total Commitments then in effect, then, within two Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall prepay Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the LC Exposure in an aggregate amount sufficient to cause the total Revolving Credit Exposures to be less than or equal to the total Commitments then in effect. The Administrative Agent may, at any time and from time to time after the initial deposit of such Cash Collateral, request that additional Cash Collateral be provided in order to protect against the results of exchange rate fluctuations.

(d)If the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower at any time that the LC Exposure exceeds an amount equal to 105% of the LC Sublimit, then, within two Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the LC Exposure in an aggregate amount sufficient to cause the LC Exposure to be less than or equal to the LC Sublimit. The Administrative Agent may, at any time and from time to time after the initial deposit of such Cash Collateral, request that additional Cash Collateral be provided in order to protect against the results of exchange rate fluctuations.

SECTION 2.11. Fees. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender an Unused Fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the daily unused amount of the Commitment of such Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which such Commitment terminates; provided that Swingline Loans shall not be considered utilization of the Commitment for purposes of any

calculation made pursuant to this Section 2.11(a). Unused Fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable in arrears on the fifteenth day following such last day and on the date on which the Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof; provided that any Unused Fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. All Unused Fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

(b)The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the same Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Term Benchmark Revolving Loans on the average daily amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lender’s Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to the Issuing Bank a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate of 0.125% per annum on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as the Issuing Bank’s standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings or other standard costs and charges thereunder. Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the fifteenth day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to the Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within 10 days after demand. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

(c)The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

(d)All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in dollars in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to the Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of Unused Fees, to the Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

SECTION 2.12. Interest. (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan) shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(b)The Loans comprising each Term Benchmark Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable

Rate. Subject to Section 2.13, the Loans comprising each RFR Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR plus the Applicable Rate.

(c)Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.

(d)Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and, in the case of Revolving Loans, upon termination of the Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Term Benchmark Revolving Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

(e)All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, Daily Simple SOFR, Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or Term SOFR Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

SECTION 2.13. Alternate Rate of Interest.

(a)Subject to clauses (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of this Section 2.13, if:

(i)the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate (including, because the Term SOFR Reference Rate is not available or published on a current basis) for such Interest Period or (B) at any time, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR; or

(ii)the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that, (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period will not

adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or Loan) included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period or (B) at any time, the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or Loan) included in such Borrowing;

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 (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Borrower delivers a new Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.07 or a new Borrowing Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03, any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Term Benchmark Borrowing and any Borrowing Request that requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing shall instead be deemed to be an Interest Election Request or a Borrowing Request, as applicable, for (x) an RFR Borrowing so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not also the subject of Section 2.13(a)(i) or (ii) above or (y) be repaid or converted into an ABR Borrowing if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR also is the subject of Section 2.13(a)(i) or (ii) above; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect only one Type of Borrowings, then all other Types of Borrowings shall be permitted. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan is outstanding on the date of the Borrowers’ receipt of the notice from the Administrative Agent referred to in this Section 2.13(a) with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, then until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Borrower delivers a new Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.07 or a new Borrowing Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, (x) an RFR Borrowing so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not also the subject of Section 2.13(a)(i) or (ii) above or (y) an ABR Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR also is the subject of Section 2.13(a)(i) or (ii) above, on such day.

(b)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, if a Benchmark 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 (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1) 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 (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 any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) 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 of each affected Class.

(c)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, 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.

(d)The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, (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 (e) 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 2.13, 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 2.13.

(e)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 the Term SOFR 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.

(f)Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to (A) an RFR Borrowing so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (B) an ABR Borrowing if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event. 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. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan is outstanding on the date of the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, then until such time as a Benchmark Replacement is implemented pursuant to this Section 2.13, any Term Benchmark Loan shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, (x) an RFR Loan so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (y) an ABR Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event, on such day.

SECTION 2.14. Increased Costs. (a) If any Change in Law shall:

(i)impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity or similar requirement (including any compulsory loan requirement, insurance charge or other assessment) against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender or the Issuing Bank;

(ii)impose on any Lender or the Issuing Bank or the applicable offshore interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Term Benchmark Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein; or

(iii)subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto,

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, continuing, converting or maintaining any Term Benchmark Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount), then, upon the

request of such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, the Borrower will pay to such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered as reasonably determined by such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient (which determination shall be made in good faith (and not in an arbitrary or capricious basis) and substantially consistent with similarly situated customers of such Person under agreements having provisions similar to this Section 2.14(a) after consideration of such factors as such Person then reasonably determines to be relevant).

(b)If any Lender or the Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered as reasonably determined by such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient (which determination shall be made in good faith (and not in an arbitrary or capricious basis) and substantially consistent with similarly situated customers of such Person under agreements having provisions similar to this Section 2.14 after consideration of such factors as such Person then reasonably determines to be relevant).

(c)A certificate of a Lender or the Issuing Bank setting forth in reasonable detail the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or the Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

(d)Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

SECTION 2.15. Break Funding Payments.

(a)With respect to Loans that are not RFR Loans, in the event of (i) the payment of any principal of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or an optional or mandatory prepayment of Loans), (ii) the conversion of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (iii) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Term Benchmark Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under ‎Section 2.10 and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (iv) the assignment of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to ‎Section 2.18, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

(b)With respect to RFR Loans, in the event of (i) the payment of any principal of any RFR Loan other than on the Interest Payment Date applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or an optional or mandatory prepayment of Loans), (ii) the failure to borrow or prepay any RFR Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.10 and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (iii) the assignment of any RFR Loan other than on the Interest Payment Date applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.18, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

SECTION 2.16. Withholding of Taxes; Gross-Up. (a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower 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 Borrower 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 2.16) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

(b)Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. The Borrower shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

(c)Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.16, the Borrower 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)Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify each Recipient, 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) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(e)Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.04(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).

(f)Status of Lenders.

(i)Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative

Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.16(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), an executed copy of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

(B)any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

(1)in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, an executed copy 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)in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming that its extension of credit will generate U.S. effectively connected income, an executed copy of IRS Form W-8ECI;

(3)in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) an executed copy of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or

(4)to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, an executed copy of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C-2 or Exhibit C-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

(C)any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

(D)if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such

Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

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)Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.16 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.16), 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 2.16 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 with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

(h)Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.16 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

(i)FATCA. For purposes of determining withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, from and after the Effective Date the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall treat (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to treat) this Agreement as not qualifying as a “grandfathered obligation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1471-2(b)(2)(i).

(j)Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section 2.16, the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

SECTION 2.17. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs. (a) The Borrower shall make each payment or prepayment required to be made by it hereunder (whether

of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.14, 2.15 or 2.16, or otherwise) prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date when due or the date fixed for any prepayment hereunder, in immediately available funds, without set off, recoupment or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 10 South Dearborn, Chicago, Illinois 60606, except payments to be made directly to the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. Unless otherwise provided for herein, if any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in dollars.

(b)At any time that payments are not required to be applied in the manner required by Section 7.03, if at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed LC Disbursements, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards expenses and indemnities of the Credit Parties then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of expenses and indemnities then due to such parties, (ii) second, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (iii) third, towards payment of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements, then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements, then due to such parties.

(c)If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Revolving Loans or participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements to any assignee or Participant, other than to the

Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

(d)Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Bank hereunder (including any date that is fixed for prepayment by notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.10(b)) that the Borrower will not make such payment or prepayment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or the Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

(e)If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.04(c), 2.05(d), 2.06(b), 2.17(d) or 9.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid, and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account over which the Administrative Agent has exclusive control as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under such Sections; in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.

SECTION 2.18. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.14, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.16, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.14 or 2.16, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b)If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.14, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.16, or if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 2.14 or 2.16) and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and if a Commitment is being assigned, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.14 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.16, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply. Each party hereto agrees that (i) 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 (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and (ii) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to an be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender; provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.

