UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

 

June 21, 2017 (June 16, 2017)

 

CAPITALA FINANCE CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Maryland 814-01022 90-0945675
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation)    

 

4201 Congress St., Suite 360

Charlotte, NC 28209

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (704) 376-5502

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

 

Emerging growth company  x

  

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

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On June 16, 2017, Capitala Finance Corp. (the “Company”) entered into Amendment No. 2 (the “Amendment”) to its Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement with ING Capital LLC, as administrative agent, arranger and bookrunner, and the lenders party thereto (the “Credit Facility”).

 

The Amendment amended the Credit Facility to, among other things, (a) modify the size of the current revolver commitments under the Credit Facility to $114.5 million, (b) expand the accordion feature of the Credit Facility to $200 million, (c) provide for the ability to step-down the pricing of the Credit Facility from LIBOR plus 3.00% to LIBOR plus 2.75% when certain conditions are met, (d) extend the expiration of the revolving period to June 16, 2020, during which period the Company, subject to certain conditions, may make borrowings under the Credit Facility, and (e) extend the stated maturity date of the Credit Facility to June 16, 2021.

 

Borrowings under the Credit Facility continue to bear interest, at the Company’s election, at a rate per annum equal to (i) the one, two, three or six month LIBOR, as applicable, plus 3.00% (in the case of eurocurrency loans) or (ii) 2.00% plus the highest of (A) a prime rate, (B) the Federal Funds rate plus 0.5%, (C) three month LIBOR plus 1.0% and (D) zero (in the case of alternate base rate loans). The Company will continue to pay an unused commitment fee at a rate of 2.50% per annum on the amount (if positive) by which 40% of the aggregate commitments under the Credit Facility exceeds the outstanding amount of loans under the Credit Facility and 0.50% per annum on any remaining unused portion of the Credit Facility.

 

The Credit Facility will continue to be secured by a first priority security interest in all of the Company’s portfolio investments (other than those held by the Company’s existing Small Business Investment Company (“SBIC”) subsidiaries), equity interests in certain of the Company’s direct and indirect subsidiaries (other than the Company’s existing SBIC subsidiaries) and substantially all of the Company’s other assets. Any future subsidiaries formed by the Company (other than SBIC subsidiaries or certain special purpose financing subsidiaries) will be required to guarantee the Credit Facility and pledge all of their assets in support of such guarantee. The Credit Facility continues to contain certain customary affirmative and negative covenants and events of default. In particular, the Credit Facility contains certain financial covenants that, among other things, require the Company to maintain a minimum amount of equity supporting the Credit Facility and to maintain compliance with certain collateral concentration limits, quality and coverage tests.

 

The description above is only a summary of the material provisions of the Amendment to the Credit Facility and the related Amendment No. 1 to the Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement and both are qualified in their entirety by reference to the copies of the Form of Amendment No. 2 to the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement and the Form of Amendment No. 1 to the Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement, which are filed as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, to this current report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

 

On June 20, 2017, the Company issued a press release regarding the matters described herein, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein.

 

 

 

 

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

 

The disclosure set forth above under Item 1.01 is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(a) Not applicable.

 

(b) Not applicable.

 

(c) Not applicable.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   Description
     
10.1   Form of Amendment No. 2, dated as of June 16, 2017, to the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2014, among Capitala Finance Corp., as borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto, and ING Capital LLC, as administrative agent, arranger and bookrunner, and First National Bank of Pennsylvania, as documentation agent.
     
10.2   Form of Amendment No. 1, dated as of June 16, 2017, to the Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement dated October 17, 2014, among Capitala Finance Corp., as borrower, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, ING Capital LLC, as revolving administrative agent for the revolving lenders and as collateral agent, and each financing agent and designated indebtedness holder party thereto.
     
99.1   Press release dated June 20, 2017.

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

Date:   June 21, 2017 CAPITALA FINANCE CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Stephen A. Arnall
    Stephen A. Arnall
    Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

[FORM OF AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO SENIOR SECURED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT]

 

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO

SENIOR SECURED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

This AMENDMENT NO. 2 (this “ Amendment ”) dated as of June 16, 2017, is made with respect to the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2014 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among CAPITALA FINANCE CORP., a Maryland corporation (the “ Borrower ”), the several banks and other financial institutions or entities from time to time party to the Credit Agreement as lenders (the “ Lenders ”) and ING CAPITAL LLC (“ING”), as administrative agent for the Lenders under the Credit Agreement (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement (as amended hereby).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Lenders have made certain loans and other extensions of credit to the Borrower;

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders and the Administrative Agent amend certain provisions of the Credit Agreement and the Lenders signatory hereto and the Administrative Agent have agreed to do so on the terms and subject to the conditions contained in this Amendment;

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower wishes to prepay in full the pro rata portion of the Loans and other obligations owing to certain lenders under the Credit Agreement identified in writing by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (each an “ Exiting Lender ”) with a corresponding termination of each such Exiting Lender’s Commitment (the “ Prepayment ”); and

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with the Prepayment, each person identified as an “Increasing Lender” on the signature pages hereto (each an “ Increasing Lender ”) wishes to increase the aggregate amount of their commitments under the Credit Agreement.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

SECTION I AMENDMENTS TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Effective as of the Effective Date, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

(a) The Credit Agreement is hereby amended to delete the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken text or stricken text ) and to add the double-underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: doubled-underlined text or double-underlined text ) as set forth in the Credit Agreement attached hereto as Annex A .

 

 

 

 

(b) Schedules 1.01(b), 3.11(a), 3.11(b), 3.12(a), 3.12(b) and 6.08 to the Credit Agreement are hereby amended to read as provided on Schedules 1.01(b) 3.11(a), 3.11(b), 3.12(a), 3.12(b) and 6.08 attached hereto.

 

(c) Exhibits B and C to the Credit Agreement are hereby amended to read as provided on Exhibits B and C attached hereto.

 

SECTION II MISCELLANEOUS

 

2.1.          Conditions to Effectiveness of Amendment . This Amendment shall become effective as of the date (such date, the “ Effective Date ”) on which each of the following conditions precedent have been satisfied (unless a condition shall have been waived in accordance with Section 9.02 of the Credit Agreement):

 

(a) Documents . The Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following documents, each of which shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (and to the extent specified below to each Lender) in form and substance:

 

(1) Executed Counterparts . From each of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, either (1) a counterpart of this Amendment signed on behalf of such party or (2) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy transmission or electronic mail of a signed signature page to this Amendment) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Amendment.

 

(2) Amendment No. 1 to Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement . The Amendment No. 1 to Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “ Amendment No. 1 to GPSA ”), with respect to the Guarantee and Security Agreement, duly executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto.

 

(3) Opinion of Counsel to the Borrower . A favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of Mayer Brown LLP, counsel for the Obligors, and Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, Maryland counsel for the Borrower, in each case, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and covering such matters as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request (and the Borrower hereby instructs such counsel to deliver such opinions to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent).

 

(4) Officer’s Certificate . A certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by a Financial Officer of the Borrower, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in Sections 2.1(b) and (c) of this Amendment.

 

 

 

 

(5) Corporate Documents . A certificate of the Chief Financial Officer, secretary or assistant secretary of each Obligor, dated the Effective Date, certifying that attached thereto are (1) true, correct and complete copies of the organizational documents of each Obligor certified as of a recent date by the appropriate governmental official, (2) signature and incumbency certificates of the officers of such Person executing the Amendment and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, (3) true, correct and complete resolutions of the Board of Directors of each Obligor approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party or by which it or its assets may be bound as of the Effective Date and, in the case of the Borrower, authorizing the borrowings under the Credit Agreement, and that such resolutions are in full force and effect without modification or amendment and (4) a good standing certificate from the applicable Governmental Authority of each Obligor’s jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation and in each jurisdiction in which it is qualified as a foreign corporation or other entity to do business, each dated a recent date prior to the Effective Date.

 

(6) Fee Letter . The fee letter, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Borrower and ING, duly executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto.

 

(b) Default . No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately before and after giving effect to this Amendment.

 

(c) Financial Covenants . The Borrower is in pro forma compliance with each of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.07(a), (b), (d) and (e) of the Credit Agreement (as amended hereby) at the time of the Effective Date.

 

(d) Liens . The Administrative Agent shall have received results of a recent lien search in each relevant jurisdiction with respect to the Obligors, confirming the priority of the Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent created pursuant to the Security Documents and revealing no liens on any of the assets of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries except for Liens permitted under Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement or Liens to be discharged on or prior to the Effective Date pursuant to documentation satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(e) Consents . The Borrower shall have obtained and delivered to the Administrative Agent certified copies of all consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations, or filings required to be made or obtained by the Borrower and all guarantors in connection with this Amendment, such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations, filings and orders shall be in full force and effect and all applicable waiting periods shall have expired and no investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Authority regarding this Amendment or any transaction being financed with the proceeds of the Loans shall be ongoing.

 

(f) Solvency Certificate . On the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate (which certificate may be combined with the certificate set forth in Section 2.1(a)(4) ) of a Financial Officer of the Borrower dated as of the Effective Date and addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, with appropriate attachments and demonstrating that both before and after giving effect to this Amendment and the Transactions, (a) the Borrower will be Solvent on an unconsolidated basis and (b) each Obligor will be Solvent on a consolidated basis with the other Obligors.

 

 

 

 

(g)           Fees, Expenses and Interest . The Borrower shall have paid in full to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all fees, expenses and interest owing related to this Amendment and the Credit Agreement owing on the Effective Date, including any up-front fee due to any Lender on the Effective Date.

 

2.2.          Representations and Warranties . To induce the other parties hereto to enter into this Amendment, the Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders that, as of the Effective Date and after giving effect to this Amendment:

 

(a)  This Amendment has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Borrower, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower enforceable in accordance with its terms. The Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment, constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower enforceable in accordance with its respective terms.

 

(b)  The representations and warranties set forth in Article III of the Credit Agreement as amended by this Amendment and the representations and warranties in each other Loan Document are true and correct in all material respects (other than any representation or warranty already qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, which shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the Effective Date or as to any such representations and warranties that refer to a specific date, as of such specific date, with the same effect as though made on and as of the Effective Date.

 

2.3.          Counterparts . This Amendment 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 Amendment constitutes the entire contract between and among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Amendment by telecopy or electronic mail shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Amendment.

 

2.4.          Payment of Expenses . The Borrower agrees to pay and reimburse the Administrative Agent for all of its reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Amendment, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of legal counsel to the Administrative Agent (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the allocated costs of internal counsel).

 

2.5.          GOVERNING LAW . THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

2.6.          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 AMENDMENT 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 AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AMENDMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

 

 

 

2.7.          Incorporation of Certain Provisions . The provisions of Sections 9.01, 9.07, 9.09 and 9.12 of the Credit Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference mutatis mutandis as if fully set forth herein.

 

2.8.          Effect of Amendment . This Amendment is not intended by the parties to be, and shall not be construed to be, a novation of the Credit Agreement, the Guarantee and Security Agreement or any other Loan Document or an accord and satisfaction in regard thereto. Except as expressly set forth herein, this Amendment shall not by implication or otherwise limit, impair, constitute a waiver of, or otherwise affect the rights and remedies of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Borrower under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, and, except as expressly set forth herein, shall not alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the other terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect. Nothing herein shall be deemed to entitle any Person to a consent to, or a waiver, amendment, modification or other change of, any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document in similar or different circumstances. This Amendment shall apply and be effective only with respect to the provisions amended herein of the Credit Agreement. Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment, each reference in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” “herein” or words of similar import shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended by this Amendment and each reference in any other Loan Document shall mean the Credit Agreement as amended hereby. This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document.

 

2.9.          Consent and Affirmation .

 

(a)  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, by its execution hereof, the Borrower hereby to the extent applicable as of the Effective Date (i) consents to this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby (including the Prepayment to each Exiting Lender as described in Section 2.10 and each Increasing Lender increasing its Commitment under the Credit Agreement as described in Section 2.12), (ii) agrees that the Guarantee and Security Agreement and each of the other Security Documents is in full force and effect, (iii) affirms its obligations under the Guarantee and Security Agreement and confirms its grant of a security interest in its assets as Collateral for the Secured Obligations (as defined in the Guarantee and Security Agreement), and (iv) acknowledges and affirms that such grant is in full force and effect in respect of, and to secure, the Secured Obligations (as defined in the Guarantee and Security Agreement).

 

(b)  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, by its execution hereof, each Lender hereby consents to the Amendment No. 1 to GPSA and to the non-pro-rata commitment reductions and/or payments provided for herein notwithstanding Section 2.15 of the Credit Agreement.

 

 

 

 

2.10.        Prepayment of Exiting Lenders . On the Effective Date, (i) the Commitment of each Exiting Lender shall be terminated and (ii) the Borrower shall prepay to each Exiting Lender such Exiting Lender’s pro rata portion of the Loans, including (A) all accrued but unpaid commitment fees relating to such Loans as of such date, (B) all accrued but unpaid interest relating to such Loans as of such date (in each case, calculated at the rate set forth in the Credit Agreement without giving effect to this Amendment), and (C) all other amounts, if any, payable under Section 2.13 of the Credit Agreement (without giving effect to this Amendment) as a result of, and solely in connection with, the Prepayment. Upon the receipt of the Prepayment, each Exiting Lender shall cease to be a “Lender” under the Credit Agreement, but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.14 and 9.03 of the Credit Agreement (without giving effect to this Amendment) with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the Effective Date.

 

2.11.        Reallocation of Loans . On the Effective Date, immediately following or substantially contemporaneously with the Prepayment described in Section 2.10 hereof, the Borrower shall (A) prepay the Loans (if any) that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date in full (other than any Loans that have already been prepaid pursuant to Section 2.10) and (B) simultaneously borrow new Loans under the Credit Agreement in an amount equal to such prepayment; provided that with respect to subclauses (A) and (B), (x) the prepayment to, and borrowing from, any Lender may, at the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be effected by book entry to the extent that any portion of the amount prepaid to such Lender will be subsequently borrowed from such Lender and (y) the Lenders shall make and receive payments among themselves, as administered by and in a manner acceptable to the Administrative Agent, so that, after giving effect thereto, the Loans are held ratably by the Lenders in accordance with the respective Commitments of such Lenders (as set forth in Schedule 1.01(b) of the Credit Agreement). Each of the Lenders agrees to waive repayment of the amounts, if any, payable under Section 2.13 of the Credit Agreement as a result of, and solely in connection with, any such prepayment. Concurrently therewith, the Lenders shall be deemed to have adjusted their participation interests in any outstanding Letters of Credit so that such interests are held ratably in accordance with their commitments as so revised.

 

2.12.        Increasing Lenders . On the Effective Date, substantially contemporaneously with the reallocation described in Section 2.11, each Increasing Lender shall make a payment to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the other Lenders, in an amount calculated by the Administrative Agent in accordance with such section, so that after giving effect to such payment and to the distribution thereof to other Lenders, the Loans are held ratably by the Lenders in accordance with Schedule 1.01(b). For the avoidance of doubt, no Lender is required to become an Increasing Lender.

 

2.13.        Post-Closing Condition . Not later than the date that is five (5) Business Days after the date hereof, the Administrative Agent shall have received an updated certificate from the Borrower’s insurance broker or other evidence satisfactory to it that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents is in full force and effect, and, to the extent applicable, together with endorsements thereto, naming the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties as additional insured or lender’s loss payee, as applicable, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

 

 

 

 

2.14.        Release . The Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that: (a) neither it nor any of its Affiliates has any claim or cause of action against the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, attorneys, consultants or agents) under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents (and each other document entered into in connection therewith) and the transactions contemplated thereby, and (b) the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Lender has heretofore properly performed and satisfied in a timely manner all of its obligations to the Obligors and their Affiliates under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents (and each other document entered into in connection therewith) that are required to have been performed on or prior to the date hereof. Accordingly, for and in consideration of the agreements contained in this Amendment and other good and valuable consideration, the Borrower (for itself and its Affiliates and the successors, assigns, heirs and representatives of each of the foregoing) (collectively, the “ Releasors ”) does hereby fully, finally, unconditionally and irrevocably release and forever discharge the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, attorneys, consultants and agents (collectively, the “ Released Parties ”) from any and all debts, claims, obligations, damages, costs, attorneys’ fees, suits, demands, liabilities, actions, proceedings and causes of action, in each case, whether known or unknown, contingent or fixed, direct or indirect, and of whatever nature or description, and whether in law or in equity, under contract, tort, statute or otherwise, which any Releasor has heretofore had or now or hereafter can, shall or may have against any Released Party by reason of any act, omission or thing whatsoever done or omitted to be done on or prior to the date hereof directly arising out of, connected with or related to this Amendment, the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document (or any other document entered into in connection therewith), or any act, event or transaction related or attendant thereto, or the agreements of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender contained therein, or the possession, use, operation or control of any of the assets of the Borrower, or the making of any Loans or other advances, or the management of such Loans or advances or the Collateral.

 

[Signature pages follow]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

  CAPITALA FINANCE CORP.
     
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

 

 

 

  ING CAPITAL LLC,
  as Administrative Agent and a Lender
     
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:
     
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

 

 

 

  FIFTH THIRD BANK,
  as an Exiting Lender
     
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

 

 

 

  BANK OF NORTH CAROLINA,
  as a Lender
     
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

 

 

 

  FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA,
  as an Increasing Lender
     
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

 

 

 

  PARK STERLING BANK,
  as an Increasing Lender
     
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

 

 

 

  CAPITAL BANK CORPORATION,
  as a Lender
     
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

 

 

 

  EVERBANK COMMERCIAL FINANCE, INC.,
  as a Lender
     
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

 

 

 

  FIRST BANK,
  as a Lender
     
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

SENIOR SECURED
REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

dated as of

 

October 17, 2014

 

and

 

as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of May 22, 2015 and as amended by Amendment No. 2 to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of June 16, 2017

 

among

 

CAPITALA FINANCE CORP.

as Borrower

 

The LENDERS Party Hereto

 

and

 

ING CAPITAL LLC
as Administrative Agent,

Arranger and Bookrunner

 

 

 

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA,

as Documentation Agent

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
     
ARTICLE I           DEFINITIONS 1  
SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms 1
SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings 32 33
SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally 32 33
SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms 32 34
ARTICLE II           THE CREDITS 34  
SECTION 2.01. The Commitments 33 34
SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings 33 . 34
SECTION 2.03. Requests for Borrowings 33 . 35
SECTION 2.04. Funding of Borrowings 34 . 36
SECTION 2.05. Interest Elections 35 . 36
SECTION 2.06. Termination, Reduction or Increase of the Commitments 36 . 38
SECTION 2.07. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt 39 . 41
SECTION 2.08. Prepayment of Loans 40 . 42
SECTION 2.09. Fees 43 . 44
SECTION 2.10. Interest 43 . 45
SECTION 2.11. Eurocurrency Borrowing Provisions 44 46
SECTION 2.12. Increased Costs 45 . 47
SECTION 2.13. Break Funding Payments 46 48
SECTION 2.14. Taxes 47 . 49
SECTION 2.15. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment: Sharing of Set-offs 51 . 53
SECTION 2.16. Defaulting Lenders 53 . 55
SECTION 2.17. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders 54 . 56
ARTICLE III           REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 57  
SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers 55 57
SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability 55 57
SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts 55 57
SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Effect 56 . 58
SECTION 3.05. Litigation 56 58

 

- i -

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

    Page
     
SECTION 3.06. Compliance with Laws and Agreements 56 58
SECTION 3.07. Taxes 57 59
SECTION 3.08. ERISA 57 59
SECTION 3.09. Disclosure 58 60
SECTION 3.10. Investment Company Act; Margin Regulations 58 . 60
SECTION 3.11. Material Agreements and Liens 59 . 61
SECTION 3.12. Subsidiaries and Investments 59 . 61
SECTION 3.13. Properties 60 . 62
SECTION 3.14. Solvency 60 62
SECTION 3.15. Affiliate Agreements 60 62
SECTION 3.16. No Default 60 62
SECTION 3.17. Use of Proceeds 60 62
SECTION 3.18. Security Documents 60 62
SECTION 3.19. Compliance with Sanctions 61 63
SECTION 3.20. Anti-Money Laundering Program 61 63
SECTION 3.21. Structured Subsidiaries 61 63
SECTION 3.22. Anti-Corruption Laws 61 63
SECTION 3.23. Status as Senior Debt; Subordinated Debt 62 64
SECTION 3.24. EEA Financial Institutions 64
ARTICLE IV           CONDITIONS 64  
SECTION 4.01. Effective Date 62 64
SECTION 4.02. Conditions to Each Credit Event 65 67
ARTICLE V           AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS 68  
SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements and Other Information 66 68
SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events 69 71
SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business 70 72
SECTION 5.04. Payment of Obligations 70 72
SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance 70 72
SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection and Audit Rights 70 . 72
SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements 71 73

 

- ii -

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

    Page
     
SECTION 5.08. Certain Obligations Respecting Subsidiaries; Further Assurances 71 . 74
SECTION 5.09. Use of Proceeds 74 77
SECTION 5.10. Status of RIC and BDC 75 77
SECTION 5.11. Investment Policies 75 77
SECTION 5.12. Portfolio Valuation and Diversification Etc 75 77
SECTION 5.13. Calculation of Borrowing Base 81 83
SECTION 5.14. Taxes 91 93
ARTICLE VI           NEGATIVE COVENANTS 94  
SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness 91 94
SECTION 6.02. Liens 93 95
SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes 93 96
SECTION 6.04. Investments 95 98
SECTION 6.05. Restricted Payments 96 99
SECTION 6.06. Certain Restrictions on Subsidiaries 97 100
SECTION 6.07. Certain Financial Covenants 97 . 100
SECTION 6.08. Transactions with Affiliates 98 101
SECTION 6.09. Lines of Business 98 102
SECTION 6.10. No Further Negative Pledge 98 102
SECTION 6.11. Modifications of Indebtedness and Affiliate Agreements 99 102
SECTION 6.12. Payments of Longer-Term Indebtedness 99 103
SECTION 6.13. Modification of Investment Policies 100 103
SECTION 6.14. SBIC Guarantee 100 103
SECTION 6.15. Derivative Transactions 100 103
SECTION 6.16. Status as Senior Debt; Designation of Other Indebtedness 100 103
SECTION 6.17. Convertible Indebtedness 101 104
ARTICLE VII           EVENTS OF DEFAULT 104  
ARTICLE VIII           THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT 107  
SECTION 8.01. Appointment of the Administrative Agent 104 107
SECTION 8.02. Capacity as Lender 105 107

 

- iii -

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

    Page
     
SECTION 8.03. Limitation of Duties; Exculpation 105 108
SECTION 8.04. Reliance 105 108
SECTION 8.05. Sub-Agents 106 108
SECTION 8.06. Resignation; Successor Administrative Agent 106 109
SECTION 8.07. Reliance by Lenders 106 109
SECTION 8.08. Modifications to Loan Documents 106 109
ARTICLE IX           MISCELLANEOUS 110  
SECTION 9.01. Notices; Electronic Communications 107 . 110
SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments 109 . 112
SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver 111 . 114
SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns 113 . 116
SECTION 9.05. Survival 118 120
SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution 118 . 121
SECTION 9.07. Severability 119 121
SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff 119 121
SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc 119 . 122
SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL 120 122
SECTION 9.11. Judgment Currency 120 123
SECTION 9.12. Headings 120 123
SECTION 9.13. Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality 121 . 123
SECTION 9.14. USA PATRIOT Act 122 124
SECTION 9.15. Termination 122 125
SECTION 9.16. Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions 125
SECTION 9.17. Interest Rate Limitation 125

 

- iv -

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

Page

 

SCHEDULE 1.01(a) - Approved Dealers and Approved Pricing Services
SCHEDULE 1.01(b) - Commitments
SCHEDULE 1.01(c) - [Intentionally omitted]
SCHEDULE 1.01(d) - Eligibility Criteria
SCHEDULE 3.11(a) - Material Agreements
SCHEDULE 3.11(b) - Liens
SCHEDULE 3.12(a) - Subsidiaries
SCHEDULE 3.12(b) - Investments
SCHEDULE 6.08 - Certain Affiliate Transactions

 

EXHIBIT A - Form of Assignment and Assumption
EXHIBIT B - Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
EXHIBIT C - Form of Promissory Note
EXHIBIT D - Form of Borrowing Request

 

- v -

 

 

SENIOR SECURED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of October 17, 2014 (this “ Agreement ”), among CAPITALA FINANCE CORP., a Maryland corporation (the “ Borrower ”), the LENDERS party hereto, and ING CAPITAL LLC, as Administrative Agent.

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders (as defined herein) extend credit to the Borrower from time to time pursuant to the commitments as set forth herein and the Lenders have agreed to extend such credit upon the terms and conditions hereof.

 

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

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below and the terms defined in Section 5.13 have the meanings assigned thereto in such section:

 

“2021 Notes” means the Borrower’s 7.125% Unsecured Notes due June 16, 2021 in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $113,400,000 (without giving effect to any amendment, modification or increase thereto, any refinancing or replacement thereof or any additional or supplemental issuance thereunder).

 

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

 

Adjusted Borrowing Base ” means the Borrowing Base minus the aggregate amount of Cash and Cash Equivalents included in the Borrowing Base.

 

Adjusted Covered Debt Balance ” means, on any date, the aggregate Covered Debt Amount on such date minus the aggregate amount of Cash and Cash Equivalents included in the Borrowing Base.

 

Adjusted LIBO Rate ” means, for the Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Borrowing, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the greater of (i) (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate for such Interest Period and (ii) zero.

 

Administrative Agent ” means ING, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.

 

Administrative Agent’s Account ” means an account designated by the Administrative Agent in a notice to the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

1

 

 

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

 

Advance Rate ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.13 .

 

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. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the term “Affiliate” of an Obligor shall not include any Person that constitutes an Investment held by any Obligor in the ordinary course of business.

 

Affiliate Agreements ” means, collectively, (a) the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2013, by and between the Borrower and the Investment Advisor, and (b) the Administration Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2013, by and between the Borrower and Capitala Advisors Corp., a North Carolina Corporation.

 

Affiliate Investment ” means any Investment in a Person in which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries owns or controls more than 25% of the Equity Interests.

 

Agency Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.08(c)(v) .

 

Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

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 Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day plus 1/2 of 1% and , (c) the LIBO Rate for deposits in U.S. dollars Dollars for a period of three (3) months plus 1% and (d) zero . Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or such LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate, or such LIBO Rate, as the case may be.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.22 .

 

Applicable Commitment Fee Rate ” means, with respect to any day during the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the earlier of the date the Commitments are terminated and the Revolver Termination Date, a rate per annum equal to:

 

(x) as of the close of business on each day when utilization is less than the Minimum Utilization Amount, the commitment fee accrued for such day shall be the sum obtained by adding:

 

(a) 2.50% per annum on the difference obtained by subtracting:

 

(i) the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Loans

 

from

 

(ii) the Minimum Utilization Amount

 

2

 

 

plus

 

(b) 0.50% per annum on the difference obtained by subtracting:

 

(i) the Minimum Utilization Amount,

 

from

 

(ii) the aggregate Commitments of the Lenders

 

and

 

(y) as of the close of business on each day when utilization is greater than or equal to the Minimum Utilization Amount, the commitment fee accrued for such day shall be 0.50% per annum on the unutilized portion of the Commitments.

 

For purposes of determining the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate, the Commitments shall be deemed to be utilized to the extent of the outstanding Loans of all Lenders.

 

Applicable Margin ” means, (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, 2.00% per annum ; and (b) with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan, 3.00% per annum , provided that at any time Obligors’ Net Worth is greater than $175,000,000 (as evidenced by a certificate delivered by a Financial Officer of the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.01(c)), “Applicable Margin” shall mean (x) with respect to any ABR Loan, 1.75% per annum and (y) with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan, 2.75% per annum. Any change in the Applicable Margin shall become effective two (2) Business Days after delivery of such required certificate and shall remain in effect until the date that is two (2) Business Days after the next certificate is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c). At such time, (A) if the certificate delivered by such Financial Officer evidences that Obligors’ Net Worth is equal to or greater than $175,000,000, then “Applicable Margin” shall take the meaning set forth in clauses (x) and (y) of this definition, and (B) if the certificate delivered by such Financial Officer evidences that Obligors’ Net Worth is less than $175,000,000, then “Applicable Margin” shall take the meaning set forth in clauses (a) and (b) of this definition .

 

Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the total Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitments. 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 pursuant to Section 9.04(b) .

 

Approved Dealer ” means (a) in the case of any Eligible Portfolio Investment that is not a U.S. Government Security, a bank or a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of nationally recognized standing or an Affiliate thereof as set forth on Schedule 1.01(a) , (b) in the case of a U.S. Government Security, any primary dealer in U.S. Government Securities as set forth on Schedule 1.01(a) , or (c) any other bank or broker-dealer acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable determination.

 

3

 

 

Approved Pricing Service ” means (a) a pricing or quotation service as set forth in Schedule 1.01(a) or (b) any other pricing or quotation service (i) approved by the Board of Directors of the Borrower, (ii) designated in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent (which designation shall be accompanied by a copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Borrower that such pricing or quotation service has been approved by the Borrower), and (iii) acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable determination.

 

Approved Third-Party Appraiser ” means any Independent nationally recognized third-party appraisal firm (a) designated by the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent (which designation shall be accompanied by a copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Borrower that such firm has been approved by the Borrower for purposes of assisting the Board of Directors of the Borrower in making valuations of portfolio assets to determine the Borrower’s compliance with the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act) and (b) acceptable to the Administrative Agent, provided that, in each case to the extent such Approved Third-Party Appraiser requests or requires a non-reliance letter, confidentiality agreement or similar agreement prior to allowing the Administrative Agent to review the written valuation report of the Approved Third-Party Appraiser referred to in the first sentence of Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B)(y) , such Administrative Agent and such Approved Third-Party Appraiser shall have entered into a letter or agreement on customary and reasonable terms. Subject to the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that Houlihan Lokey, Duff & Phelps LLC, Murray, Devine and Company, Lincoln Partners Advisors, LLC, Valuation Research Corporation and McGladrey LLP are acceptable to the Administrative Agent solely to the extent they are not serving as the Independent Valuation Provider.

 

Asset Coverage Ratio ” means, on a consolidated basis for Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the ratio which the value of total assets, less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by Senior Securities, bears to the aggregate amount of Senior Securities representing indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (all as determined pursuant to the Investment Company Act and any orders of the SEC issued to the Borrower thereunder). For clarity, the calculation of the Asset Coverage Ratio shall be made in accordance with any exemptive order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission SEC under Section 6(c) of the Investment Company Act relating to the exclusion of any Indebtedness of any SBIC Subsidiary from the definition of Senior Securities only so long as (a) such order is in effect, and (b) no obligations have become due and owing pursuant to the terms of any Permitted SBIC Guarantee. For the avoidance of doubt, the outstanding utilized notional amount of any Total Return Swap less all of the cash collateral supporting such Total Return Swap at such time shall be treated as a Senior Security for the purposes of calculating the Asset Coverage Ratio.

 

Asset Sale ” means a sale, lease or sub lease sublease (as lessor or sublessor), sale and leaseback, assignment, conveyance, transfer or other disposition to, or any exchange of property with, any Person, in one transaction or a series of transactions, of all or any part of any Obligor’s assets or properties of any kind, whether real, personal, or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, whether now owned or hereafter acquired; provided , however , the term “Asset Sale” as used in this Agreement shall not include the disposition of Portfolio Investments originated by an Obligor and promptly transferred to a Financing Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of Section 6.03(e) or (f) hereof.

 

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(b) ), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

4

 

 

Assuming Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(f) .

 

Availability Period ” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Revolver Termination Date and the date of termination of the Commitments in accordance with this Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

Bank Loan ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.13 .

 

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

 

Board of Directors” means, with respect to any person, (a) in the case of any corporation, the board of directors of such person, (b) in the case of any limited liability company, the board of managers of such person, or if there is none, the Board of Directors of the managing member of such Person, (c) in the case of any partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of such person and (d) in any other case, the functional equivalent of the foregoing.

 

Borrower ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Borrowing ” means Loans of the same Type made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurocurrency Loans, that have the same Interest Period.

 

Borrowing Base ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.13 .

 

Borrowing Base Certificate ” means a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit B and appropriately completed.

 

Borrowing Base Deficiency ” means, at any date on which the same is determined, the amount, if any, that (a) the aggregate Covered Debt Amount as of such date exceeds (b) the Borrowing Base as of such date.

 

Borrowing Request ” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 , substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto or such other form as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

5

 

 

Business Day ” means any day (a) that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed and (b) if such day relates to a borrowing of, a payment or prepayment of principal of or interest on, a continuation or conversion of or into, or the Interest Period for, a Eurocurrency Borrowing, or to a notice by the Borrower with respect to any such borrowing, payment, prepayment, continuation, conversion, or Interest Period, that is also a day on which dealings in deposits denominated in Dollars are carried out in the London interbank market.

 

Canadian Issuer” means any Person (i) organized under the laws of Canada or any province thereof, (ii) domiciled in Canada or (iii) with principal operations or any other material property or other material assets pledged as collateral and located in 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 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 ” means any immediately available funds in Dollars or in any currency other than Dollars (measured in terms of the Dollar Equivalent thereof) which is a freely convertible currency.

 

Cash Equivalents ” means investments (other than Cash) that are one or more of the following obligations:

 

(a)        Short-Term U.S. Government Securities (as defined in Section 5.13 );

 

(b)        investments in commercial paper maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, a credit rating of at least A-1 from S&P and at least P-1 from Moody’s;

 

(c)        investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof (i) 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, provided that such certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits are held in a securities account (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code) through which the Collateral Agent can perfect a security interest therein and (ii) having, at such date of acquisition, a credit rating of at least A-1 from S&P and at least P-1 from Moody’s;

 

(d)        fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days from the date of acquisition thereof for U.S. Government Securities and entered into with (i) a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (c) of this definition or (ii) an Approved Dealer having (or being a member of a consolidated group having) at such date of acquisition, a credit rating of at least A-1 from S&P and at least P-1 from Moody’s; and

 

6

 

 

(e)        investments in money market funds and mutual funds which invest substantially all of their assets in Cash or assets of the types described in clauses (a) through (d) above;

 

provided , that (i) in no event shall Cash Equivalents include any obligation that provides for the payment of interest alone (for example, interest-only securities or “ IOs ”); (ii) if any of Moody’s or S&P changes its rating system, then any ratings included in this definition shall be deemed to be an equivalent rating in a successor rating category of Moody’s or S&P, as the case may be; (iii) Cash Equivalents (other than U.S. Government Securities, certificates of deposit or repurchase agreements) shall not include any such investment representing more than 25% of total assets of the Obligors in any single issuer; and (iv) in no event shall Cash Equivalents include any obligation that is not denominated in Dollars.

 

CFC ” means an entity that is a “controlled foreign corporation” of any Obligor within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code, but only to the extent the Obligor or a subsidiary thereof is a “United States Shareholder” (within the meaning of Section 951(b) of the Code) of such entity.

 

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 SEC thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) of shares representing more than 35% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Borrower, (b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the Board of Directors of the Borrower by Persons who were neither (i) nominated by the requisite members of the Board of Directors of the Borrower nor (ii) appointed by a majority of the directors so nominated, (c) the acquisition of direct or indirect Control of the Borrower by any Person or group other than the Investment Advisor, or (d) the occurrence of an Investment Advisor Departure Event.

 

Change in Law ” means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation or treaty after the Effective Date, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or treaty or in the interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the Effective Date or (c) compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.12(b) or Section 2.17(a) , by such Lender’s holding company, if any, or by any lending office of such Lender) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the Effective Date; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (I) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives in connection therewith and (II) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank For International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Regulation and Supervisory Practices (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law” regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued, promulgated or implemented.

 

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

 

7

 

 

Collateral ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Security Agreement.

 

Collateral Agent ” means ING in its capacity as Collateral Agent under the Guarantee and Security Agreement, and includes any successor Collateral Agent thereunder.

 

Commitment ” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Loans, as such commitment may be (a) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to Sections 2.06 and 2.08(c) and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04 . The aggregate amount of each Lender’s Commitment as of the Second Amendment Effective Date is set forth on Schedule 1.01(b) , or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable. The aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Commitments as of the Second Amendment Effective Date is $ 50,000,000. 114,500,000.

 

Commitment Increase ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(f) .

 

Commitment Increase Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(f) .

 

Consolidated Adjusted Interest Expense ” means, for any period with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (x) cash interest paid in respect of the stated rate of interest (including any default rate of interest, if applicable) applicable to any Indebtedness plus (y) the net amount paid in cash (or minus the net amount received in cash) under Hedging Agreements permitted under Section 6.04 relating to interest during such period and to the extent not already taken into account under clause (x) plus (z) if the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a counterparty to any Total Return Swap, the net amount paid in cash relating to interest on the outstanding utilized notional amount of such Total Return Swap less all of the cash collateral supporting such Total Return Swap during such period.

 

Consolidated EBIT ” means, for any period with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, income (including, for the avoidance of doubt, interest and fees generated by Total Return Swap reference assets) after deduction of all expenses (including fees and other amounts actually paid to the Investment Advisor) and other proper charges other than Taxes, Consolidated Interest Expense and non-cash employee stock options expense and excluding (a) net realized gains or losses (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the sale or repayment of Total Return Swap reference assets), (b) net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation, (c) gains on re-purchases of Indebtedness, (d) the amount of interest paid-in-kind to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (“ PIK ”) to the extent such amount exceeds the sum of (i) PIK interest collected in cash (including any amortization payments on such applicable debt instrument up to the amount of PIK interest previously capitalized thereon) and (ii) realized gains collected in cash (net of realized losses); provided that the amount determined pursuant to this clause (d)(ii) shall not be less than zero, all as determined in accordance with GAAP, and (e) other non-cash charges and gains to the extent included to calculate income.

 

8

 

 

Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio ” means the ratio as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower of (a) Consolidated EBIT for the four fiscal quarter period then ending, taken as a single accounting period, to (b) Consolidated Adjusted Interest Expense for such four fiscal quarter period.

 

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, with respect to a Person and for any period, the sum of (x) the total consolidated interest expense (including capitalized interest expense and interest expense attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of such Person and in any event shall include all interest expense with respect to any Indebtedness in respect of which such Person is wholly or partially liable plus (y) the net amount payable (or minus the net amount receivable) under Hedging Agreements permitted under Section 6.04 relating to interest during such period (whether or not actually paid or received during such period) and to the extent not already taken into account under clause (x) plus (z) if the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a counterparty to any Total Return Swap, the interest payable (on the outstanding utilized notional amount of such Total Return Swap less all of the cash collateral supporting such Total Return Swap) during such period (whether or not actually paid or received during such period).

 

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

 

Control Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.08(c)(ii) .

 

Covered Debt Amount ” means, on any date, the sum of (x) all of the Revolving Credit Exposures of all Lenders on such date, plus (y) the aggregate amount (including any increase in the aggregate principal amount resulting from payable-in-kind interest) of Other Covered Indebtedness outstanding on such date.

 

Covered Taxes ” means (i) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Loan Document and (ii) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (i), Other Taxes.

 

Custodian ” means U.S. Bank National Association, or any other financial institution mutually agreeable to the Collateral Agent and the Borrower, as custodian holding documentation for Portfolio Investments and accounts of the Obligors holding Portfolio Investments, on behalf of the Obligors and, pursuant to the Custodian Agreement, the Collateral Agent. The term “Custodian” includes any agent or sub-custodian acting on behalf of the Custodian.

 

Custodian Account ” means an account subject to a Custodian Agreement.

 

Custodian Agreement ” means a control agreement entered into by and among an Obligor, the Collateral Agent and a Custodian, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent.

 

DDA Account ” means that certain deposit account having account number XXXXXXXXXXXX maintained as of the Effective Date by the Borrower, as depositor, with U.S. Bank National Association, as depositary bank.

 

9

 

 

DDA Account Control Agreement ” means a control agreement entered into by and among the Borrower, the Collateral Agent and U.S. Bank National Association, as depositary bank, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent, that perfects the security interest of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties under (and as defined in) the Guarantee and Security Agreement, in the DDA Account.

 

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.

 

Defaulting Lender ” means any Lender that has, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, (a) failed to fund any portion of its Loans within three (3) Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, unless, in the case of any Loans, such Lender’s failure is based on such Lender’s reasonable determination that the conditions precedent to funding such Loan under this Agreement have not been met, such conditions have not otherwise been waived in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and such Lender has advised the Administrative Agent in writing (with reasonable detail of those conditions that have not been satisfied) prior to the time at which such funding was to have been made, (b) notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, or any other Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement or has made a public statement that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (which conditions precedent, together with the applicable default, if any, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement ) cannot be satisfied), (c) failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent that it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its obligations to fund prospective Loans ( provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent), (d) otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount (other than a de minimis amount) required to be paid by it hereunder within three (3) Business Days of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, or (e) other than via an Undisclosed Administration, either (i) has been adjudicated as, or determined by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Person or its assets to be, insolvent or has a parent company that has been adjudicated as, or determined by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Person or its assets to be, insolvent or , (ii) become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or custodian, appointed for it, or has a parent company that has become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or custodian appointed for it (unless in the case of any Lender referred to in this clause (e) the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall be satisfied in the exercise of their respective reasonable discretion that such Lender intends, and has all approvals required to enable it, to continue to perform its obligations as a Lender hereunder) or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action ; provided that a Lender shall not qualify as a Defaulting Lender solely as a result of the acquisition or maintenance of an ownership interest in such Lender or its parent company, or of the exercise of control over such Lender or any Person controlling such Lender, by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof, or solely as a result of an Undisclosed Administration, so long as such ownership interest or Undisclosed Administration does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (e) above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender as of the date established therefor by the Administrative Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower and each Lender promptly following such determination.

 

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Disqualified Equity Interests ” means Equity Interests of the Borrower that after issuance are subject to any agreement between the holder of such Equity Interests and the Borrower whereby the Borrower is required to purchase, redeem, retire, acquire, cancel or terminate such Equity Interests, other than (x) as a result of a change of control, or (y) in connection with any purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination with, or in exchange for, shares of Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.

 

Dollar Equivalent ” means, on any date of determination, with respect to an amount denominated in any currency other than Dollars, the amount of Dollars that would be required to purchase such amount of such currency on the date two Business Days prior to such date, based upon the spot selling rate at which the Administrative Agent offers to sell such currency for Dollars in the London foreign exchange market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, for delivery two Business Days later.

 

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

 

“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 ). October 17, 2014.

 

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Eligible Liens ” means any right of offset, banker’s lien, security interest or other like right against the Portfolio Investments held by the Custodian pursuant to or in connection with its rights and obligations relating to the Custodian Account, provided that such rights are subordinated, pursuant to the terms of the Custodian Agreement, to the first priority perfected security interest in the Collateral created in favor of the Collateral Agent, except to the extent expressly provided therein.

 

Eligible Portfolio Investment ” means any Portfolio Investment held by any Obligor (and solely for purposes of determining the Borrowing Base, Cash and Cash Equivalents held by any Obligor) that, in each case, meets all of the criteria set forth on Schedule 1.01(d) hereto; provided , that no Portfolio Investment, Cash or Cash Equivalent shall constitute an Eligible Portfolio Investment or be included in the Borrowing Base if the Collateral Agent does not at all times maintain a first priority, perfected Lien (subject to no other Liens other than Eligible Liens) on such Portfolio Investment, Cash or Cash Equivalent or if such Portfolio Investment, Cash or Cash Equivalent has not been or does not at all times continue to be Delivered (as defined in the Guarantee and Security Agreement). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that any Portfolio Investments that have been contributed or sold, purported to be contributed or sold or otherwise transferred to any Financing Subsidiary, or held by any Financing Subsidiary, or which secure obligations of any Financing Subsidiary, shall not be treated as Eligible Portfolio Investments until distributed, sold or otherwise transferred to the Borrower free and clear of all Liens (other than Eligible Liens). Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall limit the provisions of Section 5.12(b)(i) , which provide that, for purposes of this Agreement, all determinations of whether an Investment is to be included as an Eligible Portfolio Investment shall be determined on a settlement-date basis (meaning that any Investment that has been purchased will not be treated as an Eligible Portfolio Investment until such purchase has settled, and any Eligible Portfolio Investment which has been sold will not be excluded as an Eligible Portfolio Investment until such sale has settled) Settlement-Date Basis , provided that no such Investment shall be included as an Eligible Portfolio Investment to the extent it has not been paid for in full.

 

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. As used in this Agreement, “Equity Interests” shall not include convertible debt unless and until such debt has been converted to capital stock.

 

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

 

ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code, or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(m) or (o) of the Code.

 

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ERISA Event ” means (a) any “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) with respect to any Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code, the notification by the Internal Revenue Service of its intent to disqualify the Plan or the occurrence of any other event that could reasonably be expected to prevent or cause the loss of such qualification; (c) with respect to any Plan, the failure to satisfy the applicable minimum funding standard (as defined in Sections 412 and 430 of the Code or Sections 302 and 303 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (d) 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; (e) the incurrence by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan (other than a standard termination under and in accordance with Section 4041(b) of ERISA); (f) the receipt by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates 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; (g) the incurrence by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of any Withdrawal Liability; (h) the occurrence of any nonexempt prohibited transaction within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA with respect to any Plan; (i) the failure to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan or failure to make by its due date any required contribution to any Plan; or (j) the receipt by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of any notice, concerning the imposition 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.

