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): March 29, 2018
LHC GROUP, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware | 001-33989 | 71-0918189 | ||
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
901 Hugh Wallis Road South, Lafayette, LA 70508
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(337) 233-1307
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
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 ☐
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 March 30, 2018, LHC Group, Inc. (the Company or LHC Group) entered into a new Senior Secured Credit Facility (the 2018 Credit Facility) in connection with the Merger (as defined below) with Almost Family, Inc. (Almost Family) to refinance and replace the Companys and Almost Familys existing bank credit facilities. The commitments to lend under the 2018 Credit Facility became effective on April 2, 2018 following the effectiveness of the Merger between the Company and Almost Family, as described in Item 2.01 below, and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
The total lender commitment under the 2018 Credit Facility is $500,000,000, with an additional uncommitted incremental $200 million facility, and the term of the 2018 Credit Facility expires on March 30, 2023.The 2018 Credit Facility will bear interest, at the Companys option, at either (i) the prevailing London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) (with interest periods of one week or one, two, three or six months at the Companys option) plus a spread of 1.50%2.25% based on a customary leverage-ratio grid or (ii) the prevailing prime or base rate plus a spread of 0.5%1.25% based on a customary leverage-ratio grid. The 2018 Credit Facility requires a minimum LIBOR rate of 1%. Additionally, the Company will be required to pay an annual commitment fee of 0.20%0.35% on the average daily unused portion of the 2018 Credit Facility commitment based on a customary leverage-ratio grid.
Under the terms of the 2018 Credit Facility, the Company will be required to maintain certain financial ratios and comply with certain financial covenants. The 2018 Credit Facility will allow the Company to make certain restricted payments within certain parameters provided the Company maintains compliance with those financial ratios and covenants after giving effect to such restricted payments or, in the case of repurchasing shares of its stock, so long as such repurchases are within certain specified baskets. The foregoing description of the 2018 Credit Facility does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the 2018 Credit Facility, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto, and incorporated into this report by reference.
Item 1.02. Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.
In connection with the consummation of the Merger and the borrowings under the 2018 Credit Facility described in Item 2.03 below, the Company terminated its existing credit facility (the 2014 Credit Facility) evidenced by that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of June 18, 2014, among the Company, Capital One, National Association, as administrative agent, sole bookrunner, sole lead arranger, and a lender, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Regions Bank and Compass Bank, as co-syndication agents and lenders, and Whitney Bank, as a lender. In connection with the consummation of the Merger, the outstanding balance of approximately $125.1 million under the 2014 Credit Facility was repaid using proceeds from the borrowings under the 2018 Credit Facility described in Item 2.03 below.
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Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.
On March 29, 2018, the Company closed its previously announced merger of equals business combination with Almost Family as contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 15, 2017 (the Merger Agreement), by and among the Company, Almost Family and Hammer Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (Merger Sub), with the merger of Merger Sub with and into Almost Family (the Merger), with Almost Family continuing as the surviving entity in the Merger and as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, becoming effective on April 1, 2014.
As a result of the Merger, at the effective time of the Merger (the Effective Time), each outstanding share of common stock of Almost Family, other than certain cancelled shares, was converted into the right to receive 0.9150 shares of the Companys common stock (the Company Common Stock) and cash in lieu of any fractional shares of any Company Common Stock that Almost Family shareholders would otherwise have been entitled to receive.
The issuance of Company Common Stock in connection with the Merger was registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to the Companys registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-222209) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and declared effective on February 12, 2018 (the Registration Statement) and incorporated herein by reference.
The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement and related transactions (including, without limitation, the Merger) in this Form 8-K does not purport to be complete and is subject, and qualified in its entirety by reference, to the full text of the Merger Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 2.1 to the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 16, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
On April 2, 2018, the commitments to lend under the 2018 Credit Facility became effective following the consummation of the Merger and the satisfaction of the other closing conditions thereunder.
Also on April 2, 2018, the Company borrowed approximately $247.4 million under the 2018 Credit Facility to (i) repay the approximately $107.3 million of outstanding borrowings under Almost Familys $350 million credit facility with a scheduled maturity of December 2021, (ii) repay the approximately $125.1 million of outstanding borrowings under the Companys 2014 Credit Facility and (iii) pay certain debt issuance and repayment costs and Merger related fees and expenses. Following these borrowings, the Company had approximately $252.6 million of remaining borrowing capacity available under the 2018 Credit Facility. Each of the Companys prior credit facility and the Almost Family credit facility terminated in connection with the repayment thereof.
The description of the 2018 Credit Facility contained in Item 1.01 above and the full text of the 2018 Credit Facility filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto, are incorporated into this Item 2.03 by reference.
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Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Directors
The Merger Agreement provided that the board of directors of the Company (the Board) following the consummation of the Merger will consist of (i) five independent directors selected by the Company, (ii) four independent directors selected by Almost Family and (iii) Keith G. Myers (the current Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Chairman of the Board). The Company designees are Keith G. Myers, W.J. Billy Tauzin, Monica F. Azare, John L. Indest, Ronald T. Nixon and Brent Turner (the Company Designees) and the Almost Family designees are W. Earl Reed III, Tyree G. Wilburn, Clifford S. Holtz and Jonathan D. Goldberg (the Almost Family Designees). The Company Designees are all current directors of the Company and the Almost Family Designees were all directors of Almost Family immediately prior to the Merger. In connection therewith and effective as of the Effective Time, John B. Breaux, Kenneth E. Thorpe and Dan S. Wilford have resigned from and ceased serving as directors on the Board and any and all committees thereof. Messrs. Breaux, Thorpe and Wilford resigned solely in connection with the Merger and no director resigned because of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Companys operations, policies or practices.
Effective immediately following those resignations, the Board fixed the size of the Board at 10 directors, appointed the Almost Family Designees to serve as members of the Board in the classes of directors set forth below and reappointed certain of the Company Designees to serve in the classes of directors set forth below. As a result, the composition of the Board is as follows:
Class I (Term expires 2018) |
Class II (term expires 2019) |
Class III (term expires 2020) |
||
Keith G. Myers | Monica F. Azare | W.J. Billy Tauzin | ||
Ronald T. Nixon | John L. Indest | Brent Turner | ||
W. Earl Reed III | Tyree G. Wilburn | Jonathan D. Goldberg | ||
Clifford S. Holtz |
Mr. Myers will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board and Mr. Taulzin will continue to serve as the lead independent director.
In connection with the Merger and the expansion of the Board, the Board also effected certain changes to the composition of various Board committees. Effective as of the Effective Time, the composition of each of the Boards standing committees is as follows:
Audit Committee | Mr. Turner (chairperson) and Messrs. Nixon, Reed and Wilburn | |
Clinical Quality Committee | Mr. Indest (chairperson), Ms. Azare and Messrs. Holtz and Wilburn |
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Compensation Committee | Ms. Azare (chairperson) and Messrs. Goldberg and Tauzin | |
Corporate Development Committee | Mr. Nixon (chairperson) and Messrs. Holtz, Indest, Reed and Turner | |
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | Mr. Tauzin (chairperson) and Messrs. Goldberg and Nixon |
In connection with their appointment to the Board, each Almost Family Designee will be entitled to the compensation paid to other non-employee directors and will enter into an indemnification agreement with the Company. A description of such compensation and indemnification agreement can be found in the Companys proxy statement for its 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 28, 2017.
Officers
In accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, Keith G. Myers will continue to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, in addition to his role as Chairman of the Board, Donald D. Stelly will continue to serve as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and Joshua L. Proffitt will continue to serve as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and an Executive Vice President of the Company.
Effective as of the Effective Time, as approved by the Board and pursuant to the Merger Agreement, C. Steven Guenthner was appointed to serve as the Chief Strategy Officer of the Company. Mr. Guenthener will also serve as President of Almost Family, which will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company following the consummation of the Merger. Prior to the Merger, Mr. Guenthner served as President and Principal Financial Officer of Almost Family. William B. Yarmuth was appointed to serve as Special Advisor to the Company and will serve in a consulting capacity. Prior to the Merger, Mr. Yarmuth served as Almost Familys Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
In addition, effective as of the Effective Time, Jeffrey T. Reibel was appointed to serve as the Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of the Company. Prior to the Merger, Mr. Reibel served as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of Almost Family. The Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Reibel that provides for a base salary of $300,000, a target bonus for 2018 equal to 50% of his base salary, and participation in all incentive plans, savings and retirement plans, and health and welfare programs that are generally available to senior executive officers of the Company. In addition, pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Reibel received a one-time grant of restricted stock having a value equal to $500,000, subject to five-year vesting based on his continued employment with the Company. In the event Mr. Reibels employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause or by him for Good Reason (as such terms are defined in the employment agreement), he will be entitled to receive a lump sum severance payment equal to 1.5 times (or 2.5 times, in the event his employment is terminated within two years following a change in control of the Company) the sum of his base salary and annual bonus, a prorated annual bonus, continued health coverage at active-employee rates for 18 months and vesting of his outstanding equity awards.
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Mr. Reibel joined Almost Family in September of 2010 as Vice President of Finance and became Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer in 2012. Prior to joining Almost Family, Mr. Reibel served as Chief Executive Officer of a private compliance company he founded in 2006. Mr. Reibels experience also includes three years as Controller and Principal Accounting Officer for a publicly traded company, and twelve years with Ernst & Young LLP, specializing in audits of public companies and various clients in the healthcare industry, including home health.
Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
In connection with the consummation of the Merger and in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, effective as of the Effective Time, the Companys certificate of incorporation was amended and restated (the Amended and Restated Charter) in order to increase the number of shares of common stock the Company is authorized to issue under its certificate of incorporation to 60,000,000 from 40,000,000 shares.
The foregoing description of the Amended and Restated Charter does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended and Restated Charter, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
On March 29, 2018, the Company held a Special Meeting of Stockholders (the Special Meeting). Of the 18,285,192 issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock entitled to vote at the meeting, 16,255,664 of the shares voted in person or by proxy, representing 89% of the total eligible voting shares.
The following three proposals were submitted to a vote of the Companys stockholders at the Special Meeting and the final voting results for each proposal are set forth below. There were no broker non-votes on any of the proposals.
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1. | The stockholders approved the issuance of shares of the Companys Common Stock to the stockholders of Almost Family pursuant to the Merger as contemplated by the Merger Agreement. The voting results are as follows: |
For |
Against | Abstain | ||||||
16,227,340 |
9,473 | 18,851 |
2. | The stockholders approved the adoption of the Amended and Restated Charter. The voting results are as follows: |
For |
Against | Abstain | ||||||
16,231,584 |
6,667 | 17,413 |
3. | The stockholders approved any motion to adjourn the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes to approve the issuance of shares of the Companys Common Stock to the Almost Family stockholders pursuant to the Merger. The voting results are as follows: |
For |
Against | Abstain | ||||||
15,536,389 |
698,396 | 20,879 |
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On March 29, 2018, the Company and Almost Family issued a joint press release announcing the results of the proposals considered at each companys special meeting. A copy of the press release is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein.
On April 2, 2018, the Company issued a press release announcing the completion of the Merger, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a) Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.
The financial statements required pursuant to this Item 9.01(a) in relation to the Merger will be filed by amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K no later than 71 calendar days after the date by which this Current Report is required to be filed.
(b) Pro Forma Financial Information.
The pro forma financial information required pursuant to this Item 9.01(b) in relation to the Merger will be filed by amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K no later than 71 calendar days after the date by which this Current Report is required to be filed.
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(d) Exhibits:
* | The annexes and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company hereby undertakes to furnish copies of any of the omitted annexes and exhibits to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission upon request. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: April 2, 2018 | LHC GROUP, INC. | |||||
(Registrant) | ||||||
/s/ JOSHUA L. PROFFITT |
||||||
Joshua L. Proffitt | ||||||
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||||
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
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Exhibit 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
LHC GROUP, INC.
LHC Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, hereby certifies as follows:
1. | The name of the corporation is LHC Group, Inc. The original Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on January 20, 2005 under the name LHC Group, Inc. and there have been no name changes since the date of incorporation. |
2. | Pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation attached hereto as Exhibit A amends and restates the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted by the Board of Directors and the stockholders of the corporation in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. |
3. | The text of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is attached hereto as Exhibit A and is hereby incorporated herein by reference. |
[Signature on following page]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, LHC Group, Inc. has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by a duly authorized officer this 29 th day of March, 2018.
LHC GROUP, INC. |
||
B Y : |
/ S / JOSHUA L. PROFFITT |
|
Name: Joshua L. Proffitt |
||
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
EXHIBIT A
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
LHC GROUP, INC.
A DELAWARE CORPORATION
ARTICLE I
The name of the corporation is LHC Group, Inc. (the Corporation ).
ARTICLE II
The address of the corporations registered office in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19808. The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.
ARTICLE III
The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
ARTICLE IV
The Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of stock to be designated common stock (Common Stock) and preferred stock (Preferred Stock). The number of shares of Common Stock authorized to be issued is sixty million (60,000,000), par value $0.01 per share, and the number of shares of Preferred Stock authorized to be issued is five million (5,000,000), par value $0.01 per share.
The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, without further stockholder approval. The Board of Directors is hereby authorized, in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issue of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, within the limitations and restrictions stated in this Certificate of Incorporation, to fix the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional, or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including, without limitation, the authority to fix or alter the dividend rights, dividend rate, conversion rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions), the redemption price or prices, and the liquidation preferences of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, and the number of shares constituting any such series and the designation thereof, or any of them, and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series subsequent to the issue of shares of that series, but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding. In case the number of shares of any series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status that they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.
ARTICLE V
The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation and for further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation and of its directors and stockholders:
A. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by statute or by this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation.
B. The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.
C. Following the effective date of the Corporations registration statement filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and prepared in connection with the Corporations initial public offering (the IPO Date ), any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.
ARTICLE VI
The number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board. For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation, the term Whole Board shall mean the total number of authorized directors whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships.
Following the IPO Date, the Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. Such classes shall be as nearly equal in number of directors as possible. Each director shall serve for a term ending on the third annual meeting of stockholders following the annual meeting of stockholders at which such director was elected; provided, however, that the directors first elected to Class I shall serve for a term ending on the Corporations first annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Article VI, the directors first elected to Class II shall serve for a term ending on the Corporations second annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Article VI and the directors first elected to Class III shall serve for a term ending on the Corporations third annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Article VI. The foregoing notwithstanding, each director shall serve until such directors successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such directors prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or other removal.
At each annual election, directors chosen to succeed those whose terms then expire shall be of the same class as the directors they succeed unless, by reason of any intervening changes in the authorized number of directors, the Board of Directors shall designate one or more directorships whose term then expires as directorships of another class in order more nearly to achieve equality of number of directors among the classes.
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Notwithstanding the rule that the three classes shall be as nearly equal in number of directors as possible, in the event of any change in the authorized number of directors, each director then continuing to serve as such shall nevertheless continue as a director of the class of which such director is a member until the expiration of such directors current term, or such directors prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or other removal. If any newly created directorship may, consistently with the rule that the three classes shall be as nearly equal in number of directors as possible, be allocated to more than one class, the Board of Directors shall allocate it to that of the available class whose term of office is due to expire at the earliest date following such allocation.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, any directors, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
ARTICLE VII
A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the directors duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended after approval by the stockholders of this Article VII to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law as so amended.
Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article VII by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of, or increase the liability of any director of this Corporation with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to, such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE VIII
The Board of Directors is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal any or all of the Bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the Board of Directors shall require the approval of a majority of the Whole Board. The stockholders shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of the Bylaws of the Corporation.
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ARTICLE IX
In addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of the stock of this Corporation required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal the provisions of Article I, Article II, Article III and Article IV of this Certificate of Incorporation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of the stock of this Corporation required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation not specified in the preceding sentence.
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Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTION COPY
CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of
March 30, 2018
among
LHC GROUP, INC.
The Lenders Party Hereto
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
as Administrative Agent
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
and
REGIONS BANK
as Co-Syndication Agents
and
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Documentation Agent
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
and
CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Joint Lead Bookrunners and Joint Lead Arrangers
Table of Contents
Page | ||||
ARTICLE I Definitions |
1 | |||
SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms |
1 | |||
SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings |
30 | |||
SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally |
30 | |||
SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP; Pro Forma Calculations |
30 | |||
SECTION 1.05. Status of Obligations |
31 | |||
SECTION 1.06. Interest Rates |
31 | |||
SECTION 1.07. Basket Calculations |
31 | |||
SECTION 1.08. Rounding |
31 | |||
SECTION 1.09. Schedules |
32 | |||
ARTICLE II The Credits |
32 | |||
SECTION 2.01. Commitments |
32 | |||
SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings |
32 | |||
SECTION 2.03. Requests for Revolving Borrowings |
33 | |||
SECTION 2.04. Intentionally Omitted |
33 | |||
SECTION 2.05. Swingline Loans |
33 | |||
SECTION 2.06. Letters of Credit |
35 | |||
SECTION 2.07. Funding of Borrowings |
39 | |||
SECTION 2.08. Interest Elections |
40 | |||
SECTION 2.09. Termination and Reduction of Commitments |
41 | |||
SECTION 2.10. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt |
41 | |||
SECTION 2.11. Prepayment of Loans |
42 | |||
SECTION 2.12. Fees |
42 | |||
SECTION 2.13. Interest |
43 | |||
SECTION 2.14. Alternate Rate of Interest |
44 | |||
SECTION 2.15. Increased Costs |
45 | |||
SECTION 2.16. Break Funding Payments |
46 | |||
SECTION 2.17. Taxes |
46 | |||
SECTION 2.18. Payments Generally; Allocations of Proceeds; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs |
49 | |||
SECTION 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders |
51 | |||
SECTION 2.20. Expansion Option |
52 | |||
SECTION 2.21. Defaulting Lenders |
53 | |||
SECTION 2.22. Extension of Maturity Date |
55 | |||
ARTICLE III Representations and Warranties | 56 | |||
SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers; Subsidiaries |
56 | |||
SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability |
57 | |||
SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts |
57 | |||
SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change |
57 | |||
SECTION 3.05. Properties |
57 | |||
SECTION 3.06. Litigation, Environmental and Labor Matters |
58 | |||
SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements |
58 | |||
SECTION 3.08. Investment Company Status |
58 | |||
SECTION 3.09. Taxes |
58 | |||
SECTION 3.10. ERISA |
59 |
i
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page | ||||
SECTION 3.11. Disclosure |
59 | |||
SECTION 3.12. [Intentionally Omitted] |
59 | |||
SECTION 3.13. No Default |
59 | |||
SECTION 3.14. No Burdensome Restrictions |
59 | |||
SECTION 3.15. [Intentionally Omitted] |
59 | |||
SECTION 3.16. Security Interest in Collateral |
59 | |||
SECTION 3.17. Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions |
59 | |||
SECTION 3.18. EEA Financial Institutions |
60 | |||
SECTION 3.19. Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions |
60 | |||
SECTION 3.20. Margin Regulations |
60 | |||
SECTION 3.21. Solvency |
60 | |||
ARTICLE IV Conditions |
60 | |||
SECTION 4.01. Effective Date |
60 | |||
SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event |
61 | |||
ARTICLE V Affirmative Covenants |
62 | |||
SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements and Other Information |
62 | |||
SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events |
63 | |||
SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business |
64 | |||
SECTION 5.04. Payment of Obligations |
64 | |||
SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance |
64 | |||
SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights |
64 | |||
SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws and Material Contractual Obligations |
65 | |||
SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds |
65 | |||
SECTION 5.09. Subsidiary Guarantors; Pledges; Additional Collateral; Further Assurances |
65 | |||
SECTION 5.10. Accuracy of Information |
66 | |||
SECTION 5.11. Cash Management Systems |
67 | |||
SECTION 5.12. Post-Closing Matters |
67 | |||
ARTICLE VI Negative Covenants |
67 | |||
SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness |
67 | |||
SECTION 6.02. Liens |
69 | |||
SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes |
70 | |||
SECTION 6.04. Dispositions |
72 | |||
SECTION 6.05. Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions |
73 | |||
SECTION 6.06. Swap Agreements |
74 | |||
SECTION 6.07. Transactions with Affiliates |
74 | |||
SECTION 6.08. Restricted Payments |
75 | |||
SECTION 6.09. Restrictive Agreements |
75 | |||
SECTION 6.10. Subordinated Indebtedness and Amendments to Subordinated Indebtedness Documents |
76 | |||
SECTION 6.11. Sale and Leaseback Transactions |
77 | |||
SECTION 6.12. Financial Covenants |
77 |
ii
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page | ||||
ARTICLE VII Events of Default |
78 | |||
SECTION 7.01. Events of Default |
78 | |||
SECTION 7.02. Application of Payments |
81 | |||
ARTICLE VIII The Administrative Agent |
82 | |||
SECTION 8.01. Authorization and Action |
82 | |||
SECTION 8.02. Administrative Agents Reliance, Indemnification, Etc. |
84 | |||
SECTION 8.03. Posting of Communications. |
85 | |||
SECTION 8.04. The Administrative Agent Individually |
86 | |||
SECTION 8.05. Successor Administrative Agent |
87 | |||
SECTION 8.06. Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Banks |
88 | |||
SECTION 8.07. Collateral Matters |
88 | |||
SECTION 8.08. Credit Bidding |
88 | |||
SECTION 8.09. Certain ERISA Matters |
89 | |||
ARTICLE IX Miscellaneous |
91 | |||
SECTION 9.01. Notices |
91 | |||
SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments |
92 | |||
SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver |
95 | |||
SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns |
96 | |||
SECTION 9.05. Survival |
101 | |||
SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution |
101 | |||
SECTION 9.07. Severability |
102 | |||
SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff |
102 | |||
SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process |
102 | |||
SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
103 | |||
SECTION 9.11. Headings |
103 | |||
SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality |
103 | |||
SECTION 9.13. Material Non-Public Information. |
104 | |||
SECTION 9.14. Appointment for Perfection |
104 | |||
SECTION 9.15. Releases of Subsidiary Guarantors |
105 | |||
SECTION 9.16. Interest Rate Limitation |
105 | |||
SECTION 9.17. No Fiduciary Duty, etc. |
105 | |||
SECTION 9.18. USA PATRIOT Act |
106 | |||
SECTION 9.19. Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions |
106 | |||
ARTICLE X Borrower Guarantee |
107 |
SCHEDULES: |
Schedule 1.01 Existing Letters of Credit Schedule 2.01A Commitments |
Schedule 2.01B Letter of Credit Commitments |
Schedule 3.01 Subsidiaries |
iii
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page |
Schedule 6.01 Existing Indebtedness |
Schedule 6.02 Existing Liens Schedule 6.05 Existing Investments |
EXHIBITS: |
Exhibit A Form of Assignment and Assumption |
Exhibit B List of Post-Closing Documents |
Exhibit C Form of Increasing Lender Supplement |
Exhibit D Form of Augmenting Lender Supplement |
Exhibit E List of Closing Documents |
Exhibit F-1 Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships) |
Exhibit F-2 Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships) |
Exhibit F-3 Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships) |
Exhibit F-4 Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships) |
Exhibit G-1 Form of Borrowing Request |
Exhibit G-2 Form of Interest Election Request |
Exhibit H Form of Note Exhibit I Form of Compliance Certificate |
iv
CREDIT AGREEMENT (this Agreement ) dated as of March 30, 2018 among LHC GROUP, INC., the LENDERS from time to time party hereto, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION and REGIONS BANK, as Co-Syndication Agents and WELL FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Documentation Agent.
The parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:
ABR when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.
Account means, as at any date of determination, all accounts (as such term is defined in the UCC) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
Account Debtor means the customer of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries who is obligated on or under an Account.
Acquisition means any acquisition (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) or series of related acquisitions by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of (a) all or substantially all the assets of any Person, or (b) all or substantially all the Equity Interests in a Person or division or line of business of a Person.
Adjusted Covenant Period has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.12(a).