SECTION 2.19. 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 2.11(a);

(b)any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Section 2.17(b) or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 9.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a

pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender hereunder; third, to cash collateralize LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with this Section; fourth, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) cash collateralize future LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with this Section; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or LC Disbursements in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and LC Disbursements owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or LC Disbursements owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in the Borrower’s obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure and Swingline Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments without giving effect to clause (d) below. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post cash collateral pursuant to this Section shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto;

(c)the Commitment and Revolving Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders or the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to Section 9.02), provided that any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender which affects such Defaulting Lender differently than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender;

(d)if any Swingline Exposure or LC Exposure exists at the time a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:

(i)all or any part of such Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance

with their respective Applicable Percentages but only to the extent (x) the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures plus such Defaulting Lender’s Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Commitments and (y) the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 are satisfied at such time; and

(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 Swingline Exposure and (y) second, cash collateralize for the benefit of the Issuing Bank only the Borrower’s obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.05(j) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;

(iii)if the Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure pursuant to Section 2.19(d)(ii), the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.11(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is cash collateralized;

(iv)if the LC Exposure of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to Section 2.19(d)(i), then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.11(a) and Section 2.11(b) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Applicable Percentages; or

(v)if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is neither cash collateralized nor reallocated pursuant to Section 2.19(d)(i) or (ii), then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Issuing Bank or any Lender hereunder, all Unused Fees that otherwise would have been payable to such Defaulting Lender under Section 2.11(a) (solely with respect to the portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment that was utilized by such LC Exposure) and letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.11(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure shall be payable to the Issuing Bank until such LC Exposure is cash collateralized and/or reallocated; and

(e)so long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and the Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related 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 2.19(d)(ii), and participating interests in any such newly issued or increased Letter of Credit or newly made Swingline Loan shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.19(d)(i) (and Defaulting Lenders shall not participate therein).

If (i) a Bankruptcy Event or a Bail-In Action with respect to a Lender Parent shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) the Swingline Lender

or the Issuing Bank has a good faith reasonable 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 Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund the Swingline Loan and the Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender, satisfactory to the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.

In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Commitment and on such date such Lender shall (i) purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders (other than Swingline Loans) as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage and (ii) reimburse the other Lenders for any amounts that would be owing to such Lenders under Section 2.15 if such purchase were a repayment by the Borrower.

SECTION 2.20. Increase in Commitments. (a) Increase. Provided there exists no Default, the Borrower may from time to time request an increase in the Commitments by an amount (for all such increases) not exceeding $200,000,000; provided that (i) any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000, (ii) the Borrower may make a maximum of three such requests and (iii) the consent of the Lenders shall not be required for such an increase.

(b)Additional Lenders. Subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender (which approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld), the Borrower may (i) invite existing Lenders to increase the amount of their Commitments and/or (ii) invite additional proposed lenders to become Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Lender shall have any obligation to increase its Commitment and no Lender’s Commitment shall be increased without its consent thereto, and each Lender may at its option, unconditionally and without cause, decline to increase its Commitment.

(c)Effective Date and Allocations. If the Commitments are increased in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “Increase Effective Date”) and the Borrower shall (subject to clause (b) above) determine final allocation of such increase. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the Increase Effective Date.

(d)Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase. As a condition precedent to such increase, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the Increase Effective Date signed by an authorized officer of such Loan Party (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such increase, and (ii) in the case of the Borrower, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are true

and correct in all material respects on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date. The Borrower shall prepay any Loans outstanding on the Increase Effective Date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 2.15) to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages arising from any nonratable increase in the Commitments under this Section.

(e)Conflicting Provisions. This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 9.02 to the contrary.

ARTICLE III

Representations and Warranties

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required.

SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions are within the Borrower’s corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and, if required, stockholder action. This Agreement and each other Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower and each other Loan Party party thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect; (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation in any material respect or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any order of any Governmental Authority; (c) will not, in any material respect, violate or result in a default under any material indenture (including the Indenture), agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change. (a) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income,

stockholders equity and cash flows (i) as of and for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2021, reported on by KPMG LLP, independent public accountants and (ii) as of and for the fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year ended June 28, 2022, certified by its chief financial officer. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.

(b)Since December 28, 2021, there has been no material adverse change in the business, assets, property, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

SECTION 3.05. Properties; Liens. (a) Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business, except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes.

(b)Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c)The property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 6.02.

SECTION 3.06. Litigation and Environmental Matters. (a) There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters) or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.

(b)Except for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.

(c)Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or materially increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing.

SECTION 3.08. Margin Regulations; Investment Company Status. (a) The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Board), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.

(b)Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

SECTION 3.09. Taxes. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.10. ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $20,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $20,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans.

SECTION 3.11. Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. As of the Effective Date, the Borrower has no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 3.11, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by a Loan Party in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule 3.11 free and clear of all Liens. As of the Effective Date, the Borrower has no equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule 3.11.

SECTION 3.12. Labor Matters. There are no collective bargaining agreements or Multiemployer Plans covering the employees of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Date and neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has suffered any strikes, walkouts,

work stoppages or other material labor difficulty within the last five years, in each case, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 3.13. Disclosure. (a) The Borrower has disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, restrictions or liabilities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries of any kind which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The reports, financial statements, certificates or other information (other than projected financial information) furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), taken as a whole, do not contain any material misstatement of fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading as of the date such information was dated or certified; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions and estimates believed to be reasonable at the time made (it being understood that any such projected financial information is subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Borrower’s control, and that actual results may differ from any such projected financial information and such differences may be material).

(b)As of the Effective Date, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification (if any) provided on or prior to the Effective Date to any Lender in connection with this Agreement is true and correct in all respects.

SECTION 3.14. Anti-Corruption Laws 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. None of (a) the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any of their respective directors or officers or to the knowledge of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, employees, or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person. No Borrowing or Letter of Credit, use of proceeds or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement will violate any Anti-Corruption Law or applicable Sanctions.

SECTION 3.15. Affected Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an Affected Financial Institution.

ARTICLE IV

Conditions

SECTION 4.01. Effective Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):

(a)Credit Agreement and Loan Documents. The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received (i) from each party hereto either (A) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (B) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy or electronic transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement, and (ii) a duly executed copy of the Guaranty, by and among the Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent.

(b)Opinions. The Administrative Agent shall have received a written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of (i) Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Loan Parties, covering such matters relating to the Loan Parties, this Agreement or the Transactions contemplated on the Effective Date as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request and (ii) Quarles & Brady LLP, Arizona counsel for North Restaurants LLC and Fox Restaurant Concepts LLC, covering such matters relating to such Loan Parties, this Agreement or the Transactions contemplated on the Effective Date as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. The Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such opinions.

(c)Secretary’s Certificates; Certified Charters; Good Standing Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the Loan Parties, the authorization of the Transactions contemplated on the Effective Date and any other legal matters relating to such Loan Parties, this Agreement or the Transactions contemplated on the Effective Date, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

(d)Approvals. All governmental and third party approvals necessary or, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, advisable in connection with the financing contemplated hereby and the continuing operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall have been obtained and be in full force and effect.

(e)Financials. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) satisfactory audited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower for the three most recent fiscal years ended prior to the Effective Date as to which such financial statements are available and (ii) satisfactory unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Borrower for each quarterly period ended subsequent to the date of the latest financial statements delivered pursuant to clause (i) of this paragraph as to which such financial statements are available.

(f)Closing Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by the President, a Vice President or a Financial Officer of the Borrower, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02.

(g)Fees. The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out of pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder.

(h)Beneficial Ownership. To the extent the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, at least five days prior to the Effective Date, any Lender that has requested, in a written notice to the Borrower at least 10 days prior to the Effective Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to the Borrower shall have received such Beneficial Ownership Certification (provided that, upon the execution and delivery by such Lender of its signature page to this Agreement, the condition set forth in this clause (h) shall be deemed to be satisfied).

(i)KYC. The Administrative Agent shall have received, at least five days prior to the Effective Date, all documentation and other information regarding the Borrower requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act, to the extent requested in writing of the Borrower at least 10 days prior to the Effective Date.

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 9.02) at or prior to 12:00 noon, Los Angeles time, on October 31, 2022 (or such later date acceptable to the Administrative Agent) (and, in the event such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate at such time).

SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of the Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a)The representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal, extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable (other than the representations and warranties that specifically refer to an earlier date); and

(b)At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section to the extent such conditions are required to be satisfied pursuant to this Section.

ARTICLE V

Affirmative Covenants

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated or been cash collateralized pursuant to Section 2.05(j) and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements and Other Information. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a)within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by KPMG LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;

(b)within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

(c)concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a compliance certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit B (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Sections 6.01, 6.04, 6.06 and 6.09 and (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;

(d)promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the

Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be;

(e)as soon as available but not less than 60 days after the beginning of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the projected consolidated and consolidating balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement of the Borrower for such fiscal year; and

(f)promptly following any request therefor, (x) copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any audit thereof, (y) any other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) may reasonably request and (z) information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation (if applicable).

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 5.01(a), (b) or (d) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and, if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which such materials are publicly available as posted on the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (EDGAR) or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether made available by the Administrative Agent). The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents and maintaining its copies of such documents.

SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

(a)the occurrence of any Default;

(b)the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(c)the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $20,000,000;

(d)any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect; and

(e)any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification (if any) delivered to such Lender that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in such certification.

Each notice delivered under this Section (i) shall be in writing, (ii) shall contain a header or a reference line that reads “Notice under Section 5.02 of the Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated October 6, 2022” and (iii) shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03.

SECTION 5.04. Payment of Obligations. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities, that, if not paid, could result in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest will not have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (a) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and (b) maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, 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.

SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested; provided, however, that unless a Default shall have occurred and be continuing the Administrative Agent may not exercise its inspection rights more than two times in any year.

SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property (including, without limitation, all Environmental Laws), except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce 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.

SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit. The proceeds of the Loans will be used (i) to refinance existing Indebtedness and (ii) for other general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, the repurchase or redemption of the Borrower’s Equity Interests and the funding of Permitted Acquisitions and other investments and Restricted Payments permitted hereunder. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X. Letters of Credit will be issued only to support the general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. The Borrower will not request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and the Borrower shall not use, and shall procure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit directly or indirectly (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, to the extent such activities, businesses or transaction would be prohibited by Sanctions if conducted by a corporation incorporated in the United States, or (C) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

SECTION 5.09. Additional Guarantors. The Borrower will notify the Administrative Agent at the time that any domestic Subsidiary (other than a FSHCO) becomes a Significant Subsidiary or of the acquisition or formation of any new domestic Subsidiary (other than a FSHCO) that is a Significant Subsidiary and, promptly thereafter (and in any event within 30 days), cause such Person to (a) become a Guarantor by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a counterpart of the Guaranty or such other document as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate for such purpose and (b) deliver to the Administrative Agent documents of the types referred to in Section 4.01(c) and favorable opinions of counsel to such Person (which shall cover, among other things, the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of the documentation referred to in clause (a)), all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. In addition, the Borrower may at any time upon notice to the Administrative Agent cause any Subsidiary that is a FSHCO or is not a Significant Subsidiary to take the actions described in clauses (a) and (b) above.

ARTICLE VI

Negative Covenants

Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated or been cash collateralized pursuant to Section 2.05(j) and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a)Indebtedness created hereunder;

(b)Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.01, and any extensions, renewals or replacements of any such Indebtedness;

(c)Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Guarantor and of any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any Guarantor;

(d)Guarantees by the Borrower of Indebtedness of any Guarantor and by any Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Guarantor;

(e)Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (e) shall not exceed $50,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(f)Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (in addition to that permitted under clause (e) above) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $15,000,000;

(g)Deemed Landlord Financing Liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(h)Indebtedness of any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any Guarantor as a result of an investment permitted under Section 6.04(g);

(i)earn-out obligations or similar deferred obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred or created in connection with either of the Project North Acquisitions (as defined in the Existing Loan Agreement);

(j)Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the form of earn-outs (in addition to that permitted under clause (i) above), indemnification, incentive, non-compete, consulting or other similar arrangements and other contingent obligations in respect of Permitted Acquisitions (both before and after any liability associated therewith becomes fixed) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $50,000,000;

(k)Indebtedness assumed in connection with a Permitted Acquisition; provided that (i) such Indebtedness exists at the time such Permitted Acquisition is consummated and is not created or incurred in connection therewith or in contemplation thereof, (ii) at the time of execution of the definitive documentation governing such Permitted Acquisition, no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, (iii) no Loan Party (other than such Person(s) so acquired in such Permitted Acquisition or any other Person that such Person merges with or that acquires the assets of such Person in connection with such Permitted Acquisition) shall have any liability or other obligation with respect to such Indebtedness and (iv) if such Indebtedness is secured, no Lien thereon shall extend to or cover any other assets other than the assets acquired in such Permitted Acquisition (other than the proceeds or products thereof, accessions or additions thereto and improvements thereon) or attach to any other property of any Loan Party; and

(l)unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower (including, without limitation, unsecured Indebtedness that is convertible into equity) consisting of:

(i)(x) Convertible Indebtedness outstanding on the Effective Date pursuant to and evidenced by the Indenture and (y) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof so long as, in each case, (A) such Indebtedness does not restrict the right of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to grant Liens on their assets to the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of itself and the other Credit Parties), and (B) such Indebtedness has covenants, if any, that are no more restrictive than those customary for convertible notes (or, in the case of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness that is not in the form of convertible notes, that are no more restrictive than those included in this Agreement as in effect at the time of incurrence thereof); and

(ii)(x) Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $300,000,000 at any time outstanding (less the aggregate outstanding principal amount of any Indebtedness then outstanding under clause (y) below), so long as (A) such Indebtedness does not mature or require amortization payments prior to the date that is six (6) months after the Maturity Date, (B) the Borrower is in compliance with Section 6.09(b) as set forth in the most recent compliance certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(c), adjusted to give pro forma effect to the actual amount of Debt outstanding after the incurrence of such Indebtedness, (C) such Indebtedness does not restrict the right of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to grant Liens on their assets to the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of itself and the other Credit Parties), and (D) such Indebtedness has covenants, if any, that are no more restrictive than those included in this Agreement as in effect at the time of incurrence thereof (or, if such Indebtedness is Convertible Indebtedness, has covenants that are no more restrictive than those customary for convertible notes) and (y) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof.

SECTION 6.02. Liens. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

(a)Permitted Encumbrances;

(b)any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date hereof and any extensions, renewals or replacements thereof;

(c)any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be and any extensions, renewals or replacements thereof;

(d)Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that (i) such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (e) of Section 6.01, (ii) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed 90% of the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and (iv) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(e)Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by clause (f) of Section 6.01;

(f)Liens on property acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition (and the proceeds thereof) or assets of a Subsidiary in existence at the time such Subsidiary is acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition; provided that (i) such Lien was not created in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition, (ii) such Lien does not extend to or cover any additional assets, (iii) the amount of any Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased and (iv) any Indebtedness secured thereby is permitted under Section 6.01(k); and

(g)Liens not securing Indebtedness for borrowed money and not otherwise permitted by this Section 6.02, so long as the outstanding amount of the obligations secured thereby does not exceed $5,000,000.

SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes. (a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or any substantial part of its assets, or all or substantially all of the stock of any of its Subsidiaries (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) any Subsidiary may merge into or consolidate

with any other Person and any other Person may merge into or consolidate with the Borrower or any Subsidiary if such merger or consolidation is consummated as part of a Permitted Acquisition, (ii) any Subsidiary may merge into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving corporation, (iii) any Subsidiary may merge into any other Subsidiary in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Subsidiary, (iv) any Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets to the Borrower or to another Subsidiary and (v) any Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders; provided that any such merger involving a Person that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by Section 6.04.

(b)The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and businesses reasonably related or incidental thereto.

SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger) any capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, Guarantee any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit, except:

(a)Permitted Investments;

(b)investments by the Borrower existing on the date hereof in the capital stock of its Subsidiaries;

(c)loans or advances made by the Borrower to any Guarantor and made by any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any Guarantor;

(d)(i) Guarantees constituting Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01 or Guarantees by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of obligations of the Borrower or any Guarantor (or, in the case of any such Guarantee by a Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, any other Subsidiary) and (ii) Guarantees by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that do not constitute Indebtedness;

(e)Acquisitions meeting the following requirements or otherwise approved by the Required Lenders (each such Acquisition constituting a “Permitted Acquisition”):

(i)as of the date of the consummation of such Acquisition, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from such Acquisition, and the representation and warranty contained in Section 5.08 shall be true both before and after giving effect to such Acquisition;

(ii)such Acquisition is consummated on a non-hostile basis pursuant to a negotiated acquisition agreement approved by the board of directors or other applicable governing body of the seller or entity to be acquired, and no material and credible challenge to such Acquisition (excluding the exercise of appraisal rights) by any shareholder or director of the seller or entity to be acquired shall be pending;

(iii)the business to be acquired in such Acquisition is similar or related to one or more of the lines of business in which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are engaged on the Effective Date;

(iv)as of the date of the consummation of such Acquisition, all material approvals required in connection therewith shall have been obtained; and

(v)after giving pro forma effect to such Acquisition, the Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 3.75 to 1.00;

(f)investments in connection with (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the entry into, payment of any premium with respect to, and the settlement of) Permitted Bond Hedge Transactions; and

(g)any other purchases, acquisitions, loans, advances, Guarantees or other investments, provided that (i) at the time of any such investment, the aggregate outstanding amount of investments (net of return of capital) made pursuant to this clause (g) after the Effective Date shall not exceed $300,000,000 and (ii) after giving pro forma effect to such investment, the Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 3.75 to 1.00.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.04, in the event that a transaction or investment meets the criteria of more than one of the categories described in clauses (a) through (g) above, the Borrower shall, in its discretion, be permitted to classify and reclassify such item of transaction or investment (or any portion thereof) and will only be required to include the amount and type of such transaction or investment in one or more of the above clauses.