 

Eurocurrency ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans constituting such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate. For clarity, a Loan or Borrowing bearing interest by reference to clause (c) of the definition of the Alternate Base Rate shall not be a Eurocurrency Loan or Eurocurrency Borrowing.

 

Event of Default ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII .

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

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Excluded Taxes ” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to the Administrative Agent or any Lender or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, (a) Taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income or franchise Taxes, in each case, imposed (i) by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, or (ii) as a result of a present or former connection between such recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections solely 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 Documents, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document), (b) any branch profits Taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar Tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, (c) in the case of a Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.17(b) ), any U.S. federal withholding Tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Lender at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office), except to the extent, other than in a case of failure to comply with Section 2.14(f) , that such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 2.14(a) , (d) Taxes attributable to such recipient’s failure or inability to comply with Section 2.14(f) , and (e) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

Existing Affiliate Investments ” means the Portfolio Investments by any Obligor existing as of the Effective Date in Print Direction, Inc. and, subject to Section 6.08(b) , any follow-on Investments by any Obligor in Print Direction, Inc.

 

Existing Indenture ” means that certain Indenture, dated as of June 16, 2014, between the Borrower, as issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 16, 2014.

 

External Quoted Value ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12(b)(ii)(A) .

 

External Unquoted Value ” means (i) with respect to Borrower Tested Assets, the Borrower External Unquoted Value and (ii) with respect to IVP Tested Assets, the IVP External Unquoted Value.

 

Extraordinary Receipts ” means an amount equal to (a) any cash received by or paid to any Obligor on account of any foreign, United States, state or local tax refunds, pension plan reversions, judgments, proceeds of settlements or other consideration of any kind in connection with any cause of action, condemnation awards (and payments in lieu thereof), indemnity payments received not in the ordinary course of business and any purchase price adjustment received not in the ordinary course of business in connection with any purchase agreement and proceeds of insurance (excluding, however, for the avoidance of doubt, proceeds of any issuance of Equity Interests by the Borrower and issuances of Indebtedness by any Obligor), minus (b) any costs, fees, commissions, premiums and expenses incurred by any Obligor directly incidental to such cash receipts, including reasonable legal fees and expenses; provided , however , that Extraordinary Receipts shall not include any (i) amounts that the Borrower receives from the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to Section 2.14(g) , (ii) cash receipts to the extent received from proceeds of insurance, condemnation awards (or payments in lieu thereof), indemnity payments or payments in respect of judgments or settlements of claims, litigation or proceedings to the extent that such proceeds, awards or payments are received by any Person in respect of any unaffiliated third party claim against or loss by such Person and promptly applied to pay (or to reimburse such Person for its prior payment of) such claim or loss and the costs and expenses of such Person with respect thereto, (iii) proceeds of business interruption insurance to the extent such proceeds constitute compensation for lost earnings, or (iv) indemnity payments or payments in respect of judgments or settlements of claims, litigation or proceedings to the extent that such payments are received by any Person in respect of any unaffiliated third party claim against or loss by such Person and promptly applied to pay (or to reimburse such Person for its prior payment of) such claim or loss and the costs and expenses of such Person with respect thereto.

 

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FATCA ” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the Effective Date (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, any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code, and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules, or official practices adopted pursuant to any published intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code.

 

FCPA ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.22 .

 

Federal Funds Effective Rate ” means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

 

Financial Officer ” means the chief executive officer, president, chief operating officer, chief financial officer or chief compliance officer of the Borrower.

 

Financing Subsidiary ” means (a) any SBIC Subsidiary or (b) any Structured Subsidiary.

 

Florida Sidecar Subsidiary ” means each of the following Subsidiaries of the Borrower: CSP-Florida Mezzanine Fund I, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company, and CapitalSouth Partners Florida Sidecar Fund I, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, so long as (a) the aggregate value of the assets of all such Subsidiaries do not exceed $2,000,000; and (b) such Subsidiaries engage only in activities directly relating to, or in connection with, the holding and management of their respective Portfolio Investments held as of the Effective Date.

 

Foreign Lender ” means any Lender that is not (a) a citizen or resident of the United States, (b) a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States (or any jurisdiction thereof) or (c) any estate or trust that is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of the source of its income.

 

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

 

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States of America, or of 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 (including any supra-national body exercising such powers or functions, such as the European Union or the European Central Bank) .

 

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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 or customary indemnification agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business in connection with obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness. The amount of any Guarantee at any time shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the maximum stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guarantee is incurred, unless the terms of such Guarantee expressly provide that the maximum amount for which such Person may be liable thereunder is a lesser amount (in which case the amount of such Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to such lesser amount).

 

Guarantee and Security Agreement ” means that certain Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, between the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Administrative Agent, each holder (or a representative, agent or trustee therefor) from time to time of any Secured Longer-Term Indebtedness, and the Collateral Agent.

 

Guarantee Assumption Agreement ” means a Guarantee Assumption Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B to the Guarantee and Security Agreement among the Collateral Agent and an entity that pursuant to Section 5.08 is required to become a “Subsidiary Guarantor” under the Guarantee and Security Agreement (with such changes as the Administrative Agent shall request consistent with the requirements of Section 5.08 ).

 

Hedging Agreement ” means any interest rate protection agreement, foreign currency exchange protection agreement, commodity price protection agreement or other interest or currency exchange rate or commodity price hedging arrangement entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall a Hedging Agreement include a total return swap.

 

Hedging Agreement Obligations ” has the meaning specified in the Guarantee and Security Agreement as in effect on the Effective Date.

 

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Immaterial Subsidiaries ” means those Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are “designated” as “Immaterial Subsidiaries” by the Borrower from time to time (it being understood that the Borrower may at any time change any such designation); provided that such designated Immaterial Subsidiaries shall collectively meet all of the following criteria at all times: (a) such Subsidiaries and their Subsidiaries do not hold any Eligible Portfolio Investment; (b) the aggregate value of the assets of all such Subsidiaries and their Subsidiaries do not exceed an amount equal to 3% of the aggregate value of the assets of the Obligors; and (c) the aggregate revenues of all such Subsidiaries and their Subsidiaries for the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of such Subsidiaries and their Subsidiaries for which financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 do not exceed an amount equal to 3% of the revenues of the Obligors on a pro forma basis for such period; provided , further that if the aggregate value of the assets or revenues of all Subsidiaries designated by the Borrower as “Immaterial Subsidiaries” (and not redesignated) shall as at any such time exceed the limits set forth in clauses (b) and (c) above, then all such Subsidiaries shall be deemed not to be Immaterial Subsidiaries unless and until the Borrower shall redesignate one or more as not Immaterial Subsidiaries, in each case in a written notice to the Administrative Agent, and, as a result thereof, the aggregate assets and revenues of all Subsidiaries still designated as “Immaterial Subsidiaries” do not exceed such limits.

 

Increasing Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(f) .

 

Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits, loans or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar debt instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (d) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable and accrued expenses in the ordinary course of business not past due for more than 90 days after the date on which such trade account payable was due), (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed (with the value of such debt being the lower of the outstanding amount of such debt and the fair market value of the property subject to such Lien), (f) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (g) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (h) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty, (i) the net amount such Person would be obligated for under any Hedging Agreement if such Hedging Agreement was terminated at the time of determination, (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, with respect to Disqualified Equity Interests, and (k) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor (or such Person is not otherwise liable for such Indebtedness). Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Indebtedness” shall not include (x) purchase price holdbacks arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset or Investment to satisfy unperformed obligations of the seller of such asset or Investment or (y) a commitment arising in the ordinary course of business to make a future Portfolio Investment or fund the delayed draw or unfunded portion of any existing Portfolio Investment.

 

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Independent ” when used with respect to any specified Person means the more restrictive of the following: (a) that such Person (i) does not have any direct financial interest or any material indirect financial interest in the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (including its investment adviser or any Affiliate thereof) other than ownership of publicly traded stock of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary or Affiliate with a market value not to exceed $1,000,000 and (ii) is not an officer, employee, promoter, underwriter, trustee, partner, director or a Person performing similar functions of the Borrower or of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (including its investment advisor or any Affiliate thereof), (b) that such Person is not an “interested person” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act.

 

Independent Valuation Provider ” means any of Duff & Phelps LLC, Murray, Devine and Company, Lincoln Advisors, Houlihan Lokey, Valuation Research Corporation and Alvarez & Marsal, or any other Independent nationally recognized third-party appraisal firm selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

 

Industry Classification Group ” means any of the classification groups that are currently in effect by Moody’s or may be subsequently established by Moody’s and provided by the Borrower to the Lenders.

 

ING ” means ING Capital LLC.

 

Interest Election Request ” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.05 .

 

Interest Payment Date ” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, each Quarterly Date and (b) with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan, the last day of each Interest Period therefor and, in the case of any Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at three-month intervals after the first day of such Interest Period.

 

Interest Period ” means, for any Eurocurrency Loan or Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Loan or Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter; provided , that (a) 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 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 (b) any Interest Period 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 Loan initially shall be the date on which such Loan is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Loan, and the date of a Borrowing comprising Loans that have been converted or continued shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Loans.

 

Internal Value ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12(b)(ii)(C) .

 

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Investment ” means, for any Person: (a) Equity Interests, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities of any other Person (including convertible securities) or any agreement to acquire any Equity Interests, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities of any other Person (including any “short sale” or any sale of any securities at a time when such securities are not owned by the Person entering into such sale); (b) deposits, advances, loans or other extensions of credit made to any other Person (including purchases of property from another Person subject to an understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to resell such property to such Person); or (c) Hedging Agreements.

 

Investment Advisor ” means Capitala Investment Advisors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or an Affiliate thereof.

 

Investment Advisor Departure Event ” means any of the following events:

 

(a)        the Investment Advisor shall cease to be the investment advisor of the Borrower;

 

(b)        Joseph B. Alala, III shall cease to (x) be the sole manager of the Investment Advisor or (y) Control the Investment Advisor;

 

(c)        any change in ownership of the Investment Advisor; or

 

(d)        if any two of the Specified Managers are no longer actively engaged in the business of the Investment Advisor in their current capacities.

 

Investment Company Act ” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time.

 

Investment Policies ” means (a) the investment objectives, policies, restrictions and limitations set forth in the Company’s Prospectus, dated September 24, 2014, under the headings “Investment Process,” “Deal Generation/Origination,” “Screening,” “Due Diligence and Underwriting,” “Approval, Documentation and Closing,” and “Ongoing Relationships with Portfolio Companies” and (b) the investment allocation policy between affiliated investment vehicles managed directly or indirectly by the Investment Advisor set forth on page 3 of the Company’s Prospectus, dated September 24, 2014, under the heading “Capitala Investment Advisor”, in each case as amended from time to time pursuant to a Permitted Policy Amendment.

 

IVP Supplemental Cap ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(a) .

 

IVP Tested Assets ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B)(x) .

 

Lenders ” means the Persons listed on Schedule 1.01(b) (as amended from time to time pursuant to Section 2.06) as having Commitments and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption that provides for it to assume a Commitment or to acquire Revolving Credit Exposure, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.

 

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LIBO Rate ” means, for any Interest Period, the Intercontinental Exchange Benchmark Administration Ltd. LIBO Rate (or the successor thereto if the Intercontinental Exchange Benchmark Administration Ltd. is no longer making such rates available) per annum for deposits in U.S. dollars Dollars for a period equal to the Interest Period appearing on the display designated as Reuters Screen LIBO01 Page (or such other page on that service or such other service designated by the Intercontinental Exchange Benchmark Administration Ltd. LIBO Rate (or the successor thereto if the Intercontinental Exchange Benchmark Administration Ltd. is no longer making such rates available) for the display of such Administration’s Interest Settlement Rates for deposits in U.S. dollars Dollars ) as of 11:00 a.m., London time on the day that is two Business Days prior to the first day of the Interest Period (or if such Reuters Screen LIBO01 Page is unavailable for any reason at such time, the rate which appears on the Reuters Screen ISDA Page as of such date and such time); provided , that if the Administrative Agent determines that the relevant foregoing sources are unavailable for the relevant Interest Period, LIBO Rate for purposes of this definition shall mean the rate of interest determined by the Administrative Agent to be the average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 th of 1%) of the rates per annum at which deposits in U.S. dollars Dollars are offered to the Administrative Agent two (2) business days preceding the first day of such Interest Period by leading banks in the London interbank market as of 11:00 a.m. for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period, for the number of days comprised therein and in an amount comparable to the amount of the Administrative Agent’s portion of the relevant Eurocurrency Borrowing ; provided further that if the LIBO Rate is less than zero for the relevant Interest Period, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for such Interest Period .

 

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, (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 and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities, except in favor of the issuer thereof (and, in the case of Portfolio Investments that are equity securities, excluding customary drag-along, tag-along, right of first refusal and other similar rights in favor of other equity holders of the same issuer).

 

Loan Documents ” means, collectively, this Agreement, any promissory notes delivered pursuant to Section 2.07(f) and the Security Documents.

 

Loans ” means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Margin Stock ” means “margin stock” within the meaning of Regulations T, U and X.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, Portfolio Investments of the Obligors (taken as a whole) and other assets, liabilities (actual or contingent), operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than the Financing Subsidiaries), taken as a whole, or (b) the validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or the rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereunder or the ability of the Obligors to perform their respective obligations thereunder.

 

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Material Indebtedness ” means (a) Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Hedging Agreements and Total Return Swaps), of any one or more of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including any Financing Subsidiary) in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $2,000,000 and (b) obligations in respect of one or more Hedging Agreements or other swap or derivative transactions (including any Total Return Swap) under which the maximum aggregate amount (after giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries would be required to pay if such Hedging Agreement(s) or other swap or derivative transactions (including any Total Return Swap) were terminated at such time would exceed $2,000,000.

 

Maturity Date ” means the date that is the one year anniversary of the Revolver Termination Date.

 

Maximum Rate” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.17.

 

Minimum Utilization Amount ” means, for any day, an amount equal to 40% of the aggregate Commitments of the Lenders as of the close of business on such day.

 

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

 

Multiemployer Plan ” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

 

Net Asset Sale Proceeds ” means, with respect to any Asset Sale, an amount equal to (a) the sum of Cash payments and Cash Equivalents received by the Obligors from such Asset Sale (including any Cash or Cash Equivalents received by way of deferred payment pursuant to, or by monetization of, a note receivable or otherwise, but only as and when so received), minus (b) any costs, fees, commissions, premiums and expenses actually incurred by any Obligor directly incidental to such Asset Sale and paid in cash to a Person that is not an Affiliate of any Obligor (or if paid in cash to an Affiliate, only to the extent such expenses are reasonable and customary), including reasonable legal fees and expenses, minus (c) all taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result of such Asset Sale (after taking into account any tax credits or deductions that are reasonably expected to be available) minus (d) reserves for indemnification, purchase price adjustments or analogous arrangements reasonably estimated by the Borrower or the relevant Subsidiary in connection with such Asset Sale; provided that, (i) such reserved amount shall not be included in the Borrowing Base and (ii) if the amount of any estimated reserves pursuant to this clause (d) exceeds the amount actually required to be paid in cash in respect of indemnification, purchase price adjustments or analogous arrangements for such Asset Sale, the aggregate amount of such excess shall constitute Net Asset Sale Proceeds.

 

Non-Consenting Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(d) .

 

Non-Pledged Financing Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Financing Subsidiary, the Equity Interest of such Financing Subsidiary is not subject to a first-priority perfected security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent securing the Secured Obligations under and as defined in the Guarantee and Security Agreement.

 

Obligors ” means, collectively, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

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Obligors’ Net Capitalization ” means, at any date, the Obligors’ Net Worth at such date, plus the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Unsecured Longer-Term Indebtedness of the Borrower, minus the amount of proceeds from any issuance of Unsecured Longer-Term Indebtedness contributed to a non-Obligor Subsidiary.

 

Obligors’ Net Worth ” means, at any date, the Stockholders’ Equity at such date, minus (x) the net asset value held by any Obligor in any non-Obligor Subsidiary and (y) the net asset value held by any Obligor in any Special Equity Interest.

 

OFAC ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.19 .

 

Organization Documents” means, for any Person, its constituent or organizational documents, including: (a) in the case of any limited partnership, the certificate of limited partnership and limited partnership agreement for such Person; (b) in the case of any limited liability company, the articles of formation and operating agreement for such Person; and (c) in the case of a corporation, the certificate of articles of incorporation and the bylaws or memorandum and articles of association for such Person.

 

Other Covered Indebtedness ” means, collectively, Secured Longer-Term Indebtedness and Unsecured Shorter-Term Indebtedness (other than the 2021 Notes) .

 

Other Permitted Indebtedness ” means (a) accrued expenses and current trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of any Obligor’s business that are not overdue for a period of more than 90 days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) Indebtedness in respect of judgments or awards that have been in force for less than the applicable period for taking an appeal so long as such judgments or awards do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article VII , (c) Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business to finance equipment and fixtures; provided that such Indebtedness does not exceed $100,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding; and (d) other Indebtedness not to exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate.

 

Other Taxes ” means any and all present or future stamp, court, documentary , intangible, recording or filing Taxes or any other excise or property Taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made under any Loan Document or 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 imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.17(b) as a result of a present or former connection between such Lender and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections solely arising from such Lender having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed is obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Documents, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

 

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

 

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

 

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Permitted Equity Interests ” means common stock of the Borrower that after its issuance is not subject to any agreement between the holder of such common stock and the Borrower where the Borrower is required to purchase, redeem, retire, acquire, cancel or terminate any such common stock at any time prior to the first anniversary of the later of the Maturity Date (as in effect from time to time) and the Termination Date.

 

Permitted Liens ” means (a) Liens imposed by any Governmental Authority for taxes, assessments or charges not yet due or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP; (b) Liens of clearing agencies, broker-dealers and similar Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business; provided that such Liens (i) attach only to the securities (or proceeds) being purchased or sold and (ii) secure only obligations incurred in connection with such purchase or sale, and not any obligation in connection with margin financing; (c) Liens imposed by law, such as materialmen’s, mechanics’, carriers’, workmen’s, storage, landlord, and repairmen’s Liens and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money) not yet due or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP; (d) Liens incurred or pledges or deposits made to secure obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business under workers’ compensation laws, unemployment insurance or other similar social security legislation (other than in respect of employee benefit plans subject to ERISA) or to secure public or statutory obligations; (e) Liens securing the performance of, or payment in respect of, bids, insurance premiums, deductibles or co-insured amounts, tenders, government or utility contracts (other than for the repayment of borrowed money), surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds and other obligations of a similar nature incurred in the ordinary course of business; (f) Liens arising out of judgments or awards that have been in force for less than the applicable period for taking an appeal so long as such judgments or awards do not constitute an Event of Default; (g) customary rights of setoff and liens upon (i) deposits of cash in favor of banks or other depository institutions in which such cash is maintained in the ordinary course of business, (ii) cash and financial assets held in securities accounts in favor of banks and other financial institutions with which such accounts are maintained in the ordinary course of business and (iii) assets held by a custodian in favor of such custodian in the ordinary course of business, in the case of each of clauses (i) through (iii) above, securing payment of fees, indemnities, charges for returning items and other similar obligations; (h) Liens arising solely from precautionary filings of financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code of the applicable jurisdictions in respect of operating leases entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; (i) zoning restrictions, easements, licenses, or other restrictions on the use of any real estate (including leasehold title), in each case which do not interfere with or affect in any material respect the ordinary course conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; (j) purchase money Liens on specific equipment and fixtures, provided that (i) such Liens only attach to such equipment and fixtures, (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby is incurred pursuant to clause (d) of the definition of “Other Permitted Indebtedness” and (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the lesser of the cost and the fair market value of such equipment and fixtures at the time of the acquisition thereof; (k) deposits of money securing leases to which Borrower is a party as lessee made in the ordinary course of business; (l) Eligible Liens and (m) Liens in favor of any escrow agent solely on and in respect of any cash earnest money deposits made by any Obligor in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement (to the extent that the acquisition or disposition with respect thereto is otherwise permitted hereunder).

 

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Permitted Policy Amendment ” is an amendment, modification, termination or restatement of the Investment Policies, that either is (a) approved in writing by the Administrative Agent (with the consent of the Required Lenders), (b) required by applicable law or Governmental Authority, or (c) not material.

 

Permitted SBIC Guarantee ” means a guarantee by the Borrower of SBA Indebtedness of an SBIC Subsidiary on SBA’s then applicable form; provided that the recourse to the Obligors thereunder is expressly limited only to periods after the occurrence of an event or condition that is an impermissible change in the control of such SBIC Subsidiary (it being understood that, as provided in clause (q) of Article VII , it shall be an Event of Default hereunder if any such event or condition giving rise to such recourse occurs).

 

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

 

Plan ” means (i) any employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) that is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, in respect of which the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates is (or would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA, and (ii) any employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) in respect of which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is (or would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

 

Portfolio Company ” means the issuer or obligor under any Portfolio Investment held by any Obligor.

 

Portfolio Investment ” means any Investment held by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in their asset portfolio.

 

Prime Rate ” means the rate of interest quoted in The Wall Street Journal , Money Rates Section, as the “U.S. Prime Rate” (or its successor), as in effect from time to time. The Prime Rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer. The Administrative Agent or any Lender may make commercial loans or other loans at rates of interest at, above, or below the Prime Rate.

 

Quarterly Dates ” means the last Business Day of March, June, September and December in each year, commencing on December 31, 2014.

 

Quoted Investments ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12(b)(ii)(A) .

 

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

 

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Regulations T, U and X ” means, respectively, Regulations T, U and X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor), as the same may be modified and supplemented and in effect from time to time.

 

Related Parties ” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, partners, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

 

Required Lenders ” means, at any time, subject to Section 2.16(b) , Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments at such time; provided , that, (a) if there are only three (3) Lenders at such time, “Required Lenders” shall mean Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments representing more than two-thirds of the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments at such time and (b) if there are only two (2) Lenders at such time, “Required Lenders” shall mean all Lenders.

 

Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any shares of any class of capital stock of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, 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 shares of capital stock of the Borrower or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such shares of capital stock of the Borrower (other than any equity awards granted to employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Borrower and its Affiliates); provided, for clarity, neither the conversion of convertible debt into Permitted Equity Interests nor the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of convertible debt made solely with Permitted Equity Interests (other than (x) as provided in Section 6.12(b) or (y) interest or expenses , which may be payable in cash) shall be a Restricted Payment hereunder.

 

Return of Capital ” means an amount equal to (i) (a) any cash amount (and net cash proceeds of any noncash amount) received by any Obligor at any time in respect of the outstanding principal of any Portfolio Investment (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), (b) without duplication of amounts received under clause (a), any net cash proceeds (including net cash proceeds of any noncash consideration) received by any Obligor at any time from the sale of any property or assets pledged as collateral in respect of any Portfolio Investment to the extent such net cash proceeds are less than or equal to the outstanding principal balance of such Portfolio Investment, (c) any cash amount (and net cash proceeds of any noncash amount) received by any Obligor at any time in respect of any Portfolio Investment that is an Equity Interest (x) upon the liquidation or dissolution of the issuer of such Portfolio Investment, (y) as a distribution of capital made on or in respect of such Portfolio Investment, or (z) pursuant to the recapitalization or reclassification of the capital of the issuer of such Portfolio Investment or pursuant to the reorganization of such issuer or (d) any similar return of capital received by any Obligor in cash (and net cash proceeds of any noncash amount) in respect of any Portfolio Investment minus (ii) any costs, fees, commissions, premiums and expenses incurred by any Obligor directly incidental to such Cash receipts, including reasonable legal fees and expenses.

 

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Revolver Termination Date ” means the date that is the three (3) year anniversary of the Second Amendment Effective Date, unless extended with the consent of each Lender in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

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

 

RIC ” means a person qualifying for treatment as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Code.

 

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s S&P Global Ratings Services , a division of The McGraw Hill Companies, S&P Global Inc., a New York corporation, or any successor thereto.

 

Sanctioned Country ” means, at any time, a country or territory that is the subject or target of any Sanctions.

 

Sanctions ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.19 .

 

SBA ” means the United States Small Business Administration or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions thereof.

 

SBIC Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower (or such Subsidiary’s general partner or manager entity) that is (x) either (i) a “small business investment company” licensed by the SBA (or that has applied for such a license and is actively pursuing the granting thereof by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted) under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, as amended, or (ii) any wholly-owned, direct or indirect, Subsidiary of an entity referred to in clause (x)(i) of this definition, and (y) designated in writing by the Borrower (as provided below) as an SBIC Subsidiary, so long as:

 

(a)          other than pursuant to a Permitted SBIC Guarantee or the requirement by the SBA that the Borrower make an equity or capital contribution to the SBIC Subsidiary in connection with its incurrence of SBA Indebtedness ( provided that such contribution is permitted by Section 6.03(e) and is made substantially contemporaneously with such incurrence), no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of such Person (i) is Guaranteed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any SBIC Subsidiary), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any SBIC Subsidiary) in any way, or (iii) subjects any property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any SBIC Subsidiary) to the satisfaction thereof;

 

(b)          other than pursuant to a Permitted SBIC Guarantee, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding with such Person other than on terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Borrower or such Subsidiary;

 

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(c)          neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (other than any SBIC Subsidiary) has any obligation to such Person to maintain or preserve its financial condition or cause it to achieve certain levels of operating results; and

 

(d)          such Person has not Guaranteed or become a co-borrower under, and has not granted a security interest in any of its properties to secure, and the Equity Interests it has issued are not pledged to secure, in each case, any indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of any one or more of the Obligors.

 

Any designation by the Borrower under clause (y) above shall be effected pursuant to a certificate of a Financial Officer delivered to the Administrative Agent, which certificate shall include a statement to the effect that, to the best of such Financial Officer’s knowledge, such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

 

SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions thereof.

 

“Second Amendment Effective Date” means June 16, 2017.

 

Secured Longer-Term Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Indebtedness hereunder) of the Borrower (which may be Guaranteed by Subsidiary Guarantors) that (a) ranks pari - passu with the Loans and is not secured by any assets of any Obligor other than pursuant to the Security Documents and the holders of which have agreed, in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, to be bound by the provisions of the Security Documents, (b) has no amortization or mandatory redemption, repurchase or prepayment prior to, and a final maturity date not earlier than, six months after the Maturity Date (it being understood that the conversion features into Permitted Equity Interests under convertible notes (as well as the triggering of such conversion and/or settlement thereof solely with Permitted Equity Interests, except (x) as provided in Section 6.12(b) or (y) in the case of interest or expenses, which may be payable in cash) shall not constitute “amortization”, “redemption”, “repurchase” or “prepayment” for the purposes of this definition), and (c) is incurred pursuant to documentation containing financial covenants, covenants governing the borrowing base, if any, and portfolio valuations, and events of default that are no more restrictive than those set forth in this Agreement and other terms (other than interest) that are no more restrictive in any material respect upon the Borrower and its Subsidiaries than those set forth in this Agreement.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, Secured Longer-Term Indebtedness shall also include any refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of any Secured Longer-Term Indebtedness so long as such refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended Indebtedness continues to satisfy the requirements of this definition.

 

Security Documents ” means, collectively, the Guarantee and Security Agreement, the Custodian Agreement, all Uniform Commercial Code financing statements filed with respect to the security interests in personal property created pursuant to the Guarantee and Security Agreement, and all other assignments, pledge agreements, security agreements, control agreements and other instruments executed and delivered at any time by any of the Obligors pursuant to the Guarantee and Security Agreement or otherwise providing or relating to any collateral security for any of the Secured Obligations under and as defined in the Guarantee and Security Agreement.

 

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Senior Securities ” means senior securities (as such term is defined and determined pursuant to the Investment Company Act and any orders of the SEC issued to the Borrower thereunder).

 

Settlement-Date Basis” means that any Investment that has been purchased will not be treated as an Eligible Portfolio Investment until such purchase has settled, and any Eligible Portfolio Investment which has been sold will not be excluded as an Eligible Portfolio Investment until such sale has settled.

 

Solvent ” means, with respect to any Obligor, that as of the date of determination, both (a) (i) the sum of such Obligor’s debt and liabilities (including contingent liabilities) does not exceed the present fair saleable value of such Person’s present assets, (ii) such Obligor’s capital is not unreasonably small in relation to its business as contemplated on the Effective Date and reflected in any projections delivered to the Lenders or with respect to any transaction contemplated or undertaken after the Effective Date, and (iii) such Obligor has not incurred and does not intend to incur, or believe (nor should it reasonably believe) that it will incur, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they become due (whether at maturity or otherwise); and (b) such Obligor is “solvent” within the meaning given to such term and similar terms under applicable laws relating to fraudulent transfers and conveyances. For purposes of this definition, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability (irrespective of whether such contingent liabilities meet the criteria for accrual under Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 5).

 

Special Equity Interest ” means any Equity Interest that is subject to a Lien in favor of creditors of the issuer or the issuer’s Affiliates of such Equity Interest, provided that (a) such Lien was created to secure Indebtedness owing by such issuer or such issuer’s Affiliates to such creditors, (b) such Indebtedness was (i) in existence at the time the Obligors acquired such Equity Interest, (ii) incurred or assumed by such issuer substantially contemporaneously with such acquisition or (iii) already subject to a Lien granted to such creditors and (c) unless such Equity Interest is not intended to be included in the Collateral, the documentation creating or governing such Lien does not prohibit the inclusion of such Equity Interest in the Collateral.

 

Specified Managers ” means Joseph B. Alala, III, Hunt Broyhill and John F. McGlinn (or another manager or individual reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and Required Lenders after the death, disability, resignation or termination of the same).

 

Standard Securitization Undertakings ” means, collectively, (a) customary arms-length servicing obligations (together with any related performance guarantees), (b) obligations (together with any related performance guarantees) to refund the purchase price or grant purchase price credits for breach of representations and warranties referred to in clause (c), and (c) representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities (together with any related performance guarantees) of a type that are reasonably customary in commercial loan securitizations (in each case in clauses (a), (b) and (c) excluding obligations related to the collectability of the assets sold or the creditworthiness of the underlying obligors (other than a representation made by an Obligor solely at the time of the initial transfer of the asset, that such Obligor does not have knowledge of any event that would cause such asset at the time of such initial transfer to be uncollectible) and excluding obligations that constitute credit recourse).

 

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Statutory Reserve Rate ” means, for the Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Borrowing, a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the arithmetic mean, taken over each day in such Interest Period, of the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities” in Regulation D). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D. Eurocurrency Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

 

Stockholders’ Equity ” means, at any date, the amount determined on a consolidated basis, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP, of stockholders’ equity for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such date.

 

Structured Subsidiaries ” means a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower to which any Obligor sells, conveys or otherwise transfers (whether directly or indirectly) Portfolio Investments, which is formed in connection with, and which continues to exist for the sole purpose of, such Subsidiary obtaining and maintaining third-party financing from an unaffiliated third party, and which engages in no material activities other than in connection with the purchase and financing of such assets from the Obligors or any other Person, and which is designated by the Borrower (as provided below) as a Structured Subsidiary, so long as:

 

(a)        no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of such Subsidiary (i) is Guaranteed by any Obligor (other than Guarantees in respect of Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates any Obligor in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings or (iii) subjects any property of any Obligor (other than property that has been contributed or sold or otherwise transferred to such Subsidiary in accordance with the terms Section 6.03(e) or (f) ), directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings or any Guarantee thereof;

 

(b)        no Obligor has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding with such Subsidiary other than on terms no less favorable to such Obligor than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of any Obligor, other than fees payable in the ordinary course of business in connection with servicing loan assets;

 

(c)        no Obligor has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results;

 

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(d)        definitive documentation relating to a third party financing provided to such Subsidiary by an unaffiliated third party (1) remains in full force and effect at all times and (2) does not permit such Subsidiary to become an Obligor hereunder;

 

(e)        at the time of such designation, the Obligors’ Net Worth is at least $125,000,000; and

 

(f)         in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, such Structured Subsidiary reasonably expects to utilize, in the ordinary course of business, its assets to obtain or maintain a secured financing from an unaffiliated third party.

 

Any such designation by the Borrower shall be effected pursuant to a certificate of a Financial Officer delivered to the Administrative Agent, which certificate shall include a statement to the effect that, to the best of such Financial Officer’s knowledge, such designation complied with the foregoing conditions. Each Subsidiary of a Structured Subsidiary shall be deemed to be a Structured Subsidiary and shall comply with the foregoing requirements of this definition.

 

Subordinated Debt ” means any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (x) that is subordinated in right of payment to the Loans, (y) that is secured by a Lien that is subordinated in priority to the Lien securing the Loans or (z) that provides that at the option of (or upon notice to) any Person such Indebtedness (or the Liens securing such Indebtedness) will be subordinated as contemplated by clause (x) or (y), including all “Subordinated Indebtedness” as defined in the Existing Indenture.

 

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. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the term “Subsidiary” shall not include any Person that constitutes an Investment held by any Obligor in the ordinary course of business and that is not, under GAAP, consolidated on the financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. Unless otherwise specified, “Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

Subsidiary Guarantor ” means any Subsidiary that is or is required to be a Guarantor under the Guarantee and Security Agreement. It is understood and agreed that, (i) no CFC or Transparent Subsidiary shall be required to be a Subsidiary Guarantor, (ii) subject to Section 5.08(a) , no Financing Subsidiary shall be required to be a Subsidiary Guarantor as long as it remains a Financing Subsidiary as defined and described herein and (iii) subject to Section 5.08(a) , no Florida Sidecar Subsidiary shall be required to be a Subsidiary Guarantor as long as it remains a Florida Sidecar Subsidiary as defined and described herein.

 

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Tax Damages ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(d) .

 

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

 

Termination Date ” means the date on which the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and accrued interest on each Loan and all fees and other amounts payable hereunder shall have been paid in full (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any amount in connection with any contingent, unasserted indemnification obligations).

 

Total Return Swap ” means any total return swap entered into by a Financing Subsidiary.

 

Transactions ” means the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and other Loan Documents, the borrowing of Loans, and the use of the proceeds thereof.

 

Transparent Subsidiary ” means an entity directly or indirectly owned by an Obligor that has no material assets other than Equity Interests (held directly or indirectly through other Transparent Subsidiaries) in one or more CFCs.

 

Two Largest Industry Classification Groups ” means, as of any date of determination, each of the two Industry Classification Groups that a greater portion of the Borrowing Base has been assigned to each such Industry Classification Group pursuant to Section 5.12(a) than any other single Industry Classification Group.

 

Type ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans constituting such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.

 

Undisclosed Administration ” means, in relation to a Lender, the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official by a supervisory authority or regulator under or based on the law in the country where such Lender is subject to home jurisdiction supervision if applicable law requires that such appointment is not to be publicly disclosed and such appointment has not been publicly disclosed (including under the Dutch Financial Supervision Act 2007 (as amended from time to time and including any successor legislation)).

 

Unfunded Pension Liability ” of any Plan shall mean the excess of a Plan’s benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA over the current value of such Plan’s assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable plan year.

 

Uniform Commercial Code ” or “ UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York.

 

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Unquoted Investments ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B) .

 

Unsecured Longer-Term Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness for borrowed money of an Obligor that (a) has no amortization, or mandatory redemption, repurchase or prepayment prior to, and a final maturity date not earlier than, six months after the Maturity Date (it being understood that customary put rights or repurchase or redemption obligations (x) in the case of convertible securities, in connection with the suspension or delisting of the capital stock of the Borrower or the failure of the Borrower to satisfy a continued listing rule with respect to its capital stock or (y) arising out of circumstances that would constitute a “fundamental change” (as such term is customarily defined in convertible note offerings) or be Events of Default under this Agreement shall not be deemed to be “amortization”, “mandatory redemption”, “repurchase”, “prepayment” or a “final maturity date” for purposes of this definition), (b) is incurred pursuant to documentation containing financial covenants, covenants governing the borrowing base, if any, and portfolio valuation, and events of default that are no more restrictive than those set forth in this Agreement, and other terms substantially comparable to market terms for substantially similar debt of other similarly situated borrowers as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower (it being understood that customary put rights or repurchase or redemption obligations (x) in the case of convertible securities, in connection with the suspension or delisting of the capital stock of the Borrower or the failure of the Borrower to satisfy a continued listing rule with respect to its capital stock or (y) arising out of circumstances that would constitute a “fundamental change” (as such term is customarily defined in convertible note offerings) or be Events of Default under this Agreement shall not be deemed to be more restrictive for purposes of this definition), and (c) is not secured by any assets of any Obligor. For the avoidance of doubt, (a) Unsecured Longer-Term Indebtedness shall also include any refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of any Unsecured Longer-Term Indebtedness so long as such refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended Indebtedness continues to satisfy the requirements of this definition and (b) any payment on account of Unsecured Longer-Term Indebtedness shall be subject to Section 6.12 .

 

Unsecured Shorter-Term Indebtedness ” means, collectively, (a) any Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than a Financing Subsidiary) that is not secured by any assets of any Obligor and that does not constitute Unsecured Longer-Term Indebtedness and (b) any Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than a Financing Subsidiary) that is designated as “Unsecured Shorter-Term Indebtedness” pursuant to Section 6.11(a) . For the avoidance of doubt, Unsecured Shorter-Term Indebtedness shall also include any refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of any Unsecured Shorter-Term Indebtedness so long as such refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended Indebtedness continues to satisfy the requirements of this definition. The 2021 Notes shall be deemed to be Unsecured Shorter-Term Indebtedness for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

U.S. Borrower ” means any Borrower that is a U.S. Person.

 

U.S. Government Securities ” means securities that are direct obligations of, and obligations the timely payment of principal and interest on which is fully guaranteed by, the United States or any agency or instrumentality of the United States the obligations of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States and in the form of conventional bills, bonds, and notes.

 

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U.S. Person ” means any Person that is a “United States Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

USA PATRIOT Act ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.20 .

 

Value ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.13 .

 

wholly owned Subsidiary ” of any person shall mean a Subsidiary of such person, all of the Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or nominee or other similar shares required pursuant to applicable law) are owned by such person and/or one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such person. Unless the context otherwise requires, “wholly owned Subsidiary Guarantor” shall mean a wholly owned Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

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, 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.

 

SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings . For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., an “ABR Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., an “ABR 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 (subject to any restrictions on such successors and assigns set forth herein), (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 and (e) 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.

 

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SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms . GAAP 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 Effective Date 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), then Borrower, Administrative Agent and the Lenders agree to enter into negotiations in good faith in order to amend such provisions of the Agreement so as to equitably reflect such change to comply with GAAP with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating the Borrower's financial condition shall be the same after such change to comply with GAAP as if such change had not been made; provided , however , until such amendments to equitably reflect such changes are effective and agreed to by Borrower, Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, the Borrower’s compliance with such financial covenants shall be determined on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change in GAAP becomes effective. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything herein to the contrary, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that whether or not the Borrower may at any time adopt Financial Accounting Standard No. 159 or Accounting Standard Codification 825, all determinations relating to fair value accounting for liabilities or compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be made on the basis that the Borrower has not adopted Financial Accounting Standard No. 159 or Accounting Standard Codification 825.

 

ARTICLE II

 

THE CREDITS

 

SECTION 2.01. The Commitments . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees to make Loans to the Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (a) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Commitment, (b) the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all of the Lenders exceeding the aggregate Commitments or (c) the total Covered Debt Amount exceeding the Borrowing Base then in effect. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Loans.

 

SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings .

 

(a)         Obligations of Lenders . Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Type 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)         Type of Loans . Subject to Section 2.11 , each Borrowing shall be constituted entirely of ABR Loans or of Eurocurrency Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Loan shall be denominated in Dollars. Each Lender at its option may make any Eurocurrency 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.

 

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(c)         Minimum Amounts . Each Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or a larger multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof; provided that an ABR Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the total Commitments. Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time.

 

(d)         Limitations on Interest Periods . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request any Eurocurrency Borrowing (or to elect to convert to or continue as a Eurocurrency Borrowing) if the Interest Period requested therefor would end after the Maturity Date.

 

SECTION 2.03. Requests for Borrowings .

 

(a)         Notice by the Borrower . To request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by delivery of a signed Borrowing Request or by telephone or e-mail (followed promptly by delivery of a signed Borrowing Request) (i) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, not later than 12:00 p.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (ii) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such request for a Borrowing shall be irrevocable.

 

(b)         Content of Borrowing Requests . Each request for a Borrowing (whether a written Borrowing Request, a telephonic request or e-mail 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 Eurocurrency Borrowing;

 

(iv)       in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, the Interest Period therefor, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period” and permitted under Section 2.02(d) ; 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 2.04 .

 

(c)         Notice by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders . Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each applicable Lender of the details thereof and of the amounts of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

 

(d)         Failure to Elect . If no election as to the Type of a Borrowing is specified in a request for a Borrowing, then the requested Borrowing shall be a Eurocurrency Borrowing having an Interest Period of one (1) month. If a Eurocurrency Borrowing is requested but no Interest Period is specified, the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one (1) month’s duration.

 

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SECTION 2.04. Funding of Borrowings .

 

(a)         Funding by Lenders . 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 p.m., New York City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of the Borrower designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request.

 

(b)         Presumption by the Administrative Agent . 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, in reliance upon such assumption, the Administrative Agent may (in its sole discretion and without any obligation to do so) 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 Federal Funds Effective Rate and (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. Nothing in this paragraph shall relieve any Lender of its obligation to fulfill its commitments hereunder, and shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 2.05. Interest Elections .

 

(a)         Elections by the Borrower for Borrowings. Subject to Section 2.03(d) , the Loans constituting each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, shall have the Interest Period specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, subject to Section 2.05(e) , the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a Borrowing of a different Type or to continue such Borrowing as a Borrowing of the same Type and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, may elect the Interest Period 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 (except as provided under Section 2.11(b) ), and the Loans constituting each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.

 

(b)         Notice of Elections . To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by delivery of a signed Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent or by telephone (followed promptly, but no later than the close of business on the date of such request, by a signed Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent) by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic and written notice of election shall be irrevocable.

 

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(c)         Content of Interest Election Requests . Each telephonic and written notice of election pursuant to Section 2.05(b) 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) of this paragraph 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 Eurocurrency Borrowing; and

 

(iv)       if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurocurrency Borrowing, the Interest Period therefor after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period” and permitted under Section 2.02(d) , provided that there shall be no more than ten (10) separate Borrowings outstanding at any one time.

 

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

 

(e)         Failure to Elect; Events of Default . If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely and complete Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurocurrency Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period therefor, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to a Eurocurrency Borrowing having an Interest Period of one month. 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, (i) any Eurocurrency Borrowing shall, at the end of the applicable Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Borrowing, be automatically converted to an ABR Borrowing and (ii) the Borrower shall not be entitled to elect to convert or continue any Borrowing into or as a Eurocurrency Borrowing.

 

SECTION 2.06. Termination, Reduction or Increase of the Commitments .

 

(a)         Scheduled Termination . Unless previously terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, on the Revolver Termination Date the Commitments shall automatically be reduced to an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Loans of all Lenders outstanding on the Revolver Termination Date and thereafter to an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Loans outstanding after giving effect to each payment of principal thereunder; provided that, for clarity, no Lender shall have any obligation to make new Loans on or after the Revolver Termination Date, and any outstanding amounts shall be due and payable on the Maturity Date in accordance with Section 2.07 .

 

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(b)         Voluntary Termination or Reduction . The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.06(b) shall be in an amount that is $3,000,000 or a larger multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof (or an amount less than $3,000,000 if the Commitments are being reduced to zero) 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 2.08 , the total Revolving Credit Exposures would exceed the total Commitments.

 

(c)         Notice of Voluntary Termination or Reduction . 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 applicable Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, 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.

 

(d)         Effect of Termination or Reduction . 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.

 

(e)        [Intentionally omitted].

 

(f)          Increase of the Commitments .

 

(i)          Requests for Increase by Borrower . The Borrower may, at any time prior to the Revolver Termination Date, propose that the Commitments hereunder be increased (each such proposed increase being a “ Commitment Increase ”) by notice to the Administrative Agent specifying each existing Lender (each an “ Increasing Lender ”) and/or each additional lender (each an “ Assuming Lender ”) that shall have agreed to an additional Commitment and the date on which such increase is to be effective (the “ Commitment Increase Date ”), which date shall be a Business Day at least three Business Days (or such lesser period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) after delivery of such notice and at least 30 days prior to the Revolver Termination Date; provided that each Lender may determine in its sole discretion whether or not it chooses to participate in a Commitment Increase; provided , further that, subject to the foregoing, each Commitment Increase shall become effective only upon satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(A)         the minimum amount of the Commitment of any Assuming Lender, and the minimum amount of the increase of the Commitment of any Increasing Lender, as part of such Commitment Increase shall be $5,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or, in each case, in such other amounts as agreed to by Administrative Agent),

 

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(B)         immediately after giving effect to such Commitment Increase, the total Commitments of all of the Lenders hereunder shall not exceed $ 150,000,000 200,000,000 ;

 

(C)         each Assuming Lender and the Commitment Increase shall be consented to by the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld);

 

(D)         no Default shall have occurred and be continuing on such Commitment Increase Date or shall result from the proposed Commitment Increase; and

 

(E)         the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than any representation or warranty already qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, which shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the Commitment Increase Date as if made on and as of such date (or, if any such representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date).