Adjusted LIBO Rate means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.
Administrative Agent means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.
Administrative Questionnaire means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
AFAM means Almost Family Inc., a Delaware corporation.
AFAM Merger means the merger of AFAM with and into Merger Sub pursuant to the AFAM Merger Agreement, with AFAM surviving such merger.
AFAM Merger Agreement means that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 15, 2017, among the Borrower, Merger Sub and AFAM.
AFAM Subsidiaries means the Subsidiaries of AFAM (and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, AFAM).
Affiliate means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.
Agent Indemnitee has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(c).
Aggregate Commitment means the aggregate of the Commitments of all of the Lenders, as reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof. As of the Effective Date, the Aggregate Commitment is $500,000,000.
Agreement has the meaning assigned to such term in the introductory paragraph.
Alternate Base Rate means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus 1 ⁄ 2 of 1% and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one month Interest Period in Dollars on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%, provided that for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the LIBO Screen Rate (or if the LIBO Screen Rate is not available for such one month Interest Period, the Interpolated Rate) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively. If the Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.14 hereof, then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Alternate Base Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
Anti-Corruption Laws means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.
Applicable Party has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.03(c).
Applicable Percentage means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the Aggregate Commitment represented by such Lenders Commitment; provided that, in the case of Section 2.21 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, Applicable Percentage shall mean the percentage of the Aggregate Commitment (disregarding any Defaulting Lenders Commitment) represented by such Lenders Commitment. If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments and to any Lenders status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination.
Applicable Pledge Percentage means (a) 100% in the case of any Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary), (b) 65% in the case of a pledge by the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) of its voting Equity Interests and 100% of its non-voting Equity Interests in a First-Tier Foreign Subsidiary and (c) 100% of the Equity Interests owned by the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) in any Joint Venture Subsidiary.
Applicable Rate means, for any day, with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, any ABR Loan or with respect to the commitment fees payable hereunder, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption Eurodollar Spread, ABR Spread or Commitment Fee Rate, as the case may be, based upon the Leverage Ratio applicable on such date:
2
Leverage Ratio: |
Eurodollar
Spread |
ABR
Spread |
Commitment
Fee Rate |
|||||||||||||
Category 1 : |
£ | 1.00 to 1.00 | 1.50 | % | 0.50 | % | 0.20 | % | ||||||||
Category 2 : |
|
> 1.00 to 1.00 but
to 1.00 |
£
2.00
|
1.75 | % | 0.75 | % | 0.25 | % | |||||||
Category 3 : |
£ |
> 2.00 to 1.00 but
3.00 to 1.00 |
|
2.00 | % | 1.00 | % | 0.30 | % | |||||||
Category 4 : |
> 3.00 to 1.00 | 2.25 | % | 1.25 | % | 0.35 | % |
For purposes of the foregoing,
(i) if at any time the Borrower fails to deliver the Financials on or before the date the Financials are due pursuant to Section 5.01, Category 4 shall be deemed applicable for the period commencing three (3) Business Days after the required date of delivery and ending on the date which is three (3) Business Days after the Financials are actually delivered, after which the Category shall be determined in accordance with the table above as applicable;
(ii) adjustments, if any, to the Category then in effect shall be effective three (3) Business Days after the Administrative Agent has received the applicable Financials (it being understood and agreed that each change in Category shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change); and
(iii) notwithstanding the foregoing, Category 2 shall be deemed to be applicable until the Administrative Agents receipt of the applicable Financials for the Borrowers first full fiscal quarter ending after the Effective Date (unless such Financials demonstrate that Category 3 or 4 should have been applicable during such period, in which case such other Category shall be deemed to be applicable during such period) and adjustments to the Category then in effect shall thereafter be effected in accordance with the preceding paragraphs.
Approved Electronic Platform has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.03(a).
Approved Fund has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).
Arrangers means, collectively, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Capital One, National Association in their capacity as joint lead bookrunners and joint lead arrangers hereunder.
Assignment and Assumption means an assignment and assumption agreement entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.
Augmenting Lender has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
Availability Period means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Commitments.
3
Available Revolving Commitment means, at any time with respect to any Lender, the Commitment of such Lender then in effect minus the Revolving Credit Exposure of such Lender at such time; it being understood and agreed that any Lenders Swingline Exposure shall not be deemed to be a component of the Revolving Credit Exposure for purposes of calculating the commitment fee under Section 2.12(a).
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.
Banking Services means each and any of the following bank services provided to the Borrower or any Subsidiary by any Lender or any of its Affiliates: (a) credit cards for commercial customers (including, without limitation, commercial credit cards and purchasing cards), (b) stored value cards, (c) merchant processing services and (d) treasury management services (including, without limitation, controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, any direct debit scheme or arrangement, overdrafts, interstate depository network services and cash pooling services).
Banking Services Agreement means any agreement entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with Banking Services.
Banking Services Obligations means any and all obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Banking Services.
Bankruptcy Code means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled Bankruptcy, as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.
Bankruptcy Event means, with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment or has had any order for relief in such proceeding entered in respect thereof, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof, unless such ownership interest results in or provides such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permits such Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.
Benefit Plan means any of (a) an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a plan as defined in Section 4975 of the Code to which Section 4975 of the Code applies, and (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulations or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such employee benefit plan or plan.
4
Borrower means LHC Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Borrowing means (a) Revolving Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect or (b) a Swingline Loan.
Borrowing Request means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03, which shall be, in the case of any such written request, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G-1 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.
Burdensome Restrictions means any consensual encumbrance or restriction of the type described in clause (a) or (b) of Section 6.09.
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; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term Business Day shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.
Capital Lease Obligations of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases or financing leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
CFC means a controlled foreign corporation within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.
CHAMPVA means, collectively, the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, a program of medical benefits covering retirees and dependents of former members of the armed services administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and all laws, rules, regulations, manuals, orders, or requirements pertaining to such program.
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 Equity Interests representing more than 30% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower or (b) occupation at any time of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower by Persons who were not (i) directors of the Borrower on the date of this Agreement, (ii) nominated or appointed by the board of directors of the Borrower or (iii) approved by the board of directors of the Borrower for consideration by the stockholders for election.
Change in Law means the occurrence after the date of this Agreement or, with respect to any Lender, such later date on which such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement of (a) the adoption of or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) compliance by any Lender or Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 2.15(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lenders or such Issuing Banks holding company, if any) with any request, rule, guideline, requirement or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in
5
the implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements, or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall, in each case, be deemed to be a Change in Law, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.
Class , when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans or Swingline Loans.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Collateral means any and all property owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party subject to a security interest or Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties, to secure the Secured Obligations and any and all other property of any Loan Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that may at any time be or become subject to a security interest or Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Secured Parties, to secure the Secured Obligations.
Collateral Documents means, collectively, the Security Agreement and all other agreements, instruments and documents executed in connection with this Agreement that are intended to create, perfect or evidence Liens to secure the Secured Obligations, including, all other security agreements, pledge agreements, mortgages and deeds of trust heretofore, now, or hereafter executed by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiary Guarantors and delivered to the Administrative Agent.
Commitment means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Lenders Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced or terminated from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09, (b) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.20 and (c) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each Lenders Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01 , or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation or record (as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(70) of the New York Uniform Commercial Code) as provided in Section 9.04(b)(ii)(C), pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable.
Commodity Exchange Act means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
Communications means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to Section 9.01, including through an Approved Electronic Platform.
Compliance Certificate means a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.
Connection Income Taxes means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.
6
Consolidated Capital Expenditures means, without duplication, any expenditures for any purchase or other acquisition of any asset which would be classified as a fixed or capital asset on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated EBITDA means, with reference to any period, Consolidated Net Income plus , without duplication and to the extent deducted from Consolidated Net Income (other than in the case of clause (xiii) below), (i) Consolidated Interest Expense, increased by payments made in respect of hedging obligations or other derivative instruments entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk (minus any payments received in respect of such hedging obligations or other derivative instruments), amortization or write off of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions and discounts and other fees and charges (including bank fees) associated with Indebtedness, (ii) provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including state, franchise and similar taxes for such period, (iii) depreciation, (iv) amortization, (v)(i) non-cash deferred compensation and bonuses incurred in connection with the AFAM Merger and deferred compensation and bonuses and (ii) deferred compensation and bonuses, deferred purchase price or earn-out obligations payable in connection with any Acquisition or investment effected after the Closing Date, (vi) non-cash expenses related to stock based compensation, (vii) out-of-pocket transactional fees, costs and expenses and charges relating to this Agreement, the AFAM Merger, Permitted Acquisitions, investments, Dispositions, recapitalization, refinancing or the incurrence of Indebtedness and the issuance, sale or redemption of Equity Interests, in each case, as permitted (or not prohibited, as applicable) under this Agreement, and whether or not consummated, and any amendment or modification to the terms of any such transactions, including legal fees, advisory fees and upfront financing fees and charges triggered by change of control provisions; provided that the aggregate amount of amounts added pursuant to this clause (vii) (other than with respect to the AFAM Merger) and clause (ix) shall not exceed 15% of Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, (viii) extraordinary or non-recurring non-cash expenses or losses incurred other than in the ordinary course of business (including, without limitation, the cumulative effect of changes in GAAP and impairment charges related to long-lived assets), (ix) any restructuring charges or reserves, costs incurred in connection with the closing or consolidation of any facilities, winding down or dissolution of joint ventures, relocation costs, integration costs, transition costs, severance costs and expenses, retention and other employee-related costs and expenses; provided that the aggregate amount of amounts added pursuant to clause (vii) (other than with respect to the AFAM Merger) and this clause (ix) shall not exceed 15% of Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, (x) extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring losses realized other than in the ordinary course of business, (xi) solely to the extent (i) covered by indemnification provisions in any agreement and (ii) actually reimbursed or reasonably expected to be reimbursed within 365 days, expenses incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, Disposition or other investment permitted under this Agreement, (xii) solely to the extent covered by insurance, expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption, (xiii) factually supportable, identifiable and quantifiable pro forma cost savings or expense reductions related to operational efficiencies (including the entry into any material contract or arrangement), strategic initiatives or purchasing improvements, and other cost savings, expense reductions, improvements or synergies, in each case, reasonably expected by Borrower to be realized based upon actions initiated or expected to be initiated in connection with, and within, in the case of (I) any actions in connection with the AFAM Merger, 18 months, and (II) any other actions, 12 months, after, the consummation of any operational change or the acquisition or disposition that in each case has occurred prior to or during such period (which cost savings, expense reductions, improvements and synergies shall be calculated (x) on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, expense reductions, improvements or synergies had been realized on the first day of such period and (y) net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions); provided that (A) the chief financial officer of the Borrower shall have certified to the Administrative Agent that such cost savings, improvements, synergies and/or expense reductions are reasonably quantifiable and reasonably anticipated to result from such actions, (B) no cost savings, improvements, synergies or expense reductions shall be added pursuant to this clause (xiii) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges relating to such cost savings that are included in
7
clause (viii) above with respect to such period and (C) the aggregate amount of cost savings, synergies, improvements and expense reductions added pursuant to this clause (xiii), shall not exceed 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, (xiv) one-time expenses incurred with respect to litigation settlements, (xv) non-cash loss from the early extinguishment of hedging obligations or other derivative instruments and (xvi) effects of non-cash purchase accounting adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such Person and its Subsidiaries) in component amounts required or permitted by GAAP, resulting from the application of purchase accounting in relation to any consummated Acquisition or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof minus , without duplication and to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, (1) interest income on cash and Cash Equivalents and other similar securities (to the extent not netted from Consolidated Interest Expense), (2) income tax credits and refunds (to the extent not netted from tax expense), (3) any cash payments made during such period in respect of items described in clauses (v) or (vi) above subsequent to the fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash expenses or losses were incurred and (4) extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring income or gains realized other than in the ordinary course of business, all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis.
For the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (each such period, a Reference Period ), (i) if at any time during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made any Material Disposition, the Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if positive) attributable to the property that is the subject of such Material Disposition for such Reference Period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if negative) attributable thereto for such Reference Period and (ii) if during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made a Material Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be calculated after giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis as if such Material Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period.
As used in this definition, Material Acquisition means any acquisition of property or series of related acquisitions of property that (a) constitutes (i) assets comprising all or substantially all or any significant portion of a business or operating unit of a business, or (ii) all or substantially all of the common stock or other Equity Interests of a Person, and (b) involves the payment of consideration by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in excess of $40,000,000; and Material Disposition means any sale, transfer or disposition of property or series of related sales, transfers, or dispositions of property that yields gross proceeds to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $40,000,000.
Consolidated EBITDAR means, with reference to any period, the sum of Consolidated EBITDA plus Consolidated Rental Expense.
Consolidated Interest Expense means, with reference to any period, the interest expense (including without limitation interest expense under Capital Lease Obligations that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis for such period with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP (including, without limitation, all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers acceptance financing and net costs under interest rate Swap Agreements to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP). In the event that the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have completed a Material Acquisition or a Material Disposition since the beginning of the relevant period, Consolidated Interest Expense shall be determined for such period on a pro forma basis as if such acquisition or disposition, and any related incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, had occurred at the beginning of such period.
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Consolidated Net Income means, with reference to any period, the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that is attributable to the stockholders of the Borrower calculated in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis (without duplication) for such period; provided that there shall be excluded any income (or loss) of any Person other than the Borrower or a Subsidiary, but any such income so excluded may be included in such period or any later period to the extent of any cash dividends or distributions actually paid in the relevant period to the Borrower or any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.
Consolidated Rental Expense means, with reference to any period, rental expenses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period with respect to real property, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that Consolidated Rental Expense shall not be reduced by any rental income.
Consolidated Total Assets means, as of the date of any determination thereof, total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis as of such date.
Consolidated Total Indebtedness means at any date the sum, without duplication, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such date that would be classified as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower, in accordance with GAAP, consisting of Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than intercompany Indebtedness among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to the extent permitted under Section 6.01(c)), unreimbursed obligations in respect of drawn letters of credit (other than any letters of credit which are fully cash collateralized), Capital Lease Obligations and Indebtedness secured by purchase money security interests; provided that (x) any unreimbursed amount under letters of credit shall not be counted as Consolidated Total Indebtedness until expiration of the applicable reimbursement period after such amount is drawn (it being understood that any borrowing of loans, whether automatic or otherwise, to fund such reimbursement shall be counted) and (y) any Indebtedness that has been defeased and/or discharged will not constitute Consolidated Total Indebtedness if funds in an amount equal to all such Indebtedness (including interest and any other amounts required to be paid to the holders thereof in order to give effect to such defeasance and/or discharge) have been irrevocably deposited with a trustee for the benefit of the relevant holders of such Indebtedness) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
Control means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. The terms Controlling and Controlled have meanings correlative thereto.
Co-Syndication Agents means each of Bank of America, N.A., Capital One, National Association and Regions Bank, in its capacity as a co-syndication agent for the credit facility evidenced by this Agreement.
Credit Event means a Borrowing, the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit, an LC Disbursement or any of the foregoing.
Credit Party means the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender.
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.
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Defaulting Lender means any Lender that (a) has failed, within two (2) Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans or (iii) pay over to any Credit Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lenders good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Borrower or any Credit Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lenders good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a Loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by a Credit Party, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations) to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Credit Partys receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, or (d) has become the subject of (A) a Bankruptcy Event or (B) a Bail-In Action.
Disposition or Dispose means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) of any property by any Person (including any sale and leaseback transaction and any issuance of Equity Interests by a Subsidiary of such Person), including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.
Disqualified Institution means (a) Persons that are specifically identified by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in writing prior to the date hereof, (b) Persons that are reasonably determined by the Borrower to be competitors of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries and which are specifically identified by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in writing prior to the date hereof, (c) any Person that is reasonably determined by the Borrower after the date hereof to be a competitor of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries and which is specifically identified in a written supplement to the list of Disqualified Institutions, which supplement shall become effective three (3) Business Days after delivery thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in accordance with Section 9.01 and (d) in the case of the foregoing clauses (a), (b) and (c), any of such entities Affiliates to the extent such Affiliates (x) are clearly identifiable as Affiliates of such Persons based solely on the similarity of such Affiliates and such Persons names and (y) are not bona fide debt investment funds. It is understood and agreed that (i) any supplement to the list of Persons that are Disqualified Institutions contemplated by the foregoing clause (c) shall not apply retroactively to disqualify any Persons that have previously acquired an assignment or participation interest in the Loans (but solely with respect to such Loans), (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have no responsibility or liability to determine or monitor whether any Lender or potential Lender is a Disqualified Institution, (iii) the Borrowers failure to deliver such list (or supplement thereto) in accordance with Section 9.01 shall render such list (or supplement) not received and not effective and (iv) Disqualified Institution shall exclude any Person that the Borrower has designated as no longer being a Disqualified Institution by written notice delivered to the Administrative Agent from time to time in accordance with Section 9.01.
Documentation Agent means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as a documentation agent for the credit facility evidenced by this Agreement.
Dollars or $ refers to lawful money of the United States of America.
Domestic Subsidiary means a Subsidiary organized under the laws of a jurisdiction located in the United States of America.
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DQ List has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(e)(iv).
ECP means an eligible contract participant as defined in Section 1(a)(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and the applicable rules issued by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or the SEC.
EEA Financial Institution means (a) any institution established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.
EEA Member Country means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
EEA Resolution Authority means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
Effective Date means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).
Electronic Signature means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.
Environmental Laws means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to (i) the environment, (ii) preservation or reclamation of natural resources, (iii) the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or (iv) health and safety matters.
Environmental Liability means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
Equity Interests means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest, but excluding any debt securities convertible into any of the foregoing.
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
ERISA Affiliate means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or Section 4001(14) of ERISA or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
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ERISA Event means (a) any reportable event, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the failure to satisfy the minimum funding standard (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition upon the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.
EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.
Eurodollar when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, means that such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.
Event of Default has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.01.
Excluded Assets means: (i) any fee-owned real property and all leasehold interests in real property (including that there shall be no requirements to deliver landlord lien waivers, estoppels and collateral access letters), (ii) any intent-to-use application for registration of a trademark filed pursuant to Section 1(b) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051, prior to the filing of a Statement of Use pursuant to Section 1(d) of the Lanham Act or an Amendment to Allege Use pursuant to Section 1(c) of the Lanham Act with respect thereto, solely to the extent, if any, that and solely during the period, if any, in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of any registration that issues from such intent-to-use application under applicable federal law, (iii) assets in respect of which pledges and security interests are prohibited by applicable U.S. law, rule or regulation or agreements with any U.S. governmental authority (other than to the extent that such prohibition would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408, 9-409 or other applicable provisions of the UCC of any relevant jurisdiction or any other applicable law); provided that, immediately upon the ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of any such prohibitions, such assets shall automatically cease to constitute Excluded Assets, (iv) margin stock, (v) Equity Interests in, or assets owned by, any entity other than wholly-owned Subsidiaries (other than Equity Interests in any Joint Venture Subsidiary that are owned by any Loan Party) to the extent pledges thereof, or security interests therein, are not permitted by customary terms in such entitys organizational or joint venture documents (unless any such restriction would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408, 9-409 or other applicable provisions of the UCC of any relevant jurisdiction or any other applicable law), (vi) assets subject to certificates of title (including motor vehicles (other than motor vehicles subject to certificates of title, provided that perfection of security interests in such motor vehicles shall be limited to the filing of UCC financing statements), aircraft and aircraft engines), letter of credit rights with a value of less than $5,000,000 (other than to the extent the security interest in such letter of credit right may be perfected by the filing of UCC financing statements) and
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commercial tort claims with a value of less than $5,000,000, (vii) any lease, license, capital lease obligation or other agreement or any property subject to a purchase money security interest or similar agreement to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license, capital lease obligation or agreement or purchase money arrangement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than a Loan Party) (other than (x) proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the UCC notwithstanding such prohibition, (y) to the extent that any such term has been waived or (z) to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408, 9-409 or other applicable provisions of the UCC of any relevant jurisdiction or any other applicable law); provided that, immediately upon the ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of any such term, such assets shall automatically cease to constitute Excluded Assets, (viii) trust accounts, payroll accounts, custodial accounts, escrow accounts, and other similar deposit or securities accounts and any deposit account maintained as a zero-balance account or immaterial deposit accounts which maintain an average daily balance below $5,000,000 in the aggregate, (ix) any assets of an Excluded Subsidiary and any Equity Interests in any Excluded Subsidiary (other than the Applicable Pledge Percentage of the Equity Interests in any Excluded Subsidiary as contemplated by this Agreement) and (x) those assets as to which the Administrative Agent and the Borrower reasonably agree that the cost of obtaining such a security interest or perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the benefit to the Lenders of the security to be afforded thereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Excluded Assets shall not include any proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements of Excluded Assets (unless such proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements would otherwise constitute Excluded Assets).
Excluded Subsidiary means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower that is (i) a Joint Venture Subsidiary, (ii) a Foreign Subsidiary, (iii) prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation or by any contractual obligation (with an unaffiliated party) that is existing on (and not created in contemplation of) the Effective Date (or on the date such Subsidiary is acquired) from Guaranteeing the Secured Obligations or that would require governmental (including regulatory) or other third party consent, approval, license or authorization to provide a guarantee unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received, (iv) an Immaterial Domestic Subsidiary, (v) a captive insurance Subsidiary, (vi) a Subsidiary, to the extent the provision of a guaranty by such Subsidiary would result in material adverse tax consequences to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as reasonably determined by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, each acting in good faith, (vii) a direct or indirect Subsidiary of an Excluded Subsidiary, and (viii) a Subsidiary with respect to which the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, each acting in good faith, reasonably determine the cost and/or burden of obtaining the guaranty outweigh the practical benefit to the Lenders afforded thereby.
Excluded Swap Obligation means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Specified Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Specified Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Partys failure for any reason to constitute an ECP at the time the Guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such security interest becomes or would become effective with respect to such Specified Swap Obligation. If a Specified Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Specified Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.
Excluded Taxes means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or
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any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. Federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.19(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.17, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lenders assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipients failure to comply with Section 2.17(f) and (d) any withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.
Existing Credit Agreements means, collectively, (i) that certain Credit Agreement dated as of June 18, 2014 by and among the Borrower, Capital One, National Association, as Administrative Agent, the Lenders (as defined therein) party thereto and the other Persons party thereto and (ii) that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of December 5, 2016 by and among Almost Family, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the Lenders (as defined therein) party thereto, in each case as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified on or prior to the date hereof.
Existing Letters of Credit has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(a).
Existing Maturity Date has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(a).
Extending Lender has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(b)(ii).
Extension Request means a written request from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent requesting an extension of the Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.22.
FATCA means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any laws or fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.
Federal Funds Effective Rate means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such days federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as the NYFRB shall set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the effective federal funds rate, provided that if the Federal Funds Effective Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to zero for the purposes of this Agreement.
Federal Reserve Board means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.
Financial Officer means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower.
Financials means the annual or quarterly financial statements, and accompanying certificates and other documents, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b).
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First-Tier Foreign Subsidiary means each Foreign Subsidiary with respect to which any one or more of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) directly owns or Controls more than 50% of such Foreign Subsidiarys issued and outstanding Equity Interests.
Foreign Lender means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the Borrower is not a U.S. Person, a Lender that is resident or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes.
Foreign Subsidiary means any Subsidiary which (i) is not a Domestic Subsidiary or (ii) is a Domestic Subsidiary that is (x) a Subsidiary of a CFC or (y) a FSHCO.
FSHCO means any Subsidiary that (i) is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and owns (directly or through one or more entities treated as disregarded entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes) no material assets other than Equity Interests or debt issued by one or more CFCs and (ii) is a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes and owns no material assets other than Equity Interests or debt issued by one or more CFCs.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.
Governmental Authority means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.
Governmental Payor means Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, CHAMPVA, any state health plan adopted pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act, any other state or federal health care program and any other Governmental Authority which presently or in the future maintains a Third Party Payor Program.