SECTION 6.05. Hedge Agreements. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any Hedge Agreement, except (a) Hedge Agreements entered into to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure (other than those in respect of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries), (b) Hedge Agreements entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (c) Hedge Agreements in connection with Permitted Bond Hedge Transactions or Permitted Warrant Transactions.

SECTION 6.06. Restricted Payments. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except:

(a)the Borrower may declare and pay dividends with respect to its Equity Interests payable solely in additional shares of the same class of Equity Interests or through adding such dividends to the liquidation preference of such Equity Interests;

(b)Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends ratably with respect to their Equity Interests;

(c)the Borrower may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other benefit plans for management or employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

(d)the Borrower may declare and make additional Restricted Payments in the form of dividends or other distributions (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or in the form of redemptions or repurchases of Equity Interests in the Borrower, so long as at the time of such making or declaration (i) no Default or Event of Default shall be then continuing and (ii) after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 3.75 to 1.00;

(e)the Borrower may make any other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $125,000,000 after the Effective Date;

(f)the Borrower may make any Restricted Payment within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of such declaration such Restricted Payment would have complied with the provisions of clause (d) hereof, provided that the calculation contemplated in clause (d)(ii) hereof shall for such purpose be calculated as of the date of such declaration but giving effect on a pro forma basis to any incurrence of Debt on and after such date and prior to (and after giving pro forma effect to) the making of such Restricted Payment (including any such Debt incurred to finance such Restricted Payment);

(g)the making of cash payments in connection with any conversion, at the election of the holder of such Convertible Indebtedness, of Convertible Indebtedness, in an aggregate amount after the date of the applicable indenture governing such Convertible Indebtedness not to exceed the sum of (i) the principal amount of such Convertible Indebtedness plus (ii) any payments received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the exercise, settlement or termination of any related Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction;

(h)(i) any payments in connection with a Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction and (ii) the settlement of any related Permitted Warrant Transaction (x) by delivery of shares of the Borrower’s common stock upon settlement thereof or (y) by (A) set-off against the related Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction or (B) payment of an early termination amount thereof in common stock upon any early termination thereof;

(i)the issuance or delivery of any common stock of the Borrower to (i) settle the conversion of any Convertible Indebtedness (together with cash in lieu of any fractional share of common stock) or (ii) convert preferred Equity Interests into common stock of the Borrower;

(j)the Borrower may redeem or repurchase Convertible Indebtedness at any time so long as at the time of such redemption or repurchase (i) no Default or Event of Default shall be then continuing and (ii) after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 6.09(a) and (b); and

(k)the making of any cash interest payments on Convertible Indebtedness.

SECTION 6.07. Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) transactions that are at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among the Borrower and its wholly owned Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate and (c) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.06.

SECTION 6.08. Restrictive Agreements. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets in favor of the Credit Parties, or (b) the ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any shares of its capital stock or to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by the Loan Documents, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions existing on the date hereof identified on Schedule 6.08 (but shall apply to any extension or renewal of, or any amendment or modification expanding the scope of, any such restriction or condition), (iii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iv) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, and (v) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in leases restricting the assignment thereof.

SECTION 6.09. Financial Covenants. (a) Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio. Beginning with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2022, the Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 4.25 to 1.00 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter.

(b)EBITDAR to Interest and Rental Expense. Beginning with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2022, the ratio of EBITDAR for the four fiscal quarter period ending on the applicable measurement date to the sum of (i) Cash Interest Expense for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such measurement date plus (ii) Rental Expense for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such measurement date (other than non-cash Rental Expense for such period, but

including cash payments made during such period in respect of non-cash Rental Expense for a prior period) shall not be less than 1.90 to 1.00 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter.

SECTION 6.10. Sale and Leaseback. Except for leases that, upon completion of construction by the Borrower, meet the criteria of Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) 97-10 and that qualify for sale-leaseback treatment in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 98, the Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any agreement or arrangement with any other Person providing for the leasing by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of real or personal property which has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to such other 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 the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

SECTION 6.11. Sale of Assets. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, lease, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of its Property to any other Person, except:

(a)leases, sales, transfers or other dispositions of inventory and obsolete or excess assets in the ordinary course of business;

(b)leases, sales, transfers or other dispositions of Property (i) from the Borrower to any Guarantor, and (ii) from any Subsidiary of the Borrower to the Borrower or any Guarantor;

(c)(i) one or more transfers to a wholly-owned Subsidiary or wholly-owned Subsidiaries organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States, any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia, of the right to license or use certain intellectual property assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries exclusively outside of the United States and (ii) the subsequent licensing by such Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of such intellectual property assets to third Persons that have contracted with the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to develop and operate restaurants and related businesses under the trademarks of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries outside of the United States;

(d)terminations of real property leases in connection with closing underperforming restaurants;

(e)leases, sales, transfers or other dispositions of equipment or real property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such lease, sale, transfer or other disposition are reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;

(f)leases, sales, transfers or other dispositions (i) permitted under clauses (i) through (v) of Section 6.03(a), (ii) constituting Restricted Payments permitted by Section 6.06, and (iii) constituting investments permitted by Section 6.04; and

(g)other sales, assignments, transfers, leases, conveyances or other dispositions of its Property, provided that (i) if such disposition is for consideration consisting of a combination of cash and notes, the principal amount of which notes shall not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate,

(ii) such disposition is for not less than fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower’s board of directors if the total consideration for such disposition is equal to or greater than $20,000,000), (iii) after giving effect to such disposition, no Default shall exist, and (iv) such Property, together with all other Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries previously leased, sold or disposed of (other than Property leased, sold or disposed of under clauses (a), (b) or (c) above) calculated at book value (A) during the immediately preceding twelve-month period, represents the disposition of not greater than 5% of the Borrower’s Consolidated Total Assets at the end of the fiscal year immediately preceding that in which such transaction is proposed to be entered into, and (B) during the period from the Effective Date to the date of such proposed transaction, represents the disposition of not greater than 15% of the Borrower’s Consolidated Total Assets at the end of the fiscal year immediately preceding that in which such transaction is proposed to be entered into.

For the avoidance of doubt, neither (x) the settling of Convertible Indebtedness, (y) interest payments on Convertible Indebtedness, nor (z) termination of any Permitted Bond Hedge Transaction shall constitute a lease, sale, transfer or other disposition of Property for the purposes of this Section 6.11.

ARTICLE VII

Events of Default

SECTION 7.01. Events of Default. Any of the following events described in this Section 7.01 shall constitute an “Event of Default”:

(a)the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

(b)the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three Business Days;

(c)any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof or waiver hereunder or thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof or waiver hereunder or thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;

(d)the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02(a), 5.03 (with respect to the Borrower’s existence) or 5.08 or in Article VI;

(e)any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article) or in any other Loan Document, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to such Person (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender);

(f)the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable (after the expiration of any applicable grace period);

(g)any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to (i) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness or (ii) events that trigger any conversion rights of holders of Convertible Indebtedness;

(h)an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

(i)the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

(j)the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

(k)one or more judgments for the payment of money not paid or fully covered by insurance (subject to any applicable deductible) as to which the insurer has not disputed or otherwise contested coverage in writing in an aggregate amount in excess of $25,000,000 shall be

rendered against the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed (by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise), or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;

(l)an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $20,000,000 in any year; or

(m)a Change in Control shall occur.