 

(ii)          Effectiveness of Commitment Increase by Borrower . On the Commitment Increase Date for any Commitment Increase, each Assuming Lender part of such Commitment Increase, if any, shall become a Lender hereunder as of such Commitment Increase Date with Commitment in the amount set forth in the agreement referred to in Section 2.06(f)(ii)(y) and the Commitment of any Increasing Lender part of such Commitment Increase shall be increased as of such Commitment Increase Date to the amount set forth in the agreement referred to in Section 2.06(f)(ii)(y) ; provided that:

 

(x)          the Administrative Agent shall have received on or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such Commitment Increase Date (or on or prior to a time on an earlier date specified by the Administrative Agent) a certificate of a duly authorized officer of the Borrower stating that each of the applicable conditions to such Commitment Increase set forth in the foregoing paragraph (i) has been satisfied; and

 

(y)          each Assuming Lender or Increasing Lender shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, on or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time on such Commitment Increase Date (or on or prior to a time on an earlier date specified by the Administrative Agent), an agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, pursuant to which such Lender shall, effective as of such Commitment Increase Date, undertake a Commitment or an increase of Commitment, as applicable, duly executed by such Assuming Lender or Increasing Lender, as applicable, and the Borrower and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent.

 

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Promptly following satisfaction of such conditions, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders (including any Assuming Lenders) thereof and of the occurrence of the Commitment Increase Date by facsimile transmission or electronic messaging system.

 

(iii)         Recordation into Register . Upon its receipt of an agreement referred to in clause (ii)(y) above executed by an Assuming Lender or any Increasing Lender, together with the certificate referred to in clause (ii)(x) above, the Administrative Agent shall, if such agreement has been completed, (x) accept such agreement, (y) record the information contained therein in the Register and (z) give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower.

 

(iv)         Adjustments of Borrowings upon Effectiveness of Increase . On each Commitment Increase Date, the Borrower shall (A) prepay the outstanding Loans (if any) in full, (B) simultaneously borrow new Loans hereunder in an amount equal to such prepayment; provided that with respect to subclauses (A) and (B), (x) the prepayment to, and Borrowing from, any existing Lender shall be effected by book entry to the extent that any portion of the amount prepaid to such Lender will be subsequently borrowed from such Lender and (y) the existing Lenders, the Increasing Lenders and the Assuming Lenders shall make and receive payments among themselves, in a manner acceptable to the Administrative Agent, so that, after giving effect thereto, the Loans are held ratably by the Lenders in accordance with the respective Commitments of such Lenders (after giving effect to such Commitment Increase) and (C) pay to the Lenders the amounts, if any, payable under Section 2.13 as a result of any such prepayment. The Administrative Agent shall amend Schedule 1.01(b) to reflect the aggregate amount of each Lender’s Commitments (including Increasing Lenders and Assuming Lenders). Each reference to Schedule 1.01(b) in this Agreement shall be to Schedule 1.01(b) as amended pursuant to this Section.

 

(v)          Terms of Loans issued on the Commitment Increase Date . For the avoidance of doubt, the terms and provisions of any new Loans issued by any Assuming Lender or Increasing Lender, and the Commitment Increase of any Assuming Lender or Increasing Lender, shall be identical to the Loans issued by, and the Commitments of, the Lenders immediately prior to the applicable Commitment Increase Date.

 

SECTION 2.07. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt .

 

(a)           Repayment . Subject to, and in accordance with, the terms of this Agreement, the Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for account of the Lenders the outstanding principal amount of the Loans and all other amounts due and owing hereunder and under the other Loan Documents on the Maturity Date.

 

(b)           Manner of Payment . Prior to any repayment or prepayment of any Borrowings hereunder, the Borrower shall select the Borrowing or Borrowings to be paid and shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by telecopy or e-mail) of such selection not later than the time set forth in Section 2.08(e) prior to the scheduled date of such repayment; provided that each repayment of Borrowings shall be applied to repay any outstanding ABR Borrowings before any other Borrowings. If the Borrower fails to make a timely selection of the Borrowing or Borrowings to be repaid or prepaid, such payment shall be applied, first, to pay any outstanding ABR Borrowings and, second, to other any remaining Borrowings in the order of the remaining duration of their respective Interest Periods (the Borrowing with the shortest remaining Interest Period to be repaid first). Each payment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in such Borrowing (except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11(b) ).

 

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(c)           Maintenance of Records by Lenders . Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice records 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.

 

(d)           Maintenance of Records by the Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent shall maintain records in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type thereof and each Interest Period therefor, (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 account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

 

(e)           Effect of Entries . The entries made in the records maintained pursuant to paragraph (c) or (d) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence, absent manifest error, of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such records 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. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

 

(f)           Promissory Notes . 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 permitted registered assigns) and in a form attached hereto as Exhibit C . 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 payable to the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its permitted registered assigns).

 

SECTION 2.08. Prepayment of Loans .

 

(a)           Optional Prepayments . The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, without premium or fee (but subject to Section 2.13 ), subject to the requirements of this Section. Each prepayment in part under this Section 2.08(a) shall be in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 or a larger multiple of $100,000.

 

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(b)           Mandatory Prepayments due to Borrowing Base Deficiency . In the event that the amount of total Revolving Credit Exposure exceeds the total Commitments, the Borrower shall prepay Loans in such amounts as shall be necessary so that the amount of total Revolving Credit Exposure does not exceed the total Commitments. In the event that at any time any Borrowing Base Deficiency shall exist, promptly (but in no event later than 5 Business Days), the Borrower shall either prepay (x) the Loans so that the Borrowing Base Deficiency is promptly cured or (y) the Loans and the Other Covered Indebtedness that is Secured Longer-Term Indebtedness in such amounts as shall be necessary so that such Borrowing Base Deficiency is promptly cured (and, as among the Loans and the Other Covered Indebtedness that is Secured Longer-Term Indebtedness , at least ratably (based on the outstanding principal amount of such indebtedness) as to payments of Loans in relation to Other Covered Indebtedness that is Secured Longer-Term Indebtedness ); provided , that if within such 5 Business Day period, the Borrower shall present to the Administrative Agent a reasonably feasible plan which plan is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that will enable any such Borrowing Base Deficiency to be cured within 30 Business Days of the occurrence of such Borrowing Base Deficiency (which 30-Business Day period shall include the 5 Business Days permitted for delivery of such plan), then such prepayment or reduction shall be effected in accordance with such plan (subject, for the avoidance of doubt, to the limitations as to the allocation of such prepayments set forth above in this Section 2.08(b) ). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall pay interest in accordance with Section 2.10(c) for so long as the Covered Debt Amount exceeds the Borrowing Base during such 30-Business Day period. For clarity, in the event that the Borrowing Base Deficiency is not cured prior to the end of such 5 Business Day period (or, if applicable, such 30- Business Day period), it shall constitute an Event of Default under clause (a) of Article VIII .

 

(c)           Mandatory Prepayments due to Certain Events Following Availability Period .

 

(i)           Asset Sales . In the event that any Obligor shall receive any Net Asset Sale Proceeds at any time after the Availability Period, the Borrower shall, no later than the third Business Day following the receipt of such Net Asset Sale Proceeds, prepay the Loans in an amount equal to such Net Asset Sale Proceeds (and the Commitments shall be permanently reduced by such amount); provided , that with respect to Asset Sales of assets that are not Portfolio Investments, the Borrower shall not be required to prepay the Loans unless and until (and to the extent that) the aggregate Net Asset Sale Proceeds relating to all such Asset Sales are greater than $2,000,000.

 

(ii)          Extraordinary Receipts . In the event (but only to the extent) that the aggregate amount of all Extraordinary Receipts received by the Obligors at any time after the Availability Period exceeds $2,000,000, the Borrower shall, no later than the third Business Day following the receipt of such excess Extraordinary Receipts, prepay the Loans in an amount equal to such excess Extraordinary Receipts (and the Commitments shall be permanently reduced by such amount).

 

(iii)         Returns of Capital . In the event that any Obligor shall receive any Return of Capital at any time after the Availability Period, the Borrower shall, no later than the third Business Day following the receipt of such Return of Capital, prepay the Loans in an amount equal to 100% of such Return of Capital (and the Commitments shall be permanently reduced by such amount).

 

(iv)         Equity Issuances . In the event that the Borrower shall receive any Cash proceeds from the issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower at any time after the Availability Period, the Borrower shall, no later than the third Business Day following the receipt of such Cash proceeds, prepay the Loans in an amount equal to 100% of such Cash proceeds, net of underwriting discounts and commissions or other similar payments and other costs, fees, premiums and expenses directly associated therewith, including reasonable legal fees and expenses (and the Commitments shall be permanently reduced by such amount).

 

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(v)          Indebtedness . In the event that any Obligor shall receive any Cash proceeds from the issuance of Indebtedness at any time after the Availability Period, such Obligor shall, no later than the third Business Day following the receipt of such Cash proceeds, prepay the Loans in an amount equal to 100% of such Cash proceeds, net of underwriting discounts and commissions or other similar payments and other costs, fees, commissions, premiums and expenses directly associated therewith, including reasonable legal fees and expenses (and the Commitments shall be permanently reduced by such amount).

 

(d)           Mandatory Prepayment of Eurocurrency Loans . If the Loans to be prepaid pursuant to Sections 2.08(c)(ii) and (iii) are Eurocurrency Loans, the Borrower may defer such prepayment (and permanent Commitment reduction) until the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loans, so long as the Borrower deposits an amount equal to an amount required to be prepaid, no later than the third Business Day following the receipt of such amount, into a segregated collateral account in the name and under the control (within the meaning of Section 9-104 of the Uniform Commercial Code) of the Administrative Agent pending application of such amount to the prepayment of the Loans (and permanent reduction of the Commitments) on the last day of such Interest Period.

 

(e)           Notices, Etc . The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing or by telephone (followed promptly by written confirmation) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurocurrency Borrowing under Section 2.08(a) , not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing under Section 2.08(a) , or any prepayment under Section 2.08(b) or (c) , not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date, the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid and, in the case of a mandatory prepayment, a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of such prepayment; provided , that, (1) if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.06(c) , then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.06(c) and (2) any such notices given in connection with any of the events specified in Section 2.08(c) may be conditioned upon (x) the consummation of the issuance of Equity Interests or Indebtedness (as applicable) or (y) the receipt of net cash proceeds from Extraordinary Receipts or Returns of Capital. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. In the event the Borrower is required to make any concurrent prepayments under both paragraph (b) and also another paragraph of this Section 2.08, any such prepayments shall be applied toward a prepayment pursuant to paragraph (b) before any prepayment pursuant to any other paragraph of this Section 2.08. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.10 and shall be made in the manner specified in Section 2.07(b) .

 

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(f)           Permitted Tax Distributions . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Net Asset Sale Proceeds, Extraordinary Receipts and Return of Capital required to be applied to the prepayment of the Loans pursuant to Section 2.09(c) shall exclude the amounts estimated in good faith by the Borrower to be necessary for the Borrower to make distributions sufficient in amount to achieve the objectives set forth in clauses (i) , (ii) and (iii) of Section 6.05(b) hereof, but solely to the extent that the receipt of such Net Asset Sale Proceeds, Extraordinary Receipts and Return of Capital (as the case may be) results in an increase in the amounts required to be distributed by the Borrower to achieve such objectives.

 

SECTION 2.09. Fees .

 

(a)           Commitment Fee . The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for account of each Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate on the unused amount of the Commitment of such Lender, if any, on each day during the period from and including the Effective Date to the earlier of the date the Commitments terminate and the Revolver Termination Date. Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in arrears (x) within one Business Day after each Quarterly Date and (y) on the earlier of the date the Commitments terminate and the Revolver Termination Date, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date. All commitment 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). For purposes of computing commitment fees, the Commitments shall be deemed to be used to the extent of the outstanding Loans of all Lenders.

 

(b)           Administrative Agent Fees. 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.

 

(c)           Payment of Fees . All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in Dollars and immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent for distribution, in the case of facility fees and participation fees, to the Lenders entitled thereto. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances absent manifest error. On the Effective Date, the Borrower shall pay (i) all fees required to be paid on the “Revolving Closing Date” under that certain fee letter, dated October 2, 2014, by and between the Borrower and ING and (ii) all costs and expenses outstanding on such date and required to be paid pursuant to Section 9.03(a)(i) . On the Second Amendment Effective Date, the Borrower shall pay (x) all fees required to be paid on the Second Amendment Effective Date under that certain fee letter, dated as of the Second Amendment Effective Date, by and between the Borrower and ING and (ii) all costs and expenses outstanding on such date required to be paid pursuant to Section 9.03(a)(i).

 

SECTION 2.10. Interest .

 

(a)           ABR Loans . The Loans constituting each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin.

 

(b)           Eurocurrency Loans . The Loans constituting each Eurocurrency Borrowing shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the related Interest Period for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Margin.

 

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(c)           Default Interest . Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (d) (only with respect to Section 6.07) , (h), (i) or (j) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing, or on demand of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders if any Event of Default described in any other clause of Article VII has occurred and is continuing, or if the Covered Debt Amount exceeds the Borrowing Base during the 30-Business Day period referred to in Section 2.08(b) , the interest applicable to Loans shall accrue, and any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided above, or (ii) in the case of any fee or other amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.

 

(d)           Payment of Interest . Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan in Dollars and 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 Loan prior to the Maturity Date), 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 Eurocurrency Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Borrowing shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

 

(e)           Computation . 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 or Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

SECTION 2.11. Eurocurrency Borrowing Provisions .

 

(a)           Alternate Rate of Interest . If prior to the commencement of the Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Borrowing:

 

(i)          the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest Period; or

 

(ii)         the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their respective Loans included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

 

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone, telecopy or e-mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or the continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurocurrency Borrowing and such Borrowing (unless prepaid) shall be continued as, or converted to, an ABR Borrowing and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing.

 

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(b)           Illegality . Without duplication of any other rights that any Lender has hereunder, if any Lender determines that any law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful for any Lender to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the LIBO Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the LIBO Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurocurrency Borrowings or to convert ABR Borrowings to Eurocurrency Borrowings shall be suspended, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Eurocurrency Borrowings the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the LIBO Rate component of the Alternate Base Rate, the interest rate on which ABR Borrowings of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the LIBO Rate component of the Alternate Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (x) all Eurocurrency Borrowings of such Lender shall automatically convert to ABR Borrowings (the interest rate which ABR Borrowings of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the LIBO Rate component of the Alternate Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Borrowings to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Borrowings (in which event Borrower shall not be required to pay any yield maintenance, breakage or similar fees) and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the LIBO Rate, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Alternate Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the LIBO Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the LIBO Rate. Upon any such conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so converted.

 

SECTION 2.12. Increased Costs .

 

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

 

(i)          impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate); or

 

(ii)         subject any Lender to any Taxes (other than Covered Taxes and Taxes described in clauses (a)(ii), (c) and (e) of the definition of Excluded Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or

 

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(iii)        impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Eurocurrency Loans made by such Lender or participation therein;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining any Eurocurrency Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrower will pay to such Lender, in Dollars, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)           Capital Requirements . If any Lender 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 capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity position), by an amount deemed to be material by such Lender, then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender, in Dollars, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

(c)           Certificates from Lenders . A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts, in Dollars, necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be promptly 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.

 

(d)           Delay in Requests . Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that no Obligor shall be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than six months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower in writing of any such Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions.

 

SECTION 2.13. Break Funding Payments . In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period therefor (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period therefor, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice is permitted to be revocable under Section 2.08(e) and is revoked in accordance herewith), or (d) the assignment as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.17(b) of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period therefor, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurocurrency Loan, the loss to any Lender attributable to any such event shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be equal to the excess, if any, of

 

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(i)          the amount of interest that such Lender would pay for a deposit equal to the principal amount of such Loan referred to in clauses (a) , (b) , (c) or (d) of this Section 2.13 denominated in Dollars for the period from the date of such payment, conversion, failure or assignment to the last day of the then current Interest Period for such Loan (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, the duration of the Interest Period that would have resulted from such borrowing, conversion or continuation) if the interest rate payable on such deposit were equal to the Adjusted LIBO Rate for Dollars for such Interest Period, over

 

(ii)         the amount of interest that such Lender would earn on such principal amount for such period if such Lender were to invest such principal amount for such period at the interest rate that would be bid by such Lender (or an affiliate of such Lender) for deposits denominated in Dollars from other banks in the Eurocurrency market at the commencement of such period.

 

Payments under this Section shall be made upon written request of a Lender delivered not later than five Business Days following the payment, conversion, or failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay that gives rise to a claim under this Section accompanied by a written certificate of such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail the amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section, which certificate 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 2.14. Taxes .

 

(a)           Payments Free of Taxes . Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Taxes, unless otherwise required by applicable law; provided that if the Borrower shall be required to deduct or withhold any Taxes from such payments, then (i) the Borrower shall make such deductions or withholdings, (ii) the Borrower shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and (iii) if such Tax is a Covered Tax, the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions and withholdings (including deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.14 ) the Administrative Agent or Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made.

 

(b)           Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower . In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

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(c)           Indemnification by the Borrower . The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender for and, within 10 Business Days after written demand therefor, pay the full amount of any Covered Taxes (including Covered Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this S ection 2.14) payable or paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Covered Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(d)           Indemnification by the Lenders . To the extent required by any applicable law, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. Without limiting the provisions of Section 2.14(a) or (c) , each Lender shall, and does hereby, agree to indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payable in respect thereof within 30 days after demand therefor, (i) against any and all Taxes and any and all related losses, claims, liabilities and expenses (including fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent) (collectively, “ Tax Damages ”) incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent by the Internal Revenue Service or any other Governmental Authority as a result of the failure of the Administrative Agent to properly withhold Tax from amounts paid to or for the account of such Lender for any reason (including because the appropriate form was not delivered or not property properly executed, or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstance that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of withholding tax ineffective) and (ii) Tax Damages attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.04 relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph. The agreements in this paragraph shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other obligations.

 

(e)           Evidence of Payments . As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.14 , 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. If the Borrower fails to pay any U.S. federal withholding Taxes that are Excluded Taxes when due to the appropriate Governmental Authority or fails to remit to the Administrative Agent the required receipts or other required documentary evidence on account of such Excluded Taxes, the Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender for any incremental Taxes that may become payable by the Administrative Agent or such Lender as a result of such failure.

 

(f)           Status of Lenders .

 

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(i)          Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments under this Agreement or any other Loan Documents shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or 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 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 2.14(f)(ii)(A) or (B) or Section 2.14(g) 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, if 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 th is Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

(B)         each Foreign Lender shall 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, but, in any event, only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so) 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 duly completed executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or any successor form establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty,

 

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(2) duly completed executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI or any successor form certifying that the income receivable pursuant to this Agreement is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States,

 

(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, signed under penalties of perjury, to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (I) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (II) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (III) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) duly completed executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any successor form), certifying that the Foreign Lender is not a U.S. Person, or

 

(4) any other form as prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States federal withholding tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made, including, to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, duly completed executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY accompanied by Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, a certificate substantially similar to the certificate described in Section 2.14(f)(ii)(B)(3)(x) above, Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable.

 

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

 

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(g)          If a payment made to a Lender under this Agreement 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 Administrative Agent and the Borrower 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 Administrative Agent or the Borrower, at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, as may be necessary for the Administrative Agent and the Borrower 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 any such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (g), “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 under this Agreement 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.

 

(h)           Treatment of Certain Refunds . If the Administrative Agent or any Lender determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Covered Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.14 , it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section with respect to the Covered Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph (h) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or any Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (h), in no event will the Administrative Agent or any Lender be required to pay any amount to the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph (h) the payment of which would place the Administrative Agent or such Lender in a less favorable net position after-Taxes than the Administrative Agent or such Lender 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 (h) shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its Tax returns or its books or records (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

 

(i)           Defined Terms . For purposes of this Section 2.14 , the term “applicable law” includes FACTA FATCA .

 

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SECTION 2.15. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment: Sharing of Set-offs .

 

(a)           Payments by the Borrower . The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees, or under Sections 2.12 , 2.13 or 2.14 , or otherwise) or under any other Loan Document (except to the extent otherwise provided therein) prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off, deduction 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 the Administrative Agent’s Account, except as otherwise expressly provided in the relevant Loan Document and except payments pursuant to Sections 2.12 , 2.13 , 2.14 and 9.03 , which shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. 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 amounts owing under this Agreement (including commitment fees, payments required under Sections 2.12 and 2.13 or under any other Loan Document (except to the extent otherwise provided therein ) ) are payable in Dollars.

 

(b)           Application of Insufficient Payments . If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, to pay 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 (ii) second, to pay principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

 

(c)           Pro Rata Treatment . Except to the extent otherwise provided herein: (i) each Borrowing shall be made from the Lenders, each payment of commitment fee under Section 2.09 shall be made for account of the Lenders, and each termination or reduction of the amount of the Commitments under Section 2.06 , Section 2.08 or otherwise shall be applied to the respective Commitments of the Lenders, pro rata according to the amounts of their respective Commitments; (ii) each Borrowing shall be allocated pro rata among the Lenders according to the amounts of their respective Commitments (in the case of the making of Loans) or their respective Loans that are to be included in such Borrowing (in the case of conversions and continuations of Loans); (iii) each payment or prepayment of principal of Loans by the Borrower shall be made for account of the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the respective unpaid principal amounts of the Loans held by them; and (iv) each payment of interest on Loans by the Borrower shall be made for account of the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the amounts of interest on such Loans then due and payable to the respective Lenders.

 

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(d)           Sharing of Payments by Lenders . 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 Loans, resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans, and accrued interest thereon then due 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 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 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 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.

 

(e)           Presumptions of Payment . 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 account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender 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 Federal Funds Effective Rate.

 

(f)           Certain Deductions by the Administrative Agent . If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.04(a) or (b) or 2.15(e) , then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.

 

SECTION 2.16. 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)          commitment fees pursuant to Section 2.09(a) shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender to the extent, and during the period, such Lender is a Defaulting Lender;

 

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(b)          the Commitment and Revolving Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders, two-thirds of the Lenders or the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document (including any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to Section 9.02 , except for any amendment or waiver described in Section 9.02(b)(i) , (ii) or (iii) ), provided that any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders, two-thirds of the Lenders or each affected Lender which affects such Defaulting Lender differently than other Lenders or affected Lenders (as applicable) shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

 

In the event that the Administrative Agent and the Borrower each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then, on such date of such agreement, such Lender shall purchase at par the portion of the Loans of the other Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.

 

SECTION 2.17. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders .

 

(a)           Designation of a Different Lending Office . If any Lender exercises its rights under Section 2.11(b) or requests compensation under Section 2.12 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any Covered Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.14 , then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender) 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 sole reasonable judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.12 or 2.14 , as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the circumstance giving rise to such Lender exercising its rights under Section 2.11(b) and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any cost or expense not required to be reimbursed by the Borrower 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)           Replacement of Lenders . If any Lender exercises its rights under Section 2.11(b) or requests compensation under Section 2.12 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any Covered Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.14 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 2.17(a) , or if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, or if any Lender becomes a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04 ), all its interests, rights 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 which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, 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 2.12 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.14 , 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.

 

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(c)           Defaulting Lenders . If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Sections 2.04 or 9.03(c) , then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion and notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender for the benefit of the Administrative Agent to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid, and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under 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.

 

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, as applicable, is duly organized or incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where the failure to do so could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. There is no existing default under any charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of Borrower or its Subsidiaries or any event which, with the giving of notice or passage of time or both, would constitute a default by any party thereunder.

 

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, by all necessary stockholder action and the Board of Directors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have approved the transactions contemplated in this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes, and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party when executed and delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws of general applicability affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and (b) the application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is 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 for (i) such as have been or will be obtained or made and are in full force and effect and (ii) filings and recordings in respect of the Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any order of any Governmental Authority ( including the Investment Company Act and the rules, regulations and orders issued by the SEC thereunder), (c) will not violate or result in a default in any material respect under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by any such Person, and (d) except for the Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents, will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

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SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Effect .

 

(a)           Financial Statements .

 

(i)          The financial statements delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders by the Borrower pursuant to Section 4.01(c) present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position, assets and liabilities, results of operations, changes in net assets, cash flows and investments of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for the applicable period in accordance with GAAP. On the Effective Date, none of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has any material contingent liabilities, material liabilities for taxes, material unusual forward or material long-term commitments or material unrealized or anticipated losses from any unfavorable commitments not reflected in the financial statements referred to above. On the Effective Date, none of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has any material contingent liabilities, material liabilities for taxes, material unusual forward or material long-term commitments or material unrealized or anticipated losses from any unfavorable commitments not reflected in the financial statements referred to above.

 

(ii)         The financial statements delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders by the Borrower pursuant to Sections 5.01(a) and (b) present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position, assets and liabilities, results of operations, changes in net assets, cash flows and investments of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for the applicable period in accordance with GAAP, subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements, to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes. None of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has any material contingent liabilities, material liabilities for taxes, material unusual forward or material long-term commitments or material unrealized or anticipated losses from any unfavorable commitments not reflected in such financial statements.

 

(b)           No Material Adverse Effect . Since December 31, 2013, 2016, there has not been any event, development or circumstance that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.05. Litigation . There are no actions, suits, investigations or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority now pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (a) 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 or (b) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.

 

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SECTION 3.06. 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. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any contract or other arrangement, the performance of which by the Borrower could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither Borrower nor its Subsidiaries is in default in any manner under any provision of any agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its property is or may be bound, and no condition exists which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in each case where such default could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.07. Taxes . Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has timely filed or has caused to be timely filed all U.S. federal, state and local Tax returns that are required to be filed by it and all other Tax returns that are required to be filed by it and has paid all Taxes for which it is directly or indirectly liable and any assessments made against it or any of its property and all other Taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its property by any Governmental Authority, except such Taxes, fees or other charges that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided on the books of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries in respect of Taxes and other governmental charges are adequate in accordance with GAAP. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has given or been requested to give a waiver of the statute of limitations relating to the payment of any federal, state, local and foreign Taxes or other impositions, and no Tax lien has been filed with respect to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries. There is no proposed Tax assessment against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and there is no basis for such assessment.

 

SECTION 3.08. ERISA . Each Plan is in compliance in form and operation with its terms and with ERISA and the Code (including the Code provisions compliance with which is necessary for any intended favorable tax treatment) and all other applicable laws and regulations, except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $2,500,000. (x) With respect to Plans maintained by Borrower or its Subsidiaries, there exists no Unfunded Pension Liability in the aggregate (taking into account only such Plans with positive Unfunded Pension Liability) in excess of $2,500,000, and (y) with respect to Plans maintained by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or their ERISA Affiliates, there exists no Unfunded Pension Liability in an aggregate amount (taking into account only such Plans with positive Unfunded Pension Liability) that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (and in no event do the Borrower or its Subsidiaries have actual knowledge of such Unfunded Pension Liability in excess of $2,500,000). (x) If each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries were to withdraw from all Multiemployer Plans in a complete withdrawal as of the date this assurance is given or deemed given, the aggregate withdrawal liability that would be incurred would not be in excess of $2,500,000, and (y) if each of the Borrower, each of its Subsidiaries and each of their respective ERISA Affiliates were to withdraw from all Multiemployer Plans in a complete withdrawal as of the date this assurance is given or deemed given, the aggregate withdrawal liability that would be incurred would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (and in no event do Borrower or its Subsidiaries have actual knowledge of such aggregate potential withdrawal liability that, if incurred, would reasonably be expected to result in liability to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, liability imposed thereon by virtue of ERISA or the Code) in excess of $2,500,000).

 

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SECTION 3.09. Disclosure .

 

(a)          All written reports, financial statements, certificates and other written information (other than projected financial information, other forward looking information, information relating to third parties and information of a general economic or general industry nature) which has been made available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or delivered under any Loan Document, taken as a whole, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein at the time made and taken as a whole (and after giving effect to all written updates provided by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent for delivery to the Lenders from time to time) not misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made; and

 

(b)          All financial projections, pro forma financial information and other forward-looking information which has been delivered to the Administrative Agent or any Lender by or on behalf of Borrower in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or delivered under any Loan Document are based upon good faith assumptions and, in the case of financial projections and pro forma financial information, good faith estimates, in each case, believed to be reasonable at the time made, it being recognized that (i) such financial information as it relates to future events is subject to significant uncertainty and contingencies (many of which are beyond the control of the Borrower) and are therefore not to be viewed as fact, and (ii) actual results during the period or periods covered by such financial information may materially differ from the results set forth therein.

 

SECTION 3.10. Investment Company Act; Margin Regulations .

 

(a)           Status as Business Development Company . The Borrower is an “investment company” that has elected to be regulated as a “business development company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act and has elected to be treated as a RIC commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2013.

 

(b)           Compliance with Investment Company Act . The business and other activities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries do not result in a violation or breach of the provisions of the Investment Company Act or any rules, regulations or orders issued by the SEC thereunder, except where such breaches or violations, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)           Investment Policies . The Borrower is in compliance in all material respects with the Investment Policies.

 

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(d)           Use of Credit . Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying Margin Stock, and no part of the proceeds of any extension of credit hereunder will be used to buy or carry any Margin Stock. On the Effective Date and the Second Amendment Effective Date, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries own any Margin Stock.

 

SECTION 3.11. Material Agreements and Liens.

 

(a)           Material Agreements . Schedule 3.11(a) is a complete and correct list of each credit agreement, loan agreement, indenture, purchase agreement, guarantee, letter of credit or other arrangement providing for or otherwise relating to any Indebtedness or any extension of credit (or commitment for any extension of credit) to, or guarantee by, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries outstanding on the Second Amendment Effective Date, and the aggregate principal or face amount outstanding or that is, or may become, outstanding under each such arrangement is correctly described in Schedule 3.11(a) .

 

(b)           Liens . Schedule 3.11(b) is a complete and correct list of each Lien securing Indebtedness of any Person outstanding on the Second Amendment Effective Date covering any property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness secured (or that may be secured) by each such Lien and the property covered by each such Lien as of the Second Amendment Effective Date is correctly described in Schedule 3.11(b) .

 

SECTION 3.12. Subsidiaries and Investments .

 

(a)           Subsidiaries . Set forth in Schedule 3.12(a) is a complete and correct list of all of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower as of the Second Amendment Effective Date together with, for each such Subsidiary, (i) the jurisdiction of organization of such Subsidiary, (ii) each Person holding ownership interests in such Subsidiary and (iii) the nature of the ownership interests held by each such Person and the percentage of ownership of such Subsidiary represented by such ownership interests. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.12(a) , as of the Second Amendment Effective Date, (x) the Borrower owns, free and clear of Liens, and has the unencumbered right to vote, all outstanding ownership interests in each Subsidiary shown to be held by it in Schedule 3.12(a) , and (y) all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each such Subsidiary organized as a corporation is validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

(b)           Investments . Set forth in Schedule 3.12(b) is a complete and correct list of all Investments (other than Investments of the types referred to in clauses (b) , (c) and (e) of Section 6.04 ) held by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in any Person on the Second Amendment Effective Date and, for each such Investment, (i) the identity of the Person or Persons holding such Investment, (ii) the nature of such Investment, (iii) the amount of such Investment, (iv) the rate of interest charged for such Investment and (v) the value assigned to such Investment by the Board of Directors of the Borrower. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.12(b) , as of the Second Amendment Effective Date each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries owns, free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 ), all such Investments.

 

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SECTION 3.13. Properties .

 

(a)           Title Generally . 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)           Intellectual Property . 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.

 

SECTION 3.14. Solvency . On the Effective Date and the Second Amendment Effective Date, and upon the incurrence of any extension of credit hereunder, on any date on which this representation and warranty is made, (a) the Borrower will be Solvent on an unconsolidated basis, and (b) each Obligor will be Solvent on a consolidated basis with the other Obligors.

 

SECTION 3.15. Affiliate Agreements . As of the Second Amendment Effective Date, the Borrower has heretofore delivered to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders true and complete copies of each of the Affiliate Agreements (including any schedules and exhibits thereto, and any amendments, supplements or waivers executed and delivered thereunder). As of the Second Amendment Effective Date, other than the Affiliate Agreements, there is no contract, agreement or understanding between the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries on one hand, and any Affiliate of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries on the other hand. As of the Second Amendment Effective Date, the Affiliate Agreements are in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 3.16. No Default . No Default has occurred and is continuing under this Agreement.

 

SECTION 3.17. Use of Proceeds . The proceeds of the Loans shall be used for the general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than Financing Subsidiaries except as expressly permitted under Section 6.03(e) ) in the ordinary course of its business, making distributions not prohibited by this Agreement and the acquisition and funding (either directly or through one or more wholly-owned Subsidiary Guarantors) of leveraged loans, mezzanine loans, high yield securities, and other Portfolio Investments, but excluding, for clarity, Margin Stock.

 

SECTION 3.18. Security Documents . The Guarantee and Security Agreement is effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties (as defined in the Guarantee and Security Agreement), legal, valid and enforceable Liens on, and security interests in, the Collateral and, when (i) all appropriate filings or recordings are made in the appropriate offices as may be required under applicable law and, as applicable, (ii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Collateral Agent of the Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected by possession or control (which possession or control shall be given to the Collateral Agent to the extent possession or control by the Collateral Agent is required by the Guarantee and Security Agreement), the Liens created by the Guarantee and Security Agreement shall constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the grantors in the Collateral (other than such Collateral in which a security interest cannot be perfected under the UCC as in effect at the relevant time in the relevant jurisdiction), in each case subject to no Liens other than Permitted Liens.

 

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SECTION 3.19. Compliance with Sanctions . Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any Affiliate of the Borrower is (i) subject to sanctions (collectively, “ Sanctions ”) administered by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“ OFAC ”), the U.S. Department of State, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, the United Nations Security Council, or any other relevant sanctions authority or (ii) organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country. Furthermore, no part of the proceeds of a loan will be used, directly or indirectly, by the Borrower or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any Affiliate of the Borrower to finance or facilitate a transaction with a person subject to Sanctions.

 

SECTION 3.20. Anti-Money Laundering Program . The Borrower has implemented an anti-money laundering program to the extent required by the Uniting And Strengthening America By Providing Appropriate Tools Required To Intercept And Obstruct Terrorism, as amended (the “ USA PATRIOT Act ”), and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

SECTION 3.21. Structured Subsidiaries

 

(a)          There are no agreements or other documents relating to any Structured Subsidiary binding upon the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than such Structured Subsidiary) other than as permitted under the definition thereof.

 

(b)          The Borrower has not Guaranteed the Indebtedness or other obligations in respect of any credit facility relating to any of the Structured Subsidiaries, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings.

 

SECTION 3.22. Anti-Corruption Laws . Neither the Borrower nor any Affiliate of the Borrower and, to the Borrower’s knowledge, no director, officer, agent, employee of the Borrower or any Affiliate of the Borrower has: (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity or to influence official action; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment; or (iv) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “ FCPA ”) and any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions (collectively with the FCPA, the “ Anti-Corruption Laws ”); and each of the Borrower and any Affiliate of the Borrower have conducted their businesses in compliance with the Anti-Corruption Laws and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, compliance therewith.

 

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SECTION 3.23. Status as Senior Debt; Subordinated Debt .

 

(a)          The Loan Documents and all of the obligations thereunder have been designated as “Senior Indebtedness” (or a similar designation, if applicable) for purposes of all Subordinated Debt.

 

(b)          The subordination provisions set forth in each agreement (including any indenture) relating to Subordinated Debt are legally valid and enforceable against the parties thereto, and the obligations of the Obligors under the Loan Documents constitute “Senior Indebtedness” (or any similar designation, if applicable) thereunder.

 

(c)          As of the Closing Second Amendment Effective Date, no Subordinated Debt exists, and the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a complete and correct copy of all of the documents governing the Indebtedness under the Existing Indenture, including all indentures, schedules, exhibits, amendments, supplements, modifications, assignments and all other documents delivered pursuant thereto or in connection therewith. As of each date on or after November 1, 2014, on which this representation and warranty is made, all of the obligations of the Obligors under the Loan Documents constitute Indebtedness entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions contained in the agreements (including indentures) relating to Subordinated Debt.

 

SECTION 3.24. EEA Financial Institutions. No Obligor is an EEA Financial Institution.

 

ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS

 

SECTION 4.01. Effective Date . The effectiveness of this Agreement on the Effective Date and of the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder shall not become effective until completion of each of the following conditions precedent (unless a condition shall have been waived in accordance with Section 9.02 ):

 

(a)           Documents . Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following documents, each of which shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (and to the extent specified below to each Lender) in form and substance:

 

(i)           Executed Counterparts . From each party hereto either (1) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (2) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy or e-mail transmission of a signed signature page to this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.

 

(ii)          Guarantee and Security Agreement; Custodian Agreement . The Guarantee and Security Agreement and a Custodian Agreement with respect to the Borrower’s Custodian Account, each duly executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto, and all other documents or instruments required to be delivered by the Guarantee and Security Agreement and such Custodian Agreement in connection with the execution thereof.

 

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(iii)         Opinion of Counsel to the Borrower . A favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of Mayer Brown LLP, counsel for the Obligors, and Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, Maryland counsel for the Borrower, in each case, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and covering such matters as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request (and the Borrower hereby instructs such counsel to deliver such opinions to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent).

 

(iv)         Corporate Documents . The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of the secretary or assistant secretary of each Obligor, dated the Effective Date, certifying that attached thereto are (1) true and complete copies of the organizational documents of each Obligor certified as of a recent date by the appropriate governmental official, (2) signature and incumbency certificates of the officers of such Person executing the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (3) true and complete resolutions of the Board of Directors of each Obligor approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party or by which it or its assets may be bound as of the Effective Date and, in the case of the Borrower, authorizing the borrowings hereunder, and that such resolutions are in full force and effect without modification or amendment, (4) a good standing certificate from the applicable Governmental Authority of each Obligor’s jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation and in each jurisdiction in which it is qualified as a foreign corporation or other entity to do business, each dated a recent date prior to the Effective Date, and (5) such other documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the Obligors, and the authorization of the Transactions, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

 

(v)          Officer’s Certificate . A certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by a Financial Officer of the Borrower, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in Sections 4.02(a) , (b) , (c) and (d) .

 

(b)           Liens . The Administrative Agent shall have received results of a recent lien search in each relevant jurisdiction with respect to the Obligors, confirming the priority of the Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent created pursuant to the Security Documents and revealing no liens on any of the assets of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries except for Liens permitted under Section 6.02 or Liens to be discharged on or prior to the Effective Date pursuant to documentation satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. All UCC financing statements, control agreements (other than the DDA Account Control Agreement), stock certificates and other documents or instruments required to be filed or executed and delivered in order to create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, a first-priority perfected (subject to Eligible Liens) security interest in the Collateral (to the extent that such a security interest may be perfected by filing, possession or control under the Uniform Commercial Code) shall have been properly filed (or provided to the Administrative Agent) or executed and delivered in each jurisdiction required.

 

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(c)           Financial Statements . The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received prior to the execution of this Agreement the final version of the consolidated statements of assets and liabilities and the related consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of changes in net assets, consolidated statements of cash flows and related schedule of investments of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2014, all certified in writing by a Financial Officer of the Borrower as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received any other financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as they shall have reasonably requested.

 

(d)           Consents . The Borrower shall have obtained and delivered to the Administrative Agent copies of all consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations, or filings (other than any filing required under the Exchange Act or the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, including any filing required on Form 8-K) required to be made or obtained by the Borrower and all guarantors in connection with the Transactions and any other evidence reasonably requested by, and reasonably satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent as to compliance with all material legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the Obligors, and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations, filings and orders shall be in full force and effect and all applicable waiting periods shall have expired and no investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Authority regarding the Transactions or any transaction being financed with the proceeds of the Loans shall be ongoing.

 

(e)           No Litigation . There shall not exist any action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding or other legal or regulatory developments pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority that relates to the Transactions or that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(f)           Solvency Certificate . On the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower dated as of the Effective Date and addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, with appropriate attachments and demonstrating that both before and after giving effect to the Transactions, (a) the Borrower will be Solvent on an unconsolidated basis and (b) each Obligor will be Solvent on a consolidated basis with the other Obligors.

 

(g)           Due Diligence . All customary confirmatory due diligence on the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall have been completed by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and the results of such due diligence shall be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders. No information shall have become available which the Administrative Agent believes has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(h)           Default . No Default shall have occurred and be continuing under this Agreement nor any default or event of default that permits (or which upon notice, lapse of time or both, would permit) the acceleration of any Material Indebtedness immediately before and after giving effect to the Transactions, any incurrence of Indebtedness hereunder and the use of the proceeds hereof on a pro forma basis.

 

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(i)           USA PATRIOT Act . The Administrative Agent shall have received all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act, as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

(j)           Investment Policies . The Administrative Agent shall have received the Investment Policies as in effect on the Effective Date in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders.

 

(k)           Borrowing Base Certificate . The Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Base Certificate dated as of the Effective Date, showing a calculation of the Borrowing Base as of the date thereof in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(l)           Custody Reports . The Administrative Agent shall have received copies of custody reports (including (i) activity reports with respect to cash and Cash Equivalents included in the calculation of the Borrowing Base and (ii) an itemized list of each Portfolio Investment held in any Custodian Account owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary) with respect to any Custodian Account owned by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(m)           Insurance Certificate . The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from the Borrower’s insurance broker or other evidence satisfactory to it that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents is in full force and effect.

 

(n)           Other Documents . The Administrative Agent shall have received such other documents, instruments, certificates, opinions and information as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(o)           Fees and Expenses . The Borrower shall have paid in full, to the extent not paid pursuant to Section 2.09 hereof, to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all fees and expenses related to this Agreement owing on or prior to the Effective Date, including any up-front fee due to any Lender on or prior to the Effective Date.

 

(p)           Valuation Reports . The Administrative Agent shall have received each third party valuation report received by the Borrower on or prior to the date hereof that attests to the value of any asset of any Obligor as of December 31, 2013 or any date thereafter.

 

SECTION 4.02. Conditions to Each Credit Event . The obligation of each Lender to make any Loan, including any Loans on the Effective Date, is additionally subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a)          the representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement and in the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than any representation or warranty already qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, which shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Loan, or, as to any such representation or warranty that refers to a specific date, as of such specific date;

 

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(b)          at the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Loan, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(c)          no Borrowing Base Deficiency shall exist at the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Loan, and either (i) the aggregate Covered Debt Amount (after giving effect to such Loan) shall not exceed the Borrowing Base reflected on the Borrowing Base Certificate most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent or (ii) the Borrower shall have delivered an updated Borrowing Base Certificate demonstrating that the Covered Debt Amount (after giving effect to such Loan) shall not exceed the Borrowing Base after giving effect to such Loan as well as any concurrent acquisitions of Portfolio Investments by the Borrower or payment of outstanding Loans or Other Covered Indebtedness;

 

(d)          after giving effect to such Loan, the Borrower shall be in pro forma compliance with each of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.07(a) , (b) , (d) and (e) ;

 

(e)          the Custodian Agreement shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower, the Collateral Agent and the Custodian and all other control arrangements required at the time by Section 5.08(c)(ii) with respect to the Obligors’ other deposit accounts and securities accounts shall have been entered into (including the DDA Account Control Agreement, so long as the DDA Account exists); and

 

(f)          the proposed date of such Loan shall take place during the Availability Period.

 

Each Borrowing shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in the preceding sentence.