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 indemnities, product warranties or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business.
Hazardous Materials means all explosive or radioactive substances and all hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
Immaterial Domestic Subsidiary means any Subsidiary which does not constitute a Material Domestic Subsidiary.
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Impacted Interest Period has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of LIBO Rate.
Increasing Lender has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
Incremental Term Loan has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
Incremental Term Loan Amendment has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.
Indebtedness of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person 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 (excluding (i) current accounts payable and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any earn-out obligations unless such obligation is not paid after becoming due and payable and (iii) accruals for payroll and other liabilities accrued in the ordinary course of business), (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed (but limited to the lesser of the fair market value of such property as determined by such Person in good faith and the principal amount of such Indebtedness), (f) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others (each such Guarantee to constitute Indebtedness in an amount equal to the maximum amount of such other Persons obligations Guaranteed thereby), (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 and (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers acceptances; provided that neither (a) amounts owed to patients or residents arising in the ordinary course of business nor (b) guarantees of any obligation of the Borrower or a Subsidiary pursuant to an operating lease shall constitute Indebtedness. 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 Persons 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.
Indemnified Taxes means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a) hereof, Other Taxes.
Indemnitee has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(b).
Ineligible Institution has the meaning assigned to such in Section 9.04(b).
Information has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.12.
Information Memorandum means the Confidential Information Memorandum dated March 2018 relating to the Borrower and the Transactions.
Interest Coverage Ratio has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.12(b).
Interest Election Request means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.08, which shall be, in the case of any such written request, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G-2 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
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Interest Payment Date means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan (other than a Swingline Loan), the last day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date, (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months duration after the first day of such Interest Period and the Maturity Date and (c) with respect to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Loan is required to be repaid and the Maturity Date.
Interest Period means with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect; provided , that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.
Interpolated Rate means, at any time, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the LIBO Screen Rate) determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the LIBO Screen Rate for the longest period for which the LIBO Screen Rate is available) that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period; and (b) the LIBO Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that LIBO Screen Rate is available) that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, at such time; provided, that, if any Interpolated Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purpose of this Agreement.
IRS means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
Issuing Bank means each of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and each other Lender designated by the Borrower as an Issuing Bank hereunder and that has agreed to such designation, each in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.06(i); provided that solely with respect to the Existing Letters of Credit issued by Capital One, National Association, Capital One, National Association shall be deemed to be an Issuing Bank. Any Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Issuing Bank, in which case the term Issuing Bank shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.
Joint Venture Subsidiary means a non-wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower which is a joint venture, partnership or other similar arrangement where the portion of such Subsidiary not owned by the Borrower or one of its other Subsidiaries is owned by another Person that is not a Subsidiary of the Borrower, whether in corporate, partnership or other legal form.
LC Collateral Account has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(j).
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LC Disbursement means a payment made by any Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.
LC Exposure means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The LC Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time.
Lender Parent means, with respect to any Lender, any Person as to which such Lender is, directly or indirectly, a subsidiary.
Lenders means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01A and any other Person that shall have become a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 2.20 or pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or otherwise, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or otherwise. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term Lenders includes the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Banks.
Letter of Credit means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement.
Letter of Credit Agreement has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(b).
Letter of Credit Commitment means, with respect to each Issuing Bank, the commitment of such Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder. The initial amount of each Issuing Banks Letter of Credit Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01B , or if any Issuing Bank has entered into an Assignment and Assumption or has otherwise assumed a Letter of Credit Commitment after the Effective Date, the amount set forth for such Issuing Bank as its Letter of Credit Commitment in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent. The Letter of Credit Commitment of an Issuing Bank may be modified from time to time by agreement between such Issuing Bank and the Borrower, and notified to the Administrative Agent.
Leverage Ratio has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.12(a).
LIBO Rate means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the LIBO Screen Rate at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that if the LIBO Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (an Impacted Interest Period ) then the LIBO Rate shall be the Interpolated Rate.
LIBO Screen Rate means, for any day and time, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate for Dollars for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on such day and time on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen that displays such rate (or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion)); provided that if the LIBO Screen Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to zero for the purposes of this Agreement.
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 and (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.
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Loan Documents means this Agreement, any promissory notes issued pursuant to Section 2.10(e), any Letter of Credit applications, the Collateral Documents and the Subsidiary Guaranty. Any reference in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to a Loan Document shall include all appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto, and shall refer to this Agreement or such Loan Document as the same may be in effect at any and all times such reference becomes operative.
Loan Parties means, collectively, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.
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, as applicable.
Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, operations or financial condition of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of any Loan Party to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any and all other Loan Documents or the rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereunder.
Material Domestic Subsidiary means each Domestic Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) (i) which, as of the most recent fiscal quarter of the Borrower, for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended, for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b) (or, if prior to the date of the delivery of the first financial statements to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b), the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 3.04(a)), contributed greater than two and one half of one percent (2.5%) of Consolidated EBITDA for such period or (ii) which contributed greater than two and one half of one percent (2.5%) of Consolidated Total Assets as of such date; provided that, if at any time the aggregate amount of Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets attributable to all Domestic Subsidiaries that are not Material Domestic Subsidiaries exceeds seven and one-half percent (7.5%) of Consolidated EBITDA for any such period or exceeds seven and one-half percent (7.5%) of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of any such fiscal quarter, the Borrower (or, in the event the Borrower has failed to do so within forty-five (45) days (or such later date as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent) shall designate sufficient Domestic Subsidiaries (other than Excluded Subsidiaries) as Material Domestic Subsidiaries to eliminate such excess, and such designated Subsidiaries shall for all purposes of this Agreement constitute Material Domestic Subsidiaries; provided that, at its election, the Borrower may deem any Immaterial Domestic Subsidiary as a Material Domestic Subsidiary under this Agreement so long as it joins the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Security Agreement in compliance with Section 5.09(a) within the timeframe selected by the Borrower.
Material Indebtedness means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $25,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the principal amount of the obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.
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Material Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Borrower which as of the applicable date of determination contributed greater than two and one half of one percent (2.5%) of Consolidated EBITDA as of such date or greater than two and one half of one percent (2.5%) of Consolidated Total Assets as of such date.
Maturity Date means March 30, 2023, as extended (in the case of each Lender consenting thereto) pursuant to Section 2.22.
Medicaid means the Medicaid program established and governed by Title XIX of the Social Security Act (codified as 42 U.S.C.A. §1396 et. seq.) as amended from time to time.
Medicare means the Medicare program established and governed by Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (codified as 42 U.S.C.A. §1395 et. seq.) as amended from time to time.
Merger Sub means Hammer Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc.
Multiemployer Plan means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
Non-extending Lender has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(a).
NYFRB means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
NYFRB Rate means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term NYFRB Rate means the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such day received by the Administrative Agent from a federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided , further , that if any of the aforesaid rates as so determined be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
Obligations means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, the Borrower arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against the Borrower or any other Loan Party of any proceeding under any debtor relief laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed or allowable claims in such proceeding. Without limiting the foregoing, the Obligations include (a) the obligation to pay principal, interest, Letter of Credit commissions, charges, expenses, fees, indemnities and other amounts payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document and (b) the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that the Administrative Agent or any Lender or any Issuing Bank, in each case in its sole discretion, may elect to pay or advance on behalf of the Borrower.
Other Account has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11.
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Other Connection Taxes means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan, Letter of Credit or Loan Document).
Other Taxes means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.19).
Outstanding LC Amount has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(b).
Overnight Bank Funding Rate means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurodollar borrowings by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate.
Participant has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c).
Participant Register has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c).
Patriot Act has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.16.
PBGC means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.
Permitted Acquisition means any Acquisition if, at the time of and immediately after giving effect thereto, (a) no Event of Default arising under Section 7.01(a), (h) or (i) has occurred and is continuing or would arise after giving effect (including giving effect on a pro forma basis) thereto, (b) the Borrower and the Subsidiaries are in compliance, on a pro forma basis, with the covenants contained in Section 6.12 and the Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.25 to 1.00 (or if the Borrower has elected for an Adjusted Covenant Period to be in effect, 3.75 to 1.00), in each case recomputed as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower for which financial statements are available, as if such acquisition (and any related incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, with any new Indebtedness being deemed to be amortized over the applicable testing period in accordance with its terms) had occurred on the first day of each relevant period for testing such compliance, (c) if the aggregate consideration paid in respect of such acquisition exceeds $100,000,000, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower to such effect together with all relevant financial information, statements and financial projections available to the Borrower and (d) in the case of an acquisition, merger or consolidation involving the Borrower, the Borrower is the surviving entity of such merger and/or consolidation.
Permitted Encumbrances means:
(a) Liens imposed by law for Taxes that are not yet overdue or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;
(b) carriers, warehousemens, mechanics, materialmens, landlords, repairmens, workmans and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than sixty (60) days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;
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(c) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers compensation, unemployment insurance, old age pensions and other social security laws or regulations or retirement benefits legislation;
(d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, tenders, government contracts, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance and return of money bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(e) judgment Liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under Section 7.01(k);
(f) easements, servitudes, rights of way, covenants, licenses, protrusions, zoning and other restrictions, encroachments, and other minor defects or irregularities in title or other similar encumbrances on real property, in each case that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
(g) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to third parties in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
(h) Liens in favor of a banking or other financial institution arising as a matter of law or in the ordinary course of business under customary general terms and conditions encumbering deposits or other funds maintained with a financial institution (including the right of set-off) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry or arising pursuant to such banking institutions general terms and conditions;
(i) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods (other than fixed or capital assets) and proceeds thereof of any Person securing such Persons obligations in respect of bankers acceptances or letters of credit issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods in the ordinary course of business;
(j) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business so long as such Liens only cover the related goods;
(k) any interest or title of a lessor, licensor, sublessor or sublicensor under any lease, license, sublease or sublicense entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of its business and covering only the assets so leased, licensed or subleased;
(l) assignments of insurance or condemnation proceeds provided to landlords (or their mortgagees) pursuant to the terms of any lease and Liens or rights reserved in any lease for rent or for compliance with the terms of such lease;
(m) restrictions resulting from any zoning or similar law or right reserved to or vested in any governmental office or agency to control or regulate the use of any real property, in each case, which do not and will not interfere with or affect in any material respect the use, value or operations of any real estate asset of the Loan Parties or the ordinary conduct of the business of the Loan Parties;
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(n) UCC financing statements that are filed as a precautionary measure in connection with operating leases or consignment of goods in the ordinary course of business;
(o) licenses and sublicenses of intellectual property granted by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(p) Liens or rights of setoff against credit balances of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with credit card issuers or credit card processors or amounts owing by such credit card issuers or credit card processors to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, to secure the obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to such credit card issuers and credit card processors as a result of fees and chargebacks; and
(k) Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;
provided that the term Permitted Encumbrances shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.
Permitted Investments means:
(a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;
(b) investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from S&P or from Moodys;
(c) investments in certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances and time deposits maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;
(d) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than thirty (30) days for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (c) above; and
(e) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moodys and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000.
Permitted Liens means Liens permitted under Section 6.02.
Permitted Refinancing : with respect to any Indebtedness of any Person, any refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement, defeasance, discharge or extension of such Indebtedness (each, a refinancing , with refinanced having a correlative meaning); provided that (a) the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) does not exceed the then aggregate outstanding principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so refinanced, except by an amount equal to all unpaid accrued or capitalized interest thereon, undrawn commitments with respect thereto, any make-whole payments, fees, or premium applicable thereto or paid in connection therewith, plus upfront fees and
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original issue discount on such refinancing Indebtedness, plus other customary fees and expenses in connection with such refinancing, (b) other than in the case of a refinancing of Capital Lease Obligations and Indebtedness secured by purchase money security interests, such refinancing has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a weighted average life to maturity equal to or greater than the weighted average life to maturity of, the Indebtedness being refinanced, (c) the borrower/issuer under such refinancing is the same Person that is the borrower/issuer under the Indebtedness being so refinanced (or was a guarantor thereof) and each of the other Persons that are (or are required to be) obligors under such refinancing are the same Persons as those that are (or are required to be) obligors under the Indebtedness being so refinanced, (d) in the event such Indebtedness being so refinanced is (i) contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations or is secured by a lien on the Collateral the priority of which is contractually subordinated to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations, such refinancing shall contain subordination provisions which are the same as those in effect prior to such refinancing or are no less favorable, taken as a whole, to the Lenders than those contained in the Indebtedness being so refinanced or are otherwise acceptable to the Administrative Agent or (ii) otherwise secured by a junior permitted lien on the Collateral, in the case of this clause (ii) such refinancing shall be unsecured or secured by a junior permitted lien on the Collateral, and (e) such refinancing does not provide for the granting or obtaining of collateral security from, or obtaining any lien on any assets of, any Person, other than (x) collateral security obtained from Persons that provided (or were required to provide) collateral security with respect to Indebtedness being so refinanced (so long as the assets subject to such liens were or would have been required to secure the Indebtedness so refinanced) ( provided that additional Persons that would have been required to provide collateral security with respect to the Indebtedness being so refinanced may provide collateral security with respect to such refinancing) and (y) to the extent otherwise permitted by Section 6.02.
Permitted Unsecured Debt means unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower so long as (1) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness on a pro forma basis, (x) no Event of Default shall exist or result therefrom and (y) the Borrower is in compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 6.12, (2) such Indebtedness matures after, and does not require any scheduled amortization or other scheduled payments of principal prior to, the date that is 91 days after the Maturity Date (it being understood that any provision requiring an offer to purchase such Indebtedness as a result of a change of control or asset sale provision shall not violate the foregoing restriction), (3) such Indebtedness is not Guaranteed by any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than the Subsidiary Guarantors (which Guarantees, if such Indebtedness is subordinated, shall be expressly subordinated to the Secured Obligations on terms not less favorable to the Lenders than the subordination terms of such subordinated Indebtedness), (4) no financial maintenance covenant shall be applicable to such Indebtedness and (5) the covenants and events of default applicable to such Indebtedness are not more onerous or more restrictive in any material respect (taken as a whole), as determined in good faith by the board of directors of the Borrower, than those set forth herein.
Person means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
Plan means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an employer as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.
Plan Asset Regulations means 29 CFR § 2510.3-101 et seq. , as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, as amended from time to time.
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Pledge Subsidiary means (i) each Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary (other than any Joint Venture Subsidiary)) and (ii) each First-Tier Foreign Subsidiary.
Prime Rate means the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the Prime Rate in the U.S. or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the bank prime loan rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.
PTE means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
Recipient means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) any Issuing Bank, as applicable.
Register has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).
Regulation D means Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
Regulation T means Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
Regulation U means Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
Regulation X means Regulation X of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from time to time and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
Related Parties means, with respect to any specified Person, such Persons Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives of such Person and such Persons Affiliates.
Replacement Lender has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(c).
Required Lenders means, subject to Section 2.21, at any time, Lenders having Total Revolving Credit Exposure and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments at such time; provided that for purposes of declaring the Loans to be due and payable pursuant to Section 7.01, and for all purposes after the Loans become due and payable pursuant to Section 7.01 or the Commitments expire or terminate, then, as to each Lender, clause (a) of the definition of Swingline Exposure shall only be applicable for purposes of determining the Revolving Credit Exposure of such Lender to the extent such Lender shall have funded its participation in the outstanding Swingline Loans to the extent required under Section 2.05(c).
Response Date has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(a).
Restricted Payment means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests.
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Revolving Credit Exposure means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Lenders Revolving Loans, its LC Exposure and its Swingline Exposure at such time.
Revolving Loan means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01.
S&P means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc.
Sale and Leaseback Transaction means any sale or other transfer of any property or asset by any Person with the intent to lease such property or asset as lessee.
Sanctioned Country means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).
Sanctioned Person means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, Her Majestys Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b), or (d) any Person otherwise the subject of any Sanctions.
Sanctions means all economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, Her Majestys Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America.
Secured Obligations means all Obligations, together with all Swap Obligations and Banking Services Obligations owing to one or more Lenders or their respective Affiliates; provided that the definition of Secured Obligations shall not create or include any guarantee by any Loan Party of (or grant of security interest by any Loan Party to support, as applicable) any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Party for purposes of determining any obligations of any Loan Party.
Secured Parties means the holders of the Secured Obligations from time to time and shall include (i) each Lender and each Issuing Bank in respect of its Loans and LC Exposure respectively, (ii) the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders in respect of all other present and future obligations and liabilities of the Borrower and each Subsidiary of every type and description arising under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (iii) each Lender and Affiliate of such Lender in respect of Swap Agreements and Banking Services Agreements entered into with such Person by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (iv) each indemnified party under Section 9.03 in respect of the obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to such Person hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and (v) their respective successors and (in the case of a Lender, permitted) transferees and assigns.
Securities Act means the United States Securities Act of 1933.
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Security Agreement means that certain Pledge and Security Agreement (including any and all supplements thereto), dated as of the date hereof, between the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, and any other pledge or security agreement entered into after the date of this Agreement by any other Loan Party (as required by this Agreement or any other Loan Document), or any other Person.
Segregated Governmental Account means a deposit account of a Loan Party maintained in accordance with the requirements of Section 5.11, the only funds on deposit in which constitute the direct proceeds of Medicare.
Solvent means, as to any Person as of any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair saleable value of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts, including contingent debts, as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities, including contingent debts and liabilities, beyond such Persons ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature and (d) such Person is not engaged in a business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or a transaction, for which such Persons property would constitute an unreasonably small capital. 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.
Specified Ancillary Obligations means all obligations and liabilities (including interest and fees accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) of any of the Subsidiaries, existing on the Effective Date or arising thereafter, direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise, to the Lenders or any of their Affiliates under any Swap Agreement or any Banking Services Agreement; provided that the definition of Specified Ancillary Obligations shall not create or include any guarantee by any Loan Party of (or grant of security interest by any Loan Party to support, as applicable) any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Party for purposes of determining any obligations of any Loan Party.
Specified Swap Obligation means, with respect to any Loan Party, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a swap within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
Statutory Reserve Rate means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentage (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Federal Reserve Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as Eurocurrency liabilities in Regulation D). Such reserve percentage shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.
Subordinated Indebtedness means any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary the payment of which is subordinated to payment of the obligations under the Loan Documents.
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Subordinated Indebtedness Documents means any document, agreement or instrument evidencing any Subordinated Indebtedness or entered into in connection with any Subordinated Indebtedness.
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 parents 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 and/or one or more subsidiaries of the parent.
Subsidiary means any subsidiary of the Borrower.
Subsidiary Guarantor means each Material Domestic Subsidiary that is a party to the Subsidiary Guaranty. The Subsidiary Guarantors on the date hereof are identified as such in Schedule 3.01 hereto.
Subsidiary Guaranty means that certain Guaranty dated as of the date hereof (including any and all supplements thereto) and executed by each Subsidiary Guarantor.
Swap Agreement means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, spot, future, credit default or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.
Swap Obligations means any and all obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (a) any and all Swap Agreements permitted hereunder with a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, and (b) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any such Swap Agreement transaction.
Sweep Agreement has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11.
Swingline Exposure means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time. The Swingline Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be the sum of (a) its Applicable Percentage of the total Swingline Exposure at such time other than with respect to any Swingline Loans made by such Lender in its capacity as a Swingline Lender and (b) the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans made by such Lender as a Swingline Lender outstanding at such time (less the amount of participations funded by the other Lenders in such Swingline Loans).
Swingline Lender means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.
Swingline Loan means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.05.
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Swingline Sublimit means $20,000,000.
Taxes means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), value added taxes, or any other goods and services, use or sales taxes, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
Third Party Payor means any Governmental Payor, Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield, private insurers, managed care plans, and any other person or entity which presently or in the future maintains Third Party Payor Programs.
Third Party Payor Programs means all payment or reimbursement programs, sponsored or maintained by any Third Party Payor, in which any Loan Party or any Subsidiary participates.
Total Revolving Credit Exposure means, at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of all Lenders Revolving Loans, their LC Exposure and their Swingline Exposure at such time; provided , that clause (a) of the definition of Swingline Exposure shall only be applicable to the extent Lenders shall have funded their respective participations in the outstanding Swingline Loans.
Transactions means the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the borrowing of Loans and other credit extensions, the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.
TRICARE means, collectively, a program of medical benefits covering former and active members of the uniformed services and certain of their dependents, financed and administered by the United States Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services and Transportation, and all laws applicable to such programs.
Type , when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.
UCC means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York or any other state the laws of which are required to be applied in connection with the issue of perfection of security interests.
Unliquidated Obligations means, at any time, any Secured Obligations (or portion thereof) that are contingent in nature or unliquidated at such time, including any Secured Obligation that is: (i) an obligation to reimburse a bank for drawings not yet made under a letter of credit issued by it; (ii) any other obligation (including any guarantee) that is contingent in nature at such time; or (iii) an obligation to provide collateral to secure any of the foregoing types of obligations.
U.S. Person means a United States person within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(f)(ii)(B)(3).
Withdrawal Liability means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
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Write-Down and Conversion Powers means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.
SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings . For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class ( e.g. , a Revolving Loan) or by Type ( e.g. , a Eurodollar Loan) or by Class and Type ( e.g. , a Eurodollar Revolving Loan). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class ( e.g. , a Revolving Borrowing) or by Type ( e.g. , a Eurodollar Borrowing) or by Class and Type ( e.g. , a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing).
SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally . The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words include, includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without limitation. The word will shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word shall. The word law shall be construed as referring to all statutes, rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or with which affected Persons customarily comply), and all judgments, orders and decrees, of all Governmental Authorities. 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, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws), (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Persons successors and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignment set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, (d) 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, (e) 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 (f) the words asset and property shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP ; Pro Forma Calculations . (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made without giving effect to (i) any election under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 825 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at fair value, as defined therein and (ii) any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof.
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(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 1.04(a) or in the definition of Capital Lease Obligations, in the event of an accounting change requiring any leases to be capitalized that are not required to be capitalized on the Effective Date, only those leases (assuming for purposes hereof that such leases were in existence on the date hereof) that would constitute capital leases in conformity with GAAP on the Effective Date shall be considered capital leases, and all calculations and deliverables under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be made or delivered, as applicable, in accordance therewith.
(c) All pro forma computations required to be made hereunder giving effect to any acquisition or disposition, or issuance, incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness, or other transaction shall in each case be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto (and, in the case of any pro forma computation made hereunder to determine whether such acquisition or disposition, or issuance, incurrence or assumption of Indebtedness, or other transaction is permitted to be consummated hereunder, to any other such transaction consummated since the first day of the period covered by any component of such pro forma computation and on or prior to the date of such computation) as if such transaction had occurred on the first day of the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements shall have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b) (or, prior to the delivery of any such financial statements, ending with the last fiscal quarter included in the financial statements referred to in Section 3.04(a)), and, to the extent applicable, to the historical earnings and cash flows associated with the assets acquired or disposed of (but without giving effect to any synergies or cost savings) and any related incurrence or reduction of Indebtedness, all in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Swap Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness).
SECTION 1.05. Status of Obligations . The Secured Obligations are hereby designated as senior indebtedness and as designated senior indebtedness and words of similar import under and in respect of any indenture or other agreement or instrument under which any Subordinated Indebtedness is outstanding and are further given all such other designations as shall be required under the terms of any such Subordinated Indebtedness in order that the Lenders may have and exercise any payment blockage or other remedies available or potentially available to holders of senior indebtedness under the terms of such Subordinated Indebtedness.
SECTION 1.06. Interest Rates . The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission or any other matter related to the rates in the definition of LIBO Rate or with respect to any comparable or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate therefor.
SECTION 1.07. Basket Calculations . For purposes of determining basket availability in Article VI based upon Consolidated Total Assets and/or Consolidated Net Income, references therein to such terms contained therein shall be deemed to references to such terms as reflected in the Financials (or prior to the first delivery of Financials hereunder, the financial statements referred to in Section 3.04).
SECTION 1.08. Rounding . Any financial ratios required to be satisfied in order for a specific action to be permitted under this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
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SECTION 1.09. Schedules . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, for purposes of all Schedules hereto, on the Effective Date such Schedules shall only be required to include disclosures with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than the AFAM Subsidiaries) in existence on the Effective Date; provided that the Borrower shall deliver updated Schedules reflecting disclosures with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including the AFAM Subsidiaries) as of the Joinder Date. In furtherance of the foregoing, to the extent that the Schedules delivered on the Joinder Date disclose items that are not permitted under Article VI as of the Effective Date, such items shall not result in an Event of Default under Article VI.
ARTICLE II
The Credits
SECTION 2.01. Commitments . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender (severally and not jointly) agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower in Dollars from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result (after giving effect to any application of proceeds of such Borrowing to any Swingline Loans outstanding pursuant to Section 2.10(a)) in (a) such Lenders Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lenders Commitment or (b) the Total Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding the Aggregate Commitment. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.
SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings . (a) Each Revolving Loan (other than a Swingline Loan) shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lenders failure to make Loans as required. Any Swingline Loan shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.05.
(b) Subject to Section 2.14, each Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan. Each Lender at its option may make any Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan (and in the case of an Affiliate, the provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 shall apply to such Affiliate to the same extent as to such Lender); provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000. At the time that each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $25,000 and not less than $100,000; provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the Aggregate Commitment or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e). Each Swingline Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $25,000 and not less than $100,000. Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of fifteen (15) Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding.
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(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.
SECTION 2.03. Requests for Revolving Borrowings . To request a Revolving Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, telecopy or electronic mail to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the aggregate principal 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 Eurodollar Borrowing;
(iv) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term Interest Period; and
(v) the location and number of the Borrowers account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.07.
If no election as to the Type of Revolving Borrowing is specified, then the requested Revolving Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one months duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lenders Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.
SECTION 2.04. Intentionally Omitted .
SECTION 2.05. Swingline Loans . (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender may agree, but shall have no obligation, to make Swingline Loans in Dollars to the Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding the Swingline Sublimit, (ii) the Swingline Lenders Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding its Commitment or (iii) the Total Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding the Aggregate Commitment; provided that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans.
(b) To request a Swingline Loan, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (confirmed by telecopy or electronic mail), not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the requested date (which shall be a Business Day) and amount of the requested Swingline Loan. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of any such notice received from the Borrower. The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to the Borrower by means of a credit to an account of the Borrower with the Administrative Agent designated for such purpose (or, in the case of a Swingline Loan made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e), by remittance to the relevant Issuing Bank) by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.
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(c) The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent require the Lenders to acquire participations in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding. Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans in which Lenders will participate. Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each Lender, specifying in such notice such Lenders Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, promptly upon receipt of such notice from the Administrative Agent (and in any event, if such notice is received by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on a Business Day, no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on such Business Day and if received after 12:00 noon, New York City time, on a Business Day, no later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the immediately succeeding Business Day), to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Lenders Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of (i) the Maturity Date, (ii) any Event of Default described in Section 7.01(h), (i) or (j), (iii) the date on which the Loans are accelerated, or (iv) the termination of the Commitments, each Lender shall be deemed to absolutely and unconditionally acquire participations in all of the Swingline Loans outstanding at such time in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loans in each case without notice or any further action from the Swingline Lender, any Lender or the Administrative Agent, and upon any such occurrence each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Lenders Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender. Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from the Borrower (or other party on behalf of the Borrower) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear; provided that any such payment so remitted shall be repaid to the Swingline Lender or to the Administrative Agent, as applicable, if and to the extent such payment is required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof.
(d) The Swingline Lender may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Swingline Lender and the successor Swingline Lender. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of the Swingline Lender. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid interest accrued for the account of the replaced Swingline Lender pursuant to Section 2.13(a). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Swingline Lender shall have all the rights and obligations of the replaced Swingline Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swingline Loans made thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term Swingline Lender shall be deemed to refer to such
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successor or to any previous Swingline Lender, or to such successor and all previous Swingline Lenders, as the context shall require. After the replacement of a Swingline Lender hereunder, the replaced Swingline Lender shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of a Swingline Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swingline Loans made by it prior to its replacement, but shall not be required to make additional Swingline Loans.
(e) Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Swingline Lender, the Swingline Lender may resign as a Swingline Lender at any time upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Lenders, in which case, such Swingline Lender shall be replaced in accordance with Section 2.05(d) above.
SECTION 2.06. Letters of Credit . (a) General . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars as the applicant thereof for the support of its or its Subsidiaries obligations, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the relevant Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any Letter of Credit Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. The letters of credit identified on Schedule 1.01 (the Existing Letters of Credit ) shall be deemed to be Letters of Credit issued on the Effective Date for all purposes of the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the relevant Issuing Bank shall have no obligation hereunder to issue, and shall not issue, any Letter of Credit the proceeds of which would be made available to any Person (i) to fund any activity or business of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of any Sanctions, (ii) in any manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by any party to this Agreement or (iii) in any manner that would result in a violation of one or more policies of such Issuing Bank applicable to letters of credit generally.
(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions . To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the relevant Issuing Bank) to an Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, but in any event no less than three (3) Business Days) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. In addition, as a condition to any such Letter of Credit issuance, the Borrower shall have entered into a continuing agreement (or other letter of credit agreement) for the issuance of letters of credit and/or shall submit a letter of credit application, in each case, as required by an Issuing Bank and using such Issuing Banks standard form (each, a Letter of Credit Agreement ). A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the amount of the LC Exposure shall not exceed $50,000,000, (ii) the Total Revolving Credit Exposure shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitment, (iii) each Lenders Revolving Credit Exposure shall not exceed such Lenders Commitment, (iv) the sum of (x) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit issued by any Issuing Bank at such time plus (y) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements made by such Issuing Bank that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time (such sum for any Issuing Bank at any time of determination, its Outstanding LC Amount ) shall not exceed such Issuing Banks Letter of Credit Commitment (provided that, notwithstanding this clause (iv) but at all times subject to the immediately preceding clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) and the immediately succeeding
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clause (v), an Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue, amend, renew or extend a Letter of Credit if such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension would cause such Issuing Banks Outstanding LC Amount to exceed its Letter of Credit Commitment) and (v) the aggregate face amount of all Letters of Credit issued by any Issuing Bank shall not exceed such Issuing Banks Letter of Credit Commitment. The Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, reduce the Letter of Credit Commitment of any Issuing Bank with the consent of such Issuing Bank; provided that the Borrower shall not reduce the Letter of Credit Commitment of any Issuing Bank if, after giving effect to such reduction, the conditions set forth in the immediately preceding clauses (i) through (v) shall not be satisfied.
(c) Expiration Date . Each Letter of Credit shall expire (or be subject to termination by notice from the relevant Issuing Bank to the beneficiary thereof) at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date; provided that any Letter of Credit with a one-year tenor may contain customary automatic renewal provisions agreed upon by the Borrower and the relevant Issuing Bank that provide for the renewal thereof for additional one-year periods (which shall in no event extend beyond the date referenced in clause (ii) above), subject to a right on the part of such Issuing Bank to prevent any such renewal from occurring by giving notice to the beneficiary in advance of any such renewal.
(d) Participations . By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of any Issuing Bank or the Lenders, each Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Lender, and each Lender hereby acquires from each Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lenders Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the relevant Issuing Bank, such Lenders Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.
(e) Reimbursement . If any Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent in Dollars the amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Borrower prior to such time on such date, then not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that, if such LC Disbursement is not less than $1,000,000, the Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 or 2.05 that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan in an equivalent amount of such LC Disbursement and, to the extent so financed, the Borrowers obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan. If the Borrower fails to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrower in respect thereof and such Lenders Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Borrower, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans
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made by such Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the relevant Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the relevant Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse such Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and such Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse an Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Revolving Loans or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.
(f) Obligations Absolute . The Borrowers obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit, any Letter of Credit Agreement or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein or herein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) any payment by an Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrowers obligations hereunder. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor any Issuing Bank, nor any of their Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by such Issuing Banks failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of any Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), such Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, each Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.
(g) Disbursement Procedures . Each Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. Each Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower by telephone (confirmed by telecopy or electronic mail) of such demand for payment and whether such Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such Issuing Bank and the Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.
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(h) Interim Interest . If any Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the reimbursement is due and payable, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans and such interest shall be due and payable on the date when such reimbursement is payable; provided that, if the Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.13(c) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of such Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse such Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.
(i) Replacement of Issuing Bank . (A) Any Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of an Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.12(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term Issuing Bank shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and the previous Issuing Bank, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit then outstanding and issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.
(B) Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Issuing Bank, an Issuing Bank may resign as an Issuing Bank at any time upon thirty days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Lenders, in which case, such Issuing Bank shall be replaced in accordance with Section 2.06(i)(A) above.
(j) Cash Collateralization . If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders (the LC Collateral Account ), an amount in cash equal to 105% of the amount of the LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in Section 7.01(h) or (i). Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the Secured Obligations. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account and the Borrower hereby grants the Administrative Agent a security interest in the LC Collateral Account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrowers risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the relevant Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the
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total LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other Secured Obligations. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three (3) Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.
(k) Letters of Credit Issued for Account of Subsidiaries . Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder supports any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, or states that a Subsidiary is the account party, applicant, customer, instructing party, or the like of or for such Letter of Credit, and without derogating from any rights of the relevant Issuing Bank (whether arising by contract, at law, in equity or otherwise) against such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit, the Borrower (i) shall reimburse, indemnify and compensate the relevant Issuing Bank hereunder for such Letter of Credit (including to reimburse any and all drawings thereunder) as if such Letter of Credit had been issued solely for the account of the Borrower and (ii) irrevocably waives any and all defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of any or all of the obligations of such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of such Letters of Credit for its Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrowers business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.
(l) Issuing Bank Agreements . Each Issuing Bank agrees that, unless otherwise requested by the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank shall report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) on or prior to each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank expects to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, and the aggregate face amount of the Letters of Credit to be issued, amended, renewed or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (and whether the amount thereof changed), it being understood that such Issuing Bank shall not permit any issuance, renewal, extension or amendment resulting in an increase in the amount of any Letter of Credit to occur without first obtaining written confirmation from the Administrative Agent that it is then permitted under this Agreement, (ii) on each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank pays any amount in respect of one or more drawings under Letters of Credit, the date of such payment(s) and the amount of such payment(s), (iii) on any Business Day on which the Borrower fails to reimburse any amount required to be reimbursed by such Issuing Bank on such day, the date of such failure and the amount of such payment in respect of Letters of Credit and (iv) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.
SECTION 2.07. Funding of Borrowings . (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof solely by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, New York City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders; provided that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.05. Except in respect of the provisions of this Agreement covering the reimbursement of Letters of Credit, the Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the funds so received in the aforesaid account of the Administrative Agent to an account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent in New York City or Chicago and designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request; provided that ABR Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the relevant Issuing Bank.
(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lenders share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the
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applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lenders Loan included in such Borrowing.
SECTION 2.08. Interest Elections . (a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.
(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Revolving Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, telecopy or electronic mail to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request signed by the Borrower. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, this Section shall not be construed to permit the Borrower to elect an Interest Period for Eurodollar Loans that does not comply with Section 2.02(d).
(c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);
(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and
(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which Interest Period shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term Interest Period.
If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one months duration.
(d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lenders portion of each resulting Borrowing.
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(e) If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing; provided that if the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent its customary standard documentation pre-authorizing automatic continuations, such Borrowing shall automatically continue as a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of one month unless such Eurodollar Borrowing is or was repaid in accordance with Section 2.11. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.
SECTION 2.09. Termination and Reduction of Commitments . (a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.
(b) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $5,000,000 and not less than $10,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, the Total Revolving Credit Exposure would exceed the Aggregate Commitment.
(c) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or other transactions specified therein, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.
SECTION 2.10. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt . (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on the Maturity Date and (ii) to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the Maturity Date and the fifth (5 th ) Business Day after such Swingline Loan is made; provided that on each date that a Revolving Borrowing is made, the Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans then outstanding and the proceeds of any such Borrowing shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to repay any Swingline Loans outstanding.
(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lenders share thereof.
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(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein absent manifest error; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the Obligations.
(e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H . Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form.
SECTION 2.11. Prepayment of Loans . The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.11. The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) by telephone (confirmed by telecopy or electronic mail) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one (1) Business Day before the date of prepayment or (iii) in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.09, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.09. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Revolving Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13 and (ii) break funding payments pursuant to Section 2.16. If at any time the Total Revolving Credit Exposure exceeds the Aggregate Commitment, the Borrower shall immediately repay Borrowings or cash collateralize LC Exposure in an account with the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.06(j), as applicable, in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to cause the aggregate principal amount of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure to be less than or equal to the Aggregate Commitment.
SECTION 2.12. Fees . (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the average of the actual daily unused amount of the Available Revolving Commitment of such Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which such Commitment terminates. Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in arrears on the fifteenth (15th) Business Day following the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof. 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).
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(b) The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the same Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Revolving Loans on the average daily amount of such Lenders LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lenders Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure and (ii) to the relevant Issuing Bank for its own account a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate of 0.125% per annum on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) attributable to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as such Issuing Banks standard fees and commissions with respect to the issuance, amendment, cancellation, negotiation, transfer, presentment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the fifteenth Business Day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to any Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within ten (10) days after demand. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).
(c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
(d) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to the relevant Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of commitment fees and participation fees, to the Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.
SECTION 2.13. Interest . (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan) shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.
(d) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and upon termination of the Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.
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(e) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
SECTION 2.14. Alternate Rate of Interest .
(a) If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:
(i) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable (including, without limitation, because the LIBO Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis), for such Interest Period; or
(ii) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their 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 or telecopy or electronic mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances set forth in Section 2.14(a)(i) have arisen and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary or (ii) the circumstances set forth in Section 2.14(a)(i) have not arisen but the supervisor for the administrator of the LIBO Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the LIBO Screen Rate shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans, then the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall endeavor to establish an alternate rate of interest to the LIBO Rate that gives due consideration to the then prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest for syndicated loans in the United States at such time, and shall enter into an amendment to this Agreement to reflect such alternate rate of interest and such other related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable (but for the avoidance of doubt, such related changes shall not include a reduction of the Applicable Rate); provided that, if such alternate rate of interest as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 9.02, such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement so long as the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the date notice of such alternate rate of interest is provided to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that such Required Lenders object to such amendment. Until an alternate rate of interest shall be determined in accordance with this Section 2.14(b) (but, in the case of the circumstances described in clause (ii) of the first sentence of this Section 2.14(b), only to the extent the LIBO Screen Rate for such Interest Period is not available or published at such time on a current basis), (x) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective and (y) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing.
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SECTION 2.15. Increased Costs . (a) If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity or similar requirement (including any compulsory loan requirement, insurance charge or other assessment) against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate) or any Issuing Bank;
(ii) impose on any Lender or any Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein; or
(iii) subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, continuing, converting into or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan or to increase the cost to such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient hereunder, whether of principal, interest or otherwise, then the Borrower will pay to such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) If any Lender or any Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lenders or such Issuing Banks capital or on the capital of such Lenders or such Issuing Banks holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lenders or such Issuing Banks holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lenders or such Issuing Banks policies and the policies of such Lenders or such Issuing Banks holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lenders or such Issuing Banks holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c) A certificate of a Lender or an Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within thirty (30) days after receipt thereof.
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(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lenders or such Issuing Banks right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 270 days prior to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lenders or such Issuing Banks intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 270-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
SECTION 2.16. Break Funding Payments . In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or as a result of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.11 and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (d) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19 or 9.02(e), then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for its actual loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. Such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for deposits in Dollars of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within thirty (30) days after receipt thereof.
SECTION 2.17. Taxes . (a) Payments Free of Taxes . Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable withholding agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a withholding agent, then the applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.17) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower . The Loan Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for, Other Taxes.
(c) Evidence of Payments . As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.17, such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
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(d) Indemnification by the Loan Parties . The Loan Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(e) Indemnification by the Lenders . Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 30 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lenders failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.04(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).
(f) Status of Lenders . (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.17(f)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lenders reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a U.S. Person:
(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), an executed copy of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;
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(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, an executed copy of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the interest article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. Federal withholding Tax pursuant to the business profits or other income article of such tax treaty;
(2) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming that its extension of credit will generate U.S. effectively connected income, an executed copy of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a 10 percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a controlled foreign corporation described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ) and (y) an executed copy of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E; or
(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, an executed copy of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F-2 or Exhibit F-3 , IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. Federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and
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(D) if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lenders obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), FATCA shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
(g) Treatment of Certain Refunds . If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.17 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 2.17 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (g) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (g), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (g) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
(h) Survival. Each partys obligations under this Section 2.17 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
(i) Defined Terms . For purposes of this Section 2.17, the term Lender includes each Issuing Bank and the term applicable law includes FATCA.
SECTION 2.18. Payments Generally; Allocations of Proceeds; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs .
(a) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City time on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off, recoupment or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received
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on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 10 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, except payments to be made directly to an Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars.
(b) At any time that payments are not required to be applied in the manner required by Section 7.02, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due to such parties.
(c) At the election of the Administrative Agent, all payments of principal, interest, LC Disbursements, fees, premiums, reimbursable expenses (including, without limitation, all reimbursement for fees and expenses pursuant to Section 9.03), and other sums payable under the Loan Documents, may be paid from the proceeds of Borrowings made hereunder whether made following a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.03 or a deemed request as provided in this Section or may be deducted from any deposit account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes (i) the Administrative Agent to make a Borrowing for the purpose of paying each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents and agrees that all such amounts charged shall constitute Loans (including Swingline Loans) and that all such Borrowings shall be deemed to have been requested pursuant to Section 2.03 or 2.05, as applicable and (ii) the Administrative Agent to charge any deposit account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent for each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents.
(d) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Revolving Loans or participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline 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.
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(e) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Banks hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or each of the Issuing Banks, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or such Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
SECTION 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders . (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Sections 2.15 or 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, (ii) the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17 or (iii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17) and obligations under the 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, to the extent required under Section 9.04, the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and if a Commitment is being assigned, the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply. Each party hereto agrees that an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to an be bound by the
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terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.
SECTION 2.20. Expansion Option . The Borrower may from time to time elect to increase the Commitments or enter into one or more tranches of term loans (each an Incremental Term Loan ), in each case in minimum increments of $10,000,000 so long as, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount of such increases and all such Incremental Term Loans does not exceed $200,000,000. The Borrower may arrange for any such increase or tranche to be provided by one or more Lenders (each Lender so agreeing to an increase in its Commitment, or to participate in such Incremental Term Loans, an Increasing Lender ), or, if one or more existing Lenders do not agree to provide such increase or tranche in whole, by one or more new banks, financial institutions or other entities (each such new bank, financial institution or other entity, an Augmenting Lender ; provided that no Ineligible Institution may be an Augmenting Lender), which agree to increase their existing Commitments, or to participate in such Incremental Term Loans, or provide new Commitments, as the case may be; provided that (i) each Augmenting Lender, shall be subject to the approval of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (ii) (x) in the case of an Increasing Lender, the Borrower and such Increasing Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, and (y) in the case of an Augmenting Lender, the Borrower and such Augmenting Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto. No consent of any Lender (other than the Lenders participating in the increase or any Incremental Term Loan) shall be required for any increase in Commitments or Incremental Term Loan pursuant to this Section 2.20. Increases and new Commitments and Incremental Term Loans created pursuant to this Section 2.20 shall become effective on the date agreed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the relevant Increasing Lenders or Augmenting Lenders, and the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no increase in the Commitments (or in the Commitment of any Lender) or tranche of Incremental Term Loans shall become effective under this paragraph unless, (i) on the proposed date of the effectiveness of such increase or Incremental Term Loans, (A) the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02 shall be satisfied or waived by the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate to that effect dated such date and executed by a Financial Officer of the Borrower and (B) the Borrower shall be in compliance (on a pro forma basis) with the covenants contained in Section 6.12 and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received documents and opinions consistent with those delivered on the date hereof as to the organizational power and authority of the Borrower to borrow hereunder after giving effect to such increase. On the effective date of any increase in the Commitments or any Incremental Term Loans being made, (i) each relevant Increasing Lender and Augmenting Lender shall make available to the Administrative Agent such amounts in immediately available funds as the Administrative Agent shall determine, for the benefit of the other Lenders, as being required in order to cause, after giving effect to such increase and the use of such amounts to make payments to such other Lenders, each Lenders portion of the outstanding Revolving Loans of all the Lenders to equal its Applicable Percentage of such outstanding Revolving Loans, and (ii) the Borrower shall be deemed to have repaid and reborrowed all outstanding Revolving Loans as of the date of any increase in the Commitments (with such reborrowing to consist of the Types of Revolving Loans, with related Interest Periods if applicable, specified in a notice delivered by the Borrower, in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.03). The deemed payments made pursuant to clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be accompanied by payment of all accrued interest on the amount prepaid and, in respect of each Eurodollar Loan, shall be subject to indemnification by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 if the deemed payment occurs other than on the last day of the related Interest Periods. The Incremental Term Loans (a) shall rank pari passu in right of payment with the Revolving Loans, (b) shall not mature or have a weighted average maturity earlier than the Maturity Date (but may have amortization prior to such date) and (c) shall be treated substantially the same as (and in any event no more favorably than) the Revolving Loans; provided that (i) the terms and conditions applicable to any
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tranche of Incremental Term Loans maturing after the Maturity Date may provide for material additional or different financial or other covenants or prepayment requirements applicable only during periods after the Maturity Date and (ii) the Incremental Term Loans may be priced differently than the Revolving Loans. Incremental Term Loans may be made hereunder pursuant to an amendment or restatement (an Incremental Term Loan Amendment ) of this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrower, each Increasing Lender participating in such tranche, each Augmenting Lender participating in such tranche, if any, and the Administrative Agent. The Incremental Term Loan Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.20. Nothing contained in this Section 2.20 shall constitute, or otherwise be deemed to be, a commitment on the part of any Lender to increase its Commitment hereunder, or provide Incremental Term Loans, at any time.
SECTION 2.21. Defaulting Lenders . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:
(a) fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(a);
(b) any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Section 7.02 or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 9.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first , to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second , to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to any Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender hereunder; third , to cash collateralize the Issuing Banks LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with this Section; fourth , as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lenders potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) cash collateralize the Issuing Banks future LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with this Section; sixth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or Swingline Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, any Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lenders breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; seventh , so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lenders breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; and eighth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or LC Disbursements in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and LC Disbursements owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or LC Disbursements owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in the Borrowers obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure and Swingline Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments
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without giving effect to clause (d) below. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post cash collateral pursuant to this Section shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto;
(c) the Commitment and Revolving Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 9.02); provided that this clause (c) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of such Lender or each Lender directly affected thereby;
(d) if any Swingline Exposure or LC Exposure exists at the time such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:
(i) all or any part of the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender (other than the portion of such Swingline Exposure referred to in clause (b) of the definition of such term) shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages but only to the extent that such reallocation does not, as to any non-Defaulting Lender, cause such non-Defaulting Lenders Revolving Credit Exposure to exceed its Commitment;
(ii) if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within one (1) Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent (x) first , prepay such Swingline Exposure and (y) second , cash collateralize for the benefit of the relevant Issuing Bank only the Borrowers obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.06(j) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;
(iii) if the Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure is cash collateralized;
(iv) if the LC Exposure of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.12(a) and Section 2.12(b) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders Applicable Percentages; and
(v) if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure is neither reallocated nor cash collateralized pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of any Issuing Bank or any other Lender hereunder, all letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lenders LC Exposure shall be payable to the relevant Issuing Banks until and to the extent that such LC Exposure is reallocated and/or cash collateralized; and
(e) so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and the Issuing Banks shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure and the Defaulting Lenders then outstanding LC Exposure will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.21(d), and Swingline Exposure related to any newly made Swingline Loan or LC Exposure related to any newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.21(d)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).
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If (i) a Bankruptcy Event or a Bail-In Action with respect to a Lender Parent shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) the Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Swingline Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender, satisfactory to the Swingline Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.
In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lenders Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders (other than Swingline Loans) as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.
SECTION 2.22. Extension of Maturity Date. (a) The Borrower may, by delivering an Extension Request to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Lenders), not less than 60 days in advance of the Maturity Date in effect at such time (the Existing Maturity Date ), request that the Lenders extend the Existing Maturity Date to the first anniversary of such Existing Maturity Date. Each Lender, acting in its sole discretion, shall, by written notice to the Administrative Agent given not later than the date that is the 20th day after the date of the Extension Request, or if such date is not a Business Day, the immediately following Business Day (the Response Date ), advise the Administrative Agent in writing whether or not such Lender agrees to the requested extension. Each Lender that advises the Administrative Agent that it will not extend the Existing Maturity Date is referred to herein as a Non-extending Lender ; provided , that any Lender that does not advise the Administrative Agent of its consent to such requested extension by the Response Date and any Lender that is a Defaulting Lender on the Response Date shall be deemed to be a Non-extending Lender. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower, in writing, of the Lenders elections promptly following the Response Date. The election of any Lender to agree to such an extension shall not obligate any other Lender to so agree. The Maturity Date may be extended no more than two times pursuant to this Section 2.22.
(b) (i) If, by the Response Date, Lenders holding Commitments that aggregate 50% or more of the total Commitments shall constitute Non-extending Lenders, then the Existing Maturity Date shall not be extended and the outstanding principal balance of all Loans and other amounts payable hereunder shall be payable, and the Commitments shall terminate, on the Existing Maturity Date in effect prior to such extension.
(ii) If (and only if), by the Response Date, Lenders holding Commitments that aggregate more than 50% of the total Commitments shall have agreed to extend the Existing Maturity Date (each such consenting Lender, an Extending Lender ), then effective as of the Existing Maturity Date, the Maturity Date for such Extending Lenders shall be extended to the first anniversary of the Existing Maturity Date (subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.22(d)). In the event of such extension, the Commitment of each Non-extending Lender shall terminate on the Existing Maturity Date in effect for such Non-extending Lender prior to such extension and the outstanding principal balance of all Loans and other amounts payable hereunder to such Non-extending Lender shall become due and payable on such Existing Maturity Date and, subject to Section 2.22(c) below, the total Commitments hereunder shall be reduced by the Commitments of the Non-extending Lenders so terminated on such Existing Maturity Date.
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(c) In the event of any extension of the Existing Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.22(b)(ii), the Borrower shall have the right on or before the Existing Maturity Date, at its own expense, to require any Non-extending Lender to transfer and assign without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04) all its interests, rights (other than its rights to payments pursuant to Section 2.15, Section 2.16, Section 2.17 or Section 9.03 arising prior to the effectiveness of such assignment) and obligations under this Agreement to one or more banks or other financial institutions identified to the Non-extending Lender by the Borrower, which may include any existing Lender (each a Replacement Lender ), provided that (i) such Replacement Lender, if not already a Lender hereunder, shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank (such approvals to not be unreasonably withheld) to the extent the consent of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Banks would be required to effect an assignment under Section 9.04(b), (ii) such assignment shall become effective as of a date specified by the Borrower (which shall not be later than the Existing Maturity Date in effect for such Non-extending Lender prior to the effective date of the requested extension) and (iii) the Replacement Lender shall pay to such Non-extending Lender in immediately available funds on the effective date of such assignment the principal of and interest accrued to the date of payment on the outstanding principal amount Loans made by it hereunder and all other amounts accrued and unpaid for its account or otherwise owed to it hereunder on such date.
(d) As a condition precedent to each such extension of the Existing Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.22(b)(ii), the Borrower shall (i) deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the Borrower dated as of the Existing Maturity Date signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that, as of such date, both before and immediately after giving effect to such extension, (A) the representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct and (B) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (ii) first make such prepayments of the outstanding Loans and second provide such cash collateral (or make such other arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank) with respect to the outstanding Letters of Credit as shall be required such that, after giving effect to the termination of the Commitments of the Non-extending Lenders pursuant to Section 2.22(b) and any assignment pursuant to Section 2.22(c), the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure less the face amount of any Letter of Credit supported by any such cash collateral (or other satisfactory arrangements) so provided does not exceed the aggregate amount of Commitments being extended.
(e) For the avoidance of doubt, no consent of any Lender (other than the existing Lenders participating in the extension of the Existing Maturity Date) shall be required for any extension of the Maturity Date pursuant to this Section 2.22 and the operation of this Section 2.22 in accordance with its terms is not an amendment subject to Section 9.02.
ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders on the Effective Date, on the Joinder Date and on any other time required hereunder or under the other Loan Documents that:
SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers; Subsidiaries . Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be
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expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required. As of the Effective Date (and, upon the occurrence of the Joinder Date, as of the Joinder Date), Schedule 3.01 hereto (as supplemented from time to time) identifies each Subsidiary, noting whether such Subsidiary is a Material Domestic Subsidiary, the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as the case may be, the percentage of issued and outstanding shares of each class of its capital stock or other equity interests owned by the Borrower and the other Subsidiaries and, if such percentage is not 100% (excluding directors qualifying shares as required by law), a description of each class issued and outstanding. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock and other equity interests of each Subsidiary are validly issued and outstanding and fully paid and nonassessable and all such shares and other equity interests indicated on Schedule 3.01 as of the Effective Date (and, upon the occurrence of the Joinder Date, as of the Joinder Date), as owned by the Borrower or another Subsidiary are owned, beneficially and of record, by the Borrower or any Subsidiary free and clear of all Liens, other than Liens created under the Loan Documents and Permitted Liens.
SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability . The Transactions are within each Loan Partys organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational actions and, if required, actions by equity holders. The Loan Documents to which each Loan Party is a party have been duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party and constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts . The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and except for filings necessary to perfect Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents, (b) will not violate in any material respect any applicable material law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries or any material order of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries, except, in the case of this clause (c), for any such violations, defaults or rights that could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of, or the requirement to create, any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries, other than Liens created under the Loan Documents.
SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change . (a) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 reported on by KPMG LLP, independent public accountants. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP.
(b) Since December 31, 2017, there has been no material adverse change in the business, assets, operations or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
SECTION 3.05. Properties . (a) Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business, except (i) 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 and (ii) where the failure to have such titles or interests could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(b) Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.06. Litigation, Environmental and Labor Matters . (a) There are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.
(b) Except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.
(c) Except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect in the aggregate (i) there are no strikes, lockouts or slowdowns against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pending or, to their knowledge, threatened, (ii) the hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Federal, state, local or foreign law relating to such matters, (iii) all material payments due from the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or for which any claim may be made against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits, have been paid or accrued as liabilities on the books of the Borrower or such Subsidiary and (iv) the consummation of the Transactions will not give rise to any right of termination or right of renegotiation on the part of any union under any collective bargaining agreement under which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is bound.
SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements . Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the extent that any Loan Party participates in Medicare or Medicaid, each such Loan Party has in effect a corporate compliance program designed to detect and prevent billing errors and related violations of Medicare and Medicaid conditions of participation.
SECTION 3.08. Investment Company Status . Neither the Borrower nor any of the Subsidiary Guarantors is an investment company as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.
SECTION 3.09. Taxes . Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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SECTION 3.10. ERISA . No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.11. Disclosure . Neither the Information Memorandum nor any of the other reports, financial statements, certificates or other information (other than projections and other forward-looking information and information of a general economic nature or general industry nature) furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), taken as a whole, contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading (after giving effect to all written updates thereto delivered by or on behalf of any Loan Party); provided that, with respect to projected financial information and other forward-looking financial information, the Borrower represents only that such projected financial information and other forward-looking financial information contained in the materials referenced above are based upon good faith estimates and assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable as of the date such information is dated or certified, it being recognized by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that (i) such projected financial information and other forward-looking financial information as they relate to future events are not to be viewed as fact and are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Loan Parties, (ii) no assurance can be given that any particular projections will be realized and (iii) actual results during the period or periods covered by such projected financial information and other forward-looking financial information may differ from the projected results set forth therein by a material amount.
SECTION 3.12. [Intentionally Omitted] .
SECTION 3.13. No Default . No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
SECTION 3.14. No Burdensome Restrictions . The Borrower is not subject to any Burdensome Restrictions except Burdensome Restrictions permitted under Section 6.09.
SECTION 3.15. [Intentionally Omitted] .
SECTION 3.16. Security Interest in Collateral . The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents create legal and valid perfected Liens on all the Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and such Liens constitute, upon the filing of financing statements in appropriate form in the jurisdiction of organization of the Loan Parties, perfected and continuing Liens on the Collateral, securing the Secured Obligations, enforceable against the applicable Loan Party and all third parties, and having priority over all other Liens on the Collateral except in the case of (a) Permitted Encumbrances, to the extent any such Permitted Encumbrances would have priority over the Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent pursuant to any applicable law and (b) Liens perfected only by possession (including possession of any certificate of title) or control to the extent the Administrative Agent has not obtained or does not maintain possession or control of such Collateral.
SECTION 3.17. Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions . The Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and directors and to the knowledge of the Borrower its employees and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of (a) the Borrower, any Subsidiary, any of their respective directors or officers or employees, or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person. No Borrowing or Letter of Credit, use of proceeds or other Transactions will violate any Anti-Corruption Law or applicable Sanctions.
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SECTION 3.18. EEA Financial Institutions . No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.
SECTION 3.19. Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions . None of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is an entity deemed to hold plan assets (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations), and neither the execution, delivery or performance of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, including the making of any Loan and the issuance of any Letter of Credit hereunder, will give rise to a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.
SECTION 3.20. Margin Regulations . The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, and no part of the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit extension hereunder will be used to buy or carry any Margin Stock. Following the application of the proceeds of each Borrowing or drawing under each Letter of Credit, not more than 25% of the value of the assets (either of the Borrower only or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) will be Margin Stock.
SECTION 3.21. Solvency . The Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole are Solvent.
ARTICLE IV
Conditions
SECTION 4.01. Effective Date . The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):
(a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received (i) from each party hereto either (A) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (B) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy or electronic transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement and (ii) duly executed copies of the Loan Documents and such other legal opinions, certificates, documents, instruments and agreements as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in connection with the Transactions, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel and as further described in the list of closing documents attached as Exhibit E .
(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated as of the date hereof) of Alston & Bird LLP, counsel for the Loan Parties, covering such other matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents or the Transactions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. The Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such opinion.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the initial Loan Parties, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to such Loan Parties, the Loan Documents or the Transactions, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel and as further described in the list of closing documents attached as Exhibit E .
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(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by the President, a Vice President or a Financial Officer of the Borrower, certifying (i) that the representations and warranties contained in Article III are true and correct as of such date and (ii) that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as of such date.
(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that the credit facilities evidenced by the Existing Credit Agreements shall have been terminated and cancelled and all indebtedness thereunder shall have been fully repaid (except to the extent being so repaid with the initial Revolving Loans and excluding any contingent indemnity obligations for which no claim has been made or letter of credit liabilities for which satisfactory arrangements have been made) and any and all liens thereunder shall have been terminated.
(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced at least one Business Day prior to the Effective Date, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder.
The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 9.02) at or prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 4, 2018 (and, in the event such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate at such time).
SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event . The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of each Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for representations and warranties expressly stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date) ( provided that any representation or warranty that is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable.
(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.
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ARTICLE V
Affirmative Covenants
Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated, in each case, without any pending draw, and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements and Other Information . The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by KPMG LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a going concern or like qualification, commentary or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;
(b) within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;
(c) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a Compliance Certificate;
(d) as soon as available, but in any event not later than seventy-five (75) days after the end of, and no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the end of, each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the plan and forecast (including a projected consolidated balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement) of the Borrower for the upcoming fiscal year in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(e) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the SEC, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be; and
(f) promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) may reasonably request.
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Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a), (b) or (d) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and, if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which such materials are publicly available as posted on the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (EDGAR); or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrowers behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether made available by the Administrative Agent). The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such document to it and maintaining its copies of such documents.
SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events . The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:
(a) the occurrence of any Default;
(b) the filing or commencement of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws, that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(d) notice of any action arising under any Environmental Law or of any noncompliance by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with any Environmental Law or any permit, approval, license or other authorization required thereunder that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(e) receipt of notice by any Loan Party from any governmental or public body, agency or instrumentality alleging that any of the Loan Parties businesses (i) is operating under any deficiencies cited by state or federal agencies regulating such businesses, except to the extent that any such deficiencies are not material or are customary and normal for similar businesses operated by prudent management in accordance with sound business practices; (ii) has violated any laws relating to participation in the Medicare or Medicaid programs that could result in criminal punishment, civil money penalties or exclusion from such programs, including but not limited to laws regulating payment for referrals, false billing, and certificates of medical necessity; or (iii) is proposed to be excluded from Medicare or Medicaid or any other federal or state health care program for any other reason, in each case, that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this paragraph, notice may be inferred by receipt of an administrative subpoena if the Loan Party has reason to believe that one of the businesses is a subject or target of an investigation; execution of a search warrant; notice of any post-payment audit activities; and any other investigation of such Loan Partys billing or record keeping practices by agents of the Department for Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, any agent of the United States Department of Justice, or agents of a state attorney generals office or Medicaid fraud and abuse task force of which Loan Party is aware;
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(f) prompt written notice of any casualty or other insured damage to any material portion of the Collateral having a value in excess of $10,000,000 or the commencement of any action or proceeding for the taking of any material portion of the Collateral having a value in excess of $10,000,000 or interest therein under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding; and
(g) 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 to, do or cause to be done (a) all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and (b) take, or cause to be taken all reasonable actions to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises, material to the conduct of its business, except, in the case of this clause (b), to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03.
SECTION 5.04. Payment of Obligations . The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities, that, if not paid, could result in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest 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 to, (a) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and (b) maintain, with insurance companies reasonably believed by the Borrower to be financially sound and reputable, insurance in such amounts and against such risks customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations. The Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent endorsements naming the Administrative Agent as lender loss payee, and/or additional insured, as applicable. In the event the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries at any time or times hereafter shall fail to obtain or maintain any of the policies or insurance required herein or to pay any premium in whole or in part relating thereto, then the Administrative Agent, without waiving or releasing any obligations or resulting Default hereunder but upon thirty (30) days prior notice to the Borrower, may at any time or times thereafter (but shall be under no obligation to do so) obtain and maintain such policies of insurance and pay such premiums and take any other action with respect thereto which the Administrative Agent deems advisable. All sums so disbursed by the Administrative Agent shall constitute part of the Obligations, payable as provided in this Agreement.
SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights . The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries, in all material respects, are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records (other than materials protected by the attorney-client privilege and materials which such Person may not disclose without violation of a confidentiality obligation (so long as such confidentiality obligation was not entered into for the purpose of circumventing the
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Borrowers obligations hereunder) binding upon it), and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants ( provided an officer of the Borrower is given an opportunity to be present at such meetings), at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested. Only one (1) such visit and inspection per calendar year shall be at the sole expense of the Borrower; provided that, during the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, there shall be no limitation on the number or frequency of visits and/or inspections that shall be at the sole expense of the Borrower.
SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws and Material Contractual Obligations . The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (i) comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property (including without limitation Environmental Laws) and (ii) perform in all material respects its obligations under material agreements to which it is a party, in each case except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds . The proceeds of the Loans will be used only to repay the Indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreements, finance the working capital needs, and for general corporate purposes, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business (including to finance Permitted Acquisitions). No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board, including Regulations T, U and X. The Borrower will not request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and the Borrower shall not use, and shall procure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, to the extent such activities, business or transaction would be prohibited by Sanctions if conducted by a corporation incorporated in the United States, the United Kingdom or in a European Union member state or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.
SECTION 5.09. Subsidiary Guarantors; Pledges; Additional Collateral; Further Assurances .
(a) As promptly as possible but in any event within forty-five (45) days (or such later date as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent) after any Person becomes a Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) or any Subsidiary qualifies independently as, or is designated by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as, a Material Domestic Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of Material Domestic Subsidiary, the Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with written notice thereof setting forth information in reasonable detail describing the material assets of such Person and shall cause each such Subsidiary which also qualifies as a Material Domestic Subsidiary to deliver to the Administrative Agent a joinder to the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Security Agreement (in each case in the form contemplated thereby) pursuant to which such Subsidiary agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions thereof, such Subsidiary Guaranty and the Security Agreement to be accompanied by appropriate corporate resolutions, other corporate documentation and, if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, legal opinions in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.
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(b) The Borrower will cause, and will cause each other Loan Party to cause, all of its owned property (whether real, personal, tangible, intangible, or mixed, but excluding any Excluded Assets) to be subject at all times to, to the extent required by this Agreement or the Collateral Documents, first priority, perfected Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties to secure the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Collateral Documents, subject in any case to Liens permitted by Section 6.02. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower will cause the Applicable Pledge Percentage of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each Pledge Subsidiary directly owned by the Borrower or any other Loan Party to be subject at all times to a first priority, perfected Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) in favor of the Administrative Agent to secure the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Collateral Documents or such other pledge and security documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such pledge agreement in respect of the Equity Interests of a Foreign Subsidiary shall be required hereunder (A) until the date that is sixty (60) days after the Effective Date or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in the exercise of its reasonable discretion with respect thereto, and (B) under such Foreign Subsidiarys jurisdiction of organization to the extent the Administrative Agent or its counsel determines that such pledge would not provide material credit support for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to legally valid, binding and enforceable pledge agreements.
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to, execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Administrative Agent such documents, agreements and instruments, and will take or cause to be taken such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements and other documents and such other actions or deliveries of the type required by Section 4.01, as applicable), which may be required by law or which the Administrative Agent may, from time to time, reasonably request to carry out the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to ensure, to the extent required by this Agreement and the Collateral Documents, perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Collateral Documents, all at the expense of the Borrower.
(d) If any assets (excluding any Excluded Assets) are acquired by a Loan Party after the Effective Date (other than assets constituting Collateral under the Security Agreement that become subject to the Lien under the Security Agreement upon acquisition thereof), the Borrower will notify the Administrative Agent thereof, and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower will cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the Secured Obligations and will take, and cause the other Loan Parties to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to grant and, to the extent required by this Agreement and the Collateral Documents, perfect such Liens, including actions described in paragraph (c) of this Section, all at the expense of the Borrower.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (i) in circumstances where the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that the cost or effort of obtaining or perfecting a security interest in any asset that constitutes Collateral is excessive in relation to the benefit afforded to the Secured Parties thereby, the Administrative Agent may exclude such Collateral from the creation and perfection requirements set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (ii) the Administrative Agent may grant extensions of time for the creation or perfection of Liens in particular property (including extensions of time beyond the Effective Date) where it determines that such creation or perfection cannot be accomplished without undue effort or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
SECTION 5.10. Accuracy of Information . The Borrower will ensure that any information (other than projections and other forward-looking information and information of a general economic nature or general industry nature), including financial statements or other documents, furnished to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in connection with this Agreement or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver hereunder contains no material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading.
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SECTION 5.11. Cash Management Systems . The Borrower shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, (a) segregate collections made from Governmental Payors making payments under Medicare, from collections made from all other Account Debtors and customers of the applicable Loan Parties, including, without limitation, by (i) notifying all payors (other than Governmental Payors making payments under Medicare) then instructed to make payments to such Loan Parties deposit accounts to make payments to a deposit account other than a Segregated Governmental Account (such accounts, Other Accounts ), and (ii) notifying all Governmental Payors making payments under Medicare to make payments to a Segregated Governmental Account, and (b) enter into, and cause each applicable depository to enter into, a sweep agreement (a Sweep Agreement ) with respect to each Segregated Governmental Account pursuant to which such depository will agree to sweep amounts deposited therein on a periodic basis to an Other Account as and when funds clear and become available in accordance with such depositorys customary procedures. The Borrower shall not, and shall not allow any Loan Party to, change any sweep instruction set forth in such Sweep Agreement without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent agrees and confirms that the Loan Parties will have sole dominion and control (within the meaning of Section 9-104 of the UCC and the common law) over each Segregated Governmental Account and all funds therein and the Administrative Agent disclaims any right of any nature whatsoever to control or otherwise direct or make any claim against the funds held in any Segregated Governmental Account from time to time.
SECTION 5.12. Post-Closing Matters . Within ten (10) Business Days after the Effective Date (or such later date as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent) (such date, the Joinder Date ), the Borrower (i) shall deliver updated Schedules hereto reflecting disclosures with respect to the Borrower and all of its Subsidiaries (including the AFAM Subsidiaries) on the Joinder Date and (ii) shall, and shall cause each of the AFAM Subsidiaries that are Material Domestic Subsidiaries to execute and deliver such documents, certificates and opinions as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the AFAM Subsidiaries that are Material Domestic Subsidiaries, the authorization of the Loan Documents and any other legal matters relating to such Loan Parties, the Loan Documents or the Transactions, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel and as further described in the list of closing documents attached as Exhibit B .
ARTICLE VI
Negative Covenants
Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated, in each case, without any pending draw, and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(a) the Secured Obligations;
(b) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.01 and Permitted Refinancings thereof;
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(c) Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to any Loan Party shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Section 6.05(d) and (ii) Indebtedness of any Loan Party to any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be subordinated to the Secured Obligations on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(d) Guarantees by the Borrower of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary and by any Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that no Loan Party shall guarantee any Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party incurred in reliance on clause (h) or (o) of this Section 6.01;
(e) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and Permitted Refinancings thereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (e) shall not exceed the greater of 1.25% of Consolidated Total Assets and $25,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(f) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary as an account party in respect of trade letters of credit;
(g) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary secured by a Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and Permitted Refinancings thereof; provided that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (g) shall not in the aggregate exceed the greater of 1.25% of Consolidated Total Assets and $25,000,000 at any time (or if such Indebtedness is secured by a Lien on any Collateral, the greater of 0.375% of Consolidated Total Assets and $7,500,000 at any time);
(h) Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof and Permitted Refinancings thereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness exists at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (h) shall not exceed the greater of 0.75% of Consolidated Total Assets and $15,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(i) Permitted Unsecured Debt and Permitted Refinancings thereof;
(j) Obligations under Swap Agreements permitted by Section 6.06;
(k) Indebtedness in respect of netting services, overdraft protections and similar arrangements, in each case, in connection with deposit accounts;
(l) Indebtedness constituting working capital adjustments, purchase price adjustments, non-competes, consulting, deferred compensation, earn-out obligations, contingent consideration, contributions, and similar obligations incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, investment or Disposition, in each case, permitted under this Agreement;
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(m) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any other Loan Party in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers acceptances or similar instruments issued or created in the ordinary course of business, in respect of workers compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers compensation claims;
(n) Indebtedness in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and completion guarantees and similar obligations not in connection with money borrowed, in each case provided in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business;
(o) Indebtedness consisting of seller financing, seller notes and other similar obligations incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or other investment permitted under this Agreement;
(p) [intentionally omitted];
(q) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation or similar obligations to employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(r) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries under deferred compensation or other similar arrangements with employees incurred by such Person in connection with Permitted Acquisitions or any other investments permitted hereunder constituting acquisitions of Persons or businesses or divisions;
(s) Indebtedness consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business; and
(t) other unsecured Indebtedness (and Permitted Refinancings thereof) in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the greater of 1.25% of Consolidated Total Assets and $25,000,000 at any time outstanding. To the extent otherwise constituting Indebtedness, the accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness shall be deemed not to be Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 6.01.
SECTION 6.02. Liens . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, except:
(a) Liens created pursuant to any Loan Document;
(b) Permitted Encumbrances;
(c) any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.02 ; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than proceeds of the property or asset subject to such Lien and after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property or asset covered by such Lien and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date hereof and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (except by the amount of any accrued interest and premiums with respect to such Indebtedness and transaction fees, costs and expenses in connection with such extension, renewal or replacement thereof) unless otherwise permitted under Section 6.01;
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(d) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than proceeds of the property or asset subject to such Lien and after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property or asset covered by such Lien and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be, and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (except by the amount of any accrued interest and premiums with respect to such Indebtedness and transaction fees, costs and expenses in connection with such extension, renewal or replacement thereof) unless otherwise permitted under Section 6.01;
(e) Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that (i) such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (e) of Section 6.01, (ii) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and (iv) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary other than any such property or assets which are the subject of a Lien securing Indebtedness from such financing source; provided that, in each case, individual financings of equipment provided by one lender or lessor may be cross collateralized to other outstanding financings of equipment provided by such lender or lessor;
(f) [intentionally omitted];
(g) Liens in favor of the Agent or L/C Issuer to cash collateralize or otherwise secure the obligations of a Defaulting Lender to fund risk participations hereunder;
(h) Liens (i) solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any other Subsidiary in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder or (ii) consisting of an agreement to consummate a transaction permitted by Section 6.04 ;
(i) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing insurance premium financing permitted hereunder; and
(j) other Liens on assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted above; provided that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness and other obligations subject to such Liens does not at any time exceed the greater of 1.25% of Consolidated Total Assets and $25,000,000 at any time (or, if such Indebtedness and other obligations are subject to such Liens on any Collateral, the greater of 0.375% of Consolidated Total Assets and $7,500,000 at any time).
SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes . (a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, or all or substantially all of the Equity Interests of any of its Subsidiaries (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or liquidate or dissolve, except that:
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(i) any Person may merge into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving corporation;
(ii) any Subsidiary may merge into the Borrower or another Subsidiary in a transaction (provided that any such merger involving the Borrower or another Loan Party must result in the Borrower or such other Loan Party as the surviving entity, unless, in the case of such Loan Party (other than the Borrower), such merger is otherwise permitted under Section 6.05 as an investment in the surviving Subsidiary or such surviving Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with Section 5.09);
(iii) a Subsidiary may effect a merger, consolidation or amalgamation with any other Person in order to effect an investment permitted under Section 6.05 or a Disposition under Section 6.04;
(iv) Dispositions permitted by Section 6.04;
(v) any Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders;
(vi) any Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its property or business (i) (upon liquidation, windup, dissolution or otherwise) to the Borrower or another Subsidiary (provided that if such Subsidiary is a Loan Party, it shall make such Disposition to the Borrower or any other Loan Party unless such Disposition is otherwise permitted under Section 6.04 or as an investment pursuant to Section 6.05);
(vii) any Subsidiary convert to a different type of entity (including pursuant to a merger) so long as the Administrative Agent receives prior notice thereof and the Borrower takes all reasonable actions requested by the Administrative Agents to maintain the perfection of all Liens contemplated hereby that could be otherwise affected by such merger; and
(viii) any Subsidiary may be party to a merger the sole purpose of which is to reincorporate or reorganize such Person in another jurisdiction in the United States so long as the Administrative Agent receives prior written notice thereof and the Borrower takes all reasonable actions requested by the Administrative Agents to maintain the perfection of all Liens contemplated hereby that could be otherwise affected by such merger.
(b) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and businesses reasonably related, complimentary or ancillary thereto and logical extensions thereof.
(c) The Borrower will not permit its fiscal year to end on a day other than December 31 or change the Borrowers method of determining its fiscal quarters.
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SECTION 6.04. Dispositions . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, make any Disposition, except:
(a) Dispositions of (i) obsolete, surplus or worn out property in the ordinary course of business and (ii) property no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;
(b) Dispositions of inventory and Permitted Investments in the ordinary course of business;
(c) Dispositions of property (other than Equity Interests of any Subsidiary) to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;
(d) Dispositions of property by the Borrower or a Subsidiary to the Borrower or a Subsidiary, including in connection with the liquidation or dissolution of such Subsidiary; provided that the aggregate amount of Dispositions made by a Loan Party to a non-Loan Party shall not exceed $10,000,000 in any fiscal year of the Borrower;
(e) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses (including the provision of open source software under an open source license) granted in the ordinary course of business and on ordinary commercial terms that do not interfere in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;
(f) Dispositions of intellectual property rights (including the abandonment or cancellation of intellectual property) that are no longer used or useful in the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;
(g) the discount, write-off or Disposition of accounts receivable overdue by more than ninety days, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(h) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 6.08, investments permitted by Section 6.05, fundamental changes permitted by Section 6.04 and grants of Liens permitted under Section 6.02;
(i) transfers of property or assets subject to casualty, condemnation or similar events upon receipt of the condemnation or casualty proceeds thereof;
(j) (i) Dispositions of investments in joint ventures to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements between the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements and (ii) the winding down or dissolution of joint ventures;
(k) Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted under this Agreement;
(l) the assignment of an Account to an insurance company for purposes of collecting insurance proceeds;
(m) termination of a lease or sublease of real or personal property that is not necessary for the ordinary course of business;
(n) voluntary termination of any Swap Agreement;
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(o) the termination of any contract, contract right or other agreement in accordance with its terms;
(p) Dispositions of Equity Interests in Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to a joint venture partner (and the Liens on such Subsidiarys Equity Interests so disposed of to such joint venture partner, its assets and its Guaranty shall be released in accordance with Section 9.15);
(q) Issuances of Equity Interests by Subsidiaries of the Borrower to the Borrower, Subsidiaries of the Borrower or a joint venture partner;
(r) sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions of assets to the extent that the net cash proceeds received by a Loan Party or such Subsidiary are used within 180 days of receipt to acquire property or assets to be used by the Borrower, such Guarantor or such Subsidiary in its business; and
(s) Dispositions by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted under this Section; provided that the aggregate book value of all property Disposed of pursuant to this clause (s) in any fiscal year of the Borrower shall not exceed the greater of 1.5% of Consolidated Total Assets and $25,000,000.
SECTION 6.05. Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger or consolidation with any Person that was not a wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger or consolidation) any capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, Guarantee any Indebtedness of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any Person or any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit, except:
(a) Permitted Investments;
(b) Permitted Acquisitions;
(c) Investments existing on the Effective Date and identified on Schedule 6.05(c) and any modification, replacement, renewal, reinvestment or extension thereof (provided that the amount of the original investment is not increased except by the terms of such original investment or as otherwise permitted by this Section 6.05);
(d) investments, loans, advances or capital contributions made by the Borrower in or to any Subsidiary and made by any Subsidiary in or to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary;
(e) loans or advances to employees of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount to any single employee not in excess of $75,000 (or, if and to the extent such loans or advances shall be used by such employee for relocation expenses, $100,000) and in an aggregate amount for all employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not in excess of $2,000,000 at any one time outstanding;
(f) investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business and investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financial troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss;
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(g) Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, insolvency or liquidation of, or settlement of claims against and delinquent accounts of and disputes with, franchisees, customers and suppliers, or as security for any such claims, accounts and disputes, or upon the foreclosure with respect to any secured investment;
(h) investments resulting from the receipt of non-cash consideration from any sales, transfers, leases or other dispositions of assets permitted by Section 6.04;
(i) Guarantees constituting Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01, fundamental changes permitted by Section 6.03 and, to the extent constituting investments, Liens permitted by Section 6.02;
(j) [intentionally omitted];
(k) lease, utility and other similar deposits in the ordinary course of business; and
(l) Investments constituting deposits, prepayments and other credits under contracts made in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;
(m) any Acquisition (i) for which the net aggregate consideration paid by or on behalf of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is less than $100,000,000 individually, (ii) consummated when the Revolving Credit Exposure is equal to zero or (iii) for which 100% of the consideration therefor is funded sole with the net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower; or
(n) any other investment, loan or advance so long as the aggregate amount of all such investments, loans and advances does not exceed the greater of 2.5% of Consolidated Total Assets and $50,000,000 at any time outstanding (provided that such limitation shall not apply to any such investment, loan or advance so long as, immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Leverage Ratio is less than 2.50 to 1.00).
For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any investment at any time shall be the amount actually invested (measured at the time made), without adjustment for subsequent changes in the value of such investment, net of all returns on such investment up to the original amount of such investment.
SECTION 6.06. Swap Agreements . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any Swap Agreement, except (a) Swap Agreements entered into to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure (other than those in respect of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries), and (b) Swap Agreements entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.
SECTION 6.07. Transactions with Affiliates . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arms-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate, (c) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.08, (d) compensation (including bonuses) and other benefits (including retirement, health, stock option and other benefit plans) and reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses, employment and severance arrangements and indemnification
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arrangements, in each case, for directors, officers and other employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business, (e) the payment of customary fees to directors, officers and employees of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, (f) issuances of Equity Interests by the Borrower not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement; and (g) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, joint venture partners or purchasers or sellers of goods and services, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement.
SECTION 6.08. Restricted Payments . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except (a) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends with respect to its Equity Interests payable solely in additional Equity Interests, (b) Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends ratably with respect to their Equity Interests, (c) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other benefit plans for management or employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (d) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may make any other Restricted Payment so long as, at the time any such Restricted Payment is made and immediately after giving effect (including pro forma effect) thereto (and to the incurrence of any Indebtedness is connection therewith), (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (ii) the Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00, (e) stock repurchases by the Borrower not to exceed $50,000,000 in any fiscal year of the Borrower or the greater of $100,000,000 and 50.0% of Consolidated Net Income in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement, (f) the Borrower and its non-wholly owned Subsidiaries may pay cash in lieu of fractional Equity Interests in connection with any dividend, split or combination thereof, (g) the Borrower purchase or cause to be purchased Equity Interests of the Borrower from present or former directors, officers, members of management or employees of any the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, their estates, spouses, former spouses and their heirs upon and after the death, disability or termination of employment of such Person; provided , that (x) the aggregate amount of payments under this clause (g) after the date hereof (net of any proceeds received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof in connection with resales of any such Equity Interests) shall not exceed (i) $5,000,000 aggregate during any fiscal year of the Borrower plus (ii) the proceeds of any issuance of Equity Interests by the Borrower for the purpose of such repurchase or (y) such payments under this clause (g) are comprised solely of the proceeds the proceeds of any issuance of Equity Interests by the Borrower for the purpose of such repurchase and (h) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may make other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of 25.0% of Consolidated Net Income and $25,000,000 during any fiscal year of the Borrower so long as, at the time any such Restricted Payment is made and immediately after giving effect thereto (including pro forma effect) thereto, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
SECTION 6.09. Restrictive Agreements . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets, or (b) the ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to holders of its Equity Interests or to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by any Loan Document or any documentation governing Permitted Unsecured Debt, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iii) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement or to be sold pursuant to a Disposition permitted under this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness or subject to such Disposition, (iv) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in
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leases and other contracts restricting the assignment, subletting or other transfer thereof, (v) contractual obligations that are binding on a Loan Party or a Subsidiary thereof at the time such Loan Party first becomes a Loan Party or such Subsidiary first becomes a Subsidiary after the Effective Date, so long as such contractual obligation was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Loan Party or a Subsidiary thereof, (vi) in customary joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures, (vii) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business and customary provisions in leases, subleases, licenses, sublicenses and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business, (viii) prohibitions and limitations arising by operation of law, (ix) restrictions imposed by any agreement governing Indebtedness entered into after the Effective Date and permitted under Section 6.01 that are, taken as a whole, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, no more restrictive with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary than the then customary market terms for Indebtedness of such type, so long as the Borrower shall have determined in good faith that such restrictions will not affect the obligation or ability of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to make any payments required to be made by it hereunder, become a Loan Party (to the extent so required by Section 5.09) or perform obligations required to be performed by it under the Loan Documents (including obligations to provide Collateral and guarantees under the Loan Documents) and (x) any encumbrances or restrictions of the types referred to in clauses (i) through (ix) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts referred to therein; provided that such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing is, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, no more restrictive with respect to such encumbrance or other restrictions, taken as a whole, than those prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.
SECTION 6.10. Subordinated Indebtedness and Amendments to Subordinated Indebtedness Documents . The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly voluntarily prepay, defease or in substance defease, purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire, any Subordinated Indebtedness or any Indebtedness from time to time outstanding under the Subordinated Indebtedness Documents other than (i) with the net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests by the Borrower in an aggregate amount not to exceed $15,000,000 during any fiscal year of the Borrower or a Permitted Refinancing of such Subordinated Indebtedness or (ii) a conversion of such Subordinated Indebtedness to Equity Interests of the Borrower. Furthermore, the Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, amend the Subordinated Indebtedness Documents or any document, agreement or instrument evidencing any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Subordinated Indebtedness Documents (or any replacements, substitutions, extensions or renewals thereof) or pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued where such amendment, modification or supplement provides for the following or which has any of the following effects:
(a) increases the overall principal amount of any such Indebtedness (unless such increase is otherwise permitted under Section 6.01) or increases the amount of any single scheduled installment of principal or interest;
(b) shortens or accelerates the date upon which any installment of principal or interest becomes due or adds any additional mandatory redemption provisions;
(c) shortens the final maturity date of such Indebtedness or otherwise accelerates the amortization schedule with respect to such Indebtedness;
(d) increases the rate of interest accruing on such Indebtedness;
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(e) provides for the payment of additional fees or increases existing fees (other than customary amendment and waiver fees);
(f) amends or modifies any financial or negative covenant (or covenant which prohibits or restricts the Borrower or any Subsidiary from taking certain actions) in a manner which is more onerous or more restrictive in any material respect to the Borrower or such Subsidiary or which is otherwise materially adverse to the Borrower, any Subsidiary and/or the Lenders or, in the case of any such covenant, which places material additional restrictions on the Borrower or such Subsidiary or which requires the Borrower or such Subsidiary to comply with more restrictive financial ratios or which requires the Borrower to better its financial performance, in each case from that set forth in the existing applicable covenants in the Subordinated Indebtedness Documents or the applicable covenants in this Agreement; or
(g) amends, modifies or adds any affirmative covenant in a manner which (i) when taken as a whole, is materially adverse to the Borrower, any Subsidiary and/or the Lenders or (ii) is more onerous than the existing applicable covenant in the Subordinated Indebtedness Documents or the applicable covenant in this Agreement.
SECTION 6.11. Sale and Leaseback Transactions . The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction, other than Sale and Leaseback Transactions in respect of which the net cash proceeds received in connection therewith does not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate during any fiscal year of the Borrower, determined on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
SECTION 6.12. Financial Covenants .
(a) Maximum Leverage Ratio . The Borrower will not permit the ratio (the Leverage Ratio ), determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters ending on and after June 30, 2018, of (i) Consolidated Total Indebtedness to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, to be greater than 3.50 to 1.00; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be permitted on up to three (3) occasions during the term of this Agreement to increase the maximum Leverage Ratio permitted under this Section 6.12(a) to 4.00 to 1.00 for a period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (such period, an Adjusted Covenant Period ) in connection with a Permitted Acquisition occurring during the first of such four fiscal quarters if the aggregate consideration paid or to be paid in respect of such Permitted Acquisition and any other Permitted Acquisition consummated in the preceding six (6) months equals or exceeds $50,000,000 (and in respect of which the Borrower shall provide notice in writing to the Administrative Agent (for distribution to the Lenders) of such increase and a transaction description of such Permitted Acquisition (regarding the name of the Person or summary description of the assets being acquired and the approximate purchase price)), so long as the Borrower is in compliance on a pro forma basis with the maximum Leverage Ratio of 4.00 to 1.00 on the closing date of such Permitted Acquisition immediately after giving effect (including pro forma effect) to such Permitted Acquisition; provided , further , that it is understood and agreed that (x) the Borrower may not elect a new Adjusted Covenant Period for at least two (2) consecutive fiscal quarters following the end of an Adjusted Covenant Period and (y) at the end of an Adjusted Covenant Period, the maximum Leverage Ratio permitted under this Section 6.12(a) shall revert to 3.50 to 1.00 as of the end of such Adjusted Covenant Period and thereafter until another Adjusted Covenant Period (if any) is elected pursuant to the terms and conditions described in this Section 6.12(a).
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(b) Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio . The Borrower will not permit the ratio (the Interest Coverage Ratio ), determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters ending on and after June 30, 2018, of (i) Consolidated EBITDAR to (ii) the sum of Consolidated Interest Expense plus Consolidated Rental Expense, in each case for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, to be less than 3.00 to 1.00.
ARTICLE VII
Events of Default
SECTION 7.01. Events of Default . If any of the following events (Events of Default) shall occur:
(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;
(b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Section 7.01) payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three (3) Business Days;
(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof or waiver hereunder or thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;
(d) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in (i) Section 5.02(a), 5.03 (with respect to the Borrowers existence only), 5.08, 5.12 or in Article VI or (ii) Section 5.11 and, in the case of this clause (ii), such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five (5) Business Days following a Loan Partys actual knowledge thereof;
(e) the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, 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 Section 7.01) or any other Loan Document, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender);
(f) the Borrower or any Subsidiary 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;
(g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;
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(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;
(i) any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Section 7.01, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;
(j) any Loan Party or any Material Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;
(k) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $25,000,000 (other than any such judgment covered by insurance (other than under a self-insurance program), to the extent a claim therefor has been made in writing and liability therefor has not been denied by the insurer) shall be rendered against the Borrower, any Material Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall not have been satisfied, vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded pending appeal for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any material portion of the Collateral to enforce any such judgment;
(l) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(m) a Change in Control shall occur;
(n) the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries is enjoined, restrained or in any way prevented by the order of any court or any administrative or regulatory agency from conducting all or any material part of its business and such circumstance could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(o) any material provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all Secured Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or a Loan Party contests in writing the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document; or a Loan Party denies in writing that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports in writing to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document;
(p) any Collateral Document shall for any reason fail to create a valid and perfected first priority security interest (subject to Permitted Liens) in Collateral having a value in excess of $5,000,000 purported to be covered thereby (other than the failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to take any action within its control), except as permitted by the terms of any Loan Document;
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(q) any material damage to, or loss, theft or destruction of, any Collateral, whether or not insured, or any strike, lockout, labor dispute, embargo, condemnation, act of God or public enemy, or other casualty which causes, for more than 60 consecutive days, the cessation or substantial curtailment of revenue producing activities at any facility of any Loan Party if any such event or circumstance could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or
(r) the loss, suspension or revocation of, or failure to renew, any Medicare, Medicaid or other license or permit now held or hereafter acquired by any Loan Party, if such loss, suspension, revocation or failure to renew could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Section 7.01), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments (and the Letter of Credit Commitments), and thereupon the Commitments (and the Letter of Credit Commitments) shall terminate immediately, (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Secured 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, (iii) require that the Borrower provide cash collateral as required in Section 2.06(j) and (iv) exercise on its behalf, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks under the Loan Documents and applicable law; and in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Section 7.01, the Commitments (and the Letter of Credit Commitments) shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Secured Obligations accrued hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, shall automatically become due and payable and the obligation of the Borrower to cash collateralize LC Exposure as provided in clause (iii) above shall automatically become effective, in each case, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.
In addition to any other rights and remedies granted to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise all rights and remedies of a secured party under the New York Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, without demand of performance or other demand, presentment, protest, advertisement or notice of any kind (except any notice required by law referred to below) to or upon any Loan Party or any other Person (all and each of which demands, defenses, advertisements and notices are hereby waived by the Borrower on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries), may in such circumstances forthwith collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon the Collateral, or any part thereof, or consent to the use by any Loan Party of any cash collateral arising in respect of the Collateral on such terms as the Administrative Agent deems reasonable, and/or may forthwith sell, lease, assign give an option or options to purchase or otherwise dispose of and deliver, or acquire by credit bid on behalf of the Secured Parties, the Collateral or any part thereof (or contract to do any of the foregoing), in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales, at any exchange, brokers board or office of the Administrative Agent or any Lender or elsewhere, upon such terms and conditions as it may deem advisable and at such prices as it may deem best, for cash or on credit or for future delivery, all without assumption of any credit risk. The Administrative Agent or any Lender shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales, and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase the whole or
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any part of the Collateral so sold, free of any right or equity of redemption in any Loan Party, which right or equity is hereby waived and released by the Borrower on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries. The Borrower further agrees on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, at the Administrative Agents request, to assemble the Collateral and make it available to the Administrative Agent at places which the Administrative Agent shall reasonably select, whether at the premises of the Borrower, another Loan Party or elsewhere. The Administrative Agent shall apply the net proceeds of any action taken by it pursuant to this Article VII, after deducting all reasonable costs and expenses of every kind incurred in connection therewith or incidental to the care or safekeeping of any of the Collateral or in any other way relating to the Collateral or the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder, including reasonable attorneys fees and disbursements, to the payment in whole or in part of the Secured Obligations, in such order as the Administrative Agent may elect, and only after such application and after the payment by the Administrative Agent of any other amount required by any provision of law, including Section 9-615(a)(3) of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, need the Administrative Agent account for the surplus, if any, to any Loan Party. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries waives all claims, damages and demands it may acquire against the Administrative Agent or any Lender arising out of the exercise by them of any rights hereunder. If any notice of a proposed sale or other disposition of Collateral shall be required by law, such notice shall be deemed reasonable and proper if given at least 10 days before such sale or other disposition.
SECTION 7.02. Application of Payments . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, after the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 7.01 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the Borrower shall have automatically been required to provide cash collateral for the LC Exposure as set forth in Section 7.01), all payments received on account of the Secured Obligations shall, subject to Section 2.21, be applied by the Administrative Agent as follows:
(i) first , to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts payable to the Administrative Agent (including fees and disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Administrative Agent payable under Section 9.03 and amounts pursuant to Section 2.12(c) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such);
(ii) second , to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting fees, expenses, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, reimbursement obligations in respect of LC Disbursements, interest and Letter of Credit fees) payable to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the other Secured Parties (including fees and disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks payable under Section 9.03) arising under the Loan Documents or documents governing the Secured Obligations, ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (ii) payable to them;
(iii) third , to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit fees and charges and interest on the Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements, ratably among the Lenders and the Issuing Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (iii) payable to them;
(iv) fourth , (A) to payment of that portion of the Secured Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements, (B) to cash collateralize that portion of LC Exposure comprising the undrawn amount of Letters of Credit to the extent not otherwise cash collateralized by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.06 or 2.21, ratably among the Lenders and the Issuing Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (iv) payable to them; provided that (x) any such amounts applied pursuant to subclause (B) above shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Issuing
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Banks to cash collateralize Secured Obligations in respect of Letters of Credit, (y) subject to Section 2.06 or 2.21, amounts used to cash collateralize the aggregate amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to this clause (iv) shall be used to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur and (z) upon the expiration of any Letter of Credit (without any pending drawings), the pro rata share of cash collateral shall be distributed to the other Secured Obligations, if any, in the order set forth in this Section 7.02 and (C) to any other amounts owing with respect to Banking Services Obligations and Swap Obligations;
(v) fifth , to the payment in full of all other Secured Obligations, in each case ratably among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the other Secured Parties based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Secured Obligations owing to them in accordance with the respective amounts thereof then due and payable; and
(vi) finally , the balance, if any, after all Secured Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by law.
If any amount remains on deposit as cash collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired (without any pending drawings), such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Secured Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.
ARTICLE VIII
The Administrative Agent
SECTION 8.01. Authorization and Action . (a) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints the entity named as Administrative Agent in the heading of this Agreement and its successors and assigns to serve as the administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents and each Lender and each Issuing Bank authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent under such agreements and to exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. In addition, to the extent required under the laws of any jurisdiction other than within the United States, each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby grants to the Administrative Agent any required powers of attorney to execute and enforce any Collateral Document governed by the laws of such jurisdiction on such Lenders or such Issuing Banks behalf. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Loan Documents to which the Administrative Agent is a party, to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that the Administrative Agent may have under such Loan Documents.
(b) As to any matters not expressly provided for herein and in the other Loan Documents (including enforcement or collection), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the written instructions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, pursuant to the terms in the Loan Documents), and, unless and until revoked in writing, such instructions shall be binding upon each Lender and each Issuing Bank; provided , however, that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that (i) the Administrative Agent in good faith believes exposes it to liability unless the Administrative Agent receives an indemnification satisfactory to it from the Lenders and the Issuing Banks with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law, including any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property
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of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors; provided , further , that the Administrative Agent may seek clarification or direction from the Required Lenders prior to the exercise of any such instructed action and may refrain from acting until such clarification or direction has been provided. Except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Administrative Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(c) In performing its functions and duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (except in limited circumstances expressly provided for herein relating to the maintenance of the Register), and its duties are entirely mechanical and administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
(i) | the Administrative Agent does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or duty or any other relationship as the agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any holder of any other obligation other than as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and it is understood and agreed that the use of the term agent (or any similar term) herein or in any other Loan Document with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary duty or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law, and that such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties); additionally, each Lender agrees that it will not assert any claim against the Administrative Agent based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby; and |
(ii) | nothing in this Agreement or any Loan Document shall require the Administrative Agent to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by the Administrative Agent for its own account. |
(d) The Administrative Agent may perform any of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any of their respective duties and exercise their respective rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities pursuant to this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agent except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agent.
(e) None of any Co-Syndication Agent, any Documentation Agent or any Arranger shall have obligations or duties whatsoever in such capacity under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and shall incur no liability hereunder or thereunder in such capacity, but all such persons shall have the benefit of the indemnities provided for hereunder.
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(f) In case of the pendency of any proceeding with respect to any Loan Party under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any L/C Disbursement shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on any Loan Party) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(i) | to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, LC Disbursements and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent (including any claim under Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.15, 2.17 and 9.03) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and |
(ii) | to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; |
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each other Secured Party to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or the other Secured Parties, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, under the Loan Documents (including under Section 9.03). Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or the Issuing Bank any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or Issuing Bank or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or Issuing Bank in any such proceeding.
(g) The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, and, except solely to the extent of the Borrowers rights to consent pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in this Article, none of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any of their respective Affiliates, shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary under any such provisions. Each Secured Party, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral and of the Guarantees of the Obligations provided under the Loan Documents, to have agreed to the provisions of this Article.
SECTION 8.02. Administrative Agents Reliance, Indemnification, Etc . (a) Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be (i) liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (x) with the consent of or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan Documents) or (y) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for any failure of any Loan Party to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.
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(b) The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a notice of default) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an Issuing Bank, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, or (vi) the creation, perfection or priority of Liens on the Collateral. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be liable for, or be responsible for any loss, cost or expense suffered by the Borrower, any Subsidiary, any Lender or any Issuing Bank as a result of, any determination of the Revolving Credit Exposure, any of the component amounts thereof or any portion thereof attributable to each Lender or Issuing Bank.
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (i) may treat the payee of any promissory note as its holder until such promissory note has been assigned in accordance with Section 9.04, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 9.04(b), (iii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender or Issuing Bank and shall not be responsible to any Lender or Issuing Bank for any statements, warranties or representations made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) in determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or Issuing Bank sufficiently in advance of the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit and (vi) shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper party or parties (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).
SECTION 8.03. Posting of Communications .
(a) The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make any Communications available to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks by posting the Communications on IntraLinks, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar or any other electronic platform chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the Approved Electronic Platform ).
(b) Although the Approved Electronic Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent from time to time (including, as of the Effective Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Approved Electronic Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization method whereby each user may access the Approved Electronic Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders, each of
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the Issuing Banks and the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure and that there are confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrower hereby approves distribution of the Communications through the Approved Electronic Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.
(c) THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED AS IS AND AS AVAILABLE. THE APPLICABLE PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE APPLICABLE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY ARRANGER, ANY DOCUMENTATION AGENT, ANY CO-SYNDICATION AGENT OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, APPLICABLE PARTIES ) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER, ANY ISSUING BANK OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY LOAN PARTYS OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENTS TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM.
(d) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that Communications have been posted to the Approved Electronic Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees (i) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (which could be in the form of electronic communication) from time to time of such Lenders or such Issuing Banks (as applicable) email address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (ii) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such email address.
(e) Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but (except as may be required by applicable law) shall not be obligated to, store the Communications on the Approved Electronic Platform in accordance with the Administrative Agents generally applicable document retention procedures and policies.
(f) Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.
SECTION 8.04. The Administrative Agent Individually . With respect to its Commitment, Loans, the Letter of Credit Commitments and Letters of Credit, the Person serving as the Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be. The terms Issuing Banks, Lenders, Required Lenders and any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender, Issuing Bank or as one of the Required Lenders, as applicable. The Person serving as
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the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing as if such Person was not acting as the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks.
SECTION 8.05. Successor Administrative Agent . (a) The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days prior written notice thereof to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower, whether or not a successor Administrative Agent has been appointed. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agents giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York or an Affiliate of any such bank. In either case, such appointment shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Borrower (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required while an Event of Default under Section 7.01(a), (h) or (i) has occurred and is continuing). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to, and become vested with, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Prior to any retiring Administrative Agents resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to assign to the successor Administrative Agent its rights as Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section, in the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided that, solely for purposes of maintaining any security interest granted to the Administrative Agent under any Collateral Document for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to be vested with such security interest as collateral agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and continue to be entitled to the rights set forth in such Collateral Document and Loan Document, and, in the case of any Collateral in the possession of the Administrative Agent, shall continue to hold such Collateral, in each case until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed and accepts such appointment in accordance with this Section (it being understood and agreed that the retiring Administrative Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take any further action under any Collateral Document, including any action required to maintain the perfection of any such security interest), and (ii) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that (A) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall directly be given or made to each Lender and each Issuing Bank. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agents resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.03, as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and in respect of the matters referred to in the proviso under clause (i) above.
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SECTION 8.06. Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Banks . (a) Each Lender represents that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
(b) Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement on the date hereof, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the date hereof.
SECTION 8.07. Collateral Matters . (a) Except with respect to the exercise of setoff rights in accordance with Section 9.08 or with respect to a Secured Partys right to file a proof of claim in an insolvency proceeding, no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce any Guarantee of the Obligations, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms thereof.
(b) In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation thereof, no Banking Services Agreement or Swap Agreement will create (or be deemed to create) in favor of any Secured Party that is a party thereto any rights in connection with the management or release of any Collateral or of the obligations of any Loan Party under any Loan Document. By accepting the benefits of the Collateral, each Secured Party that is a party to any such Banking Services Agreement or Swap Agreement, as applicable, shall be deemed to have appointed the Administrative Agent to serve as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents and agreed to be bound by the Loan Documents as a Secured Party thereunder, subject to the limitations set forth in this paragraph.
(c) The Secured Parties irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 6.02(b) or Section 6.02(e). The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Administrative Agents Lien thereon or any certificate prepared by any Loan Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders or any other Secured Party for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.
SECTION 8.08. Credit Bidding . The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Secured Obligations (including by accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Secured Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either
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directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, or (b) at any other sale, foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Secured Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid by the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders on a ratable basis (with Secured Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that shall vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) for the asset or assets so purchased (or for the equity interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are issued in connection with such purchase). In connection with any such bid, (i) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles and to assign any successful credit bid to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, (ii) each of the Secured Parties ratable interests in the Secured Obligations which were credit bid shall be deemed without any further action under this Agreement to be assigned to such vehicle or vehicles for the purpose of closing such sale, (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or equity interests thereof, shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by, and the governing documents shall provide for, control by the vote of the Required Lenders or their permitted assignees under the terms of this Agreement or the governing documents of the applicable acquisition vehicle or vehicles, as the case may be, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in Section 9.02 of this Agreement), (iv) the Administrative Agent on behalf of such acquisition vehicle or vehicles shall be authorized to issue to each of the Secured Parties, ratably on account of the relevant Secured Obligations which were credit bid, interests, whether as equity, partnership, limited partnership interests or membership interests, in any such acquisition vehicle and/or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action, and (v) to the extent that Secured Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Secured Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of Secured Obligations credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Secured Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Secured Parties pro rata with their original interest in such Secured Obligations and the equity interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of such Secured Obligations shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action. Notwithstanding that the ratable portion of the Secured Obligations of each Secured Party are deemed assigned to the acquisition vehicle or vehicles as set forth in clause (ii) above, each Secured Party shall execute such documents and provide such information regarding the Secured Party (and/or any designee of the Secured Party which will receive interests in or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection with the formation of any acquisition vehicle, the formulation or submission of any credit bid or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such credit bid.
SECTION 8.09. Certain ERISA Matters . (a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
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(i) such Lender is not using plan assets (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments,
(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lenders entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, and the conditions for exemptive relief thereunder are and will continue to be satisfied in connection therewith,
(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a Qualified Professional Asset Manager (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lenders entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or
(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.
(b) In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that:
(i) none of the Administrative Agent, or any Arranger or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto),
(ii) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement is independent (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21, as amended from time to time) and is a bank, an insurance carrier, an investment adviser, a broker-dealer or other person that holds, or has under management or control, total assets of at least $50,000,000, in each case as described in 29 CFR § 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E),
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(iii) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to particular transactions and investment strategies (including in respect of the obligations),
(iv) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Lender with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement is a fiduciary under ERISA or the Code, or both, with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement and is responsible for exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transactions hereunder, and
(v) no fee or other compensation is being paid directly to the Administrative Agent, or any Arranger or any their respective Affiliates for investment advice (as opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments or this Agreement.
(c) The Administrative Agent and each Arranger hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, commitment fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, bankers acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
SECTION 9.01. Notices . (a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:
(i) if to the Borrower, to it at LHC Group, Inc., 420 West Pinhoook Road, Suite A, Lafeyette, LA 70503, Attention of General Counsel (Telecopy No. (337) 235-8037; Telephone No. (888) 246-3712);
(ii) if to the Administrative Agent, (A) to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 South Dearborn, Floor L2, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attention of Jasmine Doke (Telecopy No. (844) 490-5663),with a copy to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 600 Jefferson Street, Floor 03, Lafayette, Louisiana 70501, Attention of Robin McHugh (Telecopy No. (337) 265-3248) and (B) in the case of a notification of the DQ List, to JPMDQ_Contact@jpmorgan.com;
(iii) if to an Issuing Bank, to it at (a) to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 South Dearborn, Floor L2, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attention of Jasmine Doke (Telecopy No. (844) 490-5663) or (b) in the case of any other Issuing Bank, to it at the address and telecopy number specified from time to time by such Issuing Bank to the Company and the Administrative Agent;
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(iv) if to the Swingline Lender, to it at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 South Dearborn, Floor L2, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attention of Jasmine Doke (Telecopy No. (844) 490-5663); and
(v) if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through Approved Electronic Platforms, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).
(b) Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereunder may be delivered or furnished by using Approved Electronic Platforms pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the senders receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the return receipt requested function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient, at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i), of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.
(c) Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.
SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments . (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.
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(b) Except as provided in Section 2.20 with respect to an Incremental Term Loan Amendment or as provided in Section 2.14(b) and Section 9.02(f), neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby (except that neither (A) any amendment or modification of the financial covenants in this Agreement (or defined terms used in the financial covenants in this Agreement) or (B) any amendment entered into pursuant to the terms of Section 2.14(b) shall constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or fees for purposes of this clause (ii)), (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.09(c), 2.18(b) or (d) in a manner that would alter the ratable reduction of Commitments or pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change the payment of waterfall provisions of Section 2.21(b) or 7.02 without the written consent of each Lender or (vi) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of Required Lenders or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (it being understood that, solely with the consent of the parties prescribed by Section 2.20 to be parties to an Incremental Term Loan Amendment, Incremental Term Loans may be included in the determination of Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the Commitments and the Revolving Loans are included on the Effective Date), (vi) (x) release the Borrower from its obligations hereunder or (y) release all or substantially all of the Subsidiary Guarantors from their obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender, or (vii) except as provided in clause (d) of this Section or in any Collateral Document, release all or substantially all of the Collateral, without the written consent of each Lender; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be (it being understood that any change to Section 2.21 shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender).
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement and any other Loan Document may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (x) to add one or more credit facilities (in addition to the Incremental Term Loans pursuant to an Incremental Term Loan Amendment) to this Agreement and to permit extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Revolving Loans, Incremental Term Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (y) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and Lenders.
(d) The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its sole discretion, (A) to release any Liens granted to the Administrative Agent by the Loan Parties on any Collateral (i) upon the termination of all the Commitments, payment and satisfaction in full in cash of all Secured Obligations (other than Swap Obligations not yet due and payable, Banking Services Obligations not yet due and payable, Unliquidated Obligations for which no claim has been made and other Obligations expressly stated to survive such payment and termination), and the cash collateralization of all Unliquidated Obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (ii) constituting property being sold or disposed of if the Borrower certifies to the Administrative Agent that the sale or disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (and the Administrative Agent may rely
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conclusively on any such certificate, without further inquiry), (iii) constituting property leased to the Borrower or any Subsidiary under a lease which has expired or been terminated in a transaction permitted under this Agreement, (iv) constituting Excluded Assets or (v) as required to effect any sale or other disposition of such Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Article VII and (B) to release or disclaim any interest, including any Liens granted to the Administrative Agent by the Loan Parties, in any Segregated Governmental Accounts. Any such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Secured Obligations or any Liens (other than those expressly being released) upon (or obligations of the Loan Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Loan Parties, including the proceeds of any sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral.
(e) If, in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver or consent requiring the consent of each Lender or each Lender directly affected thereby, 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 may elect to replace a Non-Consenting Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement, provided that, concurrently with such replacement, (i) another bank or other entity which is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall agree, as of such date, to purchase for cash the Loans and other Obligations due to the Non-Consenting Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption and to become a Lender for all purposes under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Non-Consenting Lender to be terminated as of such date and to comply with the requirements of clause (b) of Section 9.04, and (ii) the Borrower shall pay to such Non-Consenting Lender in same day funds on the day of such replacement (1) the outstanding principal amount of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and all interest, fees and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Non-Consenting Lender by the Borrower hereunder to and including the date of termination, including without limitation payments due to such Non-Consenting Lender under Sections 2.15 and 2.17, and (2) an amount, if any, equal to the payment which would have been due to such Lender on the day of such replacement under Section 2.16 had the Loans of such Non-Consenting Lender been prepaid on such date rather than sold to the replacement Lender. Each party hereto agrees that an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants), and the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to an be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the Administrative Agent and the Borrower acting together identify any ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect in any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, then the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall be permitted to amend, modify or supplement such provision to cure such ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect, and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement.
(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Schedules hereto shall be deemed amended and/or amended and restated, as applicable, as may be mutually agreed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent by those Schedules delivered pursuant to Section 5.12 on the Joinder Date.
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SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver . (a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of a single primary counsel (and a single local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction) for the Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication and distribution (including, without limitation, via the internet or through a service such as Intralinks) of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any single primary counsel (and a single local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction) for the Administrative Agent and any single primary counsel for the Issuing Banks and the Lenders (and a single local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for the Issuing Banks and the Lenders) and, solely in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, one additional counsel to each such affected Issuing Bank or Lender), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and any other Loan Document, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.
(b) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, each Issuing Bank and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an Indemnitee ) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of (x) one counsel for the Administrative Agent and its affiliated Indemnitees (and a single local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction), (y) one counsel for the other Indemnitees taken as a whole (and a single local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction for the other Indemnitees taken as a whole) and (z) solely in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where the Indemnitees affected by such conflict inform the Borrower of such conflict, one additional counsel to each group of similarly affected Indemnitees taken as a whole (and a single local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction to each such group of similarly affected Indemnitees)) for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of any Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation, arbitration or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not such claim, litigation, investigation, arbitration or proceeding is brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party or its or their respective equity holders, Affiliates, creditors or any other third Person and whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. This Section 9.03(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims or damages arising from any non-Tax claim.
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(c) Each Lender severally agrees to pay any amount required to be paid by the Borrower under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 9.03 to the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and each Swingline Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each, an Agent Indemnitee ) (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), ratably according to their respective Applicable Percentage in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought under this Section (or, if indemnification is sought after the date upon which the Commitments shall have terminated and the Loans shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with such Applicable Percentage immediately prior to such date), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (whether before or after the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent Indemnitee under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent Indemnitees gross negligence or willful misconduct. The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.
(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, (i) the Borrower shall not assert, and the Borrower hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet), and (ii) no party hereto shall assert, and each such party hereby waives any claim against any other party hereto, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that, nothing in this clause (d)(ii) shall relieve the Borrower of any obligation it may have to indemnify an Indemnitee against special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages asserted against such Indemnitee by a third party.
(e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than thirty (30) days after written demand therefor.
SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns . (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
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(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more Persons (other than an Ineligible Institution) 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) of:
(A) the Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof); provided , further, that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default arising under Sections 7.01(a), (b), (h), (i) or (j) has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee;
(B) the Administrative Agent;
(C) the Issuing Banks; and
(D) the Swingline Lender.
(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:
(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lenders Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
(B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement, provided that this clause shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations in respect of one Class of Commitments or Loans;
(C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) an Assignment and Assumption or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; and
(D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower and its Affiliates and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignees compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws.
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For the purposes of this Section 9.04(b), the terms Approved Fund and Ineligible Institution have the following meanings:
Approved Fund means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
Ineligible Institution means (a) a natural person, (b) a Defaulting Lender or its Lender Parent, (c) the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates, (d) a company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or relative(s) thereof or (e) a Disqualified Institution.
(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lenders 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 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.
(iv) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the Register ). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, any Issuing Bank and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(v) Upon its receipt of (x) a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, the assignees completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(c), 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(e) or 9.03(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.
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(c) Any Lender may, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Swingline Lender, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a Participant ), other than an Ineligible Institution, in all or a portion of such Lenders rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lenders obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged; (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations; and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.17(f) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.17(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.18 and 2.19 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15 or 2.17, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrowers request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 2.19(b) with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(d) as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participants interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the Participant Register ); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participants 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 Treasury Regulations Section 5f.103-1(c) and Proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(b) (or any amended or successor version). The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
(d) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
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(e) Disqualified Institutions .
(i) No assignment or participation shall be made to any Person that was a Disqualified Institution as of the date (the Trade Date ) on which the assigning Lender entered into a binding agreement to sell and assign or grant a participation in all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to such Person (unless the Borrower has consented to such assignment or participation in writing in its sole and absolute discretion, in which case such Person will not be considered a Disqualified Institution for the purpose of such assignment or participation). For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any assignee or Participant that becomes a Disqualified Institution after the applicable Trade Date (including as a result of the delivery of a written supplement to the list of Disqualified Institutions referred to in, the definition of Disqualified Institution), (x) such assignee or Participant shall not retroactively be disqualified from becoming a Lender or Participant and (y) the execution by the Borrower of an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignee will not by itself result in such assignee no longer being considered a Disqualified Institution. Any assignment or participation in violation of this clause (e)(i) shall not be void, but the other provisions of this clause (e) shall apply.
(ii) If any assignment or participation is made to any Disqualified Institution without the Borrowers prior written consent in violation of clause (i) above, or if any Person becomes a Disqualified Institution after the applicable Trade Date, the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to the applicable Disqualified Institution and the Administrative Agent, require such Disqualified Institution to assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in this Section 9.04), all of its interest, rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more Persons (other than an Ineligible Institution) at the lesser of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Institution paid to acquire such interests, rights and obligations in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Disqualified Institutions to whom an assignment or participation is made in violation of clause (i) above (A) will not have the right to (x) receive information, reports or other materials provided to Lenders by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, (y) attend or participate in meetings attended by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, or (z) access any electronic site established for the Lenders or confidential communications from counsel to or financial advisors of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders and (B) (x) for purposes of any consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of, or any action under, and for the purpose of any direction to the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, each Disqualified Institution will be deemed to have consented in the same proportion as the Lenders that are not Disqualified Institutions consented to such matter and (y) for purposes of voting on any plan of reorganization, each Disqualified Institution party hereto hereby agrees (1) not to vote on such plan of reorganization, (2) if such Disqualified Institution does vote on such plan of reorganization notwithstanding the restriction in the foregoing clause (1), such vote will be deemed not to be in good faith and shall be designated pursuant to Section 1126(e) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other applicable laws), and such vote shall not be counted in determining whether the applicable class has accepted or rejected such plan of reorganization in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other applicable laws) and (3) not to contest any request by any party for a determination by the Bankruptcy Court (or other applicable court of competent jurisdiction) effectuating the foregoing clause (2).
(iv) The Administrative Agent shall have the right, and the Borrower hereby expressly authorizes the Administrative Agent, to (A) post the list of Disqualified Institutions provided by the Borrower and any updates thereto from time to time (collectively, the DQ List ) on a Platform, including that portion of such Platform that is designated for public side Lenders and/or (B) provide the DQ List to each Lender or potential Lender requesting the same.
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(v) The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Disqualified Institutions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall (x) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any other Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Disqualified Institution or (y) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, by any other Person to any Disqualified Institution.
SECTION 9.05. Survival . All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 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 Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof.
SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness ; Electronic Execution . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to (i) fees payable to the Administrative Agent and (ii) the reductions of the Letter of Credit Commitment of any Issuing Bank constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of the actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. The words execution, signed, signature, delivery, and words of like import in or relating to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, 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; provided that nothing herein shall require the Administrative Agent to accept electronic signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent.
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SECTION 9.07. Severability . Any provision of any Loan Document 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 thereof; 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, each Issuing Bank, and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held, and other obligations at any time owing, by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate, to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or such Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch office or Affiliate of such Lender or such Issuing Bank different from the branch office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.20 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Secured Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender, each Issuing Bank and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.
SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process . (a) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.
(b) Each of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that, notwithstanding the governing law provisions of any applicable Loan Document, any claims brought against the Administrative Agent by any Secured Party relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document, the Collateral or the consummation or administration of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.
(c) Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan (or if such court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan), and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions relating hereto or thereto, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may (and any such claims, cross-claims or third party claims brought against the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties may only) be heard and determined in such Federal (to the extent permitted by law) or New York State court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final
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judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement against any Loan Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(d) Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (c) 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.
(e) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document 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, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER 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. Headings . Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality . Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any Governmental Authority (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (1) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement (it being understood that the DQ List may be disclosed to any assignee or Participant or prospective assignee or Participant, in reliance on this clause (f)) or (2) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) on a confidential basis to (1) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities
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provided for herein or (2) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of identification numbers with respect to the credit facilities provided for herein, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (1) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (2) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower; provided that unless specifically prohibited by applicable law or court order, Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and each Lender shall make reasonable efforts to notify the Borrower of (x) any request by any Governmental Authority or representative thereof (other than any such request in connection with any examination of the financial condition or other routine examination of such Lender by such Governmental Authority) for disclosure of any such non-public information or (y) pursuant to clause (c) above, in each case, prior to disclosure of such information. For the purposes of this Section, Information means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower and other than information pertaining to this Agreement routinely provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
SECTION 9.13. Material Non-Public Information .
EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN SECTION 9.12 FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BORROWER AND ITS RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES, AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
ALL INFORMATION, INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS, FURNISHED BY THE BORROWER OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE BORROWER, THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE BORROWER AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT THAT IT HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE A CREDIT CONTACT WHO MAY RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW.
SECTION 9.14. Appointment for Perfection . Each Lender hereby appoints each other Lender as its agent for the purpose of perfecting Liens, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC or any other applicable law can be perfected only by possession or control. Should any Lender (other than the Administrative Agent) obtain possession or control of any such Collateral, such Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof, and, promptly upon the Administrative Agents request therefor shall deliver such Collateral to the Administrative Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Administrative Agents instructions.
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SECTION 9.15. Releases of Subsidiary Guarantors .
(a) A Subsidiary Guarantor shall automatically be released from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by this Agreement (including as permitted by Section 6.04(p)) as a result of which such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Material Domestic Subsidiary or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary; provided that, if so required by this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall have consented to such transaction (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) and the terms of such consent shall not have provided otherwise. In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this Section, the Administrative Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by each Lender to) execute and deliver to any Loan Party, at such Loan Partys expense, all documents that such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent.
(b) Further, the Administrative Agent may (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by each Lender to), upon the request of the Borrower, release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty upon consummation of any transaction permitted by this Agreement (including as permitted by Section 6.04(p)) or if such Subsidiary Guarantor is no longer a Material Domestic Subsidiary or is an Excluded Subsidiary.
(c) At such time as the principal and interest on the Loans, all LC Disbursements, the fees, expenses and other amounts payable under the Loan Documents and the other Secured Obligations (other than Swap Obligations not yet due and payable, Banking Services Obligations not yet due and payable, Unliquidated Obligations for which no claim has been made and other Obligations expressly stated to survive such payment and termination) shall have been paid in full in cash, the Commitments shall have been terminated and no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding, the Subsidiary Guaranty and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such termination) of each Subsidiary Guarantor thereunder shall automatically terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any Person.
SECTION 9.16. Interest Rate Limitation . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the Charges ), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the Maximum Rate ) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the NYFRB Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.
SECTION 9.17. No Fiduciary Duty, etc . The Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries understanding, that no Credit Party will have any obligations except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents and each Credit Party is acting solely in the capacity of an arms length contractual counterparty to the Borrower with respect to the Loan Documents and the transaction contemplated therein and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Borrower or any other person. The Borrower agrees that it will not assert any claim against any Credit Party based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by such Credit Party in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Additionally, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that no Credit Party is advising the Borrower as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting, regulatory or any other matters in any jurisdiction. The Borrower shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Credit Parties shall have no responsibility or liability to the Borrower with respect thereto.
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The Borrower further acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries understanding, that each Credit Party, together with its Affiliates, is a full service securities or banking firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities as well as providing investment banking and other financial services. In the ordinary course of business, any Credit Party may provide investment banking and other financial services to, and/or acquire, hold or sell, for its own accounts and the accounts of customers, equity, debt and other securities and financial instruments (including bank loans and other obligations) of, the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and other companies with which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may have commercial or other relationships. With respect to any securities and/or financial instruments so held by any Credit Party or any of its customers, all rights in respect of such securities and financial instruments, including any voting rights, will be exercised by the holder of the rights, in its sole discretion.
In addition, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries understanding, that each Credit Party and its affiliates may be providing debt financing, equity capital or other services (including financial advisory services) to other companies in respect of which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may have conflicting interests regarding the transactions described herein and otherwise. No Credit Party will use confidential information obtained from the Borrower by virtue of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or its other relationships with the Borrower in connection with the performance by such Credit Party of services for other companies, and no Credit Party will furnish any such information to other companies. The Borrower also acknowledges that no Credit Party has any obligation to use in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, or to furnish to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, confidential information obtained from other companies.
SECTION 9.18. USA PATRIOT Act . Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (the Patriot Act ) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of such Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the Patriot Act.
SECTION 9.19. Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and
(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
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(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such 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.
ARTICLE X
Borrower Guarantee
In order to induce the Lenders to extend credit to the Borrower hereunder and for other good and valuable consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged), the Borrower hereby absolutely and irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the payment when and as due of the Specified Ancillary Obligations of the Subsidiaries. The Borrower further agrees that the due and punctual payment of such Specified Ancillary Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon its guarantee hereunder notwithstanding any such extension or renewal of any such Specified Ancillary Obligation.
The Borrower waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to any Subsidiary of any of the Specified Ancillary Obligations, and also waives notice of acceptance of its obligations and notice of protest for nonpayment. The obligations of the Borrower hereunder shall not be affected by (a) the failure of any applicable Lender (or any of its Affiliates) to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against any Subsidiary under the provisions of any Banking Services Agreement, any Swap Agreement or otherwise; (b) any extension or renewal of any of the Specified Ancillary Obligations; (c) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or release from, any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Banking Services Agreement, any Swap Agreement or other agreement; (d) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of any of the Specified Ancillary Obligations; (e) the failure of any applicable Lender (or any of its Affiliates) to take any steps to perfect and maintain any security interest in, or to preserve any rights to, any security or collateral for the Specified Ancillary Obligations, if any; (f) any change in the corporate, partnership or other existence, structure or ownership of any Subsidiary or any other guarantor of any of the Specified Ancillary Obligations; (g) the enforceability or validity of the Specified Ancillary Obligations or any part thereof or the genuineness, enforceability or validity of any agreement relating thereto or with respect to any collateral securing the Specified Ancillary Obligations or any part thereof, or any other invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against any Subsidiary or any other guarantor of any of the Specified Ancillary Obligations, for any reason related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Banking Services Agreement, any Swap Agreement, or any provision of applicable law, decree, order or regulation of any jurisdiction purporting to prohibit the payment by such Subsidiary or any other guarantor of the Specified Ancillary Obligations, of any of the Specified Ancillary Obligations or otherwise affecting any term of any of the Specified Ancillary Obligations; or (h) any other act, omission or delay to do any other act which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of the Borrower or otherwise operate as a discharge of a guarantor as a matter of law or equity or which would impair or eliminate any right of the Borrower to subrogation.
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The Borrower further agrees that its agreement hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due (whether or not any bankruptcy or similar proceeding shall have stayed the accrual or collection of any of the Specified Ancillary Obligations or operated as a discharge thereof) and not merely of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any applicable Lender (or any of its Affiliates) to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in favor of any Subsidiary or any other Person.
The obligations of the Borrower hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever, by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of the Specified Ancillary Obligations, any impossibility in the performance of any of the Specified Ancillary Obligations or otherwise.
The Borrower further agrees that its obligations hereunder shall constitute a continuing and irrevocable guarantee of all Specified Ancillary Obligations now or hereafter existing and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any Specified Ancillary Obligation (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff) is rescinded, or is or must otherwise be restored or returned by any applicable Lender (or any of its Affiliates) upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Subsidiary or otherwise (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by a holder of Specified Ancillary Obligations in its discretion).
In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any applicable Lender (or any of its Affiliates) may have at law or in equity against the Borrower by virtue hereof, upon the failure of any Subsidiary to pay any Specified Ancillary Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, the Borrower hereby promises to and will, upon receipt of written demand by any applicable Lender (or any of its Affiliates), forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to such applicable Lender (or any of its Affiliates) in cash an amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of such Specified Ancillary Obligations then due, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The Borrower further agrees that if payment in respect of any Specified Ancillary Obligation shall be due in a currency other than Dollars and/or at a place of payment other than New York, Chicago or any other office, branch, affiliate or correspondent bank of the applicable Lender for such currency and if, by reason of any Change in Law, disruption of currency or foreign exchange markets, war or civil disturbance or other event, payment of such Specified Ancillary Obligation in such currency or at such place of payment shall be impossible or, in the reasonable judgment of any applicable Lender (or any of its Affiliates), disadvantageous to such applicable Lender (or any of its Affiliates) in any material respect, then, at the election of such applicable Lender, the Borrower shall make payment of such Specified Ancillary Obligation in Dollars (based upon the applicable equivalent amount in effect on the date of payment) and/or in New York, Chicago or such other payment office as is designated by such applicable Lender (or its Affiliate) and, as a separate and independent obligation, shall indemnify such applicable Lender (and any of its Affiliates) against any losses or reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that it shall sustain as a result of such alternative payment.
Upon payment by the Borrower of any sums as provided above, all rights of the Borrower against any Subsidiary arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the Specified Ancillary Obligations owed by such Subsidiary to the applicable Lender (or its applicable Affiliates).
The Borrower hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each Subsidiary Guarantor to honor all of its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty in respect of Specified Swap Obligations (provided, however, that the Borrower shall only be liable under this paragraph for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this paragraph or otherwise under this Article X voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer,
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and not for any greater amount). The Borrower intends that this paragraph constitute, and this paragraph shall be deemed to constitute, a keepwell, support, or other agreement for the benefit of each Subsidiary Guarantor for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
Nothing shall discharge or satisfy the liability of the Borrower hereunder except the full performance and payment in cash of the Secured Obligations.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
LHC GROUP, INC., as the Borrower |
||
By |
/s/ Joshua L. Proffitt |
|
Name: Joshua L. Proffitt Title: Excutive Vice President |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
LHC Group, Inc.
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., individually as a Lender, as the Swingline Lender, as an Issuing Bank and as Administrative Agent | ||
By |
/s/ Angela D. Cole |
|
Name: Angela D. Cole Title: Executive Director |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
LHC Group, Inc.
CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||
By |
/s/ Matthew Corrado |
|
Name: Matthew Corrado Title: Duly Authorized Signatory |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
LHC Group, Inc.
REGIONS BANK, as a Lender | ||
By |
/s/ Mark Hardison |
|
Name: Mark Hardison Title: Managing Director |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
LHC Group, Inc.
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender | ||
By |
/s/ Heath Lipson |
|
Name: Heath Lipson Title: Senior Vice President |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
LHC Group, Inc.
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||
By |
/s/ John Teasley |
|
Name: John Teasley Title: Managing Director |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
LHC Group, Inc.
FIFTH THIRD BANK, as a Lender | ||
By |
/s/ Vera B. McEvoy |
|
Name: Vera B. McEvoy Title: Director II |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
LHC Group, Inc.
WHITNEY BANK, as a Lender | ||
By |
/s/ Grant Guillotte |
|
Name: Grant Guillotte Title: Senior Vice President |
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
LHC Group, Inc.
Exhibit 99.1
|
|
|||
Contacts: | Investors | |||
Eric Elliott | Steven Guenthner | |||
Senior Vice President of Finance | President and Principal Financial Officer | |||
LHC Group | Almost Family | |||
(337) 233-1307 | (502) 891-1000 | |||
eric.elliott@lhcgroup.com | steveguenthner@almostfamily.com | |||
Media Schmidt Public Affairs Rebecca Reid (410) 212-3843 rreid@schmidtpa.com |
LHC GROUP AND ALMOST FAMILY ANNOUNCE STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL AND
CLOSING OF MERGER OF EQUALS TRANSACTION
LAFAYETTE, La. and LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 29, 2018) LHC Group, Inc. (LHC Group) (NASDAQ: LHCG) and Almost Family, Inc. (Almost Family) (NASDAQ: AFAM) announced today that, based on a preliminary count of the voting results, the stockholders of both LHC Group and Almost Family overwhelmingly approved the previously announced merger of equals between the two companies at their respective special meetings held earlier today. Following the special meetings, the two companies closed the merger, which will become effective on April 1, 2018. Consistent with previous announcements, LHC Group expects to update its 2018 guidance to include the operations of Almost Family for fiscal 2018 following the effectiveness of the merger.
The transaction creates the second largest in-home healthcare provider in the country with an expanded geographic service territory of 36 states covering over 60 percent of the U.S. population aged 65 and over, and more than 780 locations, including those related to 76 joint venture partnerships with health systems that consist of 336 hospitals.
Commenting on the announcement, Keith G. Myers, LHC Groups chairman and CEO, said, This is an exciting time for our employees, joint venture partners, and stockholders. For months, we have worked tirelessly to prepare for combining our two companies. Todays vote and closing bring us closer to realizing our potential as leaders in the ongoing evolution of the in-home healthcare industry.
Pursuant to the merger agreement between the two companies, each outstanding share of Almost Family common stock will be exchanged for 0.9150 of a LHC Group share at the effective time of the merger. The shares of Almost Family ceased trading at the close of the NASDAQ stock market on March 29, 2018. The combined company will operate under the LHC Group name, with common shares traded on the NASDAQ under ticker symbol LHCG.
About LHC Group, Inc.
LHC Group, Inc. is a national provider of non-acute healthcare services, providing quality, cost-effective healthcare to patients primarily within the comfort and privacy of their home or place of residence. LHC Group provides a comprehensive array of healthcare services through home health, hospice, community-based services agencies and facility-based services. LHC Group operates 320 home health services locations, 92 hospice locations, 12 community-based service locations and 15 long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs).
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LHC Group and Almost Family Announce Stockholder Approval
and Closing of Merger of Equals Transaction
Page 2
March 29, 2018
About Almost Family, Inc.
Almost Family, Inc., founded in 1976, is a leading national provider of home healthcare services, with 332 branch locations in 26 states, including its joint venture with Community Health Systems, Inc. Almost Family, Inc. and its subsidiaries operate home health, other home-based services and healthcare innovations segments.
Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements relating to the transaction include, but are not limited to: statements about the benefits of the transaction, including anticipated earnings accretion, synergies and cost savings and future financial and operating results; LHC Groups and Almost Familys plans, objectives, expectations, projections and intentions; and other statements relating to the transaction that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to LHC Group and Almost Family and involve estimates, expectations and projections. Investors are cautioned that all such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and important factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. With respect to the transaction, these risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to: the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings, synergies and growth from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the diversion of management time on integration-related issues; the risk that costs associated with the integration of the businesses are higher than anticipated; and litigation risks related to the transaction. With respect to the businesses of the combined company, these risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to: changes in, or failure to comply with, existing government regulations that impact the combined companys businesses; legislative proposals for healthcare reform; the impact of changes in future interpretations of fraud, anti-kickback, or other laws; changes in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement levels; changes in laws and regulations with respect to Accountable Care Organizations; changes in the marketplace and regulatory environment for Health Risk Assessments; decrease in demand for the combined companys services; the potential impact of the transaction on relationships with customers, joint venture and other partners, competitors, management and other employees, including the loss of significant contracts or reduction in revenues associated with major payor sources; ability of customers to pay for services; risks related to any current or future litigation proceedings; potential audits and investigations by government and regulatory agencies, including the impact of any negative publicity or litigation; the ability to attract new customers and retain existing customers in the manner anticipated; the ability to hire and retain key personnel; increased competition from other entities offering similar services as offered by the combined company; reliance on and integration of information technology systems; ability to protect intellectual property rights; impact of security breaches, cyber-attacks or fraudulent activity on the combined companys reputation; the risks associated with assumptions the parties make in connection with the parties critical accounting estimates and legal proceedings; the risks associated with the combined companys expansion strategy, the successful integration of recent acquisitions, and if necessary, the ability to relocate or restructure current facilities; and the potential impact of an economic downturn or effects of tax assessments or tax positions taken, risks related to goodwill and other intangible asset impairment, tax adjustments, anticipated tax rates, benefit or retirement plan costs, or other regulatory compliance costs.
Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is also contained in LHC Groups S-4 Registration Statement that has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and was declared effective by the SEC on February 12, 2018, which includes the joint proxy statement for LHC Group and Almost Family, as well as LHC Groups and Almost Familys most recently filed Annual Reports on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other SEC filings.
Many of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions are beyond LHC Groups or Almost Familys ability to control or predict. Because of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Furthermore, forward-looking statements speak only as of the information currently available to the parties on the date they are made, and neither LHC Group nor Almost Family undertakes any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this press release. Neither LHC Group nor Almost Family gives any assurance (1) that either LHC Group or Almost Family will achieve its expectations, or (2) concerning any result or the timing thereof. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the transaction, the combined company or other matters and attributable to LHC Group or Almost Family or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above.
-END-
Exhibit 99.2
Contacts: | Investors | Media | ||
Eric Elliott | Schmidt Public Affairs | |||
Senior Vice President of Finance | Rebecca Reid | |||
(337) 233-1307 | (410) 212-3843 | |||
eric.elliott@lhcgroup.com | rreid@schmidtpa.com |
LHC GROUP ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION AND EFFECTIVENESS
OF MERGER WITH ALMOST FAMILY
Updates 2018 Guidance for Combined Company
Announces New $500 Million Senior Secured Credit Facility
LAFAYETTE, La. (April 2, 2018) LHC Group, Inc. (the Company or LHC Group) (NASDAQ: LHCG) has announced the completion and effectiveness of its merger with Almost Family, Inc. (Almost Family). The transaction creates the second largest in-home healthcare provider in the country with an expanded geographic service territory of 36 states covering over 60 percent of the U.S. population aged 65 and over; the only national home health, hospice, and personal care provider with a long track record of successfully partnering with hospitals and health systems; and the highest quality provider, as measured by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services star ratings, with a depth of talent, industry relationships, and a reputation for driving savings for payors and improving patient outcomes and experiences.
Effectiveness of Merger
The merger of LHC Group and Almost Family was effective on April 1, 2018. The shares of Almost Family ceased trading under the ticker symbol AFAM at the close of the NASDAQ stock market on March 29. Under the terms of the merger agreement, each share of Almost Family common stock was automatically converted into the right to receive 0.9150 of a share of LHC Group common stock, resulting in approximately 31.2 million total shares of common stock outstanding for the combined company.
Commenting on the announcement, Keith G. Myers, LHC Groups chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, The coming together of our two companies is truly transformative in nature and can now begin to benefit patients, families, and communities across the United States. We are stronger together and well-positioned to lead the industrys transition to value-based reimbursement and highly coordinated care. With a deep and highly experienced team steeped in in-home healthcare, we look forward to delivering on the inherent growth potential in our businesses and accelerating our growth with additional joint ventures and acquisitions.
Integration of the Combined Company
The approximately 30,000 employees of LHC Group will be integrated into one house of brands, with a shared culture based on an aligned vision, collaboration, and commitment to quality local healthcare. Since November, the Berkeley Research Group (BRG), who is project managing the integration process, has been working diligently alongside LHC Group and Almost Family team members to help plan and facilitate the integration process, which mainly comprises systems, processes, and personnel. The integration is expected to continue to be implemented over the course of the next 12 to 18 months.
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LHCG Announces Successful Completion and Effectiveness of Merger with Almost Family
Page 2
April 2, 2018
As the only national provider with a proven track record of partnering with leading hospitals and health systems, LHC Group expects to continue the strong momentum generated from over $114 million of acquired revenue in 2017 by pursuing a strong pipeline of new potential partnerships designed to provide a full continuum of in-home healthcare services. With a combined-company overlap of only 39 metropolitan markets and 90 counties across the country, LHC Group expects to pursue additional acquisition and de novo activities to co-locate home health, hospice, and personal care services. LHC Group also expects to continue driving organic growth based upon its industry-leading CMS Star ratings for quality and patient satisfaction.
$500 Million Senior Secured Credit Facility
LHC Group also announced that it has entered into a new $500 million five-year senior secured credit facility led by JPMorgan Chase Bank, which includes an additional $200 million accordion expansion feature, to refinance and replace LHC Groups $225 million credit facility scheduled to mature in June 2019 and Almost Familys $350 million credit facility scheduled to mature in December 2021.
Updated Fiscal Year 2018 Guidance
With the completion of the merger, the Company updated its previously issued guidance for fiscal year 2018 to account for the merger and the inclusion of Almost Familys financial results for the final three quarters of 2018. Net service revenue is expected to be in a range of $1.84 billion to $1.89 billion, and adjusted earnings per diluted share is expected to be in a range of $3.45 to $3.55. This adjusted earnings per diluted share guidance represents 12% to 15% accretion from the merger compared with the mid-point of the Companys previously issued guidance for fiscal 2018. The updated guidance assumes the following:
(1) | The Company expects to achieve a total of $25 million in pre-tax synergies with $8 million to $12 million realized in 2018; |
(2) | An estimated effective tax rate of 28 percent to 29 percent, which reflects the positive impact from passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017; and |
(3) | Weighted average diluted shares of approximately 28.0 million. |
Commenting on the updated 2018 guidance, Josh Proffitt, LHC Groups Chief Financial Officer, said, In addition to the immediate benefits from the merger to the patients, families, communities and partners we are blessed to serve, we also are excited about the double digit accretion that we will recognize in 2018. We are confident in achieving the $25 million in pre-tax synergies by the end of 2019 and look forward to additional accretion in 2019 and beyond as we continue to capture additional synergies.
The Companys guidance ranges do not take into account the impact of future reimbursement changes, if any, future acquisitions, if made, de novo locations, if opened, or future legal expenses, if necessary. The adjusted earnings guidance for 2018 is presented on a non-GAAP basis, as it does not include the impact of transition related costs, integration related expenses or other expenses related to the merger. Given the difficulty in predicting the amount and timing of merger related expenses, the Company cannot reasonably provide a full reconciliation of its adjusted earnings per share guidance to GAAP earnings per share. The Companys guidance range on net service revenue does not take into account the Companys adoption of ASU 2014-09 in 2018 regarding revenue recognition, which will result in a reduction to net service revenue by bad debt expense, but will not affect earnings per share.
About LHC Group, Inc.
LHC Group, Inc. is a national provider of in-home healthcare services and innovations, providing quality, value-based healthcare to patients primarily within the comfort and privacy of their home or place of residence. LHC Groups services cover a wide range of healthcare needs for patients and families dealing with illness, injury, or chronic conditions. The Companys approximately 30,000 employees deliver home health, hospice, personal care services, and facility-based services from more than 780 locations in communities in 36 states. Through its healthcare innovations business, LHC Group drives increased utilization of home healthcare and enhances patient and caregiver engagement. LHC Group is the preferred in-home healthcare partner for 76 health systems, consisting of 336 leading hospitals around the country.
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LHCG Announces Successful Completion and Effectiveness of Merger with Almost Family
Page 3
April 2, 2018
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) regarding, among other things, future events or the future financial performance of the Company, or anticipated benefits of the transaction. Words such as anticipate, expect, project, intend, believe, will, estimates, may, could, should and words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future plans, actions or events identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relating to the transaction include, but are not limited to: statements about the benefits of the transaction, including anticipated earnings accretion, synergies and cost savings and future financial and operating results; the Companys plans, objectives, expectations, projections and intentions; and other statements relating to the transaction that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and involve estimates, expectations and projections. Investors are cautioned that all such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and important factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. With respect to the transaction, these risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to: the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings, synergies and growth from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the diversion of management time on integration-related issues; the risk that costs associated with the integration of the businesses are higher than anticipated; and litigation risks related to the transaction. With respect to the businesses of the combined company, these risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to: changes in, or failure to comply with, existing government regulations that impact the combined companys businesses; legislative proposals for healthcare reform; the impact of changes in future interpretations of fraud, anti-kickback, or other laws; changes in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement levels; changes in laws and regulations with respect to Accountable Care Organizations; changes in the marketplace and regulatory environment for Health Risk Assessments; decrease in demand for the combined companys services; the potential impact of the transaction on relationships with customers, joint venture and other partners, competitors, management and other employees, including the loss of significant contracts or reduction in revenues associated with major payor sources; ability of customers to pay for services; risks related to any current or future litigation proceedings; potential audits and investigations by government and regulatory agencies, including the impact of any negative publicity or litigation; the ability to attract new customers and retain existing customers in the manner anticipated; the ability to hire and retain key personnel; increased competition from other entities offering similar services as offered by the combined company; reliance on and integration of information technology systems; ability to protect intellectual property rights; impact of security breaches, cyber-attacks or fraudulent activity on the combined companys reputation; the risks associated with assumptions the parties make in connection with the parties critical accounting estimates and legal proceedings; the risks associated with the combined companys expansion strategy, the successful integration of recent acquisitions, and if necessary, the ability to relocate or restructure current facilities; and the potential impact of an economic downturn or effects of tax assessments or tax positions taken, risks related to goodwill and other intangible asset impairment, tax adjustments, anticipated tax rates, benefit or retirement plan costs, or other regulatory compliance costs.
Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is also contained in the Companys S-4 Registration Statement that has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and was declared effective by the SEC on February 12, 2018, which includes the joint proxy statement for LHC Group and Almost Family, as well as the Companys most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other SEC filings.
Many of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions are beyond the Companys ability to control or predict. Because of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Furthermore, forward-looking statements speak only as of the information currently available to the Company on the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this press release. The Company does not give any assurance (1) that the Company will achieve its guidance or expectations, or (2) concerning any result or the timing thereof. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the transaction or other matters and attributable to the Company or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above.
-END-