SECTION 7.02. Remedies Upon an Event of Default. If an Event of Default occurs, then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower or a Significant Subsidiary described in clause (h) or (i) of Section 7.01), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately; (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; (iii) require that the Borrower provide cash collateral as required in Section 2.05(j); and (iv) exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank under the Loan Documents and applicable law; provided that, in the case of any event with respect to the Borrower or a Significant Subsidiary described in clause (h) or (i) of Section 7.01, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document, shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to cash collateralize the LC Exposure as provided in clause (iii) above shall automatically become effective, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

SECTION 7.03. Application of Payments. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, and notice thereof to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or the Required Lenders:

(a)all payments received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to Section 2.19, be applied by the Administrative Agent as follows:

(i)first, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts payable to the Administrative Agent (including

fees and disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Administrative Agent payable under Section 9.03 and amounts pursuant to Section 2.11(c) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such);

(ii)second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, expenses, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, reimbursement obligations in respect of LC Disbursements, interest and Letter of Credit fees) payable to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (including fees and disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks payable under Section 9.03) arising under the Loan Documents, ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (ii) payable to them;

(iii)third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit fees and charges and interest on the Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements, ratably among the Lenders and the Issuing Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (iii) payable to them;

(iv)fourth, (A) to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, unreimbursed LC Disbursements, Guaranteed Hedge Obligations and Guaranteed Cash Management Obligations and (B) to cash collateralize that portion of LC Exposure comprising the undrawn amount of Letters of Credit to the extent not otherwise cash collateralized by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.05 or 2.19, in each case, ratably among the applicable Lenders, Issuing Banks, Cash Management Banks and Hedge Counterparties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (iv) payable to them; provided that (x) any such amounts applied pursuant to subclause (B) above shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the applicable Issuing Banks to cash collateralize Obligations in respect of Letters of Credit, (y) subject to Section 2.05 or 2.19, amounts used to cash collateralize the aggregate amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to this clause (iv) shall be used to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur and (z) upon the expiration of any Letter of Credit (without any pending drawings), the pro rata share of cash collateral shall be distributed to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth in this Section 7.03;

(v)fifth, to the payment in full of all other Obligations, in each case ratably among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to them in accordance with the respective amounts thereof then due and payable; and

(vi)finally, the balance, if any, after all Obligations have been paid in full in cash, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by law; and

(b)if any amount remains on deposit as cash collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired (without any pending drawings), such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Guaranteed Hedging Obligations and Guaranteed Cash Management Obligations shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Hedge Counterparty or Cash Management Bank (or Lender that is an Affiliate thereof). Each Hedge Counterparty and Cash Management Bank which is not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article VIII hereof for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

ARTICLE VIII

The Administrative Agent

SECTION 8.01. Authorization and Action. (a) Each Lender, on behalf of itself and any of its Affiliates that are Lender Parties, and each Issuing Bank 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 Bank 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 and each Issuing Bank 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.

(b) 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 and each Issuing Bank; 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 Banks 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 Defaulting 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.

(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 Banks (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:

(i)

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, Issuing Bank, or holder of any other obligation 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; and

(ii)

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;

(d) 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.

(e) None of any Co-Syndication Agent, any Documentation Agent or any Arranger shall have 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.

(f) 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 in respect of any LC Disbursement 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, LC Disbursements and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent (including any claim under Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.15, 2.17 and 9.03) 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 Issuing Bank 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 Issuing Banks, 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 9.03). 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 Bank any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or Issuing Bank or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or Issuing Bank in any such proceeding.

(g) The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, 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 Lender Party, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the Guarantees of the Obligations provided under the Loan Documents, to have agreed to the provisions of this Article.

SECTION 8.02. Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Limitation of Liability, 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 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative Agent’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page) 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 (i) notice of any of the events or circumstances set forth or described in Section 5.02 unless and until written notice thereof stating that it is a “notice under Section 5.02” in respect of this Agreement and identifying the specific clause under said Section is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, or (ii) notice of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a “notice of Default” or a “notice of an Event of Default”) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an Issuing Bank, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (A) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (B) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (C) 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 or Event of Default, as applicable, (D) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (E) 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. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be liable for, or be responsible for any Liabilities, costs or expenses suffered by the Borrower, any Subsidiary, any Lender or any Issuing Bank as a result of, any determination of the Revolving Credit Exposure, any of the component amounts thereof or any portion thereof attributable to each Lender or Issuing Bank, or any U.S. Dollar Equivalent.

(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 9.04, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 9.04(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 Bank and shall not be responsible to any Lender or Issuing Bank 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 Bank, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or Issuing Bank 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).

SECTION 8.03. 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 Banks 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 Effective 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 Banks 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 Banks 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, ANY ARRANGER, ANY DOCUMENTATION AGENT, ANY CO-SYNDICATION AGENT OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “APPLICABLE PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER, ANY ISSUING BANK 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.

“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 Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Approved Electronic Platform.

(d) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank 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 and Issuing Bank 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 Bank’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, each of the Issuing Banks 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, any Lender or any Issuing Bank to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

SECTION 8.04. The Administrative Agent Individually With respect to its Commitment, Loans (including Swingline 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 Bank, as the case may be. The terms “Issuing Banks”, “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, Issuing Bank 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 Banks.

SECTION 8.05. Successor Administrative Agent Section 1.01. (a) The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks 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 and the Issuing Banks, 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, 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). 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, 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, the Issuing Banks 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; 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 and each Issuing Bank. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.03, 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.

SECTION 8.06. Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Banks (a) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility, (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and in providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender or Issuing Bank, in each case in the ordinary course of business, and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument (and each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing), (iii) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Co-Syndication Agent, any Documentation Agent, or any other Lender or Issuing Bank, 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 and (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Co- Syndication Agent, any Documentation Agent, or any other Lender or Issuing Bank, 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 Effective 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 Effective Date.

(c) (i) Each Lender hereby agrees that (x) if the Administrative Agent notifies such Lender that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Lender from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or otherwise; individually and collectively, a “Payment”) were erroneously transmitted to such Lender (whether or not known to such Lender), and demands the return of such Payment (or a portion thereof), such Lender shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent

at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect, and (y) to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Lender shall not assert, and hereby waives, as to the Administrative Agent, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Payments received, including without limitation any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender under this Section 8.06(c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(ii) Each Lender hereby further agrees that if it receives a Payment from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such Payment (a “Payment Notice”) or (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, it shall be on notice, in each such case, that an error has been made with respect to such Payment. Each Lender agrees that, in each such case, or if it otherwise becomes aware a Payment (or portion thereof) may have been sent in error, such Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such occurrence and, upon demand from the Administrative Agent, it shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.

(iii) The Borrower and each other Loan Party hereby agrees that (x) in the event an erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) are not recovered from any Lender that has received such Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Lender with respect to such amount and (y) an erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by the Borrower or any other Loan Party.

(iv) Each party’s obligations under this Section 8.06(c) shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations under any Loan Document.

SECTION 8.07. 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 each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments,

(ii) the prohibited 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 so as to exempt from the prohibitions of Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement,

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

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

(b) In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that none of the Administrative Agent, or any Arranger, any Co-Syndication Agent, any Documentation Agent or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto).

(c) The Administrative Agent, and each Arranger, Co-Syndication Agent and Documentation Agent hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to

provide investment advice or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments, this Agreement and any other Loan Documents (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

SECTION 8.08. Guarantee Matters The Lenders irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty in the event that such Guarantor ceases to be a Significant Subsidiary. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding such Guarantor’s status as a Subsidiary or a Significant Subsidiary, or any certificate prepared by any Loan Party in connection therewith. Except with respect to a Lender Party’s right to file a proof of claim in an insolvency proceeding, no Lender Party shall have any right individually 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 Lender Parties in accordance with the terms thereof.

ARTICLE IX

Miscellaneous

SECTION 9.01. Notices. (a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

(i)if to the Borrower, to it at 26901 Malibu Hills Road, Calabasas Hills, CA 91301, Attention of Matthew Clark (Telecopy No. (866) 788-8849); with a copy of any notice of the occurrence of a Default to be also delivered to 26901 Malibu Hills Road, Calabasas Hills, CA 91301, Attention of General Counsel (Telecopy No. (818) 871-3110);

(ii)if to the Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender, to JPMorgan Loan Services, JPMorgan Chase Bank, 10 South Dearborn, L2 Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attention of Christopher Jefferson (Facsimile No. (844) 490-5663; email jpm.agency.cri@jpmorgan.com), with a copy to JPMorgan Chase Bank, 2029 Century Park East, 38^th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90067, Attention of Jeff Bailard;

(iii)if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

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

(b)Notices and other communications to any Loan Party, Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereunder may be delivered or furnished by using Approved Electronic Platforms pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address in accordance with this Section 9.01 shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website in accordance with this Section 9.01 shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient, at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i), of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

(c)Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments. (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative

Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

(b)Subject to Section 2.13(b) and Section 9.02(c) below, neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.08(c) or 2.17(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the ratable reduction of Commitments or the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranty, except to the extent permitted by Section 8.08, (vi) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender, (vii) change any of the provisions of Section 7.03, without the written consent of each Lender, or (viii) subordinate any Obligations in contractual right of payment to any other Indebtedness or other obligations (any such other Indebtedness or other obligations, to which such Obligations are subordinated, “Senior Indebtedness”), unless each adversely affected Lender has consented thereto or has been offered a bona fide opportunity to fund or otherwise provide its pro rata share (based on the amount of Obligations that are adversely affected thereby held by each Lender) of the Senior Indebtedness on the same terms (other than bona fide backstop fees and reimbursement of counsel fees and other expenses in connection with the negotiation of the terms of such transaction; such fees and expenses, “Ancillary Fees”) as offered to all other providers (or their Affiliates) of the Senior Indebtedness and to the extent such adversely affected Lender decides to participate in the Senior Indebtedness, receive its pro rata share of the fees and any other similar benefit (other than Ancillary Fees) of the Senior Indebtedness afforded to the providers of the Senior Indebtedness (or any of their Affiliates) in connection with providing the Senior Indebtedness pursuant to a written offer made to each such adversely affected Lender describing the material terms of the arrangements pursuant to which the Senior Indebtedness is to be provided, which offer shall remain open to each adversely affected Lender for a period of not less than five Business Days; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender hereunder (including any amendments or modifications to Section 2.19) without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be; and provided further that no such agreement shall amend or modify the provisions of Section 2.05 without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank.