 

ARTICLE V

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

Until the Termination Date, 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 for distribution to each Lender:

 

(a)          within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower (commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014), the audited consolidated statements of assets and liabilities and the related audited consolidated statements of operations, audited consolidated statements of changes in net assets, audited consolidated statements of cash flows and related audited consolidated schedules of investments of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year (to the extent full fiscal year information is available), all reported on by Ernst & Young LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing 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 Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied (which report shall be unqualified as to going concern and scope of audit and shall not contain any explanatory paragraph or paragraph of emphasis with respect to going concern); provided that the requirements set forth in this clause (a) may be fulfilled by providing to the Administrative Agent for distribution to each Lender the report filed by the Borrower with the SEC on Form 10-K for the applicable fiscal year;

 

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(b)          within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower (commencing with the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2014), the consolidated statements of assets and liabilities and the related consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of changes in net assets, consolidated statements of cash flows and related consolidated schedules of investments of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis 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 (or, in the case of the statement of assets and liabilities, as of the end of) the corresponding period or periods of the previous fiscal year (to the extent such information is available for the previous fiscal year), all certified by a Financial Officer of the Borrower as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes; provided that the requirements set forth in this clause (b) may be fulfilled by providing to the Administrative Agent for distribution to each Lender the report filed by the Borrower with the SEC on Form 10-Q for the applicable quarterly period;

 

(c)          concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) of this Section, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower (i) to the extent the requirements in clause (a) and (b) are not fulfilled by the Borrower delivering the applicable report delivered to (or filed with) the SEC, certifying that such statements are consistent with the financial statements filed by the Borrower with the SEC, (ii) certifying as to whether the Borrower has knowledge that 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, (iii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Sections 6.01(b) , (c) , (d) , (e) and (i) , 6.02(f) , 6.03(h) , 6.04(i) , 6.05(b) and (d) , and 6.07 , (iv) stating whether any change in GAAP as applied by (or in the application of GAAP by) the Borrower has occurred since the Effective Date (but only if the Borrower has not previously reported such change to the Administrative Agent) and, if any such change has occurred (and has not been previously reported to the Administrative Agent), specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate, (v) attaching a list of Subsidiaries as of the date of delivery of such certificate or a confirmation that there is no change in such information since the date of the last such list and (vi) providing a reconciliation of any difference between the assets and liabilities of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries presented in such financing statements and the assets and liabilities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for purposes of calculating the financial covenants in Section 6.07 ;

 

(d)          as soon as available and in any event not later than twenty (20) calendar days after the end of each monthly accounting period (ending on the last day of each calendar month) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, a Borrowing Base Certificate as of the last day of such accounting period (which Borrowing Base Certificate shall include the metrics contained in the Excel schedule included in the Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent for the accounting period ended March 31, 2017 and such other metrics reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent relating to each Portfolio Investment in the applicable Borrowing Base (if and to the extent information relating to such metrics is reported under the documentation for such Portfolio Investment), including but not limited to the leverage ratio of total debt to EBITDA of the issuer of such Portfolio Investment) ;

 

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(e)          promptly but no later than two Business Days after any Financial Officer of the Borrower shall at any time have knowledge that there is a Borrowing Base Deficiency or knowledge that the Borrowing Base has declined by more than 15% from the Borrowing Base stated in the Borrowing Base Certificate last delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, a Borrowing Base Certificate as at the date such Financial Officer has knowledge of such Borrowing Base Deficiency or decline indicating the amount of the Borrowing Base Deficiency or decline as at the date such Financial Officer obtained knowledge of such deficiency and the amount of the Borrowing Base Deficiency or decline as of the date not earlier than two Business Days prior to the date the Borrowing Base Certificate is delivered pursuant to this paragraph;

 

(f)          promptly upon receipt thereof copies of all significant written reports submitted to the management or board of directors of the Borrower by the Borrower’s independent public accountants in connection with each annual, interim or special audit or review of any type of the financial statements or related internal control systems of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries delivered by such accountants to the management or board of directors of the Borrower;

 

(g)          promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials sent to stockholders and filed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with the SEC or with any national securities exchange, as the case may be;

 

(h)          within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, all external valuation reports relating to the Eligible Portfolio Investments (including all valuation reports delivered by the Approved Third-Party Appraiser in connection with the quarterly appraisals of Unquoted Investments in accordance with Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B)) , and any other information relating to the Eligible Portfolio Investments as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender;

 

(i)          within 45 days after the initial closing of each Eligible Portfolio Investment that is acquired, made or entered into after the Effective Date, all underwriting memoranda (or, if no underwriting memorandum has been prepared, all materials similar to underwriting memoranda that are in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) for such Eligible Portfolio Investment;

 

(j)          to the extent not otherwise provided by the Custodian, within thirty (30) days after the end of each month, updated copies of custody reports (including (i) activity reports with respect to cash and Cash Equivalents included in the calculation of the Borrowing Base and (ii) to the extent available, an itemized list of each Portfolio Investment held in any Custodian Account owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary) with respect to any Custodian Account owned by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

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(k)          within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower certifying that attached thereto is a complete and correct description of all Portfolio Investments as of the date thereof, including, with respect to each such Portfolio Investment, the name of the Borrower or Subsidiary holding such Portfolio Investment and the name of the issuer of such Portfolio Investment;

 

(l)          to the extent such information is not otherwise available in the financial statements delivered pursuant to clause (a) or (b) of this Section 5.01 , upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent within 5 Business Days of the due date set forth in clauses (a) or (b) of this Section for any quarterly or annual financial statements, as the case may be, a schedule prepared in accordance with GAAP setting forth in reasonable detail with respect to each Portfolio Investment where there has been a realized gain or loss in the most recently completed fiscal quarter, (i) the cost basis of such Portfolio Investment, (ii) the realized gain or loss associated with such Portfolio Investment, (iii) the associated reversal of any previously unrealized gains or losses associated with such Portfolio Investment, (iv) the proceeds received with respect to such Portfolio Investment representing repayments of principal, and (v) any other amounts received with respect to such Portfolio Investment representing exit fees or prepayment penalties; and

 

(m)          promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

 

SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events . Upon the Borrower becoming aware of any of the following, the Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

 

(a)          the occurrence of any Default ( provided that if such Default is subsequently cured within the time periods set forth herein, the failure to provide notice of such Default shall not itself result in an Event of Default hereunder);

 

(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 of its Affiliates that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(c)          (i) 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 $2,500,000, (ii) the existence of material Unfunded Pension Liabilities (taking into account only Plans with positive Unfunded Pension Liabilities) and (iii) the existence of material aggregate potential withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA, if the Borrower, all of its Subsidiaries and all of their respective ERISA Affiliates were to withdraw completely from any and all Multiemployer Plans; and

 

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

 

Each notice delivered under this Section 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 (other than Immaterial 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 not prohibited 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 and material contractual obligations, that, if not paid, could reasonably be expected to 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 could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance . The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries (other than Immaterial 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, (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 business, operating in the same or similar locations and (c) after the request of the Administrative Agent, promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent any certificate or certificates from the Borrower’s insurance broker or other documentary evidence, in each case demonstrating the effectiveness of, or any changes to, such insurance.

 

SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection and Audit Rights .

 

(a)           Books and Records; Inspection Rights . The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep books of record and account in accordance with GAAP. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice to the Borrower, at the sole expense of the Borrower, to (i) visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and (ii) discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested, provided that the Borrower or such Subsidiary shall be entitled to have its representatives and advisors present during any inspection of its books and records; provided , further, that the Borrower shall not be required to pay for more than two such visits and inspections in any calendar year unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of any subsequent visits and inspections during such calendar year.

 

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(b)           Audit Rights . The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by Administrative Agent (including any consultants, accountants, lawyers and appraisers retained by the Administrative Agent) to conduct evaluations and appraisals of the Borrower’s computation of the Borrowing Base and the assets included in the Borrowing Base (including, for clarity, audits of any Agency Accounts, funds transfers and custody procedures), all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested. The Borrower shall pay the reasonable, documented fees and expenses of representatives retained by the Administrative Agent to conduct any such evaluation or appraisal; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses for more than one such evaluation or appraisal during any calendar year unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of any subsequent evaluation or appraisal during such calendar year; provided , further, that in relation to any fees or expenses required to be paid by the Borrower in connection with any appraisal under this Section 5.06(b) (but, for the avoidance of doubt, other than valuation reports produced pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii) ), unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing such fees and expenses shall be subject to the IVP Supplemental Cap. The Borrower also agrees to modify or adjust the computation of the Borrowing Base and/or the assets included in the Borrowing Base, to the extent required by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders as a result of any such evaluation or appraisal indicating that such computation or inclusion of assets is not consistent with the terms of this Agreement, provided that if the Borrower demonstrates that such evaluation or appraisal is incorrect, the Borrower shall be permitted to re-adjust its computation of the Borrowing Base.

 

(c)          Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section 5.06 shall impair or affect the rights of the Administrative Agent under Section 5.12(b)(ii) in any respect.

 

SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements . The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations, including the Investment Company Act (if applicable to such Person), and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it (including orders issued by the SEC) or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Policies and procedures will be maintained and enforced by or on behalf of the Borrower that are designed in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner to promote and achieve compliance, in the reasonable judgment of the Borrower, by the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with any applicable Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, in each case giving due regard to the nature of such Person’s business and activities. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, act in accordance with their respective Organization Documents.

 

SECTION 5.08. Certain Obligations Respecting Subsidiaries; Further Assurances .

 

(a)           Subsidiary Guarantors .

 

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(i)          In the event that (1) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall form or acquire any new Subsidiary (other than a Financing Subsidiary, a CFC or a Transparent Subsidiary), or that any other Person shall become a “Subsidiary” within the meaning of the definition thereof (other than a Financing Subsidiary, a CFC or a Transparent Subsidiary), (2) any Structured Subsidiary shall no longer constitute a “Structured Subsidiary” pursuant to the definition thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, if such Structured Subsidiary ceases to have, in full force and effect, financing provided by an unaffiliated third party) (in which case such Person shall be deemed to be a “new” Subsidiary for purposes of this Section 5.08 ), (3) any SBIC Subsidiary shall no longer constitute a “SBIC Subsidiary” pursuant to the definition thereof (in which case such Person shall be deemed to be a “new” Subsidiary for purposes of this Section 5.08 ), or (4) any Florida Sidecar Subsidiary shall no longer constitute a “Florida Sidecar Subsidiary” pursuant to the definition thereof (in which case such Person shall be deemed to be a “new” Subsidiary for purposes of this Section 5.08 ), the Borrower will, in each case, on or before thirty (30) days following such Person becoming a Subsidiary or such Financing Subsidiary or, as applicable, Florida Sidecar Subsidiary, no longer qualifying as such, cause such new Subsidiary or former Financing Subsidiary or, as applicable, Florida Sidecar Subsidiary, to become a “Subsidiary Guarantor” (and, thereby, an “Obligor”) under the Guarantee and Security Agreement pursuant to a Guarantee Assumption Agreement and to deliver such proof of corporate or other action, incumbency of officers, opinions of counsel and other documents as the Administrative Agent shall have reasonably requested.

 

(ii)         The Borrower acknowledges that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders have agreed to exclude each Structured Subsidiary as an Obligor only for so long as such Person qualifies as a “Structured Subsidiary” pursuant to the definition thereof, and thereafter such Person shall no longer constitute a “Structured Subsidiary” for any purpose of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

(iii)        The Borrower acknowledges that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders have agreed to exclude each SBIC Subsidiary as an Obligor only for so long as such Person qualifies as an “SBIC Subsidiary” pursuant to the definition thereof, and thereafter such Person shall no longer constitute an “SBIC Subsidiary” for any purpose of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

(iv)        The Borrower acknowledges that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders have agreed to exclude each Florida Sidecar Subsidiary as an Obligor only for so long as such Person qualifies as a “Florida Sidecar Subsidiary” pursuant to the definition thereof, and thereafter such Person shall no longer constitute a “Florida Sidecar Subsidiary” for any purpose of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

(b)           Ownership of Subsidiaries . The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, take such action from time to time as shall be necessary to ensure that each of its Subsidiaries is a wholly owned Subsidiary.

 

(c)           Further Assurances . The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiary Guarantors to, take such action from time to time as shall reasonably be requested by the Administrative Agent to effectuate the purposes and objectives of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiary Guarantors, to:

 

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(i)          take such action from time to time (including filing appropriate Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and executing and delivering such assignments, security agreements and other instruments) as shall be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to create, in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders (and any affiliate thereof that is a party to any Hedging Agreement entered into with the Borrower) and the holders of any Secured Longer-Term Indebtedness, perfected first-priority security interests and Liens in the Collateral; provided that any such security interest or Lien shall be subject to the relevant requirements of the Security Documents;

 

(ii)         with respect to each deposit account or securities account of the Obligors (other than (A) any such accounts that are maintained by the Borrower in its capacity as “servicer” for a Financing Subsidiary or any Agency Account, (B) any such accounts which hold solely money or financial assets of a Financing Subsidiary, (C) any payroll account so long as such payroll account is coded as such, (D) withholding tax and fiduciary accounts or any trust account maintained solely on behalf of a Portfolio Investment, and (E) any account in which the aggregate value of deposits therein, together with all other such accounts under this clause (E), does not at any time exceed $75,000, provided that in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (A) through (E), no other Person (other than the depository institution at which such account is maintained) shall have “control” over such account (within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code)), cause each bank or securities intermediary (within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code) to enter into such arrangements with the Collateral Agent as shall be appropriate in order that the Collateral Agent has “control” (within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code) over each such deposit account or securities account (each, a “ Control Account ”) and in that connection, the Borrower agrees, subject to Sections 5.08(c)(iv) and (v) below, to cause all cash and other proceeds of Portfolio Investments received by any Obligor to be immediately deposited into a Control Account (or otherwise delivered to, or registered in the name of, the Collateral Agent) and, both prior to and following such deposit, delivery or registration such cash and other proceeds shall be held in trust by the Borrower for the benefit and as the property of the Collateral Agent and shall not be commingled with any other funds or property of such Obligor or any other Person (including with any money or financial assets of the Borrower in its capacity as “servicer” for a Structured Subsidiary or any money or financial assets of a Structured Subsidiary, or any money or financial assets of the Borrower in its capacity as “agent” for any other Bank Loans subject to Section 5.08(c)(v) below);

 

(iii)        cause the Financing Subsidiaries or any Florida Sidecar Subsidiary to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such certificates and agreements, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, as it shall determine are necessary to confirm that such Financing Subsidiary or Florida Sidecar Subsidiary qualifies or continues to qualify as a “Structured Subsidiary”, an “SBIC Subsidiary”, or a “Florida Sidecar Subsidiary”, as applicable, pursuant to the definitions thereof;

 

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(iv)        in the case of any Portfolio Investment consisting of a Bank Loan (as defined in Section 5.13 ) that does not constitute all of the credit extended to the underlying borrower under the relevant underlying loan documents and a Financing Subsidiary holds any interest in the loans or other extensions of credit under such loan documents, (x)(1) cause the interest owned by such Financing Subsidiary to be evidenced by a separate note or notes which note or notes are either (A) in the name of such Financing Subsidiary or (B) in the name of the Borrower, endorsed in blank and delivered to the applicable Financing Subsidiary and beneficially owned by the Financing Subsidiary (or, in the case of a Noteless Assigned Loan (as defined in Section 5.13 ), cause the interest owned by such Financing Subsidiary to be evidenced by separate assignment documentation contemplated by paragraph 1(b) of Schedule 1.01(d) in the name of such Financing Subsidiary) and (2) not permit such Financing Subsidiary to have a participation acquired from an Obligor in such underlying loan documents and the extensions of credit thereunder or any other indirect interest therein acquired from an Obligor; and (y) ensure that, subject to Section 5.08(c)(v) below, all amounts owing to any Obligor by the underlying borrower or other obligated party are remitted by such borrower or obligated party (or the applicable administrative agents, collateral agents or equivalent Person) directly to the Custodian Account and no other amounts owing by such underlying borrower or obligated party are remitted to the Custodian Account;

 

(v)         in the event that any Obligor is acting as an agent or administrative agent under any loan documents with respect to any Bank Loan (or is acting in an analogous agency capacity under any agreement related to any Portfolio Investment) and such Obligor does not hold all of the credit extended to the underlying borrower or issuer under the relevant underlying loan documents or other agreements, ensure that (1) all funds held by such Obligor in such capacity as agent or administrative agent is segregated from all other funds of such Obligor and clearly identified as being held in an agency capacity (an “ Agency Account ”); (2) all amounts owing on account of such Bank Loan or Portfolio Investment by the underlying borrower or other obligated party are remitted by such borrower or obligated party to either (A) such Agency Account or (B) directly to an account in the name of the underlying lender to whom such amounts are owed (for the avoidance of doubt, no funds representing amounts owing to more than one underlying lender may be remitted to any single account other than the Agency Account); and (3) within one (1) Business Day after receipt of such funds, such Obligor acting in its capacity as agent or administrative agent shall distribute any such funds belonging to any Obligor to the Custodian Account ( provided that if any distribution referred to in this clause (c) is not permitted by applicable bankruptcy law to be made within such one Business Day period as a result of the bankruptcy of the underlying borrower, such Obligor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain permission to make such distribution and shall make such distribution as soon as legally permitted to do so);

 

(vi)        cause the documentation relating to each Investment in Indebtedness described in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1.01(d) to be delivered to the Custodian as provided therein; and

 

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(vii)       in the case of any Portfolio Investment held by any Financing Subsidiary, including any cash collection related thereto, ensure that such Portfolio Investment shall not be held in any Custodian Account, or any other account of any Obligor.

 

SECTION 5.09. Use of Proceeds . The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Loans only for general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than the Financing Subsidiaries except as expressly permitted under Section 6.03(e) or (f) ) in the ordinary course of business, including making distributions not prohibited by this Agreement, making payments on Indebtedness of the Obligors to the extent permitted under this Agreement, and the acquisition and funding (either directly or through one or more wholly-owned Subsidiary Guarantors) of leveraged loans, mezzanine loans, high-yield securities, convertible securities, preferred stock, common stock and other Portfolio Investments; provided that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any responsibility as to the use of any of such proceeds. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used in violation of applicable law or, directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying any Margin Stock. On the first day (if any) an Obligor acquires any Margin Stock or at any other time requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a statement to the foregoing effect in conformity with the requirements of FR Form G-3 or FR Form U-1, as applicable, referred to in Regulation U. Margin Stock shall be purchased by the Obligors only with the proceeds of Indebtedness not directly or indirectly secured by Margin Stock (within the meaning of Regulation U), or with the proceeds of equity capital of the Borrower. No Obligor will, to its actual knowledge, directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Loans or otherwise make available such proceeds (I) to any Person for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person currently (A) subject to, or the subject of, any Sanctions or (B) organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (II) for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

SECTION 5.10. Status of RIC and BDC . The Borrower shall (i) take all actions necessary to qualify as a RIC under the Code (including making the election to be treated as a RIC for its taxable year ended December 31, 2013) and to thereafter maintain its qualification as a RIC under the Code, and (ii) at all times maintain its status as a RIC under the Code and as a “business development company” under the Investment Company Act.

 

SECTION 5.11. Investment Policies . The Borrower shall at all times be in compliance in all material respects with its Investment Policies.

 

SECTION 5.12. Portfolio Valuation and Diversification Etc .

 

(a)           Industry Classification Groups . For purposes of this Agreement, the Borrower shall assign each Eligible Portfolio Investment to an Industry Classification Group as reasonably determined by the Borrower. To the extent that the Borrower reasonably determines any Eligible Portfolio Investment is not correlated with the risks of other Eligible Portfolio Investments in an Industry Classification Group, such Eligible Portfolio Investment may be assigned by the Borrower to an Industry Classification Group that is more closely correlated to such Eligible Portfolio Investment.

 

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(b)           Portfolio Valuation Etc .

 

(i)           Settlement - Date Basis . For purposes of this Agreement, all determinations of whether a Portfolio Investment is an Eligible Portfolio Investment shall be determined on a settlement-date basis (meaning that any Portfolio Investment that has been purchased will not be treated as an Eligible Portfolio Investment until such purchase has settled, and any Eligible Portfolio Investment which has been sold will not be excluded as an Eligible Portfolio Investment until such sale has settled) Settlement-Date Basis , provided that no such investment shall be included as an Eligible Portfolio Investment to the extent it has not been paid for in full.

 

(ii)          Determination of Values . The Borrower will conduct reviews of the value to be assigned to each of its Eligible Portfolio Investments as follows:

 

(A)          Quoted Investments External Review . With respect to Eligible Portfolio Investments (including Cash Equivalents) for which market quotations are readily available and are reflective of an actual trade executed within a reasonable period of such quotation (“ Quoted Investments ”), the Borrower shall, not less frequently than once each calendar week, determine the market value of such Quoted Investments which shall, in each case, be determined in accordance with one of the following methodologies as selected by the Borrower (each such value, an “ External Quoted Value ”):

 

(w)          in the case of public and 144A securities, the average of the bid prices as determined by two Approved Dealers selected by the Borrower,

 

(x)          in the case of Bank Loans, the average of the bid prices as determined by two Approved Dealers selected by the Borrower or an Approved Pricing Service which makes reference to at least two Approved Dealers with respect to such Bank Loans,

 

(y)          in the case of any Quoted Investment traded on an exchange, the closing price for such Eligible Portfolio Investment most recently posted on such exchange, and

 

(z)          in the case of any other Quoted Investment, the fair market value thereof as determined by an Approved Pricing Service; and

 

(B)          Unquoted Investments External Review . With respect to Eligible Portfolio Investments for which market quotations are not readily available (“ Unquoted Investments ”):

 

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(x)          Commencing with the quarter ending December 31, 2014, and for each fiscal quarter thereafter (or such other dates as are reasonably agreed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent ( provided that such testing dates shall occur not less than quarterly), each a “ Valuation Testing Date ”), the Administrative Agent through an Independent Valuation Provider will, solely for purposes of determining the Borrowing Base, test the values as of such Valuation Testing Date of those Unquoted Investments that are Portfolio Investments included in the Borrowing Base selected by the Administrative Agent (such selected assets, the “ IVP Tested Assets ” and such value, the “ IVP External Unquoted Value ”); provided that the fair value of such Portfolio Investments tested by the Independent Valuation Provider as of any Valuation Testing Date shall be approximately 25% (but in no event shall exceed 30%) of the aggregate value of the Unquoted Investments in the Borrowing Base (the determination of fair value for such percentage thresholds shall be based off of the last determination of value of the Portfolio Investments pursuant to this Section 5.12 and, for the avoidance of doubt, in the case of any Unquoted Investments acquired during the calendar quarter, the value shall be as determined pursuant to clause (E)(z)(2) below); provided, further that the Administrative Agent shall provide written notice to the Borrower, setting forth a description of which Unquoted Investments shall be IVP Tested Assets as of such Valuation Testing Date, not later than 15 days prior to the Valuation Testing Date. Each such valuation report shall also include the information required to comply with clause (iii) of paragraph 7 and paragraph 22 of Schedule 1.01(d) for an IVP Tested Asset (to the extent such provisions are applicable).

 

(y)          With respect to all Unquoted Investments that are not IVP Tested Assets as of such Valuation Testing Date (the “ Borrower Tested Assets ”), the Borrower shall request an Approved Third-Party Appraiser to assist the Board of Directors of the Borrower in determining the fair market value of the remaining Unquoted Investments, as of each Valuation Testing Date (such value, the “ Borrower External Unquoted Value ”), and to provide the Board of Directors with a written independent valuation report as part of that assistance each quarter; provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, the board of directors of the Borrower may, without the assistance of an Approved Third-Party Appraiser, determine the fair market value of such Unquoted Investments so long as the aggregate Value thereof so determined does not at any time exceed 10% of the aggregate Borrowing Base, except that the fair market value of any Portfolio Investment that has been determined without the assistance of an Approved Third-Party Appraiser as at the last day of any fiscal quarter shall be deemed to be zero as at the last day of the immediately succeeding fiscal quarter (but effective upon the date upon which the Borrowing Base Certificate for such last day is required to be delivered) if an Approved Third-Party Appraiser has not assisted the Board of Directors of the Borrower in determining the fair market value of such Portfolio Investments, as at such date. Each such valuation report shall also include the information required to comply with clause (iii) of paragraph 7 and paragraph 22 of Schedule 1.01(d).

 

(C)          Internal Review . The Borrower shall conduct internal reviews to determine the value of all Eligible Portfolio Investments at least once each calendar week which shall take into account any events of which the Borrower has knowledge that adversely affect the value of any Eligible Portfolio Investment (each such value, an “ Internal Value ”).

 

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(D)          Value of Quoted Investments . Subject to Sections 5.12(b)(ii)(G) and 5.12(b)(iii) , the “ Value ” of each Quoted Investment for all purposes of this Agreement shall be the lowest of (1) the Internal Value of such Quoted Investment as most recently determined by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(C) , (2) the External Quoted Value of such Quoted Investment as most recently determined pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(A) and (3) the par or face value of the such Quoted Investment.

 

(E)          Value of Unquoted Investments . Subject to Sections 5.12(b)(ii)(G) and 5.12(b)(iii) ,

 

(x)          if the Internal Value of any Unquoted Investment as most recently determined by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(C) falls below the range of the IVP External Unquoted Value or the Borrower External Unquoted Value of such Unquoted Investment as most recently determined pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B) , then the “Value” of such Unquoted Investment for all purposes of this Agreement shall be deemed to be the lower of (i) the Internal Value and (ii) the par or face value of such Unquoted Investment;

 

(y)         (i) if the Internal Value of any Unquoted Investment as most recently determined by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(C) falls above the range of the Borrower External Unquoted Value of such Unquoted Investment as most recently determined pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B) , then the “Value” of such Unquoted Investment for all purposes of this Agreement shall be deemed to be the lower of (i) the midpoint of the range of the Borrower External Unquoted Value and (ii) the par or face value of such Unquoted Investment;

 

(ii) if the Internal Value of any Unquoted Investment as most recently determined by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(C) falls more than 5% above the midpoint of the range of the IVP External Unquoted Value of such Unquoted Investment as most recently determined pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B) , then the “Value” of such Unquoted Investment for all purposes of this Agreement shall be deemed to be the lower of (i) the midpoint of the range of the IVP External Unquoted Value and (ii) the par or face value of such Unquoted Investment; and

 

(z)         if the Internal Value of any Unquoted Investment as most recently determined by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(C) is within the range of the Borrower External Unquoted Value, or within or not more than 5% above the midpoint of the range of the IVP External Unquoted Value, of such Unquoted Investment as most recently determined pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B) , then the “Value” of such Unquoted Investment for all purposes of this Agreement shall be deemed to be the lower of (i) the Internal Value and (ii) the par or face value of such Unquoted Investment;

 

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except that:

 

(1)         if the difference between the highest and lowest Borrower External Unquoted Value in such range exceeds an amount equal to 6% of the midpoint of such range, the “Value” of such Unquoted Investment shall instead be deemed to be the lowest of (i) the lowest Borrower External Unquoted Value in such range, (ii) the Internal Value determined pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(C) , and (iii) the par or face value of such Unquoted Investment; and

 

(2)         if an Unquoted Investment is acquired during a fiscal quarter, the “Value” of such Unquoted Investment shall be deemed to be equal to the lowest of (x) the Internal Value of such Unquoted Investment as determined by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(C) , (y) the cost of such Unquoted Investment until such time as the External Unquoted Value of such Unquoted Investment is determined in accordance with Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B) as at the Valuation Testing Date, and (z) the par or face value of such Unquoted Investment.

 

(F)          Actions Upon a Borrowing Base Deficiency . If, based upon such weekly internal review, the Borrower determines that a Borrowing Base Deficiency exists or that the Borrowing Base has declined by more than 15% from the Borrowing Base stated in the Borrowing Base Certificate last delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, then the Borrower shall, promptly and in any event within two Business Days as provided in Section 5.01(e) , deliver a Borrowing Base Certificate reflecting the new amount of the Borrowing Base and shall take the actions, and make the payments and prepayments (if any), all as more specifically set forth in Section 2.08(b) .

 

(G)          Failure to Determine Values . If the Borrower shall fail to determine the value of any Eligible Portfolio Investment as at any date pursuant to the requirements (but subject to the exclusions) of the foregoing sub-clauses (A), (B), (C), (D) or (E) (or if the Administrative Agent shall fail to determine the value of any Eligible Portfolio Investment as described in the foregoing sub-clause (B) as a result of any action, inaction or lack of cooperation of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates), then the “Value” of such Eligible Portfolio Investment as at such date shall be deemed to be zero. Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, if the Administrative Agent shall fail to determine the value of any Eligible Portfolio Investment as at any date pursuant to clause (B)(x), then the “Value” of such Eligible Portfolio Investment as at such date (subject to clause (iii) below) shall be the lower of (x) the Internal Value and (y) the par or face value of such Unquoted Investment; provided , however , that if a Borrower External Unquoted Value has been obtained with respect to such asset for the quarterly period immediately preceding the current quarterly testing period, then the “Value” of such Eligible Portfolio Investment will be determined as provided in clause (E) above.

 

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(H)          Initial Value of Assets . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, from the Effective Date until the date when valuation reports are required to be delivered under Section 5.01(h) for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2014, the Value of any Unquoted Investment included in the Borrowing Base shall be the lower of (i) the Internal Value of such Unquoted Investment determined by the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii)(C) and (ii) the par or face value of such Unquoted Investment.

 

(iii)         Supplemental Testing of Values; Valuation Dispute Resolutions . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, individually or at the request of the Required Lenders, shall at any time have the right to request any Portfolio Investment (other than IVP Tested Assets as of the most recent Valuation Testing Date) included in the Borrowing Base with a value determined pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii) to be independently tested by an Independent Valuation Provider. There shall be no limit on the number of such appraisals requested by the Administrative Agent. If (x) the value of any Borrower Tested Asset determined pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii) is less than the value determined by the Independent Valuation Provider pursuant to this clause, then the value determined pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii) shall continue to be used as the “Value” for purposes of this Agreement and (y) if the value of any Borrower Tested Asset determined pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii) is greater than the value determined by the Independent Valuation Provider and the difference between such values is (1) less than or equal to 5% of the value determined pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii) , then the value determined pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii) shall become the “Value” of such Portfolio Investment, (2) greater than 5% and less than or equal to 20% of the value determined pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii) , then the “Value” of such Portfolio Investment shall become the average of the value determined pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii) and the value determined by the Independent Valuation Provider, and (3) greater than 20% of the value determined pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii) , then either (i) the the “Value” of such Portfolio Investment shall be the lesser of the two values or (ii) if the Borrower so elects, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall retain (at the Borrower’s sole cost and expense) an additional third party appraiser and, upon completion of such appraisal, the “Value” of such Portfolio Investment shall be the average of the three valuations (with the average of the value determined pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(ii) and the value determined by the Independent Valuation Provider to be used until the third value is obtained). For purposes of this Section 5.12(b)(iii) , the “Value” of any Portfolio Investment for which the Independent Valuation Provider’s value is used shall be the midpoint of the range (if any) determined by the Independent Valuation Provider.

 

(iv)         Generally Applicable Valuation Provisions .

 

(A)         The Independent Valuation Provider shall apply a recognized valuation methodology that is commonly accepted in the Borrower’s industry for valuing Portfolio Investments of the type being valued and held by the Obligors. Other procedures relating to the valuation will be reasonably agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

 

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(B)         All valuations shall be on a settlement date basis Settlement-Date Basis . For the avoidance of doubt, the value of any Portfolio Investments determined in accordance with any provision of this Section 5.12 shall be the Value of such Portfolio Investment for purposes of this Agreement until a new Value for such Portfolio Investment is subsequently determined in good faith in accordance with this Section 5.12 .

 

(C)         Subject to the last sentence of Section 9.03(a) , the documented out-of-pocket costs of any valuation reasonably incurred by the Administrative Agent under this Section 5.12 shall be at the expense of the Borrower; provided that the Administrative Agent shall under no circumstances be required to incur expenses under Section 5.12(b)(iii) in excess of the IVP Supplemental Cap.

 

(D)         The Administrative Agent shall provide a copy of the final results of any valuation received by the Administrative Agent and performed by the Independent Valuation Provider or the Approved Third-Party Appraiser to any Lender upon such Lender’s request, except to the extent that such recipient has not executed and delivered a customary and reasonable non-reliance letter, confidentiality agreement or similar agreement requested or required by such Independent Valuation Provider or Approved Third-Party Appraiser, as applicable.

 

(E)         The foregoing valuation procedures shall only be required to be used for purposes of calculating the Borrowing Base and shall not be required to be utilized by the Borrower for any other purpose, including the delivery of financial statements or valuations required under ASC 820 or the Investment Company Act.

 

(c)           Investment Company Diversification Requirements . The Borrower (together with its Subsidiaries to the extent required by the Investment Company Act) will at all times comply with the portfolio diversification and similar requirements set forth in the Investment Company Act applicable to business development companies. The Borrower will at all times, subject to applicable grace periods set forth in the Code, comply with the portfolio diversification and similar requirements set forth in the Code applicable to RICs.

 

SECTION 5.13. Calculation of Borrowing Base . For purposes of this Agreement, the “ Borrowing Base ” shall be determined, as at any date of determination, as the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (x) the Value of each Eligible Portfolio Investment by (y) the applicable Advance Rate; provided that:

 

(a)          the Advance Rate applicable to the aggregate Value of all Eligible Portfolio Investments in their entirety shall be 0% at any time when the Borrowing Base is composed entirely of Eligible Portfolio Investments issued by less than 12 different issuers; provided that, at all times prior to the six-month anniversary of the Effective Date, the minimum number of issuers may be 8 as long as the overall utilization of the Borrowing Base is less than 65% (for these purposes, (i) utilization of the Borrowing Base on any day means the fraction expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the sum of the Covered Debt Amount on such day, and the denominator of which is the Borrowing Base in effect on such day and (ii) issuers that are affiliates of each other will be treated as one issuer (unless the affiliation is solely as a result of direct or indirect control by a common private equity or similar sponsor));

 

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(b)          with respect to all Eligible Portfolio Investments issued by a single issuer, the Advance Rate applicable to that portion of such Eligible Portfolio Investments that exceeds 7.5 % of the Obligors’ Net Capitalization shall be 50% of the Advance Rate otherwise applicable to such Eligible Portfolio Investments; provided that the Advance Rate applicable to that portion of such Eligible Portfolio Investments that exceeds 10 % of the Obligors’ Net Capitalization shall be 0%;

 

(c)          the portion of the Borrowing Base attributable to Eligible Portfolio Investments that are not Cash, Cash Equivalents, Long-Term U.S. Government Securities or Performing First Lien Bank Loans shall not exceed 70% of the Borrowing Base, and the Borrowing Base shall be reduced by removing Eligible Portfolio Investments therefrom (but not from the Collateral) to the extent such portion would otherwise exceed 70% of the Borrowing Base;

 

(d)          the portion of the Borrowing Base attributable to Eligible Portfolio Investments that are not Cash, Cash Equivalents, Long-Term U.S. Government Securities or Performing First Lien Bank Loans, Performing Second Lien Bank Loans or Performing Last Out Loans shall not exceed 30% of the Borrowing Base, and the Borrowing Base shall be reduced by removing Eligible Portfolio Investments therefrom (but not from the Collateral) to the extent such portion would otherwise exceed 30% of the Borrowing Base;

 

(e)          the portion of the Borrowing Base attributable to Eligible Portfolio Investment acquired after the Effective Date that are Noteless Assigned Loans shall not exceed 25% of the Borrowing Base, and the Borrowing Base shall be reduced by removing Eligible Portfolio Investments therefrom (but not from the Collateral) to the extent such portion would otherwise exceed 25% of the Borrowing Base;

 

(f)          if at any time the Weighted Average Leverage Ratio is greater than 4.75, the Borrowing Base shall be reduced by removing Debt Eligible Portfolio Investments therefrom (but not from the Collateral) to the extent necessary to cause the Weighted Average Leverage Ratio to be no greater than 4.75 (subject to all other constraints, limitations and restrictions set forth herein);

 

(g)          the portion of the Borrowing Base attributable to Eligible Portfolio Investments in each of the Industry Classification Groups that are part of the Two Largest Industry Classification Groups shall, in each case, not exceed 20% of the Borrowing Base, and the Borrowing Base shall be reduced by removing Eligible Portfolio Investments therefrom (but not from the Collateral) to the extent such portion would otherwise exceed 20% of the Borrowing Base;

 

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(h)          the portion of the Borrowing Base attributable to Eligible Portfolio Investments in any single Industry Classification Group (other than each of the Industry Classification Groups that are part of the Two Largest Industry Classification Groups) shall not exceed 15% of the Borrowing Base, and the Borrowing Base shall be reduced by removing Eligible Portfolio Investments therefrom (but not from the Collateral) to the extent such portion would otherwise exceed 15% of the Borrowing Base;

 

(i)          if at any time the weighted average maturity of all Debt Eligible Portfolio Investments (based on the fair value of such Eligible Portfolio Investments to the extent included in the Borrowing Base) exceeds 6.0 years, the Borrowing Base shall be reduced by removing Debt Eligible Portfolio Investments therefrom (but not from the Collateral) to the extent necessary to cause the weighted average maturity of all Debt Eligible Portfolio Investments included in the Borrowing Base to be no greater than 6.0 years (subject to all other constraints, limitations and restrictions set forth herein);

 

(j)          the portion of the Borrowing Base attributable to Debt Eligible Portfolio Investments with a maturity greater than 7 years shall not exceed 15% of the Borrowing Base, and the Borrowing Base shall be reduced by removing Eligible Portfolio Investments therefrom (but not from the Collateral) to the extent such portion would otherwise exceed 15% of the Borrowing Base;

 

(k)          the portion of the Borrowing Base attributable to PIK Obligations, DIP Loans and Covenant-Lite Loans shall not exceed 15% of the Borrowing Base, and the Borrowing Base shall be reduced by removing Eligible Portfolio Investments therefrom (but not from the Collateral) to the extent such portion would otherwise exceed 15% of the Borrowing Base;

 

(l)          if at any time the Weighted Average Fixed Coupon (after giving effect to any Hedging Agreement) is less than the greater of (i) 8% and (ii) the one-month LIBO Rate plus 4.5%, the Borrowing Base shall be reduced by removing Debt Eligible Portfolio Investments therefrom (but not from the Collateral) to the extent necessary to cause the Weighted Average Fixed Coupon to be at least equal to the greater of (x) 8% and (y) the one-month LIBO Rate plus 4.5% (subject to all other constraints, limitations and restrictions set forth herein);

 

(m)          if at any time the Weighted Average Floating Spread (after giving effect to any Hedging Agreement) is less than 4.5%, the Borrowing Base shall be reduced by removing Debt Eligible Portfolio Investments therefrom (but not from the Collateral) to the extent necessary to cause the Weighted Average Floating Spread to be at least 4.5% (subject to all other constraints, limitations and restrictions set forth herein); and

 

(n)          no portion of the Borrowing Base shall be attributable to (a) any (i) Equity Interests or (ii) warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition of Equity Interests, (iii) any Investment in debt Securities that is convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Equity Interests, (b) any Affiliate Investment (other than an Existing Affiliate Investment) , (c) any Structured Finance Obligation or Finance Lease or (d) investment in a joint venture or other Person that is in the principal business of making debt or equity investments in other Persons ;

 

(o)          the portion of the Borrowing Base attributable to Eligible Portfolio Investments issued by one or more Portfolio Companies with a trailing twelve-month total debt to EBITDA ratio of greater than 6.0 to 1.0 shall not exceed 15% of the Borrowing Base, and the Borrowing Base shall be reduced by removing Eligible Portfolio Investments therefrom (but not from the Collateral) to the extent such portion would otherwise exceed 15% of the Borrowing Base; and

 

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(p)          the portion of the Borrowing Base attributable to Eligible Portfolio Investments issued by Canadian Issuers in the aggregate shall not exceed 10% of the Borrowing Base and the Borrowing Base shall be reduced by removing Eligible Portfolio Investments therefrom (but not from the Collateral) to the extent such portion would otherwise exceed 10% of the Borrowing Base; provided that no credit shall be given to the Borrowing Base for any Eligible Portfolio Investment issued by a Canadian Issuer if the related Obligor does not qualify for zero withholding for loans to Canadian borrowers unless the underlying documentation for such Eligible Portfolio Investment contains customary tax provisions pursuant to which the applicable Canadian Issuer is required to indemnify in full and/or gross-up in full such Obligor .

 

For all purposes of this Section 5.13 , all issuers of Eligible Portfolio Investments that are Affiliates of one another shall be treated as a single issuer (unless such issuers are Affiliates of one another solely because they are under the common Control of the same private equity sponsor or similar sponsor). For the avoidance of doubt, no Portfolio Investment shall be an Eligible Portfolio Investment unless, among the other requirements set forth in this Agreement, (i) such Investment is subject only to Eligible Liens and (ii) such Investment is Transferable. In addition, as used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

Advance Rate ” means, as to any Eligible Portfolio Investment and subject to adjustment as provided above, the following percentages with respect to such Eligible Portfolio Investment ; provided that the Advance Rate applicable to any Existing Affiliate Investment (as defined below and only to the extent such Existing Affiliate Investment is also otherwise an Eligible Portfolio Investment) shall be 67% of the Advance Rate otherwise applicable thereto :

 

Eligible Portfolio Investment   Unquoted     Quoted  
Cash and Cash Equivalents (including Short-Term U.S. Government Securities)     n/a       100 %
Long-Term U.S. Government Securities     n/a       85 %
Performing First Lien Bank Loans     60 65 %     70 %
Performing Last Out Loans     55 %     65 %
Performing Second Lien Bank Loans     50 %     60 %
Performing High Yield Securities     45 %     55 %
Performing Mezzanine Investments and Performing Covenant-Lite Loans     40 %     50 %
Performing PIK Obligations and Performing DIP Loans     35 %     40 %

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the categories above are intended to be indicative of the traditional investment types in a fully capitalized issuer. All determinations of whether a particular Portfolio Investment belongs to one category or another shall be made by the Borrower on a consistent basis with the foregoing. For example, a secured bank loan at a holding company, whose only assets are the shares of a fully capitalized operating company, may constitute Mezzanine Investments but would not ordinarily constitute a Bank Loan.

 

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Bank Loans ” means debt obligations (including term loans, revolving loans, debtor-in-possession financings, the funded portion of revolving credit lines and letter of credit facilities and other similar loans and investments including interim loans, bridge loans and senior subordinated loans) that are generally provided under a syndicated loan or credit facility or pursuant to any loan agreement or other similar credit facility, whether or not syndicated.

 

Capital Stock ” of any Person means any and all shares of corporate stock (however designated) of and any and all other Equity Interests and participations representing ownership interests (including membership interests and limited liability company interests) in, such Person.

 

Cash ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.01 of this Agreement.

 

Cash Equivalents ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.01 of this Agreement.

 

Covenant-Lite Loan ” a Bank Loan that does not require the Portfolio Company thereunder to comply with any financial covenants (including any covenant relating to a borrowing base, asset valuation or similar asset-based requirement) (regardless of whether compliance with one or more incurrence covenants is otherwise required by such Bank Loan).

 

Debt Eligible Portfolio Investment ” means an Eligible Portfolio Investment that is an Investment in Indebtedness.

 

Defaulted Obligation ” means any Investment in Indebtedness (a) as to which, (x) a default as to the payment of principal and/or interest has occurred and is continuing for a period of thirty two (32) consecutive days with respect to such Indebtedness (without regard to any grace period applicable thereto, or waiver thereof) or (y) a default not set forth in clause (x) has occurred and the holders of such Indebtedness have accelerated all or a portion of the principal amount thereof as a result of such default; (b) as to which a default as to the payment of principal and/or interest has occurred and is continuing on another material debt obligation of the Portfolio Company under such Indebtedness which is senior or pari passu in right of payment to such Indebtedness; (c) as to which the Portfolio Company under such Indebtedness or others have (x) engaged in an out-of-court restructuring process (including through any provision of the Uniform Commercial Code or other law) for a period of 180 consecutive days or (y) instituted proceedings to have such Portfolio Company adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent or placed into receivership and such proceedings have not been stayed or dismissed or such Portfolio Company has filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or under any foreign bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or custodian, appointed for it (unless, in the case of clause (b) or (c), such Indebtedness is a DIP Loan, in which case it shall not be deemed to be a Defaulted Obligation under such clause); (d) as to which a default rate of interest has been and continues to be charged for more than 120 consecutive days, or foreclosure on collateral for such Indebtedness has been commenced and is being pursued by or on behalf of the holders thereof; or (e) as to which the Borrower has delivered written notice to the Portfolio Company declaring such Indebtedness in default or as to which the Borrower otherwise exercises significant remedies following a default.

 

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DIP Loan ” means a Bank Loan, whether revolving or term, that is originated after the commencement of a case under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code by a Portfolio Company, which is a debtor in possession as described in Section 1107 of the Bankruptcy Code or a debtor as defined in Section 101(13) of the Bankruptcy Code in such case (a “ Debtor ”) organized under the laws of the United States or any state therein and domiciled in the United States, which satisfies the following criteria: (a) the DIP Loan is duly authorized by a final order of the applicable bankruptcy court or federal district court under the provisions of subsection (b), (c) or (d) of 11 U.S.C. Section 364; (b) the Debtor’s bankruptcy case is still pending as a case under the provisions of Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and has not been dismissed or converted to a case under the provisions of Chapter 7 of Title 11 of the Bankruptcy Code; (c) the Debtor’s obligations under such loan have not been (i) disallowed, in whole or in part, or (ii) subordinated, in whole or in part, to the claims or interests of any other Person under the provisions of 11 U.S.C. Section 510; (d) the DIP Loan is secured and the Liens granted by the applicable bankruptcy court or federal district court in relation to the Loan have not been subordinated or junior to, or pari passu with, in whole or in part, to the Liens of any other lender under the provisions of 11 U.S.C. Section 364(d) or otherwise; (e) the Debtor is not in default on its obligations under the loan; (f) neither the Debtor nor any party in interest has filed a Chapter 11 plan with the applicable federal bankruptcy or district court that, upon confirmation, would (i) disallow or subordinate the loan, in whole or in part, (ii) subordinate, in whole or in part, any Lien granted in connection with such loan, (iii) fail to provide for the repayment, in full and in cash, of the loan upon the effective date of such plan or (iv) otherwise impair, in any manner, the claim evidenced by the loan; (g) the DIP Loan is documented in a form that is commercially reasonable; (h) the DIP Loan shall not provide for more than 50% (or a higher percentage with the consent of the Required Lenders) of the proceeds of such loan to be used to repay prepetition obligations owing to all or some of the same lender(s) in a “roll-up” or similar transaction; (i) no portion of the DIP Loan is payable in consideration other than cash; and (j) no portion of the DIP Loan has been credit bid under Section 363(k) of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise. For the purposes of this definition, an order is a “final order” if the applicable period for filing a motion to reconsider or notice of appeal in respect of a permanent order authorizing the Debtor to obtain credit has lapsed and no such motion or notice has been filed with the applicable bankruptcy court or federal district court or the clerk thereof.

 

EBITDA ” means the consolidated net income of the applicable Person (excluding extraordinary gains and extraordinary losses (to the extent excluded in the definition of “EBITDA” in the relevant agreement relating to the applicable Eligible Portfolio Investment)) for the relevant period plus, without duplication, the following to the extent deducted in calculating such consolidated net income in the relevant agreement relating to the applicable Eligible Portfolio Investment for such period: (i) consolidated interest charges for such period, (ii) the provision for Federal, state, local and foreign income taxes payable for such period, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense for such period, and (iv) such other adjustments included in the definition of “EBITDA” (or similar defined term used for the purposes contemplated herein) in the relevant agreement relating to the applicable Eligible Portfolio Investment, provided that such adjustments are usual and customary and substantially comparable to market terms for substantially similar debt of other similarly situated borrowers at the time such relevant agreements are entered into as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower.

 

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Eligible Liens ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.01 of this Agreement.

 

Eligible Portfolio Investment ” means any Portfolio Investment meeting the criteria outlined in Schedule 1.01(d). All determinations of whether an investment is to be included as an Eligible Portfolio Investment shall be determined on a settlement-date basis (meaning that any investment that has been purchased will not be treated as an Eligible Portfolio Investment until such purchase has settled, and any Eligible Portfolio Investment which has been sold will not be excluded as an Eligible Portfolio Investment until such sale has settled) Settlement-Date Basis ; provided that no such investment shall be included as an Eligible Portfolio Investment to the extent it has not been paid for in full.

 

First Lien Bank Loan ” means a Bank Loan that is entitled to the benefit of a first lien and first priority perfected security interest on all or substantially all of the assets of the respective borrower and guarantors obligated in respect thereof, and which has the most senior pre-petition priority in any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, or liquidation proceedings in such collateral ; provided , however , that, in the case of accounts receivable and inventory (and the proceeds thereof), such lien and security interest may be second in priority to a Permitted Prior Working Capital Lien; and further provided that any portion (and only such portion) of such a Loan which has a total debt to EBITDA ratio above 4.00x will be deemed to be a Second Lien Loan. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall a First Lien Bank Loan include a Last Out Loan.

 

Fixed Rate Portfolio Investment ” means a debt Eligible Portfolio Investment that bears interest at a fixed rate.

 

Floating Rate Portfolio Investment ” means a debt Eligible Portfolio Investment that bears interest at a floating rate.

 

High Yield Securities ” means debt Securities, in each case (a) issued by public or private issuers, (b) issued pursuant to an effective registration statement or pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act (or any successor provision there under) and (c) that are not Cash Equivalents, Mezzanine Investments (described under clause (i) of the definition thereof) or Bank Loans.

 

Last Out Loan ” shall mean, with respect to any Bank Loan that is a term loan structured in a first out tranche and a last out tranche (with the first out tranche entitled to a lower interest rate but priority with respect to payments), that portion of such Bank Loan that is the last out tranche; provided that:

 

(a) such last out tranche is entitled (along with the first out tranche) to the benefit of a first lien and first priority perfected security interest on all or substantially all of the assets of the respective borrower and guarantors obligated in respect thereof, and which has the most senior pre-petition priority in any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, or liquidation proceedings;

 

(b) the ratio of (x) the amount of the first out tranche to (y) EBITDA of the underlying obligor does not at any time exceed 2.00x;

 

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(c) such last out tranche (i) gives the holders of such last out tranche full enforcement rights during the existence of an event of default (subject to customary exceptions, including standstill periods and if the holders of the first out tranche have previously exercised enforcement rights), (ii) shall have the same maturity date as the first out tranche, (iii) is entitled to the same representations, covenants and events of default as the holders of the first out tranche (subject to customary exceptions), and (iv) provides the holders of such last out tranche with customary protections (including consent rights with respect to (1) any increase of the principal balance of the first out tranche, (2) any increase of the margins (other than as a result of the imposition of default interest) applicable to the interest rates with respect to the first out tranche, (3) any reduction of the final maturity of the first out tranche, and (4) amending or waiving any provision in the underlying loan documents that is specific to the holders of such last out tranche); and

 

(d) such first out tranche is not subject to multiple drawings (unless, at the time of such drawing and after giving effect thereto, the ratio referenced in clause (b) above is not exceeded).

 

Long-Term U.S. Government Securities ” means U.S. Government Securities maturing more than three months from the applicable date of determination.

 

Mezzanine Investments ” means (i) debt Securities (including convertible debt Securities (other than the “in-the-money” equity component thereof)) (a) issued by public or private Portfolio Companies, (b) issued without registration under the Securities Act, (c) not issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act (or any successor provision thereunder), (d) that are not Cash Equivalents and (e) contractually subordinated in right of payment to other debt of the same Portfolio Company and (ii) a Bank Loan that is not a First Lien Bank Loan, a Second Lien Bank Loan, High Yield Security, Last Out Loan or a Covenant-Lite Loan.

 

Noteless Assigned Loan ” means a Bank Loan with respect to which: (a) the underlying documentation does not require the underlying borrower to execute and deliver a promissory note to evidence the indebtedness created under such Bank Loan; (b) none of the Borrower, the Investment Advisor, or any of their respective Affiliates was an agent with respect to such Bank Loan at the time of origination; and (c) the applicable Obligor has affirmatively requested (or in the case of a Bank Loan acquired by an Obligor prior to the Effective Date, requested prior to the 15th Business Day following the Effective Date) a promissory note from the underlying agent and borrower and has used all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such promissory note but has been unable to obtain a promissory note from the underlying borrower (but only for so long as the applicable Obligor has not received such a promissory note); provided that any portion of the Borrowing Base that consists of an Eligible Portfolio Investment that is a Noteless Assigned Loan shall be identified as such in any Borrowing Base Certificate.

 

Performing ” means with respect to any Eligible Portfolio Investment, such Eligible Portfolio Investment is not a Defaulted Obligation , such investment is not on non-accrual, and does not represent debt or Capital Stock of an issuer that has issued a Defaulted Obligation.

 

Performing Covenant-Lite Loans ” means funded Covenant-Lite Loans that (a) are not PIK Obligations and (b) are Performing.

 

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Performing DIP Loans ” means funded DIP Loans that (a) are not PIK Obligations and (b) are not Defaulted Obligations.

 

Performing First Lien Bank Loans ” means funded First Lien Bank Loans that (a) are not PIK Obligations, DIP Loans or Covenant-Lite Loans and (b) are Performing.

 

Performing High Yield Securities ” means funded High Yield Securities that (a) are not PIK Obligations and (b) are Performing.

 

Performing Last Out Loans ” means funded Last Out Loans that (a) are not PIK Obligations, DIP Loans, Covenant-Lite Loans or Second Lien Bank Loans and (b) are Performing.

 

Performing Mezzanine Investments ” means funded Mezzanine Investments that (a) are not PIK Obligations and (b) are Performing.

 

Performing Second Lien Bank Loans ” means funded Second Lien Bank Loans that (a) are not PIK Obligations, DIP Loans, Covenant-Lite Loans or Last Out Loans and (b) are Performing.

 

Permitted Prior Working Capital Lien ” means, with respect to a Portfolio Company that is a borrower under a Bank Loan, a security interest to secure a working capital facility for such Portfolio Company in the accounts receivable and inventory (and the proceeds thereof) of such Portfolio Company and any of its subsidiaries that are guarantors of such working capital facility; provided that (i) such Bank Loan has a second priority lien on such accounts receivable and inventory (and the proceeds thereof) , (ii) such working capital facility is not secured by any other assets (other than a second priority lien, subject to the first priority lien of the Bank Loan, on any other assets) and does not benefit from any standstill rights or other agreements (other than customary rights) with respect to any other assets and (iii) the maximum principal amount of such working capital facility is not at any time greater than 15% of the aggregate enterprise value of the Portfolio Company (as determined in accordance with the valuation methodology for determining the enterprise value of the applicable Portfolio Company as established by an Approved Third-Party Appraiser or, with respect to quoted investments, in a commercially reasonable manner determined by the Board of Directors of the Borrower ).

 

PIK Obligation ” means an obligation that provides that any portion of the interest accrued for a specified period of time or until the maturity thereof is, or at the option of the obligor may be, added to the principal balance of such obligation or otherwise deferred and accrued rather than being paid in cash, provided that any such obligation shall not constitute a PIK Obligation if it (i) is a fixed rate obligation and requires payment of interest in cash on an at least semi-annual basis at a rate of not less than 8% per annum or (ii) is not a fixed rate obligation and requires payment of interest in cash on an at least semi-annual basis at a rate of not less than 4.5% per annum in excess of the applicable index.

 

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Restructured Investment ” means, as of any date of determination, (a) any Portfolio Investment that has been a Defaulted Obligation within the past six months, or (b) any Portfolio Investment that has in the past six months been on cash non-accrual, or (c) any Portfolio Investment that has in the past six months been amended or subject to a deferral or waiver if both (i) the effect of such amendment, deferral or waiver is either, among other things, to (1) change the amount of previously required scheduled debt amortization (other than by reason of repayment thereof) or (2) extend the tenor of previously required scheduled debt amortization, in each case such that the remaining weighted average life of such Portfolio Investment is extended by more than 20% and (ii) the reason for such amendment, deferral or waiver is related to the deterioration of the credit profile of the underlying borrower such that, in the absence of such amendment, deferral or waiver, it is reasonably expected by the Borrower that such underlying borrower either (x) will not be able to make any such previously required scheduled debt amortization payment or (y) is anticipated to incur a breach of a material financial covenant ; provided that no Existing Affiliate Investment shall be deemed to be a Restructured Investment, unless either (A) such Existing Affiliate Investment becomes a Defaulted Obligation after the Effective Date, or (B) either of clause (i) or (ii) above are true with respect to such Existing Affiliate Investment after the Effective Date . A DIP Loan shall not be deemed to be a Restructured Investment, so long as it does not meet the conditions of the definition of Restructured Investment.

 

Second Lien Bank Loan ” means a Bank Loan (other than a First Lien Bank Loan and a Last Out Loan) that is entitled to the benefit of a first and/or second lien and first and/or second priority perfected security interest on all or substantially all of the assets of the respective borrower and guarantors obligated in respect thereof.

 

Securities ” means common and preferred stock, units and participations, member interests in limited liability companies, partnership interests in partnerships, notes, bonds, debentures, trust receipts and other obligations, instruments or evidences of indebtedness, including debt instruments of public and private issuers and tax-exempt securities (including warrants, rights, put and call options and other options relating thereto, representing rights, or any combination thereof) and other property or interests commonly regarded as securities or any form of interest or participation therein, but not including Bank Loans.

 

Securities Act ” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Short-Term U.S. Government Securities ” means U.S. Government Securities maturing within three (3) months of the applicable date of determination.

 

Spread ” means, with respect to a Floating Rate Portfolio Investment, the cash interest spread of such Floating Rate Portfolio Investment over the applicable LIBO Rate; provided , that, in the case of any Floating Rate Portfolio Investment that does not bear interest by reference to the LIBO Rate, “Spread” shall mean the cash interest spread of such Floating Rate Portfolio Investment over the LIBO Rate in effect as of the date of determination for deposits in U.S. dollars Dollars for a period of three (3) months.

 

Structured Finance Obligation or Finance Lease ” means any obligation issued by a special purpose vehicle (or any obligor in the principal business of offering, originating or financing pools of receivables or other financial assets) and secured directly by, referenced to, or representing ownership of or investment in, a pool of receivables or other financial assets of any Obligor, including collateralized loan obligations, collateralized debt obligations and mortgaged-backed securities, or any finance lease. For the avoidance of doubt, if an obligation satisfies the definition of “Structured Finance Obligation or Finance Lease”, such obligation shall not (a) qualify as any other category of Portfolio Investment or (b) be included in the Borrowing Base.

 

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U.S. Government Securities ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.01 of this Agreement.

 

Value ” means, with respect to any Eligible Portfolio Investment, the value thereof determined for purposes of this Agreement in accordance with Section 5.12(b)(ii) .

 

Weighted Average Fixed Coupon ” means, as of any date of determination, the number, expressed as a percentage, obtained by summing the products obtained by multiplying the cash interest coupon of each Fixed Rate Portfolio Investment included in the Borrowing Base as of such date by the outstanding principal balance of such Fixed Rate Portfolio Investment as of such date, dividing such sum by the aggregate outstanding principal balance of all such Fixed Rate Portfolio Investments and rounding up to the nearest 0.01%. For the purpose of calculating the Weighted Average Fixed Coupon, all Fixed Rate Portfolio Investments that are not currently paying cash interest shall have an interest rate of 0%.

 

Weighted Average Floating Spread ” means, as of any date of determination, the number, expressed as a percentage, obtained by summing the products obtained by multiplying, in the case of each Floating Rate Portfolio Investment included in the Borrowing Base, on an annualized basis, the Spread of such Floating Rate Portfolio Investment, by the outstanding principal balance of such Floating Rate Portfolio Investment as of such date and dividing such sum by the aggregate outstanding principal balance of all such Floating Rate Portfolio Investments and rounding the result up to the nearest 0.01%.

 

Weighted Average Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, the number obtained by summing the products obtained by multiplying, in the case of each Debt Eligible Portfolio Investment included in the Borrowing Base, the leverage ratio (the ratio of indebtedness for borrowed money to EBITDA, expressed as a number) for the Portfolio Company of such Eligible Portfolio Investment of all Indebtedness that has a ranking of payment or lien priority senior to or pari passu with and including the tranche that includes the Borrower's Eligible Portfolio Investment, by the fair value of such Eligible Portfolio Investment as of such date and dividing such sum by the aggregate of the fair values of all such Eligible Portfolio Investments and rounding the result up to the nearest 0.01.

 

SECTION 5.14. Taxes . Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries will timely file or cause to be timely filed all U.S. federal, state and local Tax returns that are required to be filed by it and all other Tax returns that are required to be filed by it and will pay all Taxes for which it is directly or indirectly liable and any assessments made against it or any of its property and all other Taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its property by any Governmental Authority, except Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP are provided on the books of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries in respect of Taxes and other governmental charges will be adequate in accordance with GAAP.

 

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ARTICLE VI

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

Until the Termination Date, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness . The Borrower will not nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a)          Indebtedness created hereunder or under any other Loan Document;

 

(b)          (i) (x) Unsecured Shorter-Term Indebtedness (other than the 2021 Notes) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000, so long as no Default exists at the time of the incurrence , refinancing or replacement thereof (or immediately after the incurrence , refinancing or replacement thereof) and (y) the 2021 Notes , and (ii) Secured Longer-Term Indebtedness, so long as (w) no Default exists at the time of the incurrence , refinancing or replacement thereof (or immediately after the incurrence , refinancing or replacement thereof), (x) prior to and immediately after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, the Obligors’ Net Worth exceeds $125,000,000 and the Borrower is in pro forma compliance with each of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.07(a) , (b) , (d) and (e) after giving effect to the incurrence , refinancing or replacement thereof, and on the date of such incurrence , refinancing or replacement the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer to such effect, (y) prior to and immediately after giving effect to the incurrence , refinancing or replacement thereof, the Covered Debt Amount does not or would not exceed the Borrowing Base then in effect; and (z) on the date of the incurrence , refinancing or replacement thereof, the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a Borrowing Base Certificate as at such date demonstrating compliance with subclause (y) after giving effect to such incurrence , refinancing or replacement . For purposes of preparing such Borrowing Base Certificate, (A) the fair market value of Quoted Investments shall be the most recent quotation available for such Eligible Portfolio Investment and (B) the fair market value of Unquoted Investments shall be the Value set forth in the Borrowing Base Certificate most recently delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(d) or if an Unquoted Investment is acquired after the delivery of the Borrowing Base Certificate most recently delivered, then the Value of such Unquoted Investment shall be the lower of the cost of such Unquoted Investment and the Internal Value of such Unquoted Investment; provided , that the Borrower shall reduce the Value of any Eligible Portfolio Investment referred to in this sub-clause (B) to the extent necessary to take into account any events of which the Borrower has knowledge that adversely affect the value of such Eligible Portfolio Investment;

 

(c)          Unsecured Longer-Term Indebtedness, so long as (x) no Default exists at the time of the incurrence , refinancing or replacement thereof (or immediately after the incurrence , refinancing or replacement thereof) and (y) prior to and immediately after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, the Borrower is in pro forma compliance with each of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.07(a) , (b) , (d) and (e) and on the date of such incurrence , refinancing or replacement the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer to such effect;

 

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(d)          Indebtedness of Financing Subsidiaries; provided that (i) on the date that such Indebtedness is incurred (for clarity, with respect to any and all revolving loan facilities, term loan facilities, staged advance loan facilities or any other credit facilities, “incurrence” shall be deemed to take place at the time such facility is entered into, and not upon each borrowing thereunder), prior to and immediately after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, the Borrower is in pro forma compliance with each of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.07(a) , (b) , (d) and (e) and on the date of such incurrence Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer to such effect, and (ii) in the case of revolving loan facilities or staged advance loan facilities, upon each borrowing thereunder, the Borrower is in pro forma compliance with each of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.07(a) , (b) , (d) and (e) ;

 

(e)          Other Permitted Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000;

 

(f)          repurchase obligations arising in the ordinary course of business with respect to U.S. Government Securities;

 

(g)          obligations payable to clearing agencies, brokers or dealers in connection with the purchase or sale of securities in the ordinary course of business;

 

(h)          obligations of the Borrower under a Permitted SBIC Guarantee and obligations (include Guarantees) in respect of Standard Securitization Undertakings;

 

(i)          Indebtedness of Borrower under any Hedging Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business and not for speculative purposes, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding (for clarity, the amount of any Indebtedness under any Hedging Agreement shall be the amount such Obligor would be obligated for under such Hedging Agreement if such Hedging Agreement were terminated at the time of determination);

 

(j)          Indebtedness of the Borrower on account of the sale by the Borrower of the first out tranche of any First Lien Bank Loan that arises solely as an accounting matter under ASC 860; provided that such Indebtedness (i) is non-recourse to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (ii) would not represent a claim against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in a bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation proceeding of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, in each case in excess of the amount sold or purportedly sold; and

 

(k)          Indebtedness in respect of judgments or awards that have been in force for less than the applicable period for taking an appeal, so long as such judgments or awards do not constitute an Event of Default.

 

SECTION 6.02. Liens . The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset (including Equity Interests in any Financing Subsidiary or any other Subsidiary) 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:

 

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(a)          any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower existing on the Second Amendment Effective Date and set forth in Schedule 3.11(b) , provided that (i) no such Lien shall extend to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and (ii) any such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the Second Amendment Effective Date and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

 

(b)          Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents;

 

(c)          Liens on assets owned by Financing Subsidiaries;

 

(d)          Liens on Special Equity Interests included in the Portfolio Investments, but only to the extent securing obligations in the manner provided in the definition of “Special Equity Investments” in Section 1.01 ;

 

(e)          Permitted Liens;

 

(f)          additional Liens securing Indebtedness not to exceed $3,000,000 in the aggregate provided such Indebtedness is not otherwise prohibited under Section 6.01(e) of this Agreement; and

 

(g)          Liens on Equity Interests in any SBIC Subsidiary created in favor of the SBA.

 

SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries (other than Financing Subsidiaries or Immaterial Subsidiaries) to, enter into any transaction of merger or consolidation or amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution). The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries (other than Financing Subsidiaries) to, acquire any business or property from, or capital stock of, or be a party to any acquisition of, any Person, except for purchases or acquisitions of Portfolio Investments and other assets in the normal course of the day-to-day business activities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and not in violation of the terms and conditions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries (other than Financing Subsidiaries or Immaterial Subsidiaries) to, convey, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, any part of its assets (including Cash, Cash Equivalents and Equity Interests), whether now owned or hereafter acquired, but excluding (x) assets (including Cash and Cash Equivalents but excluding Portfolio Investments) sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than the Financing Subsidiaries) (including to make expenditures of cash in the normal course of the day-to-day business activities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than the Financing Subsidiaries)) and (y) subject to the provisions of clauses (d) and (e) below, Portfolio Investments.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section:

 

(a)          any Subsidiary of the Borrower may be merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or any other Subsidiary Guarantor; provided that if any such transaction shall be between a Subsidiary and a wholly owned Subsidiary Guarantor, the wholly owned Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving corporation;

 

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(b)          any Subsidiary of the Borrower may sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or any wholly owned Subsidiary Guarantor of the Borrower;

 

(c)          the capital stock of any Subsidiary of the Borrower may be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of to the Borrower or any wholly owned Subsidiary Guarantor of the Borrower;

 

(d)          the Obligors may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of Portfolio Investments (other than to a Financing Subsidiary) so long as prior to and after giving effect to such sale, transfer or other disposition (and any concurrent acquisitions of Portfolio Investments or payment of outstanding Loans or Other Covered Indebtedness) the Covered Debt Amount does not exceed the Borrowing Base;

 

(e)          the Obligors may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of Portfolio Investments (other than ownership interests in Financing Subsidiaries), Cash and Cash Equivalents to a Financing Subsidiary so long as (i) prior to and after giving effect to such sale, transfer or other disposition (and any concurrent acquisitions of Portfolio Investments or payment of outstanding Loans or Other Covered Indebtedness) the Covered Debt Amount does not exceed the Borrowing Base and no Default exists, and the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer to such effect, (ii) either (x) the amount by which the Borrowing Base exceeds the Covered Debt Amount immediately prior to such release is not diminished as a result of such release or (y) the Borrowing Base immediately after giving effect to such release is at least 120% of the Covered Debt Amount, (iii) the sum of (x) all sales, transfers or other dispositions under this clause (e) that occur after the Revolver Termination Date and do not result in Net Asset Sale Proceeds for fair value that are applied in accordance with Section 2.08(d)(i) and (y) all Investments under Section 6.04(e) that occur after the Revolver Termination Date, shall not exceed 20% of the Commitments on the Revolver Termination Date, and (iv) prior to and after giving effect to such sale, transfer or disposition (and any concurrent acquisitions of Portfolio Investments or payment of Loans or Other Covered Indebtedness), the Obligors’ Net Worth exceeds $125,000,000;

 

(f)          an Obligor may transfer assets to a Financing Subsidiary for the sole purpose of facilitating the transfer of assets from one Financing Subsidiary (or a Subsidiary that was a Financing Subsidiary immediately prior to such disposition) to another Financing Subsidiary, directly or indirectly through such Obligor (such assets, the “ Transferred Assets ”), provided that (i) no Default exists or is continuing at such time, and the Covered Debt Amount shall not exceed the Borrowing Base at such time and the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer to such effect, and (ii) the Transferred Assets were transferred to such Obligor by the transferor Financing Subsidiary on the same Business Day that such assets are transferred by such Obligor to the transferee Financing Subsidiary;

 

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(g)          the Borrower may merge or consolidate with any other Person, so long as (i) the Borrower is the continuing or surviving entity in such transaction and (ii) at the time thereof and after giving effect thereto, no Default shall have occurred or be continuing;

 

(h)          the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of equipment or other property or assets that do not consist of Portfolio Investments so long as the aggregate amount of all such sales, leases, transfer and dispositions does not exceed $5,000,000 in any fiscal year; and

 

(i)          any Subsidiary of the Borrower may be liquidated or dissolved; provided that (i) in connection with such liquidation or dissolution, any and all of the assets of such Subsidiary shall be distributed or otherwise transferred to the Borrower or any wholly owned Subsidiary Guarantor of the Borrower and (ii) the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders.

 

SECTION 6.04. Investments . The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, acquire, make or enter into, or hold, any Investments except:

 

(a)          operating deposit accounts with banks;

 

(b)          Investments by the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors in the Borrower and Subsidiary Guarantors;

 

(c)          (i) Hedging Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of the Borrower’s business for financial planning and not for speculative purposes;

 

(d)          Portfolio Investments by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to the extent such Portfolio Investments are permitted under the Investment Company Act (to the extent such applicable Person is subject to the Investment Company Act) and the Investment Policies;

 

(e)          Equity Interests in (or capital contribution to) Financing Subsidiaries to the extent not prohibited by Section 6.03(e) or (f) ;

 

(f)          Investments by any Financing Subsidiary;

 

(g)          Investments in Cash and Cash Equivalents;

 

(h)          Investments described on Schedule 3.12(b) hereto; and

 

(i)           additional Investments up to but not exceeding $5,000,000 in the aggregate (for purposes of this clause (i), the aggregate amount of an Investment at any time shall be deemed to be equal to (A) the aggregate amount of cash, together with the aggregate fair market value of property loaned, advanced, contributed, transferred or otherwise invested that gives rise to such Investment (calculated at the time such Investment is made), minus (B) the aggregate amount of dividends, distributions or other payments received in cash in respect of such Investment; provided that in no event shall the aggregate amount of any Investment be less than zero; and provided further that the amount of any Investment shall not be reduced by reason of any write-off of such Investment, nor increased by way of any increase in the amount of earnings retained in the Person in which such Investment is made that have not been dividended, distributed or otherwise paid out).

 

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SECTION 6.05. Restricted Payments. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Financing Subsidiaries) to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except that:

 

(a)          the Borrower may declare and pay dividends with respect to the capital stock of the Borrower payable solely in additional shares of the Borrower’s common stock;

 

(b)          the Borrower may declare and pay dividends and distributions in either case in cash or other property (excluding for this purpose the Borrower’s common stock) in or with respect to any taxable year of the Borrower (or any calendar year, as relevant) in amounts not to exceed 110% (or 125% if (1) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (2) the Covered Debt Amount does not exceed 85% of the Borrowing Base calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to any such dividends and distributions) of the amounts that are required to be distributed to: (i) allow the Borrower to satisfy the minimum distribution requirements imposed by Section 852(a) of the Code (or any successor thereto) to maintain its eligibility to be taxed as a RIC for any such taxable year, (ii) reduce to zero for any such taxable year its liability for federal income taxes imposed on (y) its investment company taxable income pursuant to Section 852(b)(1) of the Code (or any successor thereto), or (z) its net capital gain pursuant to Section 852(b)(3) of the Code (or any successor thereto), and (iii) reduce to zero its liability for federal excise taxes for any such calendar year imposed pursuant to Section 4982 of the Code (or any successor thereto);

 

(c)          the Subsidiaries of the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or to any Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(d)          Obligors may make Restricted Payments to repurchase Equity Interests of the Borrower from officers, directors and employees of the Investment Advisor or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or their authorized representatives upon the death, disability or termination of employment of such employees or termination of their seat on the Board of Directors of the Investment Advisor or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that (i) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, (ii) such Equity Interests are not registered on Form S-8 or other registration statement or are not transferable under Rule 144 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and (iii) the aggregate amount of all repurchases in any calendar year shall not exceed $500,000, with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years subject to a maximum of $1,000,000 in any calendar year; and

 

(e)          the Borrower may make Restricted Payments during the Availability Period to repurchase or redeem Equity Interests of the Borrower up to an aggregate amount equal to $25,000,000 during such period, so long as on the date of such Restricted Payment and after giving effect thereto:

 

(i)           no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

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(ii)         prior to and immediately after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the Covered Debt Amount does not exceed 85% of the Borrowing Base calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to any such Restricted Payment; and

 

(iii)        prior to and immediately after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the Borrower is in pro forma compliance with each of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.07(a) , (b) , (d) and (e) .

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall not declare any dividend to the extent such declaration violates the provisions of the Investment Company Act applicable to it.

 

SECTION 6.06. Certain Restrictions on Subsidiaries . The Borrower will not permit any of its Subsidiaries (other than Financing Subsidiaries) to enter into or suffer to exist any indenture, agreement, instrument or other arrangement (other than the Loan Documents) that prohibits or restrains, in each case in any material respect, or imposes materially adverse conditions upon, the incurrence or payment of Indebtedness, the granting of Liens, the declaration or payment of dividends, the making of loans, advances, guarantees or Investments or the sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition of property, except for any prohibitions or restraints contained in (i) any Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(b) or (c) , (ii) any Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(e) secured by a Lien permitted under Section 6.02(f) provided that such prohibitions and restraints are applicable by their terms only to the assets that are subject to such Lien, (iii) any Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(f) or (g) secured by a Permitted Lien provided that such prohibitions and restraints are applicable by their terms only to the assets that are subject to such Lien and (iv) any agreement, instrument or other arrangement pertaining to any sale or other disposition of any asset permitted by this Agreement so long as the applicable restrictions (i) only apply to such assets and (ii) do not restrict prior to the consummation of such sale or disposition the creation or existence of the Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Documents or otherwise required by this Agreement, or the incurrence or payment of Indebtedness under this Agreement or the ability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to perform any other obligation under any of the Loan Documents.

 

SECTION 6.07. Certain Financial Covenants .

 

(a)           Minimum Stockholder’s Equity . After the Effective Date, the The Borrower will not permit Stockholders’ Equity as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower to be less than the greater of (i) 45% of the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the last day of such fiscal quarter (determined on a consolidated basis, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP, but excluding the portion of the assets of any SBIC Subsidiary that is financed with indebtedness) and (ii) the sum of (x) $195,000,000, plus (y) 65% of the aggregate net proceeds of all sales of Equity Interests by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries after the Second Amendment Effective Date (other than the proceeds of sales of Equity Interests by and among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries).

 

(b)           Asset Coverage Ratio . After the Effective Date, the The Borrower will not permit the Asset Coverage Ratio to be less than 2.15 to 1 at any time.

 

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(c)           Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio . After the Effective Date, the The Borrower will not permit the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio to be less than (i) 1.75 to 1 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower ending on or prior to December 31, 2015, or (ii) 2.25 to 1 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower thereafter.

 

(d)           Liquidity Test . After the Effective Date, the The Borrower will not permit the aggregate Value of the Eligible Portfolio Investments that can be converted to Cash in fewer than 10 Business Days without more than a 5% change in price to be less than 10% of the Covered Debt Amount for more than 30 Business Days during any period when the Adjusted Covered Debt Balance is greater than 90% of the Adjusted Borrowing Base.

 

(e)           Obligors’ Net Capitalization Test . After the Effective Date, the The Borrower will not permit the Obligors’ Net Capitalization to be less than $150,000,000.

 

SECTION 6.08. Transactions with Affiliates . (a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any transactions with any of its Affiliates, even if otherwise permitted under this Agreement, except (i) transactions in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary (or, in the case of a transaction between an Obligor and a non-Obligor Subsidiary, not less favorable to such Obligor) than could be obtained at the time on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (ii) transactions between or among the Obligors not involving any other Affiliate, (iii) transactions between or among the Obligors and any SBIC Subsidiary or any “downstream affiliate” (as such term is used under the rules promulgated under the Investment Company Act) company of an Obligor at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Obligors than could be obtained at the time on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (iv) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 6.05 , dispositions permitted by Sections 6.03(e) and (f) and Investments permitted by Section 6.04(e) , (v) the transactions provided in the Affiliate Agreements as the same may be amended in accordance with Section 6.11(b) , (vi) the Existing Affiliate Investments as the same may be amended as provided in Section 6.08(b) below, (vii) existing transactions with Affiliates as set forth in Schedule 6.08 or (viii) the payment of compensation and reimbursement of expenses of directors in a manner consistent with current practice of the Borrower and general market practice, and indemnification to directors in the ordinary course of business.

 

(b)          The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any transactions with any issuer of an Affiliate Investment (including the Existing Affiliate Investments and any Investment that becomes an Affiliate Investment as a result of such transaction, or any modification, supplement or waiver to an Existing Affiliate Investment or other existing Affiliate Investment), except transactions in the ordinary course of business that are either (i) on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained at the time on an arm's-length basis from unrelated third parties or (ii) in the nature of an amendment, supplement or modification to any such Affiliate Investment on terms and conditions that are similar to those obtained by debt or equity investors in similar types of investments in which such investors do not have the controlling equity interest, in each case, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower.

 

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SECTION 6.09. Lines of Business . The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than in accordance with its Investment Policies.

 

SECTION 6.10. No Further Negative Pledge . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any agreement, instrument, deed or lease which prohibits or limits the ability of any Obligor to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its properties, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or which requires the grant of any security for an obligation if security is granted for another obligation, except the following: (a) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and documents with respect to Indebtedness under Section 6.01(b)(ii) ; (b) covenants in documents creating Liens permitted by Section 6.02 prohibiting further Liens on the assets encumbered thereby; (c) customary restrictions contained in leases not subject to a waiver; and (d) any other agreement that does not restrict in any manner (directly or indirectly) Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents on any Collateral securing the “Secured Obligations” under and as defined in the Guarantee and Security Agreement and does not require the direct or indirect granting of any Lien securing any Indebtedness or other obligation by virtue of the granting of Liens on or pledge of property of any Obligor to secure the Loans or any Hedging Agreement.

 

SECTION 6.11. Modifications of Indebtedness and Affiliate Agreements . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, consent to any modification, supplement or waiver of:

 

(a)          any of the provisions of any agreement, instrument or other document evidencing or relating to any Secured Longer-Term Indebtedness, Unsecured Longer-Term Indebtedness or Unsecured Shorter-Term Indebtedness that would result in such Indebtedness not meeting the requirements of the definition of “Secured Longer-Term Indebtedness”, “Unsecured Longer-Term Indebtedness” and “Unsecured Shorter-Term Indebtedness”, as applicable, set forth in Section 1.01 of this Agreement, unless, in the case of Unsecured Longer-Term Indebtedness, such Indebtedness would have been permitted to be incurred as Unsecured Shorter-Term Indebtedness at the time of such modification, supplement or waiver and the Borrower so designates such Indebtedness as “Unsecured Shorter-Term Indebtedness” (whereupon such Indebtedness shall be deemed to constitute “Unsecured Shorter-Term Indebtedness” for all purposes of this Agreement);

 

(b)          any of the Affiliate Agreements, unless such modification, supplement or waiver is not less favorable to the Borrower than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties ; or

 

(c)          the 2021 Notes .

 

The Administrative Agent hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of the Administrative Agent, freely amend, restate, terminate, or otherwise modify any documents, instruments and agreements evidencing, securing or relating to Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(d) and (e) , including increases in the principal amount thereof, modifications to the advance rates and/or modifications to the interest rate, fees or other pricing terms; provided that no such amendment, restatement or modification shall, unless Borrower complies with the terms of Section 5.08(a)(i) hereof, cause a Financing Subsidiary to fail to be a “Financing Subsidiary” in accordance with the definition thereof.

 

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SECTION 6.12. Payments of Longer-Term Indebtedness . The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries (other than Financing Subsidiaries) to, purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value, or set apart any money for a sinking, defeasance or other analogous fund for the purchase, redemption, retirement or other acquisition of or make any voluntary payment or prepayment of the principal of or interest on, or any other amount owing in respect of, any Secured Longer-Term Indebtedness or , Unsecured Longer-Term Indebtedness or the 2021 Notes (other than (i) the refinancing of Secured Longer-Term Indebtedness or Unsecured Longer-Term Indebtedness with Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(b) and (c) or (ii) the refinancing of the 2021 Notes solely with the proceeds of any issuance of Equity Interests, in each case to the extent not required to be used to repay Loans net cash proceeds of Unsecured Longer-Term Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(c) ), except (a) for regularly scheduled payments of interest in respect thereof required pursuant to the instruments evidencing such Indebtedness and the payment when due of the types of fees and expenses that are customarily paid in connection with such Indebtedness (it being understood that: ; (b) for (w) the conversion features into Permitted Equity Interests under convertible notes ; , (x) the triggering of such conversion and/or settlement thereof solely with Permitted Equity Interests ; , and (y) any cash payment on account of interest or expenses on such convertible notes (or fractional shares issued upon customary conversion provisions of such convertible notes) made by the Borrower in respect of such triggering and/or settlement thereof , shall be permitted under this clause (a)); (b) that any time prior to the date that is nine (9) months prior to the Revolver Termination Date, the Borrower shall be permitted to pay in Cash the principal of any Indebtedness that is convertible into Permitted Equity Interests; provided that (A) the aggregate amount of all such payments collectively does not exceed $60,000,000, and (B) with respect to each such payment, (1) immediately prior to and after giving effect to such payment no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (2) at the time of such payment the Covered Debt Amount does not exceed 80% of the Borrowing Base calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such payment, (3) the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a Borrowing Base Certificate as of the date such payment is made demonstrating compliance with the foregoing after giving effect to such payment, (4) after giving effect to such payment, the Borrower shall be in pro forma compliance with each of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.07(a) , (b) , (d) and (e) and, on the date of such payment, the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer to such effect and (5) such payment is being made solely at the option of the Borrower and is not required to be made by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of such Indebtedness or otherwise, ; or (c) for payments and prepayments of Secured Longer-Term Indebtedness required to comply with requirements of Section 2.08(b) .

 

SECTION 6.13. Modification of Investment Policies . Other than with respect to Permitted Policy Amendments, the Borrower will not amend, supplement, waive or otherwise modify in any material respect the Investment Policies as in effect on the Effective Date.

 

SECTION 6.14. SBIC Guarantee . The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, cause or permit the occurrence of any event or condition that would result in any recourse to any Obligor under any Permitted SBIC Guarantee.

 

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SECTION 6.15. Derivative Transactions . The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries (other than Financing Subsidiaries) to, enter into any swap or derivative transactions or other similar transactions or agreements, except for Hedging Agreements to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(i) and 6.04(c) .

 

SECTION 6.16. Status as Senior Debt; Designation of Other Indebtedness .

 

(a)          The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries (other than Financing Subsidiaries) to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Subordinated Debt (including any Subordinated Debt that may from time to time be delivered under the Existing Indenture) unless the obligations of the Obligors under the Loan Documents are designated at all times as “Senior Indebtedness” (or a similar designation, if applicable) under the agreements (including indentures) governing such Subordinated Debt.

 

(b)          The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries (other than Financing Subsidiaries) to, designate any Indebtedness as “Senior Indebtedness” (or a similar designation, if applicable) under the terms of the Existing Indenture or any other agreement (including any indenture) governing Subordinated Debt, other than the obligations of the Obligors under the Loan Documents, Secured Longer-Term Indebtedness or Unsecured Longer-Term Indebtedness.

 

SECTION 6.17. Convertible Indebtedness . The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness that is convertible into Equity Interests other than Permitted Equity Interests.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

If any of the following events (“ Events of Default ”) shall occur and be continuing:

 

(a)          the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan (including any principal payable under Section 2.08(b) or (c) ) 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 under any other Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five or more Business Days;

 

(c)          any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof, shall prove to have been incorrect when made or deemed made in any material respect (except that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representation or warranty already qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect);

 

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(d)          the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in (i) Section 5.01(e) , Section 5.02(a) , Section 5.03 (with respect to the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ existence only, and not with respect to the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ rights, licenses, permits, privileges or franchises), Sections 5.08(a) or (b) , Section 5.09 , Section 5.10 , Section 5.12(c) or in Article VI or any Obligor shall default in the performance of any of its obligations contained in Section 7 of the Guarantee and Security Agreement or (ii) Section 5.01(f) or Sections 5.02(b) , (c) or (d) and, in the case of this clause (ii), such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five or more days after the Borrower has knowledge of such failure;

 

(e)          the Borrower or any Obligor, as applicable, 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 any other Loan Document and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 or more days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent (given at the request of any Lender) to the Borrower;

 

(f)          the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable, taking into account any applicable grace period;

 

(g)          any event or condition occurs that (i) results in all or any portion of any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or (ii) 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, unless, in the case of this clause (ii), such event or condition is no longer continuing or has been waived in accordance with the terms of such Material Indebtedness such that the holder or holders thereof or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf are no longer enabled or permitted to cause such 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 (1) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness; or (2) convertible debt that becomes due as a result of a contingent mandatory conversion or redemption event provided such conversion or redemption is effectuated only in capital stock;

 

(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 of its Subsidiaries 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 of its Subsidiaries (other than Immaterial Subsidiaries) or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed and unstayed for a period of 60 or more days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

 

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(i)          the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than Immaterial Subsidiaries) 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 of its Subsidiaries (other than Immaterial Subsidiaries) 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 of its Subsidiaries (other than Immaterial Subsidiaries) 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 in an aggregate amount in excess of $2,000,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any combination thereof and (i) the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days following the entry of such judgment during which 30 day period such judgment shall not have been vacated, stayed, discharged or bonded pending appeal, or liability for such judgment amount shall not have been admitted by an insurer of reputable standing, or (ii) any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to enforce any such judgment;

 

(l)          (i) 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 or any Subsidiary in an aggregate amount exceeding $2,500,000, (ii) (x) there is or arises Unfunded Pension Liability with respect to Plans maintained by Borrower or its Subsidiaries (taking into account only such Plans with positive Unfunded Pension Liability) of $2,500,000 or more, or (y) there is or arises Unfunded Pension Liability with respect to Plans maintained by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or their ERISA Affiliates in an aggregate amount (taking into account only such Plans with positive Unfunded Pension Liability) that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) (x) if each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries were to withdraw from all Multiemployer Plans in a complete withdrawal, the aggregate withdrawal liability that would be incurred would be in excess of $2,500,000, or (y) if each of the Borrower, each of its Subsidiaries and each of their respective ERISA Affiliates were to withdraw from all Multiemployer Plans in a complete withdrawal, the aggregate withdrawal liability that would be incurred would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(m)          a Change in Control shall occur;

 

(n)          any SBIC Subsidiary shall become the subject of an enforcement action and be transferred into liquidation status by the SBA;

 

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(o)          the Liens created by the Security Documents shall, at any time with respect to Portfolio Investments held by Obligors having an aggregate Value in excess of 5% of the aggregate Value of all Portfolio Investments held by Obligors, not be valid and perfected (to the extent perfection by filing, registration, recordation, possession or control is required herein or therein) in favor of the Collateral Agent (or any Obligor or any Affiliate of an Obligor shall so assert in writing), free and clear of all other Liens (other than Liens permitted under Section 6.02 or under the respective Security Documents), except to the extent that any such loss of perfection results from the failure of the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of certificates representing securities pledged under the Guarantee and Security Agreement; provided that if such default is as a result of any action of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent or a failure of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent to take any action within its control, then there shall be no Default or Event of Default hereunder unless such default shall continue unremedied for a period of ten (10) consecutive Business Days after the earlier of (i) the Borrower becoming aware of such default and (ii) the Borrower’s receipt of written notice of such default thereof from the Administrative Agent, unless, in each case, the continuance thereof is a result of a failure of the Collateral Agent or Administrative Agent to take an action within their control (and the Borrower has requested that the Collateral Agent or Administrative Agent to take such action);

 

(p)          except for expiration in accordance with its terms, any of the Security Documents shall for whatever reason be terminated or cease to be in full force and effect in any material respect, or the enforceability thereof shall be contested by any Obligor, or there shall be any actual invalidity of any guaranty thereunder or any Obligor or any Affiliate of an Obligor shall so assert in writing; or

 

(q)          the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall cause or permit the occurrence of any condition or event that would result in any recourse to any Obligor under any Permitted SBIC Guarantee.

 

then, and in every such event (other than an event described in clause (h), (i) or (j) of this Article), 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 either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (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 the other Loan Documents, 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; and in case of any event described in clause (h), (i) or (j) of this Article, 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 the other Loan Documents, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

 

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

SECTION 8.01. Appointment of the Administrative Agent . Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

 

SECTION 8.02. Capacity as Lender . The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.

 

SECTION 8.03. Limitation of Duties; Exculpation . The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing by the Required Lenders, and (c) except as expressly set forth herein and in the other 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 or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein or therein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall the Administrative Agent be liable or responsible in any way or manner for the failure to obtain or receive an IVP External Unquoted Value for any asset or for the failure to send any notice required under Section 5.12(b)(ii)(B)(x) .

 

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SECTION 8.04. Reliance . The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel, independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

SECTION 8.05. Sub-Agents . The Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 8.06. Resignation; Successor Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the consent of the Borrower not to be unreasonably withheld (provided that no such consent shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to appoint a successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall nonetheless become effective and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and (2) the Required Lenders shall perform the duties of the Administrative Agent (and all payments and communications provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly) until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above in this paragraph. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this paragraph). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article VIII and Section 9.03 shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 8.07. Reliance by Lenders . Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

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SECTION 8.08. Modifications to Loan Documents . Except as otherwise provided in Section 9.02(b) or 9.02(c) with respect to this Agreement, the Administrative Agent may, with the prior consent of the Required Lenders (but not otherwise), consent to any modification, supplement or waiver under any of the Loan Documents; provided that, without the prior consent of each Lender, the Administrative Agent shall not (except as provided herein or in the Security Documents) release all or substantially all of the Collateral or otherwise terminate all or substantially all of the Liens under any Security Document providing for collateral security, agree to additional obligations being secured by all or substantially all of such collateral security, or alter the relative priorities of the obligations entitled to the benefits of the Liens created under the Security Documents with respect to all or substantially all of the Collateral, except that no such consent shall be required, and the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized, to release any Lien covering property that is the subject of either a disposition of property permitted hereunder or a disposition to which the Required Lenders have consented.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 9.01. Notices; Electronic Communications .