(c)If the Administrative Agent and the Borrower acting together identify any ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect in any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, then the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall be permitted to amend, modify or supplement such provision to cure such ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect, and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement.

(d)If any action to be taken by the Lenders or the Administrative Agent hereunder requires the unanimous consent, authorization, or agreement of all Lenders and if such action has received the consent, authorization, or agreement of the Required Lenders but not all of the Lenders, then the Administrative Agent (after receipt of a request from the Borrower), upon at least five Business Days prior irrevocable notice, may permanently replace any Lender (a “Holdout Lender”) that failed to give its consent, authorization, or agreement with one or more other Lenders willing to provide such consent, authorization or agreement (each, a “Replacement Lender”) reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and the Holdout Lender shall have no right to refuse to be replaced hereunder. Such notice to replace the Holdout Lender shall specify an effective date for such replacement, which date shall not be later than ten Business Days after the date such notice is given and no more than 60 days after the date such consent, authorization or agreement was sought. Prior to the effective date of such replacement, the Holdout Lender and each Replacement Lender shall execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption, subject only to the Holdout Lender being repaid the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder without any premium or penalty of any kind whatsoever. If the Holdout Lender shall refuse or fail to execute and deliver any such Assignment and Assumption prior to the effective date of such replacement, the Holdout Lender shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Assumption. The replacement of any Holdout Lender shall be made in accordance with the terms of Section 9.04.

SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Limitation of Liability; Indemnity; Etc.. (a) Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable documented or invoiced out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all documented or invoiced out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, including the documented or invoiced fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any one counsel retained on behalf of the Lenders, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its or their rights in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket

expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

(b)Limitation of Liability. To the extent permitted by applicable law, (i) no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives, any claim against the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Co-Syndication Agent, any Documentation Agent, any Issuing Bank 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, without limitation, any personal data) obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet), except to the extent such Liabilities are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Lender-Related 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 Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that, nothing in this Section 9.03(b) shall relieve any Loan Party of any obligation it may have to indemnify an Indemnitee, as provided in Section 9.03(c), against any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages asserted against such Indemnitee by a third party.

(c)Indemnity. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Co-Syndication Agent, each Documentation Agent, the Issuing Bank and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all Liabilities and related reasonable and documented expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of one counsel (and if reasonably necessary, one local counsel per relevant jurisdiction) for all Indemnitees (and solely in the case of a conflict of interest, (x) one additional counsel for each group of affected Indemnitees and (y) if reasonably necessary, one local counsel per relevant jurisdiction but excluding allocated fees and costs of in-house counsel), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) any action taken in connection with this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the payment of principal, interest and fees, (iv) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the Issuing Bank 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), (v) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability resulting from the handling of Hazardous Materials or violation of Environmental Laws, related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (vi) any actual or prospective Proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not such Proceeding

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is brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party or any of their respective equity holders, Affiliates, creditors, or any other third Person and whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such Liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from (A) the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any Related Party of such Indemnitee, (B) a claim brought by a Loan Party against an Indemnitee for a material breach of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder, or (C) any dispute solely among Indemnitees (other than any claims against an Indemnitee in its capacity or in fulling its role as an agent or arranger or any similar role hereunder or in any other Loan Document and other than any claims arising out of any act or omission of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries). This Section 9.03(c) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims or damages arising from any non-Tax claim.

(d)Lender Reimbursement. To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender under paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each, an “Agent-Related Person”), as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or Liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Agent-Related Person in its capacity as such. The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

(e)Payments. All amounts due under this Section 9.03 shall be payable not later than ten days after written demand therefor.

SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns. (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 Bank 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. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b)(i)Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Persons (other than any Ineligible Institution) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment,

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participations in Letters of Credit and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) of:

(A)the Borrower; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to an assignment unless it shall have objected thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five Business Days after having received notice thereof; provided further that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default under clause (a), (b), (h) or (i) of Section 7.01 has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee;

(B)the Administrative Agent, provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of any Commitment to an assignee that is a Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender) with a Commitment immediately prior to giving effect to such assignment;

(C)the Issuing Bank; and

(D)the Swingline Lender.

(ii)Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(A)except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment 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 no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

(B)each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement;

(C)the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) an Assignment and Assumption or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; and

(D)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

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(which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower, the Loan Parties 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 9.04(b), the terms “Approved Fund” and “Ineligible Institution” have the following meanings:

“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.

“Ineligible Institution” means (a) a natural person, (b) a Defaulting Lender, (c) the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or (d) a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or relative(s) thereof; provided that, such holding company, investment vehicle or trust shall not constitute an Ineligible Institution if it (x) has not been established for the primary purpose of acquiring any Loans or Commitments, (y) is managed by a professional advisor, who is not such natural person or a relative thereof, having significant experience in the business of making or purchasing commercial loans, and (z) has assets greater than $25,000,000 and a significant part of its activities consist of making or purchasing commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.

(iii)Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, 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 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 9.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 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.

(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 Commitment of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders may treat each

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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. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, the Issuing Bank and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(v)Upon its receipt of (x) a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, 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 and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.06(b), 2.17(d) or 9.03(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

(c)(i)Any Lender may, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”), other than an Ineligible Institution, in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank 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 or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.14, 2.15 and 2.16 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under 2.16(f) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.16(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender and the information and documentation required under Section 2.16(g) will be delivered to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 2.19 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this

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Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.14 or 2.16, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 2.18(b) with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.17(c) as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans, Letters of Credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan, Letter of Credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) or Proposed Section 1.163-5(b) (or, in each case, any amended or successor sections) 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.

(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 without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section 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.

SECTION 9.05. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the other Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Documents shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the

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consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof.

SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution. (a) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

(b)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 9.01), 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, each party hereto shall be entitled to rely on such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of such other 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 any party hereto, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed counterpart. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby (A) agrees that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and 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

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other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original; (B) each party hereto 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); (C) 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 (D) waives any claim against any other party for any Liabilities arising solely from any party’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 any Loan Party to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.

SECTION 9.07. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the Issuing Bank and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender, the Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender, the Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, the Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch office or Affiliate of such Lender or the Issuing Bank different from the branch office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so setoff shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.19 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 Bank, and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender, the Issuing Bank and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and the Issuing Bank agrees to notify

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the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

(b)The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, 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, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or the transactions relating hereto or thereto, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may (and any such claims, cross-claims or third party claims brought against the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties may only) be heard and determined in such federal court (to the extent permitted by law) or New York State court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement against the Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(c)The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(d)Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER

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AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

SECTION 9.11. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality. (a) Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (i) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (ii) to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (iii) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (iv) to any other party to this Agreement or under any other Loan Document, (v) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (vi) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (A) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (B) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (vii) with the consent of the Borrower or (viii) to the extent such Information (A) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (B) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower and other than information pertaining to this Agreement routinely provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

(b)EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN SECTION 9.12(a) FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BORROWER AND ITS RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES, AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC

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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.

(c)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 WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE LOAN PARTIES 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.

SECTION 9.13. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the NYFRB Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

SECTION 9.14. USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the 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 Act.