 

(a)           Notices Generally . Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, 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 or to the extent permitted by Section 9.01(b) or otherwise herein, e-mail, as follows:

 

(i)          if to the Borrower, to it at:

 

Capitala Finance Corp.

4201 Congress Street, Suite 360

Charlotte, NC 28209

Attention:        Joseph B. Alala, III

Telephone:      (704) 376-5502

Facsimile:        (704) 376-5877

E-Mail:             JAlala@capitalagroup.com

 

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with a copy to:

 

Mayer Brown LLP

214 North Tryon Street, Suite 3800

Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

Attention:         Keith F. Oberkfell, Esq.

Telephone:       (704) 444-3549

Facsimile:          (704) 377-2033

E-Mail:              KOberkfell@mayerbrown.com

 

(ii)         if to the Administrative Agent, to it at:

 

ING Capital LLC
1325 1133 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10019 10036
Attention:          Patrick Frisch
Telephone:        (646) 424-6912
Facsimile:          (646) 424-6919
E-Mail:               Patrick.Frisch@ing.com

 

with a copy to:

 

Dechert LLP
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
Attention:         Jay R. Alicandri, Esq.
Telephone:       (212) 698-3500
Facsimile:         (212) 698-3599
E-Mail:              Jay.Alicandri@dechert.com

 

(iii)        if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

 

Any party hereto may change its address, telecopy number or e-mail address for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt. Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).

 

(b)           Electronic Communications . Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Section 2.04 if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, 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.

 

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Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement); provided that if such notice 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, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

 

(c)           Documents to be Delivered under Sections 5.01 and 5.12(a) . For so long as a Debtdomain™ or equivalent website is available to each of the Lenders hereunder, the Borrower may satisfy its obligation to deliver documents to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders under Sections 5.01 and 5.12(a) by delivering one hard copy thereof to the Administrative Agent and either an electronic copy or a notice identifying the website where such information is located for posting by the Administrative Agent on Debtdomain™ or such equivalent website, provided that the Administrative Agent shall have no responsibility to maintain access to Debtdomain™ or an equivalent website.

 

SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments .

 

(a)           No Deemed Waivers; Remedies Cumulative . No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent 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 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 shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

 

(b)           Amendments to this Agreement . 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, subject to Section 2.16(b) , no such agreement shall

 

(i)          increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender,

 

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(ii)         reduce the principal amount of any Loan or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby,

 

(iii)        postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable to a Lender hereunder, or reduce the amount or waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby,

 

(iv)        change Section 2.15(b) , (c) or (d) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments, or making of disbursements, required thereby without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby,

 

(v)         change any of the provisions of this Section or the percentage in the definition of the term “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, or

 

(vi)        permit the assignment or transfer by any Obligor of any of its rights or obligations under any Loan Document without the consent of each Lender;

 

provided further that (x) no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, and (y) the consent of Lenders holding not less than two-thirds of the total Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments will be required for (A) any change adverse to the Lenders affecting the provisions of this Agreement relating to the Borrowing Base (including the definitions used therein), or the provisions of Section 5.12(b)(ii) , and (B) any release of any material portion of the Collateral other than for fair value or as otherwise permitted hereunder or under the other Loan Documents.

 

(c)           Amendments to Security Documents . No Security Document nor any provision thereof may be waived, amended or modified, except to the extent otherwise expressly contemplated by the Guarantee and Security Agreement, and the Liens granted under the Guarantee and Security Agreement may not be spread to secure any additional obligations (including any increase in Loans hereunder, but excluding (i) any such increase pursuant to a Commitment Increase under Section 2.06(f) and (ii) any Secured Longer Term Indebtedness permitted hereunder) except to the extent otherwise expressly contemplated by the Guarantee and Security Agreement and except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower, and by the Collateral Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that, subject to Section 2.16(b) , (i) without the written consent of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the total Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments, no such waiver, amendment or modification to the Guarantee and Security Agreement shall (A) release any Obligor representing more than 10% of the Stockholder’s Equity of the Borrower from its obligations under the Security Documents, (B) release any guarantor representing more than 10% of the Stockholder’s Equity of the Borrower under the Guarantee and Security Agreement from its guarantee obligations thereunder, or (C) amend the definition of “Collateral” under the Security Documents (except to add additional collateral) and (ii) without the written consent of each Lender, no such agreement shall (W) release all or substantially all of the Obligors from their respective obligations under the Security Documents, (X) release all or substantially all of the collateral security or otherwise terminate all or substantially all of the Liens under the Security Documents, (Y) release all or substantially all of the guarantors under the Guarantee and Security Agreement from their guarantee obligations thereunder, or (Z) alter the relative priorities of the obligations entitled to the Liens created under the Security Documents (except in connection with securing additional obligations equally and ratably with the Loans and other obligations hereunder) with respect to the collateral security provided thereby; except that no such consent described in clause (i) or (ii) above shall be required, and the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized (and so agrees with the Borrower) to direct the Collateral Agent under the Guarantee and Security Agreement, to release any Lien covering property (and to release any such guarantor) that is the subject of either a disposition of property permitted hereunder or a disposition to which the Required Lenders or the required number or percentage of Lenders have consented, or otherwise in accordance with Section 9.15 .

 

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(d)           Replacement of Non-Consenting Lender . If, in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver or consent requiring (i) the consent of “each Lender” or “each Lender affected thereby,” or (ii) the consent of “two-thirds of the holders of the total Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments”, the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained, but the consent of other necessary Lenders is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is necessary but not obtained being referred to herein as a “ Non-Consenting Lender ”), then the Borrower shall have the right, at its sole cost and expense, to replace each such Non-Consenting Lender or Lenders with one or more replacement Lenders pursuant to Section 2.17(b) so long as at the time of such replacement, each such replacement Lender consents to the proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination.

 

SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver .

 

(a)           Costs and Expenses . The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and their Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of one outside counsel and of any necessary special and/or local counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent collectively (other than the allocated costs of internal counsel), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration (other than internal overhead charges) of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated) including subject to the last sentence of this clause (a), all costs and expenses of the Independent Valuation Provider, (ii) all out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender, including fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect thereof and (iii) and all reasonable out-of-pocket costs, expenses, taxes, assessments and other charges incurred in connection with any filing, registration, recording or perfection of any security interest contemplated by any Security Document or any other document referred to therein. Unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower shall not be responsible for the reimbursement of any fees, costs and expenses of the Independent Valuation Provider incurred pursuant to Section 5.06(b) and Section 5.12(b)(iii) in excess of the greater of (x) $200,000 or (y) 0.05% of the total Commitments, in each case in the aggregate incurred for all such fees, costs and expenses in any 12-month period (the “ IVP Supplemental Cap ”).

 

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(b)           Indemnification by the Borrower . The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent 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 losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (other than Taxes or Other Taxes which shall only be indemnified by the Borrower to the extent provided in Section 2.14 ), including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee (other than the allocated costs of internal 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 or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby (including any arrangement entered into with an Independent Valuation Provider), (ii) any Loan or the use of the proceeds therefrom or (iii) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and whether brought by the Borrower, any Indemnitee or a third party and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (1) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the willful misconduct or gross negligence of such Indemnitee, (2) result from a claim brought against such Indemnitee for breach of such Indemnitee’s obligations under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, if there has been a final and nonappealable judgment against such Indemnitee on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or (3) result from a claim arising as a result of a dispute between Indemnitees (other than (x) any dispute involving claims against the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, in each case in their respective capacities as such, and (y) claims arising out of any act or omission by any Obligor or its Affiliates).

 

The Borrower shall not be liable to any Indemnitee for any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of the Transactions asserted by an Indemnitee against the Borrower or any other Obligor; provided that the foregoing limitation shall not be deemed to impair or affect the obligations of the Borrower under the preceding provisions of this subsection.

 

(c)           Reimbursement by Lenders . To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section (and without limiting its obligation to do so), or to the extent that the fees, costs and expenses of the Independent Valuation Provider incurred pursuant to Section 5.12(b)(iii) exceed the IVP Supplemental Cap for any 12-month period ( provided that prior to incurring expenses in excess of the IVP Supplemental Cap, the Administrative Agent shall have afforded the Lenders an opportunity to consult with the Administrative Agent regarding such expenses), each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, 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 indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such.

 

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(d)           Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use of unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except to the extent caused by the willful misconduct or gross negligence of such Indemnitee, as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(e)           Payments . All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.

 

(f)           No Fiduciary Relationship . The Administrative Agent, each Lender and their Affiliates (collectively, solely for purposes of this paragraph, the “Lenders”), may have economic interests that conflict with those of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, their stockholders and/or their affiliates. The Borrower, on behalf of itself and each of its Subsidiaries, agrees that nothing in the Loan Documents or otherwise will be deemed to create an advisory, fiduciary or agency relationship or fiduciary or other implied duty between the Lender, on the one hand, and the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, its stockholders or its Affiliates, on the other. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries each acknowledge and agree that (i) the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents (including the exercise of rights and remedies hereunder and thereunder) are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Lenders, on the one hand, and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on the other, and (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading thereto, (x) except as otherwise provided in any of the Loan Documents, no Lender has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, any of their stockholders or affiliates (irrespective of whether any Lender has advised, is currently advising or will advise the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, their stockholders or their affiliates on other matters) and (y) each Lender is acting hereunder solely as principal and not as the agent or fiduciary of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, their management or stockholders. The Borrower and each Obligor each acknowledge and agree that it has consulted legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate and that it is responsible for making its own independent judgment with respect to such transactions and the process leading thereto. The Borrower and each Obligor each agree that it will not claim that any Lender has rendered advisory services hereunder of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary duty to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case, in connection with such transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto.

 

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SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns .

 

(a)           Assignments Generally . The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (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 and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)           Assignments by Lenders .

 

(i)           Assignments Generally . Subject to the conditions set forth in clause (ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) of:

 

(A)         the Borrower, provided that (i) no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee, and (ii) the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received written notice thereof; and

 

(B)         the Administrative Agent, provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment by a Lender to an Affiliate of a Lender with prior written notice by such Lender to the Administrative Agent.

 

(ii)          Certain Conditions to Assignments . 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, 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 U.S. $1,000,000 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;

 

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(B)         each partial assignment of Commitments or Loans shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement in respect of such Commitments and Loans;

 

(C)         the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, together with a processing and recordation fee of U.S. $3,500 (which fee shall not be payable in connection with an assignment to a Lender or to an Affiliate of a Lender), for which the Borrower and the Guarantors shall not be obligated (except in the case of an assignment pursuant to Section 2.17(b)); and

 

(D)         the assignee, if it shall not already be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

(iii)         Effectiveness of Assignments . Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party 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 2.12 , 2.13 , 2.14 and 9.03 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment). 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 (f) of this Section.

 

(c)           Maintenance of Registers by Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in New York City a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amount and stated interest of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Registers ” and each individually, a “ Register ”). The entries in the Registers shall be conclusive absent manifest error , and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Registers pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Registers shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)           Acceptance of Assignments by Administrative Agent . Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 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. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

 

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(e)           Special Purposes Vehicles . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “ Granting Lender ”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an “ SPC ”) owned or administered by such Granting Lender, identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the option to provide all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment to make any Loan by any SPC, (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall, subject to the terms of this Agreement, make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof, (iii) the rights of any such SPC shall be derivative of the rights of the Granting Lender, and such SPC shall be subject to all of the restrictions upon the Granting Lender herein contained, and (iv) no SPC shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.12 (or any other increased costs protection provision), 2.13 or 2.14 . Each SPC shall be conclusively presumed to have made arrangements with its Granting Lender for the exercise of voting and other rights hereunder in a manner which is acceptable to the SPC, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower, and each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Obligors shall be entitled to rely upon and deal solely with the Granting Lender with respect to Loans made by or through its SPC. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by the Granting Lender.

 

Each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other person in instituting against, such SPC, any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings or similar proceedings under the laws of the United States or any State thereof, in respect of claims arising out of this Agreement; provided that the Granting Lender for each SPC hereby agrees to indemnify, save and hold harmless each other party hereto for any loss, cost, damage and expense arising out of their inability to institute any such proceeding against its SPC. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section, any SPC may (i) without the prior written consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to its Granting Lender or to any financial institutions providing liquidity and/or credit facilities to or for the account of such SPC to fund the Loans made by such SPC or to support the securities (if any) issued by such SPC to fund such Loans (but nothing contained herein shall be construed in derogation of the obligation of the Granting Lender to make Loans hereunder); provided that neither the consent of the SPC or of any such assignee shall be required for amendments or waivers hereunder except for those amendments or waivers for which the consent of participants is required under paragraph ( 1 f ) below, and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis (in the same manner described in Section 9.13(b)) any non-public information relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of a surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

 

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(f)           Participations . Any Lender may sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. 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 the other Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document; 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. Subject to paragraph (g) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.12 , 2.13 and 2.14 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including Sections 2.14(f) and (g) (it being understood that the documentation required under Sections 2.14(f ) and (g) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 2.17 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section 9.04 . Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 2.17 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 such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.15(d) as though it were a Lender hereunder. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an 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 (each a “ Participant Register ”); provided , that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in each Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as the Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(g)           Limitations on Rights of Participants . A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.12 or 2.13 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent.

 

(h)           Certain Pledges . Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any such pledge or assignment to a Federal Reserve Bank or any other central 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 assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

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(i)           No Assignments or Participations to the Borrower or Affiliates or Certain Other Persons . Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, no Lender may (i) assign or participate any interest in any Commitment or Loan held by it hereunder to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries without the prior consent of each Lender, or (ii) assign any interest in any Commitment or Loan held by it hereunder to a natural person or to any Person known by such Lender at the time of such assignment to be a Defaulting Lender, a Subsidiary of a Defaulting Lender or a Person who, upon consummation of such assignment would be a Defaulting Lender.

 

SECTION 9.05. Survival . All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement 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, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent 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 and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.12 , 2.13 , 2.14 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

 

SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution .

 

(a)           Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness . 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 and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract between and 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. This Agreement shall become effective when provided in Section 4.01 , and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopy or electronic mail shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

(b)           Electronic Execution of Assignments . The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

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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 and each of its 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 or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Obligor against any of and all the obligations of any Obligor now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower after any such set-off and application made by such Lender ; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application .

 

SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc .

 

(a)           Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

 

(b)           Submission to Jurisdiction . The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, 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 be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent 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)           Waiver of Venue . 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 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.

 

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(d)           Service of Process . Each party to this Agreement (i) irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01 and (ii) agrees that service as provided in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01 is sufficient to confer personal jurisdiction over such party in any proceeding in any court and otherwise constitutes effective and binding service in every respect. 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 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. Judgment Currency . This is a loan transaction in which the specification of Dollars and payment in New York City is of the essence, and Dollars shall be the currency of account in all events relating to Loans. The payment obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement shall not be discharged or satisfied by an amount paid in another currency or in another place, whether pursuant to a judgment or otherwise, to the extent that the amount so paid on conversion to Dollars and transfer to New York City under normal banking procedures does not yield the amount of Dollars in New York City due hereunder. If for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder into another currency (the “ Other Currency ”), the rate of exchange that shall be applied shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase Dollars with the Other Currency on the Business Day next preceding the day on which such judgment is rendered. The obligation of the Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in this Section called an “ Entitled Person ”) shall, notwithstanding the rate of exchange actually applied in rendering such judgment, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by such Entitled Person of any sum adjudged to be due hereunder in the Other Currency such Entitled Person may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase and transfer Dollars to New York City with the amount of the Other Currency so adjudged to be due; and the Borrower hereby, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, agrees to indemnify such Entitled Person against, and to pay such Entitled Person on demand, in Dollars, the amount (if any) by which the sum originally due to such Entitled Person in Dollars hereunder exceeds the amount of Dollars so purchased and transferred.

 

SECTION 9.12. 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.

 

122

 

 

SECTION 9.13. Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality .

 

(a)           Treatment of Certain Information . The Borrower acknowledges that from time to time financial advisory, investment banking and other services may be offered or provided to the Borrower or one or more of its Subsidiaries (in connection with this Agreement or otherwise) by any Lender or by one or more subsidiaries or affiliates of such Lender and the Borrower hereby authorizes each Lender to share any information delivered to such Lender by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement, or in connection with the decision of such Lender to enter into this Agreement, to any such subsidiary or affiliate, it being understood that any such subsidiary or affiliate receiving such information shall be bound by the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section as if it were a Lender hereunder. Such authorization shall survive the repayment of the Loan or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof. The Administrative Agent, each Lender and their Affiliates (collectively, solely for purposes of this paragraph, the “ Lender ”), may have economic interests that conflict with those of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and/or their Affiliates.

 

(b)           Confidentiality . Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and other representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower, (h) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the Loans and (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the Loans, (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or (j) in connection with the Lenders’ right to grant a security interest pursuant to Section 9.04(h) to the Federal Reserve Bank or any other central bank, or subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to any other pledgee or assignee pursuant to Section 9.04(h) .

 

For purposes of this Section, “ Information ” means all information received from the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses (including any Portfolio Investments), other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries after the Effective Date, 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.

 

123

 

 

SECTION 9.14. USA PATRIOT Act . Each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), 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 said Act.

 

SECTION 9.15. Termination . Promptly upon the Termination Date, the Administrative Agent shall direct the Collateral Agent to, on behalf of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders, deliver to Borrower such termination statements and releases and other documents necessary or appropriate to evidence the termination of this Agreement, the Loan Documents, and each of the documents securing the obligations hereunder as the Borrower may reasonably request, all at the sole cost and expense of the Borrower.

 

SECTION 9.16. Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(iii)        the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

SECTION 9.17. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

124

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

  CAPITALA FINANCE CORP.

 

  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:

 

[Signature Page to the Revolving Credit Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  ING CAPITAL LLC,
  as Administrative Agent and a Lender

 

  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:
     
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:

 

[Signature Page to the Revolving Credit Agreement]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

[FORM OF AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO GUARANTEE, PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT]

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO

GUARANTEE, PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

This AMENDMENT NO. 1 (this “ Amendment ”) dated as of June 16, 2017, is made with respect to the Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2014 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Security Agreement ”), among CAPITALA FINANCE CORP., a Maryland corporation (the “ Borrower ”), the Subsidiary Guarantors from time to time party thereto, ING CAPITAL LLC (“ ING ”), as administrative agent for the Lenders under the Credit Agreement (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”), each “Financing Agent” or “Designated Indebtedness Holder” (each as defined therein) from time to time party thereto, and ING, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Collateral Agent ”). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Security Agreement (as amended hereby).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, reference is made to that certain Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2014 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), by and among the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto (the “ Lenders ”) and the Administrative Agent;

 

WHEREAS, to induce the Lenders to make loans and other extensions of credit to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Borrower entered into the Security Agreement; and WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Secured Parties and the Collateral Agent amend certain provisions of the Security Agreement, and the Secured Parties signatory hereto and the Collateral Agent have agreed to do so on the terms and subject to the conditions contained in this Amendment.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

SECTION I AMENDMENTS TO SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

Effective as of the Effective Date, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, the Security Agreement is hereby amended to delete the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken text or stricken text ) and to add the double-underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: doubled-underlined text or double-underlined text ) as set forth in the Security Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

 

 

 

SECTION II MISCELLANEOUS

 

2.1.          Conditions to Effectiveness of Amendment . This Amendment shall become effective as of the date (such date, the “ Effective Date ”) on which each of the following conditions precedent have been satisfied (unless a condition shall have been waived in accordance with Section 9.02 of the Credit Agreement):

 

(a) Documents. The Collateral Agent shall have received each of the following documents, each of which shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (and to the extent specified below to each Secured Party) in form and substance:

 

(1) Executed Counterparts . From the Required Secured Parties, the Collateral Agent and the Borrower, either (1) a counterpart of this Amendment signed on behalf of such party or (2) written evidence satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (which may include telecopy transmission or electronic mail of a signed signature page to this Amendment) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Amendment.

 

(2) Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement . The Amendment No. 2 to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, with respect to the Senior Secured Credit Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2014 (as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement), by and among the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, duly executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto.

 

(b) Consents . The Borrower shall have obtained and delivered to the Collateral Agent certified copies of all consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations, or filings required to be made or obtained by the Borrower and all guarantors in connection with this Amendment, such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations, filings and orders shall be in full force and effect and all applicable waiting periods shall have expired and no investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Authority regarding this Amendment or any transaction being financed with the proceeds of the Loans shall be ongoing.

 

2.2.          Representations and Warranties . To induce the other parties hereto to enter into this Amendment, the Borrower represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent and each of the Secured Parties that, as of the Effective Date and after giving effect to this Amendment:

 

(a)          This Amendment has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Borrower, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower enforceable in accordance with its terms. The Security Agreement, as amended by this Amendment, constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower enforceable in accordance with its respective terms.

 

 

 

 

(b)          The representations and warranties set forth in Section 2 of the Security Agreement as amended by this Amendment and the representations and warranties in each other Loan Document are true and correct in all material respects (other than any representation or warranty already qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, which shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the Effective Date or as to any such representations and warranties that refer to a specific date, as of such specific date, with the same effect as though made on and as of the Effective Date.

 

2.3.          Counterparts . This Amendment 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 Amendment constitutes the entire contract between and among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Amendment by telecopy or electronic mail shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Amendment.

 

2.4.          Payment of Expenses . The Borrower agrees to pay and reimburse the Collateral Agent for all of its reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Amendment, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of legal counsel to the Collateral Agent (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the allocated costs of internal counsel).

 

2.5.          GOVERNING LAW . THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

2.6.          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 AMENDMENT 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 AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AMENDMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

2.7.          Incorporation of Certain Provisions . The provisions of Sections 10.01, 10.07, 10.08 and 10.10 of the Security Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference mutatis mutandis as if fully set forth herein.

 

 

 

 

2.8.          Effect of Amendment. This Amendment is not intended by the parties to be, and shall not be construed to be, a novation of the Credit Agreement, the Security Agreement or any other Loan Document or an accord and satisfaction in regard thereto. Except as expressly set forth herein, this Amendment shall not by implication or otherwise limit, impair, constitute a waiver of, or otherwise affect the rights and remedies of the Secured Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Borrower under the Security Agreement or any other Loan Document, and, except as expressly set forth herein, shall not alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the other terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Security Agreement or any other Loan Document, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect. Nothing herein shall be deemed to entitle any Person to a consent to, or a waiver, amendment, modification or other change of, any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Security Agreement or any other Loan Document in similar or different circumstances. This Amendment shall apply and be effective only with respect to the provisions amended herein of the Security Agreement. Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment, each reference in the Security Agreement to “this Agreement,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” “herein” or words of similar import shall mean and be a reference to the Security Agreement as amended by this Amendment and each reference in any other Loan Document shall mean the Security Agreement as amended hereby. This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document.

 

2.9.          Consent and Affirmation . Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, by its execution hereof, the Borrower hereby to the extent applicable as of the Effective Date (i) consents to this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) agrees that the Security Agreement and each of the other Security Documents is in full force and effect, (iii) affirms its obligations under the Security Agreement and confirms its grant of a security interest in its assets as Collateral for the Secured Obligations (as defined in the Security Agreement), and (iv) acknowledges and affirms that such grant is in full force and effect in respect of, and to secure, the Secured Obligations (as defined in the Security Agreement).

 

[Signature pages follow]

 

 

 

 

Execution Version

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

  CAPITALA FINANCE CORP.
       
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

[Signature Page to the Amendment No. 1 to Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  ING CAPITAL LLC,
  as Collateral Agent and a Secured Party
   
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  
       
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

[Signature Page to the Amendment No. 1 to Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  BANK OF NORTH CAROLINA,
  as a Secured Party
   
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

[Signature Page to the Amendment No. 1 to Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement]

 

 

 

 

 

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA,

as a Secured Party

   
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

[Signature Page to the Amendment No. 1 to Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement]

 

 

 

 

 

PARK STERLING BANK,

as a Secured Party

   
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

[Signature Page to the Amendment No. 1 to Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement]

 

 

 

 

 

CAPITAL BANK CORPORATION,

as a Secured Party

   
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

[Signature Page to the Amendment No. 1 to Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement]

 

 

 

 

 

EVERBANK COMMERCIAL FINANCE, INC.,

as a Secured Party

   
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

[Signature Page to the Amendment No. 1 to Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement]

 

 

 

 

 

FIRST BANK,

as a Secured Party

   
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  

 

[Signature Page to the Amendment No. 1 to Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

[see attached]

 

 

 

 

 

 

GUARANTEE, PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

dated as of

 

October 17, 2014

 

and

 

as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of June 16, 2017

 

among

 

CAPITALA FINANCE CORP.,

as Borrower,

 

the SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS party hereto,

 

ING CAPITAL LLC,

as Revolving Administrative Agent for the Revolving Lenders,

 

each FINANCING AGENT and

DESIGNATED INDEBTEDNESS HOLDER party hereto

 

and

 

ING CAPITAL LLC,

as Collateral Agent

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
     
Section 1. Definitions, Etc. 2
1.01 Certain Uniform Commercial Code Terms 2
1.02 Additional Definitions 2
1.03 Terms Generally 19
     
Section 2. Representations and Warranties 20
2.01 Organization 20
2.02 Authorization; Enforceability 20
2.03 Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts 20
2.04 Title 20
2.05 Names, Etc. 21
2.06 Changes in Circumstances 21
2.07 Pledged Equity Interests 21
2.08 Promissory Notes 21 22
2.09 Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts 22
2.10 Commercial Tort Claims 22
2.11 Intellectual Property and Licenses 22
     
Section 3. Guarantee 23 24
3.01 The Guarantee 23 24
3.02 Obligations Unconditional 24
3.03 Reinstatement 25
3.04 Subrogation 25
3.05 Remedies 25
3.06 Continuing Guarantee 25 26
3.07 Instrument for the Payment of Money 25 26
3.08 Rights of Contribution 26
3.09 General Limitation on Guarantee Obligations 26 27
3.10 Indemnity by Borrower 27
3.11 Keepwell 27
     
Section 4. Collateral 27
     
Section 5. Certain Agreements Among Secured Parties 28 29
5.01 Priorities; Additional Collateral 28 29
5.02 Turnover of Collateral 29
5.03 Cooperation of Secured Parties 29
5.04 Limitation upon Certain Independent Actions by Secured Parties 29 30
5.05 No Challenges 30
5.06 Rights of Secured Parties as to Secured Obligations 30
     
Section 6. Designation of Designated Indebtedness; Recordkeeping, Etc. 30 31

 

  i  

 

 

6.01 Designation of Other Indebtedness 30 31
6.02 Recordkeeping 31
     
Section 7. Covenants of the Obligors 31 32
7.01 Delivery and Other Perfection 32
7.02 Name; Jurisdiction of Organization, Etc. 33
7.03 Other Liens, Financing Statements or Control 33
7.04 Transfer of Collateral 33 34
7.05 Additional Subsidiary Guarantors 33 34
7.06 Control Agreements 34
7.07 Revolving Credit Agreement 34 35
7.08 Pledged Equity Interests 35
7.09 Voting Rights, Dividends, Etc. in Respect of Pledged Interests 35 36
7.10 Commercial Tort Claims 37 38
7.11 Intellectual Property 38
     
Section 8. Acceleration Notice; Remedies; Distribution of Collateral 39 40
8.01 Notice of Acceleration 39 40
8.02 Preservation of Rights 40
8.03 Events of Default, Etc. 40
8.04 Deficiency 41
8.05 Private Sale 41
8.06 Application of Proceeds 41 42
8.07 Attorney-in-Fact 43
8.08 Grant of Intellectual Property License 43
8.09 Authority 43
     
Section 9. The Collateral Agent 43 44
9.01 Appointment; Powers and Immunities 43 44
9.02 Information Regarding Secured Parties 44
9.03 Reliance by Collateral Agent 44 45
9.04 Rights as a Secured Party 45
9.05 Indemnification 45
9.06 Non-Reliance on Collateral Agent and Other Secured Parties 46
9.07 Failure to Act 46
9.08 Resignation of Collateral Agent 46
9.09 Agents and Attorneys-in-Fact 47
     
Section 10. Miscellaneous 47
10.01 Notices 47
10.02 No Waiver 47 48
10.03 Amendments to Security Documents, Etc. 47 48
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver 49
10.05 Successors and Assigns 50 51
10.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution 50 51
10.07 Severability 51
10.08 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction 51

 

  ii  

 

 

10.09 Waiver of Jury Trial 52
10.10 Headings 52
10.11 Termination 52
10.12 Confidentiality 52

 

EXHIBIT A  – Form of Notice of Designation
EXHIBIT B  – Form of Guarantee Assumption Agreement
EXHIBIT C  – Form of Intellectual Property Security Agreement
EXHIBIT D  – Form of Pledge Supplement

 

  iii  

 

 

GUARANTEE, PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT, dated as of October 17, 2014 (as amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, this “ Agreement ”), among CAPITALA FINANCE CORP., a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Maryland (the “ Borrower ”), and each entity that becomes a “SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR” after the date hereof pursuant to Section 7.05 hereof (the “ Subsidiary Guarantors ” and, together with the Borrower, the “ Obligors ”), ING CAPITAL LLC, as administrative agent for the parties defined as “Lenders” under the Revolving Credit Agreement referred to below (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Revolving Administrative Agent ”), each “Financing Agent” or “Designated Indebtedness Holder” that becomes a party hereto after the date hereof pursuant to Section 6.01 hereof and ING CAPITAL LLC, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties hereinafter referred to (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Collateral Agent ”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Borrower, the Revolving Lenders and the Revolving Administrative Agent are entering into the Revolving Credit Agreement (as hereinafter defined), pursuant to which such lenders have agreed to extend credit (by means of revolving loans) to the Borrower from time to time and such lenders consented to the Borrower and the Revolving Administrative Agent entering into this Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower may from time to time after the date hereof wish to incur additional indebtedness permitted by the Revolving Credit Agreement that the Borrower designates as “Designated Indebtedness” under this Agreement, which indebtedness is to be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, to induce (i) the Revolving Lenders to extend credit to the Borrower under the Revolving Credit Agreement and (ii) the holders of such “Designated Indebtedness” to extend other credit to the Borrower, the Borrower wishes to provide (a) for certain of its Subsidiaries from time to time to become parties hereto and to guarantee the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations (as hereinafter defined), and (b) for the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors to provide collateral security for the Secured Obligations (as hereinafter defined);

 

WHEREAS, the Revolving Administrative Agent (on behalf of itself and the Revolving Lenders), any Financing Agent (on behalf of itself and the holders of the “Designated Indebtedness” for which it serves as agent or trustee) and each Designated Indebtedness Holder that becomes a party hereto pursuant to Section 6.01 are or will be entering into this Agreement for the purpose of setting forth their respective rights to the Collateral (as hereinafter defined); and

 

 

 

 

WHEREAS, the Obligors and the Secured Parties agree that the Collateral Agent shall administer the Collateral, and the Collateral Agent is willing to so administer the Collateral pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1.           Definitions, Etc.  

 

1.01          Certain Uniform Commercial Code Terms . As used herein, the terms “Account”, “Chattel Paper”, “Commodity Account”, “Commodity Contract”, “Deposit Account”, “Document”, “Electronic Chattel Paper”, “General Intangible”, “Goods”, “Instrument”, “Inventory”, “Equipment”, “Investment Property”, “Letter-of-Credit Right”, “Money”, “Proceeds”, “Promissory Note”, “Supporting Obligations” and “Tangible Chattel Paper” have the respective meanings set forth in Article 9 of the NYUCC, and the terms “Certificated Security”, “Clearing Corporation”, “Entitlement Holder”, “Financial Asset”, “Indorsement”, “Securities Account”, “Securities Intermediary”, “Security”, “Security Entitlement” and “Uncertificated Security” have the respective meanings set forth in Article 8 of the NYUCC.

 

1.02          Additional Definitions . In addition, as used herein:

 

Acceleration ” means the Revolving Credit Agreement Obligations or any other Secured Obligations of any Secured Party having been declared (or become) due and payable in full in accordance with the applicable Debt Documents following the occurrence of an “event of default” (as defined in the applicable Debt Documents) or an analogous event by the Borrower and expiration of any applicable grace period with respect thereto.

 

Acceleration Notice ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01.

 

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. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the term “Affiliate” of an Obligor shall not include any Person that constitutes an Investment held by any Obligor in the ordinary course of business.

 

Agent Members ” means members of, or participants in, a depositary, including the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream.

 

Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

“Amendment Effective Date” means June 16, 2017.

 

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Bank Loan ” means debt obligations (including term loans, revolving loans, debtor-in-possession financings, the funded portion of revolving credit lines and letter of credit facilities and other similar loans and investments including interim loans, bridge loans and senior subordinated loans) that are generally provided under a syndicated loan or credit facility or pursuant to any loan agreement or other similar credit facility whether or not syndicated.

 

Borrower ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

Borrowing Base ” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

 

Business Day ” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

 

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 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.

 

CFC ” means an entity that is a “controlled foreign corporation” of any Obligor within the meaning of Section 957 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, but only to the extent the Obligor or a subsidiary thereof is a “United States Shareholder” (within the meaning of Section 951(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) of such entity.

 

Clearing Corporation Security ” means a security that is registered in the name of, or Indorsed to, a Clearing Corporation or its nominee or is in the possession of the Clearing Corporation in bearer form or Indorsed in blank by an appropriate Person.

 

Clearstream ” means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, a corporation organized under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

 

Clearstream Security ” means a Security that (a) is a debt or equity security and (b) is capable of being transferred to an Agent Member’s account at Clearstream pursuant to the definition of “Delivery”, whether or not such transfer has occurred.

 

Closing Date ” means the date hereof.

 

Collateral ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.

 

Commercial Tort Claims ” means all “commercial tort claims” (as defined in Article 9 of the NYUCC) held by any Obligor, including all commercial tort claims listed on Annex 2.10 hereto.

 

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

 

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.

 

Copyright Licenses ” means any and all agreements providing for the granting of any right in or to Copyrights (whether such Obligor is licensee or licensor thereunder) including each agreement referred to in Annex 2.11 hereto.

 

Copyrights ” shall mean all United States and foreign copyrights (including community designs), including but not limited to copyrights in software and databases, and all “Mask Works” (as defined under 17 U.S.C. 901 of the U.S. Copyright Act), whether registered or unregistered, and, with respect to any and all of the foregoing: (i) all registrations and applications therefor including the registrations and applications referred to in Annex 2.11 hereto, (ii) all extensions and renewals thereof, (iii) all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world, (iv) all rights to sue for past, present and future infringements thereof, and (v) all proceeds of the foregoing, including licenses, royalties, income, payments, claims, damages and proceeds of suit.

 

Custodian ” means U.S. Bank National Association, or any other financial institution mutually agreeable to the Collateral Agent and the Borrower, as custodian holding documentation for Portfolio Investments, and accounts of the Obligors holding Portfolio Investments, on behalf of the Obligors and, pursuant to the Custodian Agreement, the Collateral Agent. The term “Custodian” includes any agent or sub-custodian acting on behalf of the Custodian.

 

Custodian Agreement ” means a control agreement entered into by and among an Obligor, the Collateral Agent and a Custodian, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent.

 

Debt Documents ” means, collectively, the Revolving Loan Documents, the Designated Indebtedness Documents, any Hedging Agreement evidencing or relating to any Hedging Agreement Obligations, and the Security Documents.

 

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.

 

Deliver ”, “ Delivered ” or “ Delivery ” (whether to the Collateral Agent or otherwise) means, with respect to any Portfolio Investment of any Obligor or other Collateral, that such Portfolio Investment or other Collateral is held, registered or covered by a recorded UCC-1 financing statement as described below, in each case in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent:

 

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(a)          subject to clause (l) below, in the case of each Certificated Security (other than a Special Equity Interest, U.S. Government Security, Clearing Corporation Security, Euroclear Security or Clearstream Security), that such Certificated Security is either (i) in the possession of the Collateral Agent and registered in the name of the Collateral Agent (or its nominee) or Indorsed to the Collateral Agent or in blank, or (ii) in the possession of the Custodian and registered in the name of the Custodian (or its nominee) or Indorsed in blank and the Custodian has either (A) agreed in documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent to hold such Certificated Security as bailee on behalf of the Collateral Agent or (B) credited the same to a Securities Account for which the Custodian is a Securities Intermediary and has agreed that such Certificated Security constitutes a Financial Asset and that the Collateral Agent has NYUCC Control over such Securities Account;

 

(b)          subject to clause (l) below, in the case of each Instrument, that such Instrument is either (i) in the possession of the Collateral Agent and indorsed to the Collateral Agent or in blank, or (ii) in the possession of the Custodian and the Custodian has credited the same to a Securities Account for which the Custodian is a Securities Intermediary and has agreed that such Instrument constitutes a Financial Asset and that the Collateral Agent has NYUCC Control over such Securities Account;

 

(c)          subject to clause (l) below, in the case of each Uncertificated Security (other than a Special Equity Interest, U.S. Government Security, Clearing Corporation Security, Euroclear Security or Clearstream Security), that such Uncertificated Security is either (i) registered on the books of the issuer thereof to the Collateral Agent (or its nominee), or (ii) registered on the books of the issuer thereof to the Custodian (or its nominee) under an arrangement where the Custodian has credited the same to a Securities Account for which the Custodian is a Securities Intermediary and has agreed that such Uncertificated Security constitutes a Financial Asset and that the Collateral Agent has NYUCC Control over such Securities Account;

 

(d)          subject to clause (l) below, in the case of each Clearing Corporation Security, that such Clearing Corporation Security is either (i) credited to a Securities Account of the Collateral Agent at such Clearing Corporation (and, if such Clearing Corporation Security is a Certificated Security, that the same is in the possession of such Clearing Corporation, or of an agent or custodian on its behalf), or (ii) credited to a Securities Account of the Custodian at such Clearing Corporation (and, if a Certificated Security, so held in the possession of such Clearing Corporation, or of an agent or custodian on its behalf) and the Security Entitlement of the Custodian in such Clearing Corporation Securities Account has been credited by the Custodian to a Securities Account for which the Custodian is a Securities Intermediary under an arrangement where the Custodian has agreed that such Clearing Corporation Security constitutes a Financial Asset and that the Collateral Agent has NYUCC Control over such Securities Account;

 

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(e)          in the case of each Euroclear Security and Clearstream Security, that the actions described in clause (d) above have been taken with respect to such Security as if such Security were a Clearing Corporation Security and Euroclear and Clearstream were Clearing Corporations; provided , that such additional actions shall have been taken as shall be necessary under the law of Belgium (in the case of Euroclear) and Luxembourg (in the case of Clearstream) to accord the Collateral Agent rights substantially equivalent to NYUCC Control over such Security under the NYUCC;

 

(f)          in the case of each U.S. Government Security, that such U.S. Government Security is either (i) credited to a Securities Account of the Collateral Agent at a Federal Reserve Bank, or (ii) credited to a Securities Account of the Custodian at a Federal Reserve Bank and the Security Entitlement of the Custodian in such Federal Reserve Bank Securities Account has been credited by the Custodian to a Securities Account for which the Custodian is a Securities Intermediary under an arrangement where the Custodian has agreed that such U.S. Government Security constitutes a Financial Asset and that the Collateral Agent has NYUCC Control over such Securities Account;

 

(g)          in the case of any Tangible Chattel Paper, that the original of such Tangible Chattel Paper is either (i) in the possession of the Collateral Agent in the United States or (ii) in the possession of the Custodian in the United States under an arrangement where the Custodian has agreed to hold such Tangible Chattel Paper as bailee on behalf of the Collateral Agent, and in each case any agreements that constitute or evidence such Tangible Chattel Paper is free of any marks or notations indicating that it is then pledged, assigned or otherwise conveyed to any Person other than the Collateral Agent;

 

(h)          subject to clause (m) below, in the case of each General Intangible (including any participation in a debt obligation) of an Obligor organized in the United States, that such General Intangible falls within the collateral description of a UCC-1 financing statement, naming the relevant Obligor as debtor and the Collateral Agent as secured party and filed (x) in the jurisdiction of organization of such Obligor, in the case of an Obligor that is a “registered organization” (as defined in the NYUCC) or (y) in such other filing office as may be required under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in any applicable jurisdiction, in the case of any other Obligor; provided that in the case of a participation in a debt obligation where such debt obligation is evidenced by an Instrument, either (i) such Instrument is in the possession of the applicable participating institution in the United States, and such participating institution has agreed that it holds possession of such Instrument for the benefit of the Collateral Agent (or for the benefit of the Custodian, and the Custodian has agreed that it holds the interest in such Instrument as bailee on behalf of the Collateral Agent) or (ii) such Instrument is in the possession of the applicable participating institution outside of the United States and such participating institution (and, if applicable, the obligor that issued such Instrument) has taken such actions as shall be necessary under the law of the jurisdiction where such Instrument is physically located to accord the Collateral Agent rights equivalent to NYUCC Control over such Instrument under the NYUCC;

 

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(i)          subject to clause (m) below, in the case of each General Intangible (including any participation in a debt obligation) of an Obligor not organized in the United States, that such Obligor shall have taken such action as shall be necessary to accord the Collateral Agent rights substantially equivalent to a perfected first-priority (subject to Liens permitted pursuant to the Debt Documents) security interest in such General Intangible under the NYUCC;

 

(j)          in the case of any Deposit Account or Securities Account, that the bank or Securities Intermediary at which such Deposit Account or Securities Account, as applicable, is located has agreed that the Collateral Agent has NYUCC Control over such Deposit Account or Securities Account, or that such Deposit Account or Securities Account is in the name of the Custodian and the Custodian has credited its rights in respect of such Deposit Account or Securities Account (the “ Underlying Accounts ”) to a Securities Account for which the Custodian is a Securities Intermediary under an arrangement where the Custodian has agreed that the rights of the Custodian in such Underlying Accounts constitute a Financial Asset and that the Collateral Agent has NYUCC Control over such Securities Account;

 

(k)          in the case of any money (regardless of currency), that such money has been credited to a Deposit Account or a Securities Account over which the Collateral Agent has NYUCC Control as described in clause (j) above;

 

(l)          in the case of any Certificated Security, Uncertificated Security or Instrument or Special Equity Interest issued by a Person organized outside of the United States, that such additional actions shall have been taken as shall be necessary under applicable law to accord the Collateral Agent rights substantially equivalent to those accorded to a secured party under the NYUCC that has possession or control of such Certificated Security, Uncertificated Security or Instrument or Special Equity Interest;

 

(m)          in the case of each Portfolio Investment of any Obligor consisting of a Bank Loan, in addition to all other actions required to be taken hereunder, that all actions shall have been taken as required by Section 5.08(c)(iv), (v) or (vi) of the Revolving Credit Agreement;

 

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(n)          subject to clause (l) above, in the case of a Special Equity Interest constituting a Certificated Security, that the holder of the first Lien on such Certificated Security has possession of such Certificated Security in the United States (which has been registered in the name of such holder (or its nominee) or Indorsed to such holder or in blank) and has agreed to deliver the certificates evidencing such Certificated Security directly to the Collateral Agent upon the discharge of such Lien and has acknowledged that it holds such certificates for the Collateral Agent subject to such Lien (it being understood that, upon receipt of any such Certificated Security, if so requested by the Borrower the Collateral Agent shall deliver the same to the Custodian to be held in accordance with the provisions of clause (a) above) and, in the case of a Special Equity Interest constituting an Uncertificated Security, that the holder of the first Lien on such Uncertificated Security has been registered as the holder thereof on the books of the issuer thereof and acknowledged that it holds such Uncertificated Security for the Collateral Agent subject to such Lien; and

 

(o)          in the case of each Portfolio Investment of any Obligor or other Collateral not of a type covered by the foregoing clauses (a) through (n), that such Portfolio Investment or other Collateral has been transferred to the Collateral Agent in accordance with applicable law and regulation.

 

Depositary ” means The Depositary Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.

 

Designated Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness that has been designated by the Borrower at the time of the incurrence thereof as “Designated Indebtedness” for purposes of this Agreement in accordance with the requirements of Section 6.01.

 

Designated Indebtedness Documents ” means, in respect of any Designated Indebtedness, all documents or instruments pursuant to which such Designated Indebtedness shall be incurred or otherwise governing the terms or conditions thereof.

 

Designated Indebtedness Holders ” means, in respect of any Designated Indebtedness, the Persons from time to time holding such Designated Indebtedness.

 

Designated Indebtedness Obligations ” means, collectively, in respect of any Designated Indebtedness, all obligations of the Borrower to any Designated Indebtedness Holder or Financing Agent under the Designated Indebtedness Documents relating to such Designated Indebtedness, including in each case in respect of the principal of and interest on loans made, letters of credit issued and any notes or other instruments issued thereunder, all reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnification payments and other amounts whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, now or hereafter from time to time owing to any Designated Indebtedness Holder or any Financing Agent or any of them under such Designated Indebtedness Documents, and including all interest and expenses accrued or incurred subsequent to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding with respect to the Borrower, whether or not such interest or expenses are allowed as a claim in such proceeding, provided that Designated Indebtedness Obligations shall not include any Excluded Swap Obligation.

 

Disqualified Equity Interests ” means Equity Interests of any issuer that after issuance are subject to any agreement between the holder of such Equity Interests and the issuer thereof where the issuer is required to purchase, redeem, retire, acquire, cancel or terminate such Equity Interests, other than (x) as a result of a change of control, or (y) in connection with any purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination with, or in exchange for, shares of Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.

 

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Eligible Liens ” means those Liens on the Collateral included in the Borrowing Base permitted by each Debt Document (for the avoidance of doubt in the event of any conflict or difference among the Debt Documents, the most restrictive provisions that are in effect (after taking into account any modification, supplement, amendment or waiver to such provisions) shall apply against the Obligors hereunder).

 

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. As used in this Agreement, “Equity Interests” shall not include convertible debt unless and until such debt has been converted to capital stock.

 

Excluded Assets ” means, individually and collectively, (i) any Excluded Equity Interest, (ii) any payroll accounts so long as such payroll account is coded as such, withholding tax accounts, pension fund accounts, 401(k) accounts, and other deposit accounts specifically and exclusively used for employee wage, health and benefit payments, (iii) any fiduciary accounts or any account for which any Obligor is the servicer for another Person, including any accounts in the name of the Borrower in its capacity as servicer for a Financing Subsidiary or any “Agency Account” pursuant to Section 5.08(c)(v) of the Revolving Credit Agreement, (iv) any applications for trademarks or service marks filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1051 Section (b)(1) unless and until evidence of use of the mark in interstate commerce is submitted to and accepted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office pursuant to 15 U.S.C. §1051 Section (c) or Section (d), at which point such trademark or service mark application shall be considered automatically included in the Collateral, (v) any Equity Interest in a Portfolio Investment that is issued as an “equity kicker” to holders of subordinated debt and such Equity Interest is pledged to secure senior debt of such Portfolio Investment to the extent required thereby, (vi) any assets that are held, directly or indirectly, by a CFC or Transparent Subsidiary, and (vii) any assets with respect to which applicable law prohibits the creation or perfection of such security interests therein (other than to the extent that any such prohibition is rendered ineffective by Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the relevant jurisdiction (or any successor provision) or any other applicable law or principles of equity; provided , however , that such security interest shall attach immediately at such time as such law is not effective or applicable, and, to the extent severable, shall attach immediately to any portion of the Collateral that does not result in such consequences).

 

Excluded Equity Interest ” means (a) any Equity Interest issued by any Financing Subsidiary; provided , that if any such Financing Subsidiary shall at any time cease to be a Financing Subsidiary pursuant to the definition thereof in the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Equity Interests issued by such Person shall no longer constitute Excluded Equity Interests and shall become part of the Collateral hereunder, and (b) all Equity Interests in any Transparent Subsidiary or CFC, other than 65% of the Equity Interests of a First Tier Foreign Subsidiary.

 

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Excluded Swap Obligation ” shall mean, with respect to any Subsidiary Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor, or the grant by such Subsidiary Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.

 

Euroclear ” means Euroclear Bank, S.A., as operator of the Euroclear system.

 

Euroclear Security ” means a Security that (a) is a debt or equity Security and (b) is capable of being transferred to an Agent Member’s account at Euroclear, whether or not such transfer has occurred.

 

Event of Default ” means any Event of Default under and as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement and any event of default (however designated) that enables or permits (after giving effect to any applicable grace or cure periods) the holder or holders of any Designated Indebtedness Obligations or Hedging Agreement Obligations or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Designated Indebtedness Obligations or Hedging Agreement Obligations to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity.

 

Financing Agent ” means, in respect of any Designated Indebtedness, any trustee, representative or agent for the holders of such Designated Indebtedness.

 

Financing Subsidiary ” means (a) any SBIC Subsidiary or (b) any Structured Subsidiary.

 

First Tier Foreign Subsidiary ” means any Transparent Subsidiary or CFC whose Equity Interests are directly owned by any Obligor.

 

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

 

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Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States of America, or of 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 or customary indemnification agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business in connection with obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness. The amount of any Guarantee at any time shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the maximum stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guarantee is incurred, unless the terms of such Guarantee expressly provide that the maximum amount for which such Person may be liable thereunder is a lesser amount (in which case the amount of such Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to such lesser amount).

 

Guarantee Assumption Agreement ” means a Guarantee Assumption Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B , between the Collateral Agent and an entity that, pursuant to Section 7.05, is required to become a “Subsidiary Guarantor” hereunder (with such changes as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request, consistent with the requirements of Section 7.05, or to which the Collateral Agent shall otherwise consent in its sole discretion).

 

Guaranteed Obligations ” means, collectively, the Revolving Credit Agreement Obligations, the Designated Indebtedness Obligations and the Hedging Agreement Obligations.

 

Hedging Agreement ” means any interest rate protection agreement, foreign currency exchange protection agreement, commodity price protection agreement or other interest or currency exchange rate or commodity price hedging arrangement entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall a Hedging Agreement include a total return swap.

 

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Hedging Agreement Obligations ” means, collectively, all obligations of any Obligor to any Revolving Lender (or any Affiliate thereof) under any Hedging Agreement that is an interest rate protection agreement or other interest rate hedging arrangement and has been designated by the Borrower by notice to the Collateral Agent as being secured by this Agreement, including in each case all fees, indemnification payments and other amounts whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, now or hereafter from time to time owing to such Revolving Lender (or any Affiliate thereof) under such Hedging Agreement, and including all interest and expenses accrued or incurred subsequent to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding with respect to such Obligor, whether or not such interest or expenses are allowed as a claim in such proceeding, provided that Hedging Agreement Obligations shall not include any Excluded Swap Obligation.

 

For purposes hereof, it is understood that any obligations of any Obligor to a Person arising under a Hedging Agreement entered into at the time such Person (or an Affiliate thereof) is a “Revolving Lender” party to the Revolving Credit Agreement (as applicable) shall nevertheless continue to constitute Hedging Agreement Obligations for purposes hereof, notwithstanding that such Person (or its Affiliate) may have assigned all of its Loans and other interests in the Revolving Credit Agreement and, therefore, at the time a claim is to be made in respect of such obligations, such Person (or its Affiliate) is no longer a “Revolving Lender” party to the Revolving Credit Agreement, provided that neither such Person nor any such Affiliate shall be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement (and such obligations shall not constitute Hedging Agreement Obligations hereunder) unless, at or prior to the time it ceased to be a Revolving Lender hereunder, it shall have notified the Collateral Agent in writing of the existence of such agreement. Subject to and without limiting the preceding sentence, any Affiliate of a Revolving Lender that is a party to a Hedging Agreement shall be included in the term “Revolving Lender” for purposes of this Agreement solely for purposes of the rights and obligations arising hereunder in respect of such Hedging Agreement and the Hedging Agreement Obligations thereunder.

 

The designation of any Hedging Agreement as being secured by this Agreement in accordance with the first paragraph under this definition of “Hedging Agreement Obligations” shall not create in favor of any Revolving Lender or any Affiliate thereof that is a party thereto (i) any rights in connection with the management or release of any Collateral or of the obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor under this Agreement or (ii) any rights to consent to any amendment, waiver, or other matter under this Agreement or any other Loan Document. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, as applicable, no provider or holder of any Hedging Agreement Obligations (other than in its capacity as Revolving Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or Revolving Lender to the extent applicable) has any individual right to enforce this Agreement or bring any remedies with respect to any Lien on Collateral granted pursuant to the Loan Documents. By accepting the benefits of this Agreement, such party shall be deemed to have appointed the Collateral Agent as its agent and agreed to be bound by this Agreement as a Secured Party, subject to the limitations set forth in the preceding sentence.

 

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Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits, loans or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar debt instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (d) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable and accrued expenses in the ordinary course of business not past due for more than 90 days after the date on which such trade account payable was due), (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed (with the value of such debt being the lower of the outstanding amount of such debt and the fair market value of the property subject to such Lien), (f) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (g) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (h) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty, (i) the net amount such Person would be obligated for under any Hedging Agreement if such Hedging Agreement was terminated at the time of determination, (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, with respect to Disqualified Equity Interests, and (k) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor (or such Person is not otherwise liable for such Indebtedness). Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Indebtedness” shall not include (x) purchase price holdbacks arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset or Investment to satisfy unperformed obligations of the seller of such asset or Investment or (y) a commitment arising in the ordinary course of business to make a future Portfolio Investment or fund the delayed draw or unfunded portion of any existing Portfolio Investment.

 

Indorsed ” means, with respect to any Certificated Security, that such Certificated Security has been assigned or transferred to the applicable transferee pursuant to an effective Indorsement.

 

ING ” means ING Capital LLC.

 

Intellectual Property ” means, collectively, the Copyrights, the Copyright Licenses, the Patents, the Patent Licenses, the Trademarks, the Trademark Licenses, the Trade Secrets, and the Trade Secret Licenses.

 

Investment ” means, for any Person: (a) Equity Interests, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities of any other Person (including convertible securities) or any agreement to acquire any Equity Interests, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities of any other Person (including any “short sale” or any sale of any securities at a time when such securities are not owned by the Person entering into such sale); (b) deposits, advances, loans or other extensions of credit made to any other Person (including purchases of property from another Person subject to an understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to resell such property to such Person); or (c) Hedging Agreements.

 

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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, (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 and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities, except in favor of the issuer thereof (and, in the case of Portfolio Investments that are equity securities, excluding customary drag-along, tag-along, right of first refusal and other similar rights in favor of other equity holders of the same issuer).

 

Loans ” means the revolving loans made by the Revolving Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to the Revolving Credit Agreement.

 

Notice of Designation ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01.

 

NYUCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York.

 

NYUCC Control ” means “control” as defined in Section 9-104, 9-105, 9-106 or 9-107 of the NYUCC.

 

Obligors ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

Patent Licenses ” means all agreements providing for the granting of any right in or to Patents (whether such Obligor is licensee or licensor thereunder) including each agreement referred to in Annex 2.11 hereto.

 

Patents ” means all United States and foreign patents and certificates of invention, or similar industrial property rights, and applications for any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to: (i) each patent and patent application referred to in Annex 2.11 hereto, (ii) all reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, extensions, renewals, and reexaminations thereof, (iii) all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world, (iv) all inventions and improvements described therein, (v) all rights to sue for past, present and future infringements thereof, and (vi) all proceeds of the foregoing, including licenses, royalties, income, payments, claims, damages, and proceeds of suit.

 

Permitted Liens ” means those Liens on the Collateral (other than Collateral included in the Borrowing Base) permitted by each Debt Document (for the avoidance of doubt in the event of any conflict or difference among the Debt Documents, the most restrictive provisions that are in effect (after taking into account any modification, supplement, amendment or waiver of such provisions) shall apply against the Obligors hereunder).

 

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

 

Pledge Supplement ” means a supplement to this Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit D .

 

Pledged Debt ” means all indebtedness owed to any Obligor (other than Portfolio Investments (unless issued by a Subsidiary)), the instruments (if any) evidencing such indebtedness (including the instruments described on Annex 2.08 hereto) and all interest, cash, instruments and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such indebtedness.

 

Pledged Equity Interests ” means all Equity Interests (other than Excluded Equity Interests) owned by any Obligor issued by any Subsidiary of such Obligor (including the Equity Interests described on Annex 2.07 hereto) and the certificates, if any, representing such Equity Interests and any interest of such Obligor in the entries on the books of the issuer of such Equity Interests or on the books of any Securities Intermediary pertaining to such Equity Interests, and all dividends, distributions, cash, warrants, rights, options, instruments, securities and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such Equity Interests.

 

Pledged Interests ” means all Pledged Debt and Pledged Equity Interests.

 

Portfolio Investment ” means any Investment held by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in their asset portfolio.

 

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

 

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.

 

Required Secured Parties ” means, (a) so long as no Trigger Event has occurred and is continuing, “Required Lenders” under and as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement or (b) if a Trigger Event shall have occurred and be continuing, Secured Parties holding more than 50% of the aggregate amount of the sum of the Revolving Credit Agreement Obligations and the Designated Indebtedness Obligations.

 

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Revolving Administrative Agent ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

Revolving Credit Agreement ” means the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Borrower, the Revolving Lenders from time to time party thereto, and the Revolving Administrative Agent.

 

Revolving Credit Agreement Obligations ” means, collectively, all obligations of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors to the Revolving Lenders and the Revolving Administrative Agent under the Revolving Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement), including in each case in respect of the principal of and interest on the loans made thereunder, and all fees, indemnification payments and other amounts whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, now or hereafter from time to time owing to the Revolving Administrative Agent or the Revolving Lenders or any of them under or in respect of the Revolving Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement), and including all interest and expenses accrued or incurred subsequent to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding with respect to the Borrower, whether or not such interest or expenses are allowed as a claim in such proceeding; provided that Revolving Credit Agreement Obligations shall not include any Excluded Swap Obligation.

 

Revolving Lender ” means any “Lender” (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) that is from time to time party to the Revolving Credit Agreement.

 

Revolving Loan Documents ” has the meaning assigned to the term “Loan Documents” in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

 

Revolving Loans ” means the revolving loans made by the Revolving Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to the Revolving Credit Agreement.

 

SBIC Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower designated by the Borrower as an “SBIC Subsidiary” under the applicable Debt Documents and pursuant to the procedures specified in such Debt Documents (with notice to the Collateral Agent to the extent required thereunder).

 

Secured Obligations ” means, collectively, (a) in the case of the Borrower, the Revolving Credit Agreement Obligations, the Designated Indebtedness Obligations and the Hedging Agreement Obligations, (b) in the case of the Subsidiary Guarantors, the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations pursuant to Section 3.01 and (c) in the case of all Obligors, all present and future obligations of the Obligors to the Secured Parties, or any of them, hereunder or under any other Security Document, provided that Secured Obligations shall not include any Excluded Swap Obligation.

 

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Secured Party ” means, collectively, the Revolving Lenders (including those holding Hedging Agreement Obligations), the Revolving Administrative Agent, each Designated Indebtedness Holder, each Financing Agent and each Person that is not a Revolving Lender and is owed a Hedging Agreement Obligation of the type described in, and subject to the conditions set forth in, the second paragraph of the definition of “Hedging Agreement Obligations” and the Collateral Agent.

 

Security Documents ” means, collectively, this Agreement, each Custodian Agreement, all Uniform Commercial Code financing statements filed with respect to the security interests in the Collateral created pursuant hereto and all other assignments, pledge agreements, security agreements, control agreements, custodial agreements and other instruments executed and delivered at any time by any of the Obligors pursuant hereto or otherwise providing or relating to any collateral security for any of the Secured Obligations.

 

Special Equity Interest ” means any Equity Interest that is subject to a Lien in favor of creditors of the issuer or the issuer’s Affiliates of such Equity Interest; provided that (a) such Lien was created to secure Indebtedness owing by such issuer or the issuer’s Affiliates to such creditors, (b) such Indebtedness was (i) in existence at the time the Obligors acquired such Equity Interest, (ii) incurred or assumed by such issuer substantially contemporaneously with such acquisition or (iii) already subject to a Lien granted to such creditors and (c) unless such Equity Interest is not intended to be included in the Collateral, the documentation creating or governing such Lien does not prohibit the inclusion of such Equity Interest in the Collateral.

 

Structured Subsidiary ” means a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower designated by the Borrower as a “structured subsidiary” under the applicable Debt Documents and pursuant to the procedures specified in such Debt Documents (with notice to the Collateral Agent).

 

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. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the term “Subsidiary” shall not include any Person that constitutes an Investment held by any Obligor in the ordinary course of business and that is not, under GAAP, consolidated on the financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. Unless otherwise specified, “Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

Subsidiary Guarantors ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

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Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Subsidiary Guarantor, an obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Termination Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

 

Trademark Licenses ” means any and all agreements providing for the granting of any right in or to Trademarks (whether such Obligor is licensee or licensor thereunder) including each agreement referred to in Annex 2.11 hereto.

 

Trademarks ” means all United States and foreign trademarks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, Internet domain names, service marks, certification marks, collective marks, logos, other source or business identifiers, designs and general intangibles of a like nature, and all registrations and applications for any of the foregoing including, but not limited to: (i) the registrations and applications referred to in Annex 2.11 hereto, (ii) all extensions or renewals of any of the foregoing, (iii) all of the goodwill of the business connected with the use of and symbolized by the foregoing, (iv) the right to sue for past, present and future infringement or dilution of any of the foregoing or for any injury to goodwill, and (v) all proceeds of the foregoing, including licenses, royalties, income, payments, claims, damages, and proceeds of suit.

 

Trade Secret Licenses ” means any and all agreements providing for the granting of any right in or to Trade Secrets (whether such Obligor is licensee or licensor thereunder) including each agreement referred to in Annex 2.11 hereto.

 

Trade Secrets ” means all trade secrets and all other confidential or proprietary information and know-how whether or not such Trade Secret has been reduced to a writing or other tangible form, including all documents and things embodying, incorporating, or referring in any way to such Trade Secret, including but not limited to: (i) the right to sue for past, present and future misappropriation or other violation of any Trade Secret, and (ii) all proceeds of the foregoing, including licenses, royalties, income, payments, claims, damages, and proceeds of suit.

 

Transparent Subsidiary ” means an entity directly or indirectly owned by an Obligor that has no material assets other than Equity Interests (held directly or indirectly through other Transparent Subsidiaries) in one or more CFCs.

 

Trigger Event ” means any of the following events or conditions:

 

(a)          Acceleration of Secured Obligations representing 66-2/3% or more of the aggregate Secured Obligations at the time outstanding;

 

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(b)          an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of any Obligor or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal or state 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 any Obligor or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for a period of sixty (60) or more days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered; or

 

(c)          any Obligor shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal or state 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 (b) above, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Obligor 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 corporate or other action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing.

 

United States ” means the United States of America.

 

U.S. Government Security ” means any security that is the direct obligation of, and an obligation the timely payment of principal and interest on which is fully guaranteed by, the United States or any agency or instrumentality of the United States and the obligation of which is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States and in the form of conventional bills, bonds and notes.

 

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 Sections, Exhibits and Annexes shall be construed to refer to Sections of, and Exhibits and Annexes to, this Agreement and (e) 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.

 

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Section 2.           Representations and Warranties . Each Obligor represents and warrants to the Secured Parties that:

 

2.01          Organization . Such Obligor is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization.

 

2.02          Authorization; Enforceability . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the granting of the Liens contemplated hereunder, are within such Obligor’s corporate or other powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action, including by all necessary shareholder, manager and/or member action and action by the board of directors or other governing body of such Obligor. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Obligor and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Obligor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws of general applicability affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and (b) the application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

2.03          Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the granting of the Liens contemplated hereunder, (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except for (i) such as have been or will be obtained or made and are or will be in full force and effect and (ii) filings and recordings in respect of the Liens created pursuant hereto, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of any Obligor or any order of any Governmental Authority (including the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time, and the rules, regulations and orders issued by the SEC thereunder), (c) will not violate or result in a default in any material respect under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon any Obligor or any of its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by any such Person, and (d) except for the Liens created pursuant hereto, will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of any Obligor.

 

2.04          Title . Such Obligor is the sole beneficial owner of the Collateral in which a security interest is granted by such Obligor hereunder and no Lien exists upon such Collateral other than (a) the security interest created or provided for herein, which security interest constitutes a valid first and prior perfected Lien, subject to Eligible Liens on the Collateral included in the Borrowing Base and subject to Permitted Liens on all other Collateral (except that any such security interest in a Special Equity Interest may be subject to a Lien in favor of a creditor of the issuer of such Special Equity Interest as contemplated by the definition of such term in Section 1.02) and (b) other Liens not prohibited by the provisions of any Debt Document.

 

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2.05          Names, Etc .   The full and correct legal name, type of organization, jurisdiction of organization, organizational ID number (if applicable) and place of business (or, if more than one, chief executive office) of each Obligor as of the Closing Amendment Effective Date are correctly set forth in Annex 2.05 (and of each additional Obligor as of the date of the Guarantee Assumption Agreement referred to below are set forth in the supplement to Annex 2.05 in Appendix A to the Guarantee Assumption Agreement executed and delivered by such Obligor pursuant to Section 7.05).

 

2.06          Changes in Circumstances . No Obligor has (a) within the period of four months prior to the date hereof or four months prior to the Amendment Effective Date (or, in the case of any Subsidiary Guarantor, within the period of four months prior to the date it becomes a party hereto pursuant to a Guarantee Assumption Agreement), changed its location (as defined in Section 9-307 of the NYUCC), (b) as of the date hereof and as of the Amendment Effective Date (or, with respect to any Subsidiary Guarantor, as of the date it becomes a party hereto pursuant to a Guarantee Assumption Agreement), changed its name or (c) as of the date hereof and as of the Amendment Effective Date (or, with respect to any Subsidiary Guarantor, as of the date it becomes a party hereto pursuant to a Guarantee Assumption Agreement), become a “new debtor” (as defined in Section 9-102(a)(56) of the NYUCC) with respect to a currently effective security agreement previously entered into by any other Person and binding upon such Obligor, in each case except as notified in writing to the Collateral Agent prior to the date hereof or the Amendment Effective Date (or, in the case of any Subsidiary Guarantor, prior to the date it becomes a party hereto pursuant to a Guarantee Assumption Agreement).

 

2.07          Pledged Equity Interests . (i) Annex 2.07 sets forth a complete and correct list of all Pledged Equity Interests owned by any Obligor on as of the Closing Amendment Effective Date (or owned by a Subsidiary Guarantor on the date it becomes a party hereto pursuant to a Guarantee Assumption Agreement) and on such date such Pledged Equity Interests constitute the percentage of issued and outstanding shares of stock, percentage of membership interests, percentage of partnership interests or percentage of beneficial interest of the respective issuers thereof indicated on Annex 2.07 ; (ii) on such date, the Obligors listed on Annex 2.07 are the record and beneficial owners of the Pledged Equity Interests free of all Liens, rights or claims of other Persons and there are no outstanding warrants, options or other rights to purchase, or shareholder, voting trust or similar agreements outstanding with respect to, or property that is convertible into, or that requires the issuance or sale of, any Pledged Equity Interests; and (iii) no consent of any Person including any other general or limited partner, any other member of a limited liability company, any other shareholder or any other trust beneficiary is necessary in connection with the creation, perfection or first priority (subject to Eligible Liens on the Collateral included in the Borrowing Base and subject to Permitted Liens on all other Collateral) status of the security interest of the Collateral Agent in any Pledged Equity Interests or the exercise by the Collateral Agent of the voting or other rights provided for in this Agreement or the exercise of remedies in respect thereof.

 

2.08          Promissory Notes . Annex 2.08 sets forth a complete and correct list of all Promissory Notes (other than any previously delivered to the Custodian or held in a Securities Account referred to in Annex 2.09 ) held by any Obligor on the Closing Amendment Effective Date (or held by a Subsidiary Guarantor on the date it becomes a party hereto pursuant to a Guarantee Assumption Agreement) that are either included in the Borrowing Base or have an aggregate unpaid principal amount in excess of $75,000.

 

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2.09          Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts . Annex 2.09 sets forth a complete and correct list of all Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts and Commodity Accounts of the Obligors on the Closing Amendment Effective Date (and of any Subsidiary Guarantor on the date it becomes a party hereto pursuant to a Guarantee Assumption Agreement), except for any Deposit Account specially and exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments.

 

2.10          Commercial Tort Claims . Annex 2.10 sets forth a complete and correct list of all Commercial Tort Claims of the Obligors on the Closing Amendment Effective Date (and of any Subsidiary Guarantor on the date it becomes a party hereto pursuant to a Guarantee Assumption Agreement).

 

2.11          Intellectual Property and Licenses .

 

(a)           Annex 2.11 sets forth a true and complete list on the date hereof Amendment Effective Date (or on the date a Subsidiary Guarantor becomes a party hereto pursuant to a Guarantee Assumption Agreement) of (i) all United States, state and foreign registrations of and applications for Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights owned by each Obligor and (ii) all Patent Licenses, Trademark Licenses, Trade Secret Licenses and Copyright Licenses;

 

(b)          on the date hereof or thereof Amendment Effective Date or the date of such joinder, each Obligor is the sole and exclusive owner of the entire right, title, and interest in and to all Intellectual Property listed on Annex 2.11 , and owns or has as of the date hereof or thereof Amendment Effective Date or the date of such joinder the valid right to use all other Intellectual Property used in or necessary to conduct its business, free and clear of all Liens, claims, encumbrances and licenses, except for Permitted Liens and the licenses set forth on Annex 2.11 ;

 

(c)          as of the date hereof or thereof Amendment Effective Date or the date of such joinder , all Intellectual Property owned by the Obligors is subsisting and has not been adjudged invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, and as of the date hereof or thereof Amendment Effective Date or the date of such joinder, each Obligor has performed all acts and has paid all renewal, maintenance, and other fees and taxes required to maintain each and every registration and application of Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks in full force and effect;

 

(d)          on the date hereof or thereof Amendment Effective Date or the date of such joinder , all Intellectual Property set forth in Annex 2.11 is valid and enforceable; no holding, decision, or judgment has been rendered against any Obligor in any action or proceeding before any court or administrative authority challenging the validity of, any Obligor’s right to register, or any Obligor’s rights to own or use, any Intellectual Property and no such action or proceeding is pending or, to each Obligor’s knowledge, threatened;

 

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(e)          on the date hereof or thereof Amendment Effective Date or the date of such joinder , all registrations and applications for Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks owned by the Obligors are standing in the name of an Obligor, and none of the Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights or Trade Secrets owned by the Obligors has been licensed by any Obligor to any Affiliate or third party, except as disclosed in Annex 2.11 ;

 

(f)          as of the date hereof or thereof Amendment Effective Date or the date of such joinder , each Obligor has been using appropriate statutory notice of registration in connection with its use of registered Trademarks, proper marking practices in connection with the use of Patents, and appropriate notice of copyright in connection with the publication of Copyrights, in each case if material to the business of such Obligor;

 

(g)          to each Obligor’s knowledge, as of the date hereof or thereof Amendment Effective Date or the date of such joinder , the conduct of each Obligor’s business does not infringe upon or otherwise misappropriate or violate any trademark, patent, copyright, trade secret or other intellectual property right owned or controlled by a third party; and no claim has been made, in writing or, to such Obligor’s knowledge, threatened, that the use of any Intellectual Property owned or used by any Obligor (or any of its respective licensees) or the conduct of any Obligor’s business infringes, misappropriates, or violates the asserted rights of any third party;

 

(h)          to each Obligor’s knowledge, as of the date hereof or thereof Amendment Effective Date or the date of such joinder , no third party is infringing upon or otherwise violating any rights in any Intellectual Property owned or used by such Obligor, or any of its respective licensees;

 

(i)          as of the date hereof or thereof Amendment Effective Date or the date of such joinder , no settlement or consents, covenants not to sue, nonassertion assurances, or releases have been entered into by any Obligor or to which any Obligor is bound that adversely affect any Obligor’s rights to own or use any Intellectual Property; and

 

(j)          as of the date hereof or thereof Amendment Effective Date or the date of such joinder , no Obligor has made a previous assignment, sale, transfer or agreement constituting a present or future assignment, sale, transfer or agreement of any Intellectual Property that has not been terminated or released, and there is no effective financing statement or other document or instrument now executed, or on file or recorded in any public office, granting a security interest in or otherwise encumbering any part of the Intellectual Property, other than in favor of the Collateral Agent.

 

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Section 3.           Guarantee .

 

3.01          The Guarantee . The Subsidiary Guarantors hereby jointly and severally guarantee to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of each of the Secured Parties and their respective successors and assigns the prompt payment in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Guaranteed Obligations. The Subsidiary Guarantors hereby further jointly and severally agree that if the Borrower shall fail to pay in full when due (whether at stated or extended maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the Subsidiary Guarantors will jointly and severally pay the same without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.

 

3.02          Obligations Unconditional . The obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors under Section 3.01 are irrevocable, absolute and unconditional, joint and several, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement, the other Debt Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein, or any substitution, release or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor (other than the satisfaction in full of the Guaranteed Obligations), it being the intent of this Section 3 that the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereunder, which shall remain absolute and unconditional as described above:

 

(a)          at any time or from time to time, without notice to the Subsidiary Guarantors, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;

 

(b)          any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of this Agreement, the other Debt Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be done or omitted;

 

(c)          the maturity of any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be modified, supplemented or amended in any respect, or any right under this Agreement, the other Debt Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall be waived or any other guarantee of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security therefor shall be released or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with; or

 

(d)          any lien or security interest granted to, or in favor of, any Secured Party as security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall fail to be perfected.

 

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The Subsidiary Guarantors hereby expressly waive diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and all notices whatsoever (except as expressly required by this Agreement or any other Debt Document), and any requirement that any Secured Party exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against the Borrower under this Agreement, the other Debt Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein, or against any other Person under any other guarantee of, or security for, any of the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

3.03          Reinstatement . The obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors under this Section 3 shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise, and the Subsidiary Guarantors jointly and severally agree that they will indemnify the Secured Parties on demand for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable and documented fees and other charges of counsel (but excluding the allocated costs of internal counsel)) incurred by the Secured Parties in connection with such rescission or restoration, including any such costs and expenses incurred in defending against any claim alleging that such payment constituted a preference, fraudulent transfer or similar payment under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.

 

3.04          Subrogation . The Subsidiary Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree that until the payment and satisfaction in full in cash of all Guaranteed Obligations (other than unasserted, contingent obligations), and the expiration and termination of all commitments to extend credit under all Debt Documents, they shall not exercise any right or remedy arising by reason of any performance by them of their guarantee in Section 3.01, whether by subrogation or otherwise, against the Borrower or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

3.05          Remedies . The Subsidiary Guarantors jointly and severally agree that, as between the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Secured Parties, a Guaranteed Obligation may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as provided in the respective Debt Document therefor including, in the case of the Revolving Credit Agreement, the provisions specifying the existence of an event of default (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances provided therein including, in the case of the Revolving Credit Agreement, such provisions) for purposes of Section 3.01 notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such declaration (or such obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as against the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantors and that, in the event of such declaration (or such obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), such obligations (whether or not due and payable by the Borrower) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Subsidiary Guarantors for purposes of Section 3.01.

 

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3.06          Continuing Guarantee . The guarantee in this Section 3 is a continuing guarantee of payment (and not of collection), and shall apply to all Guaranteed Obligations whenever arising.

 

3.07          Instrument for the Payment of Money . Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby acknowledges that the guarantee in this Section 3 constitutes an instrument for the payment of money, and consents and agrees that any Secured Party, at its sole option, in the event of a dispute by such Subsidiary Guarantor in the payment of any moneys due hereunder, shall have the right to bring motion action under New York CPLR Section 3213.

 

3.08          Rights of Contribution . The Obligors hereby agree, as between themselves, that if any Subsidiary Guarantor shall become an Excess Funding Guarantor (as defined below) by reason of the payment by such Subsidiary Guarantor of any Guaranteed Obligations, then each other Subsidiary Guarantor shall, on demand of such Excess Funding Guarantor (but subject to the next sentence), pay to such Excess Funding Guarantor an amount equal to such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Pro Rata Share (as defined below and determined, for this purpose, without reference to the properties, debts and liabilities of such Excess Funding Guarantor) of the Excess Payment (as defined below) in respect of such Guaranteed Obligations. The payment obligation of a Subsidiary Guarantor to any Excess Funding Guarantor under this Section 3.08 shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the other provisions of this Section 3 and such Excess Funding Guarantor shall not exercise any right or remedy with respect to such excess until payment and satisfaction in full of all of such obligations.

 

For purposes of this Section 3.08, (i) “ Excess Funding Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations, a Subsidiary Guarantor that has paid an amount in excess of its Pro Rata Share of such Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) “ Excess Payment ” means, in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations, the amount paid by an Excess Funding Guarantor in excess of its Pro Rata Share of such Guaranteed Obligations and (iii) “ Pro Rata Share ” means, for any Subsidiary Guarantor, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of (x) the amount by which the aggregate fair saleable value of all properties of such Subsidiary Guarantor (excluding any shares of stock or other equity interest of any other Subsidiary Guarantor) exceeds the amount of all the debts and liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder and any obligations of any other Subsidiary Guarantor that have been Guaranteed by such Subsidiary Guarantor) to (y) the amount by which the aggregate fair saleable value of all properties of the Borrower and all of the Subsidiary Guarantors exceeds the amount of all the debts and liabilities (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of the Obligors hereunder) of the Borrower and all of the Subsidiary Guarantors, determined (A) with respect to any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a party hereto on the date hereof, as of the date hereof, and (B) with respect to any other Subsidiary Guarantor, as of the date such Subsidiary Guarantor becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder.

 

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3.09          General Limitation on Guarantee Obligations . In any action or proceeding involving any state corporate or other law, or any Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor under Section 3.01 would otherwise, taking into account the provisions of Section 3.08, be held or determined to be void, invalid or unenforceable, or subordinated to the claims of any other creditors, on account of the amount of its liability under Section 3.01, then, notwithstanding any other provision hereof to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by such Subsidiary Guarantor, any Secured Party or any other Person, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount that is valid and enforceable and not subordinated to the claims of other creditors as determined in such action or proceeding.

 

3.10          Indemnity by Borrower . In addition to all such rights of indemnity and subrogation as the Subsidiary Guarantors may have under applicable law (but subject to Section 3.04), the Borrower agrees that (a) in the event a payment shall be made by any Subsidiary Guarantor under this Agreement, the Borrower shall indemnify such Subsidiary Guarantor for the full amount of such payment and such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of the Person to whom such payment shall have been made to the extent of such payment and (b) in the event any assets of any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be sold pursuant to this Agreement or any other Security Document to satisfy in whole or in part the Guaranteed Obligations, the Borrower shall indemnify such Subsidiary Guarantor in an amount equal to the greater of the book value or the fair market value of the assets so sold.

 

3.11          Keepwell . Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Obligor to honor all of its obligations under the guarantee contained in this Section 3 in respect of Swap Obligations (provided, however that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 3.11 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 3.11, or otherwise under the guarantee contained in this Section 3, as it relates to such other Obligor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 3.11 shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all the Secured Obligations (other than in respect of indemnities and contingent Obligations not then due and payable). Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section 3.11 constitute, and this Section 3.11 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Obligor for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Section 4.           Collateral . As collateral security for the payment in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of its Secured Obligations, each Obligor hereby pledges and grants to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties as hereinafter provided a security interest in all of such Obligor’s right, title and interest in, to and under all of the following property and assets, in each case whether tangible or intangible, wherever located, and whether now owned by such Obligor or hereafter acquired and whether now existing or hereafter coming into existence (all of the property described in this Section 4 being collectively referred to herein as “ Collateral ”):

 

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(a)          all Accounts, all Chattel Paper, all Deposit Accounts, all Documents, all General Intangibles (including all Intellectual Property), all Instruments (including all Promissory Notes), all Portfolio Investments, all Pledged Debt, all Pledged Equity Interests, all Investment Property not covered by the foregoing (including all Securities, all Securities Accounts and all Security Entitlements with respect thereto and Financial Assets carried therein, and all Commodity Accounts and Commodity Contracts), all letters of credit and Letter-of-Credit Rights, all Money and all Goods (including Inventory and Equipment), and all Commercial Tort Claims;

 

(b)          to the extent related to any Collateral, all Supporting Obligations;

 

(c)          to the extent related to any Collateral, all books, correspondence, credit files, records, invoices and other papers (including all tapes, cards, computer runs and other papers and documents in the possession or under the control of such Obligor or any computer bureau or service company from time to time acting for such Obligor); and

 

(d)          all Proceeds of any of the foregoing Collateral.

 

IT BEING UNDERSTOOD, HOWEVER, that (A) in no event shall the security interest granted under this Section 4 attach to (1) any contract, property rights, obligation, instrument or agreement to which an Obligor is a party (or to any of its rights or interests thereunder) if the grant of such security interest would constitute or result in either (i) the abandonment, invalidation or unenforceability of any right, title or interest of such Obligor therein or (ii) a breach or termination pursuant to the terms of, or a default under, any such contract, property rights, obligation, instrument or agreement (other than to the extent that any such terms would be rendered ineffective by Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 or 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the relevant jurisdiction), or (2) any Excluded Assets, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided in this Agreement, the term “Collateral” shall not include, and the Obligors shall not be deemed to have granted a security interest in, any Excluded Assets and (B) the Obligors, may by notice to the Collateral Agent, exclude from the grant of a security interest provided above in this Section 4, any Special Equity Interest designated by the Borrower in reasonable detail to the Collateral Agent in such notice (it being understood that the Borrower may at any later time rescind any such designation by similar notice to the Collateral Agent).

 

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Section 5.           Certain Agreements Among Secured Parties .

 

5.01          Priorities; Additional Collateral .

 

(a)           Pari Passu Status of Obligations . Each Secured Party by acceptance of the benefits of this Agreement and the other Security Documents agrees that their respective interests in the Security Documents and the Collateral shall rank pari passu and that the Secured Obligations shall be equally and ratably secured by the Security Documents subject to the terms hereof and the priority of payment established in Section 8.06.

 

(b)           Sharing of Guaranties and Liens . Each Secured Party by acceptance of the benefits of this Agreement and the other Security Documents agrees that (i) such Secured Party will not accept from any Subsidiary of the Borrower any guarantee of any of the Guaranteed Obligations unless such guarantor simultaneously guarantees the payment of all of the Guaranteed Obligations owed to all Secured Parties, and (ii) such Secured Party will not hold, take, accept or obtain any Lien upon any assets of any Obligor or any Subsidiary of the Borrower to secure the payment and performance of the Secured Obligations except and to the extent that such Lien is in favor of the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement or another Security Document to which the Collateral Agent is a party for the benefit of all of the Secured Parties as provided herein.

 

Anything in this Section 5, or any other provision of this Agreement, to the contrary notwithstanding, this Agreement shall be inapplicable to any debtor-in-possession financing that may be provided by any Secured Party to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in any Federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, and no consent or approval of any other Secured Party shall be required as a condition to the provision by any Secured Party of any such financing, and no other Secured Party shall be entitled to share in any Lien upon any Collateral granted to any Secured Party to secure repayment of such debtor-in-possession financing; provided , that no Secured Party shall be barred from objecting to any such financing on the basis of adequate protection or any other grounds.

 

5.02          Turnover of Collateral . If a Secured Party acquires custody, control or possession of any Collateral or the Proceeds therefrom, other than pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or on account of any payment that is not expressly prohibited hereby, such Secured Party shall promptly (but in any event within five (5) Business Days) cause such Collateral or Proceeds to be Delivered in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. Until such time as such Secured Party shall have complied with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, such Secured Party shall be deemed to hold such Collateral and Proceeds in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent.

 

5.03          Cooperation of Secured Parties . Each Secured Party will cooperate with the Collateral Agent and with each other Secured Party in the enforcement of the Liens upon the Collateral and otherwise in order to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the Security Documents.

 

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5.04          Limitation upon Certain Independent Actions by Secured Parties . No Secured Party shall have any right to institute any action or proceeding to enforce any term or provision of the Security Documents or to enforce any of its rights in respect of the Collateral or to exercise any other remedy pursuant to the Security Documents or at law or in equity, for the purpose of realizing on the Collateral, or by reason of jeopardy of any Collateral, or for the execution of any trust or power hereunder (collectively, the “ Specified Actions ”), unless the Required Secured Parties have delivered written instructions to the Collateral Agent and the Collateral Agent shall have failed to act in accordance with such instructions within thirty (30) days thereafter. In such case but not otherwise, the Required Secured Parties may appoint one Person to act on behalf of the Secured Parties solely to take any of the Specified Actions (the “ Appointed Party ”), and, upon the acceptance of its appointment as Appointed Party, the Appointed Party shall be entitled to commence proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction or to take any other Specified Actions as the Collateral Agent might have taken pursuant to this Agreement or the Security Documents (in accordance with the directions of the Required Secured Parties). The Obligors acknowledge and agree that should the Appointed Party act in accordance with this provision, such Appointed Party will have all the rights, remedies, benefits and powers as are granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant hereto or pursuant to any Security Documents.

 

5.05          No Challenges . In no event shall any Secured Party take any action to challenge, contest or dispute the validity, extent, enforceability, or priority of the Collateral Agent’s Liens hereunder or under any other Security Document with respect to any of the Collateral, or that would have the effect of invalidating any such Lien or support any Person who takes any such action. Each of the Secured Parties agrees that it will not take any action to challenge, contest or dispute the validity, enforceability or secured status of any other Secured Party’s claims against any Obligor (other than any such claim resulting from a breach of this Agreement by a Secured Party, or any challenge, contest or dispute alleging arithmetical error in the determination of a claim), or that would have the effect of invalidating any such claim, or support any Person who takes any such action.

 

5.06          Rights of Secured Parties as to Secured Obligations . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the right of each Secured Party to receive payment of the Secured Obligations held by such Secured Party when due (whether at the stated maturity thereof, by acceleration or otherwise) as expressed in any instrument evidencing or agreement governing such Secured Obligations, or to institute suit for the enforcement of such payment on or after such due date, and the obligation of the Obligors to pay their respective Secured Obligations when due, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Secured Party given in accordance with the Debt Documents to which such Secured Party is a party or its Secured Obligations are bound; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, each Secured Party agrees that it will not attempt to exercise remedies with respect to any Collateral except as provided in this Agreement.

 

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Section 6.           Designation of Designated Indebtedness; Recordkeeping, Etc.

 

6.01          Designation of Other Indebtedness . The Borrower may at any time designate as “Designated Indebtedness” hereunder any other Indebtedness intended by the Borrower to be secured by the Collateral, provided that such Designated Indebtedness satisfies at the time of incurrence thereof the terms and conditions of the definition of “Secured Longer-Term Indebtedness” in the Revolving Credit Agreement, and Section 6.01(b)(ii) and the other provisions of the Revolving Credit Agreement (as long as the Revolving Credit Agreement Obligations are outstanding (other than unasserted contingent obligations)), such designation to be effected by delivery to the Collateral Agent of a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit A or in such other form approved by the Collateral Agent (a “ Notice of Designation ”), which notice shall identify such Indebtedness, provide that such Indebtedness be designated as “Designated Indebtedness” hereunder and be accompanied by a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower delivered to the Revolving Administrative Agent, each Financing Agent, each Designated Indebtedness Holder party hereto and the Collateral Agent:

 

(a)          certifying that such Indebtedness satisfies the conditions of this Section 6.01 and the Revolving Credit Agreement, and that after giving effect to such designation and the incurrence of such Designated Indebtedness, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(b)          attaching (and certifying as true and complete) copies of the Designated Indebtedness Documents for such Designated Indebtedness (including all schedules and exhibits, and all amendments or supplements, thereto); and

 

(c)          identifying the Financing Agent, if any, for such Designated Indebtedness (or, if there is no Financing Agent for such Designated Indebtedness, identifying each holder of such Designated Indebtedness).

 

No such designation shall be effective unless and until the Borrower and such Financing Agent (or, if there is no Financing Agent, each holder of such Designated Indebtedness) shall have executed and delivered to the Collateral Agent an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, appropriately completed and duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, pursuant to which such Financing Agent (or, if there is no Financing Agent, such holder) shall have become a party hereto and assumed the obligations of a Financing Agent (or holder) hereunder, as applicable.

 

6.02          Recordkeeping . The Collateral Agent will maintain books and records necessary to enable it to determine at any time all transactions under this Agreement which have occurred on or prior to such time. Each Obligor agrees that such books and records maintained in good faith by the Collateral Agent shall be conclusive as to the matters contained therein absent manifest error. Each Obligor shall have the right to inspect such books and records at any time upon reasonable prior notice. In the event of any conflict between the books and records maintained by any Secured Party and the books and records of the Collateral Agent in respect of such matters, the books and records of the Collateral Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

  

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Section 7.           Covenants of the Obligors . In furtherance of the grant of the security interest pursuant to Section 4, each Obligor hereby agrees with the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties as follows:

 

7.01          Delivery and Other Perfection .

 

(a)          With respect to any Portfolio Investment or other Collateral as to which physical possession by the Collateral Agent or the Custodian is required in order for such Portfolio Investment or Collateral to have been “Delivered”, such Obligor shall take such actions as shall be necessary to effect Delivery thereof on or prior to the Closing Date and within ten (10) days after the acquisition thereof by an Obligor with respect to any such Portfolio Investment or Collateral acquired after the Closing Date. As to all other Collateral, such Obligor shall cause the same to be Delivered within three (3) Business Days of the acquisition thereof, provided that Delivery shall not be required with respect to (1) accounts of the type described in clauses (A) – (E) of Section 7.06 to the extent set forth therein, and (2) immaterial assets so long as (x) such assets are not included in the Borrowing Base, (y) the Collateral Agent has a perfected first priority lien (subject to Eligible Liens) on such assets and no other Person exercises Control over such assets and such assets have not been otherwise “Delivered” to any other Person, and (z) the aggregate value of such assets described in this Section 7.01(a)(2) does not at any time exceed $75,000. In addition, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Obligor shall promptly from time to time give, execute, deliver, file, record, authorize or obtain all such financing statements, continuation statements, notices, instruments, documents, account control agreements or any other agreements or consents or other papers as may be necessary in the reasonable judgment of the Collateral Agent to create, preserve, perfect, maintain the perfection of or validate the security interest granted pursuant hereto or to enable the Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce its rights hereunder with respect to such security interest, and without limiting the foregoing, shall:

 

(i)          keep full and accurate books and records relating to the Collateral in all material respects; and

 

(ii)         subject to compliance with Section 9.13 of the Revolving Credit Agreement and analogous clauses in other Debt Documents permit representatives of the Collateral Agent, upon reasonable notice, at any time during normal business hours to inspect and make abstracts from its books and records pertaining to the Collateral, and permit representatives of the Collateral Agent to be present at such Obligor’s place of business to receive copies of communications and remittances relating to the Collateral, and forward copies of any notices or communications received by such Obligor with respect to the Collateral, all in such manner as the Collateral Agent may reasonably require; provided that each such Obligor shall be entitled to have its representatives and advisors present during any inspection of its books and records at such Obligor’s place of business.

 

(b)          Unless released from the Collateral pursuant to Section 10.03(e) or (f), once any Portfolio Investment has been Delivered, the Obligors shall not take or permit any action that would result in such Portfolio Investment no longer being Delivered hereunder and shall promptly from time to time give, execute, deliver, file, record, authorize or obtain all such financing statements, continuation statements, notices, instruments, documents, account control agreements or any other agreements or consents or other papers as may be necessary or desirable in the reasonable judgment of the Collateral Agent to continue the Delivered status of any Collateral. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligors shall not terminate any arrangement with the Custodian unless and until a successor Custodian reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent has been appointed and has executed all documentation necessary to continue the Delivered status of the Collateral, which documentation shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

 

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7.02          Name; Jurisdiction of Organization, Etc.   Each Obligor agrees that (a) without providing at least twenty (20) days prior written notice to the Collateral Agent (or such shorter period as may be approved by the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion), such Obligor will not change its name, its place of business or, if more than one, chief executive office, or its mailing address or organizational identification number if it has one, (b) if such Obligor does not have an organizational identification number and later obtains one, such Obligor will forthwith notify the Collateral Agent of such organizational identification number, and (c) such Obligor will not change its type of organization, jurisdiction of organization or other legal structure unless such change is specifically permitted hereby or by the Revolving Credit Agreement and such Obligor provides the Collateral Agent with at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of such permitted change (or such shorter period as may be approved by the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion).

 

7.03          Other Liens, Financing Statements or Control . Except as otherwise permitted under the Revolving Credit Agreement (as long as any of the Revolving Credit Agreement Obligations are outstanding (other than unasserted contingent obligations)) and the applicable provisions of each other Debt Document, the Obligors shall not (a) create or suffer to exist any Lien upon or with respect to any Collateral, (b) file or suffer to be on file, or authorize or permit to be filed or to be on file, in any jurisdiction, any financing statement or like instrument with respect to any of the Collateral in which the Collateral Agent is not named as the sole Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, or (c) cause or permit any Person other than the Collateral Agent to have “control” (within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code) of any Deposit Account, Electronic Chattel Paper, Investment Property or Letter-of-Credit Right constituting part of the Collateral.

 

7.04          Transfer of Collateral . Except as otherwise permitted under the Revolving Credit Agreement (as long as any of the Revolving Credit Agreement Obligations are outstanding (other than unasserted contingent obligations)) and the other Debt Documents, the Obligors shall not sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of any Collateral.

 

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7.05          Additional Subsidiary Guarantors . As contemplated by the Revolving Credit Agreement, new Subsidiaries (other than a CFC or Transparent Subsidiary (each as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) or Financing Subsidiary) of the Borrower formed or acquired by the Borrower after the date hereof, Subsidiaries of the Borrower that after the date hereof cease to constitute Florida Sidecar Subsidiaries (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement), CFCs, Transparent Subsidiaries or Financing Subsidiaries under the Revolving Credit Agreement, and any other Person that otherwise becomes a Subsidiary (other than a Financing Subsidiary, CFC or Transparent Subsidiary) within the meaning of the definition thereof, are required to become a “Subsidiary Guarantor” under this Agreement, by executing and delivering to the Collateral Agent a Guarantee Assumption Agreement in the form of Exhibit B hereto; provided , however , that, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement or any Debt Document, no CFC or Transparent Subsidiary will be required to become a “Subsidiary Guarantor”. Accordingly, upon the execution and delivery of any such Guarantee Assumption Agreement by any such Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall automatically and immediately, and without any further action on the part of any Person, become a “Subsidiary Guarantor” and an “Obligor” for all purposes of this Agreement, and Annexes 2.05 , 2.07 , 2.08 , 2.09 , 2.10 and 2.11 hereto shall be deemed to be supplemented in the manner specified in such Guarantee Assumption Agreement. In addition, upon execution and delivery of any such Guarantee Assumption Agreement, the new Subsidiary Guarantor makes the representations and warranties set forth in Section 2 as of the date of such Guarantee Assumption Agreement and shall be permitted to update the Annexes with respect to such Subsidiary.

 

7.06          Control Agreements . No Obligor shall open or maintain any account with any bank, securities intermediary or commodities intermediary (other than (A) any such accounts that are maintained by the Borrower in its capacity as “servicer” for a Financing Subsidiary or any Agency Account, (B) any such accounts which hold solely money or financial assets of a Financing Subsidiary, (C) any payroll account so long as such payroll account is coded as such, (D) withholding tax and fiduciary accounts or any trust account maintained solely on behalf of a Portfolio Investment, and (E) any account in which the aggregate value of deposits therein, together with all other such accounts under this clause (E), does not at any time exceed $75,000, provided that in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (A) through (E), no other Person (other than the depository institution at which such account is maintained) shall have “control” over such account (within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code) and such account shall not have been otherwise “Delivered” to any other Person), unless such Obligor has notified the Collateral Agent of such account and the Collateral Agent has NYUCC Control over such account pursuant to a control agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

 

7.07          Revolving Credit Agreement . Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees to perform, comply with and be bound by the covenants of the Revolving Credit Agreement (as long as any of the Revolving Credit Agreement Obligations are outstanding (other than unasserted contingent obligations)) (which provisions are incorporated herein by reference), applicable to such Subsidiary Guarantor as if each Subsidiary Guarantor were a signatory to the Revolving Credit Agreement.

 

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7.08          Pledged Equity Interests .

 

(a)          In the event any Obligor acquires rights in any Pledged Equity Interest after the date hereof or any Excluded Equity Interest held by any Obligor becomes a Pledged Equity Interest after the date hereof because it ceases to constitute an Excluded Equity Interest, such Obligor shall deliver to the Collateral Agent a completed Pledge Supplement, together with all supplements to Annexes thereto, reflecting such new Pledged Equity Interests. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that the security interest of the Collateral Agent shall attach to all Pledged Equity Interests immediately upon any Obligor’s acquisition of rights therein and shall not be affected by the failure of any Obligor to deliver a supplement to Annex 2.07 as required hereby;

 

(b)          Without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent, no Obligor shall vote to enable or take any other action to: (a) amend or terminate any partnership agreement, limited liability company agreement, certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents in any way that materially and adversely changes the rights of such Obligor with respect to any Pledged Equity Interest or that adversely affects the validity, perfection or priority of the Collateral Agent’s security interest or the ability of the Collateral Agent to exercise its rights and remedies under this Agreement with respect to such Pledged Equity Interest, (b) other than as permitted under the Revolving Credit Agreement and each other Debt Document, permit any issuer of any Pledged Equity Interest to dispose of all or a material portion of their assets, or (c) cause any issuer of any Pledged Equity Interests which are interests in a partnership or limited liability company and which are not securities (for purposes of the NYUCC) on the date hereof to elect or otherwise take any action to cause such Pledged Equity Interests to be treated as securities for purposes of the NYUCC; except if such Obligor shall promptly notify the Collateral Agent in writing of any such election or action and, in such event, shall take all steps necessary or advisable in the Collateral Agent’s reasonable discretion to establish the Collateral Agent’s NYUCC Control thereof; and

 

(c)          Each Obligor consents to the grant by each other Obligor of a security interest in all Pledged Equity Interests to the Collateral Agent and, without limiting the foregoing, consents to the transfer of any Pledged Equity Interest to the Collateral Agent or its nominee following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default and to the substitution of the Collateral Agent or its nominee as a partner in any partnership or as a member in any limited liability company with all the rights and powers related thereto.

 

7.09          Voting Rights, Dividends, Etc. in Respect of Pledged Interests .

 

(a)          So long as no Event of Default or Trigger Event shall have occurred and be continuing:

 

(i)          each Obligor may exercise any and all voting and other consensual rights pertaining to any Pledged Interests for any purpose not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement or any Debt Document; provided , however , that (A) each Obligor will give the Collateral Agent at least five (5) Business Days’ notice of the manner in which it intends to exercise, or the reasons for refraining from exercising, any such right that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect in any material respect the value, liquidity or marketability of any Collateral or the creation, perfection and priority of the Collateral Agent’s Lien; and (B) none of the Obligors will exercise or refrain from exercising any such right, as the case may be, if the Collateral Agent gives an Obligor notice that, in the Collateral Agent’s judgment, such action (or inaction) could reasonably be expected to adversely affect in any material respect the value, liquidity or marketability of any Collateral or the creation, perfection and priority of the Collateral Agent’s Lien or the ability of the Collateral Agent to exercise its rights and remedies under this Agreement with respect to such Pledged Interest;

 

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(ii)         each of the Obligors may receive and retain any and all dividends, interest or other distributions paid in respect of the Pledged Interests to the extent not prohibited by the Debt Documents; provided , however , that (except with respect to any Pledged Debt that is also a Portfolio Investment) any and all (A) dividends and interest paid or payable other than in cash in respect of, and Instruments and other property received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for, any Pledged Interests, (B) dividends and other distributions paid or payable in cash in respect of any Pledged Interests in connection with a partial or total liquidation or dissolution or in connection with a reduction of capital, capital surplus or paid-in surplus, and (C) cash paid, payable or otherwise distributed in redemption of, or in exchange for, any Pledged Interests, together with any dividend, interest or other distribution or payment which at the time of such payment was not permitted by the Debt Documents, shall constitute Collateral, be Delivered hereunder and remain subject to the Lien of the Collateral Agent to hold as Pledged Interests, and shall, if received by any of the Obligors, be received in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, shall be segregated from the other property or funds of the Obligors, and shall be forthwith delivered to the Collateral Agent in the exact form received with any necessary indorsement and/or appropriate stock powers duly executed in blank, to be held by the Collateral Agent as Pledged Interests and as further collateral security for the Secured Obligations, provided that the Obligors shall be permitted to take any action with respect to cash described in clauses (B) and (C) not prohibited by the other Debt Documents; and

 

(iii)        the Collateral Agent will execute and deliver (or cause to be executed and delivered) to any Obligor all such proxies and other instruments as such Obligor may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling such Obligor to exercise the voting and other rights which it is entitled to exercise pursuant to Section 7.09(a)(i) hereof and to receive the dividends, interest and/or other distributions which it is authorized to receive and retain pursuant to Section 7.09(a)(ii) hereof.

 

(b)          Automatically upon the occurrence of a Trigger Event, and upon the election of the Collateral Agent upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

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(i)          all rights of each Obligor to exercise the voting and other consensual rights which it would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to Section 7.09(a)(i) hereof, and to receive the dividends, distributions, interest and other payments that it would otherwise be authorized to receive and retain pursuant to Section 7.09(a)(ii) hereof, shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral Agent, which shall thereupon have the sole right to exercise such voting and other consensual rights and to receive and hold as Pledged Interests such dividends, distributions and interest payments;

 

(ii)         the Collateral Agent is authorized to notify each debtor with respect to the Pledged Debt or other Portfolio Investments to make payment directly to the Collateral Agent (or its designee) and may collect any and all moneys due or to become due to any Obligor in respect of the Pledged Debt or other Portfolio Investments, and each of the Obligors hereby authorizes each such debtor to make such payment directly to the Collateral Agent (or its designee) without any duty of inquiry;

 

(iii)        without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Collateral Agent may at its option exercise any and all rights of conversion, exchange, subscription or any other rights, privileges or options pertaining to any of the Pledged Interests or any Portfolio Investments as if it were the absolute owner thereof, including the right to exchange, in its discretion, any and all of the Pledged Interests or any Portfolio Investments upon the merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or other adjustment of any issuer thereof, or upon the exercise by any such issuer of any right, privilege or option pertaining to any Pledged Interests or any Portfolio Investments, and, in connection therewith, to deposit and deliver any and all of the Pledged Interests or any Portfolio Investments with any committee, depository, transfer agent, registrar or other designated agent upon such terms and conditions as it may determine; and

 

(iv)        all dividends, distributions, interest and other payments that are received by any of the Obligors contrary to the provisions of Section 7.09(b)(i) hereof shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, shall be segregated from other funds of the Obligors, and shall be forthwith paid over to the Collateral Agent as Pledged Interests in the exact form received with any necessary indorsement and/or appropriate stock powers duly executed in blank, to be held by the Collateral Agent as Pledged Interests and as further collateral security for the Secured Obligations.

 

7.10          Commercial Tort Claims . Each Obligor agrees that with respect to any Commercial Tort Claim in excess of $100,000 individually hereafter arising it shall deliver to the Collateral Agent a completed Pledge Supplement, together with all supplements to Annexes thereto, identifying such new Commercial Tort Claims.

 

7.11          Intellectual Property . Each Obligor hereby covenants and agrees as follows:

 

(a)          it shall not do any act or omit to do any act whereby any of the Intellectual Property which such Obligor determines in its reasonable business judgment is material to the business of such Obligor may lapse, or become abandoned, dedicated to the public, or unenforceable, or which would adversely affect the validity, grant, or enforceability of the security interest granted therein;

 

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(b)          it shall not, with respect to any Trademarks which such Obligor determines in its reasonable business judgment are material to the business of such Obligor, cease the use of any of such Trademarks or fail to maintain the level of the quality of products sold and services rendered under any such Trademarks at a level which such Obligor determines in its reasonable business judgment to be appropriate to maintain the value of such Trademarks, and each Obligor shall take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that licensees of such Trademarks use such consistent standards of quality;

 

(c)          it shall promptly notify the Collateral Agent if it knows or has reason to know that any item of the Intellectual Property that is material to the business of any Obligor may become (a) abandoned or dedicated to the public or placed in the public domain, (b) invalid or unenforceable, or (c) subject to any adverse determination or development (including the institution of proceedings) in any action or proceeding in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office, any state registry, any foreign counterpart of the foregoing, or any court, other than in the ordinary course of prosecuting and/or maintaining the applications or registrations of such Intellectual Property;

 

(d)          it shall take all reasonable steps in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office, any state registry or any foreign counterpart of the foregoing, to pursue any application and maintain any registration of each Trademark, Patent, and Copyright owned by any Obligor that such Obligor determines in its reasonable business judgment is material to its business which is now or shall become included in the Intellectual Property Collateral;

 

(e)          in the event that it has knowledge that any Intellectual Property owned by or exclusively licensed to any Obligor is infringed, misappropriated, or diluted by a third party, such Obligor shall, except as it determines otherwise in its reasonable business judgment, promptly take all reasonable actions to stop such infringement, misappropriation, or dilution and protect its rights in such Intellectual Property including, but not limited to, the initiation of a suit for injunctive relief and to recover damages;

 

(f)          it shall promptly (but in no event more than thirty (30) days after any Obligor obtains knowledge thereof) report to the Collateral Agent (i) the filing by or on behalf of such Obligor of any application to register any Intellectual Property with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office, or any state registry or foreign counterpart of the foregoing and (ii) the registration of any Intellectual Property owned by such Obligor by any such office, in each case by executing and delivering to the Collateral Agent a completed Pledge Supplement, together with all supplements to Annexes thereto;

 

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(g)          it shall, promptly upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Agent, execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent any document required to acknowledge, confirm, register, record, or perfect the Collateral Agent’s interest in any part of the Intellectual Property Collateral, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by or on behalf of such Obligor, including intellectual property security agreements in the form of Exhibit C hereto;

 

(h)          it shall hereafter use commercially reasonable efforts so as not to permit the inclusion in any contract to which it hereafter becomes a party of any provision that could or might in any way materially impair or prevent the creation of a security interest in, or the assignment of, such Obligor’s rights and interests in any property included within the definitions of any Intellectual Property acquired under such contracts;

 

(i)          it shall take all steps reasonably necessary to protect the secrecy of all Trade Secrets, including entering into confidentiality agreements with its employees and labeling and restricting access to secret information and documents; and

 

(j)          it shall continue to collect, at its own expense, all amounts due or to become due to such Obligor in respect of the Intellectual Property Collateral or any portion thereof. In connection with such collections, each Obligor may take (and, while an Event of Default exists, at the Collateral Agent’s reasonable direction, shall take) such action as such Obligor or the Collateral Agent may deem reasonably necessary or advisable to enforce collection of such amounts. Notwithstanding the foregoing, while an Event of Default exists, the Collateral Agent shall have the right at any time, to notify, or require any Obligor to notify, any obligors with respect to any such amounts of the existence of the security interest created hereby.

 

Section 8.           Acceleration Notice; Remedies; Distribution of Collateral .

 

8.01          Notice of Acceleration . Upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of a written notice from any Secured Party which (i) expressly refers to this Agreement, (ii) describes an event or condition which has occurred and is continuing and (iii) expressly states that such event or condition constitutes an Acceleration as defined herein, the Collateral Agent shall promptly notify each other party hereto of the receipt and contents thereof (any such notice is referred to herein as a “ Acceleration Notice ”).

 

8.02          Preservation of Rights . The Collateral Agent shall not be required to take steps necessary to preserve any rights against prior parties to any of the Collateral.

 

8.03          Events of Default, Etc . During the period during which an Event of Default or a Trigger Event shall have occurred and be continuing:

 

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(a)          each Obligor shall, at the request of the Collateral Agent, assemble the Collateral owned by it at such place or places, reasonably convenient to both the Collateral Agent and such Obligor, designated in the Collateral Agent’s request;

 

(b)          the Collateral Agent may make any reasonable compromise or settlement deemed desirable with respect to any of the Collateral and may extend the time of payment, arrange for payment in installments, or otherwise modify the terms of, any of the Collateral;

 

(c)          the Collateral Agent shall have all of the rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code (whether or not the Uniform Commercial Code is in effect in the jurisdiction where the rights and remedies are asserted) and such additional rights and remedies to which a secured party is entitled under the laws in effect in any jurisdiction where any rights and remedies hereunder may be asserted, including the right, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to exercise all voting, consensual and other powers of ownership pertaining to the Collateral as if the Collateral Agent were the sole and absolute owner thereof (and each Obligor agrees to take all such action as may be appropriate to give effect to such right);

 

(d)          the Collateral Agent in its discretion may, in its name or in the name of any Obligor or otherwise, demand, sue for, collect or receive any money or property at any time payable or receivable on account of or in exchange for any of the Collateral, but shall be under no obligation to do so; and

 

(e)          the Collateral Agent may, upon reasonable prior notice (provided that at least ten (10) Business Days’ prior notice shall be deemed to be reasonable) to the Obligors of the time and place (or, if such sale is to take place on the NYSE or any other established exchange or market, prior to the time of such sale or other disposition), with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof which shall then be or shall thereafter come into the possession, custody or control of the Collateral Agent, the other Secured Parties or any of their respective agents, sell, assign or otherwise dispose of all or any part of such Collateral, at such place or places as the Collateral Agent deems appropriate, and for cash or for credit or for future delivery (without thereby assuming any credit risk), at public or private sale, without demand of performance or notice of intention to effect any such disposition or of the time or place thereof (except such notice as is required above or by applicable statute and cannot be waived), and the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party or anyone else may be the purchaser, assignee or recipient of any or all of the Collateral so disposed of at any public sale (or, to the extent permitted by law, at any private sale) and thereafter, to the fullest extent permitted by law, hold the same absolutely, free from any claim or right of whatsoever kind, including any right or equity of redemption (statutory or otherwise), of the Obligors, any such demand, notice and right or equity being hereby expressly waived and released, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

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The Collateral Agent may, without notice or publication, adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed for the sale, and such sale may be made at any time or place to which the sale may be so adjourned.

 

The proceeds of each collection, sale or other disposition under this Section 8.03 shall be applied in accordance with Section 8.06.

 

The Obligors recognize that, by reason of certain prohibitions contained in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state securities laws, the Collateral Agent may be compelled, with respect to any sale of all or any part of the Collateral, to limit purchasers to those who will agree, among other things, to acquire the Collateral for their own account, for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. The Obligors acknowledge that any such private sales may be at prices and on terms less favorable to the Collateral Agent than those obtainable through a public sale without such restrictions, and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agree that to the extent any such private sale is conducted by the Collateral Agent in a commercially reasonable manner, the Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to engage in public sales and no obligation to delay the sale of any Collateral for the period of time necessary to permit the Obligors, or the issuer thereof, to register it for public sale.

 

8.04          Deficiency . If the proceeds of sale, collection or other realization of or upon the Collateral pursuant to Section 8.03 are insufficient to cover the costs and expenses of such realization and the payment in full of the Secured Obligations, the Obligors shall remain liable for any deficiency.

 

8.05          Private Sale . The Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties shall incur no liability as a result of the sale of the Collateral, or any part thereof, at any private sale pursuant to Section 8.03 conducted in a commercially reasonable manner. Each Obligor hereby waives any claims against the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party arising by reason of the fact that the price at which the Collateral may have been sold at such a private sale was less than the price which might have been obtained at a public sale or was less than the aggregate amount of the Secured Obligations, even if the Collateral Agent accepts the first offer received and does not offer the Collateral to more than one offeree, so long as such private sale was conducted in a commercially reasonable manner.

 

8.06          Application of Proceeds . Except as otherwise herein expressly provided, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default pursuant to the exercise of any remedies under this Section 8, the proceeds of any collection, sale or other realization of all or any part of the Collateral of any Obligor (including any other cash of any Obligor at the time held by the Collateral Agent under this Agreement) shall be applied by the Collateral Agent as follows:

 

First , to the payment of costs and expenses of such collection, sale or other realization, including reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Collateral Agent and the reasonable fees and expenses of its agents and counsel, and all expenses incurred and advances made by the Collateral Agent in connection therewith;

 

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Second , to the payment of any fees and other amounts then owing by such Obligor to the Collateral Agent in its capacity as such;

 

Third , to the payment of the Secured Obligations of such Obligor then due and payable, in each case to each Secured Party ratably in accordance with the amount of Secured Obligations then due and payable to such Secured Party (it being understood that, for the purposes hereof, the outstanding principal amount of the Loans under the Revolving Credit Agreement shall be deemed then due and payable whether or not any Acceleration of such loans has occurred); and

 

Fourth , after application as provided in clauses “ First ”, “ Second ”, and “ Third ” above, to the payment to the respective Obligor, or their respective successors or assigns, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct, of any surplus then remaining.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, payments made pursuant to Section 2.08(b), (c), (d) or (e) of the Revolving Credit Agreement (or any analogous provisions in any amendment, modification, supplement, amendment, restatement, extension, refinancing or replacement thereof) shall not be subject to this Section 8.06 or to Section 5.02, unless the Collateral Agent, after the occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default, has directed the actions giving rise to such payments.

 

In making the allocations required by this Section 8, the Collateral Agent may rely upon its records and information supplied to it pursuant to Section 9.02, and the Collateral Agent shall have no liability to any of the other Secured Parties for actions taken in reliance on such information, except to the extent of its gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. The Collateral Agent may, in its sole discretion, at the time of any application under this Section 8, withhold all or any portion of the proceeds otherwise to be applied to the Secured Obligations as provided above and maintain the same in a segregated cash collateral account in the name and under the exclusive Control of the Collateral Agent, to the extent that it in good faith believes that the information provided to it pursuant to Section 9.02 is either incomplete or inaccurate and that application of the full amount of such proceeds to the Secured Obligations would be disadvantageous to any Secured Party. All distributions made by the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 8 shall be final (subject to any decree of any court of competent jurisdiction), and the Collateral Agent shall have no duty to inquire as to the application by the other Secured Parties of any amounts distributed to them.

 

Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to any Subsidiary Guarantor shall not be paid with amounts received from such Subsidiary Guarantor or its assets, but appropriate adjustments shall be made with respect to payments from other Obligors to preserve the allocation to Secured Obligations otherwise set forth above in this Section 8.06 .

 

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8.07          Attorney-in-Fact . Without limiting any rights or powers granted by this Agreement to the Collateral Agent while no Event of Default or Trigger Event has occurred and is continuing, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default or Trigger Event, the Collateral Agent is hereby appointed the attorney-in-fact of each Obligor for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Section 8 and taking any action and executing any instruments which the Collateral Agent may reasonably deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof, which appointment as attorney-in-fact is irrevocable and coupled with an interest. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, so long as the Collateral Agent shall be entitled under this Section 8 to make collections in respect of the Collateral, the Collateral Agent shall have the right and power to receive, endorse and collect all checks made payable to the order of any Obligor representing any dividend, payment or other distribution in respect of the Collateral or any part thereof and to give full discharge for the same.

 

8.08          Grant of Intellectual Property License . For the purpose of enabling the Collateral Agent, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default or a Trigger Event, to exercise rights and remedies hereunder at such time as the Collateral Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, each Obligor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, if and only to the extent of such Obligor’s rights to grant the same, an irrevocable, non-exclusive license to use, assign, license or sublicense any of the Intellectual Property Collateral (other than any Excluded Assets) now owned or hereafter acquired by such Obligor. Such license shall include access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer programs used for the compilation or printout thereof.

 

8.09          Authority . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall the Collateral Agent take, or be permitted to take, any enforcement action with respect to the Collateral without at least three (3) Business Days prior notice to the Secured Parties, and will refrain from taking such enforcement action if so directed by the Required Secured Parties during such three (3) Business Day period, provided that the Collateral Agent may take such enforcement action during such three (3) Business Day period if so directed by the Required Secured Parties.

 

Section 9.           The Collateral Agent .

 

9.01          Appointment; Powers and Immunities . Each Revolving Lender, the Revolving Administrative Agent, each Financing Agent and, by acceptance of the benefits of this Agreement and the other Security Documents, each Designated Indebtedness Holder hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes ING to act as its agent hereunder with such powers as are specifically delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms of this Agreement, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Collateral Agent (which term as used in this sentence and in Section 9.06 and the first sentence of Section 9.07 shall include reference to its Affiliates and its own and its Affiliates’ officers, directors, employees and agents):

 

(a)          shall have no duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and shall not by reason of this Agreement be a trustee for, or a fiduciary with respect to, any Revolving Lender, Financing Agent or any Designated Indebtedness Holder;

 

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(b)          shall not be responsible to the Revolving Lenders, the Revolving Administrative Agent, the Financing Agents or the Designated Indebtedness Holders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties contained in this Agreement or in any notice delivered hereunder, or in any other certificate or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by it under, this Agreement, or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other document referred to or provided for herein or therein or for any failure by the Obligors or any other Person to perform any of its obligations hereunder;

 

(c)          shall not be required to initiate or conduct any litigation or collection proceedings hereunder except, subject to Section 9.07, for any such litigation or proceedings relating to the enforcement of the guarantee set forth in Section 3, or the Liens created pursuant to Section 4; and

 

(d)          shall not be responsible for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it hereunder or under any other document or instrument referred to or provided for herein or therein or in connection herewith or therewith, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment.

 

9.02          Information Regarding Secured Parties . The Borrower will at such times and from time to time as shall be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent, supply a list in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent setting forth the amount of the Secured Obligations held by each Secured Party (excluding, so long as ING is both the Collateral Agent and the Revolving Administrative Agent, the Revolving Credit Agreement Obligations) as at a date specified in such request. The Collateral Agent shall provide any such list to any Secured Party upon request. The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely upon such information, and such information shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes of this Agreement, except to the extent the Collateral Agent shall have been notified by a Secured Party in writing that such information as set forth on any such list is inaccurate or in dispute between such Secured Party and the Borrower.

 

9.03          Reliance by Collateral Agent . The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any certification, notice or other communication (including any thereof by telephone, telecopy, telex, telegram, cable or electronic mail) believed by it in good faith to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by or on behalf of the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel, independent accountants and other experts selected by the Collateral Agent. As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, hereunder or thereunder in accordance with instructions given by the Required Secured Parties and such instructions of the Required Secured Parties and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding on all of the Secured Parties. If in one or more instances the Collateral Agent takes any action or assumes any responsibility not specifically delegated to it pursuant to this Agreement, neither the taking of such action nor the assumption of such responsibility shall be deemed to be an express or implied undertaking on the part of the Collateral Agent that it will take the same or similar action or assume the same or similar responsibility in any other instance.

 

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9.04          Rights as a Secured Party . With respect to its obligation to extend credit under the Revolving Credit Agreement, ING (and any successor acting as Collateral Agent) in its capacity as a Revolving Lender under the Revolving Credit Agreement shall have the same rights and powers hereunder as any other Secured Party and may exercise the same as though it were not acting as Collateral Agent, and the term “Secured Party” or “Secured Parties” shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, include the Collateral Agent in its individual capacity. ING (and any successor acting as Collateral Agent) and its Affiliates may (without having to account therefor to any other Secured Party) accept deposits from, lend money to, make investments in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with any of the Obligors (and any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates) as if it were not acting as Collateral Agent, and ING and its Affiliates may accept fees and other consideration from any of the Obligors for services in connection with this Agreement or otherwise without having to account for the same to the other Secured Parties.

 

9.05          Indemnification . Each Revolving Lender and each Designated Indebtedness Holder by acceptance of the benefits of this Agreement and the other Security Documents agrees to indemnify the Collateral Agent and each Related Party of the Collateral Agent (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) (to the extent not reimbursed under Section 10.04, but without limiting the obligations of the Obligors under Section 10.04) ratably in accordance with the aggregate Secured Obligations held by the Revolving Lenders and the Designated Indebtedness Holders, for any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind and nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee (including by any other Secured Party) arising out of or by reason of any investigation in connection with or in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement, any other Debt Documents, or any other documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including the costs and expenses that the Obligors are obligated to pay under Section 10.04, but excluding, unless an Event of Default or a Trigger Event has occurred and is continuing, normal administrative costs and expenses incident to the performance of its agency duties hereunder) or the enforcement of any of the terms hereof or thereof or of any such other documents; provided , that no Revolving Lender or Designated Indebtedness Holder shall be liable for any of the foregoing to the extent they are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party to be indemnified.

 

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9.06          Non-Reliance on Collateral Agent and Other Secured Parties . The Revolving Administrative Agent and each Financing Agent (and each Revolving Lender and each Designated Indebtedness Holder by acceptance of the benefits of this Agreement and the other Security Documents) agrees that it has, independently and without reliance on the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis of the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors and their Subsidiaries and decision to extend credit to the Borrower in reliance on this Agreement and that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own analysis and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and any Debt Document to which it is a party. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Collateral Agent shall not be required to keep itself informed as to the performance or observance by any Obligor of this Agreement, any other Debt Document or any other document referred to or provided for herein or therein or to inspect the properties or books of any Obligor. The Collateral Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any other Secured Party with any credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition or business of any Obligor or any of its Subsidiaries (or any of their Affiliates) that may come into the possession of the Collateral Agent or any of its Affiliates, except for notices, reports and other documents and information expressly required to be furnished to the other Secured Parties by the Collateral Agent hereunder.

 

9.07          Failure to Act . Except for action expressly required of the Collateral Agent hereunder, the Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully justified in failing or refusing to act hereunder unless it shall receive further assurances to its satisfaction from the other Secured Parties of their indemnification obligations under Section 9.05 against any and all liability and expense that may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Collateral Agent shall not be required to take any action that in the judgment of the Collateral Agent would violate any applicable law.

 

9.08          Resignation of Collateral Agent . Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Collateral Agent as provided below, the Collateral Agent may resign at any time by giving notice thereof to the other Secured Parties and the Obligors. Upon any such resignation, the Required Secured Parties shall have the right, with the consent of the Borrower not to be unreasonably withheld provided that no such consent shall be required if an Event of Default or a Trigger Event has occurred and is continuing to appoint a successor Collateral Agent. If no successor Collateral Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Secured Parties and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Collateral Agent’s giving of written notice of resignation of the retiring Collateral Agent, then the retiring Collateral Agent may, on behalf of the other Secured Parties, appoint a successor Collateral Agent, that shall be a financial institution that has an office in New York, New York and has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of at least $1,000,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Collateral Agent hereunder by a successor Collateral Agent, such successor Collateral Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Collateral Agent, and the retiring Collateral Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. After any retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder as Collateral Agent, the provisions of this Section 9 shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as the Collateral Agent. The Borrower shall pay to any successor Collateral Agent the customary fees and charges necessary to induce such successor Collateral Agent to accept its appointment hereunder, such payment to be made as and when invoiced by the successor Collateral Agent.

 

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9.09          Agents and Attorneys-in-Fact . The Collateral Agent may employ agents and attorneys-in-fact in connection herewith and shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it and in good faith.

 

Section 10.          Miscellaneous .

 

10.01          Notices . All notices, requests, consents and other demands hereunder and other communications provided for herein shall be given or made in writing, (a) to any party hereto, telecopied, (to the extent provided in the Revolving Credit Agreement) emailed or delivered to the intended recipient at the “Address for Notices” specified below its name on the signature pages to this Agreement or, in the case of any Financing Agent or Designated Indebtedness Holder that shall become a party hereto after the date hereof, at such “Address for Notices” as shall be specified pursuant to or in connection with the joinder agreement executed and delivered by such Financing Agent or Designated Indebtedness Holder pursuant to Section 6.01 ( provided that notices to any Subsidiary Guarantor shall be given to such Subsidiary Guarantor care of the Borrower at the address for the Borrower specified herein) or (b) as to any party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to each other party. All notices to any Revolving Lender or Designated Indebtedness Holder that is not a party hereto shall be given to the Revolving Administrative Agent or Financing Agent for such Designated Indebtedness Holder.

 

10.02          No Waiver . No failure on the part of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to exercise, and no course of dealing with respect to, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise by any Secured Party of any right, power or remedy hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The remedies herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

 

10.03          Amendments to Security Documents, Etc.

 

Except as otherwise provided in any Security Document, the terms of this Agreement and the other Security Documents may be waived, altered or amended only by an instrument in writing duly executed by each Obligor and the Collateral Agent, with the consent of the Required Secured Parties; provided that:

 

(a)          no such amendment shall adversely affect the relative rights of any Secured Party as against any other Secured Party without the prior written consent of such first Secured Party;

 

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(b)          without the prior written consent of each of the Revolving Lenders under the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall not release all or substantially all of the collateral under the Security Documents or release all or substantially all of the Subsidiary Guarantors from their guarantee obligations under Section 3 hereof prior to the Termination Date (except that if any amounts have become due and payable in respect of any Designated Indebtedness Obligations or Hedging Agreement Obligations, and shall have remained unpaid for thirty (30) or more days, then the prior written consent (voting as a single group) of the holders of a majority in interest of the Designated Indebtedness Obligations and the Hedging Agreement Obligations, whichever of such obligations are then due and payable, will also be required to release all or substantially all of such collateral or guarantee obligations, whether before or after the Termination Date);

 

(c)          without the consent of each of the Secured Parties, no modification, supplement or waiver shall modify the definition of the term “Required Secured Parties” or modify in any other manner the number of percentage of the Secured Parties required to make any determinations or waive any rights under any Security Document;

 

(d)          without the consent of the Collateral Agent, no modification, supplement or waiver shall modify the terms of Section 9;

 

(e)          the Collateral Agent is authorized to release (and shall, within ten Business Days of written request by the Borrower, release) any Collateral that is either the subject of a disposition not prohibited under the Revolving Credit Agreement, or to which the Revolving Lenders, subject to the Revolving Credit Agreement, shall have consented and will, at the Obligors’ expense, execute and deliver to any Obligor such documents (including any UCC termination statements, lien releases, re-assignments of trademarks, discharges of security interests, and other similar discharge or release documents (and, if applicable, in recordable form)) as such Obligor shall reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted hereby; notwithstanding the foregoing, Portfolio Investments constituting Collateral shall be automatically released from the lien of this Agreement, without any action of the Collateral Agent, in connection with any disposition of Portfolio Investments that (i) occurs in the ordinary course of the Borrower’s business and (ii) is not prohibited under the Revolving Credit Agreement;

 

(f)          the Collateral Agent is authorized to release (and shall, within ten Business Days of written request by the Borrower, release) any Subsidiary Guarantor from any of its guarantee obligations under Section 3 hereof to the extent such Subsidiary is (x) the subject of a disposition not prohibited under the Debt Documents, (y) ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction not prohibited under the Debt Documents, or (z) to which the Required Secured Parties shall have consented, and, upon such release, the Collateral Agent is authorized to release (and shall release) any collateral security granted by such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder and under the other Security Documents; and

 

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(g)          this Section 10.03 shall be subject to the provisions related to “Defaulting Lenders” in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

 

Any such amendment or waiver shall be binding upon the Collateral Agent, each Secured Party and each Obligor. In connection with any release of Collateral from the lien of this Agreement and the other Security Documents, the Collateral Agent shall, within ten Business Days of written request by the Borrower (and at the sole cost and expense of the Borrower), (i) execute and deliver termination statements and other releases and instruments (in recordable form if appropriate) that the Collateral Agent reasonably believes is necessary to effect such release and (ii) otherwise take such actions as the Borrower may reasonably request in order to effect the release and transfer of such Collateral.

 

10.04          Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver .

 

(a)           Costs and Expenses . The Obligors hereby jointly and severally agree to reimburse the Collateral Agent and each of the other Secured Parties and their respective Affiliates for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses incurred by them (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of legal counsel (and excluding the allocated costs of internal counsel)) in connection with (i) any Event of Default or Trigger Event and any enforcement or collection proceeding resulting therefrom, including all manner of participation in or other involvement with (w) performance by the Collateral Agent of any obligations of the Obligors in respect of the Collateral that the Obligors have failed or refused to perform in the time period required under this Agreement, (x) bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, foreclosure, winding up or liquidation proceedings of any Obligor, or any actual or attempted sale, or any exchange, enforcement, collection, compromise or settlement in respect of any of the Collateral, and for the care of the Collateral and defending or asserting rights and claims of the Collateral Agent in respect thereof, by litigation or otherwise, including expenses of insurance, (y) judicial or regulatory proceedings arising from or related to this Agreement and (z) workout, restructuring or other negotiations or proceedings (whether or not the workout, restructuring or transaction contemplated thereby is consummated) and (ii) the enforcement of this Section 10.04, and all such costs and expenses shall be Secured Obligations entitled to the benefits of the collateral security provided pursuant to Section 4.

 

(b)           Indemnification by the Obligors . The Obligors shall indemnify each Indemnitee against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, charges and disbursements of one outside counsel for all Indemnitees (and, if reasonably necessary, of one local counsel in any relevant jurisdiction for all Indemnitees) unless, in the reasonable opinion of an Indemnitee, representation of all Indemnitees by such counsel would be inappropriate due to the existence of an actual or potential conflict of interest)), 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 or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder, or (ii) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and whether brought by the Borrower, any Indemnitee or a third party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (1) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the willful misconduct or gross negligence of such Indemnitee, (2) result from a claim brought against such Indemnitee for breach of such Indemnitee’s obligations under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, if there has been a final and nonappealable judgment against such Indemnitee on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or (3) result from a claim arising as a result of a dispute between Indemnitees (other than (x) any dispute involving claims against the Revolving Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Financing Agent, in each case in their respective capacities as such, and (y) claims arising out of any act or omission by any Obligor or its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that indemnification for Taxes (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) is subject to the provisions of Section 2.14 of the Revolving Credit Agreement and analogous provisions, if any, in Designated Indebtedness Documents.

 

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Neither the Borrower nor any Obligor shall be liable to any Indemnitee for any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages arising out of, in connection with, this Agreement asserted by an Indemnitee against the Borrower or any other Obligor, provided that the foregoing limitation shall not be deemed to impair or affect the Obligations of the Borrower under the preceding provisions of this subsection.

 

10.05          Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the Obligors and the Secured Parties; provided that none of the Obligors shall assign or transfer its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each of the Collateral Agent and the Revolving Administrative Agent.

 

10.06          Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution .

 

(a)           Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness . 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 and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Collateral Agent constitute the entire contract between and 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. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Collateral Agent and when the Collateral 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. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopy or electronic mail shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

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(b)           Electronic Execution of Assignments . The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature” shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

10.07          Severability . If any provision hereof is invalid and unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, (a) the other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect in such jurisdiction and shall be liberally construed in favor of the Secured Parties in order to carry out the intentions of the parties hereto as nearly as may be possible and (b) the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

10.08          Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction .

 

(a)           Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

 

(b)           Submission to Jurisdiction . Each Obligor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, 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 be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any Secured Party may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement against any Obligor or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

(c)           Waiver of Venue . Each Obligor 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 in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 10.08. 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)           Service of Process . Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

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10.09          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 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 10.09.

 

10.10          Headings . 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.

 

10.11          Termination . Promptly after the Termination Date and receipt of instructions from the Revolving Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.15 of the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall, on behalf of the Revolving Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Revolving Lenders, deliver to the Obligors such termination statements and releases and other documents necessary and appropriate to evidence the termination of this Agreement, the Loan Documents, and each of the documents securing the obligations hereunder as the Obligors may reasonably request, all at the sole cost and expense of the Obligors; provided however that the Collateral Agent shall not have any obligation to do so under the circumstances set forth in the parenthetical provision in Section 10.03(b) except to the extent provided therein.

 

10.12          Confidentiality . The Collateral Agent acknowledges and agrees that Section 9.13 of the Revolving Credit Agreement will bind the Collateral Agent to the same extent as it binds the Revolving Administrative Agent.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.

 

  CAPITALA FINANCE CORP.
         
     By:              
  Name:    
  Title:    

 

     Address for Notices
   
  Capitala Finance Corp.
  4201 Congress Street, Suite 360
  Charlotte, NC  28209
  Attention:  Joseph B. Alala, III
  Telephone:  (704) 376-5502
  Telecopier:  (704) 376-5877
   
  With a copy to:
   
  Mayer Brown LLP
  214 North Tryon Street, Suite 3800
  Charlotte, North Carolina  28202
  Attention:  Keith F. Oberkfell, Esq.
  Telephone:  (704) 444-3549
  Telecopier:  (704) 377-2033

 

[Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  ING CAPITAL LLC,
  as Revolving Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent
     
  By        
  Name:  
  Title:  
     
  By                  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

  Address for Notices
   
  ING Capital LLC
  1325 1133 Avenue of the Americas
  New York, New York 10019 10036
  Attention:  Patrick Frisch
  Telecopier:  (646) 424-6919
  Telephone:  (646) 424-6912
   
  with a copy to:
   
  Dechert LLP
  1095 Avenue of the Americas
  New York, NY 10036-6797
  Attention:  Jay R. Alicandri, Esq.
  Telecopier: (212) 698-3599
  Telephone: (212) 698-3800

 

[Guarantee, Pledge and Security Agreement]

 

 

  

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

Capitala Finance Corp. Amends and Extends Credit Facility

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 20, 2017 – Capitala Finance Corp. (Nasdaq:CPTA) (the “Company”) announced today that it has amended and extended its senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) led by ING Capital LLC.

 

The amended Credit Facility provides commitments of $114.5 million and an expansion of the accordion feature to $200 million, to accommodate future growth of the Company. The pricing remains unchanged at LIBOR plus 3.00% but includes a step-down to LIBOR plus 2.75% when certain conditions as outlined in the credit agreement are met. The revolving period is extended to June 16, 2020 while the final maturity is extended to June 16, 2021.

 

About Capitala Finance Corp.

 

Capitala Finance Corp. is a business development company that invests primarily in first and second liens, subordinated debt and, to lesser extent, equity securities issued by lower and traditional middle-market companies. The Company is managed by Capitala Investment Advisors, LLC. For more information on Capitala, or to automatically receive email notifications of Company financial information, press releases, stock alerts, or other corporate filings, please visit the Investor Relations section of our website.

 

About Capitala Group

 

Capitala Group is a leading provider of capital to lower and traditional middle market companies, through its family of credit focused funds. Since 1998, Capitala Group's managed funds have participated in over 138 transactions, representing over $1.3 billion of investments in a variety of industries throughout North America. Capitala Group manages both public capital (Capitala Finance Corp.) (Nasdaq:CPTA) and private capital (Capitala Private Credit Fund V, L.P. and CapitalSouth SBIC Fund IV, L.P.) for institutional and individual investors, and seeks to partner with strong management teams to create value and serve as long term partners.  For more information, please visit www.CapitalaGroup.com .

 

About ING Capital LLC

 

ING Capital LLC is a financial services firm offering a full array of wholesale financial lending products and advisory services to its corporate and institutional clients. ING Capital LLC is an indirect U.S. subsidiary of ING Bank NV, part of ING Group (NYSE:ING), a global financial institution of Dutch origin. The purpose of ING Bank is empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. The Investment Industry Finance (IIF) group at ING Capital offers a broad range of structured finance solutions to its clients active in the investment industry, including Business Development Companies.

 

 

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Words such as “believes,” “intends,” “expects,” “projects,” “anticipates,” and “future” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, condition or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

 

SOURCE: Capitala Finance Corp.

 

Capitala Finance Corp.

Stephen Arnall, Chief Financial Officer

704-376-5502

sarnall@capitalagroup.com