SECTION 9.15. California Judicial Reference. If any action or proceeding is filed in a court of the State of California by or against any party hereto in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (a) the parties agree, and hereby agree to advise the applicable court, that the adjudication of any such action or proceeding (and all related claims) shall be made pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 638 by a referee (who shall be a single active or retired judge) who shall hear and determine all of the issues in such action or proceeding (whether of fact or of law) and report a statement of decision, provided that at the option of any party to such proceeding, any such issues pertaining to a “provisional remedy” as defined in California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1281.8 shall be

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heard and determined by the court, and (b) without limiting the generality of Section 9.03, the Borrower shall be solely responsible to pay all fees and expenses of any referee appointed in such action or proceeding.

SECTION 9.16. Judgment Currency. If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due from the Borrower hereunder in the currency expressed to be payable herein (the “Specified Currency”) into another currency, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the Specified Currency with such other currency at the Administrative Agent’s New York office on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligations of the Borrower in respect of any sum due to any Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent hereunder shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than the Specified Currency, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by such Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Specified Currency with such other currency; if the amount of the Specified Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to such Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, in the Specified Currency, the Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, against such loss.

SECTION 9.17. No Fiduciary Duty, etc. (a) The Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that no Credit Party will have any obligations except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents and each Credit Party is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Borrower with respect to the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated herein and therein and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Borrower or any other Person. The Borrower agrees that it will not assert any claim against any Credit Party based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by such Credit Party in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Additionally, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that no Credit Party is advising the Borrower as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting, regulatory or any other matters in any jurisdiction. The Borrower shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated herein or in the other Loan Documents, and the Credit Parties shall have no responsibility or liability to the Borrower with respect thereto.

(b)The Borrower further acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that each Credit Party, together with its Affiliates, is a full service securities or banking firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities as well as providing investment banking and other financial services. In the ordinary course of business, any Credit Party may provide investment banking and other financial services to, and/or acquire, hold or sell, for its own accounts and the accounts of customers, equity, debt and other securities and financial instruments (including bank loans and other obligations) of, the Borrower and other companies with which the

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Borrower may have commercial or other relationships. With respect to any securities and/or financial instruments so held by any Credit Party or any of its customers, all rights in respect of such securities and financial instruments, including any voting rights, will be exercised by the holder of the rights, in its sole discretion.

(c)In addition, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that each Credit Party and its affiliates may be providing debt financing, equity capital or other services (including financial advisory services) to other companies in respect of which the Borrower may have conflicting interests regarding the transactions described herein and otherwise. No Credit Party will use confidential information obtained from the Borrower by virtue of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or its other relationships with the Borrower in connection with the performance by such Credit Party of services for other companies, and no Credit Party will furnish any such information to other companies. The Borrower also acknowledges that no Credit Party has any obligation to use in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, or to furnish to the Borrower, confidential information obtained from other companies.

SECTION 9.18. 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.

SECTION 9.19. 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

112

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 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.

SECTION 9.20. Amendment and Restatement. The Existing Loan Agreement shall, as of the Effective Date, be deemed to be amended and restated in its entirety in the form of, and pursuant to, this Agreement, and the Existing Loan Agreement shall thereafter be of no further force or effect except to evidence (i) the representations and warranties of the parties hereto prior to the Effective Date and (ii) any agreement to be performed or required to be performed pursuant to the Existing Loan Agreement prior to the Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement and the documents executed and delivered in connection herewith and the transactions contemplated hereby do not constitute a novation, payment and reborrowing or termination of any of the obligations of the Loan Parties under the Existing Loan Agreement or the other Loan Documents (as defined in the Existing Loan Agreement) as in effect prior to the Effective Date or a novation or payment and reborrowing of any amount owing under the Existing Loan Agreement as in effect prior to the Effective Date.

[Signature Pages Follow]

113

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

		THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED


		By
			Name:
			Title:

Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


		JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., individually and as Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender


		By
			Name:
			Title:

Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


		JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as a Lender


		By
			Name:
			Title:

Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


		Bank of America, N.A., as a Lender


		By
			Name:
			Title:

Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


		Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as a Lender


		By
			Name:
			Title:

Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


		Bank of the West, as a Lender and as Issuing Bank


		By
			Name:
			Title:

Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


		Truist Bank, as a Lender


		By
			Name:
			Title:

Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement


		TD Bank, N.A., as a Lender


		By
			Name:
			Title:

Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

SCHEDULE 2.01

Commitments and Applicable Percentages


Revolving Lenders	Commitment	Applicable Percentage
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.	$80,000,000	20.0%
Bank of America, N.A.	$70,000,000	17.5%
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association	$70,000,000	17.5%
Bank of the West	$70,000,000	17.5%
Truist Bank	$55,000,000	13.8%
TD Bank, N.A.	$55,000,000	13.8%


	$400,000,000	100.0%

EXHIBIT A

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

This Assignment and Assumption (the “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [Insert name of Assignor] (the “Assignor”) and [Insert name of Assignee] (the “Assignee”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Loan Agreement identified below (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Loan Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Loan Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Loan Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below (including any letters of credit, guarantees, and swingline loans included in such facilities) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Loan Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as the “Assigned Interest”). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.


1.	Assignor:

2.	Assignee:
		[and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]¹]

3.	Borrower(s):	THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation

4.	Administrative Agent:	JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Loan Agreement

¹	Select as applicable


5.	Loan Agreement:	The $400,000,000 Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of October 6, 2022 among the Borrower, the Lenders parties thereto, the Administrative Agent, and the other agents parties thereto

6.	Assigned Interest:


Facility Assigned	Aggregate Amount of Commitment/Loans for all Lenders	Amount of Commitment/Loans Assigned	Percentage Assigned of Commitment/Loans²
Revolving Commitment	$	$	%
	$	$	%
	$	$	%

Effective Date: _____________ ___, 20___ [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

The Assignee agrees to deliver to the Administrative Agent a completed 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, the Loan Parties 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.

The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:


		ASSIGNOR

		[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]


		By
			Title:

		ASSIGNEE

		[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]


		By
			Title:

²	Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.

[Consented to and]³ Accepted:

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent


By
	Title:

[Consented to:]⁴

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED


By
	Title:

³	To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent is required by the terms of the Loan Agreement.

⁴	To be added only if the consent of the Borrower is required by the terms of the Loan Agreement.

ANNEX 1

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

1. Representations and Warranties.

1.1 Assignor. The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document, (iv) any requirements under applicable law for the Assignee to become a lender under the Loan Agreement or to charge interest at the rate set forth therein form time to time, or (v) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

1.2. Assignee. The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Loan Agreement and under applicable law, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Loan Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Loan Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by the Assigned Interest and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire the Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has received a copy of the Loan Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their respective Related Parties, and (vi) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, any Co-Syndication Agent or Documentation Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender or any of their respective Related Parties, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform

in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Acceptance and adoption of the terms of this Assignment and Assumption by the Assignee and the Assignor by Electronic Signature or delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by any Approved Electronic Platform shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

Financial Statement Date: ___________, _____

To:JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated as of October 6, 2022 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Agreement”, the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

The undersigned Financial Officer hereby certifies as of the date hereof that he/she is the of the Borrower, and that, as such, he/she is authorized to execute and deliver this Certificate to the Administrative Agent on the behalf of the Borrower, and that:

[Use following paragraph 1 for fiscal year-end financial statements]

1.The Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent the year-end audited financial statements required by Section 5.01(a) of the Agreement for the fiscal year of the Borrower ended as of the above date, together with the report and opinion of an independent public accountant required by such section.

[Use following paragraph 1 for fiscal quarter-end financial statements]

1.The Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent the unaudited financial statements required by Section 5.01(b) of the Agreement for the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended as of the above date (the “Subject Quarter”). Such financial statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP as at such date and for such period, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

2.The undersigned has reviewed and is familiar with the terms of the Agreement and has made, or has caused to be made under his/her supervision, a detailed review of the transactions and condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower during the accounting period covered by the attached financial statements.

3.A review of the activities of the Borrower during such fiscal period has been made under the supervision of the undersigned with a view to determining whether during such fiscal period the Borrower performed and observed all its obligations under the Loan Documents, and

[select one:]

[to the knowledge of the undersigned during such fiscal period, the Borrower performed and observed each covenant and condition of the Loan Documents applicable to it.]

--or--

[the following covenants or conditions have not been performed or observed and the following is a list of each such Default and its nature and status:]

4.The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in the Agreement are true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Certificate, other than the representations and warranties that specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; provided that any representation and warranty qualified by “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct (after giving effect to any qualification therein) in all respects.

5.No change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 of the Agreement[, except:

[if any such change has occurred, describe the change and specify the effect of the change on the financial statements accompanying this Certificate]].

6.The covenant analyses and information set forth on Schedules 1, 2 and 3 attached hereto are true and accurate on and as of the date of this Certificate.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate as of _____________.


		THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED


		By:
		Name:
		Title:

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

SCHEDULE 1

to the Compliance Certificate

($ in 000’s)

Section 6.09(a) – Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio.


A.	Debt at Statement Date as set forth on Schedule 2:	$

B.	Rental Expense for four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on Statement Date (“Subject Period”), other than non-cash Rental Expense but including cash payments in respect of non-cash Rental Expense for a prior period:	$

C.	Unrestricted domestic cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on Statement Date:	$

D.	EBITDAR for Subject Period as set forth on Schedule 2:	$

E.	Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio (((i) sum of (x) Line I.A + (y) 6 x Line I.B – (z) Line I.C - $25 million) ÷ (ii) Line I.D):		to 1.00

	Maximum permitted: 4.25 to 1.00

II.

Section 6.09(b) – EBITDAR to Interest and Rental Expense.


A.	EBITDAR for the Subject Period as set forth on Schedule 2:	$

B.	Cash Interest Expense for the Subject Period:	$

C.	Rental Expense for Subject Period, other than non-cash Rental Expense but including cash payments in respect of non-cash Rental Expense for a prior period:	$

D.	EBITDAR to Interest and Rental Expense ((i) Line II.A ÷ (ii) sum of Line II.B + Line II.C):		to 1.00

	Minimum required: 1.90 to 1.00

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

SCHEDULE 2

to the Compliance Certificate

($ in 000’s)

DEBT

(in accordance with the definition of Debt as set forth in the Agreement)


Type of Debt¹	Amount at Statement Date
all obligations for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind
all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments
all obligations upon which interest charges are customarily paid
all obligations under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person
all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding (w) trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business, (x) any earn-out obligation until such obligation becomes or would constitute a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP, (y) expenses accrued in the ordinary course of business and (z) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller, unless such amounts or obligations would constitute a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP)²

The Debt 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 therfor 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 provide that such Person is not liable therefor. For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood and agreed that any amounts classified as Deemed Landlord Financing Liabilities shall not be deemed to be Debt for purposes hereof.

²	Not to include any earn out obligations or similar deferred obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred or created in connection with either of the Project North Acquisitions.

all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed
Guarantees of Indebtedness of others
Capital Lease Obligations
= Debt

EBITDA

(in accordance with the definition of EBITDA as set forth in the Agreement)


EBITDA	Quarter Ended	Quarter Ended	Quarter Ended	Quarter Ended	Twelve Months Ended
Net Income
+ Interest Expense
+ net provision for income taxes payable
+ depreciation expense
+ amortization expense
+ non-cash stock option expense
+ non-recurring, non-cash charges or losses
+ reasonable and documented costs and expenses incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition (whether or not consummated) and supported by documentation provided to the Administrative Agent
+ pre-opening expenses related to Permitted Acquisitions and expenses relating to business restructuring and strategic initiatives³
+ non-cash Rental Expense⁴
+ non-recurring integration costs
- non-cash gains

³	Provided that such adjustments and add-backs shall not exceed an aggregate amount equal to 15% of total EBITDA (calculated after giving effect to EBITDA adjustments/add-backs).

⁴	Note: Assumed that the portion of such non-cash Rental Expense for such period resulting from adjustments related to the adoption of ASC 842 is $21,000,000, so long as the Borrower reasonably believes that the actual amount of such adjustments for such period is within $5,000,000 of such amount.


- all EBITDA of any joint venture or other non-wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, except to the extent of any amounts distributed to the Borrower in cash
- cash payments representing non-cash Rental Expense added back in prior periods
= EBITDA

EBITDAR

(in accordance with the definition of EBITDAR as set forth in the Agreement)


EBITDAR	Quarter Ended	Quarter Ended	Quarter Ended	Quarter Ended	Twelve Months Ended
EBITDA
+ Rental Expense⁵
= EBITDAR

⁵	Other than non-cash Rental Expense but including cash payments in respect of non-cash Rental Expense for a prior period.

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

SCHEDULE 3

to the Compliance Certificate

($ in 000’s)

I.Section 6.01 – Indebtedness.


a.	Section 6.01 (e): As of the Statement Date, aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (provided that such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement):	$

	Maximum permitted: $50,000,000

b.	Section 6.01(f): As of the Statement Date, aggregate principal amount of secured Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (in addition to that permitted under Section 6.01(e)):	$

	Maximum permitted: $15,000,000

c.	Section 6.01(j): As of the Statement Date, aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness in the form of earn-outs (in addition to those permitted under Section 6.01(i)), indemnification, incentive, non-compete, consulting or other similar arrangements and other contingent obligations in respect of Permitted Acquisitions (both before and after any liability associated therewith becomes fixed):	$

	Maximum permitted: $50,000,000

c.	Section 6.01(l)(ii): As of the Statement Date, aggregate principal amount of unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower (including, without limitation, unsecured Indebtedness that is convertible into equity, but excluding any other unsecured indebtedness of the Borrower permitted pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) through and including


	Section 6.01(k) of the Agreement):⁶	$

	Maximum permitted: $300,000,000⁷

II.Section 6.04 – Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions.


a.	Section 6.04(g): Aggregate investments by the Borrower or any Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.04(g) of the Agreement since the Effective Date:	$

	Maximum permitted: $300,000,000

III.Section 6.06 – Restricted Payments.


a.	Section 6.06(d):

	Aggregate amount of Restricted Payments declared and/or made by the Borrower pursuant to Section 6.06(d) of the Agreement (at a time when (i) no Default or Event of Default was then continuing and (ii) after giving pro forma effect thereto, the Net Adjusted Leverage Ratio did not exceed 3.75 to 1.00, or subject to Section 6.06(f) of the Agreement, when declared at such time):	$

⁶

Note: Permitted so long as (i) the Borrower is in compliance with Section 6.09(b) of the Agreement as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(c) of the Agreement, adjusted to give pro forma effect to the actual amount of Debt outstanding after the incurrence of such Indebtedness; (ii) such Indebtedness does not mature or require amortization payments prior to the date that is six (6) months after the Maturity Date; (iii) such Indebtedness does not restrict the right of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to grant Liens on their assets to the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of itself and the other Credit Parties); and (iv) such Indebtedness has covenants, if any, that are no more restrictive than those included in the Agreement as in effect at the time of incurrence thereof (or, if such Indebtedness is Convertible Indebtedness, has covenants that are no more restrictive than those customary for convertible notes).

⁷	Less the aggregate outstanding principal amount of any Indebtedness then outstanding under clause (y) of Section 6.01(l)(ii) of the Agreement.

EXHIBIT C-1

[FORM OF]

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

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

Reference is hereby made to the Fourth Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of October 6, 2022 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Loan Agreement”), among THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation, as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, the other agents parties thereto, and each lender from time to time party thereto.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 of the Loan Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Loan Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Loan Agreement.


[NAME OF LENDER]

By:
	Name:
	Title:

Date: ________ __, 20[ ]

EXHIBIT C-2

[FORM OF]

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

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

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 of the Loan Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Loan Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Loan Agreement.

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

By:
	Name:
	Title:

Date: ________ __, 20[ ]

EXHIBIT C-3

[FORM OF]

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

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

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 of the Loan Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect to such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Loan Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Loan Agreement.


[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

By:
	Name:
	Title:

Date: ________ __, 20[ ]

EXHIBIT C-4

[FORM OF]

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

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

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 of the Loan Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Loan Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Loan Agreement.


[NAME OF LENDER]

By:
	Name:
	Title:

Date: ________ __, 20[ ]

EXHIBIT 31.1

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO EXCHANGE ACT RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a)

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, David Overton, certify that:

1.I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated;

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 2, 2022		/s/ DAVID OVERTON
		David Overton
		Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
		(Principal Executive Officer)

EXHIBIT 31.2

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO EXCHANGE ACT RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a)

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Matthew E. Clark, certify that:

1.I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated;

(b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.


Date: November 2, 2022		/s/ MATTHEW E. CLARK
		Matthew E. Clark
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
		(Principal Financial Officer)

EXHIBIT 32.1

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 27, 2022 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, David Overton, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

November 2, 2022		/s/ DAVID OVERTON
		David Overton
		Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

EXHIBIT 32.2

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 27, 2022 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Matthew E. Clark, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

November 2, 2022		/s/ MATTHEW E. CLARK
		Matthew E. Clark
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer