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): April 1, 2022
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Georgia | 1-39681 | 85-2483376 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
400 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 300 Atlanta, Georgia | 30339-3194 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (678) 402-3000
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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Common Stock, par value $0.50 per share | AAN | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
Credit Agreement
On April 1, 2022, The Aaron’s Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), entered into a new unsecured credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) among the Company, Aaron’s, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Borrower”), the financial institutions from time to time party thereto, as lenders, and Truist Bank, as administrative agent, which replaces its existing $250 million unsecured credit facility dated as of November 9, 2020 (as amended, the “Existing Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility provides for a $175 million unsecured term loan facility (the “Term Loan”) and a $375 million unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Facility”), which includes (i) a $35 million sublimit for the issuance of letters of credit on customary terms, and (ii) a $35 million sublimit for swing line loans on customary terms.
Use of Proceeds
On April 1, 2022, Borrower (i) refinanced in full all outstanding obligations under the Existing Credit Facility and (ii) incurred the $175 million Term Loan and $117 million of indebtedness under the Revolving Facility to finance the purchase price for the Acquisition (as defined in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K) and other customary acquisition and financing related closing costs and adjustments. The Company expects that additional borrowings under the Revolving Facility will be used to provide for working capital and capital expenditures, to finance future permitted acquisitions and for other general corporate purposes.
Incremental Facilities
Borrower will have the right from time to time to request to increase the commitments under the Revolving Facility or to increase any existing Term Loan or establish one or more new additional term loans (the “Incremental Facilities”). The aggregate principal amount of all such Incremental Facilities may not exceed the greater of $300 million or 1.0x the Company’s Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Facility) for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters.
Interest Rate
Borrowings under the Revolving Facility and the Term Loan bear interest at a rate per annum equal to, at the option of Borrower, (i) the forward-looking term rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus an applicable margin ranging between 1.50% and 2.25%, based on the Company’s Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio (as defined in the Credit Facility), or (ii) the base rate plus an applicable margin, which is 1.00% lower than the applicable margin for SOFR loans.
Maturity and Amortization
The loans and commitments under the Revolving Facility mature or terminate on April 1, 2027.
The Term Loan amortizes in quarterly installments, commencing on December 31, 2022, in an aggregate annual amount equal to (i) 2.50% of the original principal amount of the Term Loan during the first and second years after the closing date, (ii) 5.00% of the original principal amount of the Term Loan during the third, fourth and fifth years after the closing date, with the remaining principal balance of the Term Loan to be due and payable in full on April 1, 2027.
Guarantees
The obligations of Borrower under the Credit Facility are jointly and severally guaranteed by the Company and certain of its existing and future direct and indirect U.S. subsidiaries, subject to customary exclusions for unrestricted subsidiaries and immaterial subsidiaries.
Springing Security
The obligations under the Credit Facility are currently unsecured. In the event that the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio exceeds 1.50 to 1.00 as of the end of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (a “Credit Facility Trigger Event”), Borrower, the Company and the other guarantors will be required to provide a first priority perfected lien on substantially all of their respective assets, excluding certain customary excluded assets. If a Credit Facility Trigger Event occurs, the liens securing the obligations under the Credit Facility will be pari passu with liens securing obligations under the Franchise Facility (as defined below).
Certain Covenants and Events of Default
The Credit Facility contains customary financial covenants including (a) a maximum Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio of 2.75 to 1.00 and (b) a minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Facility) of 1.75 to 1.00. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Credit Facility, upon the occurrence of a Qualified Acquisition (as defined in the Credit Facility), (a) the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio may be temporarily increased to 3:00 to 1:00 for a period of four fiscal quarters and (b) the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio, as it relates to a Credit Facility Trigger Event, may be temporarily increased to 2:00 to 1:00 for a period of three fiscal quarters and 1.75 to 1:00 for one fiscal quarter thereafter, in each case, commencing with the fiscal quarter during which such Qualified Acquisition occurs.
In addition, the Credit Facility contains a number of customary negative covenants that, among other matters and subject to certain exceptions, will restrict the Company’s ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries to:
• | incur additional indebtedness; |
• | pay dividends and other distributions; |
• | make investments, loans and advances; |
• | engage in transactions with affiliates; |
• | sell assets or otherwise dispose of property or assets; |
• | alter the business conducted; |
• | conduct mergers and engage in other fundamental changes; |
• | prepay, redeem or repurchase certain debt; and |
• | grant liens. |
The Credit Facility also contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants and provisions relating to events of default.
The foregoing description of the Credit Facility does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Credit Facility, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
Loan Facility Agreement
On April 1, 2022, the Company entered into a new $12.5 million unsecured franchise loan facility (the “Franchise Facility”), among the Company, Borrower, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto, as participants, and Truist Bank, as servicer, which replaces its existing $25 million unsecured franchise loan facility dated as of November 17, 2020.
The Franchise Facility operates as a guarantee by Borrower, the Company and certain of its existing and future direct and indirect U.S. subsidiaries of certain debt obligations of some of the sales and lease ownership franchisees of the Company under a franchise loan program. In the event these franchisees are unable to meet their debt service payments or otherwise experience an event of default, the Company, Borrower and the other guarantors would be unconditionally liable for the outstanding balance of the franchisees’ debt obligations under the franchisee loan program, which would be due in full within 90 days of such event of default.
Interest Rate
Funded participations under the Franchise Loan Facility bear interest at a rate per annum equal to SOFR plus an applicable margin ranging between 1.50% and 2.25%, based on the Company’s Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio (as defined in the Franchise Facility).
Termination Date and Extension
The Franchise Facility is available for a period of 364 days commencing on April 1, 2022, and permits Borrower to request extensions for additional 364-day periods.
Guarantees
The obligations of Borrower under the Franchise Facility are jointly and severally guaranteed by the Company and certain of its existing and future direct and indirect U.S. subsidiaries, subject to customary exclusions for unrestricted subsidiaries and immaterial subsidiaries.
Springing Security
The obligations under the Franchise Facility are currently unsecured. In the event that the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio exceeds 1.50 to 1.00 as of the end of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (a “Franchise Facility Trigger Event”), Borrower, the Company and the other guarantors will be required to provide a first priority perfected lien on substantially all of their respective assets, excluding certain customary excluded assets. If a Franchise Facility Trigger Event occurs, the liens securing the obligations under the Franchise Facility will be pari passu with liens securing obligations under the Credit Facility.
Certain Covenants and Events of Default
The Franchise Facility contains customary financial covenants including (a) a maximum Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio of 2.75 to 1.00 and (b) a minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Franchise Facility) of 1.75 to 1.00. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Franchise Facility, upon the occurrence of a Qualified Acquisition (as defined in the Franchise Facility), (a) the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio may be temporarily increased to 3:00 to 1:00 for a period of four fiscal quarters and (b) the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio, as it relates to a Franchise Facility Trigger Event, may be temporarily increased to 2:00 to 1:00 for a period of three fiscal quarters and 1.75 to 1:00 for one fiscal quarter thereafter, in each case, commencing with the fiscal quarter during which such Qualified Acquisition occurs.
In addition, the Franchise Facility contains a number of customary negative covenants that, among other matters and subject to certain exceptions, will restrict the Company’s ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries to:
• | incur additional indebtedness; |
• | pay dividends and other distributions; |
• | make investments, loans and advances; |
• | engage in transactions with affiliates; |
• | sell assets or otherwise dispose of property or assets; |
• | alter the business conducted; |
• | conduct mergers and engage in other fundamental changes; |
• | prepay, redeem or repurchase certain debt; and |
• | grant liens. |
The Franchise Facility also contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants and provisions relating to events of default.
The foregoing description of the Franchise Facility does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Franchise Facility, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2.01 | Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets. |
On April 1, 2022, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Aaron’s Retail Solutions, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company, completed the previously announced acquisition (the “Acquisition”) of all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Interbond Corporation of America, a Florida corporation (“Interbond”) pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement (as may be amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time, the “Agreement”) with Interbond Enterprises, Inc., a Florida corporation, Michael Perlman, in his individual capacity and in his capacity as the Sellers’ Representative, and the other parties thereto. Interbond, doing business as BrandsMart U.S.A., is one of the leading appliance and consumer electronics retailers in the Southeastern U.S.
The Agreement is more fully described in Item 1.01 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 24, 2022, which Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.
The Company funded the aggregate cash purchase price of approximately $230 million paid in connection with the Acquisition with proceeds from the Credit Facility.
On April 1, 2022, the Company issued a press release announcing the completion of the Acquisition. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2.03 | Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant. |
The information under Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(a) | Financial Statements of Business Acquired. |
The financial statements required by this Item 9.01(a) of Form 8-K will be filed by amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K no later than 71 calendar days after the date on which this Current Report on Form 8-K must be filed.
(b) | Pro Forma Financial Information. |
The financial information required by this Item 9.01(b) of Form 8-K will be filed by amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K no later than 71 calendar days after the date on which this Current Report on Form 8-K must be filed.
(d) Exhibits.
* | Certain schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally to the SEC a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit upon request. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
THE AARON’S COMPANY, INC. | ||||||
Dated: April 1, 2022 | By: | /s/ C. Kelly Wall | ||||
Name: | C. Kelly Wall | |||||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTION COPY
Published CUSIP Number: 00253KAA7
Revolver CUSIP Number: 00253KAB5
Term Loan CUSIP Number: 00253KAC3
CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of April 1, 2022
among
AARONS, LLC,
as the Borrower,
THE AARONS COMPANY, INC.,
as Holdings
THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,
and
TRUIST BANK,
as Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender and an Issuing Bank
TRUIST SECURITIES, INC.,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.,
and
CITIZENS BANK, N.A.,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Runners
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
and
CITIZENS BANK, N.A.,
as Co-Syndication Agents
FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
and
REGIONS BANK,
as Co-Documentation Agents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION |
1 | |||||
Section 1.1 |
Definitions | 1 | ||||
Section 1.2 |
Classifications of Loans and Borrowings | 35 | ||||
Section 1.3 |
Accounting Terms and Determination | 35 | ||||
Section 1.4 |
Terms Generally | 36 | ||||
Section 1.5 |
Letter of Credit Amounts | 36 | ||||
Section 1.6 |
Times of Day | 36 | ||||
Section 1.7 |
Divisions | 36 | ||||
Section 1.8 |
Rates | 37 | ||||
ARTICLE II. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE COMMITMENTS |
37 | |||||
Section 2.1 |
General Description of Facilities | 37 | ||||
Section 2.2 |
Revolving Loans | 37 | ||||
Section 2.3 |
Procedure for Revolving Borrowings | 38 | ||||
Section 2.4 |
Swingline Commitment | 38 | ||||
Section 2.5 |
Term Loan A Commitment | 38 | ||||
Section 2.6 |
Procedure for Borrowing of Swingline Loans; Etc. | 38 | ||||
Section 2.7 |
Funding of Borrowings | 40 | ||||
Section 2.8 |
Interest Elections | 41 | ||||
Section 2.9 |
Optional Reduction and Termination of Commitments | 41 | ||||
Section 2.10 |
Repayment of Loans | 42 | ||||
Section 2.11 |
Evidence of Indebtedness | 43 | ||||
Section 2.12 |
Optional Prepayments | 43 | ||||
Section 2.13 |
Mandatory Prepayments | 44 | ||||
Section 2.14 |
Interest on Loans | 45 | ||||
Section 2.15 |
Fees | 46 | ||||
Section 2.16 |
Computation of Interest and Fees | 47 | ||||
Section 2.17 |
Inability to Determine Interest Rates | 47 | ||||
Section 2.18 |
Illegality | 49 | ||||
Section 2.19 |
Increased Costs | 50 | ||||
Section 2.20 |
Funding Indemnity | 51 | ||||
Section 2.21 |
Taxes | 51 | ||||
Section 2.22 |
Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs | 53 | ||||
Section 2.23 |
Mitigation of Obligations | 55 | ||||
Section 2.24 |
Letters of Credit | 56 | ||||
Section 2.25 |
Increase of Commitments; Additional Lenders | 60 | ||||
Section 2.26 |
Defaulting Lenders | 65 | ||||
Section 2.27 |
Refinancing Facilities | 66 | ||||
Section 2.28 |
Extension of Revolving Loans and Term Loans | 69 | ||||
ARTICLE III. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EFFECTIVENESS |
69 | |||||
Section 3.1 |
Conditions To Closing and the Initial Credit Extension on the Closing Date | 69 | ||||
Section 3.2 |
Conditions to Each Credit Event After the Closing Date | 72 | ||||
Section 3.3 |
Delivery of Documents | 72 | ||||
Section 3.4 |
Termination of Existing Credit Agreement | 72 |
i
ARTICLE IV. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
73 | |||||
Section 4.1 |
Existence; Power | 73 | ||||
Section 4.2 |
Organizational Power; Authorization | 73 | ||||
Section 4.3 |
Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts | 73 | ||||
Section 4.4 |
Financial Statements | 73 | ||||
Section 4.5 |
Litigation and Environmental Matters | 74 | ||||
Section 4.6 |
Compliance with Laws and Agreements | 74 | ||||
Section 4.7 |
Investment Company Act, Etc. | 74 | ||||
Section 4.8 |
Taxes | 74 | ||||
Section 4.9 |
Margin Regulations | 74 | ||||
Section 4.10 |
ERISA | 75 | ||||
Section 4.11 |
Ownership of Property | 75 | ||||
Section 4.12 |
Disclosure | 75 | ||||
Section 4.13 |
Labor Relations | 75 | ||||
Section 4.14 |
Subsidiaries | 76 | ||||
Section 4.15 |
Solvency | 76 | ||||
Section 4.16 |
Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions | 76 | ||||
Section 4.17 |
No Affected Financial Institutions | 76 | ||||
Section 4.18 |
Inactive Subsidiaries | 76 | ||||
Section 4.19 |
Collateral Representations | 76 | ||||
ARTICLE V. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS |
77 | |||||
Section 5.1 |
Financial Statements and Other Information | 77 | ||||
Section 5.2 |
Notices of Material Events | 79 | ||||
Section 5.3 |
Existence; Conduct of Business | 79 | ||||
Section 5.4 |
Compliance with Laws, Etc. | 80 | ||||
Section 5.5 |
Payment of Obligations | 80 | ||||
Section 5.6 |
Books and Records | 80 | ||||
Section 5.7 |
Visitation, Inspection, Etc. | 80 | ||||
Section 5.8 |
Maintenance of Properties; Insurance | 80 | ||||
Section 5.9 |
Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit | 81 | ||||
Section 5.10 |
Additional Subsidiaries; Guarantees | 81 | ||||
Section 5.11 |
Further Assurances | 82 | ||||
Section 5.12 |
Collateral | 83 | ||||
Section 5.13 |
Additional Real Estate | 84 | ||||
Section 5.14 |
Designation of Subsidiaries | 84 | ||||
ARTICLE VI. FINANCIAL COVENANTS |
85 | |||||
Section 6.1 |
Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio | 85 | ||||
Section 6.2 |
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio | 85 | ||||
ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS |
86 | |||||
Section 7.1 |
Indebtedness | 86 | ||||
Section 7.2 |
Negative Pledge | 88 | ||||
Section 7.3 |
Fundamental Changes | 89 | ||||
Section 7.4 |
Investments, Loans, Etc. | 90 | ||||
Section 7.5 |
Restricted Payments | 92 | ||||
Section 7.6 |
Sale of Assets | 92 | ||||
Section 7.7 |
Transactions with Affiliates | 92 | ||||
Section 7.8 |
Restrictive Agreements | 93 | ||||
Section 7.9 |
Sale and Leaseback Transactions | 93 | ||||
Section 7.10 |
Legal Name, State of Formation and Form of Entity | 93 |
ii
Section 7.11 |
Accounting Changes | 93 | ||||
Section 7.12 |
Hedging Transactions | 93 | ||||
Section 7.13 |
Activities of Inactive Subsidiaries | 93 | ||||
Section 7.14 |
Government Regulation | 94 | ||||
Section 7.15 |
Ownership of Subsidiaries | 94 | ||||
Section 7.16 |
Use of Proceeds | 94 | ||||
Section 7.17 |
Amendment of Organizational Documents | 94 | ||||
Section 7.18 |
Activities of Holdings | 94 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT |
95 | |||||
Section 8.1 |
Events of Default | 95 | ||||
Section 8.2 |
Application of Funds | 98 | ||||
ARTICLE IX. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT |
99 | |||||
Section 9.1 |
Appointment of Administrative Agent | 99 | ||||
Section 9.2 |
Nature of Duties of Administrative Agent | 100 | ||||
Section 9.3 |
Lack of Reliance on the Administrative Agent | 100 | ||||
Section 9.4 |
Certain Rights of the Administrative Agent | 101 | ||||
Section 9.5 |
Reliance by Administrative Agent | 101 | ||||
Section 9.6 |
The Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity | 101 | ||||
Section 9.7 |
Successor Administrative Agent | 101 | ||||
Section 9.8 |
Authorization to Execute other Loan Documents | 102 | ||||
Section 9.9 |
Withholding Tax | 102 | ||||
Section 9.10 |
Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim | 103 | ||||
Section 9.11 |
Collateral and Guaranty Matters | 103 | ||||
Section 9.12 |
Right to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guarantee | 104 | ||||
Section 9.13 |
Erroneous Payments | 104 | ||||
ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS |
107 | |||||
Section 10.1 |
Notices | 107 | ||||
Section 10.2 |
Waiver; Amendments | 109 | ||||
Section 10.3 |
Expenses; Indemnification | 111 | ||||
Section 10.4 |
Successors and Assigns | 113 | ||||
Section 10.5 |
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process | 117 | ||||
Section 10.6 |
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 117 | ||||
Section 10.7 |
Right of Setoff | 118 | ||||
Section 10.8 |
Counterparts; Integration | 118 | ||||
Section 10.9 |
Survival | 118 | ||||
Section 10.10 |
Severability | 119 | ||||
Section 10.11 |
Confidentiality | 119 | ||||
Section 10.12 |
Interest Rate Limitation | 119 | ||||
Section 10.13 |
Patriot Act | 119 | ||||
Section 10.14 |
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility | 119 | ||||
Section 10.15 |
Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions | 120 | ||||
Section 10.16 |
Certain ERISA Matters | 120 | ||||
Section 10.17 |
Acknowledgement Regarding Any Support QFCs | 121 |
-iii-
Schedules | ||||
Schedule 1.1(a) |
- | Applicable Margin and Applicable Percentage | ||
Schedule 1.1(b) |
- | Lender Commitments | ||
Schedule 1.1(c) |
- | Inactive Subsidiaries | ||
Schedule 2.24 |
- | Existing Letters of Credit | ||
Schedule 4.14 |
- | Subsidiaries | ||
Schedule 7.1 |
- | Outstanding Indebtedness | ||
Schedule 7.2 |
- | Existing Liens | ||
Schedule 7.4 |
- | Existing Investments | ||
Exhibits |
||||
Exhibit A |
- | Form of Assignment and Acceptance | ||
Exhibit B |
- | Form of Guarantee Agreement | ||
Exhibit C |
- | Form of Borrower Guarantee Agreement | ||
Exhibit 2.3 |
- | Notice of Revolving Borrowing | ||
Exhibit 2.6 |
- | Notice of Swingline Borrowing | ||
Exhibit 2.8 |
- | Form of Conversion/Continuation | ||
Exhibit 3.1(a)(iv) |
- | Form of Secretarys Certificate | ||
Exhibit 3.1(a)(vii) |
- | Form of Officers Certificate | ||
Exhibit 5.1(c) |
- | Form of Compliance Certificate | ||
Exhibit 5.12 |
- | Form of Security Agreement |
-iv-
CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is made and entered into as of April 1, 2022, by and among AARONS, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (the Borrower), THE AARONS COMPANY, INC., a Georgia corporation (Holdings), the several banks and other financial institutions from time to time party hereto (the Lenders) and TRUIST BANK, in its capacity as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (the Administrative Agent).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders (a) establish in its favor a $375,000,000 revolving credit facility (including a $35,000,000 letter of credit subfacility and a $35,000,000 swingline subfacility) and (b) provide a term loan (advanced on the Closing Date) in an aggregate principal amount equal to $175,000,000; and
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender, to the extent of their respective Commitments as defined herein, are willing severally to establish the requested revolving credit facility, letter of credit subfacility and swingline subfacility in favor of the Borrower, and the Lenders agree to make the term loan to the Borrower on the Closing Date;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the Borrower, Holdings, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION
Section 1.1 Definitions. In addition to the other terms defined herein, the following terms used herein shall have the meanings herein specified (to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):
Accepting Lenders shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.28.
Acquired Business shall mean the Target and its subsidiaries.
Acquisition shall mean any transaction in which Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries directly or indirectly (i) acquires any ongoing business, (ii) acquires all or substantially all of the assets of any Person or division thereof, whether through a purchase of assets, merger or otherwise, (iii) acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) control of at least a majority of the voting stock of a corporation, other than the acquisition of voting stock of a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary solely in connection with the organization and capitalization of that Restricted Subsidiary by the Borrower, Holdings or another Subsidiary Loan Party, or (iv) acquires control of more than fifty percent (50%) ownership interest in any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company.
Acquisition Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.25(c).
Additional Lenders shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.25(a).
Administrative Agent shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the opening paragraph hereof.
Administrative Questionnaire shall mean, with respect to each Lender, an administrative questionnaire in the form prepared by the Administrative Agent and submitted to the Administrative Agent duly completed by such Lender.
Affected Financial Institution shall mean (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.
Affiliate shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition Control shall mean the power, directly or indirectly, either to (i) vote ten percent (10%) or more of securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of a Person or (ii) direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. The terms Controlled by, and under common Control with have meanings correlative thereto.
Agent Parties shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 10.1(b).
Aggregate Revolving Commitments shall mean, collectively, all Revolving Commitments of all Lenders at any time outstanding. On the Closing Date, the amount of Aggregate Revolving Commitments is $375,000,000.
Agreement shall have the meaning given to such term in the introductory paragraph hereof.
Anti-Corruption Laws shall mean all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to Holdings, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.
Applicable Lending Office shall mean, for each Lender and for each Type of Loan, the Lending Office of such Lender (or an Affiliate of such Lender) designated for such Type of Loan in the Administrative Questionnaire submitted by such Lender or such other office of such Lender (or an Affiliate of such Lender) as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the office by which its Loans of such Type are to be made and maintained.
Applicable Margin shall mean (a) with respect to all Base Rate Loans outstanding on any date, a percentage per annum determined by reference to the applicable Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio in effect on such date and the column applicable to Base Rate Loans in Schedule 1.1(a) attached hereto and (b) with respect to all SOFR Loans outstanding on any date and all letter of credit fees, a percentage per annum determined by reference to the applicable Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio in effect on such date and the column applicable to SOFR Loans in Schedule 1.1(a) attached hereto; provided, that a change in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio shall be effective on the second day after which the Borrower has delivered the financial statements required by Section 5.1(a) or (b) and the Compliance Certificate required by Section 5.1(c); provided further, that if at any time the Borrower shall have failed to deliver such financial statements and such certificate, the Applicable Margin shall be at Level IV until such time as such financial statements and certificate are delivered, at which time the Applicable Margin shall be determined as provided above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Margin from the Closing Date until the financial statements and Compliance Certificate for the Fiscal Quarter ending on September 30, 2022 are delivered shall be at Level II.
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Applicable Percentage shall mean, with respect to the commitment fee, as of any date, the percentage per annum determined by reference to the applicable Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio in effect on such date as set forth on Schedule 1.1(a) attached hereto; provided, that a change in the Applicable Percentage resulting from a change in the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio shall be effective on the second day after which the Borrower has delivered the financial statements required by Section 5.1(a) or (b) and the Compliance Certificate required by Section 5.1(c); provided, further, that if at any time the Borrower shall have failed to deliver such financial statements and such certificate, the Applicable Percentage shall be at Level IV until such time as such financial statements and certificate are delivered, at which time the Applicable Percentage shall be determined as provided above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Percentage for the commitment fee from the Closing Date until the financial statements and Compliance Certificate for the Fiscal Quarter ending on September 30, 2022 are delivered shall be at Level II.
Approved Fund shall mean any Person (other than a natural Person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (i) a Lender, (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender or (iii) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
Arrangers shall mean Truist Securities, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., BofA Securities, Inc. and Citizens Bank, N.A., in their capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners.
Assignment and Acceptance shall mean an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.4(b)) and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
Auto Borrow Agreement has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(e).
Availability Period shall mean the period from the Closing Date to the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.
Available Tenor shall mean, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, (x) if such Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining the length of an interest period pursuant to this Agreement or (y) otherwise, any payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, in each case, as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of Interest Period pursuant to Section 2.17(e)
Bail-In Action shall mean the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.
Bail-In Legislation shall mean (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).
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Base Rate shall mean, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the highest of (i) the rate which the Administrative Agent publicly announces from time to time to be its prime lending rate, as in effect from time to time, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate, as in effect from time to time, plus one-half of one percent (0.50%) and (iii) Term SOFR for a one-month tenor in effect on such day, plus one percent (1.00%) per annum (any changes in such rates to be effective as of the date of any change in such rate). The Administrative Agents prime lending rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate charged to customers. The Administrative Agent may make commercial loans or other loans at rates of interest at, above or below the Administrative Agents prime lending rate. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the prime lending rate, the Federal Funds Rate, or Term SOFR will be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the prime lending rate, the Federal Funds Rate, or Term SOFR, respectively. If the Base Rate as so determined shall ever be less than the Floor, then the Base Rate shall be deemed to be the Floor.
Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of Term SOFR.
Benchmark shall mean, initially, the Term SOFR Reference Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate or the then-current Benchmark, then Benchmark means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 2.17(b).
Benchmark Replacement shall mean with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date:
(a) Daily Simple SOFR; or
(b) the sum of: (i) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to (A) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (B) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement to the then-current Benchmark for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
Benchmark Replacement Adjustment shall mean, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to (a) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body or (b) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities.
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Benchmark Replacement Date shall mean the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:
(a) in the case of clause (a) or (b) of the definition of Benchmark Transition Event, the later of (i) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (ii) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or
(b) in the case of clause (c) of the definition of Benchmark Transition Event, the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be non-representative or non-compliant with or non-aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks; provided that such non-representativeness, non-compliance or non-alignment will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (c) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (a) or (b) above with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
Benchmark Transition Event shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:
(a) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);
(b) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or
(c) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are not, or as of a specified future date will not be, representative or in compliance with or aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks.
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For the avoidance of doubt, a Benchmark Transition Event will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
Benchmark Unavailability Period shall mean, the period (if any) (a) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.17 and (b) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.17.
Beneficial Ownership Certification shall mean a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
Beneficial Ownership Regulation shall mean 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
Benefit Plan shall mean any of (a) an employee benefit plan (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a plan as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c), any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) 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.
Borrower shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereof.
Borrower Guarantee Agreement shall mean the Borrower Guarantee Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, made by the Borrower in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the holders of (i) Hedging Obligations owed by Holdings, any Subsidiary Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender and (ii) Treasury Management Obligations owed by Holdings, any Subsidiary Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender.
Borrowing shall mean a borrowing consisting of (i) Loans of the same Class and Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and in the case of SOFR Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, or (ii) a Swingline Loan.
Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Charlotte, North Carolina or New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.
Capital Lease Obligations of any Person shall mean all obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
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Capital Stock shall mean, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.
Cash Collateralize shall mean, in respect of any Obligations, to provide and pledge (as a first priority perfected security interest) cash collateral for such Obligations in Dollars, to the Administrative Agent pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (and Cash Collateralization and Cash Collateral have a corresponding meaning).
Cash Equivalents shall mean, as at any date, (i) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than twelve months from the date of acquisition, (ii) Dollar denominated time deposits and certificates of deposit of (A) any Lender, (B) any domestic commercial bank of recognized standing having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 or (C) any bank whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof or from Moodys is at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof (any such bank being an Approved Bank), in each case with maturities of not more than two hundred seventy (270) days from the date of acquisition, (iii) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by any Approved Bank (or by the parent company thereof) or any variable rate notes issued by, or guaranteed by, any domestic corporation rated A-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or P-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moodys and maturing within six months of the date of acquisition, (iv) repurchase agreements entered into by any Person with a bank or trust company (including any Lender) or recognized securities dealer having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 for direct obligations issued by or fully guaranteed by the United States in which such Person shall have a perfected first priority security interest (subject to no other Liens) and having, on the date of purchase thereof, a fair market value of at least one hundred percent (100%) of the amount of the repurchase obligations and (v) investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 which are administered by reputable financial institutions having capital of at least $500,000,000 and the portfolios of which are limited to Investments of the character described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv).
Change in Control shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following events: (i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of Holdings to any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder in effect on the date hereof), (ii) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) of thirty-three and one third (331⁄3) or more of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled to vote in the election of directors of Holdings; (iii) during any period of twenty-four (24) consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of Holdings cease to be composed of individuals (A) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (B) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (A) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (C) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (A) and (B) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body; or (iv) Holdings shall cease to own and control, of record and beneficially, directly one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding Capital Stock in the Borrower.
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Change in Law shall mean (i) the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (ii) any change in any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in the interpretation, implementation or application thereof, by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement, or (iii) compliance by any Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) or any Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 2.19(b), by such Lenders or such Issuing Banks holding company, if applicable) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided, that for purposes of this Agreement, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a Change in Law, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.
Charges shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 10.12.
Class refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans or Term Loans and when used in reference to any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Revolving Commitment, a Swingline Commitment or a Term Loan A Commitment.
Closing Date shall mean the date hereof.
Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time.
Collateral shall mean all tangible and intangible property, real and personal, of any Loan Party that is or purports to be the subject of a Lien to the Administrative Agent to secure the whole or any part of the Obligations or any Guarantee thereof, and shall include, without limitation, all casualty insurance proceeds and condemnation awards with respect to any of the foregoing.
Collateral Documents shall mean, collectively, the Security Agreement, any Real Estate Documents, all assignments of key man life insurance policies and all other instruments and agreements now or hereafter securing or perfecting the Liens securing the whole or any part of the Obligations or any Guarantee thereof, all UCC financing statements, fixture filings and stock powers, and all other documents, instruments, agreements and certificates executed and delivered by any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the foregoing.
Commitment shall mean a Revolving Commitment, a Swingline Commitment or a Term Loan A Commitment or any combination thereof (as the context shall permit or require).
Commodity Exchange Act shall mean the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. Section 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
Communications shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 10.1(b).
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Compliance Certificate shall mean a certificate from the principal executive officer or the principal financial officer of the Borrower in the form of, and containing the certifications set forth in, the certificate attached hereto as Exhibit 5.1(c).
Conforming Changes shall mean, with respect to either the use or administration of Term SOFR or the use, administration, adoption or implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of Base Rate. the definition of Business Day, the definition of U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the definition of Interest Period or any similar or analogous definition (or the addition of a concept of interest period), timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, the applicability and length of lookback periods, the applicability of Section 2.20 and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides may be appropriate (in consultation with the Borrower) to reflect the adoption and implementation of any such rate or to permit the use and administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of any such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).
Consolidated EBITDA shall mean for Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, an amount equal to the sum of (i) Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (ii) to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, but without duplication, (A) Consolidated Interest Expense, (B) income tax expense, (C) depreciation (excluding depreciation of rental merchandise) and amortization, (D) all other non-cash charges (including, without limitation, any non-cash charges, expenses or losses incurred in connection with any stock option plan, cash incentive plan or any other employee benefit plan or agreement, but excluding any such non-cash charges or losses (1) representing an accrual or reserve for future cash charges or losses, (2) to the extent that there were cash charges or losses with respect thereto in past accounting periods, and (3) representing a write-down of current assets; provided that in the case of (1) and (2), if any such non-cash charges or losses represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA in such future period to the extent paid), (E) any fees, expenses or charges related to any issuance of Capital Stock, Investment, Acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or the incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Agreement (in each case including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful), including such fees, expenses or charges related to the Project Everglade Acquisition, (F) business optimization, restructuring and transition expenses, costs, charges, accruals or reserves incurred within two (2) years of any Permitted Acquisition (provided that, with respect to the Project Everglade Acquisition only, any such business optimization, restructuring and transition expenses, costs, charges, accruals or reserves incurred on or before the end of the second full fiscal year following the consummation of the Project Everglade Acquisition may be added back pursuant to this clause (F)), which for the avoidance of doubt shall include severance payments and costs, legal defense and settlement costs (including any costs paid in satisfaction of judgments), relocation costs, costs related to the closure, opening, curtailment and/or consolidation of facilities, retention charges, systems establishment costs, spin-off costs, integration costs, signing costs, retention and completion bonuses, amortization of signing bonuses, inventory optimization expenses, contract termination costs, transaction costs, costs related to entry into new markets, consulting fees, recruiter fees; (G) business optimization, restructuring and transition related expenses, costs, charges, accruals or reserves which are unrelated to any Permitted Acquisition or divestiture of assets, all as determined on a consolidated basis for Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period; (H) loss of on-lease and off-lease inventory, physical damage to stores, infrastructure, capital assets and other assets of the business and loss of revenue, in each case, (1) to the extent reasonably identifiable
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by the Borrower as having resulted from significant weather events or other natural disasters in areas that have been declared a federal disaster or otherwise qualify for federal emergency assistance, (2) to the extent occurring within twelve (12) months after the occurrence of such significant weather event or natural disaster, and (3) net of all related insurance proceeds received related thereto (including, without limitation, all business interruption insurance and casualty insurance), all as determined on a consolidated basis for Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period; (I) the amount of cost savings and synergies projected by the Borrower in good faith to be reasonably anticipated to be realized from actions taken or committed to be taken during such period in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or any permitted disposition of assets (in each case calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost savings and synergies had been realized on the first day of such period, net of the amount of actual benefits realized prior to or during such period from such actions); provided that such actions have been taken or have been committed to be taken, and the benefits resulting therefrom are anticipated by the Borrower in good faith to be realized within twenty-four (24) months after the completion of the related Permitted Acquisition or permitted disposition of assets (provided that, with respect to the Project Everglade Acquisition only, any such actions have been taken or have been committed to be taken, and the benefits resulting therefrom are anticipated by the Borrower in good faith to be realized on or before the end of the second full fiscal year following the consummation of the Project Everglade Acquisition); and provided, further, that the aggregate amount for all such items under this clause (I) shall not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement; (J) non-cash expenses, costs, charges, accruals or reserves relating to the formation of Holdings, in each case, to the extent incurred prior to November 9, 2020 or within 2 years thereafter, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any amortization or accruals for prior cash payments to the extent such cash payment were made prior to November 9, 2020 or within six (6) months thereafter; and (K) expenses, cost, charges, accruals or reserves relating to the repositioning, relocating, remodeling, consolidation and closure of retail locations, offices or operating centers, all as determined on a consolidated basis for Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amounts added back to Consolidated Net Income in reliance on clauses (ii)(F), (ii)(G), (ii)(H) and (ii)(K) above shall not exceed, in the aggregate during any four fiscal quarter period, the greater of (i) $40,000,000 and (ii) 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (calculated prior to adding back any such amounts). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Consolidated EBITDA shall be deemed to be $81,808,691 for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2021, $77,425,545 for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2021 and $61,829,293 for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2021, (which amounts, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be subject to, without duplication, addbacks and adjustments set forth in this definition (including clause (I) above) for events and transactions following the Closing Date and shall give effect to calculations on a Pro Forma Basis).
Consolidated EBITDAR shall mean, for Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, an amount equal to the sum of (a) Consolidated EBITDA plus (b) Consolidated Lease Expense.
Consolidated Fixed Charges shall mean, for Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense paid or payable for such period plus (b) Consolidated Lease Expense.
Consolidated Interest Expense shall mean, for Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, total cash interest expense, including without limitation the interest component of any payments in respect of Capital Leases Obligations capitalized or expensed during such period (whether or not actually paid during such period).
Consolidated Lease Expense shall mean, for any period, the aggregate amount of fixed and contingent rentals payable by Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to leases of real and personal property (excluding Capital Lease Obligations) determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP for such period.
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Consolidated Net Income shall mean, for any period, the net income (or loss) of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, but excluding therefrom (to the extent otherwise included therein) (a) any extraordinary gains or losses, (b) any gains attributable to write-ups of assets, (c) any equity interest of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings in the unremitted earnings of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary and (d) any income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary on the date that such Persons assets are acquired by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, except to the extent provided for in the definition of Pro Forma Basis in connection with a Permitted Acquisition. For the avoidance of doubt, Consolidated Net Income (i) shall exclude any income (or loss) for such period of Unrestricted Subsidiaries and (ii) shall include any amounts actually distributed in cash by Unrestricted Subsidiaries to Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.
Consolidated Total Debt shall mean, at any time, all then currently outstanding obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis of the types described in the definition of Indebtedness.
Daily Simple SOFR shall mean, for any day, SOFR, with the conventions for this rate (which will include a lookback) being established by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining Daily Simple SOFR for syndicated business loans; provided, that if the Administrative Agent decides that any such convention is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may establish another convention in its reasonable discretion.
Default shall mean any condition or event that, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
Default Interest shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(d).
Defaulting Lender shall mean, at any time, subject to Section 2.26(b), (i) any Lender that has failed for two (2) or more Business Days to comply with its obligations under this Agreement to make a Loan, to make a payment to the applicable Issuing Bank in respect of a Letter of Credit or to the Swingline Lender in respect of a Swingline Loan or to make any other payment due hereunder (each a funding obligation), unless such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lenders determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding has not been satisfied (which conditions precedent, together with any applicable Default, will be specifically identified in such writing), (ii) any Lender that has notified the Administrative Agent in writing, or has stated publicly, that it does not intend to comply with any such funding obligation hereunder, unless such writing or public statement states that such position is based on such Lenders determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding cannot be satisfied (which conditions precedent, together with any applicable Default, will be specifically identified in such writing or public statement), (iii) any Lender that has defaulted on its obligation to fund generally under any other loan agreement, credit agreement or other financing agreement, (iv) any Lender that has, for three (3) or more Business Days after written request of the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, failed to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (iv) upon the Administrative Agents and the Borrowers receipt of such written confirmation), (v) any Lender with respect to which a Lender Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing or (vi) any Lender that has become the subject of a Bail-In Action.
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Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender will be conclusive and binding, absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.26(b)) upon notification of such determination by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, the Issuing Banks, the Swingline Lender and the Lenders.
Delaware Divided LLC shall mean any Delaware LLC which has been formed upon the consummation of a Delaware LLC Division.
Delaware LLC shall mean any limited liability company organized or formed under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Delaware LLC Division shall mean the statutory division of any Delaware LLC into two or more Delaware LLCs pursuant to Section 18-217 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.
Dollar(s) and the sign $ shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.
Domestic Controlled Affiliate shall mean each Affiliate of the Borrower that is (a) Controlled by the Borrower, and (b) incorporated or organized under the laws of any State of the United States, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico.
Domestic Subsidiary shall mean any Subsidiary which is incorporated or organized under the laws of any State of the United States, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico.
EEA Financial Institution shall mean (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clause (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.
EEA Member Country shall mean any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
EEA Resolution Authority shall mean 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.
Environmental Indemnity shall mean each environmental indemnity made by each Loan Party with respect to Real Estate required to be pledged as Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
Environmental Laws shall mean all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.
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Environmental Liability shall mean any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental investigation and remediation, costs of administrative oversight, fines, natural resource damages, penalties or indemnities), of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (i) any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law, (ii) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (iii) any actual or alleged exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (iv) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (v) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
ERISA Affiliate shall mean any trade or business (whether or not incorporated), which, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for the purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
ERISA Event shall mean (i) 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); (ii) the existence with respect to any Plan of an accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (iii) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (iv) 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; (v) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator appointed by the PBGC of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (vi) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (vii) 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 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.
Erroneous Payment shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.13(a).
Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.13(d).
Erroneous Payment Impacted Class shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.13(d).
Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.13(d).
Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.13(d).
EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule shall mean the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.
Event of Default shall have the meaning provided in Article VIII.
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Excluded Swap Obligation shall mean, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantors failure for any reason to constitute an eligible contract participant as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the Guarantee of such Guarantor, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest, becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, in determining whether any Guarantor is an eligible contract participant under the Commodity Exchange Act, the keepwell provision set forth in Section 24 of the Guarantee Agreement and Section 24 of the Borrower Guarantee Agreement shall be taken into account. If a Swap Obligation arises under a Master Agreement governing more than one Hedging Transaction, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Hedging Transactions for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.
Excluded Taxes shall mean with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (i) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income or franchise taxes (A) imposed by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its Applicable Lending Office is located or (B) that are Other Connection Taxes, (ii) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which any Lender is located and (iii) in the case of a Foreign Lender, any withholding tax that (A) is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender pursuant to a law in effect at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, (B) is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender pursuant to a law in effect at any time that such Foreign Lender designates a new lending office, other than taxes that have accrued prior to the designation of such lending office that are otherwise not Excluded Taxes, (C) is attributable to such Foreign Lenders failure to comply with Section 2.21(e), and (D) is imposed under FATCA.
Existing Credit Agreement shall mean that certain Credit Agreement dated as of November 9, 2020 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time) among the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto and Truist Bank, as administrative agent.
Existing Letters of Credit shall mean the letters of credit set forth on Schedule 2.24.
FATCA shall mean 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 agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or official practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities entered into in connection with the implementation of the foregoing.
Federal Funds Rate shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100th of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with member banks of the Federal Reserve System, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the next succeeding Business Day; provided, (i) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day and (ii) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate charged to Truist Bank or any other Lender selected by the Administrative Agent on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.
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Federal Reserve Board shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
Fee Letters shall mean each of (a) that certain letter agreement dated as of February 23, 2022 by and among the Borrower, the Arrangers, Truist Bank, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Bank of America, N.A. and Citizens Bank, N.A., (b) that certain letter agreement dated as of March 3, 2022 by and among the Borrower and the Arrangers and (c) that certain letter agreement dated as of the Closing Date by and among the Borrower, Truist Securities, Inc. and Truist Bank.
Fiscal Quarter shall mean any fiscal quarter of Holdings.
Fiscal Year shall mean a fiscal year of Holdings.
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall mean, at any date, the ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDAR for the four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on such date to (ii) Consolidated Fixed Charges for the four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on such date.
Flood Hazard Property shall mean Real Estate located in an area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as having special flood or mud slide hazards.
Flood Insurance Laws shall mean, collectively, (i) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (which comprehensively revised the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973), as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and (iii) the Biggert Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto.
Floor shall mean a rate of interest equal to 0.00%.
Foreign Lender shall mean any Lender that is not a United States person under Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
Foreign Pledge Date shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(b).
Foreign Subsidiary shall mean any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
GAAP shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis and subject to the terms of Section 1.3.
Governmental Authority shall mean 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 (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
Guarantee of or by any Person (the guarantor) shall mean 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, direct or indirect, of the guarantor (i) 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, (ii) to purchase or lease property,
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securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (iii) 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 (iv) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued in support of such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposits in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which Guarantee is made or, if not so stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith. The term Guarantee used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
Guarantee Agreement shall mean the Guarantee Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit B, made by Holdings and the Subsidiary Loan Parties in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations.
Guarantors shall mean, collectively, (i) Holdings, (ii) each Subsidiary Loan Party, including each Person that joins as a Subsidiary Loan Party pursuant to Section 5.10 or otherwise, (iii) with respect to (A) any Hedging Obligations between any Loan Party (other than the Borrower) or Restricted Subsidiary and any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender that are permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.12 and any Treasury Management Obligations owing by any Loan Party (other than the Borrower) or Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower and (B) the payment and performance by each Specified Loan Party of its obligations under its Guarantee with respect to all Swap Obligations, the Borrower and (iv) the successors and permitted assigns of the foregoing.
Hazardous Materials shall mean all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
Hedging Obligations of any Person shall mean any and all obligations of such Person, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired under (i) any and all Hedging Transactions, (ii) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Hedging Transactions and (iii) any and all renewals, extensions and modifications of any Hedging Transactions and any and all substitutions for any Hedging Transactions.
Hedging Transaction of any Person shall mean (i) any transaction (including an agreement with respect to any such transaction) now existing or hereafter entered into by such Person that is a rate swap transaction, swap option, basis swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap, commodity option, equity or equity index swap or option, bond option, interest rate option, foreign exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction, collar transaction, currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option, spot transaction, credit protection transaction, credit swap, credit default swap, credit default option, total return swap, credit spread transaction, repurchase transaction, reverse repurchase transaction, buy/sell-back transaction, securities lending transaction, or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any of these transactions) or any combination thereof, whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement and (ii) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a Master Agreement), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
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Holdings shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereto.
Inactive Subsidiaries shall mean the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on Schedule 1.1(c).
Incremental Funds Certain Provision shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.25(c).
Incremental Revolving Commitment shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.25(a).
Incremental Term Loan shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.25(a).
Indebtedness of any Person shall mean, without duplication (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business; provided, that for purposes of Section 8.1(g), trade payables overdue by more than one hundred twenty (120) days shall be included in this definition except to the extent that any of such trade payables are being disputed in good faith and by appropriate measures), (iv) all obligations of such Person under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement(s) relating to property acquired by such Person, (v) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (vi) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of letters of credit, acceptances or similar extensions of credit, (vii) all Guarantees of such Person of the type of Indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (vi) above, (viii) all Indebtedness of a third party secured by any Lien on property owned by such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness has been assumed by such Person, provided, that, if such Indebtedness shall not have been assumed by such Person and is otherwise limited in recourse only to the property of such Person securing such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the fair market value of the property of such Person securing such obligation as determined by such Person in good faith and (B) the amount of such Indebtedness so secured, (ix) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, to purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value any Capital Stock of such Person, and (x) Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the extent that the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.
Indemnified Taxes shall mean (i) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Loan Document and (ii) to the extent not otherwise described in (i), Other Taxes.
Intercreditor Agreement shall mean an intercreditor agreement to be entered into upon the occurrence of the Trigger Event by the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders and other holders of the Obligations, and Truist Bank, as servicer under the Loan Facility Agreement, on behalf of the Participants (as defined in the Loan Facility Agreement), which intercreditor agreement shall provide for the ratable sharing of collateral and the proceeds thereof as provided more specifically therein.
Interest Period shall mean, with respect to any SOFR Borrowing, a period of one, three or six months (in each case, subject to the availability thereof); provided, that:
(i) the initial Interest Period for such Borrowing shall commence on the date of such Borrowing (including the date of any conversion from a Borrowing of another Type), and each Interest Period occurring thereafter in respect of such Borrowing shall commence on the day on which the next preceding Interest Period expires;
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(ii) if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day;
(iii) any Interest Period which begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such calendar month;
(iv) each principal installment of the Term Loans shall have an Interest Period ending on each installment payment date and the remaining principal balance (if any) of the Term Loans shall have an Interest Period determined as set forth above;
(v) no Interest Period may extend beyond the Revolving Commitment Termination Date, unless on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans is equal to or greater than the aggregate principal amount of SOFR Loans with Interest Periods expiring after such date, and no Interest Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; and
(vi) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 2.17(e) shall be available for specification in such Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation.
Inventory Financing Agreement shall mean that certain Amended and Restated Inventory Financing Agreement dated as of June 28, 2013 by and among Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance, LLC (formerly known as Capital Solutions for the Home Product Industry) and the other parties thereto, as amended, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time.
Investments shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 7.4.
Issuing Bank shall mean, with respect to a particular Letter of Credit, (a) Truist Bank, in its capacity as issuer of such Letters of Credit hereunder, (b) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as issuer of such Letters of Credit hereunder, (c) Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as issuer of such Letters of Credit hereunder, (d) Citizens Bank, N.A., in its capacity as issuer of such Letters or Credit hereunder and (e) any successor issuer of such Letter of Credit hereunder.
LC Commitment shall mean, with respect to (a) Truist Bank, $20,000,000, (b) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., $5,000,000, (c) Bank of America, N.A., $5,000,000 and (d) Citizens Bank, N.A., $5,000,000.
LC Disbursement shall mean a payment made by the applicable Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.
LC Documents shall mean the Letters of Credit and all applications, agreements and instruments relating to the Letters of Credit.
LC Exposure shall mean, at any time, the sum of (i) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time, plus (ii) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The LC Exposure of any Lender shall be its Pro Rata Share of the total LC Exposure at such time.
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LC Sublimit shall mean that portion of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments that may be used by the Borrower for the issuance of Letters of Credit in an aggregate face amount not to exceed $35,000,000.
Lender Insolvency Event shall mean that (i) a Lender or its Parent Company is insolvent, or is generally unable to pay its debts as they become due, or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (ii) a Lender or its Parent Company is the subject of a bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation or similar proceeding, or a receiver, trustee, conservator, custodian or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such capacity, has been appointed for such Lender or its Parent Company, or such Lender or its Parent Company has taken any action in furtherance of or indicating its consent to or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment or (iii) a Lender or its Parent Company has been adjudicated as, or determined by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Person or its assets to be, insolvent; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, a Lender Insolvency Event shall not be deemed to have occurred solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in or control of a Lender or a Parent Company thereof by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof so long as such ownership or acquisition does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.
Lenders shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the opening paragraph of this Agreement and shall include, where appropriate, the Swingline Lender and each Additional Lender that joins this Agreement pursuant to Section 2.25 or 2.27.
Letter of Credit shall mean any standby letter of credit issued pursuant to Section 2.24 by an Issuing Bank for the account of the Borrower pursuant to the LC Sublimit and the Existing Letters of Credit.
Leverage Increase Period shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1.
Lien shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, lien (statutory or otherwise), charge, encumbrance, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, or other arrangement having the practical effect of any of the foregoing or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any capital lease having the same economic effect as any of the foregoing). A covenant not to grant a Lien or a negative pledge shall not be determined a Lien for purposes of this Agreement.
Loan Documents shall mean, collectively, this Agreement, the LC Documents, the Fee Letters, all Notices of Borrowing, all Notices of Conversion/Continuation, the Intercreditor Agreement, if any, the Guarantee Agreement, the Borrower Guarantee Agreement, the Collateral Documents (if any), all collateral documents pursuant to Section 5.10(b), and any and all other instruments, agreements, documents and writings executed in connection with any of the foregoing.
Loan Facility Agreement shall mean that certain Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Borrower, Truist Bank, as Servicer and the financial institutions from time to time a party thereto, as Participants, as amended, restated, amended and restated, refinanced, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
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Loan Facility Documents shall mean, collectively, the Loan Facility Agreement and any and all other instruments, agreements, documents and writings executed in connection with the foregoing.
Loan Parties shall mean Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties.
Loans shall mean all Term Loans, Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans in the aggregate or any of them, as the context shall require.
Master Agreement shall have the definition set forth in the definition of Hedging Transaction.
Material Adverse Effect shall mean, with respect to any event, act, condition or occurrence of whatever nature (including any adverse determination in any litigation, arbitration, or governmental investigation or proceeding), whether singularly or in conjunction with any other event or events, act or acts, condition or conditions, occurrence or occurrences whether or not related, resulting in a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect on, (i) the business, results of operations, financial condition, assets or liabilities of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Borrower or the Loan Parties taken as a whole to perform any of their respective obligations under the Loan Documents, (iii) the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents or (iv) the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents.
Material Domestic Subsidiary shall mean any Domestic Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Borrower) that is a Restricted Subsidiary that has not already become a Subsidiary Loan Party that (i) at any time (A) accounted for five percent (5.0%) or more of Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four (4) Fiscal Quarters ended or (B) holds assets in an amount equal to or greater than five percent (5.0%) of the aggregate fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter, or (ii) when taken together with other Domestic Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries that are not already Subsidiary Loan Parties, (x) accounted for ten percent (10.0%) or more of Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four (4) Fiscal Quarters ended or (y) holds assets in an amount equal to or greater than ten percent (10.0%) of the aggregate fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter. Upon the acquisition of a new Domestic Subsidiary or the merger or consolidation of any Person with or into an existing Domestic Subsidiary (or the acquisition of other assets by an existing Domestic Subsidiary), in each case, that is a Restricted Subsidiary, the qualification of the affected Domestic Subsidiary as a Material Domestic Subsidiary pursuant to the foregoing requirements of this definition shall be determined on a Pro Forma Basis as if such Domestic Subsidiary had been acquired or such merger, consolidation or other acquisition had occurred, as applicable, at the beginning of the relevant period of four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters.
Material Indebtedness shall mean, as of any date of determination, Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit) of any one or more of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount greater than an amount equal to two percent (2.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered.
Material Real Estate shall mean Real Estate with a fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent) in excess of $10,000,000.
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Material Subsidiary shall mean at any time any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings having: (a) assets in an amount equal to at least five percent (5.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter at such time; or (b) revenues or net income in an amount equal to at least five percent (5.0%) of the total revenues or net income of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the 12-month period ending on the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter at such time.
Maturity Date shall mean, (a) with respect to the Term Loan A, the earlier of (i) April 1, 2027 and (ii) the date on which the principal amount of the outstanding Term Loan A has been declared or automatically has become due and payable (whether by acceleration or otherwise), (b) with respect to any Incremental Term Loan, the earlier of (i) the maturity date set forth in the applicable documentation with respect thereto and (ii) the date on which the principal amount of such outstanding Incremental Term Loan has been declared or automatically has become due and payable (whether by acceleration or otherwise) and (c) with respect to any Refinancing Term Loan, the earlier of (i) the maturity date set forth in the applicable Refinancing Facility Amendment and (ii) the date on which the principal amount of such outstanding Refinancing Term Loan has been declared or automatically has become due and payable (whether by acceleration or otherwise).
Maximum Incremental Facility Amount shall mean the greater of (a) $300,000,000 and (b) 100% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended period of four Fiscal Quarters for which the Borrower has delivered the financial statements required by Sections 5.1(a) or 5.1(b).
Maximum Rate shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 10.12.
Moodys shall mean Moodys Investors Service, Inc., and any successor thereto.
Mortgages shall mean, collectively, each mortgage, deed of trust, trust deed, security deed, debenture, deed of immovable hypothec, deed to secure debt or other real estate security documents delivered by any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent from time to time, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, as the same may be amended, amended and restated, extended, supplemented, substituted or otherwise modified from time to time.
Multiemployer Plan shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
Net Cash Proceeds shall mean the aggregate cash or Cash Equivalents proceeds received by Holdings or any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any (i) sale or disposition by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any of its assets, (ii) any casualty insurance policies or eminent domain, condemnation or similar proceedings or (iii) any issuance of Indebtedness not permitted under Section 7.1, in each case net of direct costs incurred in connection therewith (including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions), taxes paid or payable as a result thereof and, in the case of any sale or disposition or casualty, eminent domain, condemnation or similar proceeding, (A) the amount necessary to retire any Indebtedness secured by a Lien permitted under this Agreement (ranking senior to any Lien of the Administrative Agent) on the related property, (B) amounts reasonably and in good faith reserved, if any, for (1) pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities, (2) workers compensation liabilities, (3) liabilities associated with retiree benefits and (4) liabilities relating to environmental matters and (C) until no longer reserved, any reserves for indemnification liabilities, the amount of which are reasonably ascertainable on or prior to the consummation of such sale; it being understood that Net Cash Proceeds shall include any cash or Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received by Holdings or any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any sale or disposition by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any of its assets, any casualty insurance policies or eminent domain, condemnation or similar proceedings or any issuance of Indebtedness not permitted under Section 7.1.
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Non-Defaulting Lender shall mean, at any time, a Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender.
Notes shall mean any promissory notes issued hereunder at the request of any Lender.
Notice of Conversion/Continuation shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(b).
Notice of Revolving Borrowing shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.3.
Notice of Swingline Borrowing shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.6.
Notices of Borrowing shall mean, collectively, the Notices of Revolving Borrowing and the Notices of Swingline Borrowing.
Obligations shall mean, collectively, (i) all amounts owing by the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Lender (including the Swingline Lender) or the Arrangers pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit including without limitation, all principal, interest (including any interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding relating to Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), all reimbursement obligations, all obligations pursuant to the Administrative Agents Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights, fees, expenses, indemnification and reimbursement payments, costs and expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and any Lender (including the Swingline Lender) incurred pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document), whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, now existing or hereafter arising hereunder or thereunder, and all obligations and liabilities incurred in connection with collecting and enforcing the foregoing, (ii) all Hedging Obligations owed by any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender and (iii) all Treasury Management Obligations between any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender, together with all renewals, extensions, modifications or refinancings of any of the foregoing; provided, that, Obligations of a Guarantor shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor.
OFAC shall mean the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities of any Person shall mean (i) any repurchase obligation or liability of such Person with respect to accounts or notes receivable sold by such Person, other than indemnity obligations for any breach of any representation or warranty which are customary in nonrecourse sales of such assets, (ii) any liability of such Person under any sale and leaseback transactions which do not create a liability on the balance sheet of such Person, (iii) any liability of such Person under any so-called synthetic lease transaction or (iv) any obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the balance sheet of such Person.
OSHA shall mean the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
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Other Connection Taxes shall mean, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Administrative Agent, Lender, Issuing Bank or recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Person having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
Other Taxes shall mean any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other 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 2.23(b)).
Parent Company shall mean, with respect to a Lender or an Issuing Bank, the bank holding company (as defined in Regulation Y), if any, of such Lender or Issuing Bank, and/or any Person owning, beneficially or of record, directly or indirectly, a majority of the shares of such Lender or Issuing Bank.
Participant shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.4(d).
Participant Register shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.4(e).
Patriot Act shall mean the USA PATRIOT Act, Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001), as amended and in effect from time to time.
Payment Office shall mean the office of the Administrative Agent located at 303 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, or such other location as to which the Administrative Agent shall have given written notice to the Borrower and the other Lenders.
PBGC shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA, and any successor entity performing similar functions.
Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of Term SOFR.
Permitted Acquisition shall mean any Acquisition (whether foreign or domestic) so long as (a) immediately before and after giving effect to such Acquisition, no Default or Event of Default is in existence (except, in the case of an Acquisition subject to the Incremental Funds Certain Provision, in which case there is no Default or Event of Default immediately before or immediately after execution and delivery of the applicable Acquisition Agreement and there is no Specified Event of Default at the date the applicable Permitted Acquisition is consummated), (b) such Acquisition has been approved by the board of directors of the Person being acquired prior to any public announcement thereof, (c) to the extent such Acquisition is of a Person or Persons that are not organized in the United States and/or of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person located outside the United States and the aggregate EBITDA attributable to all Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended twelve month period (giving pro forma effect to such Acquisition; provided that, in the case of an Acquisition subject to the Incremental Funds Certain Provision, the date of determination for giving pro forma effect to such Acquisition to determine compliance with this clause (c) shall, at the option of the Borrower, be the date of execution of the applicable Acquisition Agreement, and such determination shall be made after giving effect to such Acquisition (and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence
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of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof))) exceeds twenty percent (20%) of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended twelve month period, the Borrower complies with Sections 5.10(b) and 5.12 hereof and (d) immediately after giving effect to such Acquisition, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not be engaged in any business other than (A) substantially the same business as presently conducted or such other businesses that are reasonably related thereto, including but not limited to the business of leasing and selling furniture, consumer electronics, computers, appliances and other household goods and accessories inside and outside of the United States of America, through both independently-owned and franchised stores, providing lease-purchase solutions, credit and other financing solutions to customers for the purchase and lease of such products, the manufacture and supply of furniture and bedding for lease and sale in such stores, and the provision of virtual rent-to-own programs inside and outside of the United States of America (including but not limited to point-of-sale lease purchase programs), (B) any other businesses which are ancillary or complementary to, or reasonable extensions or expansions of, the business of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Closing Date, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower and (C) any businesses that are materially different from the business of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Closing Date provided that any Investments made, funds expended or financial support provided by Holdings, the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such alternative lines of business shall not exceed $50,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding. As used herein, Acquisitions will be considered related Acquisitions if the sellers under such Acquisitions are the same Person or any Affiliate thereof.
Permitted Amendments shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.28.
Permitted Encumbrances shall mean
(i) Liens imposed by law for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;
(ii) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other Liens imposed by law created in the ordinary course of business for amounts not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;
(iii) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;
(iv) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(v) judgment and attachment liens not giving rise to an Event of Default or Liens created by or existing from any litigation or legal proceeding that are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;
(vi) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
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(vii) other Liens incidental to the conduct of its business or the ownership of its property and assets which were not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit, and which do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of its property or assets or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of its business; and
(viii) Liens on insurance policies owned by the Borrower on the lives of its officers securing policy loans obtained from the insurers under such policies; provided that (A) the aggregate amount borrowed on each policy shall not exceed the loan value thereof, and (B) the Borrower shall not incur any liability to repay any such loan;
provided, that, the term Permitted Encumbrances shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.
Permitted Investments shall mean:
(i) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;
(ii) commercial paper having an A or better rating, at the time of acquisition thereof, of S&P or Moodys and in either case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;
(iii) certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances and time deposits maturing within one year of 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 or any state thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;
(iv) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (i) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (iii) above; and
(v) mutual funds investing solely in any one or more of the Permitted Investments described in clauses (i) through (iv) above.
Person shall mean any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other entity or any Governmental Authority.
Plan shall mean any employee benefit plan as defined in Section 3 of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) maintained or contributed to by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has or may have an obligation to contribute, and each such plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA for the five-year period immediately following the latest date on which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate maintained, contributed to or had an obligation to contribute to (or is deemed under Section 4069 of ERISA to have maintained or contributed to or to have had an obligation to contribute to, or otherwise to have liability with respect to) such plan.
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Platform shall mean Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system.
Pro Forma Basis shall mean, for purposes of calculating compliance with respect to any asset sale (including any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division), casualty event, Permitted Acquisition, Restricted Payment or incurrence of Indebtedness, or any other transaction subject to calculation on a Pro Forma Basis as indicated herein (including without limitation, for purposes of determining compliance with the financial covenants in Article VI, and determining the Applicable Margin and Applicable Percentage) that such transaction shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently ended (the Reference Period) for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b). For purposes of any such calculation in respect of any Permitted Acquisition, (a) income statement and cash flow statement items attributable to the Person or property subject to such Permitted Acquisition shall be included in Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Permitted Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period; (b) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (including the Person or property acquired) in connection with such transaction and any Indebtedness of the Person or property acquired which is not retired in connection with such transaction (i) shall be deemed to have been incurred as of the first day of the applicable period and (ii) if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination; (c) capital expenditures attributable to the Person or property acquired shall be included beginning as of the first day of the applicable period; and (d) except as permitted pursuant to clauses (G), (H) and (I) of the definition of Consolidated EBITDA, no adjustments for unrealized synergies shall be included. For purposes of any such calculation in respect of (a) the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (i) income statement and cash flow statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to such Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent relating to any period occurring prior to the date of such designation and (ii) Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be excluded and deemed to have been retired as of the first day of the Reference Period and (b) the designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as an Restricted Subsidiary, (i) income statement and cash flow statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to such Subsidiary shall be included to the extent relating to any period prior to the date of such designation to the extent such items are not otherwise included in such income statement and cash flow statement items for Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with any defined terms set forth in this Section 1.01.
Pro Forma Compliance Certificate shall mean a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower containing (x) reasonably detailed calculations of the financial covenants set forth in Article VI recomputed as of the end of the period of the four Fiscal Quarters most recently ended for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b) after giving effect to the applicable transaction on a Pro Forma Basis and (y) if delivered in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, certifications that clauses (i) through (iv) of the definition of Permitted Acquisition have been satisfied (or will be satisfied in the time permitted under this Agreement).
Pro Rata Share shall mean (a) with respect to any Commitment of any Lender at any time, a percentage, the numerator of which shall be such Lenders Commitment (or if such Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, such Lenders Revolving Credit Exposure or Term Loans, as applicable), and the denominator of which shall be the sum of such Commitments of all Lenders (or if such Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, all Revolving Credit Exposure or Term Loans, as applicable, of all Lenders) and (b) with respect to all Commitments of any Lender at any time, the numerator of which shall be the sum of such Lenders Revolving Commitment (or if such Revolving Commitments have been
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terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, such Lenders Revolving Credit Exposure) and Term Loans and the denominator of which shall be the sum of all Lenders Revolving Commitments (or if such Revolving Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, all Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders funded under such Commitments) and Term Loans.
Project Everglade Acquisition shall mean the acquisition by Holdings, directly or indirectly, of all of the outstanding equity interests of the Acquired Business from the Seller pursuant to the terms of the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement.
Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement shall mean that certain Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of February 23, 2022 by and among Aarons Retail Solutions, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company, Interbond Enterprises, Inc., a Florida corporation, Michael Perlman, an individual resident of the State of Florida and the other sellers (collectively, the Seller).
Project Everglade Refinancing shall mean the refinancing of certain outstanding indebtedness of the Acquired Business.
Project Everglade Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations shall mean such of the representations and warranties with respect to the Target made by or on behalf of the Seller (as defined in the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement) and the Target in the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement as are material to the interests of the Lenders, but only to the extent that the Borrower or any of its Affiliates has the right (after accounting for all applicable cure periods) to terminate its obligations under the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement or decline to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement as a result of a breach of such representations in the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement.
Project Everglade Specified Representations shall mean the Specified Representations made in connection with the Project Everglade Acquisition. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, to the extent any of the Specified Representations as to the Target are qualified or subject to material adverse effect, the definition thereof shall be Material Adverse Effect as defined in the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement as in effect on February 23, 2022 (Target Material Adverse Effect) for purposes of any Specified Representations as to the Target made or to be made on, or as of, the Closing Date.
PTE shall mean a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
Qualified Acquisition shall mean (a) the Project Everglade Acquisition and (b) a Permitted Acquisition with aggregate consideration of at least $150,000,000, or any series of related Permitted Acquisitions in any twelve (12) month period with aggregate consideration for all such Permitted Acquisitions of at least $150,000,000; provided that for any such Permitted Acquisition or series of related Permitted Acquisitions, a Responsible Officer of the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, prior to (i) the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition (or the last in such series of related Permitted Acquisitions, as applicable) or (ii) the date of required delivery of a Compliance Certificate for the Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, as applicable, ended immediately following the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition (or the last in such series of related Permitted Acquisitions, as applicable), a certificate (any such certificate, a Qualified Acquisition Notice) (x) certifying that such Permitted Acquisition or series of Permitted Acquisitions qualifies as a Qualified Acquisition and (y) notifying the Administrative Agent that the Borrower has elected to treat such Permitted Acquisition or series of related Acquisitions as a Qualified Acquisition.
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Qualified Acquisition Notice has the meaning specified in the definition of Qualified Acquisition.
Qualified Acquisition Pro Forma Determination shall mean, to the extent required in connection with determining the permissibility of any Permitted Acquisition or series of related Permitted Acquisitions that the Loan Parties elect to treat as a Qualified Acquisition, the determination of whether the Loan Parties are in compliance with Section 6.1 on a Pro Forma Basis.
Real Estate shall mean all real property owned in fee by Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are Loan Parties.
Real Estate Documents shall mean, collectively, Mortgages covering all Material Real Estate owned by the Loan Parties, duly executed by each applicable Loan Party, together with (A) title insurance policies, current as-built ALTA/ACSM Land Title surveys certified to the Administrative Agent, zoning letters, building permits and certificates of occupancy, in each case relating to such Real Estate and reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent, (B) (x) Life of Loan Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard determinations, (y) notices, in the form required under the Flood Insurance Laws, about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance duly executed by each Loan Party, and (z) if any improved real property encumbered by any Mortgage is located in a special flood hazard area, a policy of flood insurance in minimum amounts required by applicable law and that is on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (C) evidence that counterparts of such Mortgages have been recorded in all places to the extent necessary or desirable, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, to create a valid and enforceable first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Encumbrances) on such Real Estate in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations (or in favor of such other trustee as may be required or desired under local law), (D) if requested by the Administrative Agent, an opinion of counsel in each state in which such Real Estate is located in form and substance and from counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (E) a duly executed Environmental Indemnity with respect thereto, (F) Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Reports, consistent with American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard E 1527-05, and applicable state requirements, on all of the owned Real Estate, dated no more than six (6) months prior to the date on which the Trigger Event occurred (or date of the applicable Mortgage if provided post-closing) or later if accompanied by no change affidavits, prepared by environmental engineers satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and such environmental review and audit reports, including Phase II reports, with respect to the Real Estate of any Loan Party as the Administrative Agent shall have reasonably requested, in each case together with letters executed by the environmental firms preparing such environmental reports, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, authorizing the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to rely on such reports, and the Administrative Agent shall be reasonably satisfied with the contents of all such environmental reports and (G) such other reports, documents, instruments and agreements as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent.
Recipient shall mean (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) any Issuing Bank as applicable.
Refinancing Facility shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.27(a).
Refinancing Facility Amendment shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.27(a).
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Refinancing Revolving Facility shall mean any Refinancing Facility that is a revolving facility.
Refinancing Revolving Maturity Date shall mean the maturity date of any Refinancing Revolving Facility.
Refinancing Term Loan shall mean any Refinancing Facility that is a term loan.
Regulation D shall mean Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.
Regulation T shall mean Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.
Regulation U shall mean Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.
Regulation X shall mean Regulation X of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.
Regulation Y shall mean Regulation Y of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.
Related Parties shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, such Persons Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Persons Affiliates.
Release shall mean any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or within any building, structure, facility or fixture.
Relevant Governmental Body shall mean the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or any successor thereto.
Required Lenders shall mean, at any time, Lenders holding at least fifty-one percent (51.0%) of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments and the Term Loans at such time or if the Lenders have no Commitments outstanding, then Lenders holding at least fifty-one percent (51.0%) of the Revolving Credit Exposure and the Term Loans; provided, that, to the extent that any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender and all of its Revolving Commitments, Revolving Credit Exposure and Term Loans shall be excluded for purposes of determining Required Lenders.
Required Revolving Lenders shall mean, at any time, Lenders holding at least fifty-one percent (51.0%) of the aggregate outstanding Revolving Commitments at such time or, if the Lenders have no Revolving Commitments outstanding, then Lenders holding at least fifty-one percent (51.0%) of the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure; provided that to the extent that any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender and all of its Revolving Commitments and Revolving Credit Exposure shall be excluded for purposes of determining Required Revolving Lenders.
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Resolution Authority shall mean an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
Responsible Officer shall mean any of the president, the chief executive officer, the chief operating officer, the chief financial officer, the treasurer, the controller or a vice president of the Borrower or such other representative of the Borrower as may be designated in writing by any one of the foregoing with the consent of the Administrative Agent; and, with respect to the financial covenants only, the chief financial officer, the controller or the treasurer of the Borrower.
Restricted Payment shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.
Restricted Subsidiary shall mean any Subsidiary other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to Restricted Subsidiary hereunder shall mean a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings. For the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall be a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings for all purposes of the Loan Documents.
Revolving Commitment shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower and to participate in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the amount set forth with respect to such Lender on Schedule 1.1(b), or in the case of a Person becoming a Lender after the Closing Date through an assignment of an existing Revolving Commitment, the amount of the assigned Revolving Commitment as provided in the Assignment and Acceptance executed by such Person as an assignee, or the joinder executed by such Person, as the same may be increased or decreased pursuant to terms hereof, or in any documentation executed by such Lender in connection with an Incremental Revolving Commitment, Incremental Term Loan or Refinancing Facility, as applicable.
Revolving Commitment Termination Date shall mean the earliest of (i) April 1, 2027, (ii) the date on which the Revolving Commitments are terminated pursuant to Section 2.9(b) or Section 8.1, and (iii) the date on which all amounts outstanding under this Agreement have been declared or have automatically become due and payable (whether by acceleration or otherwise).
Revolving Credit Exposure shall mean, for any Lender, the sum of such Lenders Revolving Loans, LC Exposure and Swingline Exposure.
Revolving Loan shall mean a loan made by a Lender (other than the Swingline Lender) to the Borrower under its Revolving Commitment, which may either be a Base Rate Loan or a SOFR Loan.
S&P shall mean Standard & Poors Financial Services, LLC, a subsidiary of S&P Global Inc. and any successor thereto.
Sanctioned Country shall mean, at any time, a country, region or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject or target of any Sanctions.
Sanctioned Person shall mean, at any time, (i) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any EU member state, (ii) any Person located, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (iii) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or (iv) any Person otherwise the subject of any Sanctions.
Sanctions shall mean economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes administered or enforced from time to time by (i) the U.S. government, including those administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State or (ii) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any EU Member State or Her Majestys Treasury of the United Kingdom.
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Security Agreement shall mean the security agreement in the form of Exhibit 5.12.
SOFR shall mean a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.
SOFR Administrator shall mean the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).
SOFR Loan shall mean a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on Term SOFR, other than pursuant to clause (iii) of the definition of Base Rate.
Solvent shall mean, with respect to any Person on a particular date, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including subordinated and contingent liabilities, of such Person; (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts and liabilities, including subordinated and contingent liabilities as they become absolute and matured; (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Persons ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature; and (d) such Person is not engaged in a business or transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or transaction, for which such Persons property would constitute an unreasonably small capital. The amount of contingent liabilities (such as litigation, guaranties and pension plan liabilities) at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at the time, represents the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
Specified Event of Default shall mean an Event of Default arising under Section 8.1(a), (b), (h) or (i).
Specified Loan Party shall mean each Loan Party that is, at the time on which the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest under the Loan Documents by such Loan Party becomes effective with respect to a Swap Obligation, a corporation, partnership, proprietorship, organization, trust or other entity that would not be an eligible contract participant under the Commodity Exchange Act at such time but for the keepwell provision in Section 24 of the Guarantee Agreement and Section 24 of the Borrower Guarantee Agreement.
Specified Representations shall mean the representations of the Loan Parties contained in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3(a), 4.3(b), 4.6 (insofar as it relates to the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents), 4.7, 4.9, 4.15, 4.16 and 4.17.
Subsidiary shall mean, with respect to any Person (the parent), any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, 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, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than fifty percent (50.0%) of the equity or more than fifty percent (50.0%) of the ordinary voting power, or in the case of a partnership, more than fifty percent (50.0%) of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to Subsidiary hereunder shall mean a Subsidiary of Holdings.
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Subsidiary Loan Party shall mean any Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Subsidiary) that is party to the Guarantee Agreement (whether as original party thereto or by subsequent joinder thereto).
Swap Obligations shall mean with respect to any Guarantor, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a swap within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
Swingline Commitment shall mean the commitment of the Swingline Lender to make Swingline Loans in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $35,000,000.
Swingline Exposure shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the principal amount of the Swingline Loans in which such Lender is legally obligated either to make a Base Rate Loan or to purchase a participation in accordance with Section 2.7, which shall equal such Lenders Pro Rata Share of all outstanding Swingline Loans.
Swingline Lender shall mean Truist Bank in its capacity as provider of Swingline Loans hereunder.
Swingline Loan shall mean a loan made to the Borrower by the Swingline Lender under the Swingline Commitment.
Swingline Rate shall mean, for any Interest Period, the rate as offered by the Administrative Agent and accepted by the Borrower. The Borrower is under no obligation to accept this rate and the Administrative Agent is under no obligation to provide it.
Target shall mean Interbond Corporation of America, a Florida corporation.
Taxes shall mean any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.
Term Loan A shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.
Term Loan A Commitment shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make its portion of the Term Loan A pursuant to Section 2.5, in a principal amount not exceeding the amount set forth with respect to such Lender on Schedule 1.1(b). The aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loan A on the Closing Date is $175,000,000.
Term Loans shall mean the Term Loan A and any term loan made by a Lender to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.25 or Section 2.27.
Term SOFR shall mean,
(a) for any calculation with respect to a SOFR Loan, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period on the day (such day, the Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, that if as of 5:00 p.m. on any Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day
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for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day, and
(b) for any calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any day, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor of one month on the day (such day, the Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided that if as of 5:00 p.m. on any Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day;
provided, that if Term SOFR determined as provided above (excluding pursuant to clause (b) above) shall ever be less than the Floor, then Term SOFR shall be deemed to be the Floor.
Term SOFR Administrator shall mean the CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Reference Rate selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).
Term SOFR Reference Rate shall mean the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent as the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.
Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio shall mean, at any date of determination, the ratio of (a) the sum of (i) Consolidated Total Debt as of such date minus (ii) Unrestricted Cash in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time the aggregate amount of Unrestricted Cash of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on deposit with, or otherwise held by, any Lenders or Affiliate thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, cash in accounts that are subject to an account control agreement in favor of the Administrative Agent) to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on such date.
Transaction Documents shall mean, collectively, the Loan Documents and the Loan Facility Documents.
Transactions shall mean the closing of this Agreement and the initial extensions of credit hereunder, the Project Everglade Acquisition, the Project Everglade Refinancing and the closing of the Loan Facility Documents.
Treasury Management Obligations shall mean, collectively, (a) any treasury or other cash management services, including deposit accounts, automated clearing house (ACH) origination and other funds transfer, depository (including cash vault and check deposit), zero balance accounts and sweeps, return items processing, controlled disbursement accounts, positive pay, lockboxes and lockbox accounts, account reconciliation and information reporting, payables outsourcing, payroll processing, trade finance services, investment accounts, securities accounts and supply chain financing, and (b) card services, including credit cards (including purchasing cards and commercial cards), prepaid cards, including payroll, stored value and gift cards, merchant services processing, and debit card services.
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Trigger Event shall mean that (a) the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio for the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently ended, as calculated in the most recently delivered Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 5.1(c), exceeds 1.50 to 1.0 or (b) a Trigger Event (as defined in the Loan Facility Agreement) under the Loan Facility Agreement has occurred; provided, that, upon the occurrence of a Qualified Acquisition, during any Leverage Increase Period, the required ratio set forth above may, upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of a Qualified Acquisition Notice, be increased to (x) 2.00:1.00 for the Fiscal Quarter during which such Qualified Acquisition is consummated and the two Fiscal Quarters immediately thereafter and (y) 1.75:100 for the final Fiscal Quarter of such Leverage Increase Period; provided further, that (i) it is understood and agreed that, notwithstanding the foregoing, solely in connection with the Project Everglade Acquisition, the ratio set forth in clause (a) above shall be increased to 2.00:1.00 for each Fiscal Quarter of the applicable Leverage Increase Period, (ii) the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio set forth in clause (a) above shall revert to 1.50:1.00 following the end of each Leverage Increase Period, (iii) for at least two (2) full Fiscal Quarters ending immediately following the end of each Leverage Increase Period, the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio set forth in clause (a) above as of the end of each such Fiscal Quarter shall be 1.50:1.00 prior to giving effect to another Leverage Increase Period and (iv) the Leverage Increase Period shall apply for purposes of (w) determining compliance with Section 6.1, (x) determining whether a Trigger Event has occurred for purposes of Section 5.12, (y) any Qualified Acquisition Pro Forma Determination and (z) determining compliance on a Pro Forma Basis in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness under Section 7.1.
Type, when used in reference to a 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 Term SOFR or the Base Rate.
UK Financial Institution shall mean any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.
UK Resolution Authority shall mean the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.
Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement shall mean the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
Uniform Commercial Code or UCC shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York.
United States or U.S. shall mean the United States of America.
Unrestricted Cash shall mean, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount (without duplication) of cash and Cash Equivalents of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent the same would be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries if the same were prepared as of such date; provided, that, Unrestricted Cash of Foreign Subsidiaries shall be net of repatriation costs.
Unrestricted Subsidiary shall mean, collectively, each Subsidiary designated by the Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.14.
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U.S. Government Securities Business Day shall mean any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.
Withdrawal Liability shall mean liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
Write-Down and Conversion Powers shall mean (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.
Section 1.2 Classifications of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g. a Revolving Loan or Term Loan) or by Type (e.g. a SOFR Loan or Base Rate Loan) or by Class and Type (e.g. Revolving SOFR Loan). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g. Revolving Borrowing) or by Type (e.g. SOFR Borrowing) or by Class and Type (e.g. Revolving SOFR Borrowing).
Section 1.3 Accounting Terms and Determination.
(a) Unless otherwise defined or specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time, applied on a basis consistent with the most recent audited consolidated financial statement of Holdings delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) (or, if no such financial statements have been delivered, on a basis consistent with the audited consolidated financial statements of Holdings last delivered to the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement); provided, that if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower wishes to amend any covenant in Article VI to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of such covenant (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders wish to amend Article VI for such purpose), then the Borrowers compliance with such covenant shall be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required Lenders.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, (i) 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 any election under Accounting Standards Codification Section 825-10 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Loan Party at fair value, as defined therein and (ii) all liability amounts shall be determined excluding any liability relating to any operating lease, all asset amounts shall be determined excluding any right-of-use assets relating to any operating lease, all
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amortization amounts shall be determined excluding any amortization of a right-of-use asset relating to any operating lease, and all interest amounts shall be determined excluding any deemed interest comprising a portion of fixed rent payable under any operating lease, in each case to the extent that such liability, asset, amortization or interest pertains to an operating lease under which the covenantor or a member of its consolidated group is the lessee and would not have been accounted for as such under GAAP as in effect on December 31, 2015.
(c) Notwithstanding the above, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that all calculations of the financial covenants in Article VI (including for purposes of determining the Applicable Margin and the Applicable Percentage and any transaction that by the terms of this Agreement requires that any financial covenant contained in Article VI be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) shall be made on a Pro Forma Basis with respect to (a) sales, leases, transfers and/or involuntary dispositions of property in any period of twelve months with an aggregate fair market value in excess of $15,000,000, (b) any Acquisition, (c) any incurrence of any Incremental Term Loan and/or Incremental Revolving Commitment, (d) any determination of whether a Domestic Subsidiary qualifies as a Material Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of Material Domestic Subsidiary or (e) any payment of a Restricted Payment occurring during such period.
Section 1.4 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. In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word from means from and including and the word to means to but excluding. Unless the context requires otherwise (i) 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 it was originally executed or as it may from time to time be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Persons successors and permitted assigns, (iii) the words hereof, herein and hereunder and words of similar import shall be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision hereof, (iv) all references to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement and (v) all references to a specific time shall be construed to refer to the time in the city and state of the Administrative Agents principal office, unless otherwise indicated.
Section 1.5 Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any LC Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.
Section 1.6 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
Section 1.7 Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdictions laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its equity interests at such time.
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Section 1.8 Rates. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to (a) the continuation of, administration of, submission of, calculation of or any other matter related to the Base Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate or Term SOFR, or any component definition thereof or rates referred to in the definition thereof, or any alternative, successor or replacement rate thereto (including any Benchmark Replacement), including whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, or have the same volume or liquidity as, the Base Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR or any other Benchmark prior to its discontinuance or unavailability, or (b) the effect, implementation or composition of any Conforming Changes. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of the Base Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR, any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain the Base Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR or any other Benchmark, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.
ARTICLE II.
AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE COMMITMENTS
Section 2.1 General Description of Facilities. Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, (i) the Lenders hereby establish in favor of the Borrower a revolving credit facility pursuant to which the Lenders severally agree (to the extent of each Lenders Revolving Commitment) to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.2, (ii) the Issuing Banks may issue Letters of Credit in accordance with Section 2.24, (iii) the Swingline Lender may make Swingline Loans in accordance with Section 2.4, (iv) each Lender agrees to purchase a participation interest in the Letters of Credit and the Swingline Loans pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof; provided, that in no event shall the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and outstanding LC Exposure exceed at any time the Aggregate Revolving Commitments from time to time in effect, and (v) each Lender severally agrees to advance its portion of the Term Loan A in Dollars to the Borrower on the Closing Date in a principal amount not exceeding such Lenders Term Loan A Commitment in accordance with Section 2.5.
Section 2.2 Revolving Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Loans in Dollars, ratably in proportion to its Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Commitments, to the Borrower, from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time that will not result in (i) such Lenders Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lenders Revolving Commitment, or (ii) the sum of the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures of all Lenders exceeding the Aggregate Revolving Commitments. During the Availability Period, the Borrower shall be entitled to borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement; provided, that the Borrower may not borrow or reborrow should there exist a Default or Event of Default.
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Section 2.3 Procedure for Revolving Borrowings. The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Revolving Borrowing substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.3 attached hereto (a Notice of Revolving Borrowing) (x) prior to 11:00 a.m. on the requested date of each Base Rate Borrowing and (y) prior to 11:00 a.m. three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the requested date of each SOFR Borrowing. Each Notice of Revolving Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify: (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Borrowing, (ii) the date of such Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the Type of such Revolving Loan comprising such Borrowing and (iv) in the case of a SOFR Borrowing, the duration of the initial Interest Period applicable thereto (subject to the provisions of the definition of Interest Period). Each Revolving Borrowing shall consist entirely of Base Rate Loans or SOFR Loans, as the Borrower may request. The aggregate principal amount of each SOFR Borrowing shall be not less than $1,000,000 or a larger multiple of $500,000, and the aggregate principal amount of each Base Rate Borrowing shall not be less than $1,000,000 or a larger multiple of $100,000; provided, that Base Rate Loans made pursuant to Section 2.5 or Section 2.24(d) may be made in lesser amounts as provided therein. At no time shall the total number of SOFR Borrowings outstanding at any time exceed twelve (12). Promptly following the receipt of a Notice of Revolving Borrowing in accordance herewith, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and the amount of such Lenders Revolving Loan to be made as part of the requested Revolving Borrowing.
Section 2.4 Swingline Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans to the Borrower in Dollars, from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time not to exceed the lesser of (i) the Swingline Commitment then in effect and (ii) the difference between the Aggregate Revolving Commitments and the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures of all Lenders; provided, that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan. The Borrower shall be entitled to borrow, repay and reborrow Swingline Loans in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Section 2.5 Term Loan A Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make its portion of a single term loan (the Term Loan A) to the Borrower in Dollars in one advance on the Closing Date in a principal amount equal to the Term Loan A Commitment of such Lender. The Term Loan A may be, from time to time, Base Rate Loans or SOFR Loans or a combination thereof; provided, that on the Closing Date the Term Loan A shall be Base Rate Loans unless the Administrative Agent shall have received a funding indemnity letter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Borrower and the satisfaction of all conditions precedent pursuant to Section 3.1 shall be deemed to constitute the Borrowers request to borrow the Term Loan A on the Closing Date. Amounts repaid on the Term Loan A may not be reborrowed.
Section 2.6 Procedure for Borrowing of Swingline Loans; Etc.
(a) Except in connection with any Auto Borrow Agreement, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Swingline Borrowing in substantially the form of Exhibit 2.6 hereto (Notice of Swingline Borrowing) prior to 10:00 a.m. on the requested date of each Swingline Borrowing. Each Notice of Swingline Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify: (i) the principal amount of such Swingline Loan, (ii) the date of such Swingline Loan (which shall be a Business Day) and (iii) the account of the Borrower to which the proceeds of such Swingline Loan should be credited. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of each Notice of Swingline Borrowing. Each Swingline Loan shall accrue interest at the Swingline Rate or any other interest rate as agreed between the Borrower and the Swingline Lender and shall have an Interest Period
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(subject to the definition thereof) as agreed between the Borrower and the Swingline Lender. The aggregate principal amount of each Swingline Loan shall be not less than $100,000 or a larger multiple of $50,000, or such other minimum or maximum amounts agreed to by the Swingline Lender and the Borrower. The Swingline Lender will make the proceeds of each Swingline Loan available to the Borrower in Dollars in immediately available funds at the account specified by the Borrower in the applicable Notice of Swingline Borrowing not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested date of such Swingline Loan. The Administrative Agent will notify the Lenders on a quarterly basis if any Swingline Loans occurred during such quarter.
(b) The Swingline Lender, at any time and from time to time in its sole discretion, may, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs the Swingline Lender to act on its behalf), give a Notice of Revolving Borrowing to the Administrative Agent requesting the Lenders (including the Swingline Lender) to make Base Rate Loans in an amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of any Swingline Loan. Each Lender will make the proceeds of its Base Rate Loan included in such Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender in accordance with Section 2.6, which will be used solely for the repayment of such Swingline Loan.
(c) If for any reason a Base Rate Borrowing may not be (as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent), or is not, made in accordance with the foregoing provisions, then each Lender (other than the Swingline Lender) shall purchase an undivided participating interest in such Swingline Loan in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share thereof on the date that such Base Rate Borrowing should have occurred. On the date of such required purchase, each Lender shall promptly transfer, in immediately available funds, the amount of its participating interest to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender. If such Swingline Loan bears interest at a rate other than the Base Rate, such Swingline Loan shall automatically become a Base Rate Loan on the effective date of any such participation and interest shall become payable on demand.
(d) Each Lenders obligation to make a Base Rate Loan pursuant to Section 2.6(b) or to purchase the participating interests pursuant to Section 2.6(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including without limitation (i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Lender or any other Person may have or claim against the Swingline Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the existence of a Default or an Event of Default or the termination of any Lenders Revolving Commitment, (iii) the existence (or alleged existence) of any event or condition which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iv) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent or any Lender or (v) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing. If such amount is not in fact made available to the Swingline Lender by any Lender, the Swingline Lender shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Lender, together with accrued interest thereon for each day from the date of demand thereof at the Federal Funds Rate. Until such time as such Lender makes its required payment, the Swingline Lender shall be deemed to continue to have outstanding Swingline Loans in the amount of the unpaid participation for all purposes of the Loan Documents. In addition, such Lender shall be deemed to have assigned any and all payments made of principal and interest on its Loans and any other amounts due to it hereunder, to the Swingline Lender to fund the amount of such Lenders participation interest in such Swingline Loans that such Lender failed to fund pursuant to this Section 2.6, until such amount has been purchased in full.
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(e) In order to facilitate the borrowing of Swingline Loans, the Borrower and the Swingline Lender may mutually agree to, and are hereby authorized to, enter into an auto borrow agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent (the Auto Borrow Agreement) providing for the automatic advance by the Swingline Lender of Swingline Loans under the conditions set forth in the Auto Borrow Agreement, subject to the conditions set forth herein. At any time an Auto Borrow Agreement is in effect, advances under the Auto Borrow Agreement shall be deemed Swingline Loans for all purposes hereof, except that Borrowings of Swingline Loans under the Auto Borrow Agreement shall be made in accordance with the Auto Borrow Agreement. For purposes of determining the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders at any time during which an Auto Borrow Agreement is in effect, the outstanding amount of all Swingline Loans shall be deemed to be the sum of the outstanding amount of Swingline Loans at such time plus the maximum amount available to be borrowed under such Auto Borrow Agreement at such time.
Section 2.7 Funding of Borrowings.
(a) Each Lender will make available each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer in immediately available funds by 11:00 a.m. to the Administrative Agent at the Payment Office; provided, that the Swingline Loans will be made as set forth in Section 2.6. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts that it receives, in like funds by the close of business on such proposed date, to an account maintained by the Borrower with the Administrative Agent or at the Borrowers option, by effecting a wire transfer of such amounts to an account designated by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent.
(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to 5:00 p.m. one (1) Business Day prior to the date of a Borrowing in which such Lender is participating 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 amount available to the Administrative Agent on such date, and the Administrative Agent, in reliance on such assumption, may make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender on the date of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Lender together with interest at the Federal Funds Rate for up to two (2) days and thereafter at the Base Rate. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agents demand therefor, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower, and the Borrower shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent together with interest at the rate specified for such Borrowing. Nothing in this Section 2.7(b) shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fund its Pro Rata Share of any Borrowing hereunder or to prejudice any rights which the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.
(c) All Borrowings shall be made by the Lenders on the basis of their respective Pro Rata Shares. No Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in its obligations hereunder, and each Lender shall be obligated to make its Loans provided to be made by it hereunder, regardless of the failure of any other Lender to make its Loans hereunder.
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Section 2.8 Interest Elections.
(a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Notice of Borrowing, and in the case of a SOFR Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Notice of Borrowing. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing into a different Type or to continue such Borrowing, and in the case of a SOFR Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section 2.8. 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 Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section 2.8 shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.
(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section 2.8, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Borrowing substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.8 attached hereto (a Notice of Conversion/Continuation) that is to be converted or continued, as the case may be, (x) prior to 11:00 a.m. one (1) Business Day prior to the requested date of a conversion into a Base Rate Borrowing and (y) prior to 11:00 a.m. three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to a continuation of or conversion into a SOFR Borrowing. Each such Notice of Conversion/Continuation shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the Borrowing to which such Notice of Conversion/Continuation applies and if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof that are to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to Section 2.8(b)(iii) and Section 2.8(b)(iv) shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing); (ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Notice of Conversion/Continuation, which shall be a Business Day, (iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be a Base Rate Borrowing or a SOFR Borrowing; and (iv) if the resulting Borrowing is to be a SOFR Borrowing, the Interest Period applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of Interest Period. If any such Notice of Conversion/Continuation requests a SOFR Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month. The principal amount of any resulting Borrowing shall satisfy the minimum borrowing amount for SOFR Borrowings and Base Rate Borrowings set forth in Section 2.3.
(c) If, on the expiration of any Interest Period in respect of any SOFR Borrowing, the Borrower shall have failed to deliver a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Borrowing to a Base Rate Borrowing. No Borrowing may be converted into, or continued as, a SOFR Borrowing if a Default or an Event of Default exists, unless the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall have otherwise consented in writing. No conversion of any SOFR Loans shall be permitted except on the last day of the Interest Period in respect thereof.
(d) Upon receipt of any Notice of Conversion/Continuation, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lenders portion of each resulting Borrowing.
Section 2.9 Optional Reduction and Termination of Commitments.
(a) Unless previously terminated, all Revolving Commitments and the Swingline Commitment shall terminate on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date. The Term Loan A Commitments in effect on the Closing Date terminated on the Closing Date upon the making of the initial Term Loan A pursuant to Section 2.5.
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(b) Upon at least three (3) Business Days prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Administrative Agent (which notice shall be irrevocable), the Borrower may reduce the Aggregate Revolving Commitments in part or terminate the Aggregate Revolving Commitments in whole; provided, that (i) any partial reduction shall apply to reduce proportionately and permanently the Revolving Commitment of each Lender, (ii) any partial reduction pursuant to this Section 2.9 shall be in an amount of at least $5,000,000 and any larger multiple of $1,000,000, and (iii) no such reduction shall be permitted which would reduce the Aggregate Revolving Commitments to an amount less than the aggregate outstanding Revolving Credit Exposures of all Lenders. Any such reduction in the Aggregate Revolving Commitments shall result in a proportionate reduction (rounded to the next lowest integral multiple of $100,000) in the Swingline Commitment and the LC Sublimit.
Section 2.10 Repayment of Loans.
(a) The outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Loans made by the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.2 shall be due and payable by Borrower (together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon) on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.
(b) The principal amount of each Swingline Borrowing shall be due and payable (together with accrued interest thereon) on the earlier of (i) the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing and (ii) the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.
(c) The Borrower unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender, the unpaid principal amount of the Term Loan A in quarterly installments in the amounts set forth below (as such installments may hereafter be adjusted as a result of prepayments made pursuant to Section 2.12 or 2.13), payable on the dates set forth below, with the aggregate unpaid principal balance of the Term Loan A due and payable on the Maturity Date (together with all accrued and unpaid interest on the amount so repaid).
Payment Dates |
Principal Payment Amount | |
December 31, 2022 | $1,093,750 | |
March 31, 2023 | $1,093,750 | |
June 30, 2023 | $1,093,750 | |
September 30, 2023 | $1,093,750 | |
December 31, 2023 | $1,093,750 | |
March 31, 2024 | $1,093,750 | |
June 30, 2024 | $1,093,750 | |
September 30, 2024 | $2,187,500 | |
December 31, 2024 | $2,187,500 | |
March 31, 2025 | $2,187,500 | |
June 30, 2025 | $2,187,500 | |
September 30, 2025 | $2,187,500 | |
December 31, 2025 | $2,187,500 | |
March 31, 2026 | $2,187,500 | |
June 30, 2026 | $2,187,500 | |
September 30, 2026 | $2,187,500 | |
December 31, 2026 | $2,187,500 | |
March 31, 2027 | $2,187,500 | |
Maturity Date | Remaining principal balance of the Term Loan A |
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(d) The Borrower unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each applicable Lender, the unpaid principal amount of the Incremental Term Loans of such Lender in installments payable on the dates set forth in the definitive documentation therefor (and on such other date(s) and in such other amounts as may be required from time to time pursuant to this Agreement).
Section 2.11 Evidence of Indebtedness.
(a) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice appropriate records evidencing the Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable thereon and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall maintain appropriate records in which shall be recorded (i) the Revolving Commitment and Term Loan A Commitment of each Lender, (ii) the amount of each Loan made hereunder by each Lender, the Class and Type thereof and, in the case of each SOFR Loan, the Interest Period applicable thereto, (iii) the date of each continuation thereof pursuant to Section 2.8, (iv) the date of each conversion of all or a portion thereof to another Type pursuant to Section 2.8, (v) the date and amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder in respect of such Loans and (vi) both the date and amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower in respect of the Loans and each Lenders Pro Rata Share thereof. The entries made in such records shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower therein recorded; provided, that the failure or delay of any Lender or the Administrative Agent in maintaining or making entries into any such record or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans (both principal and unpaid accrued interest) of such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(b) This Agreement evidences the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans and is being executed as a noteless credit agreement. However, at the request of any Lender (including the Swingline Lender) at any time, the Borrower agrees that it will prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment permitted hereunder) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the payee named therein (or to such payee and its registered assigns).
Section 2.12 Optional Prepayments. The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, by giving irrevocable written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Administrative Agent no later than (i) in the case of prepayment of any SOFR Borrowing, 11:00 a.m. not less than three (3) Business Days prior to any such prepayment, (ii) in the case of any prepayment of any Base Rate Borrowing, not less than one Business Day prior to the date of such prepayment, and (iii) in the case of Swingline Borrowings, 11:00 a.m. on the date of such prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the proposed date of such prepayment and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid. Upon receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each affected Lender of the contents thereof and of such Lenders Pro Rata Share of any such prepayment. If such notice is given, the aggregate amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date designated in such notice, together with accrued interest to such date on the amount so prepaid in accordance with Section 2.14(e); provided, that if a SOFR Borrowing is prepaid on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower shall also pay all amounts required pursuant to
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Section 2.20. Each partial prepayment of any Loan (other than a Swingline Loan) shall be in an amount not less than $1,000,000 and in integral multiples of $500,000. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans comprising such Borrowing and in the case of a prepayment of the Term Loan A or any Incremental Term Loan, ratably to the Term Loan A and all outstanding Incremental Term Loans, and to the scheduled principal installments thereof as directed by the Borrower (and, absent any such direction, in direct order of maturity). Notwithstanding the foregoing, any notice of prepayment delivered in connection with any refinancing of the Obligations under the Loan Documents with the proceeds of such refinancing or of any other incurrence of Indebtedness may be, if expressly so stated to be, contingent upon the consummation of such refinancing or incurrence and may be revoked by the Borrower in the event such refinancing is not consummated; provided that the delay or failure of such contingency shall not relieve the Borrower from its obligations in respect thereof under Section 2.20.
Section 2.13 Mandatory Prepayments.
(a) If at any time the Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders exceeds the Aggregate Revolving Commitments at such time, as reduced pursuant to Section 2.9 or otherwise, by no later than the following Business Day, the Borrower shall repay Swingline Loans and Revolving Loans in an amount equal to such excess, together with all accrued and unpaid interest on such excess amount and any amounts due under Section 2.20. Each such prepayment shall be applied ratably first to the Swingline Loans to the full extent thereof, then to the Revolving Base Rate Loans to the full extent thereof, and finally to Revolving SOFR Loans to the full extent thereof. If after giving effect to prepayment of all Swingline Loans and Revolving Loans, the Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders exceeds the Aggregate Revolving Commitments at such time, the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize its reimbursement obligations with respect to all Letters of Credit in an amount equal to such excess plus any accrued and unpaid fees thereon.
(b) Promptly upon receipt by the Borrower or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries of any (i) Net Cash Proceeds of any sale or disposition by the Borrower or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries of any of its assets or (ii) any Net Cash Proceeds from any casualty insurance policies or eminent domain, condemnation or similar proceedings that, with respect to Section 2.13(b)(i) and (b)(ii), exceed (A) $15,000,000 for any such single asset sale (or series of related asset sales, including any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC (other than a Delaware Divided LLC which is a Loan Party) pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division) or for any such single casualty event or (B) as of any date of determination, an amount equal to two percent (2.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered for all such asset sales or casualty events from the Closing Date through the Maturity Date, the Borrower shall prepay the Term Loans in an amount equal to all such Net Cash Proceeds; provided, that the Borrower shall not be required to prepay the Term Loans with respect to Net Cash Proceeds from (x) sales of assets in the ordinary course of business of the type described in Sections 7.6(a) and 7.6(b), (y) sales of assets of the types described in Sections 7.6(c) and 7.6(d) or (z) casualty insurance policies or eminent domain, condemnation or similar proceedings that are, in either case of Section 2.13(b)(y) or (z), reinvested in assets then used or usable in the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries within three hundred sixty (360) days following receipt thereof or committed to be reinvested pursuant to a binding contract prior to the expiration of such 360-day period and actually reinvested within five hundred forty (540) days following receipt thereof, so long as such proceeds are held in accounts at Truist Bank until reinvested. Any such prepayment shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.13(d).
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(c) No later than the Business Day following the date of receipt by the Borrower or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries of any Net Cash Proceeds from any issuance of Indebtedness by the Borrower or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries, the Borrower shall prepay the Term Loans in an amount equal to all such Net Cash Proceeds (subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement); provided, that the Borrower shall not be required to prepay the Term Loans with respect to proceeds of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.1. Any such prepayment shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.13(d).
(d) Any prepayments made by the Borrower pursuant to Sections 2.13(b) or 2.13(c) shall be applied to the principal balance of the Term Loans on a pro rata basis until the same shall have been paid in full, pro rata to the Lenders based on their Pro Rata Shares thereof, and applied to the remaining principal installments thereof (excluding the installment due on the Maturity Date thereof) on a pro rata basis; provided, that if a SOFR Borrowing is prepaid on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower shall also pay all amounts required pursuant to Section 2.20; provided that, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if any prepayment of SOFR Loans is required to be made under Sections 2.13(b) or 2.13(c) prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, in lieu of making any payment pursuant to Sections 2.13(b) or 2.13(c) in respect of any such SOFR Loan prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, deposit an amount sufficient to make any such prepayment otherwise required to be made thereunder together with accrued interest to the last day of such Interest Period into an account held at, and subject to the sole control of, the Administrative Agent until the last day of such Interest Period, at which time the Administrative Agent shall be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of such Term Loans in accordance with this Section 2.13(d). Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall also be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of the outstanding Term Loans in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Section 2.13(d).
Section 2.14 Interest on Loans.
(a) The Borrower shall pay interest with respect to the Revolving Loans made to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.2 and the Term Loan A made to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.5: (i) on each Base Rate Loan at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time and (ii) on each SOFR Loan at Term SOFR for the applicable Interest Period in effect for such Loan plus the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time.
(b) The Borrower shall pay interest on each Swingline Loan at the Swingline Rate in effect from time to time.
(c) The Borrower shall pay interest on each Incremental Term Loan as provided in the definitive documentation establishing such Incremental Term Loan.
(d) Notwithstanding Sections 2.14(a), 2.14(b) and 2.14(c), if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, at the option of the Required Lenders, or automatically in the case of an Event of Default under Sections 8.1(a), (g) or (h), the Borrower shall pay interest (Default Interest) with respect to all SOFR Loans at the rate otherwise applicable for the then-current Interest Period plus an additional two percent (2%) per annum until the last day of such Interest Period, and thereafter, and with respect to all Base Rate Loans (including all Swingline Loans) and all other Obligations hereunder (other than Loans), at an all-in rate in effect for Base Rate Loans plus an additional two percent (2%) per annum.
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(e) Interest on the principal amount of all Loans shall accrue from and including the date such Loans are made to but excluding the date of any repayment thereof. Interest on all outstanding Base Rate Loans shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and December and on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date. Interest on all outstanding SOFR Loans shall be payable on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto, and, in the case of any SOFR Loans having an Interest Period in excess of three (3) months or ninety (90) days, respectively, on each day which occurs every three (3) months or ninety (90) days, as the case may be, after the initial date of such Interest Period, and on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date. Interest on each Swingline Loan shall be payable on the maturity date of such Loan, which shall be the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, and on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date. Interest on any Loan which is converted into a Loan of another Type or which is repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such conversion or on the date of any such repayment or prepayment (on the amount repaid or prepaid) thereof. All Default Interest shall be payable on demand by the Required Lenders.
(f) The Administrative Agent shall determine each interest rate applicable to the Loans hereunder and shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of such rate in writing (or by telephone, promptly confirmed in writing). Any such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(g) In connection with the use or administration of Term SOFR, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use or administration of Term SOFR.
Section 2.15 Fees.
(a) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for its own account fees in the amounts and at the times agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in the Fee Letters. The Borrower shall pay all fees and other amounts separately agreed in writing that are due and payable on or prior to the Closing Date.
(b) Commitment Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Percentage (determined daily in accordance with Schedule 1.1(a)) on the daily amount of the unused Revolving Commitment of such Lender during the Availability Period. For purposes of computing commitment fees with respect to the Revolving Commitments, the Revolving Commitment of each Lender shall be deemed used to the extent of the outstanding Revolving Loans and LC Exposure, but not Swingline Exposure, of such Lender.
(c) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender, a letter of credit fee with respect to its participation in each Letter of Credit, which shall accrue at the Applicable Margin for SOFR Revolving Loans then in effect on the average daily amount of such Lenders LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) attributable to such Letter of Credit during the period from and including the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit to but excluding the date on which such Letter of Credit expires or is drawn in full (including without limitation any LC Exposure that remains outstanding after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date) and (ii) to
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each Issuing Bank for its own account a fronting fee with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, which shall accrue at the rate of 0.125% per annum on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the Availability Period (or until the date that such Letter of Credit is irrevocably cancelled, whichever is later), as well as such Issuing Banks standard fees with respect to issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder.
(d) Payments. The fees described in Sections 2.15(b) and 2.15(c) above shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on June 30, 2022 and on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date (and if later, the date the Loans and LC Exposure shall be repaid in their entirety).
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, during such period as a Lender is a Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender will not be entitled to commitment fees accruing with respect to its Revolving Commitment during such period pursuant to Section 2.15(b) or letter of credit fees accruing during such period pursuant to Section 2.15(c) (without prejudice to the rights of the Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders in respect of such fees); provided that (x) to the extent that a portion of the LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender is reallocated to the Non-Defaulting Lenders pursuant to Section 2.26, such fees that would have accrued for the benefit of such Defaulting Lender will instead accrue for the benefit of and be payable to such Non-Defaulting Lenders, pro rata in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments, and (y) to the extent any portion of such LC Exposure cannot be so reallocated, such fees will instead accrue for the benefit of and be payable to the applicable Issuing Bank. The pro rata payment provisions of Section 2.22 shall automatically be deemed adjusted to reflect the provisions of this Section 2.15(e).
Section 2.16 Computation of Interest and Fees.
All computations of interest and fees hereunder shall be made on the basis of a year of three hundred sixty (360) days for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest or fees are payable (to the extent computed on the basis of days elapsed); provided that interest hereunder based on the Administrative Agents prime lending rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of three hundred sixty-five (365) days (or three hundred sixty-six (366) days in a leap year) and paid for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest amount or fee hereunder shall be made in good faith and, except for manifest error, shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes.
Section 2.17 Inability to Determine Interest Rates.
(a) Subject to Sections 2.17(b) through 2.17(f), if, prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for any SOFR Borrowing,
(i) the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that Term SOFR cannot be determined pursuant to the definition thereof, or
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(ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Required Lenders that Term SOFR for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making, funding or maintaining their SOFR Loans for such Interest Period, then the Administrative Agent shall give written notice thereof (or telephonic notice, promptly confirmed in writing) to the Borrower and to the Lenders as soon as practicable thereafter. Upon notice thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, any obligation of the Lenders to make SOFR Loans, and any right of the Borrower to continue SOFR Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to SOFR Loans, shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected SOFR Loans or affected Interest Periods) until the Administrative Agent revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of SOFR Loans (to the extent of the affected SOFR Loans or affected Interest Periods) or, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein and (ii) any outstanding affected SOFR Loans will be deemed to have been converted into Base Rate Loans at the end of the applicable Interest Period. Upon any such conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 2.20. Subject to Sections 2.17(b) through 2.17(f), if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that Term SOFR cannot be determined pursuant to the definition thereof on any given day, the interest rate on Base Rate Loans shall be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to clause (iii) of the definition of Base Rate until the Administrative Agent revokes such determination.
(b) Benchmark Replacement.
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (a) of the definition of Benchmark Replacement for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (b) of the definition of Benchmark Replacement for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.
(ii) No swap agreement shall be deemed to be a Loan Document for purposes of this Section 2.17.
(c) Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes (and no other changes) will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
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(d) Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement and (ii) the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower of the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Section 2.17(e). Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 2.17, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.17.
(e) Unavailability of Tenor of Benchmark. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (i) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including the Term SOFR Reference Rate) and either (A) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (B) the administrator of such Benchmark or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is not or will be not be representative or in compliance with or aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of Interest Period (or any similar or analogous definition) for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (ii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is not or will not be representative or in compliance with or aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of Interest Period (or any similar or analogous definition) for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.
(f) Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrowers receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a SOFR Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of SOFR Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans. During a Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of the Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of the Base Rate.
Section 2.18 Illegality. If any Change in Law shall make it unlawful or impossible for any Lender to perform any of its obligations hereunder, to make, maintain or fund any SOFR Loan or to or to determine or charge interest rates based upon SOFR, the Term SOFR Reference Rate or Term SOFR and such Lender shall so notify the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower and the other Lenders, whereupon until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension no longer exist, the obligation
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of such Lender to make SOFR Loans, or to continue or convert outstanding Loans as or into SOFR Loans, shall be suspended. In the case of the making of a SOFR Borrowing, such Lenders Revolving Loan shall be made as a Base Rate Loan as part of the same Revolving Borrowing for the same Interest Period and, if the affected SOFR Loan is then outstanding, such Loan shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan either (i) on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such SOFR Loan if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Loan to such date or (ii) immediately if such Lender shall determine that it may not lawfully continue to maintain such SOFR Loan to such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the affected Lender shall, prior to giving such notice to the Administrative Agent, use reasonable efforts to designate a different Applicable Lending Office if such designation would avoid the need for giving such notice and if such designation would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender in the good faith exercise of its discretion. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 2.20.
Section 2.19 Increased Costs.
(a) If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve (including pursuant to regulations issued from time to time by the Federal Reserve Board for determining maximum reserve requirements (including any emergency, special, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirements) with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as Eurocurrency liabilities in Regulation D)), special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender or any Issuing Bank; or
(ii) subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes and (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes); or
(iii) impose on any Lender, the Issuing Bank any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender;
and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting into, continuing or maintaining a SOFR Loan or to increase the cost to such Lender or any Issuing Bank of participating in or issuing any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount received or receivable by such Lender or such Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount), then, from time to time, such Lender or such Issuing Bank may provide the Borrower (with a copy thereof to the Administrative Agent) with written notice and demand with respect to such increased costs or reduced amounts, and within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such notice and demand, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank for any such increased costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) If any Lender or any Issuing Bank shall have determined that on or after the date of this Agreement any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity ratios or 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 the Parent Company of such Lender or such Issuing Bank) as a consequence of its obligations hereunder or under or in respect of any Letter of Credit to a level below that which such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such Parent Company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lenders or such Issuing Banks policies or the policies of such Parent Company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then, from time to time, such
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Lender or such Issuing Bank may provide the Borrower (with a copy thereof to the Administrative Agent) with written notice and demand with respect to such reduced amounts, and within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such notice and demand the Borrower shall pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such Parent 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 such Lenders or such Issuing Banks Parent Company, as the case may be, specified in Sections 2.19(a) or (b) shall be delivered to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) and shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay any such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such amount or amounts within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.
(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 2.19 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lenders or such Issuing Banks right to demand such compensation.
Section 2.20 Funding Indemnity. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of a SOFR Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion or continuation of a SOFR Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, or (c) the failure by the Borrower to borrow, prepay, convert or continue any SOFR Loan on the date specified in any applicable notice (regardless of whether such notice is withdrawn or revoked), then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender, within five (5) Business Days after written demand from such Lender, for any loss, cost or expense attributable to such event. In the case of a SOFR Loan, such loss, cost or expense shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (A) the amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount of such SOFR Loan if such event had not occurred at Term SOFR applicable to such SOFR 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 SOFR Loan) over (B) the amount of interest that would accrue on the principal amount of such SOFR Loan for the same period if Term SOFR were set on the date such SOFR Loan was prepaid or converted or the date on which the Borrower failed to borrow, convert or continue such SOFR Loan. A certificate as to any additional amount payable under this Section 2.20 submitted to the Borrower or by any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
Section 2.21 Taxes.
(a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes; provided, that if the Borrower shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.21) the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank (as the case may be) shall receive an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(b) In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
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(c) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Issuing Bank, within five (5) Business Days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 2.21) and any penalties, interest and 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 or an Issuing Bank, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(e) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the Code or any treaty to which the United States is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Foreign Lender agrees that it will deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (or in the case of a Participant, to the Lender from which the related participation shall have been purchased), as appropriate, two (2) duly completed copies of (i) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, or any successor form thereto, certifying that the payments received from the Borrower hereunder are effectively connected with such Foreign Lenders conduct of a trade or business in the United States; (ii) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, or any successor form thereto, certifying that such Foreign Lender is entitled to benefits under an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party which reduces the rate of withholding tax on payments of interest; (iii) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, or any successor form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, together with a certificate (A) establishing that the payment to the Foreign Lender qualifies as portfolio interest exempt from U.S. withholding tax under Code section 871(h) or 881(c), (B) stating that (1) the Foreign Lender is not a bank for purposes of Code section 881(c)(3)(A) or the obligation of the Borrower hereunder is not, with respect to such Foreign Lender, a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business, within the meaning of that section; (2) the Foreign Lender is not a ten percent (10%) shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Code section 871(h)(3) or 881(c)(3)(B) and (3) the Foreign Lender is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to the Borrower within the meaning of Code section 881(c)(3)(C); or (iv) such other Internal Revenue Service forms as may be applicable to the Foreign Lender, including Forms W-8IMY or W-8EXP. Each such Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent such forms on or before the date that it becomes a party to this Agreement (or in the case of a Participant, on or before the date such Participant purchases the related participation) and (C) 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
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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 (C), FATCA shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement. In addition, each such Foreign Lender shall deliver such forms promptly upon the obsolescence or invalidity of any form previously delivered by such Foreign Lender. Each such Foreign Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at any time that it determines that it is no longer in a position to provide any previously delivered certificate to the Borrower (or any other form of certification adopted by the Internal Revenue Service for such purpose).
(f) 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 2.21 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.21), 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 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 (f) (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 (f), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (f) 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.
(g) Each partys obligations under this Section 2.21 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.
(h) For purposes of this Section 2.21, the term Lender includes any Issuing Bank and the term applicable law includes FATCA.
Section 2.22 Payments Generally; 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 2.19, 2.20 or 2.21, or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, free and clear of any defenses, rights of set-off, counterclaim, or withholding or deduction of taxes. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at the Payment Office, except payments to be made directly to the applicable
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Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.19, 2.20 and 2.21 and 10.3 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 made payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars.
(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed LC Disbursements, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards 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) 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, Term Loans or Swingline Loans that would result in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements, Term Loans 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, Term Loans 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, Term Loans 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 Section 2.22(c) 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, Term Loans or Swingline Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to Holdings or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 2.22(c) shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.
(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or an Issuing Bank 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 applicable Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount or amounts due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the applicable Issuing Bank, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or 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 Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
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(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any amount paid by the Borrower for the account of a Defaulting Lender under this Agreement (whether on account of principal, interest, fees, reimbursement of LC Disbursements, indemnity payments or other amounts) will be retained by the Administrative Agent in a segregated non-interest bearing account until the Revolving Commitment Termination Date, at which time the funds in such account will be applied by the Administrative Agent, to the fullest extent permitted by law, in the following order of priority: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement; second, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender under this Agreement; third, to the payment of interest due and payable to the Lenders hereunder that are not Defaulting Lenders, ratably among them in accordance with the amounts of such interest then due and payable to them; fourth, to the payment of fees then due and payable to the Lenders hereunder that are not Defaulting Lenders, ratably among them in accordance with the amounts of such fees then due and payable to them; fifth, to the payment of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due and payable to the Lenders hereunder that are not Defaulting Lenders, ratably in accordance with the amounts thereof then due and payable to them; sixth, to the ratable payment of other amounts then due and payable to the Lenders hereunder that are not Defaulting Lenders; and seventh, to pay amounts owing under this Agreement to such Defaulting Lender or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.
Section 2.23 Mitigation of Obligations.
(a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.19, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.21, 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 sole judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable under Section 2.19 or Section 2.21, 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 agrees to pay all costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with such designation or assignment.
(b) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.19, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority of the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.21, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, or if any Lender is not an Accepting Lender pursuant to Section 2.28, 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 set forth in Section 10.4(b)) all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender); provided, that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of all Loans owed to it, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (in the case of such outstanding principal and accrued interest) and from the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of a claim for compensation under Section 2.19 or payments required to be
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made pursuant to Section 2.21, 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.
(c) The Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an Issuing Bank under Section 2.19, 2.20 or 2.21 for any taxes, increased costs or reductions incurred more than six (6) months prior to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Bank notifies the Borrower of such increased costs or reductions and of such Lenders or such Issuing Banks intention to claim compensation therefor; provided, further, that if any Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then such six-month period shall be extended to include the period of such retroactive effect.
Section 2.24 Letters of Credit.
(a) During the Availability Period, each Issuing Bank, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders pursuant to Section 2.24(d) and 2.24(e), may, in its sole discretion, issue, at the request of the Borrower, Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars for the account of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; provided, that (i) each Letter of Credit shall expire on the earlier of (A) the date one year after the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit (or in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (B) the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Revolving Commitment Termination Date; (ii) each Letter of Credit shall be in a stated amount of at least $250,000; and (iii) the Borrower may not request on behalf of itself or any Restricted Subsidiary any Letter of Credit, if, after giving effect to such issuance (A) the aggregate LC Exposure would exceed the LC Sublimit, (B) the aggregate LC Exposure plus the aggregate outstanding Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders would exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments or (C) the LC Exposure of such Issuing Bank would exceed the LC Commitment of such Issuing Bank. Upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the applicable Issuing Bank without recourse a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lenders Pro Rata Share of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit (i) on the Closing Date with respect to all Existing Letters of Credit and (ii) on the date of issuance with respect to all other Letters of Credit. Each issuance of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to utilize the Revolving Commitment of each Lender by an amount equal to the amount of such participation.
(b) To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or any amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall give the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent irrevocable written notice at least three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of such issuance specifying the date (which shall be a Business Day) such Letter of Credit is to be issued (or amended, extended or renewed, as the case may be), the expiration date of such Letter of Credit, 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 to the satisfaction of the conditions in Article III, the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or any amendment which increases the amount of such Letter of Credit) will be subject to the further conditions that such Letter of Credit shall be in such form and contain such terms as such Issuing Bank shall approve and that the Borrower shall have executed and delivered any additional applications, agreements and instruments relating to such Letter of Credit as such Issuing Bank shall reasonably require; provided, that in the event of any conflict between such applications, agreements or instruments and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall control.
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(c) Unless such Issuing Bank has received notice from the Administrative Agent on or before 5:00 p.m. the Business Day immediately preceding the date such Issuing Bank is to issue the requested Letter of Credit directing such Issuing Bank not to issue the Letter of Credit because such issuance is not then permitted hereunder because of the limitations set forth in Section 2.24(a) or that one or more conditions specified in Article III are not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, such Issuing Bank shall, on the requested date, issue such Letter of Credit in accordance with such Issuing Banks usual and customary business practices.
(d) The applicable Issuing Bank shall examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit promptly following its receipt thereof. The applicable Issuing Bank shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of such demand for payment and whether such Issuing Bank has made or will make a 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 such LC Disbursement. The Borrower shall be irrevocably and unconditionally obligated to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursements paid by such Issuing Bank in respect of such drawing, without presentment, demand or other formalities of any kind. Unless the Borrower shall have notified the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent prior to 11:00 a.m. on the Business Day immediately prior to the date on which such drawing is honored that the Borrower intends to reimburse such Issuing Bank for the amount of such drawing in funds other than from the proceeds of Revolving Loans, the Borrower shall be deemed to have timely given a Notice of Revolving Borrowing to the Administrative Agent requesting the Lenders to make a Base Rate Borrowing on the date on which such drawing is honored in an exact amount due to such Issuing Bank; provided, that for purposes solely of such Borrowing, the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.2 hereof and the minimum borrowing limitations set forth in Section 2.3 hereof shall not be applicable. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of such Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.3, and each Lender shall make the proceeds of its Base Rate Loan included in such Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank in accordance with Section 2.7. The proceeds of such Borrowing shall be applied directly by the Administrative Agent to reimburse such Issuing Bank for such LC Disbursement.
(e) If for any reason a Base Rate Borrowing may not be (as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent), or is not, made in accordance with the foregoing provisions, then each Lender (other than the applicable Issuing Bank) shall be obligated to fund the participation that such Lender purchased pursuant to Section 2.24(a) in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of such LC Disbursement on and as of the date which such Base Rate Borrowing should have occurred. Each Lenders obligation to fund its participation shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including without limitation (i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Lender or any other Person may have against the applicable Issuing Bank or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the existence of a Default or an Event of Default or the termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, (iii) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (iv) any breach of this Agreement by Holdings, the Borrower or any other Lender, (v) any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or (vi) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing. On the date that such participation is required to be funded, each Lender shall promptly transfer, in immediately available funds, the amount of its participation to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank. Whenever, at any time after the applicable Issuing Bank has received from any such Lender the funds for its participation in a LC Disbursement, such Issuing Bank (or the Administrative Agent on its behalf) receives any payment on account thereof, the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, will distribute to such Lender
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its Pro Rata Share of such payment; provided, that if such payment is required to be returned for any reason to the Borrower or to a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or similar official in any bankruptcy proceeding, such Lender will return to the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank any portion thereof previously distributed by the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank to it.
(f) To the extent that any Lender shall fail to pay any amount required to be paid pursuant to Sections 2.24(d) or (e) on the due date therefor, such Lender shall pay interest to the applicable Issuing Bank (through the Administrative Agent) on such amount from such due date to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate; provided, that if such Lender shall fail to make such payment to such Issuing Bank within three (3) Business Days of such due date, then, retroactively to the due date, such Lender shall be obligated to pay interest on such amount at the Base Rate plus an additional two percent (2%) per annum.
(g) 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 demanding the deposit of Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.24(g), the Borrower shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the applicable Issuing Bank and the Lenders, an amount in cash equal to one hundred five percent (105%) 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 notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in Sections 8.1(h) or (i). Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrowers risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest and profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it had not been reimbursed and to the extent 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, with the consent of the Required Lenders, be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. 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 so applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three (3) Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.
(h) [reserved].
(i) The Borrowers obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements hereunder shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of any of the following circumstances:
(i) Any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement;
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(ii) The existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right which Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of Holdings may have at any time against a beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Persons or entities for whom any such beneficiary or transferee may be acting), any Lender (including any Issuing Bank) or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement or the Letter of Credit or any document related hereto or thereto or any unrelated transaction;
(iii) 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;
(iv) Payment by an Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document to such Issuing Bank that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit;
(v) Any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section 2.24, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrowers obligations hereunder; or
(vi) The existence of a Default or an Event of Default.
Neither the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Lenders nor any Related Party of any of the foregoing 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 above), 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 Banks; provided, that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse any Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential 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 due care when determining whether drafts or 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 an Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), such Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised due 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 that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the applicable 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.
(j) Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the applicable Issuing Bank and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued and subject to applicable laws, each Letter of Credit shall be governed by the International Standby Practices 1998 (ISP98) (or such later revision as may be published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice on any date any Letter of Credit may be issued) and to the extent not inconsistent therewith, the governing law of this Agreement set forth in Section 10.5.
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(k) In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any LC Document, the terms hereof shall control.
(l) Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Restricted Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrowers business derives substantial benefit from the businesses of such Restricted Subsidiaries.
(m) Any Issuing Bank may resign as an Issuing Bank hereunder upon 30 days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower; provided that on or prior to the expiration of such 30-day period with respect to such resignation, the applicable Issuing Bank shall have identified a successor Issuing Bank reasonably acceptable to the Borrower willing to accept its appointment as successor Issuing Bank, and the effectiveness of such resignation shall be conditioned upon such successor assuming the rights and duties of the resigning Issuing Bank. In the event of any such resignation as Issuing Bank, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor Issuing Bank hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of the resigning Issuing Bank except as expressly provided above. The Borrower may terminate the appointment of any Issuing Bank as an Issuing Bank hereunder by providing a written notice thereof to such Issuing Bank, with a copy to the Administrative Agent. Any such termination shall become effective upon the earlier of (i) such Issuing Bank acknowledging receipt of such notice and (ii) the third Business Day following the date of the delivery thereof; provided that no such termination shall become effective until and unless the LC Exposure attributable to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank (or its Affiliates) shall have been reduced to zero. At the time any such resignation or termination shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the resigning or terminated Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.15(c). Notwithstanding the effectiveness of any such resignation or termination, the resigning or terminated Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such resignation or termination, but shall not be required to issue any additional Letters of Credit.
Section 2.25 Increase of Commitments; Additional Lenders.
(a) From time to time after the Closing Date but before the termination of this Agreement and in accordance with this Section 2.25, the Borrower may from time to time, upon at least five (5) Business Days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly provide a copy of such notice to each Lender), propose to increase the Aggregate Revolving Commitments (each such increase, an Incremental Revolving Commitment) or to increase any existing Term Loan or establish one or more new additional term loans (each, an Incremental Term Loan); provided, that:
(i) the aggregate amount of all Incremental Revolving Commitments plus the aggregate initial principal amount all Incremental Term Loans shall not exceed the Maximum Incremental Facility Amount immediately after giving effect to the establishment of any Incremental Revolving Commitment or Incremental Term Loan;
(ii) any Incremental Revolving Commitment or establishment of an Incremental Term Loan shall be in a minimum principal amount of $10,000,000 and in integral multiples of $5,000,000 in excess thereof;
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(iii) no Default or Event of Default shall exist and be continuing at the time of the establishment of any Incremental Revolving Commitment or Incremental Term Loan;
(iv) the conditions set forth in Section 3.2 shall be satisfied as of the date of the establishment of any Incremental Revolving Commitment or Incremental Term Loan;
(v) the Borrower shall have provided to the Administrative Agent a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate, in form and detail reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, demonstrating compliance with the financial covenants in Article VI after giving effect to such Incremental Revolving Commitment or Incremental Term Loan on a Pro Forma Basis (assuming for purposes hereof, that the Aggregate Revolving Commitments (including any Incremental Revolving Commitments) are fully drawn and funded); provided, that, in the case of an Incremental Term Loan subject to the Incremental Funds Certain Provision, such compliance will be determined at the option of the Borrower either (A) at the time of funding of such Incremental Term Loan, or (B) at the time the applicable Acquisition Agreement is entered into;
(vi) the Administrative Agent shall have received all documents (including resolutions of the board of directors of the Loan Parties and opinions of counsel to the Loan Parties) it may reasonably request relating to such Incremental Revolving Commitments or such establishment of such Incremental Term Loan, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(vii) (A) the Applicable Margin of each Incremental Term Loan shall be as set forth in the definitive documentation therefor; provided that if the Initial Yield applicable to any such Incremental Term Loans exceeds the sum of the Applicable Margin then in effect for SOFR Term Loans plus one fourth of the Up-Front Fees paid in respect of the Term Loans (the Existing Yield), then the Applicable Margin of the Term Loans shall increase by an amount equal to the difference between the Initial Yield and the Existing Yield, and (B) any Incremental Term Loans made pursuant to this Section 2.25 shall have a maturity date no earlier than the latest existing Maturity Date or the then applicable Revolving Commitment Termination Date and shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity no shorter than that of the Term Loan A or any other then-existing Incremental Term Loan;
(viii) any Incremental Revolving Commitments under this Section 2.25 shall have terms identical to those for the Revolving Commitments under this Agreement, other than with respect to the payment of Up-Front Fees;
(ix) no Lender shall have any obligation to provide any Incremental Revolving Commitment or any Incremental Term Loan, and any decision by a Lender to provide any Incremental Revolving Commitment or any Incremental Term Loan shall be made in its sole discretion independently from any other Lender;
(x) the Borrower may designate a bank or other financial institution that is not already a Lender to provide all or any portion of any Incremental Revolving Commitments or an Incremental Term Loan, so long as (i) such Person (an Additional Lender) becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to a lender joinder agreement or other document in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that has been executed by the Borrower and such Additional Lender, (ii) any such Person proposed by the Borrower to become an Additional Lender must be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and, if such Additional Lender is to provide a Revolving Commitment, each of the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender;
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(xi) any Incremental Revolving Commitments or establishment of an Incremental Term Loan shall be pursuant to an agreement in writing entered into by the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and each Person (including any existing Lender) that agrees to provide a portion of such Incremental Revolving Commitments or Incremental Term Loan, as applicable (each an Incremental Facility Amendment), and upon the effectiveness of such Incremental Facility Amendment pursuant to the terms thereof, the Commitments, as applicable, shall automatically be increased by the amount of the Commitments added through such Incremental Facility Amendment and Schedule 1.1(a) shall automatically be deemed amended to reflect the Commitments of all Lenders after giving effect to the addition of such Commitments;
(xii) with respect to any Incremental Revolving Commitments, (i) if any Revolving Loans are outstanding upon giving effect to any Incremental Revolving Commitments, the Borrower shall, if applicable, prepay one or more existing Revolving Loans (such prepayment to be subject to Section 2.20) in an amount necessary such that after giving effect to such Incremental Revolving Commitments, each Lender will hold its Pro Rata Share of outstanding Revolving Loans and (ii) effective upon such increase, the amount of the participations held by each Lender in each Letter of Credit then outstanding shall be adjusted automatically such that, after giving effect to such adjustments, the Lenders shall hold participations in each such Letter of Credit in proportion to their respective Revolving Commitments;
(xiii) the Borrower shall pay any applicable upfront or arrangement fees in connection with such Incremental Revolving Commitments or Incremental Term Loan;
(xiv) subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2.25(a)(vii), the amortization or other repayment requirements, the pricing and the use of proceeds applicable to any such Incremental Term Loan shall in each case be set forth in the definitive documentation with respect to such Incremental Term Loan;
(xv) any such Incremental Revolving Commitment or Incremental Term Loan shall (A) rank pari passu in right of payment as the other Loans and Commitments, (B) not be guaranteed by any Person that is not a Guarantor, and (C) if the Trigger Event has not occurred, shall be unsecured and, if the Trigger Event has occurred, shall be secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the existing Obligations;
(xvi) all other terms and conditions with respect to any such Incremental Revolving Commitments shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender; and
(xvii) all other terms and conditions with respect to any such Incremental Term Loan shall be set forth in the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment and be reasonably satisfactory to the Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loan.
(b) Upon the effectiveness of any such Incremental Revolving Commitment or any Incremental Term Loan, the Commitments and Pro Rata Share of each Lender will be adjusted to give effect to the Incremental Revolving Commitments and/or the Incremental Term Loans, as applicable, and Schedule 1.1(a) shall automatically be deemed amended accordingly.
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(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.25, if the proceeds of any Incremental Term Loan are being used to finance a Permitted Acquisition made pursuant to an acquisition agreement, binding on Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, entered into in advance of the consummation thereof that does not provide for a financing out (an Acquisition Agreement), and the Borrower has obtained on or prior to the closing thereof binding commitments of Lenders and/or Additional Lenders to fund such Incremental Term Loan, then the conditions to the funding and incurrence of any such Incremental Term Loan may, at the option of the Borrower, be limited as follows: (A) the condition set forth in Section 3.2(b) shall apply only with respect to Specified Representations, (B) all representations and warranties of each Loan Party (excluding for the avoidance of doubt any target entities or subsidiaries thereof to be acquired in connection with any Permitted Acquisition) set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) at the date the applicable Acquisition Agreement is executed and delivered; provided, that to the extent such representation or warranty relates to a specific prior date, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) only as of such specific prior date; (C) the representations and warranties in the Acquisition Agreement made by or with respect to the Person or assets subject to the Permitted Acquisition that are material to the interests of the Lenders shall be true and correct in all material respects, but only to the extent that Holdings, the Borrower and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, has the right to terminate its or their obligations under the Acquisition Agreement or not consummate such Permitted Acquisition as a result of a breach of such representations in such Acquisition Agreement and (D) the reference to no Default or Event of Default in Section 3.2(a) shall mean (1) the absence of a Default or Event of Default at the date the applicable Acquisition Agreement is executed and delivered and (2) the absence of a Specified Event of Default at the date the applicable Permitted Acquisition is consummated. For purposes of clarity, the establishment of Incremental Revolving Commitments shall not be subject at any time to the Incremental Funds Certain Provision. Nothing in the foregoing constitutes a waiver of any Default or Event of Default under this Agreement or of any rights or remedies of Lenders and the Administrative Agent under any provision of the Loan Documents. The provisions of this paragraph are collectively referred to in this Agreement as the Incremental Funds Certain Provision.
For purposes of determining compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with the financial covenants in Article VI or other ratio requirement under this Agreement, or whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in each case in connection with the consummation of an Acquisition using proceeds from an Incremental Term Loan that qualifies to be subject to the Incremental Funds Certain Provision, the date of determination shall, at the option of the Borrower, be (A) the date of funding of such Incremental Term Loan, or (B) the date of execution of such Acquisition Agreement, and such determination shall be made after giving effect to such Acquisition (and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith, including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) on a Pro Forma Basis, and, for the avoidance of doubt, if such financial covenants or other ratio requirement is subsequently breached as a result of fluctuations in the ratio that is subject of such financial covenants or other ratio requirement (including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or the EBITDA (calculated in a manner consistent with the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA) of the acquired Person or assets), at or prior to the consummation of such Acquisition (and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith), such financial covenants or other ratio requirement will not be deemed to
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have been breached as a result of such fluctuations solely for the purpose of determining whether such Acquisition (and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith) constitutes a Permitted Acquisition; provided; that (x) if the Borrower elects to have such determination occur at the time of entry into the applicable Acquisition Agreement (and not at the time of consummation of the Acquisition), the Incremental Term Loan to be incurred shall be deemed incurred at the time of such election (unless the applicable Acquisition Agreement is terminated without actually consummating the applicable Permitted Acquisition, in which case such Acquisition and related Incremental Term Loan will not be treated as having occurred) and outstanding thereafter for purposes of calculating compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis, with any applicable financial covenants or other ratio requirement in this Agreement (even if unrelated to determining whether such Acquisition is a Permitted Acquisition) including for purposes of determining the Applicable Margin or compliance with Sections 6.1 and 6.2 and (y) EBITDA (calculated in a manner consistent with the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA) of the acquired business shall be included for all purposes under this Agreement (including for purposes of determining the Applicable Margin or compliance with Sections 6.1 and 6.2) until the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition.
(d) For purposes of this Section 2.25, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below:
(i) Initial Yield shall mean, with respect to Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Commitments, the amount (as determined by the Administrative Agent) equal to the sum of (A) the margin above Term SOFR on such Incremental Term Loans or such Incremental Revolving Commitment, as applicable (including as margin the effect of the Floor applicable to Term SOFR on the date of the calculation), plus (B) (x) the amount of any Up-Front Fees on such Incremental Term Loans or such Incremental Revolving Commitments, as applicable (including any fee or discount received by the Lenders in connection with the initial extension thereof), divided by (y) the lesser of (1) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Incremental Term Loans or such Incremental Revolving Commitments, as applicable, and (2) four.
(ii) Up-Front Fees shall mean the amount of any fees or discounts received by the Lenders in connection with the making of Loans or extensions of credit, expressed as a percentage of such Loan or extension of credit. For the avoidance of doubt, Up-Front Fees shall not include any arrangement fee paid to any Arranger.
(iii) Weighted Average Life to Maturity shall mean, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (x) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (y) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment by (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
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Section 2.26 Defaulting Lenders.
(a) If a Lender holding a Revolving Commitment becomes, and during the period it remains, a Defaulting Lender, the following provisions shall apply, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement:
(i) the LC Exposure and the Swingline Exposure of such Defaulting Lender will, subject to the limitation in the proviso below, automatically be reallocated (effective no later than one (1) Business Day after the Administrative Agent has actual knowledge that such Lender with a Revolving Commitment has become a Defaulting Lender) among the Non-Defaulting Lenders pro rata in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments (calculated as if the Defaulting Lenders Revolving Commitment was reduced to zero and each Non-Defaulting Lenders Revolving Commitment had been increased proportionately); provided that the sum of each Non-Defaulting Lenders total Revolving Credit Exposure may not in any event exceed the Revolving Commitment of such Non-Defaulting Lender as in effect at the time of such reallocation; and
(ii) to the extent that any portion (the unreallocated portion) of the LC Exposure and the Swingline Exposure of any Defaulting Lender cannot be reallocated pursuant to Section 2.26(a)(i) above for any reason, the Borrower will, not later than two (2) Business Days after demand by the Administrative Agent (at the direction of the Issuing Bank and/or the Swingline Lender), (x) Cash Collateralize the obligations of the Defaulting Lender to such Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender in respect of such LC Exposure or such Swingline Exposure, as the case may be, in an amount at least equal to the aggregate amount of the unreallocated portion of the LC Exposure and the Swingline Exposure of such Defaulting Lender, (y) in the case of such Swingline Exposure, prepay and/or Cash Collateralize in full the unreallocated portion thereof, or (z) make other arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the applicable Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender in their sole discretion to protect them against the risk of non-payment by such Defaulting Lender;
provided that neither any such reallocation nor any payment by a Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant thereto nor any such Cash Collateralization or reduction will constitute a waiver or release of any claim the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender may have against such Defaulting Lender or cause such Defaulting Lender to be a Non-Defaulting Lender.
(b) If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender agree in writing in their discretion that any Defaulting Lender has ceased to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice, and subject to any conditions set forth therein, the LC Exposure and the Swingline Exposure of the other Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lenders Commitment, and such Lender will purchase at par such portion of outstanding Revolving Loans of the other Lenders and/or make such other adjustments as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Revolving Credit Exposure of the Lenders to be on a pro rata basis in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments, whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender and will be a Non-Defaulting Lender (and such Revolving Credit Exposure of each Lender will automatically be adjusted on a prospective basis to reflect the foregoing). If any Cash Collateral has been posted with respect to the LC Exposure or the Swingline Exposure of such Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will promptly return such Cash Collateral to the Borrower; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while such Lender was a Defaulting Lender; provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Non-Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lenders having been a Defaulting Lender.
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(i) So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, no Issuing Bank will be required to issue, amend, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit, and the Swingline Lender will not be required to fund any Swingline Loans, as applicable, unless it is satisfied that one hundred percent (100%) of the related LC Exposure and Swingline Exposure after giving effect thereto is fully covered or eliminated by any combination satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, of the following:
(ii) in the case of a Defaulting Lender, the Swingline Exposure and the LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender is reallocated to the Non-Defaulting Lenders as provided in Section 2.26(a)(i);
(iii) in the case of a Defaulting Lender, without limiting the provisions of Section 2.26(a)(ii), the Borrower Cash Collateralizes its reimbursement obligations in respect of such Letter of Credit or such Swingline Loan in an amount at least equal to the aggregate amount of the unreallocated obligations (contingent or otherwise) of such Defaulting Lender in respect of such Letter of Credit or such Swingline Loan, or the Borrower makes other arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the applicable Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, in their sole discretion to protect them against the risk of non-payment by such Defaulting Lender; and
(iv) in the case of a Defaulting Lender, the Borrower agrees that the face amount of such requested Letter of Credit or the principal amount of such requested Swingline Loan will be reduced by an amount equal to the unreallocated, non-Cash Collateralized portion thereof as to which such Defaulting Lender would otherwise be liable, in which case the obligations of the Non-Defaulting Lenders in respect of such Letter of Credit or such Swingline Loan will, subject to the limitation in the proviso below, be on a pro rata basis in accordance with the Commitments of the Non-Defaulting Lenders, and the pro rata payment provisions of Section 2.22 will be deemed adjusted to reflect this provision; provided that the sum of each Non-Defaulting Lenders total Revolving Credit Exposure may not in any event exceed the Revolving Commitment of such Non-Defaulting Lender as in effect at the time of such reduction.
Section 2.27 Refinancing Facilities.
(a) The Borrower may from time to time, add one or more tranches of term loans or revolving credit facilities to this Agreement (each a Refinancing Facility) pursuant to an agreement in writing entered into by the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and each Person (including any existing Lender) that agrees to provide a portion of such Refinancing Facility (each a Refinancing Facility Amendment) pursuant to procedures reasonably specified by the Administrative Agent to refinance all or any portion of any outstanding Term Loan or any Revolving Loan then in effect; provided, that:
(i) such Refinancing Facility shall not have a principal or commitment amount (or accreted value) greater than the Loans and, in the case of a revolving facility, the Revolving Loans and any undrawn available commitments in respect of such revolving facility being refinanced (plus accrued interest, fees, discounts, premiums and reasonable expenses);
(ii) no Default or Event of Default shall exist on the effective date of such Refinancing Facility or would exist after giving effect to such Refinancing Facility;
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(iii) no existing Lender shall be under any obligation to provide a commitment to such Refinancing Facility and any such decision whether to provide a commitment to such Refinancing Facility shall be in such Lenders sole and absolute discretion;
(iv) such Refinancing Facility shall be in an aggregate principal amount of at least $25,000,000 and each commitment of a Lender to such Refinancing Facility shall be in a minimum principal amount of at least $5,000,000, in the case of a Refinancing Revolving Facility and at least $1,000,000 in the case of a Refinancing Term Loan (or, in each case, such lesser amounts as the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may agree);
(v) each Person providing a commitment to such Refinancing Facility shall meet the requirements in Section 10.04(b);
(vi) the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent:
(A) a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the date of such Refinancing Facility signed by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party (1) attaching evidence of appropriate corporate authorization on the part of such Loan Party with respect to such Refinancing Facility as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request and (2) in the case of the Borrower, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such Refinancing Facility, (I) all representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects); provided, that to the extent such representation or warranty relates to a specific prior date, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) only as of such specific prior date, and (II) no Default or Event of Default shall exist;
(B) such amendments to the other Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to reflect such Refinancing Facility;
(C) customary opinions of legal counsel to the Loan Parties as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender (including each Person providing any commitment under any Refinancing Facility), dated as of the effective date of such Refinancing Facility;
(D) to the extent requested by any Lender (including each Person providing any commitment under any Refinancing Facility), executed promissory notes evidencing such Refinancing Facility, issued by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.11(b); and
(E) any other certificates or documents that the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
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(vii) the Administrative Agent shall have received documentation from each Person providing a commitment to such Refinancing Facility evidencing such Persons commitment and such Persons obligations under this Agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;
(viii) such Refinancing Facility (A) shall rank pari passu in right of payment as the other Loans and Commitments; (B) shall not be guaranteed by any Person that is not a Guarantor; and (C) if the Trigger Event has not occurred, shall be unsecured and, if the Trigger Event has occurred, shall be secured on a pari passu basis;
(ix) such Refinancing Facility shall have such interest rates, interest rate margins, fees, discounts, prepayment premiums, amortization and a final maturity date as agreed by the Loan Parties and the Lenders providing such Refinancing Facility; provided that (A) to the extent refinancing a Revolving Loan and constituting a Refinancing Revolving Facility, such Refinancing Facility shall have a termination date no earlier than the Revolving Commitment Termination Date and (B) to the extent refinancing a Term Loan or constituting term loan facilities, such Refinancing Term Loan shall have a maturity date no earlier than the latest then existing Maturity Date, and will have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is not shorter than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Term Loan being refinanced;
(x) if such Refinancing Facility is a Refinancing Revolving Facility then (A) such Refinancing Facility shall have ratable voting rights as the other Revolving Loans (or otherwise provide for more favorable voting rights for the then outstanding Revolving Loans) and (B) such Refinancing Facility may provide for the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on terms substantially equivalent to the terms applicable to Letters of Credit under the existing revolving credit facilities or the making of swing line loans to the Borrower on terms substantially equivalent to the terms applicable to Swingline Loans under the existing revolving credit facilities;
(xi) each Borrowing of Revolving Loans and participations in Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.24 shall be allocated pro rata among the Revolving Loans;
(xii) subject to Section 2.27(a)(ix) above, such Refinancing Facility will have terms and conditions that are substantially identical to, or less favorable, when taken as a whole (as determined by the Borrower in its reasonable judgment), to the Lenders providing such Refinancing Facility than, the terms and conditions of the Revolving Loan or Term Loan being refinanced; provided, however, that such Refinancing Facility may provide for any additional or different financial or other covenants or other provisions that are agreed among the Borrower and the Lenders thereof and applicable only during periods after the then latest Revolving Commitment Termination Date or latest Maturity Date in effect; and
(xiii) substantially concurrent with the incurrence of such Refinancing Facility the Borrower shall apply the Net Cash Proceeds of such Refinancing Facility to the prepayment of outstanding Loans being so refinanced (and, in the case of a Refinancing Facility that refinances a Revolving Loan, the Borrower shall permanently reduce the amount of the commitments to the Revolving Loan being refinanced by the amount of the Net Cash Proceeds of such Refinancing Facility (other than Net Cash Proceeds applied to pay accrued interest, fees, discounts and premiums)).
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(b) The Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into, and the Lenders agree that this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be amended by, such Refinancing Facility Amendments to the extent (and only to the extent) the Administrative Agent deems necessary in order to establish Refinancing Facilities on terms consistent with and/or to effect the provisions of this Section 2.27. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Refinancing Facility Amendment. In addition, if so provided in the Refinancing Facility Amendment for a Refinancing Revolving Facility and with the consent of each Issuing Bank, participation in Letters of Credit under the existing revolving credit facilities shall be reallocated from Lenders holding revolving commitments under the existing revolving credit facilities which are being refinanced to Lenders holding revolving commitments under such Refinancing Revolving Facility in accordance with the terms of such Refinancing Facility Amendment.
Section 2.28 Extension of Revolving Loans and Term Loans. The Borrower may from time to time, subject to the consent of the Administrative Agent, make one or more offers to all the Lenders holding a Revolving Commitment or to all of the Lenders holding a Term Loan to make one or more amendments or modifications to (a) allow the maturity and scheduled amortization (if any) of such Loans and Commitments of the accepting Lenders to be extended and (b) increase or decrease the Applicable Margin, Applicable Percentage, and/or fees payable with respect to such Loans and Commitments (if any) of the accepting Lenders (Permitted Amendments) pursuant to procedures reasonably specified by the Administrative Agent. Permitted Amendments shall become effective only with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments of the Lenders that accept the applicable offer (such Lenders, the Accepting Lenders) and, in the case of any Accepting Lender, only with respect to such Lenders Loans and/or Commitments as to which such Lenders acceptance has been made. Each Loan Party and each Accepting Lender shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such written agreements as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably require to evidence the acceptance of the Permitted Amendments and the terms and conditions thereof, and the Loan Parties shall also deliver such certified resolutions, legal opinions and other documents as requested by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of any Permitted Amendment. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that (x) upon the effectiveness of any Permitted Amendment, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Permitted Amendments evidenced thereby and only with respect to the Loans and Commitments of the Accepting Lenders as to which such Lenders acceptance has been made and (y) any applicable Lender who is not an Accepting Lender may be replaced by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.23(b).
ARTICLE III.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EFFECTIVENESS
Section 3.1 Conditions To Closing and the Initial Credit Extension on the Closing Date. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan and of any Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, on the Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in accordance with Section 10.2) of the following conditions:
(a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received the following:
(i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed by or on behalf of each party hereto or written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include facsimile or form of electronic attachment (e.g., .pdf or .tif) transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement;
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(ii) a duly executed Guarantee Agreement by Holdings and the Domestic Subsidiaries identified as Guarantors on Schedule 4.14 and (B) a duly executed Borrower Guarantee Agreement (with respect to the Hedging Obligations and Treasury Management Obligations of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower);
(iii) if requested by any Lender, a Note for such Lender;
(iv) a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of each Loan Party, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1(a)(iv), attaching and certifying copies of its bylaws or operating agreement, as applicable, and of the resolutions of its board of directors (or equivalent governing body), authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and certifying the name, title and true signature of each officer of such Loan Party executing the Loan Documents to which it is a party;
(v) certified copies of the articles of incorporation or other charter documents of each Loan Party, together with certificates of good standing or existence, as may be available from the Secretary of State of the jurisdiction of incorporation of such Loan Party;
(vi) a favorable written opinion of Jones Day, counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders, and covering such matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated therein as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders shall reasonably request;
(vii) a certificate, dated the Closing Date substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1(a)(vii) and signed by a Responsible Officer confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in Sections 3.1(b), (c), (d) and (e);
(viii) evidence that (A) all obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no demand has been made) under the Existing Credit Agreement shall have been repaid in full (or substantially concurrently with the Closing Date, will be repaid in full) and the Existing Credit Agreement shall have been terminated and (B) the Project Everglade Refinancing shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the Closing Date;
(ix) copies of all governmental and third party consents and approvals to the Transactions (all of which shall be final, with no waiting period to expire or ongoing governmental inquiry or investigation);
(x) (A) audited consolidated financial statements of Holdings for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2021, (B) the audited consolidated financial statements of the Acquired Business for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2021, (C) the reviewed financial statements of the Acquired Business for the fiscal quarter ended December 25, 2021 and (D) a five year projection model in form and substance to be mutually agreed upon by the Arrangers and the Borrower;
(xi) a solvency certificate, dated as of the Closing Date and signed by the chief financial officer of Borrower, confirming that the Borrower is Solvent, and Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, are Solvent before and after giving effect to the Transactions and any extensions of credit on the Closing Date;
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(xii) a duly executed Notice of Borrowing; and
(xiii) at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date the documentation and other information with respect to the Acquired Business and the Loan Parties, that is required by regulatory authorities under applicable know your customer and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Patriot Act, to the extent requested at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. In addition, if the Borrower or any Guarantor qualifies as a legal entity customer and if requested, the Administrative Agent shall have received a Beneficial Ownership Certification with respect to the Borrower.
(b) Since the date of the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement, there shall not have been a Target Material Adverse Effect.
(c) The Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement shall not be altered, amended or otherwise changed or supplemented or any condition therein waived, in each case in a manner materially adverse to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders without the prior written consent of the Arrangers (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned); it being understood that (i) any change in the price (including any price decrease) of the Project Everglade Acquisition in excess of 10% of the price as of the date hereof, (ii) any modifications to any of the provisions relating to the Administrative Agents, the Arrangers or any Lenders liability, jurisdiction or status as a third party beneficiary under the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement, (iii) any changes to the definition of Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement) and (iv) any action taken by the Seller at the request of the Borrower that would constitute an exception to Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement), in each case, shall be deemed to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders and will require the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and Arrangers).
(d) The Project Everglade Acquisition shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the initial funding hereunder in accordance in all material respects with the terms of the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement (as amended or otherwise modified, if applicable, in accordance with Section 3.1(c)).
(e) The Project Everglade Specified Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of such Project Everglade Specified Representations qualified by materiality, in all respects), and the Project Everglade Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations shall be true and correct in all respects in accordance with, and solely to the extent required by, the definition thereof.
(f) After giving effect to the Transactions, availability under the Aggregate Revolving Commitments shall not be less than $250,000,000.
(g) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Closing Date, including reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent) required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder, under any other Loan Document and under any agreement with the Administrative Agent or the Arrangers.
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For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 3.1, each Lender (including in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, if applicable) that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender (including in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, if applicable) unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
Section 3.2 Conditions to Each Credit Event After the Closing Date. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing and of any Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit (including a request for a credit extension relating to an advance under a Refinancing Facility), in each case, after the Closing Date, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions, in each case, subject to the Incremental Funds Certain Provision, as applicable:
(a) 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 exist; and
(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, all representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects); provided, that to the extent such representation or warranty relates to a specific prior date, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) only as of such specific prior date;
(c) since the date of the audited financial statements of the Borrower described in Section 4.4, there shall have been no change which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
(d) the Borrower shall have delivered the required Notice of Borrowing or written notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit as required under Section 2.24, as applicable.
Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, extension or renewal of any Letter of Credit (including a request for a credit extension relating to an advance under a Refinancing Facility) shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in Sections 3.2(a), 3.2(b) and 3.2(c).
Section 3.3 Delivery of Documents. All of the Loan Documents, certificates, legal opinions and other documents and papers referred to in this Article III, unless otherwise specified, shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent for the account of each of the Lenders and shall be in form and substance satisfactory in all respects to the Administrative Agent.
Section 3.4 Termination of Existing Credit Agreement. Upon this Agreement becoming effective, the Existing Credit Agreement shall automatically terminate (other than those provisions that by their terms survive termination of the Existing Credit Agreement), all commitments of the lenders thereunder to fund additional advances shall terminate automatically, and all amounts outstanding thereunder, together with all accrued and unpaid interest, fees and other amounts shall be automatically paid in full by the initial Borrowing hereunder.
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ARTICLE IV.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Each of Holdings and the Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender as follows:
Section 4.1 Existence; Power. Holdings, the Borrower and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted, and (c) is duly qualified to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where a failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.2 Organizational Power; Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party are within such Loan Partys organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational, and if required, partner, member or stockholder, action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower, and constitutes, and each other Transaction Document to which any Loan Party is a party, when executed and delivered by such Loan Party, will constitute, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party (as the case may be), enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and by general principles of equity.
Section 4.3 Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings and the Borrower of this Agreement, and by each Loan Party of the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any action by, any Governmental Authority, except those as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect or where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any judgment or order of any Governmental Authority binding on Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, material agreement or other material instrument binding on Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of its assets or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, except Liens (if any) created under the Loan Documents and the other Liens permitted hereunder.
Section 4.4 Financial Statements. The Borrower has furnished to each Lender the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2021, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders equity and cash flows for the Fiscal Year then ended prepared by Ernst & Young. Such financial statements fairly present the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such dates and the consolidated results of operations for such periods in conformity with GAAP consistently applied. Since December 31, 2021, there have been no changes with respect to Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries which have had or could reasonably be expected to have, singly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 4.5 Litigation and Environmental Matters.
(a) No litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrators or Governmental Authorities is pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination that could reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) which in any manner draws into question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.
(b) Except as could reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, none of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply in any material respect with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law or (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability. None of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (x) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (y) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability that, in each case, could reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.6 Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Holdings, the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary is in compliance with (a) all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority, and (b) all indentures, agreements or other instruments binding upon it or its properties, except in the case of both clauses (a) and (b) where non-compliance, either singly or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.7 Investment Company Act, Etc. None of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is (a) an investment company or is controlled by an investment company, as such terms are defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or (b) otherwise subject to any other regulatory scheme limiting its ability to incur debt.
Section 4.8 Taxes. Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and each other Person for whose taxes Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary could become liable have timely filed or caused to be filed all Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns that are required to be filed by them, and have paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns or on any assessments made against it or its property and all other taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its property by any Governmental Authority, except (a) to the extent the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect or (b) where the same are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, has set aside on its books adequate reserves. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of such taxes are adequate, and no tax liabilities that could be materially in excess of the amount so provided are anticipated.
Section 4.9 Margin Regulations. None of the proceeds of any of the Loans or Letters of Credit will be used, directly or indirectly, for purchasing or carrying any margin stock (with the respective meanings of each of such terms under Regulation U) which would result in a violation of Regulation T, U or X or for any purpose that violates the provisions of the Regulation T, U or X. None of Holdings, the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.
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Section 4.10 ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $20,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $20,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans. As of the Closing Date, no Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries are, and will not be, a Benefit Plan.
Section 4.11 Ownership of Property.
(a) Each of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all of its real and personal property material to the operation of its business.
(b) Each of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries owns, or licenses, or otherwise has the right, to use, all patents, trademarks, service marks, tradenames, copyrights and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries does not infringe on the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.12 Disclosure.
(a) The Borrower has disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments, and corporate or other restrictions to which Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to any of them, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the reports (including without limitation all reports that the Borrower or Holdings is required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission), financial statements, certificates or other written information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or Holdings to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation or syndication of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or delivered hereunder or thereunder (as modified or supplemented by any other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, taken as a whole, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that with respect to projected financial information, each of Holdings and the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time, it being recognized by the Lenders that such projections as to future events are not to be viewed as facts and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections may materially differ from the projected results.
(b) As of the Closing Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification (if any) is true and correct in all respects.
Section 4.13 Labor Relations. There are no strikes, lockouts or other material labor disputes or grievances against Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or, to the Borrowers knowledge, threatened against or affecting Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and no significant unfair labor practice, charges or grievances are pending against Holdings, the Borrower
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or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or to the Borrowers knowledge, threatened against any of them before any Governmental Authority. All payments due from Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the provisions of any collective bargaining agreement have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of Holdings, the Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.14 Subsidiaries. Schedule 4.14 sets forth the name of, the ownership interest of Holdings in, the jurisdiction of incorporation of, and the type of, each Subsidiary and identifies each Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Loan Party, in each case as of the Closing Date.
Section 4.15 Solvency. After giving effect to the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents (including the provisions of Sections 8, 9 and 23 of the Guarantee Agreement and Sections 8, 9 and 23 of the Borrower Guarantee Agreement) and the making of the Loans under this Agreement, (a) the Borrower is Solvent on the Closing Date and (b) the Loan Parties on a consolidated basis are Solvent.
Section 4.16 Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. The Borrower and Holdings have implemented and maintain in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance in all material respects by Holdings, the Borrower, their Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and Holdings, the Borrower, their Subsidiaries and their respective officers (in such capacity), employees (in such capacity) and, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, its directors and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions. None of (a) Holdings, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any of their respective officers (in such capacity) or employees (in such capacity), or (b) to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, any director or agent of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a Sanctioned Person. No Borrowing or Letter of Credit, used by the Borrower, Holdings or any Subsidiary of the proceeds thereof or other transactions contemplated hereby will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.
Section 4.17 No Affected Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an Affected Financial Institution.
Section 4.18 Inactive Subsidiaries. The Inactive Subsidiaries do not (a) have assets with an aggregate book value in excess of $1,000,000, (b) have revenue in excess of $1,000,000 in the aggregate and (c) conduct any business activities.
Section 4.19 Collateral Representations.
After the execution and delivery of the Collateral Documents following the occurrence of the Trigger Event in accordance with Section 5.12:
(a) The provisions of the Collateral Documents are effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations, a legal, valid and enforceable first priority Lien (subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.2) on all right, title and interest of the respective Loan Parties in the Collateral described therein. Except for filings completed prior to the occurrence of the Trigger Event and as contemplated hereby and by the Collateral Documents, no filing or other action will be necessary to perfect such Liens that are required to be perfected under the terms of the Collateral Documents.
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(b) No Mortgage encumbers improved real property that is located in an area that has been identified by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as an area having special flood hazards and in which flood insurance has been made available under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, except to the extent that the applicable Loan Party maintains flood insurance with respect to such improved real property in compliance with the requirements of Section 4.19(c).
(c) Each Loan Party maintains, if available, fully paid flood hazard insurance on all Flood Hazard Properties, with such deductibles as are commercially acceptable for Persons of established reputation engaged in similar business as the Loan Parties and on such terms and in such amounts as required by Flood Insurance Laws or as otherwise reasonably required by the Administrative Agent.
ARTICLE V.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Each of Holdings and the Borrower covenant and agree that so long as any Lender has a Commitment hereunder or the principal of and interest on any Loan or any fee or any LC Disbursement remains unpaid or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding:
Section 5.1 Financial Statements and Other Information. The Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) as soon as available and in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, a copy of the annual audited report for such Fiscal Year for Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, containing a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows (together with all footnotes thereto) of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail and reported on by Ernst & Young or other independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing (without a going concern or like qualification, exception or explanation and without any qualification or exception as to scope of such audit) to the effect that such financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and the results of operations of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and that the examination by such accountants in connection with such consolidated financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. It is understood and agreed that the requirements of this Section 5.1(a) (x) shall be satisfied by delivery of the applicable annual report on Form 10-K of Holdings to the Securities and Exchange Commission if delivered within the applicable time period noted herein and is available to the Lenders on EDGAR and (y) are effective as of the Closing Date;
(b) as soon as available and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter of each Fiscal Year (other than the last Fiscal Quarter), an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and cash flows of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter and the then elapsed portion of such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding quarter and the corresponding portion of the previous Fiscal Year, all certified by the chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes. It is understood and agreed that the requirements of this Section 5.1(b) (x) shall be satisfied by delivery of the applicable quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Holdings to the Securities and Exchange Commission if delivered within the applicable time period noted herein and is available to the Lenders on EDGAR and (y) are effective as of the Closing Date;
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(c) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 5.1(a) and (b) above, a certificate of a Responsible Officer, (i) certifying as to whether there exists a Default or Event of Default on the date of such certificate, and if a Default or an Event of Default then exists, specifying the details thereof and the action which the Borrower has taken or proposes to take with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth in reasonable detail calculations demonstrating compliance with Article VI and (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or the application thereof has occurred since the date of the Borrowers audited financial statements referred to in Section 4.4 and, if any change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;
(d) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 5.1(a) above, a certificate of the accounting firm that reported on such financial statements stating whether they obtained any knowledge during the course of their examination of such financial statements of any Default or Event of Default (which certificate may be limited to the extent required by accounting rules or guidelines);
(e) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all functions of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by Holdings to its shareholders generally, as the case may be, it being agreed that the requirements of this Section 5.1(e) may be satisfied by the delivery of the applicable reports, statements or other materials to the Securities and Exchange Commission to the extent that such reports, statements or other materials are available to the Lenders on EDGAR;
(f) promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the results of operations, business affairs and financial condition of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request;
(g) as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of each Fiscal Year, a forecasted income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows for the following Fiscal Year, in each case, on a quarter by quarter basis for such forecasted Fiscal Year information; and
(h) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 5.1(a) and (b), for any period in which there exist any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, unaudited consolidating financial statements reflecting adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of Unrestricted Subsidiaries (if any) from such financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) and (b), all in reasonable detail and certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders equity and cash flows of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
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Section 5.2 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 or Event of Default;
(b) the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, affecting Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary which, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) the occurrence of any event or any other development by which Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) fails 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) becomes subject to any Environmental Liability in excess of $10,000,000, (iii) receives notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability in excess of $10,000,000 or (iv) becomes aware of any basis for any Environmental Liability in excess of $10,000,000 and in each of the preceding clauses, which individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(d) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that alone, or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $10,000,000;
(e) any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in parts (c) or (d) of such certification; and
(f) any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
Each notice delivered under this Section 5.2 shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer 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 5.3 Existence; Conduct of Business. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and its respective rights, licenses, permits, privileges, franchises, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade names material to the conduct of its business and will continue to engage in (a) substantially the same business as presently conducted or such other businesses that are reasonably related thereto, including but not limited to the business of leasing and selling furniture, consumer electronics, computers, appliances and other household goods and accessories inside and outside of the United States of America, through both independently-owned and franchised stores, providing lease-purchase solutions, credit and other financing solutions to customers for the purchase and lease of such products, the manufacture and supply of furniture and bedding for lease and sale in such stores, and the provision of virtual rent-to-own programs inside and outside of the United States of America (including but not limited to point-of-sale lease purchase programs), (b) any other businesses which are ancillary or complementary to, or reasonable extensions or expansions of, the business of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Closing Date, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower and (c) any businesses that are materially different from the business of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Closing Date provided that any Investments made, funds expended or financial support provided by Holdings, the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such alternative lines of business shall not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding; provided, that nothing in this Section 5.3 shall prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 7.3.
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Section 5.4 Compliance with Laws, Etc. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and requirements of any Governmental Authority applicable to its business and properties, including without limitation, all Environmental Laws, ERISA and OSHA, except where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.5 Payment of Obligations. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, pay and discharge all taxes (including without limitation all tax liabilities and claims that could result in a statutory Lien) and all other obligations which, if unpaid, might become a Lien or charge upon any of their properties, 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, and Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP or (b) the failure to make payment could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.6 Books and Records. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities to the extent necessary to prepare the consolidated financial statements of Borrower in conformity with GAAP.
Section 5.7 Visitation, Inspection, Etc. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, permit any representative of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine its books and records and to make copies and take extracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with any of its officers and with its independent certified public accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request after reasonable prior notice to the Borrower; provided, however, if a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no prior notice shall be required. All reasonable expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and, at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default or an Event of Default, any Lenders in connection with any such visit, inspection, audit, examination and discussions shall be borne by the Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, representatives of the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall only have the right to visit and inspect once in every twelve (12) consecutive months, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
Section 5.8 Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted 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, except where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (b) maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its properties and business, and the properties and business of its Restricted Subsidiaries, against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by companies in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations (including, after the occurrence of the Trigger Event, flood insurance as described in the definition of Real Estate Documents). In addition, and not in limitation of the foregoing, Holdings shall maintain and keep in force insurance coverage on its inventory, as is consistent with best industry practices. The Loan Parties shall at all times cause the Administrative Agent to be named as additional insured on all of its casualty and liability policies. Promptly after the occurrence of the Trigger Event, the Loan Parties shall cause each issuer of an insurance policy to provide the Administrative Agent with an endorsement (i) showing the Administrative Agent as lenders loss payee with respect to each policy of property or casualty insurance and naming the Administrative Agent and each Lender as an additional insured with respect to each policy of liability insurance, (ii) providing that 30 days notice will be given to the Administrative Agent prior to any cancellation of, material reduction or change in coverage provided by or other material modification to such policy and (iii) reasonably acceptable in all other respects to the Administrative Agent.
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Section 5.9 Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit. The Borrower will use the proceeds of all Loans (a) to pay a portion of the purchase price for the Project Everglade Acquisition, (b) to finance working capital needs, (c) to refinance existing debt (including, without limitation, the Project Everglade Refinancing and the remaining principal amount of the loans and accrued and unpaid interest thereon owing under the Existing Credit Agreement), (d) to finance Permitted Acquisitions and (e) for other general corporate purposes of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, not in contravention of any law or Loan Document. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that would violate any rule or regulation of the Federal Reserve Board, including Regulations T, U or X. All Letters of Credit will be used for general corporate purposes.
The Borrower will not request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and the Borrower shall not use, and the Borrower shall ensure that Holdings and its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit (1) 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, (2) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country or (3) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.
Section 5.10 Additional Subsidiaries; Guarantees.
(a) Within ten (10) Business Days (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) after any Subsidiary is acquired or formed (including, without limitation, upon the formation of any Subsidiary that is a Delaware Divided LLC) or after any Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower shall (i) notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereof, (ii) if such Subsidiary is a Material Domestic Subsidiary, cause such Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Loan Party by (x) executing agreements in the form of Annex I to the Guarantee Agreement and (y) if the Trigger Event has occurred, a security agreement or a joinder agreement thereto granting to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations a first priority security interest and lien in all of its assets pursuant to the Collateral Documents (subject to Liens permitted hereunder), in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (iii) if such Subsidiary is a Material Domestic Subsidiary, cause such Domestic Subsidiary to deliver simultaneously therewith similar documents applicable to such Domestic Subsidiary described in Section 3.1 as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent. In the event that any Domestic Subsidiary that is not already a Subsidiary Loan Party becomes a Material Domestic Subsidiary at any time after its formation or acquisition, the Borrower shall have up to ten (10) Business Days (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) to cause it to (x) become a Subsidiary Loan Party by executing agreements in the form of Annex I to the Guarantee Agreement and (y) deliver simultaneously therewith similar documents applicable to such Domestic Subsidiary described in Section 3.1 as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.
(b) Upon any acquisition or formation of additional Foreign Subsidiaries by the Borrower after the Closing Date (subject to Section 7.4) if the Trigger Event has occurred, and to the extent the aggregate EBITDA attributable to all Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries whose stock has not been pledged to secure the Obligations pursuant to this Section 5.10(b) for the most recently ended twelve month period exceeds twenty percent (20%) of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended twelve month period (the Foreign Pledge
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Date), the Borrower (i) shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereof, (ii) deliver stock certificates and related pledge agreements, in form satisfactory to a collateral agent acceptable to the Administrative Agent, evidencing the pledge of sixty-six percent (66%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) and one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock not entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries directly owned by a Loan Party to secure the Obligations to the extent necessary such that, after giving effect to such pledge, the EBITDA attributable to all Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries whose stock has not been pledged to secure the Obligations pursuant to this Section 5.10(b) for the most recently ended twelve (12) month period does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of Consolidated EBITDA, and (iii) cause such Foreign Subsidiary whose stock is pledged pursuant to the immediately preceding Section 5.10(b)(ii) to deliver simultaneously therewith similar documents applicable to such Foreign Subsidiary described in Section 3.1 as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent; provided that in no event shall any such Foreign Subsidiary be required to join the Guarantee Agreement or otherwise to guarantee any of the Obligations. Upon the occurrence of the Foreign Pledge Date, the Borrower will be required to comply with the terms of this Section 5.10(b) within thirty (30) days after any new Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary is acquired or formed. Upon the occurrence of the Foreign Pledge Date and within a reasonable time thereafter, the Administrative Agent shall enter into an intercreditor agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required Lenders, with all other creditors of the Borrower having a similar covenant with the Borrower.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) none of the Inactive Subsidiaries shall be required to become a Subsidiary Loan Party or to execute the Guarantee Agreement, subject to compliance with Section 7.13 and (ii) the Borrower shall cause each Inactive Subsidiary to be dissolved as soon practicable without incurring adverse tax consequences unless otherwise permitted by the Administrative Agent with such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
(d) Holdings will cause any Domestic Subsidiary or any other Domestic Controlled Affiliate that provides a Guarantee or otherwise becomes liable (including as a borrower or co-borrower) in respect of the obligations under any other agreement providing for the incurrence of Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Indebtedness under this Agreement to become a Subsidiary Loan Party by executing agreements in the form of Annex I to the Guarantee Agreement and deliver simultaneously therewith similar documents applicable to such Domestic Subsidiary described in Section 3.1 as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.
Section 5.11 Further Assurances. Promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, (i) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in any Loan Document or in the execution or acknowledgment thereof, and (ii) do, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such further acts, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, may reasonably require from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of the Loan Documents, or, after the occurrence of the Trigger Event, to grant, preserve, protect or perfect the Liens created by the Collateral Documents or the validity or priority of any such Lien, all at the expense of the Loan Parties.
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Section 5.12 Collateral.
(a) Promptly upon, and in any event within thirty (30) days of, the occurrence of the Trigger Event (or such longer periods as the Administrative Agent shall agree in its sole discretion), Holdings shall, and shall cause the Loan Parties, to (i) grant Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and the other holders of the Obligations, in substantially all of its personal property (with exceptions as provided in the Security Agreement) by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a Security Agreement and such other Collateral Documents in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and authorizing and delivering, at the request of the Administrative Agent, such UCC financing statements or similar instruments required by the Administrative Agent to perfect the Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and the other holders of the Obligations, and granted under any of the Loan Documents, (ii) grant Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and the other holders of the Obligations, in all fee ownership interests in Material Real Estate by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent such Real Estate Documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably require and (iii) deliver such other documentation (including, without limitation, certified organizational documents, resolutions, lien searches, title insurance policies, surveys, environmental reports and legal opinions) reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and to take all such other actions that such Loan Party would be required to deliver pursuant to Section 5.13 with respect to any Material Real Estate. In addition, Holdings shall, or shall cause the applicable Loan Party to (x) pledge all of the Capital Stock of the Borrower and any such Domestic Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent as security for the Obligations by executing and delivering a Security Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (y) pledge sixty-six percent (66%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) and one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock not entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) of the Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries directly owned by the Loan Parties and (z) deliver the original certificates evidencing such pledged capital stock to the Administrative Agent, together with appropriate powers executed in blank. In the event of the occurrence of the Trigger Event, the requirements of this Section 5.12(b), and not those of Section 5.10(b), shall govern the pledge of Capital Stock in Foreign Subsidiaries. Concurrently with the grant of Liens in the first sentence of this Section 5.12(a), the Administrative Agent and the Servicer (as defined in the Loan Facility Agreement) shall enter into the Intercreditor Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders and the Servicer (as defined in the Loan Facility Agreement). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, or otherwise in any Loan Document, the Administrative Agent shall not enter into, accept, or record any mortgage in respect of any Material Real Estate until the Administrative Agent shall have received written confirmation (which confirmation shall, for purposes hereunder, include email) from each Lender that flood insurance compliance has been completed by such Lender with respect to such Material Real Estate (such written confirmation not to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed); provided, that, the inability of a Loan Party to deliver, enter into, or record a Mortgage with respect to any Material Real Estate within the time period required by this Section 5.12 due to the failure of the Administrative Agent to receive written confirmation from each Lender that flood insurance compliance has been completed by such Lender with respect to such Material Real Estate within such time period shall not be deemed to be a failure by such Loan Party to satisfy the requirements of this Section 5.12.
(b) Holdings and the Borrower agree that, following the delivery of any Collateral Documents required to be executed and delivered by this Section 5.12, the Administrative Agent shall have a valid and enforceable, first priority perfected Lien on the property required to be pledged pursuant to Section 5.12(a) and Section 5.12(b) (to the extent that such Lien can be perfected by execution, delivery and/or recording of the Collateral Documents or UCC financing statements, or possession of such Collateral), free and clear of all Liens other than Liens expressly permitted by Section 7.2. All actions to be taken pursuant to this Section 5.12 shall be at the expense of the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, and shall be taken to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent.
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Section 5.13 Additional Real Estate. To the extent otherwise permitted hereunder, if any Loan Party proposes to acquire a fee ownership interest in Material Real Estate after the occurrence of the Trigger Event, it shall within ninety (90) days of such acquisition (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent shall agree in its sole discretion) provide to the Administrative Agent Real Estate Documents in regard to such Material Real Estate. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, or otherwise in any Loan Document, the Administrative Agent shall not enter into, accept, or record any mortgage in respect of any Material Real Estate until the Administrative Agent shall have received written confirmation (which confirmation shall, for purposes hereunder, include email) from each Lender that flood insurance compliance has been completed by such Lender with respect to such Material Real Estate (such written confirmation not to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed); provided, that, the inability of a Loan Party to deliver, enter into, or record a Mortgage with respect to any Material Real Estate within the time period required by this Section 5.13 due to the failure of the Administrative Agent to receive written confirmation from each Lender that flood insurance compliance has been completed by such Lender with respect to such Material Real Estate within such time period shall not be deemed to be a failure by such Loan Party to satisfy the requirements of this Section 5.13.
Section 5.14 Designation of Subsidiaries.
(a) The Borrower may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (a) no Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately prior or immediately after giving effect to such designation; (b) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate demonstrating that after giving effect to such designation on a Pro Forma Basis, the Loan Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VI measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder; (c) no Restricted Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if such Restricted Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries (i) owns any equity interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Liens on, any property of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) Guarantees any Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (after giving effect to the release of the Guarantee of the Obligations by such Subsidiary in connection with the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary); (d) any Unrestricted Subsidiary that has been re-designated as a Restricted Subsidiary may not subsequently be re-designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and (e) no Restricted Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless concurrent with such designation such Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an unrestricted subsidiary (or otherwise not be subject to the covenants) under any Indebtedness.
(b) The designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall constitute an Investment (which must be an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.4) by its direct parent (whether the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) in such Subsidiary on the date of such designation in an amount equal to the outstanding amount of all Investments by Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Subsidiary on such date.
(c) The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute (i) the incurrence on the date of such designation of any Investment, Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing on such date and (ii) for purposes of calculating the outstanding amount of Investments by Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in all Unrestricted Subsidiaries, a return on all Investments by Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Subsidiary in an amount equal to the outstanding amount of all such Investments in such Subsidiary on the date of such designation.
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(d) If at any time any Unrestricted Subsidiary (i) owns any equity interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Liens on, any property of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) Guarantees any Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or (iii) ceases to be an unrestricted subsidiary (or otherwise becomes subject to the covenants) under any Indebtedness, then the Borrower shall, concurrent therewith, re-designate such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary.
Notwithstanding any of the definitions or covenants contained in this Agreement to the contrary, Holdings and the Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, consummate any transaction that results in the transfer (whether by way of any Restricted Payment, Investment, or any sale, conveyance, transfer, or other disposition, or a designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Subsidiary, and whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of material intellectual property rights (including patents, trademarks, service marks, tradenames, copyrights, proprietary leasing records and systems and other intellectual property) from Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Unrestricted Subsidiary. Except as expressly set forth herein, Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the covenants set forth in this Agreement.
ARTICLE VI.
FINANCIAL COVENANTS
Holdings and the Borrower covenant and agree that so long as any Lender has a Commitment hereunder or the principal of or interest on or any Loan remains unpaid or any fee or any LC Disbursement remains unpaid or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding:
Section 6.1 Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio. Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall maintain, as of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter, a Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio of not greater than 2.75:1.00; provided, that, upon the occurrence of a Qualified Acquisition, for the four (4) Fiscal Quarters commencing with the Fiscal Quarter during which such Qualified Acquisition closes (each such period, a Leverage Increase Period), the required ratio set forth above may, upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of a Qualified Acquisition Notice, be increased to 3.00:1.00; provided further, that (i) the maximum Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio permitted pursuant to this Section 6.1 shall revert to 2.75:1.00 following the end of each Leverage Increase Period, (ii) for at least two (2) full Fiscal Quarters ending immediately following the end of each Leverage Increase Period, the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio as of the end of each such Fiscal Quarter shall not be permitted to be greater than 2.75:1.00 prior to giving effect to another Leverage Increase Period and (iii) the Leverage Increase Period shall apply for purposes of (w) determining compliance with this Section 6.1, (x) determining whether a Trigger Event has occurred for purposes of Section 5.12, (y) any Qualified Acquisition Pro Forma Determination and (z) determining compliance on a Pro Forma Basis in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness under Section 7.1.
Section 6.2 Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall maintain, as of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter, a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.75:1.00.
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ARTICLE VII.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Holdings and the Borrower covenant and agree that so long as any Lender has a Commitment hereunder or the principal of or interest on any Loan remains unpaid or any fee or any LC Disbursement remains unpaid or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding:
Section 7.1 Indebtedness. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness created pursuant to the Loan Documents;
(b) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 7.1 and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (immediately prior to giving effect to such extension, renewal or replacement) or shorten the maturity or the weighted average life thereof;
(c) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred after the Closing Date 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; provided, that such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within ninety (90) days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvements or extensions, renewals, and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (immediately prior to giving effect to such extension, renewal or replacement) or shorten the maturity or the weighted average life thereof; provided further, (x) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, as of any date of determination, does not at any time exceed three percent (3.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered, and (y) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness incurred by Foreign Subsidiaries under this Section 7.1(c), together with the principal amount of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 7.1(i) does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries measured on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of the end of the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered (giving effect to any Acquisition financed with such Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis);
(d) Indebtedness of the Borrower owing to any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party and of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party owing to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party;
(e) Guarantees by the Borrower of Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Loan Party and by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Loan Party of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Loan Party;
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(f) Guarantees by the Borrower of Indebtedness of certain franchise operators of the Borrower; provided such guarantees are given by the Borrower in connection with (i) loans made pursuant to the terms of the Loan Facility Agreement or (ii) loans made pursuant to terms of any other loan facility agreements and guaranteed on an unsecured basis with terms otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent entered into after the date hereof in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed, as of any date of determination, three percent (3.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered;
(g) endorsed negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business;
(h) Guarantees by Borrower of permitted Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries;
(i) unsecured Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries (whether such Indebtedness represents loans made by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or by a third party) so long as (i) after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis (as evidenced by a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent), (A) Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VI measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder, (B) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or would result therefrom and (C) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the amount of and Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by such Foreign Subsidiaries under Section 7.1(c), does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries measured on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of the end of the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered (giving effect to any Acquisition financed with such Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis) and (ii) (A) the terms of such Indebtedness do not provide for any scheduled repayment (including payment at maturity), mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligations (other than customary mandatory prepayments upon a change of control, asset sale, event of loss, unpermitted debt issuance and customary acceleration rights after an event of default) prior to the date that is 91 days after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date and the latest Maturity Date in effect at the time of the incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness; (B) the covenants, events of default, guarantees and other non-economic terms of such Indebtedness are either (1) customary for similar Indebtedness in light of then-prevailing market conditions (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) or (2) reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (C) any financial maintenance covenants with respect to such Indebtedness are not more restrictive to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries than those set forth in this Agreement; and (D) such Indebtedness shall not be Guaranteed by any Person that is not a Loan Party (or that does not simultaneously become a Loan Party);
(j) secured Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $15,000,000 and (ii) ten percent (10%) of Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four (4) Fiscal Quarters most recently ended prior to the date of determination for which financial statements were delivered under Section 5.1(a) or (b); provided, that, (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (ii) after giving effect to the incurrence thereof on a Pro Forma Basis (as evidenced by delivery of a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate to the Administrative Agent), Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VI measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder, (iii) the terms of such Indebtedness do not provide for any scheduled repayment (including payment at maturity), mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligations (other than
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customary mandatory prepayments upon a change of control, asset sale, event of loss, unpermitted debt issuance and customary acceleration rights after an event of default) prior to the date that is 91 days after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date and the latest Maturity Date in effect at the time of the incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness; (iv) the covenants, events of default, guarantees and other non-economic terms of such Indebtedness are either (A) customary for similar Indebtedness in light of then-prevailing market conditions (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) or (B) reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (v) any financial maintenance covenants with respect to such Indebtedness are not more restrictive to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries than those set forth in this Agreement; (vi) such Indebtedness shall not be Guaranteed by any Person that is not a Loan Party (or that does not simultaneously become a Loan Party); and (vii) such Indebtedness shall not include any restriction on the ability of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries to grant Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms hereof;
(k) any other unsecured Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party so long as after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis (as evidenced by delivery of a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate to the Administrative Agent), (i) Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VI measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder, (ii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or would result therefrom, (iii) the terms of such Indebtedness do not provide for any scheduled repayment (including payment at maturity), mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligations (other than customary mandatory prepayments upon a change of control, asset sale, event of loss, unpermitted debt issuance and customary acceleration rights after an event of default) prior to the date that is 91 days after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date and the latest Maturity Date in effect at the time of the incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness; (iv) the covenants, events of default, guarantees and other non-economic terms of such Indebtedness are either (A) customary for similar Indebtedness in light of then-prevailing market conditions (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) or (B) reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (v) any financial maintenance covenants with respect to such Indebtedness are not more restrictive to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries than those set forth in this Agreement; and (vi) such Indebtedness shall not be Guaranteed by any Person that is not a Loan Party (or that does not simultaneously become a Loan Party);
(l) Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or assets were acquired from such Person in connection with an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.4, to the extent that (i) such Indebtedness was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or the acquisition of such assets and (ii) neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary thereof (other than such Person or any other Person that such Person merges with or that acquires the assets of such Person) shall have any liability or other obligation with respect to such Indebtedness; and
(m) Indebtedness created pursuant to the Inventory Financing Agreement, so long as the Inventory Financing Agreement is terminated and no Indebtedness thereunder remains outstanding on or after March 31, 2023.
Section 7.2 Negative Pledge. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of its assets or property now owned or hereafter acquired (other than any shares of stock of Holdings that are repurchased by the Borrower and retired or held by Holdings), except:
(a) Permitted Encumbrances;
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(b) any Liens on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary existing on the Closing Date set forth on Schedule 7.2; provided, that such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(c) purchase money Liens upon or in any fixed or capital assets to secure the purchase price or the cost of construction or improvement of such fixed or capital assets or to secure Indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition, construction or improvement of such fixed or capital assets (including Liens securing any Capital Lease Obligations); provided, that (i) such Lien secures Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.1(c), (ii) such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently or within ninety (90) days after the acquisition, improvement or completion of the construction thereof; (iii) such Lien does not extend to any other asset and (iv) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets together with all interest, fees and costs incurred in connection therewith;
(d) any Lien (i) existing on any asset of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, (ii) existing on any asset of any Person at the time such Person is merged with or into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower or (iii) existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided, that any such Lien was not created in the contemplation of any of the foregoing and any such Lien secures only those obligations which it secures on the date that such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or the date of such merger or the date of such acquisition;
(e) extensions, renewals, or replacements of any Lien referred to in Sections 7.2(a) through 7.2(d); provided, that the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased and that any such extension, renewal or replacement is limited to the assets originally encumbered thereby;
(f) Liens securing the Obligations;
(g) Liens on shares of stock of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the Obligations are secured pari passu with any other Indebtedness or obligations secured thereby;
(h) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.1(j);
(i) Liens securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business (other than Indebtedness) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time $5,000,000;
(j) Liens securing Indebtedness under the Loan Facility Agreement; and
(k) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.1(m).
Section 7.3 Fundamental Changes.
(a) Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate into any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of (in a single transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired and
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including, in each case, pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division) or all or substantially all of the stock of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired) or liquidate or dissolve; provided, that (i) any Inactive Subsidiary may (A) liquidate into its immediate parent company or dissolve, (B) merge into any other Inactive Subsidiary or (C) merge into the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party; provided that the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party is the survivor of such merger, and (ii) if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (except, in the case of an Acquisition subject to the Incremental Funds Certain Provision, in which case there is no Default or Event of Default immediately before or immediately after execution and delivery of the applicable Acquisition Agreement and there is no Specified Event of Default at the date the applicable Permitted Acquisition is consummated) (A) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may merge with a Person (other than Holdings); provided, that (x) if the Borrower is party to such merger, the Borrower shall be the surviving Person and (y) if the Borrower is not a party to such merger, such Restricted Subsidiary or, in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, such Person if upon consummation of such merger such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, is the surviving Person, (B) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge into another Restricted Subsidiary or the Borrower; provided, however, that if the Borrower is a party to such merger, the Borrower shall be the surviving Person, provided, further, that if any Restricted Subsidiary to such merger is a Subsidiary Loan Party, the Subsidiary Loan Party shall be the surviving Person, (C) any Restricted Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to the Borrower or to a Subsidiary Loan Party, or (D) any other Restricted 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, is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders, and such Restricted Subsidiary dissolves into another Subsidiary Loan Party or the Borrower; provided, that any such merger involving a Person that is not a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by Section 7.4.
(b) Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than (i) substantially the same business as presently conducted or such other businesses that are reasonably related thereto, including but not limited to the business of leasing and selling furniture, consumer electronics, computers, appliances and other household goods and accessories inside and outside of the United States of America, through both independently-owned and franchised stores, providing lease-purchase solutions, credit and other financing solutions to customers for the purchase and lease of such products, the manufacture and supply of furniture and bedding for lease and sale in such stores, and the provision of virtual rent-to-own programs inside and outside of the United States of America (including but not limited to point-of-sale lease purchase programs), (ii) any other businesses which are ancillary or complementary to, or reasonable extensions or expansions of, the business of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Closing Date, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower and (iii) any businesses that are materially different from the business of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Closing Date provided that any Investments made, funds expended or financial support provided by Holdings, the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such alternative lines of business shall not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding.
Section 7.4 Investments, Loans, Etc. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary prior to such merger), any Capital Stock, evidence 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, any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person (all of the foregoing being collectively called Investments), or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person that constitute a business unit, or create or form any Subsidiary, except:
(a) Investments (other than Permitted Investments) in Restricted Subsidiaries in existence on the Closing Date and other Investments existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 7.4;
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(b) Permitted Investments;
(c) Permitted Acquisitions;
(d) Investments made by the Borrower in or to any Subsidiary Loan Party and by any Subsidiary Loan Party to the Borrower or in or to another Subsidiary Loan Party;
(e) loans or advances to employees, officers, stockholders or directors of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of all such loans and advances does not exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(f) loans to franchise operators and owners of franchises acquired or funded pursuant to the Loan Facility Agreement and the other credit facility agreements referenced in Section 7.1(f);
(g) Guarantees permitted under Section 7.1(f);
(h) the acquisition or ownership of stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts (created in the ordinary course of business) owing to any Subsidiary Loan Party or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries;
(i) loans to and other investments in Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that, the aggregate amount of such outstanding loans to and investments in such Foreign Subsidiaries do not exceed the amount permitted under Section 7.1(i);
(j) Investments in investment grade corporate bonds and variable rate demand notes having a rating of BBB+ (or the equivalent) or higher, at the time of acquisition thereof, from S&P or Moodys and in either case maturing within two years from the date of acquisition thereof in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000,000 at any time;
(k) other Investments (other than Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries); provided, that, (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) after giving effect to the payment thereof on a Pro Forma Basis, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VI measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder;
(l) other Investments (other than Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries) not to exceed $50,000,000 at any time; and
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(m) other Investments not to exceed, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to three percent (3.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered; provided, that, (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) after giving effect to the payment thereof on a Pro Forma Basis, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VI measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder.
Section 7.5 Restricted Payments. Holdings will not, and will not permit its Restricted Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any dividend on any class of its Capital Stock, or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition of, any shares of Capital Stock or Indebtedness subordinated to the Obligations of the Borrower or any options, warrants, or other rights to purchase such Capital Stock or such subordinated Indebtedness, whether now or hereafter outstanding (each, a Restricted Payment), except for (a) dividends payable by Holdings solely in shares of any class of its common stock, (b) Restricted Payments made by any Restricted Subsidiary to Holdings or to another Loan Party and (c) other Restricted Payments made by Holdings in cash so long as (x) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (y) after giving effect to the payment thereof on a Pro Forma Basis, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VI measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder.
Section 7.6 Sale of Assets. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of (including any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division), any of its assets, business or property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or, in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary, issue or sell any shares of such Restricted Subsidiarys Capital Stock to any Person other than the Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party (or to qualify directors if required by applicable law), except (a) the sale or other disposition for fair market value of obsolete or worn out property or other property not necessary for operations disposed of in the ordinary course of business, (b) the sale of inventory and Permitted Investments in the ordinary course of business, (c) sales and dispositions permitted under Section 7.3(a) and sale leaseback transactions permitted under Section 7.9, (d) sales of assets in connection with the sale of a store owned by Borrower to a franchisee of Borrower, (e) other sales of assets made on or after the date hereof not to exceed, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to five percent (5.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered, and (f) the sale or other disposition of assets in an amount at least equal to the fair market value of such asset (as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower) and at least 75% of the cash consideration of which is paid to the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiary in cash or Cash Equivalents.
Section 7.7 Transactions with Affiliates. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted 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 materially less favorable to Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arms-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among Holdings, the Borrower and its wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliates, (c) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 7.5 and (d) transactions permitted under Section 7.4(e).
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Section 7.8 Restrictive Agreements. Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to create, incur or permit any Lien upon any of its assets or properties, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or (b) the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to its Capital Stock, to make or repay loans or advances to Holdings or any other Restricted Subsidiary, to Guarantee Indebtedness of Holdings or any other Restricted Subsidiary or to transfer any of its property or assets to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings; provided, that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by law or by this Agreement, any other Transaction Document, the Loan Facility Agreement, or any other indenture, note purchase agreement or loan agreement in connection with any permitted refinancing of the Loan Facility Agreement, so long as the restrictions and conditions in such other indenture, note purchase agreement or loan agreement are no more burdensome in any material respect than those imposed by the Loan Facility Agreement, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Restricted Subsidiary pending such sale; provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Restricted Subsidiary that is sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iii) Section 7.8(a) shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement (including the Inventory Financing Agreement) if such restrictions and conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (iv) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions contained in the Inventory Financing Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date and (v) Section 7.8(a) shall not apply to customary provisions in leases restricting the assignment thereof.
Section 7.9 Sale and Leaseback Transactions. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereinafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property sold or transferred; provided, however, that the Borrower may engage in such sale and leaseback transactions so long as the aggregate fair market value of all assets sold and leased back does not exceed $150,000,000 from and after the date hereof.
Section 7.10 Legal Name, State of Formation and Form of Entity. Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, without providing ten (10) days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent (or such lesser period as the Administrative Agent may agree), change its name, state of formation or form of organization.
Section 7.11 Accounting Changes. Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make any significant change in accounting treatment or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP, or change the fiscal year of Holdings or of any Restricted Subsidiary, except to change the fiscal year of a Restricted Subsidiary to conform its fiscal year to that of Holdings.
Section 7.12 Hedging Transactions. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any Hedging Transaction, other than Hedging Transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management of its liabilities. Solely for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower acknowledges that a Hedging Transaction entered into for speculative purposes or of a speculative nature is not a Hedging Transaction entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks.
Section 7.13 Activities of Inactive Subsidiaries. Unless any Inactive Subsidiary has become a Subsidiary Loan Party in accordance with the terms of Section 5.10 of this Agreement, the Borrower will not permit such Inactive Subsidiary to engage in any business activity other than (a) maintaining its existence and/or winding up its affairs and (b) activities related to the completion of any ongoing tax audits, and (x) no Loan Party shall make any additional Investment in any Inactive Subsidiary other than in connection with the business and activities set forth in Sections 7.13(a) and (b) above and (y) no Inactive Subsidiary shall incur Indebtedness of any type (including, without limitation, any guaranties).
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Section 7.14 Government Regulation. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (a) be or become subject at any time to any law, regulation, or list of any Governmental Authority of the United States (including, without limitation, the OFAC list) that prohibits or limits the Lenders or the Administrative Agent from making any advance or extension of credit to the Borrower or from otherwise conducting business with the Loan Parties, or (b) fail to provide documentary and other evidence of the identity of the Loan Parties as may be reasonably requested by the Lenders or the Administrative Agent at any time to enable the Lenders or the Administrative Agent to verify the identity of the Loan Parties or to comply with any applicable law or regulation, including, without limitation, Section 326 of the Patriot Act at 31 U.S.C. Section 5318.
Section 7.15 Ownership of Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, Holdings will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to (a) permit any Person (other than the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary thereof) to own any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, except to qualify directors if required by applicable law, and except for any dispositions of Restricted Subsidiaries otherwise permitted under this Agreement, or (b) permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue or have outstanding any shares of preferred Capital Stock.
Section 7.16 Use of Proceeds. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
(a) Use any part of the proceeds of any Loan, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that would violate any rule or regulation of the Federal Reserve Board, including Regulations T, U or X.
(b) Request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, or use or allow its respective directors, officers, employees and agents to 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 or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party.
Section 7.17 Amendment of Organizational Documents. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, amend, modify or waive any of its rights in a manner materially adverse to the Lenders or any Loan Party under its charter, by-laws or other organizational document, except in any manner that would not have an adverse effect on the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
Section 7.18 Activities of Holdings. Holdings will not engage in any operations, business or activity other than (a) owning the Capital Stock in its Subsidiaries, (b) maintaining its corporate existence including the issuance of Capital Stock, holding director and shareholder meetings, and entering into those agreements and arrangements incidental thereto and incurring and paying fees, costs and expenses relating to thereto, (c) participating in tax, accounting, corporate and other administrative activities or other activities incidental thereto as a member of the consolidated group of companies including the Loan Parties, (d) executing, delivering and the performance of rights and obligations under the Loan Documents, (e) the consummation of the Transactions, (f) making any Restricted Payment permitted by this Agreement, (g) making capital contributions to the other Loan Parties, (h) executing, delivering and the performance of
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rights and obligations under any employment agreements and any documents related thereto, (i) making Investments permitted under this Agreement, (j) providing indemnification to its officers and directors in the ordinary course of business, (k) the performing of activities in preparation for and consummating any public offering of its Capital Stock or any other issuance or sale of its Capital Stock, (l) the holding of any cash and Cash Equivalents (but not owning or operating any property), (m) the entry into and performance of its obligations with respect to contracts and other arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business providing for indemnification to officers, managers, directors and employees, (n) any activities incidental to the foregoing or required to comply with applicable law, and (o) any action or transaction permitted hereunder.
ARTICLE VIII.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Section 8.1 Events of Default. If any of the following events (each an Event of Default) shall occur:
(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or of 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 or otherwise; or
(b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount payable under Section 8.1(a)) 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; or
(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including the Schedules attached thereto) and any amendments or modifications hereof or waivers hereunder, or in any certificate, report, financial statement or other document submitted to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders by any Loan Party or any representative of any Loan Party pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall prove to be incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made or submitted; or
(d) the Borrower or Holdings shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 (solely with respect to the Borrowers or Holdings existence), 5.9 or 5.11 or Article VI or VII; or
(e) (i) the Borrower or Holdings shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.12, and such failure shall remain unremedied for ten (10) Business Days after the earlier of (A) any officer of the Borrower becomes aware of such failure or (B) notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or (ii) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those referred to in Sections 8.1(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e)(i) above), and such failure shall remain unremedied for thirty (30) days after the earlier of (A) any officer of the Borrower becomes aware of such failure or (B) notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any Lender; or
(f) any event of default (after giving effect to any grace period) shall have occurred and be continuing under the Loan Facility Documents, or all or any part of the obligations due and owing under the Loan Facility Agreement are accelerated, declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid or redeemed, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof;
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(g) Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether as primary obligor or as guarantor or other surety) shall fail to pay any principal of or premium or interest on any Material Indebtedness that is outstanding, when and as the same shall become due and payable (whether at scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument evidencing such Indebtedness; or any other event shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating to such Indebtedness and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such event or condition is to accelerate, or permit the acceleration of, the maturity of such Indebtedness; or any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable; or required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or redemption), purchased or defeased, or any offer to prepay, redeem, purchase or defease such Indebtedness shall be required to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof; or
(h) Holdings, the Borrower, any Material Subsidiary, or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary, shall (i) commence a voluntary case or other proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in Section 8.1(i), (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official for Holdings, the Borrower or any such 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; or
(i) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of Holdings, the Borrower, any Material Subsidiary or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary, or its debts, or any substantial part of its assets, under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official for Holdings, the Borrower, any Material Subsidiary or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary, or for a substantial part of its assets, and in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall remain undismissed for a period of sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered; or
(j) Holdings, the Borrower, any Material Subsidiary or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary shall become unable to pay, shall admit in writing its inability to pay, or shall fail to pay, its debts as they become due; or
(k) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that when taken together with other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability to Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to two percent (2.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered, or otherwise having a Material Adverse Effect; or
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(l) judgments and orders for the payment of money in excess of in the aggregate, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to two percent (2.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered, to the extent not covered by insurance for which the insurance carrier has acknowledged coverage, shall be rendered against Holdings, the Borrower, any Material Subsidiary or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary, and to the extent such judgments or orders have not been discharged either (i) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or (ii) there shall be a period of thirty (30) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or
(m) any non-monetary judgment or order shall be rendered against Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there shall be a period of thirty (30) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or
(n) a Change in Control shall occur or exist; or
(o) any provision of any Guarantee Agreement or the Borrower Guarantee Agreement shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on, or enforceable against, any Guarantor, or any Guarantor shall so state in writing, or any Guarantor shall seek to terminate its Guarantee under the Guarantee Agreement or the Borrower Guarantee Agreement, as applicable; or
(p) any other Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document, or an event of default occurs under any other Loan Document (after giving effect to any applicable grace period); or
(q) the Administrative Agent shall not have or shall cease to have a valid and perfected lien in any material portion of the Collateral purported to be covered by the Collateral Documents for any reason other than the failure of the Administrative Agent to take any action within its control;
then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to Holdings or the Borrower described in Sections 8.1(h) or (i)) and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and upon the written 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, whereupon the Commitment of each Lender shall terminate immediately; (ii) declare the principal of and any accrued interest on the Loans, and all other Obligations owing hereunder, to be, whereupon the same 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) exercise all remedies contained in any other Loan
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Document; and (iv) exercise any other remedies available at law or in equity; and that, if an Event of Default specified in either Section 8.1(h) or 8.1(i) shall occur, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon, and all fees, and all other Obligations shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.
Section 8.2 Application of Funds.
After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.1 (or immediately after an Event of Default specified in either Section 8.1(h) or 8.1(i)), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:
(a) first, if there is any collateral securing the Obligations hereunder at such time, to the reimbursable expenses of the Administrative Agent incurred in connection with such sale or other realization upon the collateral, until the same shall have been paid in full;
(b) second, to the fees, all amounts owed pursuant to Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights, and other reimbursable expenses of the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks then due and payable pursuant to any of the Loan Documents, until the same shall have been paid in full;
(c) third, to all reimbursable expenses, if any, of the Lenders then due and payable pursuant to any of the Loan Documents, until the same shall have been paid in full;
(d) fourth, to the fees due and payable under the Loan Documents and interest then due and payable under the terms of the Loan Documents, until the same shall have been paid in full;
(e) fifth, to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans on a pro rata basis among each class thereof (allocated pro rata among the Lenders in respect of their Pro Rata Shares), to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans, the LC Exposure, the Hedging Obligations and the Treasury Management Obligations, until the same shall have been paid in full, allocated pro rata among any Lender and any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender holding Hedging Obligations or Treasury Management Obligations, based on their respective Pro Rata Shares of the aggregate amount of such Revolving Loans, LC Exposure, the Hedging Obligations and Treasury Management Obligations;
(f) sixth, to additional Cash Collateral for the aggregate amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit until the aggregate amount of all Cash Collateral held by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement is equal to one hundred five percent (105%) of the LC Exposure after giving effect to the foregoing Section 8.2(e); and
(g) to the extent any proceeds remain, to the Borrower or other parties lawfully entitled thereto.
All amounts allocated pursuant to the foregoing Sections 8.2(c) through (f) to the Lenders as a result of amounts owed to the Lenders under the Loan Documents shall be allocated among, and distributed to, the Lenders pro rata based on their respective Pro Rata Shares; provided, that all amounts allocated to that portion of the LC Exposure comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit pursuant to Sections 8.2(e) and (f) shall be distributed to the Administrative Agent, rather than to the Lenders, and held by the Administrative Agent in an account in the name of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Issuing Banks and the Lenders as Cash Collateral for the LC Exposure, such account to be administered in accordance with Section 2.24(g).
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Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to any Guarantor shall not be paid with amounts received from such Guarantor or its assets, but appropriate adjustments shall be made with respect to payments from other Loan Parties to preserve the allocation to Obligations otherwise set forth above in this Section 8.2.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Hedging Obligations and Treasury Management Obligations may be excluded from the application described above without any liability to the Administrative Agent, if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, from the applicable Lender or Affiliate of a Lender. Each such Lender or Affiliate of a Lender not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article IX for itself and its Affiliates as if a Lender party hereto.
ARTICLE IX.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Section 9.1 Appointment of Administrative Agent.
(a) Each Lender irrevocably appoints Truist Bank as the Administrative Agent and authorizes it to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with all such actions and powers that are reasonably incidental thereto. The Administrative Agent may perform any of its duties hereunder or under the other Loan Documents by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions set forth in this Article IX shall apply to any such sub-agent and the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
(b) Each Issuing Bank shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith until such time and except for so long as the Administrative Agent may agree at the request of the Required Lenders to act for such Issuing Bank with respect thereto; provided, that such Issuing Bank shall have all the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Administrative Agent in this Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such Issuing Bank in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and the application and agreements for letters of credit pertaining to the Letters of Credit as fully as the term Administrative Agent as used in this Article IX included such Issuing Bank with respect to such acts or omissions and (ii) as additionally provided in this Agreement with respect to such Issuing Bank.
(c) It is understood and agreed that the use of the term agent herein or in any other Loan Document (or any similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.
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Section 9.2 Nature of Duties of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except those discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 10.2), and (c) 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 Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it or its sub-agents with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 10.2) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or any Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements, or other terms and conditions set forth in any Loan Document, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article III or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
Section 9.3 Lack of Reliance on the Administrative Agent. Each of the Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Banks acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each of the Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Banks also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking of any action under or based on this Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder. Each of the Lenders, the Swingline Lender and Issuing Banks represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility and (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course and is entering into this Agreement as a Lender, the Swingline Lender or an Issuing Bank for the purpose of making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender, the Swingline Lender or an Issuing Bank, and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument, and each Lender, the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing. Each Lender, the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank represents and warrants that it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender, the Swingline Lender or such Issuing Bank, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities.
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Section 9.4 Certain Rights of the Administrative Agent. If the Administrative Agent shall request instructions from the Required Lenders with respect to any action or actions (including the failure to act) in connection with this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such act or taking such act, unless and until it shall have received instructions from such Lenders; and the Administrative Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining. Without limiting the foregoing, no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against the Administrative Agent as a result of the Administrative Agent acting or refraining from acting hereunder in accordance with the instructions of the Required Lenders where required by the terms of this Agreement.
Section 9.5 Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent may also rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts.
Section 9.6 The Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity. The bank serving as the Administrative Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and any other Loan Document in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise or refrain from exercising the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent; and the terms Lenders, Required Lenders, holders of Notes, or any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity. The bank acting as the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of business with Holdings or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of Holdings as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.
Section 9.7 Successor Administrative Agent.
(a) The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent, subject to the approval by the Borrower if no Default or Event of Default shall exist at such time. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed, and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or a bank which maintains an office in the United States, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000. Any resignation by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 9.7 shall also constitute its resignation as an Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successors appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder: (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender; (ii) the retiring Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the successor Issuing Bank shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangement satisfactory to the retiring Issuing Bank to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring Issuing Bank with respect to such Letters of Credit.
(b) If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (v) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the Removal Effective Date), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.
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(c) Upon the acceptance of its appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. If within forty-five (45) days after written notice is given of the retiring Administrative Agents resignation under this Section 9.7 no successor Administrative Agent shall have been appointed and shall have accepted such appointment, then on such 45th day (i) the retiring Administrative Agents resignation shall become effective, (ii) the retiring Administrative Agent shall thereupon be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Loan Documents and (iii) the Required Lenders shall thereafter perform all duties of the retiring Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided above. After any retiring or removed Administrative Agents resignation or removal hereunder, the provisions of this Article IX shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent and its representatives and agents in respect of any actions taken or not taken by any of them while it was serving as the Administrative Agent.
(d) In addition to the foregoing, if a Lender becomes, and during the period it remains, a Defaulting Lender, and if any Default has arisen from a failure of the Borrower to comply with Section 2.26(a)(ii), then the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender may, upon prior written notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, resign as Issuing Bank or as Swingline Lender, as the case may be, effective at the close of business Charlotte, North Carolina time on a date specified in such notice (which date may not be less than five (5) Business Days after the date of such notice).
Section 9.8 Authorization to Execute other Loan Documents. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute on behalf of all Lenders all Loan Documents other than this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Intercreditor Agreement after the occurrence of the Trigger Event.
Section 9.9 Withholding Tax. To the extent required by any applicable law, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any interest payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding tax. If the Internal Revenue Service or any authority of the United States or other jurisdiction asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender (because the appropriate form was not delivered, was not properly executed, or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstances that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax ineffective, or for any other reason), such Lender shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (to the extent that the Administrative Agent has not already been reimbursed by the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so) fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as tax or otherwise, including penalties and interest, together with all expenses incurred, including legal expenses, allocated staff costs and any out of pocket expenses.
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Section 9.10 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.
(a) In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any Revolving Credit Exposure shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans or Revolving Credit Exposure 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, Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent under Section 10.3) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(ii) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same.
(b) Any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each Issuing Bank to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, if the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Section 10.3.
(c) 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 any Issuing Bank any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
Section 9.11 Collateral and Guaranty Matters. The Lenders irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion:
(a) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon the termination of all Revolving Commitments, the Cash Collateralization of all reimbursement obligations with respect to Letters of Credit in an amount equal to 105% of the aggregate LC Exposure of all Lenders, and the payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations and such Cash Collateralized reimbursement obligations), (ii) that is sold or to be sold as part of or in connection with any sale permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document or the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.14, or (iii) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing in accordance with Section 10.2; and
(b) to release any Loan Party from its obligations under the applicable Collateral Documents if such Person ceases to be a Loan Party as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder.
Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agents authority to release its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Loan Party from its obligations under the applicable Collateral Documents pursuant to this Section 9.11. In each case as specified in this Section, the Administrative Agent is authorized, at the Borrowers expense, to execute and deliver to the
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applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the Liens granted under the applicable Collateral Documents, or to release such Loan Party from its obligations under the applicable Collateral Documents, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.11.
Section 9.12 Right to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guarantee. Anything contained in any of the Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, Holdings, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby agree that (i) no Lender shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce the Collateral Documents, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies hereunder and under the Collateral Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent, and (ii) in the event of a foreclosure by the Administrative Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition, the Administrative Agent or any Lender may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale or other disposition and the Administrative Agent, as agent for and representative of the Lenders (but not any Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise agree in writing), shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, to use and apply any of the Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by the Administrative Agent at such sale or other disposition.
Section 9.13 Erroneous Payments.
(a) If the Administrative Agent notifies a Lender, the Issuing Bank or other holder of Obligations, or any Person who has received funds on behalf of a Lender, the Issuing Bank or a holder of Obligations such Lender or Issuing Bank (any such Lender, Issuing Bank, holder of Obligations or other recipient, a Payment Recipient) that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion (whether or not after receipt of any notice under Section 9.13(b)) that any funds received by such Payment Recipient from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates were erroneously transmitted to, or otherwise erroneously or mistakenly received by, such Payment Recipient (whether or not known to such Lender, Issuing Bank, holder of Obligations or other Payment Recipient on its behalf) (any such funds, whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise, individually and collectively, an Erroneous Payment) and demands the return of such Erroneous Payment (or a portion thereof), such Erroneous Payment shall at all times remain the property of the Administrative Agent and shall be segregated by the Payment Recipient and held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, and such Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of Obligations shall (or, with respect to any Payment Recipient who received such funds on its behalf, shall cause such Payment Recipient to) promptly, but in no event later than two (2) Business Days thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made, in same day funds (in the currency so received), together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Payment Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in same day funds at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Payment Recipient under this Section 9.13(a) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(b) Without limiting Section 9.13(a), each Lender, the Issuing Bank or holder of Obligations, or any Person who has received funds on behalf of a Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of Obligations, such Lender or Issuing Bank, hereby further agrees that if it receives a payment, prepayment or repayment (whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal,
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interest, fees, distribution or otherwise) from the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment, (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates), or (z) that such Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of Obligations, or other such recipient, otherwise becomes aware was transmitted, or received, in error or by mistake (in whole or in part) in each case:
(i) (A) in the case of immediately preceding clauses (x) or (y), an error shall be presumed to have been made (absent written confirmation from the Administrative Agent to the contrary) or (B) an error has been made (in the case of immediately preceding clause (z)), in each case, with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment; and
(ii) such Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of Obligations shall (and shall cause any other recipient that receives funds on its respective behalf to) promptly (and, in all events, within one Business Day of its knowledge of such error) notify the Administrative Agent of its receipt of such payment, prepayment or repayment, the details thereof (in reasonable detail) and that it is so notifying the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 9.13(b).
(c) Each Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of Obligations hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off, net and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of Obligations under any Loan Document, or otherwise payable or distributable by the Administrative Agent to such Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of Obligations under any Loan Document with respect to any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts, against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under immediately preceding paragraph (a) or under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement.
(d) In the event that an Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) is not recovered by the Administrative Agent for any reason, after demand therefor by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 9.13(a), from any Lender or Issuing Bank that has received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) (and/or from any Payment Recipient who received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) on its respective behalf) (such unrecovered amount, an Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency), upon the Administrative Agents notice to such Lender or Issuing Bank at any time, (i) such Lender or Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have assigned its Loans (but not its Commitments) of the relevant Class with respect to which such Erroneous Payment was made (the Erroneous Payment Impacted Class) in an amount equal to the Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency (or such lesser amount as the Administrative Agent may specify) (such assignment of the Loans (but not Commitments) of the Erroneous Payment Impacted Class, the Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment) at par plus any accrued and unpaid interest (with the assignment fee to be waived by the Administrative Agent in such instance), and is hereby (together with the Borrower) deemed to execute and deliver an Assignment and Acceptance (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Acceptance by reference pursuant to a Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants) with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, and such Lender or Issuing Bank shall deliver any promissory notes evidencing such Loans to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, (ii) the Administrative Agent as the assignee Lender shall be deemed to acquire the Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, (iii) upon such deemed acquisition, the Administrative Agent as the assignee Lender shall become a Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable, hereunder with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment and the assigning
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Lender or assigning Issuing Bank shall cease to be a Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable, hereunder with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, its obligations under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement and its applicable Commitments which shall survive as to such assigning Lender or assigning Issuing Bank, and (iv) the Administrative Agent may reflect in the Register its ownership interest in the Loans subject to the Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment. The Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, sell any Loans acquired pursuant to an Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment and upon receipt of the proceeds of such sale, the Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency owing by the applicable Lender or Issuing Bank shall be reduced by the net proceeds of the sale of such Loan (or portion thereof), and the Administrative Agent shall retain all other rights, remedies and claims against such Lender or Issuing Bank (and/or against any recipient that receives funds on its respective behalf). For the avoidance of doubt, no Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment will reduce the Commitments of any Lender or Issuing Bank and such Commitments shall remain available in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. In addition, each party hereto agrees that, except to the extent that the Administrative Agent has sold a Loan (or portion thereof) acquired pursuant to an Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent may be equitably subrogated, the Administrative Agent shall be contractually subrogated to all the rights and interests of the applicable Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of Obligations under the Loan Documents with respect to each Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency (the Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights).
(e) The parties hereto agree that an Erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, except, in each case, to the extent such Erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such Erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower or any other Loan Party for the purpose of making such Erroneous Payment.
(f) To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Payment Recipient shall assert any right or claim to an Erroneous Payment, and hereby waives, and is deemed to waive, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Erroneous Payment received, including without limitation waiver of any defense based on discharge for value or any similar doctrine.
(g) Each partys obligations, agreements and waivers under this Section 9.13 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender or Issuing Bank, the termination of the Commitments and/or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations (or any portion thereof) under any Loan Document.
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ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1 Notices.
(a) Written Notices.
(i) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, all notices and other communications to any party herein to be effective 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:
To the Borrower: |
Aarons, LLC | |
400 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 300 | ||
Atlanta, GA 30339 | ||
Attn: Chief Financial Officer | ||
Telecopy Number: (855) 778-8565 | ||
with a copy to: | ||
Aarons, LLC | ||
400 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 300 | ||
Atlanta, GA 30339 | ||
Attn: General Counsel | ||
Telecopy Number: (855) 778-8565 | ||
To the Administrative Agent: |
Truist Bank | |
3333 Peachtree Road | ||
Atlanta, Georgia 30326 | ||
Attention: Tesha Winslow | ||
Telecopy Number: (404) 439-7327 | ||
With a copy to: |
Truist Bank | |
Agency Services | ||
303 Peachtree Street, N.E. / 25th Floor | ||
Atlanta, Georgia 30308 | ||
Attention: Agency Services | ||
Telecopy Number: (404) 495-2170 | ||
To an Issuing Bank: |
Truist Bank | |
25 Park Place, N.E. / Mail Code 3706 / | ||
16th Floor | ||
Atlanta, Georgia 30303 | ||
Attention: Standby Letter of Credit Dept. | ||
Telecopy Number: (404) 588-8129 | ||
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | ||
10 S. Dearborn Street, Floor L2S | ||
Chicago, IL 60603-2300 | ||
Attention: CLS Non Agented Servicing | ||
Team (Rajesh Gadige) | ||
Telephone: 806-790-5009 | ||
Telecopy Number: 214-307-6874 | ||
Bank of America, N.A. | ||
401 N. Tryon St; NC1-021-06-01 | ||
Charlotte, NC 28255 |
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To the Swingline Lender: To any other Lender: Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications
hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All such notices and other communications shall, when transmitted by overnight delivery, or faxed, be effective when delivered for overnight (next-day)
delivery, or transmitted in legible form by facsimile machine, respectively, or if mailed, upon the third Business Day after the date deposited into the mails or if delivered by hand, upon delivery; provided, that notices delivered to the
Administrative Agent, an Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender shall not be effective until actually received by such Person at its address specified in this Section 10.1. (ii) Any agreement of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders herein to receive certain notices by
telephone or facsimile is solely for the convenience and at the request of the Borrower. The Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on the authority of any Person purporting to be a Person authorized by the
Borrower to give such notice and the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and Lenders shall not have any liability to the Borrower or other Person on account of any action taken or not taken by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the
Lenders in reliance upon such telephonic or facsimile notice. The obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans and all other Obligations hereunder shall not be affected in any way or to any extent by any failure of the Administrative Agent, the
Issuing Banks and the Lenders to receive written confirmation of any telephonic or facsimile notice or the receipt by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders of a confirmation which is at variance with the terms understood by the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders to be contained in any such telephonic or facsimile notice. (b) Electronic
Communications. (i) Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereunder may be delivered
or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to
notices to any Lender or any Issuing Bank pursuant to Article II unless such Lender, such Issuing Bank, as applicable, and Administrative Agent have agreed to receive notices under such Article II by electronic communication
and have agreed to the procedures governing such communications. Administrative Agent or 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. 108
(ii) Unless Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (A) 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); provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or
communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (B) 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 Section 10.1(b)(ii)(A) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the
website address therefor (iii) The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make
Communications (as defined below) available to the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders by posting the Communications on Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar or a substantially similar electronic system (each, an Electronic
System). (iv) Any Electronic System used by the Administrative Agent is provided as is and
as available. The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the adequacy of such Electronic Systems and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Communications. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or
statutory, including, without limitation, any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from
viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Communications or any Electronic System. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the Agent
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, without limitation, 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 an Electronic System. Communications means, collectively,
any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender
or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section 10.1, including through an Electronic System. Section 10.2 Waiver; Amendments. (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder
or any other Loan Document, and no course of dealing between any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent, or any Lender, 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 right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power hereunder or thereunder. 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 provided by law. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Loan
Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by 109
Section 10.2(b), 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 the issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default or Event of Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or
knowledge of such Default or Event of Default at the time. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, including,
without limitation, as provided in Section 2.17 with respect to the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement or Conforming Changes (as set forth therein), no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the
other Loan Documents, nor consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Borrower, Holdings and the Required Lenders or the Borrower, Holdings and the
Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, that no amendment or waiver shall:
(i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the
written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the date fixed for any payment of any principal of, or interest on, any Loan or LC Disbursement or interest thereon or any fees hereunder or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse
any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date for the termination or reduction of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.22(b) or (c) in a
manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change any of the provisions of this Section 10.2 or the definition of Required
Lenders, Required Revolving Lenders or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders which are 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; (vi) release any guarantor or limit the liability of any such guarantor under any guaranty agreement (other than the release of a Guarantor in connection with its designation as a
Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of Section 5.14), without the written consent of each Lender; (vii) release all or substantially all collateral (if any) securing any of the Obligations or agree to
subordinate any Lien in all or substantially all of the collateral securing the Obligations to any other creditor of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, without the written consent of each Lender; (viii) prior to the Revolving
Commitments Termination Date, unless also signed by Required Revolving Lenders, no such amendment or waiver shall, (A) waive any Default or Event of Default for purposes of Section 3.2, (B) amend, change, waive,
discharge or terminate Sections 3.2 or 8.1 in a manner adverse to such Lenders or (C) amend, change, waive, discharge or terminate this Section 10.2(b)(viii); (ix) change
Section 2.9(b) in a manner that would alter the ratable reduction or termination of Commitments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender; or (x) subordinate the payment priority of the Obligations
or subordinate the Liens granted to the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations) in the Collateral, without the written consent of each Lender; provided, further, that no such agreement shall amend,
modify or otherwise affect the rights, duties or obligations of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank without the prior written consent of such Person. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this
Agreement may be amended and restated without the consent of any Lender (but with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) if, upon giving effect to such amendment and restatement, such Lender shall no longer be a party to this
Agreement (as so amended and restated), the Commitments of such Lender shall have terminated (but such Lender shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.19, 2.20, 2.21 and 10.3), such Lender shall have no
other commitment or other obligation hereunder and shall have been paid in full all principal, interest and other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement; provided, further,
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that (v) a Refinancing Facility Amendment shall be effective if signed by the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, each Person that agrees to provide a portion of the applicable
Refinancing Facility and, if such Refinancing Facility is a Refinancing Revolving Facility, each Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender, (w) this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) to change, modify or alter
Section 2.22 or Article VIII or any other provision hereof relating to the pro rata sharing of payments among the Lenders to the extent necessary to implement any Refinancing Facility in accordance with
Section 2.27 with the written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, the other Loan Parties, the Lenders providing such Refinancing Facility and, if such Refinancing Facility is a Refinancing Revolving Facility,
each Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender thereunder, (x) any Permitted Amendments allowing for extensions of the maturity date(s) of any Loans and/or Commitment shall be effective if signed by the Administrative Agent, the Loan Parties and
those Lenders willing to extend the maturity date(s) of such Loans and/or Commitments hereunder (it being understood that each Lender with a Loan or Commitment being extended shall have the opportunity to participate in such extension on the same
terms and conditions as each other Lender with the same Type of Loan or Commitment), (y) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall be permitted to amend any provision of the Loan Documents (and such amendment shall become effective without any
further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document) if the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall have jointly identified an obvious error or any error or omission of a technical or immaterial nature in any such provision and
(z) this Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Additional Lenders, as applicable, and the Borrower (A) to add one or more Incremental Revolving Commitments or Incremental Term Loans to this
Agreement, in each case subject to the limitations in Section 2.25, and to permit the extensions of credit and all related obligations and liabilities arising in connection therewith from time to time outstanding to share
ratably (or on a basis subordinated to the existing facilities hereunder) in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the obligations and liabilities from time to time outstanding in respect of the existing facilities
hereunder (including, in the case of any Incremental Term Loan, customary mandatory prepayment provisions reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent if the Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loan so require) and (B) in connection
with the foregoing, to permit, as deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent and approved by the Required Lenders, the Lenders providing such additional credit facilities to obtain comparable tranche voting rights with respect to each such
Incremental Revolving Commitment or Incremental Term Loan and to participate in any required vote or action required to be approved by the Required Lenders or by any other number, percentage or class of Lenders hereunder. (c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any
amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended, and amounts payable to such Lender hereunder may not be permanently reduced, without the consent of such Lender (other than
reductions in fees and interest in which such reduction does not disproportionately affect such Lender). Section 10.3 Expenses; Indemnification. (a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable,
out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of
counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of the Loan Documents and any amendments,
modifications or waivers thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be consummated), including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of
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counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, (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 costs and expenses (but limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses, to the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements
and other charges of one counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders taken a whole, and, if necessary, of one local counsel in any relevant material jurisdiction and, if necessary, of one regulatory counsel in any material specialty and, in
the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, one additional counsel to the affected indemnified persons taken as a whole) incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in connection with the
enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section 10.3, or in connection with the Loans made or any 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 (and any sub-agent thereof),
the Arrangers, each Lender and each Issuing Bank, 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 fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys
who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or
delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by an 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) the use by any Person of any information or materials obtained through Syndtrak or any other Internet Web Sites, (iv) any actual or alleged
presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, or (v) any actual or
prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether
any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in
bad faith of such Indemnitees obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, in each case so long as the Borrower or such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court
of competent jurisdiction. This Section 10.3(b) shall not apply to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, liabilities, etc. arising from a non-Tax claim.
(c) From and after the occurrence of the Trigger Event, the Borrower shall pay, and hold the Administrative Agent, the
Arrangers, each Issuing Bank and each of the Lenders harmless from and against, any and all present and future stamp, documentary, and other similar taxes with respect to this Agreement and any other Loan Documents, any collateral described therein,
or any payments due thereunder, and save the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, each Issuing Bank and each Lender harmless from and against any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any delay or omission to pay such taxes. 112
(d) To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be
paid to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender under Sections 10.3(a), (b) or (c) hereof, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, the
Arrangers, such Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, such Lenders Pro Rata Share (determined as of the time that the unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided, that the
unreimbursed expense or indemnified payment, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, such Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender in its capacity as
such. (e) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against
any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to actual or direct damages) arising out of, in connection with or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument
contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated therein, any Loan or any Letter of Credit or the use of proceeds thereof. (f) All amounts due under this Section 10.3 shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.
Section 10.4 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, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and no Lender may assign
or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.4(b), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of
Section 10.4(d) or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.4(f) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party
hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent
provided in Section 10.4(d) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this
Agreement. (b) Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations
under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments, Loans, and other Revolving Credit Exposure at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions: (i) Minimum Amounts. (A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lenders Commitments, Loans and other
Revolving Credit Exposure at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and 113
(B) in any case not described in
Section 10.4(b)(i)(A), the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans and Revolving Credit Exposure outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the
principal outstanding balance of the Loans and Revolving Credit Exposure of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the
Administrative Agent or, if Trade Date is specified in the Assignment and Acceptance, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents. (ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made
as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans, other Revolving Credit Exposure or the Commitments assigned. (iii) Required Consents. The following consents (and no others) shall be required for any assignment: (A) the prior written consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required
unless (x) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (y) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; (B) the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be
required for assignments to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; (C) the prior written consent of each Issuing Bank (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required
for any assignment in respect of the Revolving Commitments, and the prior written consent of the Swingline Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Revolving Commitments;
and (D) any consent required pursuant to Section 10.4(b)(i)(B). (iv) Assignment and Acceptance. The parties to each assignment shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (A) a duly
executed Assignment and Acceptance, (B) a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, (C) an Administrative Questionnaire unless the assignee is already a Lender and (D) the documents required under Section 2.21(e)
if such assignee is a Foreign Lender. (v) No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made to
(A) Holdings or any of Holdings Affiliates or Subsidiaries or (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing persons described in
this Section 10.4(b)(v)(B). (vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment
shall be made to a natural person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of one or more natural persons). 114
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to
Section 10.4(c), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and
Acceptance, 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 Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement
(and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance 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 2.19, 2.20, 2.21 and 10.3 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided that, except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed
by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lenders having been a Defaulting Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights
or obligations under this Agreement that does not fully comply with this Section 10.4(b) 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 Section 10.4(d). If the consent of the Borrower to an assignment is required hereunder (including a consent to an assignment which does not meet the minimum assignment thresholds specified above), the
Borrower shall be deemed to have given its consent ten Business Days after the date notice thereof has actually been delivered by the assigning Lender (through the Administrative Agent) to the Borrower, unless such consent is expressly refused by
the Borrower prior to such tenth Business Day. (c) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of
the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in Atlanta, Georgia a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal
amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans and Revolving Credit Exposure owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the Register). Information contained in the Register with respect to any Lender
shall be available for inspection by such Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice; information contained in the Register shall also be available for inspection by the Borrower at any reasonable time and from
time to time upon reasonable prior notice. In establishing and maintaining the Register, Administrative Agent shall serve as Borrowers agent solely for tax purposes and solely with respect to the actions described in this
Section 10.4(c), and the Borrower hereby agrees that, to the extent Truist Bank serves in such capacity, Truist Bank and its officers, directors, employees, agents, sub-agents and
affiliates shall constitute Indemnitees. (d) Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to,
the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Banks sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, Holdings or any of Holdings Affiliates or Subsidiaries or a Defaulting Lender) (each, a
Participant) 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 (i) such
Lenders obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent,
the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement. (e) 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 115
Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver with respect to the following to the extent affecting such Participant: (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the
written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby,
(iii) postpone the date fixed for any payment of any principal of, or interest on, any Loan or LC Disbursement or interest thereon or any fees hereunder or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date
for the termination or reduction of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.22(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of
payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change any of the provisions of this Section 10.4 or the definitions of Required Lenders or Required Revolving Lenders
or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders which are required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the consent of each Lender;
(vi) release any Guarantor or limit the liability of any such Guarantor under the Guarantee Agreement or the Borrower Guarantee Agreement without the written consent of each Lender except to the extent such release is expressly
provided under the terms of such agreement; or (vii) release all or substantially all collateral (if any) securing any of the Obligations. Subject to this Section 10.4, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall
be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.19, 2.20, and 2.21 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.4(b). To the extent
permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.7 as though it were a Lender; provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.22 as though
it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an 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 Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury
Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this
Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register. (f) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.19 and
Section 2.21 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the
Borrowers prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.21 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold
to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 2.21(e) as though it were a Lender. (g) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to
secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations
hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto. 116
Section 10.5 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service
of Process. (a) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be construed in accordance with and be governed
by the law (without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof) of the State of New York; provided that the laws of the State of Delaware shall govern in determining (i) the interpretation of Material Adverse
Effect (as defined in the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement) (solely for purposes of determining a Target Material Adverse Effect), (ii) whether the Project Everglade Acquisition has been consummated as contemplated by the
Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement and (iii) whether any Specified Acquisition Agreement Representation is accurate and whether as a result of any inaccuracy thereof the Borrower or any of the Borrowers Affiliates have the right
(without regard to any notice requirement) to terminate its obligations under the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement or otherwise decline to consummate the Project Everglade Acquisition (in each case, without regard to conflict of laws
principles that would result in the application of the laws of another jurisdiction). (b) Each of Holdings and the
Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting
in New York County, 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 contemplated hereby or thereby, or for
recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such District Court or New York state
court or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, such appellate court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the
judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or 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 or any other Loan Document against the Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction. (c)
Each of Holdings and the Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding described in Section 10.5(b) and
brought in any court referred to in Section 10.5(b). Each of the parties hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action
or proceeding in any such court. (d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to the service of process in the
manner provided for notices in Section 10.1. Nothing in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. Section 10.6 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON
CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF
117
LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY,
AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.6. Section 10.7 Right of Setoff. In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law
and not by way of limitation of any such rights, each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each of their respective Affiliates shall have the right, at any time or from time to time upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default,
without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being expressly waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply against all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) of the
Borrower at any time held or 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 Obligations held by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or
any such Affiliate, as the case may be, irrespective of whether such Lender, such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate shall have made demand hereunder and although such Obligations may be unmatured; 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 2.27
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 Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. Each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each such Affiliate agree promptly to
notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower after any such set-off and any application made by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate, as the case may be; provided, that the failure
to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. Section 10.8 Counterparts; Integration. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties
to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by telecopy), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and any separate
letter agreement(s) relating to any fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto and thereto regarding the subject matters hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings,
oral or written, regarding such subject matters. Section 10.9 Survival. All covenants,
agreements, representations and warranties made by any Loan Party herein, in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by
the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans 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 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 2.19, 2.20, 2.21 and 10.3 and Article IX 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 provision hereof. All representations and warranties made herein, in
the Loan Documents, in the certificates, reports, notices, and other documents delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and the making of the Loans and the issuance
of the Letters of Credit. 118
Section 10.10 Severability. Any provision of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability without affecting the legality,
validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof or thereof; and the illegality, invalidity or unenforceability of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any
other jurisdiction. Section 10.11 Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, each Issuing
Bank and each Lender agrees to take normal and reasonable precautions to maintain the confidentiality of any information designated in writing as confidential and provided to it by Holdings or any Subsidiary, except that such information may be
disclosed (a) to any Related Party of the Administrative Agent, any such Issuing Bank or any such Lender, including without limitation accountants, legal counsel and other advisors, (b) to the extent required by applicable laws or
regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (c) to the extent requested by any regulatory agency or authority, (d) to the extent that such information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this
Section 10.11, or which becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower, (e) in
connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to
provisions substantially similar to this Section 10.11, to any actual or prospective assignee or Participant and (g) with the consent of the Borrower. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of any
information as provided for in this Section 10.11 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 its own confidential information. Section 10.12 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 may be treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law
(collectively, the Charges), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate of interest (the Maximum Rate) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by a 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 10.12 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 Federal Funds Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender. Section 10.13 Patriot Act. The Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby notifies the Loan Parties
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 or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the Patriot Act. Section 10.14 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each
transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each of Holdings and the Borrower acknowledges and agrees and acknowledges its Subsidiaries
understanding that: (i) (A) the services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and/or the Lenders are arms-length commercial transactions between the Borrower
and each other Loan Party, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) each of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the
extent they have deemed 119
appropriate, and (C) the Borrower and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating and understanding, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions
contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has
not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender has any
obligation to the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their Affiliates with respect to the transaction contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the
Administrative Agent, the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower, the other Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and each of the
Administrative Agent and Lenders has no obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower, any other Loan Party of any of their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Borrower and the other Loan
Parties hereby waive and release any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and each Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated
hereby. Section 10.15 Acknowledgement and Consent to
Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties,
each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and
Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by: (a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable
Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and (b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable
(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability, (ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent
undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement
or any other Loan Document or (iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority. Section 10.16 Certain ERISA Matters. (a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and
(y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the
Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true: (i) such Lender is not using
plan assets (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lenders entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of
Credit, the Commitments or this Agreement; 120
(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; (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 either
(1) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the
date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan
Party, that the Administrative Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lenders entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments
and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto) Section 10.17 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Support QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Hedging Obligations or any other agreement or
instrument that is a QFC (such support, QFC Credit Support and each such QFC a Supported QFC), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder,
the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be
governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States) 121
(a) In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a
Covered Party) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such
Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special
Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act
Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against
such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or
a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a
Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support. (b) As used in this Section 10.18, the following terms have the following
meanings: BHC Act Affiliate of a party means an affiliate (as such term is defined under, and
interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party. Covered Entity shall mean any of
the following: (i) a covered entity as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with,
12 C.F.R. §252.82(b); (ii) a covered bank as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with,
12 C.F.R. §47.3(b); or (iii) a covered FSI as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with,
12 C.F.R. §382.2(b). Default Right has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be
interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. QFC has
the meaning assigned to the term qualified financial contract in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D). (remainder of page left intentionally blank) 122
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed
under seal in the case of the Borrower and Holdings by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written. AARONS, LLC CREDIT AGREEMENT
AARONS, LLC CREDIT AGREEMENT
as Administrative Agent, as an Issuing Bank, as Swingline Lender and as a Lender By: /s/ Tesha Winslow Name: Tesha Winslow Title: Director AARONS, LLC CREDIT AGREEMENT
as a Lender and an Issuing Bank By: /s/ Alexandra Vardaman Name: Alexandra Vardaman Title: Authorized Officer AARONS, LLC CREDIT AGREEMENT
as a Lender and an Issuing Bank By: /s/ Ryan Maples Name: Ryan Maples Title: Sr. Vice President AARONS, LLC CREDIT AGREEMENT
as a Lender and an Issuing Bank By: /s/ Douglas M Kennedy Name: Douglas M Kennedy Title: Senior Vice President AARONS, LLC CREDIT AGREEMENT
as a Lender By: /s/ Chris Parker Name: Chris Parker Title: Director AARONS, LLC CREDIT AGREEMENT
as a Lender By: /s/ Cheryl L. Shelhart Name: Cheryl L. Shelhart Title: Director AARONS, LLC CREDIT AGREEMENT
as a Lender By: /s/ Tejas Patel Name: Tejas Patel Title: Director - Corporate Banking AARONS, LLC CREDIT AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE 1.1(a) APPLICABLE MARGIN AND APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE Pricing I II III IV
Citizens Bank, N.A.
Attn: International Department
20 Cabot Rd Mailstop: MMF470
Medford, MA 02155
Telephone: 888-868-0212
Truist Bank
Agency Services
303 Peachtree Street, N.E. / 25th Floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Attention: Agency Services
Telecopy Number: (404) 495-2170
the address set forth on the Administrative
Questionnaire or in the Assignment and
Acceptance that such Lender executes
AARONS, LLC
By:
/s/ C. Kelly Wall
Name: C. Kelly Wall
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
[SEAL]
THE AARONS COMPANY, INC.
By:
/s/ C. Kelly Wall
Name: C. Kelly Wall
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
[SEAL]
TRUIST BANK,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
CITIZENS BANK, N.A.,
FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
REGIONS BANK,
SYNOVUS BANK,
Level
Total Net Debt to
EBITDA Ratio
Applicable Margin
for SOFR Loans
Applicable Margin
for Base Rate Loans
Applicable
Percentage for
Commitment Fee
Less than 0.75:1.00
1.50% per annum
0.50% per annum
0.20% per annum
Less than 1.25:1.00 but
greater than or equal to
0.75:1.00
1.75% per annum
0.75% per annum
0.25% per annum
Less than 1.75:1.00 but
greater than or equal to
1.25:1.00
2.00% per annum
1.00% per annum
0.25% per annum
Greater than or equal to
1.75:1.00
2.25% per annum
1.25% per annum
0.30% per annum
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE AGREEMENT
[ ], 202[ ]
Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2022 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement), among Aarons, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (the Borrower), The Aarons Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation (Holdings), the lenders from time to time party thereto (the Lenders) and Truist Bank, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders, an Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender.
The [name of assignor] (the Assignor) hereby sells and assigns, without recourse, to [name of assignee] (the Assignee), and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes, without recourse, from the Assignor, effective as of the Assignment Date set forth below, the interests set forth below (the Assigned Interest) in the Assignors rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement, including, without limitation, the interests set forth below in the Commitments of the Assignor on the Assignment Date and Loans owing to the Assignor which are outstanding on the Assignment Date, together with, in the case of any assignment of Revolving Commitments, the participations in the LC Exposure and the Swingline Exposure of the Assignor on the Assignment Date, but excluding accrued interest and fees to and excluding the Assignment Date. The Assignee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Credit Agreement.
From and after the Assignment Date:
(i) the Assignee shall be a party to and be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, have the rights and obligations of a Lender thereunder; and
(ii) the Assignor shall, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement.
This Assignment and Acceptance is being delivered to the Administrative Agent, together with (i) if the Assignee is a Foreign Lender, any documentation required to be delivered by the Assignee pursuant to Section 2.21(e) of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee, and (ii) if the Assignee is not already a Lender under the Credit Agreement, an Administrative Questionnaire in the form supplied by the Administrative Agent, duly completed by the Assignee. The Assignee shall pay the fee payable to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.4(b)(iv) of the Credit Agreement.
The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, Holdings, any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, Holdings, any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.
The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets all requirements under Section 10.4(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) of the Credit Agreement for eligibility as an assignee (subject to receipt of such consents as may be required under the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date (defined below), it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.1 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and (v) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached to the Assignment and Acceptance is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.
From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Administrative Agent.
This Assignment and Acceptance shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Acceptance may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Acceptance by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Acceptance. This Assignment and Acceptance shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Assignment Date:
Legal Name of Assignor:
Legal Name of Assignee:
Assignees Address for Notices:
_________________________________ |
_________________________________ |
_________________________________ |
Effective Date of
Assignment: (Effective Date):
Assignor[s] |
Assignee[s] | Aggregate Amount of Revolving Commitments for all Lenders |
Amount of Revolving Commitments Assigned |
Percentage Assigned of Revolving Commitments |
Aggregate Amount of Term Loan [Commitments] for all Lenders |
Amount of Term Loan [Commitments] Assigned |
Percentage Assigned of Term Loan [Commitments] |
CUSIP Number |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | ____________ | $ | _________ | _____ | % | $ | ____________ | $ | _________ | _____ | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
$ | ____________ | $ | _________ | _____ | % | $ | ____________ | $ | _________ | _____ | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
$ | ____________ | $ | _________ | _____ | % | $ | ____________ | $ | _________ | _____ | % |
The terms set forth above are hereby agreed to:
[Name of Assignor], as Assignor |
By________________________________________ |
Name: |
Title: |
[Name of Assignor], as Assignor |
By________________________________________ |
Name: |
Title: |
The undersigned hereby consents to the within assignment:
[AARONS, LLC, as the Borrower |
By______________________________________ |
Name: |
Title: |
TRUIST BANK, as Administrative Agent |
By______________________________________ |
Name: |
Title: |
TRUIST BANK, as an Issuing Bank |
By______________________________________ |
Name: |
Title: |
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as an Issuing Bank |
By______________________________________ |
Name: |
Title: |
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as an Issuing Bank |
By______________________________________ |
Name: |
Title: |
CITIZENS BANK, N.A., as an Issuing Bank |
By______________________________________ |
Name: |
Title: |
TRUIST BANK, as Swingline Lender |
By______________________________________ |
Name: |
Title:]1 |
1 | Consents to be included to the extent required by Section 10.4(b) of the Credit Agreement. |
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of April 1, 2022, is by and among AARONS, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (the Borrower), THE AARONS COMPANY, INC., a Georgia corporation (Holdings), each of the Subsidiaries of the Holdings identified on the signature pages hereto (together with Holdings, each, individually, a Guarantor and collectively, the Guarantors) and TRUIST BANK, a North Carolina banking corporation, as administrative agent (the Administrative Agent) for the several banks and other financial institutions (the Lenders) from time to time party to the Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Borrower, Holdings, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks, and Truist Bank, as Administrative Agent and as Swingline Lender (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Lenders have agreed to establish a revolving credit facility, a letter of credit subfacility, a swingline subfacility and a term loan facility in favor of the Borrower;
WHEREAS, (a) Holdings is the direct parent of the Borrower and (b) each of the other Guarantors is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Holdings and, in each of the cases of clause (a) and (b) above, will derive substantial direct or indirect benefits from the making of Loans by the Lenders and the issuance of Letters of Credit by the Issuing Banks; and
WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligations of the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender and the Lenders under the Credit Agreement that each Guarantor execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent this Agreement, and each Guarantor wishes to fulfill such condition precedent;
NOW, THEREFORE, in order to induce Lenders to extend the Loans and each Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit and to make the other financial accommodations provided for in the Credit Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Section 1. Guarantee.
Each Guarantor unconditionally guarantees, jointly with the other Guarantors and severally, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, (a) the due and punctual payment of all Obligations, including without limitation, (i) the principal of and premium, if any, and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Loans, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for prepayment or otherwise, (ii) each payment required to be made by the Borrower under the Credit Agreement in respect of any Letter of Credit, when and as due, including payments in respect of reimbursement or disbursements, interest thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral, and (iii) all other monetary obligations, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar
proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), of the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (b) the due and punctual performance of all covenants, agreements, obligations and liabilities of the Loan Parties under or pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (c) the due and punctual payment and performance of all Hedging Obligations between any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender, and (d) all Treasury Management Obligations between any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender, together with all renewals, extensions, modifications or refinancings of any of the foregoing (all the monetary and other obligations referred to in the preceding Sections 1(a) through 1(d) being collectively called the Guaranteed Obligations), provided that Guaranteed Obligations shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from such Guarantor, and that such Guarantor will remain bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligations.
Section 2. Obligations Not Waived.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives presentment or protest to, demand of or payment from the other Loan Parties of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and also waives notice of acceptance of its guarantee and notice of protest for nonpayment. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected by (a) the failure of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce or exercise any right or remedy against the Borrower or any other Guarantor under the provisions of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any agreement relating to Hedging Obligations or Treasury Management Obligations or otherwise, (b) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or any release from any of the terms or provisions of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any agreement relating to Hedging Obligations or Treasury Management Obligations, any guarantee or any other agreement, including with respect to any other Guarantor under this Agreement or (c) the failure to perfect any security interest in, or the release of, any of the security held by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender.
Section 3. Guarantee of Payment.
Each Guarantor further agrees that its guarantee hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due and not of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to any of the security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations or 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 the Borrower or any other Person.
Section 4. No Discharge or Diminishment of Guarantee.
The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the indefeasible satisfaction in full of the Guaranteed Obligations and the termination of all of the Commitments under the Credit Agreement or the termination of its guarantee hereunder to the extent provided in Section 12 below), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and shall not be subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under the Credit Agreement, any other
Loan Document, any agreement relating to Hedging Obligations or Treasury Management Obligations or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any provision of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Guaranteed Obligations, or by any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to the extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of each Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the indefeasible satisfaction in full of the Guaranteed Obligations and the termination of all of the Commitments under the Credit Agreement or the termination of its guarantee hereunder to the extent provided in Section 12 below).
Section 5. Defenses of Borrower Waived.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of any Loan Party or the unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of any Loan Party, other than the final and indefeasible satisfaction in full of the Guaranteed Obligations and the termination of all of the Commitments under the Credit Agreement or the termination of its guarantee hereunder to the extent provided in Section 12 below. The Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders may, at their election, foreclose on any security held by one or more of them by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such security in lieu of foreclosure, compromise or adjust any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with any other Loan Party or any other guarantor, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the Guaranteed Obligations have been fully, finally and indefeasibly satisfied in full and all of the Commitments under the Credit Agreement have been terminated or the termination of its guarantee hereunder to the extent provided in Section 12 below. Pursuant to applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election operates, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or to extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of such Guarantor against the Borrower or any other Guarantor or guarantor, as the case may be, or any security.
Section 6. Agreement to Pay; Subordination.
In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Borrower or any other Loan Party to pay any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, each Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in cash the amount of such unpaid Guaranteed Obligation. Upon payment by any Guarantor of any sums to the Administrative Agent, all rights of such Guarantor against any Loan Party arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the Obligations. If any amount shall erroneously be paid to any Guarantor on account of such subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or similar right, such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders and shall forthwith be paid to the Administrative Agent to be credited against the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents.
Section 7. Information.
Each Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of other Loan Parties financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that such Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder, and agrees that none of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Lenders will have any duty to advise any of the Guarantors of information known to it or any of them regarding such circumstances or risks.
Section 8. Indemnity and Subrogation.
In addition to all such rights of indemnity and subrogation as the Guarantors may have under applicable law (but subject to Section 6), the Borrower agrees that in the event a payment in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations shall be made by any Guarantor under this Agreement, the Borrower shall indemnify such Guarantor for the full amount of such payment and such Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of the person to whom such payment shall have been made to the extent of such payment.
Section 9. Contribution and Subrogation.
Each Guarantor (a Contributing Guarantor) agrees (subject to Section 6) that, in the event a payment shall be made by any other Guarantor under this Agreement in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations and such other Guarantor (the Claiming Guarantor) shall not have been fully indemnified by the Borrower as provided in Section 8, the Contributing Guarantor shall indemnify the Claiming Guarantor in an amount equal to the amount of such payment multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the net worth of the Contributing Guarantor on the date hereof and the denominator shall be the aggregate net worth of all the Guarantors on the date hereof (or, in the case of any Guarantor becoming a party hereto pursuant to Section 21, the date of the Supplement hereto executed and delivered by such Guarantor). Any Contributing Guarantor making any payment to a Claiming Guarantor pursuant to this Section 9 shall be subrogated to the rights of such Claiming Guarantor under Section 8 to the extent of such payment; provided that no Contributing Guarantor shall be obligated to indemnify any Claiming Guarantor hereunder to the extent such Guaranteed Obligations constitute Excluded Swap Obligations of such Contributing Guarantor
Section 10. Subordination.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, all rights of the Guarantors under Section 8 and Section 9 and all other rights of indemnity, contribution or subrogation under applicable law or otherwise shall be fully subordinated to the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations. No failure on the part of the Borrower or any Guarantor to make the payments required under applicable law or otherwise shall in any respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor with respect to its obligations hereunder, and each Guarantor shall remain liable for the full amount of the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder.
Section 11. Representations and Warranties.
Holdings represents and warrants as to itself that all representations and warranties relating to it contained in the Credit Agreement are true and correct. Each other Guarantor represents and warrants as to itself that all representations and warranties relating to it (as a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings) contained in the Credit Agreement are true and correct.
Section 12. Termination.
The guarantees made hereunder (a) shall terminate when all the Guaranteed Obligations (other than Guaranteed Obligations consisting of (i) unliquidated Hedging Obligations owed by any Loan Party to any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender that are not then due and payable at the time of such termination or as a result thereof, and (ii) ongoing Treasury Management Obligations between any Loan Party and
any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender that are not then due and payable at the time of such termination or as a result thereof) have been satisfied in full and all of the Commitments under the Credit Agreement have been terminated and (b) shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any such Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Lender or any Issuing Bank or any Guarantor upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower, any Guarantor or otherwise. In connection with the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to such Guarantor or such Guarantors designee, at such Guarantors expense, any documents or instruments, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which such Guarantor shall reasonably request from time to time to evidence such termination and release.
Section 13. Binding Effect; Several Agreement; Assignments.
Whenever in this Agreement any of the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the successors and assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and agreements by or on behalf of the Loan Parties that are contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Agreement shall become effective as to any Loan Party when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf of such Loan Party shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent, and a counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Administrative Agent, and thereafter shall be binding upon such Loan Party and the Administrative Agent and their respective successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of such Loan Party, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders, and their respective successors and assigns, except that no Loan Party shall have the right to assign its rights or obligations hereunder or any interest herein (and any such attempted assignment shall be void). If (a) all of the Capital Stock of a Guarantor (other than Holdings) is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of pursuant to a transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement or (b) a Guarantor (other than Holdings) ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement, then such Guarantor shall be released from its obligations under this Agreement without further action. This Agreement shall be construed as a separate agreement with respect to each Loan Party and may be amended, modified, supplemented, waived or released with respect to any Loan Party without the approval of any other Loan Party party hereto and without affecting the obligations of any other Guarantor hereunder.
Section 14. Waivers; Amendment.
No failure or delay of the Administrative Agent of any kind in exercising any power, right or remedy hereunder and no course of dealing between any Guarantor on the one hand and the Administrative Agent or any holder of any Guaranteed Obligation on the other hand shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or remedy hereunder, under any other Loan Document, under any agreement relating to Hedging Obligations or Treasury Management Obligations or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a power, right or remedy, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other power, right or remedy. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent hereunder and of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks under the other Loan Documents and under any agreement relating to Hedging Obligations or Treasury Management Obligations 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 any Guarantor therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by Section 14(b), and then such waiver and consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on any Guarantor in any case shall entitle such Guarantor to any other or further notice in similar or other circumstances.
Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to a written agreement entered into between each affected Loan Party party hereto with respect to which such waiver, amendment or modification relates and the Administrative Agent, with the prior written consent of the Required Lenders (except as otherwise provided in the Credit Agreement).
Section 15. Notices.
All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement.
Section 16. Severability.
Any provision of this Agreement held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability without affecting the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof or thereof; and the illegality, invalidity or unenforceability of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 17. Counterparts; Integration.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract (subject to Section 13), and shall become effective as provided in Section 13. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission or form of electronic attachment (e.g., .pdf or .tif) shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto regarding the subject matters hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, regarding such subject matter.
Section 18. Rules of Interpretation.
The rules of interpretation specified in Section 1.4 of the Credit Agreement shall be applicable to this Agreement. As used herein, the term Lender includes any (a) Affiliate of a Lender that is owed Hedging Obligations or Treasury Management Obligations by any Loan Party and (b) the Issuing Banks.
Section 19. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.
This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and be governed by the law (without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof) of the State of New York.
Each Loan Party party 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, and of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County, 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 contemplated hereby or thereby, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York state court or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Federal court. Each Loan Party party hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Loan Party party hereto or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
Each Loan Party party hereto 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 such suit, action or proceeding described in the preceding paragraph of Section 19 and brought in any court referred to in the preceding paragraph of Section 19. Each party hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
Each Loan Party party hereto irrevocably consents to the service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
Section 20. Waiver of Jury Trial.
EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (i) 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 (ii) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 20.
Section 21. Additional Guarantors.
Pursuant to Section 5.10 of the Credit Agreement, after any Subsidiary is acquired or formed (including, without limitation, upon the formation of any Subsidiary that is a Delaware Divided LLC) or after any Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall, if such Subsidiary is a Material Domestic Subsidiary, become a Guarantor hereunder by executing an agreement substantially in the form of Annex 1 hereto (a Guarantee Supplement). Upon execution and delivery by the Administrative Agent and such Subsidiary of a Guarantee Supplement, such Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Guarantor herein. The execution and delivery of a Guarantee Supplement causing such Subsidiary to become a Guarantor hereunder shall not require the consent of any other Guarantor hereunder. The rights and obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any additional Guarantor as a party to this Agreement.
Section 22. Right of Setoff.
If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each Issuing Bank are 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 Indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender or such Issuing Bank to or for the credit or the account of any Guarantor against any or all the obligations of such Guarantor now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or under any agreement relating to Hedging Obligations or Treasury Management Obligations held by such Lender or such Issuing Bank, irrespective of whether or not such Person shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender and each Issuing Bank under this Section 22 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, may have.
Section 23. Savings Clause.
(a) It is the intent of each Loan Party party hereto and the Administrative Agent that each such Loan Partys maximum obligations hereunder shall be, but not in excess of:
i. in a case or proceeding commenced by or against any Loan Party under the provisions of Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§101 et seq. (the Bankruptcy Code) on or within two years from the date on which any of the Guaranteed Obligations are incurred, the maximum amount which would not otherwise cause the Guaranteed Obligations (or any other obligations of any Loan Party owed to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Lenders) to be avoidable or unenforceable against such Loan Party under (A) Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or (B) any state fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or statute applied in such case or proceeding by virtue of Section 544 of the Bankruptcy Code; or
ii. in a case or proceeding commenced by or against any Loan Party under the Bankruptcy Code subsequent to two years from the date on which any of the Guaranteed Obligations are incurred, the maximum amount which would not otherwise cause the Guaranteed Obligations (or any other obligations of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Lenders) to be avoidable or unenforceable against such Loan Party under any state fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or statute applied in any such case or proceeding by virtue of Section 544 of the Bankruptcy Code; or
iii. in a case or proceeding commenced by or against any Loan Party under any law, statute or regulation other than the Bankruptcy Code (including, without limitation, any other bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium, readjustment of debt, dissolution, liquidation or similar debtor relief laws), the maximum amount which would not otherwise cause the Guaranteed Obligations (or any other obligations of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Lenders) to be avoidable or unenforceable against such Loan Party under such law, statute or regulation including, without limitation, any state fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or statute applied in any such case or proceeding.
(b) The substantive laws under which the possible avoidance or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations (or any other obligations of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Lenders) as may be determined in any case or proceeding shall hereinafter be referred to as the Avoidance Provisions. To the extent set forth in Section 23(a)(i), (ii), and (iii) above, but only to the extent that the Guaranteed Obligations would otherwise be subject to avoidance or found unenforceable under the Avoidance Provisions, if any Loan Party is not deemed to have received valuable consideration, fair value or reasonably equivalent value for the Guaranteed Obligations, or if the Guaranteed Obligations would render such Loan Party insolvent, or leave such Loan Party with an unreasonably small capital to conduct its business, or cause such Loan Party to have incurred debts (or to have intended to have incurred debts) beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, in each case as of the time any of the Guaranteed Obligations are deemed to have been incurred under the Avoidance Provisions and after giving effect to the contribution by such Loan Party, the maximum Guaranteed Obligations for which such Loan Party shall be liable hereunder shall be reduced to that amount which, after giving effect thereto, would not cause the Guaranteed Obligations (or any other obligations of such Guarantor to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Lenders), as so reduced, to be subject to avoidance or unenforceability under the Avoidance Provisions.
(c) This Section 23 is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder to the maximum extent that would not cause the Guaranteed Obligations of any Loan Party to be subject to avoidance or unenforceability under the Avoidance Provisions, and neither any Loan Party nor any other Person shall have any right or claim under this Section 23 as against the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or Lenders that would not otherwise be available to such Person under the Avoidance Provisions.
Section 24. Keepwell. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each Specified Loan Party to honor all of such Specified Loan Partys obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and under any agreement relating to Hedging Obligations or Treasury Management Obligations in respect of Swap Obligations (provided, however, that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 24 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 24 or otherwise under this Agreement voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 24 shall remain in full force and effect until the Obligations have been indefeasibly satisfied and performed in full and all of the Commitments under the Credit Agreement have been terminated. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section 24 constitute, and this Section 24 shall be deemed to constitute, a keepwell, support, or other agreement for the benefit of each Specified Loan Party for all purposes of Section la(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act. For purposes of this Section 24, Qualified ECP Guarantor means in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or such other Loan Party as constitutes an eligible contract participant under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another Person to qualify as an eligible contract participant at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
(signatures follow)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
AARONS, LLC, as the Borrower |
By: |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
THE AARONS COMPANY, INC., as Holdings |
By: |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
AARON INVESTMENT COMPANY, LLC as a Guarantor |
By: |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
AARONS BUSINESS REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS, LLC, as a Guarantor |
By: |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
AARONS LOGISTICS, LLC, as a Guarantor |
By: |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
AARONS US HOLDCO, INC., as a Guarantor |
By: |
Name: | ||
Title: |
ENVIZZO, LLC, as a Guarantor |
By: |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
WOODHAVEN FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, LLC, as a Guarantor |
By: |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
AARONS RETAIL SOLUTIONS, LLC, as a Guarantor |
By: |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
RETAIL RTO SOLUTIONS, LLC, as a Guarantor |
By: |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
INTERBOND OF AMERICA, LLC as a Guarantor |
By: |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
BRANDSMART USA OF SOUTH DADE, LLC, as a Guarantor |
By: |
Name: | ||
Title: |
BRANDSMART U.S.A. OF GEORGIA, LLC, as a Guarantor |
By: |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
BRANDS MART SERVICE, LLC, as a Guarantor |
By: |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
BRANDSMART USA DADELAND, LLC, as a Guarantor |
By: |
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
BRANDSMART U.S.A. OF CLAYTON COUNTY, LLC, as a Guarantor |
By: |
Name: | ||
Title: |
ANNEX 1
to
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
SUPPLEMENT NO. ____ dated as of ______________, to the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2022 (the Guarantee Agreement), among AARONS, INC., a Georgia corporation (the Borrower), THE AARONS COMPANY, INC., a Georgia corporation (Holdings), each of the subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto (Holdings and each such subsidiary individually, a Guarantor and collectively, the Guarantors) and TRUIST BANK, a North Carolina banking corporation, as administrative agent (the Administrative Agent) for the Lenders (as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below).
Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2022 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among the Borrower, Holdings, the lenders from time to time party thereto (the Lenders) and Truist Bank, as Administrative Agent.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Guarantee Agreement and the Credit Agreement.
The Guarantors have entered into the Guarantee Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make Loans and the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit. Pursuant to Section 5.10 of the Credit Agreement, each Subsidiary Loan Party that was not in existence or not a Guarantor on the date of the Credit Agreement is required to enter into the Guarantee Agreement as a Guarantor upon becoming a Subsidiary Loan Party. Section 21 of the Guarantee Agreement provides that additional Subsidiaries of Holdings may become Guarantors under the Guarantee Agreement by execution and delivery of an instrument in the form of this Supplement. The undersigned Subsidiary of Holdings (the New Guarantor) is executing this Supplement in accordance with the requirements of the Credit Agreement to become a Guarantor under the Guarantee Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make additional Loans and the Issuing Banks to issue additional Letters of Credit and as consideration for Loans previously made and Letters of Credit previously issued.
Accordingly, the Administrative Agent and the New Guarantor agree as follows:
Section 1. Joinder.
In accordance with Section 21 of the Guarantee Agreement, the New Guarantor by its signature below becomes a Guarantor under the Guarantee Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Guarantor and the New Guarantor hereby (a) agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Guarantee Agreement applicable to it as Guarantor thereunder and (b) represents and warrants that the representations and warranties made by it as a Guarantor thereunder are true and correct on and as of the date hereof. Each reference to a Guarantor in the Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to include the New Guarantor. The Guarantee Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Section 2. Representations and Warranties.
The New Guarantor represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that this Supplement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and that each of this Supplement and the Guaranty Agreement constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.
Section 3. Binding Effect.
This Supplement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the New Guarantor and thereafter shall be binding upon the New Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders. Upon the effectiveness of this Supplement, this Supplement shall be deemed to be a part of and shall be subject to all the terms and conditions of the Guarantee Agreement. The New Guarantor shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders.
Section 4. Governing Law.
THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND BE GOVERNED BY THE LAW (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF) OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Section 5. Execution in Counterparts.
This Supplement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Supplement by facsimile transmission or form of electronic attachment (e.g., .pdf or .tif) shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
Section 6. Notices to New Guarantor.
All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 15 of the Guarantee Agreement.
(signatures follow)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Guarantor and the Administrative Agent have duly executed this Supplement to the Guarantee Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
[NAME OF NEW GUARANTOR] |
By |
|
Name: | |
Title: |
TRUIST BANK, as | ||
Administrative Agent |
By |
|
Name: | |
Title: |
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF BORROWER GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
THIS BORROWER GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of April 1, 2022, is by and among AARONS, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (the Borrower), THE AARONS COMPANY, INC., a Georgia corporation (Holdings), each of the Subsidiaries of Holdings (other than the Borrower) identified on the signature pages hereto (each such Subsidiary individually, a Subsidiary Loan Party and collectively, the Subsidiary Loan Parties) and TRUIST BANK, a North Carolina banking corporation, as administrative agent (the Administrative Agent) for the several banks and other financial institutions (the Lenders) from time to time party to the Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Borrower, Holdings, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks, and Truist Bank, as Administrative Agent and as Swingline Lender (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Lenders have agreed to establish a revolving credit facility in favor of the Borrower;
WHEREAS, (a) Holdings is the direct parent of the Borrower and (b) Holdings is the direct or indirect parent of each Subsidiary Loan Party and, in each of the cases of clause (a) and (b) above, will derive substantial benefit from the provision of certain hedging products and treasury management services to Holdings and the Subsidiary Loan Parties, the obligations in respect of which constitute the Guaranteed Obligations (defined below); and
WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligations of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Swingline Lender, and the Lenders under the Credit Agreement that the Borrower execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent this Agreement, and the Borrower wishes to fulfill said condition precedent.
NOW, THEREFORE, in order to induce Lenders to provide certain treasury management and hedging products to the Subsidiary Loan Parties in connection with Hedging Obligations and Treasury Management Obligations and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Section 1. Guarantee.
The Borrower unconditionally guarantees, jointly with Holdings and the other Subsidiary Loan Parties and severally, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the due and punctual payment and performance of (a) all Hedging Obligations between Holdings or any Subsidiary Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender, and (b) all Treasury Management Obligations between Holdings or any Subsidiary Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender, together with all renewals, extensions, modifications or refinancings of any of the foregoing (all the monetary and other obligations referred to in the preceding Sections 1(a) and 1(b) being collectively called the Guaranteed Obligations). The Borrower further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from the Borrower, and that the Borrower will remain bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligations.
Section 2. Obligations Not Waived.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower waives presentment or protest to, demand of or payment from the Subsidiary Loan Parties of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and also waives notice of acceptance of its guarantee and notice of protest for nonpayment. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the obligations of the Borrower shall not be affected by (a) the failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce or exercise any right or remedy against Holdings or any Subsidiary Loan Party under the provisions of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any agreement relating to Hedging Obligations or Treasury Management Obligations or otherwise, (b) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or any release from any of the terms or provisions of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any agreement relating to Hedging Obligations or Treasury Management Obligations, any guarantee or any other agreement, or (c) the failure to perfect any security interest in, or the release of, any of the security held by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
Section 3. Guarantee of Payment.
The Borrower further agrees that its guarantee hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due and not of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to any of the security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations or to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in favor of the Borrower or any other Person.
Section 4. No Discharge or Diminishment of Guarantee.
The obligations of the Borrower shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the indefeasible satisfaction in full of the Guaranteed Obligations and the termination of all of the Commitments under the Credit Agreement or the termination of its guarantee hereunder to the extent provided in Section 12 below), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and shall not be subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of the Borrower shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any agreement relating to Hedging Obligations or Treasury Management Obligations or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any provision of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Guaranteed Obligations, or by any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to the extent vary the risk of Holdings or any Subsidiary Loan Party or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of Holdings and each Subsidiary Loan Party as a matter of law or equity (other than the indefeasible satisfaction in full of the Guaranteed Obligations and the termination of all of the Commitments under the Credit Agreement or the termination of its guarantee hereunder to the extent provided in Section 12 below).
Section 5. Defenses of Borrower Waived.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of any Loan Party or the unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of any Loan Party, other than the final and indefeasible satisfaction in full of the Guaranteed Obligations and the termination of all of the Commitments under the Credit Agreement or the termination of its guarantee hereunder to the extent
provided in Section 12 below. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders may, at their election, foreclose on any security held by one or more of them by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such security in lieu of foreclosure, compromise or adjust any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with any other Loan Party or any other guarantor, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of the Borrower except to the extent the Guaranteed Obligations have been fully, finally and indefeasibly satisfied in full and all of the Commitments under the Credit Agreement have been terminated or the termination of its guarantee hereunder to the extent provided in Section 12 below. Pursuant to applicable law, the Borrower waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election operates, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or to extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of the Borrower against Holdings or any Subsidiary Loan Party or any other guarantor, as the case may be, or any security.
Section 6. Agreement to Pay; Subordination.
In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Administrative Agent or any Lender has at law or in equity against the Borrower by virtue hereof, upon the failure of Holdings or any Subsidiary Loan Party to pay any Guaranteed 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 forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in cash the amount of such unpaid Guaranteed Obligation. Upon payment by the Borrower of any sums to the Administrative Agent, all rights of the Borrower against Holdings or any Subsidiary Loan Party arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the Obligations. If any amount shall erroneously be paid to any Loan Party on account of such subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or similar right, such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and shall forthwith be paid to the Administrative Agent to be credited against the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents.
Section 7. Information.
The Borrower assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Subsidiary Loan Parties financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that the Borrower assumes and incurs hereunder, and agrees that none of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders will have any duty to advise the Borrower of information known to it or any of them regarding such circumstances or risks.
Section 8. Indemnity and Subrogation.
In addition to all such rights of indemnity and subrogation as the Borrower may have under applicable law (but subject to Section 6), Holdings and each of the Subsidiary Loan Parties agrees that in the event a payment in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations shall be made by the Borrower under this Agreement, Holdings and the Subsidiary Loan Parties, on a joint and several basis, shall indemnify the Borrower for the full amount of such payment and the Borrower shall be subrogated to the rights of the person to whom such payment shall have been made to the extent of such payment; provided that neither Holdings nor any Subsidiary Loan Party shall be obligated to indemnify the Borrower hereunder to the extent such Guaranteed Obligations constitute Excluded Swap Obligations of Holdings or such Subsidiary Loan Party.
Section 9. Contribution and Subrogation.
Holdings and each Subsidiary Loan Party (each a Contributing Guarantor) agrees (subject to Section 6) that, in the event a payment in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations shall be made by the Borrower (the Claiming Guarantor) shall not have been fully indemnified by Holdings and the Subsidiary Loan Parties as provided in Section 8, the Contributing Guarantor shall indemnify the Claiming Guarantor in an amount equal to the amount of such payment multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the net worth of the Contributing Guarantor on the date hereof and the denominator shall be the aggregate net worth of all the Loan Parties on the date hereof. Any Contributing Guarantor making any payment to the Claiming Guarantor pursuant to this Section 9 shall be subrogated to the rights of such Claiming Guarantor under Section 8 to the extent of such payment; provided that neither Holdings nor any Subsidiary Loan Party shall be obligated to indemnify the Borrower hereunder to the extent such Guaranteed Obligations constitute Excluded Swap Obligations of Holdings or such Subsidiary Loan Party.
Section 10. Subordination.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, all rights of the Borrower under Section 8 and Section 9 and all other rights of indemnity, contribution or subrogation under applicable law or otherwise shall be fully subordinated to the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations. No failure on the part of the Borrower, Holdings or any Subsidiary Loan Party to make the payments required under applicable law or otherwise shall in any respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Loan Party with respect to its obligations hereunder, and each Loan Party shall remain liable for the full amount of the obligations of such Loan Party hereunder.
Section 11. Representations and Warranties.
The Borrower represents and warrants as to itself that all representations and warranties relating to it contained in the Credit Agreement are true and correct.
Section 12. Termination.
The guarantees made hereunder (a) shall terminate when (i) all the Guaranteed Obligations have been satisfied in full and all of the Commitments under the Credit Agreement have been terminated or, if earlier, when all the Obligations as defined in the Credit Agreement (other than Obligations consisting of (x) unliquidated Hedging Obligations owed by any Loan Party to any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender that are not then due and payable at time of such termination or as a result thereof, and (y) any ongoing Treasury Management Obligations between any Loan Party and any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender that are not then due and payable at time of such termination or as a result thereof) have been satisfied in full and all of the Commitments under the Credit Agreement have been terminated, or (ii) as to the Guaranteed Obligations of any particular Subsidiary Loan Party, when and to the extent (1) all of the capital stock of such Subsidiary Loan Party is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of pursuant to a transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement, or (2) such Subsidiary Loan Party ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement, in which case under this Section 12(ii) the Borrower shall be released from its guarantee obligations hereunder with respect to such Subsidiary Loan Party without further action, and (b) shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any such Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Lender or any Loan Party upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower, Holdings, any Subsidiary Loan Party or otherwise. In connection with the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver to such Loan Party or such Loan Partys designee, at such Loan Partys expense, any documents or instruments, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which such Loan Party shall reasonably request from time to time to evidence such termination and release.
Section 13. Binding Effect; Several Agreement; Assignments.
Whenever in this Agreement any of the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the successors and assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and agreements by or on behalf of the Loan Parties that are contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Agreement shall become effective as to any Loan Party when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf of such Loan Party shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent, and a counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Administrative Agent, and thereafter shall be binding upon such Loan Party and the Administrative Agent and their respective successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of such Loan Party, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and their respective successors and assigns, except that no Loan Party shall have the right to assign its rights or obligations hereunder or any interest herein (and any such attempted assignment shall be void). This Agreement shall be construed as a separate agreement with respect to each Loan Party and may be amended, modified, supplemented, waived or released with respect to any Loan Party without the approval of any other Loan Party and without affecting the obligations of any other Loan Party hereunder.
Section 14. Waivers; Amendment.
No failure or delay of the Administrative Agent of any kind in exercising any power, right or remedy hereunder and no course of dealing between any Loan Party on the one hand and the Administrative Agent or any holder of any Guaranteed Obligation on the other hand shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or remedy hereunder, under any other Loan Document, under any agreement relating to Hedging Obligations or Treasury Management Obligations or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a power, right or remedy, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other power, right or remedy. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent hereunder and of the Lenders, under the other Loan Documents and under any agreement relating to Hedging Obligations or Treasury Management Obligations 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 any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by subsection (b) below, and then such waiver and consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice or demand on any Loan Party in any case shall entitle such Loan Party to any other or further notice in similar or other circumstances.
Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to a written agreement entered into between each affected Loan Party with respect to which such waiver, amendment or modification relates and the Administrative Agent, with the prior written consent of the Required Lenders (except as otherwise provided in the Credit Agreement).
Section 15. Notices.
All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement.
Section 16. Severability.
Any provision of this Agreement held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability without affecting the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof or thereof; and the illegality, invalidity or unenforceability of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 17. Counterparts; Integration.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract (subject to Section 13), and shall become effective as provided in Section 13. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission or form of electronic attachment (e.g., .pdf or .tif) shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto regarding the subject matters hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, regarding such subject matter.
Section 18. Rules of Interpretation.
The rules of interpretation specified in Section 1.4 of the Credit Agreement shall be applicable to this Agreement. As used herein, the term Lender includes any Affiliate of a Lender that is owed Hedging Obligations or Treasury Management Obligations by any Loan Party.
Section 19. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.
This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and be governed by the law (without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof) of the State of New York.
Each Loan Party 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, and of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County, 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 contemplated hereby or thereby, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such District Court or New York state court or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, such appellate court. Each Loan Party agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Loan Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
Each Loan Party 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 such suit, action or proceeding described in the preceding paragraph of Section 19 and brought in any court referred to in the preceding paragraph of Section 19. Each party hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
Each Loan Party irrevocably consents to the service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
Section 20. Waiver of Jury Trial.
EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (a) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER 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 AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 20.
Section 21. [Reserved.].
[Reserved.]
Section 22. Right of Setoff.
If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender 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 Indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any or all the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or under any agreement relating to Hedging Obligations or Treasury Management Obligations held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Person shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender under this Section 22 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender may have.
Section 23. Savings Clause.
(a) It is the intent of each Loan Party and the Administrative Agent that each Loan Partys maximum obligations hereunder shall be, but not in excess of:
(i) in a case or proceeding commenced by or against any Loan Party under the provisions of Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§101 et seq. (the Bankruptcy Code) on or within two years from the date on which any of the Guaranteed Obligations are incurred, the maximum amount which would not otherwise cause the Guaranteed Obligations (or any other obligations of any Loan Party owed to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders) to be avoidable or unenforceable against such Loan Party under (i) Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or (ii) any state fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or statute applied in such case or proceeding by virtue of Section 544 of the Bankruptcy Code; or
(ii) in a case or proceeding commenced by or against any Loan Party under the Bankruptcy Code subsequent to two years from the date on which any of the Guaranteed Obligations are incurred, the maximum amount which would not otherwise cause the Guaranteed Obligations (or any other obligations of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders) to be avoidable or unenforceable against such Loan Party under any state fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or statute applied in any such case or proceeding by virtue of Section 544 of the Bankruptcy Code; or
(iii) in a case or proceeding commenced by or against any Loan Party under any law, statute or regulation other than the Bankruptcy Code (including, without limitation, any other bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium, readjustment of debt, dissolution, liquidation or similar debtor relief laws), the maximum amount which would not otherwise cause the Guaranteed Obligations (or any other obligations of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders) to be avoidable or unenforceable against such Loan Party under such law, statute or regulation including, without limitation, any state fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or statute applied in any such case or proceeding.
(b) The substantive laws under which the possible avoidance or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations (or any other obligations of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders) as may be determined in any case or proceeding shall hereinafter be referred to as the Avoidance Provisions. To the extent set forth in Section 23(a)(i), (ii), and (iii), but only to the extent that the Guaranteed Obligations would otherwise be subject to avoidance or found unenforceable under the Avoidance Provisions, if any Loan Party is not deemed to have received valuable consideration, fair value or reasonably equivalent value for the Guaranteed Obligations, or if the Guaranteed Obligations would render such Loan Party insolvent, or leave such Loan Party with an unreasonably small capital to conduct its business, or cause such Loan Party to have incurred debts (or to have intended to have incurred debts) beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, in each case as of the time any of the Guaranteed Obligations are deemed to have been incurred under the Avoidance Provisions and after giving effect to the contribution by such Loan Party, the maximum Guaranteed Obligations for which such Loan Party shall be liable hereunder shall be reduced to that amount which, after giving effect thereto, would not cause the Guaranteed Obligations (or any other obligations of such Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders), as so reduced, to be subject to avoidance or unenforceability under the Avoidance Provisions.
This Section 23 is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder to the maximum extent that would not cause the Guaranteed Obligations of any Loan Party to be subject to avoidance or unenforceability under the Avoidance Provisions, and neither any Loan Party nor any other Person shall have any right or claim under this Section 23 as against the Administrative Agent or Lenders that would not otherwise be available to such Person under the Avoidance Provisions.
Section 24. Keepwell. The Borrower, as a Qualified ECP Guarantor, hereby jointly and severally with any other Qualified ECP Guarantor, absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each Specified Loan Party to honor all of such Specified Loan Partys obligations under the Guarantee Agreement and the other Loan Documents and under any agreement relating to Hedging Obligations or Treasury Management Obligations in respect of Swap Obligations (provided, however, that the Borrower shall only be liable under this Section 24 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 24 or otherwise under this Agreement voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations of the Borrower under this Section 24 shall remain in full force and effect until the
Obligations have been indefeasibly satisfied and performed in full and all of the Commitments under the Credit Agreement have been terminated. The Borrower intends that this Section 24 constitute, and this Section 24 shall be deemed to constitute, a keepwell, support, or other agreement for the benefit of each Specified Loan Party for all purposes of Section la(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act. For purposes of this Section 24, Qualified ECP Guarantor means in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or such other Loan Party as constitutes an eligible contract participant under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another Person to qualify as an eligible contract participant at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
(signatures follow)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
AARONS, LLC, as the Borrower | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
THE AARONS COMPANY, INC., as a Guarantor | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
AARON INVESTMENT COMPANY, LLC as a Guarantor | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
AARONS BUSINESS REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS, LLC, as a Guarantor | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
AARONS LOGISTICS, LLC, as a Guarantor | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
AARONS US HOLDCO, INC., as a Guarantor | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
ENVIZZO, LLC, as a Guarantor | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
WOODHAVEN FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, LLC, as a Guarantor | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
AARONS RETAIL SOLUTIONS, LLC, as a Guarantor | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
RETAIL RTO SOLUTIONS, LLC, as a Guarantor | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
INTERBOND OF AMERICA, LLC as a Guarantor | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
BRANDSMART USA OF SOUTH DADE, LLC, as a Guarantor | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
BRANDSMART U.S.A. OF GEORGIA, LLC, as a Guarantor | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
BRANDS MART SERVICE, LLC, as a Guarantor | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
BRANDSMART USA DADELAND, LLC, as a Guarantor | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
BRANDSMART U.S.A. OF CLAYTON COUNTY, LLC, as a Guarantor | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
TRUIST BANK, as | ||
Administrative Agent | ||
By: |
||
Name: | ||
Title: |
EXHIBIT 2.3
FORM OF NOTICE OF REVOLVING BORROWING
[ ], 202[ ]
Truist Bank,
as Administrative Agent
for the Lenders referred to below
303 Peachtree Street, N.E. / 25th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30308
Attention: Agency Services
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2022 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement), among the undersigned, as Borrower, Holdings, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and Truist Bank, as Administrative Agent and as Swingline Lender. This notice constitutes a Notice of Revolving Borrowing, and the Borrower hereby requests a Revolving Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in connection therewith, the Borrower specifies the following information with respect to the Revolving Borrowing requested hereby:
(A) | Aggregate principal amount of Revolving Borrowing:__________________1 |
(B) | Date of Revolving Borrowing (which is a Business Day): _______________ |
(C) | Type of Revolving Borrowing: ______________________2 |
[(D) | Interest Period: ________________________]3 |
[(E)] | Location and number of Borrowers account to which proceeds of Revolving Borrowing are to be disbursed: _______________________________ |
[Signature Page Follows]
1 | With respect to SOFR Borrowings, not less than $1,000,000 or a larger multiple of $500,000, and with respect to Base Rate Borrowings, not less than $1,000,000 or a larger multiple of $100,000. |
2 | SOFR Borrowing or Base Rate Borrowing. |
3 | To be completed for SOFR Borrowings (one (1), three (3) or six (6) month Interest Periods). |
The Borrower hereby represents and warrants that the conditions specified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of Section 3.2 of the Credit Agreement are satisfied.
Very truly yours, | ||
AARONS, LLC |
By |
Name: | ||
Title: |
EXHIBIT 2.6
FORM OF NOTICE OF SWINGLINE BORROWING
[ ], 202[ ]
Truist Bank,
as Administrative Agent
for the Lenders referred to below
303 Peachtree Street, N.E. / 25th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30308
Attention: Agency Services
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2022 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement), among the undersigned, as Borrower, Holdings, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks, and Truist Bank, as Administrative Agent and as Swingline Lender. This notice constitutes a Notice of Swingline Borrowing, and the Borrower hereby requests a Swingline Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection the Borrower specifies the following information with respect to the Swingline Borrowing requested hereby:
(A) | Principal amount of Swingline Borrowing: _______________________1 |
(B) | Date of Swingline Borrowing (which is a Business Day): _______________________ |
(C) | Location and number of Borrowers account to which proceeds of Swingline Borrowing are to be disbursed: _________________________________________ |
[Signature Page Follows]
1 | Not less than $100,000 or a larger multiple of $50,000. |
The Borrower hereby represents and warrants that the conditions specified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of Section 3.2 of the Credit Agreement are satisfied.
AARONS, LLC | ||
By |
Name: | ||
Title: |
EXHIBIT 2.8
FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION
[ ], 202[ ]
Truist Bank,
as Administrative Agent
for the Lenders referred to below
303 Peachtree Street, N.E. / 25th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30308
Attention: Agency Services
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2022 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement), among the undersigned, as Borrower, Holdings, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks, and Truist Bank, as Administrative Agent and as Swingline Lender. This notice constitutes a Notice of Conversion/Continuation and the Borrower hereby requests the conversion or continuation of a Revolving Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection the Borrower specifies the following information with respect to the Revolving Borrowing to be converted or continued as requested hereby:
(A) | Borrowing to which this request applies: _____________________ |
(B) | Principal amount of Borrowing to be converted/continued: ___________________ |
(C) | Effective date of election (which is a Business Day): _____________________ |
(D) | Type of Borrowing to be converted into/continued: _____________________1 |
(E) | Interest Period: __________________2 |
[Signature Page Follows]
1 | SOFR Borrowing or Base Rate Borrowing. |
2 | To be completed for SOFR Borrowings (one (1), three (3) or six (6) month Interest Periods). |
AARONS, LLC | ||
By |
Name: | ||
Title: |
EXHIBIT 3.1(a)(iv)
FORM OF SECRETARYS CERTIFICATE
OMNIBUS
OFFICERS CERTIFICATE
April 1, 2022
Reference is hereby made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the Credit Agreement), by and among Aarons, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company, The Aarons Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto, as lenders, and Truist Bank, as administrative agent. Pursuant to Section 3.l(a)(iv) of the Credit Agreement, each of the undersigned, as an Authorized Officer of the entities set forth on Schedule I through [___] hereto (each a Company and together the Companies), in his representative capacity on behalf of the applicable Company hereby certifies that:
(a) Attached hereto as Exhibit A is a true, correct and complete copy of the articles of incorporation, certificate of formation or equivalent organizational document, as applicable, of each Company, including any and all amendments thereto, as in effect on the date hereof, the same has not been amended, altered, revoked or rescinded as of the date hereof; and as of the date hereof, no action for the dissolution of the Companies is pending.
(b) Attached hereto as Exhibit B is a true, correct and complete copy of the bylaws, limited liability company agreement or equivalent governing document, as applicable, of each Company, including any and all amendments thereto, as in effect on the date hereof and the same has not been amended, altered, revoked or rescinded as of the date hereof.
(c) Attached hereto as Exhibit C is a true, correct and complete copy of a certificate of good standing or existence from the Secretary of State of the applicable jurisdiction of organization of each Company, certified as of recent date by such Secretary of State and since such date, no change has occurred in the legal existence and good standing of the Corporation.
(d) Attached hereto as Exhibit D is a true, complete and correct copy of resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors, Sole Member, or Sole Manager, as applicable, of the Companies. Such resolutions are in full force and effect on and as of the date hereof and the same has not been amended, altered, revoked or rescinded and such resolutions are filed with the records of the Companies, and are the only resolutions relating to the transactions contemplated thereby that have been adopted by the Board of Directors, Sole Member or Sole Manager, as applicable, of the Companies.
(e) Attached hereto as Exhibit E is the incumbency and specimen signature of the duly elected and qualified officers of each Company as of the date hereof. Each person set forth on Exhibit E holds the respective office set forth opposite his or her name, is duly authorized to execute and deliver the Loan Documents and the signature set forth opposite of each such person is his or her genuine signature.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Omnibus Officers Certificate to be executed on behalf of each Company listed on [Schedule [_]] as of the date set forth above.
By: | ||
[___________] | ||
Authorized Officer |
I, the undersigned, an Authorized Officer of each Company listed on [Schedule [_]], do hereby certify solely on behalf of each Company listed on [Schedule [_]] and not in my individual capacity that [_________] is a duly elected and qualified Authorized Officer of each Company listed on [Schedule [_]] and the signature above is his genuine signature.
By: | ||
[___________] | ||
Authorized Officer8 |
8 | Page to be duplicated as necessary. |
COMPANIES
SCHEDULE [_]9
[To be attached.]
9 | Page to be duplicated as necessary. |
EXHIBIT A
ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS
[To be attached.]
EXHIBIT B
GOVERNING DOCUMENTS
[To be attached.]
EXHIBIT C
CERTIFICATES OF GOOD STANDING
[To be attached.]
EXHIBIT D
RESOLUTIONS
[To be attached.]
EXHIBIT E
INCUMBENCY
[To be attached.]
EXHIBIT 3.1(a)(vii)
FORM OF OFFICERS CERTIFICATE
April 1, 2022
Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the Credit Agreement; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement), by and among Aarons, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (the Borrower), The Aarons Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation (Holdings), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Truist Bank, as Administrative Agent. This certificate is being delivered pursuant to Section 3.1(a)(vii) of the Credit Agreement.
I, [_____], an Authorized Officer of the Borrower, DO HEREBY CERTIFY on behalf of the Borrower that:
(a) | Since the date of the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement, there has not been a Target Material Adverse Effect; |
(b) | The Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement has not been altered, amended or otherwise changed or supplemented or any condition therein waived, in each case in a manner materially adverse to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders without the prior written consent of the Arrangers (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned); it being understood that (i) any change in the price (including any price decrease) of the Project Everglade Acquisition in excess of 10% of the price as of the date hereof, (ii) any modifications to any of the provisions relating to the Administrative Agents, the Arrangers or any Lenders liability, jurisdiction or status as a third party beneficiary under the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement, (iii) any changes to the definition of Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement) and (iv) any action taken by the Seller at the request of the Borrower that would constitute an exception to Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement), in each case, shall be deemed to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders and require the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and Arrangers); |
(c) | The Project Everglade Acquisition will be consummated substantially concurrently with the initial funding of the Loans under the Credit Agreement in accordance in all material respects with the terms of the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement (as amended or otherwise modified, if applicable, in accordance with Section 3.1(c) of the Credit Agreement); |
(d) | The Project Everglade Specified Representations are true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of such Project Everglade Specified Representations qualified by materiality, in all respects), and the Project Everglade Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations are true and correct in all respects in accordance with, and solely to the extent required by, the definition thereof. |
[Signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name as of the date first written above.
AARONS, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
EXHIBIT 5.1(c)
FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
[_____ __], 202[_]
To: Truist Bank, as Administrative Agent
303 Peachtree St., N.E. / 25th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30308
Attention:
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2022 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among the undersigned, as Borrower, Holdings, the other Guarantors from time to time party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto, the Issuing Banks, and Truist Bank, as Administrative Agent, an Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.
I, _____________, being the duly elected and qualified, and acting in my capacity as [Chief Financial Officer][Controller][Treasurer] of the Borrower, hereby certify to the Administrative Agent and each Lender as follows:
[Use the following paragraph 1 for fiscal year-end financial statements]
1. [Attached hereto as Schedule 1 are the audited annual financial statements required by Section 5.1(a) of the Credit Agreement for the Fiscal Year ending [_______] together with the audit report of Ernst & Young or other independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing required by such section. The consolidated financial statements of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries attached hereto fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Year on a consolidated basis, and the related statements of income and cash flows of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes).]
[Use the following paragraph 1 for fiscal quarter-end financial statements]
1. [Attached hereto as Schedule 1 are the unaudited financial statements required by Section 5.1(b) of the Credit Agreement for the Fiscal Quarter ending [___________, ___]. The consolidated financial statements of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries attached hereto fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Quarter on a consolidated basis, and the related statements of income and cash flows of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes).]
3. Based upon a review of the activities of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and the financial statements attached hereto during the period covered thereby, as of the date hereof, [there exists no Default or Event of Default][a Default or Event of Default exists and set forth below are the details thereof and a description of the action which the Borrower has taken or proposes to take with respect thereto].
4. Set forth on Schedule 2 are detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Article VI of the Credit Agreement.
5. Since the date of the Borrowers audited financial statements referred to in Section 4.4 of the Credit Agreement, [no change in GAAP or the application thereof has occurred][a change in GAAP or the application thereof has occurred and below is a description of the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying this certificate].
Name: |
||
Title:[Chief Financial Officer][Controller][Treasurer] |
Schedule 1 to Compliance Certificate
Schedule 2 to Compliance Certificate
EXHIBIT 5.12
FORM OF SECURITY AGREEMENT
THIS SECURITY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT (as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified and supplemented from time to time, this Agreement) is entered into as of [_____ __], 202[ ] among the parties identified as Obligors on the signature pages hereto and such other parties that may become Obligors hereunder after the date hereof (each individually an Obligor and collectively the Obligors), and TRUIST BANK, in its capacity as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the Administrative Agent) for the holders of the Secured Obligations (defined below).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement (as amended, modified, supplemented, increased, extended, restated, refinanced and replaced from time to time, the Credit Agreement) dated as of April 1, 2022 among Aarons, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (the Borrower), The Aarons Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation (Holdings), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, the Issuing Banks from time to time party thereto, and Truist Bank, in its capacities as Administrative Agent and as Swingline Lender, the Lenders have agreed to make Loans to the Borrower and each Issuing Bank has agreed to issue Letters of Credit to the Borrower upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein; and
WHEREAS, this Agreement is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
(a) Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Credit Agreement, and the following terms which are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code in effect from time to time in the State of New York except as such terms may be used in connection with the perfection of the Collateral and then the applicable jurisdiction with respect to such affected Collateral shall apply (the UCC): Accession, Account, Adverse Claim, As-Extracted Collateral, Chattel Paper, Commercial Tort Claim, Consumer Goods, Deposit Account, Document, Electronic Chattel Paper, Equipment, Farm Products, Financial Asset, Fixtures, General Intangible, Goods, Instrument, Inventory, Investment Company Security, Investment Property, Letter-of-Credit Right, Manufactured Home, Money, Proceeds, Securities Account, Securities Intermediary, Security, Security Entitlement, Software, Supporting Obligation and Tangible Chattel Paper.
(b) In addition, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
Administrative Agent has the meaning provided in the introductory paragraph hereof.
Agreement has the meaning provided in the introductory paragraph hereof.
Borrower has the meaning provided in the recitals hereof.
Collateral has the meaning provided in Section 2 hereof.
Copyright License shall mean any written agreement, naming any Obligor as licensor, granting any right under any Copyright.
Copyrights shall mean (a) all registered United States copyrights in all Works, now existing or hereafter created or acquired, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications in connection therewith, including, without limitation, registrations, recordings and applications in the United States Copyright Office, and (b) all renewals thereof.
Credit Agreement has the meaning provided in the recitals hereof.
Excluded Accounts shall mean (a) deposit and/or securities accounts the balance of which consists exclusively of (i) withheld income taxes and federal, state or local employment taxes in such amounts as are required in the reasonable judgment of the Borrower to be paid to the IRS or state or local government agencies within the following two (2) months with respect to employees of any of the Loan Parties or (ii) amounts required to be paid over to an employee benefit plan pursuant to DOL Reg. Sec. 2510.3-102 on behalf of or for the benefit of employees of one or more Loan Parties, (b) all tax accounts (including, without limitation, sales tax accounts), accounts used solely for payroll, accounts maintained solely in trust for the benefit of third parties and fiduciary purposes, escrow accounts, zero balance or swept accounts and employee benefit accounts (including 401(k) accounts and pension fund accounts), in each case, so long as such account is used solely for such purpose, (c) any deposit and/or securities account maintained in a jurisdiction outside of the United States and (d) accounts the balance of which consists exclusively of amounts to be paid to employees in the ordinary course of business.
Excluded Property shall mean, with respect to any Obligor, (a) any owned real property located outside the United States, (b) any owned real property located in the United States that is owned in fee by an Obligor which is not Material Real Estate, (c) any leased real property, (d) any copyrights, copyright licenses, patents, patent licenses, trademarks or trademark licenses for which a perfected Lien thereon is not effected either by filing of a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement or by appropriate evidence of such Lien being filed in either the United States Copyright Office or the United States Patent and Trademark Office, (e) any personal property for which the attachment or perfection of a Lien thereon is not governed by the Uniform Commercial Code (including motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title), (f) the Capital Stock in any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (g) the Capital Stock in any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent not required to be pledged to secure the Obligations pursuant to Section 5.10(b) of the Credit Agreement, (h) any property which, subject to the terms of Section 7.8 of the Credit Agreement, is subject to a Lien of the type described in Section 7.2(c) of the Credit Agreement pursuant to documents which prohibit such Loan Party from granting any other Liens in such property, (i) Excluded Accounts, (j) those assets over which the granting of a Lien in such assets in favor of the Administrative Agent would be prohibited by applicable law, regulation or contract (including any requirement under or in accordance with such law, rule or regulation to obtain consent from a third party, including any governmental or regulatory authority), so long as (i) any contractual restriction is not incurred in contemplation of the owning entitys becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or the entry of such owning entity into the Loan Documents and (ii) such contract is permitted under this Agreement, in each case, after giving effect to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 and 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable law or principle of equity, other than any receivables and proceeds thereof (the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code notwithstanding such prohibition), (k) any intent-to-use trademark application prior to the filing of a Statement of Use or Amendment to Allege Use with respect thereto, to the extent, if any, that, and solely during the period, if any, in which the grant or enforcement of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such
2
intent-to-use trademark application under applicable federal law, (l) assets to the extent a security interest in such assets would result in material adverse tax consequences (including, without limitation, as a result of the operation of Section 956 of the United States Code or any similar law or regulation in any applicable jurisdiction), as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith, and (m) other assets to the extent the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing that the cost of obtaining or perfecting a security interest in such assets is excessive in relation to the value of the security afforded thereby; provided, however, that the security interest granted to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall attach immediately to any asset of any Loan Party at such time as such asset ceases to meet any of the criteria for Excluded Property described in any of the foregoing clauses (a) through (m) above.
Material Agreements shall mean (a) all agreements, indentures or notes governing the terms of any Material Indebtedness and (b) all other agreements, documents, contracts, indentures and instruments pursuant to which a default, breach or termination thereof would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Obligor and Obligors have the meanings provided in the introductory paragraph hereof.
Patent License shall mean any agreement, whether written or oral, providing for the grant by or to an Obligor of any right to manufacture, use or sell any invention covered by a Patent.
Patents shall mean (a) all letters patent of the United States or any other country and all reissues and extensions thereof, and (b) all applications for letters patent of the United States or any other country and all divisions, continuations and continuations-in-part thereof.
Pledged Equity shall mean, with respect to each Obligor, (a) one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of each Domestic Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary and (b) sixty-six percent (66%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) and one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock not entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) in each Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, directly owned by any Obligor, including without limitation the Capital Stock of the Subsidiaries owned by such Obligor as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, in each case together with the certificates (or other agreements or instruments), if any, representing such Capital Stock, and all options and other rights, contractual or otherwise, with respect thereto, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) all Capital Stock representing a dividend thereon, or representing a distribution or return of capital upon or in respect thereof, or resulting from a stock split, revision, reclassification or other exchange therefor, and any subscriptions, warrants, rights or options issued to the holder thereof, or otherwise in respect thereof; and
(2) in the event of any consolidation or merger involving the issuer thereof and in which such issuer is not the surviving Person, all shares of each class of the Capital Stock of the successor Person formed by or resulting from such consolidation or merger, to the extent that such successor Person is a direct Subsidiary of an Obligor; provided that if such successor Person is a Foreign Subsidiary or a Domestic Subsidiary that is an Excluded Subsidiary, such Capital Stock shall be limited to the amount described in clause (b) hereof.
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Secured Obligations shall mean, without duplication, (a) all Obligations and (b) subject to the limitations set forth in Section 10.3 of the Credit Agreement, all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of one outside counsel) incurred in connection with enforcement and collection of the Obligations.
Trademark License shall mean any agreement, written or oral, providing for the grant by or to an Obligor of any right to use any Trademark.
Trademarks shall mean (a) all trademarks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, service marks, logos and other source or business identifiers, and the goodwill associated therewith, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications in connection therewith, whether in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any state thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, or otherwise and (b) all renewals thereof.
UCC has the meaning provided in Section 1(a) hereof.
Work shall mean any work that is subject to copyright protection pursuant to Title 17 of the United States Code.
2. Grant of Security Interest in the Collateral. To secure the prompt payment and performance in full when due, whether by lapse of time, acceleration, mandatory prepayment or otherwise, of the Secured Obligations, each Obligor hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations, a continuing security interest in, and a right to set off against, any and all right, title and interest of such Obligor in and to all of the following, whether now owned or existing or owned, acquired, or arising hereafter (collectively, the Collateral): (a) all Accounts; (b) all Money; (c) all Chattel Paper; (d) those certain Commercial Tort Claims set forth on Schedule 2 hereto; (e) all Copyrights; (f) all Copyright Licenses; (g) all Deposit Accounts; (h) all Documents; (i) all Equipment; (j) all Fixtures; (k) all General Intangibles; (l) all Goods; (m) all Instruments; (n) all Inventory; (o) all Investment Property; (p) all Letter-of-Credit Rights; (q) all Patents; (r) all Patent Licenses; (s) all Pledged Equity; (t) all Software; (u) all Supporting Obligations; (v) all Trademarks; (w) all Trademark Licenses; (x) all books and records related to the Collateral; and (y) all Accessions and all Proceeds of any and all of the foregoing.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the security interests granted under this Agreement shall not extend to any Excluded Property; provided that upon the occurrence of an event that renders property to no longer constitute Excluded Property, a security interest in such property shall be automatically and simultaneously granted hereunder and shall be included as Collateral hereunder.
The Obligors and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, hereby acknowledge and agree that the security interest created hereby in the Collateral (i) constitutes continuing collateral security for all of the Secured Obligations, whether now existing or hereafter arising and (ii) is not to be construed as an assignment of any Copyrights, Copyright Licenses, Patents, Patent Licenses, Trademarks or Trademark Licenses.
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3. Representations and Warranties. Each of the Obligors hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations, that:
(a) Ownership. Such Obligor is the legal and beneficial owner of its Collateral and has the right to pledge, sell, assign or transfer the same. There exists no Adverse Claim with respect to the Pledged Equity of such Obligor other than non-consensual Liens permitted by Section 7.2 of the Credit Agreement.
(b) Security Interest/Priority. This Agreement creates a valid security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations, in the Collateral of such Obligor and, when properly perfected by filing a UCC-1 financing statement in the appropriate jurisdiction, shall constitute a valid and perfected security interest in such Collateral (including all uncertificated Pledged Equity consisting of partnership or limited liability company interests that do not constitute Securities), to the extent such security interest can be perfected by filing under the UCC, free and clear of all Liens except for Liens permitted by Section 7.2 of the Credit Agreement. The taking of possession by the Administrative Agent of the certificated securities (if any) evidencing the Pledged Equity and all other Instruments constituting Collateral (and any necessary endorsements) will perfect the Administrative Agents security interest in all the Pledged Equity evidenced by such certificated securities and such Instruments (subject to Permitted Liens). With respect to any Collateral consisting of a Deposit Account, Security Entitlement or assets held in a Securities Account (in each case, other than Excluded Accounts), upon execution and delivery by the applicable Obligor, the bank or Securities Intermediary, as applicable, and the Administrative Agent of an agreement granting control to the Administrative Agent over such Collateral, the Administrative Agent shall have a valid and perfected security interest in such Collateral, subject to Permitted Liens. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, the Obligors and the Administrative Agent acknowledge and agree that no account control agreement shall be required with respect to any Deposit Account or Securities Account that has a balance (or which holds assets with a fair market value) less than $5,000,000.
(c) Types of Collateral. None of the Collateral consists of, or is the Proceeds of, As-Extracted Collateral, Consumer Goods, Farm Products, Manufactured Homes or standing timber.
(d) Equipment and Inventory. With respect to any Equipment and/or Inventory of such Obligor, such Obligor has exclusive possession and control of such Equipment and Inventory of such Obligor except for (i) Equipment leased by such Obligor as a lessee, (ii) Equipment or Inventory in transit with common carriers, (iii) mobile goods, (iv) Equipment or Inventory out for repair or refurbishment, (vi) Equipment or Inventory kept with third parties in the ordinary course of business, and/or (vii) Equipment or Inventory in possession of employees in the ordinary course of business. Subject to the foregoing, no Inventory of such Obligor is held by a Person other than such Obligor pursuant to consignment, sale or return, sale on approval or similar agreement.
(e) Authorization of Pledged Equity. All Pledged Equity is duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and, to the extent applicable, non-assessable and is not subject to the preemptive rights, warrants, options or other rights to purchase of any Person, or equityholder, voting trust or similar agreements outstanding with respect to, or property that is convertible, into, or that requires the issuance and sale of, any of the Pledged Equity, except to the extent expressly permitted under the Loan Documents.
(f) No Other Capital Stock, Instruments, Etc. As of the Closing Date, such Obligor owns all certificated Capital Stock in any Subsidiary that is required to be pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent hereunder, other than as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, and all such certificated Capital Stock has been delivered to the Administrative Agent.
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(g) Partnership and Limited Liability Company Interests. Except as previously disclosed to the Administrative Agent in writing, none of the Collateral consisting of an interest in a partnership or a limited liability company (i) is dealt in or traded on a securities exchange or in a securities market, (ii) by its terms expressly provides that it is a Security governed by Article 8 of the UCC, (iii) is an Investment Company Security, (iv) is held in a Securities Account or (v) constitutes a Security or a Financial Asset.
(h) [reserved].
(i) Consents; Etc. There are no restrictions in any articles of incorporation, articles of formation, articles of organization, bylaws, operating agreement or other applicable agreement of formation or organization governing any Pledged Equity or any other document related thereto which would limit or restrict (i) the grant of a Lien pursuant to this Agreement on such Pledged Equity, (ii) the perfection of such Lien or (iii) the exercise of remedies in respect of such perfected Lien in the Pledged Equity as contemplated by this Agreement. Except for (i) the filing or recording of UCC financing statements, (ii) the filing of appropriate notices with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, (iii) obtaining control to perfect the Liens created by this Agreement (to the extent required under Section 4(a) hereof), (iv) such actions as may be required by laws affecting the offering and sale of securities, (v) such actions as may be required by applicable foreign laws affecting the pledge of the Pledged Equity of Foreign Subsidiaries, (vi) any approvals that may be required to be obtained from any bailee or landlord to collect the Collateral, and (vii) consents, authorizations, filings or other actions which have been obtained or made, no material consent or material authorization of, filing with, or other act by or in respect of, any arbitrator or Governmental Authority and no consent of any other Person (including, without limitation, any stockholder, member or creditor of such Obligor), is required for (A) the grant by such Obligor of the security interest in the Collateral granted hereby or for the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by such Obligor, (B) the perfection of such security interest (to the extent such security interest can be perfected by filing under the UCC, the granting of control (to the extent required under Section 4(a) hereof) or by filing an appropriate notice with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office) or (C) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or the holders of the Secured Obligations of the rights and remedies provided for in this Agreement.
(j) Commercial Tort Claims. As of the Closing Date, such Obligor has no Commercial Tort Claims seeking damages in excess of $2,000,000 in any individual instance or $5,000,000 in the aggregate when taken together with all Commercial Tort Claims of all of the other Obligors, other than as set forth on Schedule 2 hereto.
(k) Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks.
(i) Schedule 3 hereto includes all registrations or applications for Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks and all material Copyright Licenses, Patent Licenses and Trademark Licenses (excluding off-the-shelf licenses pursuant to standard licensing terms which have not been modified or customized by a third party for the Obligor) owned by such Obligor in its own name, or to which any Obligor is a party, as of the date hereof.
(ii) All registrations or applications pertaining to such Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks as have been set forth on Schedule 3 hereto have been duly and properly filed, and to any Obligors knowledge, each Copyright, Patent and Trademark of such Obligor is valid, subsisting, unexpired, enforceable and has not been abandoned.
(iii) Except as set forth on Schedule 3 hereto, none of such Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks is the subject of any exclusive licensing or franchise agreement as of the date hereof.
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(iv) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, to such Obligors knowledge, no holding, decision or judgment has been rendered by any Governmental Authority that would limit, cancel or question the validity of any such Copyright, Patent or Trademark.
(v) No action or proceeding is pending, seeking to limit, cancel or question the validity of any Copyright, Patent or Trademark of any Obligor or Subsidiary of any Obligor that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4. Covenants. Each Obligor covenants that until such time as the Secured Obligations arising under the Loan Documents have been paid in full and the Commitments have expired or been terminated, such Obligor shall:
(a) Instruments/Chattel Paper/Pledged Equity/Control.
(i) If any amount in excess of $2,000,000 in any individual instance or $5,000,000 in the aggregate payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral shall be or become evidenced by any Instrument or Tangible Chattel Paper, or if any property constituting Collateral shall be stored or shipped subject to a Document, ensure that such Instrument, Tangible Chattel Paper or Document is either in the possession of such Obligor at all times or, if requested by the Administrative Agent to perfect its security interest in such Collateral, is delivered to the Administrative Agent duly endorsed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Such Obligor shall ensure that any Collateral consisting of Tangible Chattel Paper is marked with a legend reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent indicating the Administrative Agents security interest in such Tangible Chattel Paper.
(ii) Deliver to the Administrative Agent promptly upon the receipt thereof by or on behalf of such Obligor, all certificates and instruments constituting Pledged Equity. Prior to delivery to the Administrative Agent, all such certificates constituting Pledged Equity shall be held in trust by such Obligor for the benefit of the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto. All such certificates representing Pledged Equity shall be delivered in suitable form for transfer by delivery or shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, substantially in the form provided in Exhibit 4(a) hereto (or other form acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).
(iii) Execute and deliver all agreements, assignments, instruments or other documents as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent for the purpose of obtaining and maintaining control with respect to any Collateral consisting of (A) Deposit Accounts, (B) Investment Property, (C) Letter-of-Credit Rights and (D) Electronic Chattel Paper.
(b) Filing of Financing Statements, Notices, Etc. Such Obligor shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such agreements, assignments or instruments (including affidavits, notices, reaffirmations and amendments and restatements of existing documents, as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request) and do all such other things as the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem necessary or appropriate (i) to assure to the Administrative Agent its security interests hereunder, including (A) such instruments as the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request in order to perfect and maintain the security interests granted hereunder in accordance with the UCC, (B) with regard to Copyrights, a Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Copyrights in the form of Exhibit 4(b)(i) hereto, (C) with regard to Patents, a Notice of
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Grant of Security Interest in Patents for filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the form of Exhibit 4(b)(ii) hereto and (D) with regard to Trademarks, a Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Trademarks for filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the form of Exhibit 4(b)(iii) hereto, (ii) to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and (iii) to otherwise protect and assure the Administrative Agent of its rights and interests hereunder. Furthermore, such Obligor also hereby irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the Administrative Agent, its nominee or any other person whom the Administrative Agent may designate, as such Obligors attorney in fact with full power and for the limited purpose to prepare and file (and, to the extent applicable, sign) in the name of such Obligor any financing statements, or amendments and supplements to financing statements, renewal financing statements, notices or any similar documents which in the Administrative Agents reasonable discretion would be necessary or appropriate in order to perfect and maintain perfection of the security interests granted hereunder, such power, being coupled with an interest, being and remaining irrevocable until such time as the Secured Obligations arising under the Loan Documents have been paid in full and the Commitments have expired or been terminated. Such Obligor hereby agrees that a carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Agreement or any such financing statement is sufficient for filing as a financing statement by the Administrative Agent without notice thereof to such Obligor wherever the Administrative Agent may in its sole discretion desire to file the same.
(c) Collateral Held by Warehouseman, Bailee, Etc. If any Collateral with a book value in excess of $5,000,000 is at any time in the possession or control of a warehouseman, bailee or any agent or processor of such Obligor and the Administrative Agent so reasonably requests (i) notify such Person in writing of the Administrative Agents security interest therein, (ii) instruct such Person to hold all such Collateral for the Administrative Agents account and subject to the Administrative Agents instructions and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a written acknowledgment from such Person that it is holding such Collateral for the benefit of the Administrative Agent.
(d) Commercial Tort Claims. (i) Promptly forward to the Administrative Agent an updated Schedule 2 listing any and all Commercial Tort Claims by or in favor of such Obligor seeking damages in excess of $2,000,000 in any individual instance or $5,000,000 in the aggregate for all Commercial Tort Claims of the Obligors not subject to a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself and the other holders of the Secured Obligations and (ii) execute and deliver such statements, documents and notices and do and cause to be done all such things as may be reasonably required by the Administrative Agent, or required by law to create, preserve, perfect and maintain the Administrative Agents security interest in any Commercial Tort Claims initiated by or in favor of any Obligor.
(e) Books and Records. Each Obligor shall mark its books and records (and shall cause the issuer of the Pledged Equity of such Obligor to mark its books and records) to reflect the security interest granted pursuant to this Agreement.
(f) Nature of Collateral. At all times maintain the Collateral as personal property and not affix any of the Collateral to any real property in a manner which would change its nature from personal property to real property or a Fixture to real property, unless the Administrative Agent shall have a perfected Lien on such Fixture or real property.
(g) Issuance or Acquisition of Capital Stock in Partnership or Limited Liability Company. Not without executing and delivering, or causing to be executed and delivered, to the Administrative Agent such agreements, documents and instruments as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require, issue or acquire any Pledged Equity consisting of an interest in a
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partnership or a limited liability company that (i) is dealt in or traded on a securities exchange or in a securities market, (ii) by its terms expressly provides that it is a Security governed by Article 8 of the UCC, (iii) is an Investment Company Security, (iv) is held in a Securities Account or (v) constitutes a Security or a Financial Asset.
5. Authorization to File Financing Statements. Each Obligor hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to prepare and file such financing statements (including continuation statements) or amendments thereof or supplements thereto or other instruments as the Administrative Agent may from time to time deem necessary or appropriate in order to perfect and maintain the security interests granted hereunder in accordance with the UCC (including authorization to describe the Collateral as all personal property, all assets or words of similar meaning).
6. Advances.
(a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuation thereof, or (b) upon the failure of any Obligor to perform any of the covenants and agreements contained herein or in any other Loan Document if, with respect to this clause (b), the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that the taking of a particular action is required prior to the expiration of any applicable cure period(s) in order to prevent an impairment of its rights in and to any Collateral, then in either case, the Administrative Agent may, at its sole option and in its sole discretion upon notice to the applicable Obligors, perform the same and in so doing may expend such sums as the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem advisable in the performance thereof, including, without limitation, the payment of any insurance premiums, the payment of any taxes, a payment to obtain a release of a Lien or potential Lien, expenditures made in defending against any adverse claim and all other expenditures which the Administrative Agent may make for the protection of the security hereof or may be compelled to make by operation of law. All such sums and amounts so expended shall be repayable by the Obligors on a joint and several basis promptly upon timely notice thereof and demand therefor, shall constitute additional Secured Obligations and shall bear interest from the date said amounts are expended as Default Interest. No such performance of any covenant or agreement by the Administrative Agent on behalf of any Obligor, and no such advance or expenditure therefor, shall relieve the Obligors of any Default or Event of Default. The Administrative Agent may make any payment hereby authorized in accordance with any bill, statement or estimate procured from the appropriate public office or holder of the claim to be discharged without inquiry into the accuracy of such bill, statement or estimate or into the validity of any tax assessment, sale, forfeiture, tax lien, title or claim except to the extent such payment is being contested in good faith by an Obligor in appropriate proceedings and against which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP.
7. Remedies.
(a) General Remedies. During the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall have, in addition to the rights and remedies provided herein, in the Loan Documents, in any other documents relating to the Secured Obligations, or by law (including, but not limited to, levy of attachment, garnishment and the rights and remedies set forth in the UCC of the jurisdiction applicable to the affected Collateral), the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC (regardless of whether the UCC is the law of the jurisdiction where the rights and remedies are asserted and regardless of whether the UCC applies to the affected Collateral), and further, the Administrative Agent may, with or without judicial process or the aid and assistance of others, (i) enter on any premises on which any of the Collateral may be located and, without resistance or interference by the Obligors, take possession of the Collateral, (ii) dispose of any Collateral on any such premises, (iii) require the Obligors to assemble and make available to the Administrative Agent at the expense of the Obligors any Collateral at any place and time designated by the Administrative Agent which is reasonably convenient to both parties, (iv) remove any Collateral from any such premises for the purpose of effecting sale or other disposition thereof, and/or (v) without demand and
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without advertisement, notice, hearing or process of law, all of which each of the Obligors hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by law, at any place and time or times, sell and deliver any or all of the Collateral held by or for it at a public or private sale (which in the case of a private sale of Pledged Equity, may be to a restricted group of purchasers who will be obligated to agree, among other things, to acquire such securities for their own account, for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof), at any exchange or brokers board or elsewhere, by one or more contracts, in one or more parcels, for cash, upon credit or otherwise, at such prices and upon such terms as the Administrative Agent deems advisable, in its sole discretion (subject to any and all mandatory legal requirements). Each Obligor acknowledges that any such private sale may be at prices and on terms less favorable to the seller than the prices and other terms which might have been obtained at a public sale and, notwithstanding the foregoing, agrees that such private sale shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner and, in the case of a sale of Pledged Equity, that the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to delay sale of any such securities for the period of time necessary to permit the issuer of such securities to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act of 1933. Neither the Administrative Agents compliance with applicable law nor its disclaimer of warranties relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to adversely affect the commercial reasonableness of any sale. To the extent the rights of notice cannot be legally waived hereunder, each Obligor agrees that any requirement of reasonable notice shall be met if such notice, specifying the place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made, is personally served on or mailed, postage prepaid, to the Obligors in accordance with the notice provisions of Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement at least ten (10) days before the time of sale or other event giving rise to the requirement of such notice. The Administrative Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned. Each Obligor further acknowledges and agrees that any offer to sell any Pledged Equity which has been (i) publicly advertised on a bona fide basis in a newspaper or other publication of general circulation in the financial community of New York, New York (to the extent that such offer may be advertised without prior registration under the Securities Act of 1933), or (ii) made privately in the manner described above shall be deemed to involve a public sale under the UCC, notwithstanding that such sale may not constitute a public offering under the Securities Act of 1933, and the Administrative Agent may, in such event, bid for the purchase of such securities. The Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale or other disposition of the Collateral regardless of notice having been given. To the extent permitted by applicable law, any holder of Secured Obligations may be a purchaser at any such sale. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each of the Obligors hereby waives all of its rights of redemption with respect to any such sale. Subject to the provisions of applicable law, the Administrative Agent may postpone or cause the postponement of the sale of all or any portion of the Collateral by announcement at the time and place of such sale, and such sale may, without further notice, to the extent permitted by law, be made at the time and place to which the sale was postponed, or the Administrative Agent may further postpone such sale by announcement made at such time and place.
(b) Remedies Relating to Accounts. During the continuance of an Event of Default, whether or not the Administrative Agent has exercised any or all of its rights and remedies hereunder, (i) each Obligor will promptly upon the request of the Administrative Agent instruct all of its account debtors to remit all payments in respect of Accounts to a mailing location selected by the Administrative Agent and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have the right to enforce any Obligors rights against its customers and account debtors, and the Administrative Agent or its designee may notify any Obligors customers and account debtors that the Accounts of such Obligor have been assigned to the Administrative Agent or of the Administrative Agents security interest therein, and may (either in its own name or in the name of an Obligor or both) demand, collect (including without limitation by way of a lockbox arrangement), receive, take receipt for, sell, sue for, compound, settle, compromise and give acquittance for any and all amounts due or to become due on any Account, and, in the Administrative Agents discretion, file any claim or take any other action or proceeding to protect and realize upon the security interest of the holders of the Secured Obligations in the Accounts. Each Obligor acknowledges and agrees that the Proceeds of its Accounts
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remitted to or on behalf of the Administrative Agent in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be solely for the Administrative Agents own convenience and that such Obligor shall not have any right, title or interest in such Accounts or in any such other amounts except as expressly provided herein. Neither the Administrative Agent nor the holders of the Secured Obligations shall have any liability or responsibility to any Obligor for acceptance of a check, draft or other order for payment of money bearing the legend payment in full or words of similar import or any other restrictive legend or endorsement or be responsible for determining the correctness of any remittance. Furthermore, during the continuance of an Event of Default, (i) the Administrative Agent shall have the right, but not the obligation, to make test verifications of the Accounts in any manner and through any medium that it reasonably considers advisable, and the Obligors shall furnish all such assistance and information as the Administrative Agent may require in connection with such test verifications, (ii) upon the Administrative Agents request and at the expense of the Obligors, the Obligors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause independent public accountants or others satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to furnish to the Administrative Agent reports showing reconciliations, aging and test verifications of, and trial balances for, the Accounts and (iii) upon three (3) Business Days prior written notice to the Obligors, the Administrative Agent in its own name or in the name of others may communicate with account debtors on the Accounts to verify with them to the Administrative Agents satisfaction the existence, amount and terms of any Accounts.
(c) Deposit Accounts. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuation thereof, the Administrative Agent may (i) prevent withdrawals or other dispositions of funds in Deposit Accounts (other than Excluded Accounts) maintained with the Administrative Agent and (ii) exercise control pursuant to any control agreement governing a Deposit Account (other than Excluded Accounts) not maintained with the Administrative Agent.
(d) Access. In addition to the rights and remedies hereunder, during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall have the right to peaceably enter and remain upon the various premises of the Obligors without cost or charge to the Administrative Agent, and use the same, together with materials, supplies, books and records of the Obligors for the purpose of collecting and liquidating the Collateral, or for preparing for sale and conducting the sale of the Collateral, whether by foreclosure, auction or otherwise. In addition, the Administrative Agent may remove Collateral, or any part thereof, from such premises and/or any records with respect thereto, in order to effectively collect or liquidate such Collateral.
(e) Nonexclusive Nature of Remedies. Failure by the Administrative Agent or the holders of the Secured Obligations to exercise any right, remedy or option under this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any other document relating to the Secured Obligations, or as provided by law, or any delay by the Administrative Agent or the holders of the Secured Obligations in exercising the same, shall not operate as a waiver of any such right, remedy or option. No waiver hereunder shall be effective unless it is in writing, signed by the party against whom such waiver is sought to be enforced and then only to the extent specifically stated, which in the case of the Administrative Agent or the holders of the Secured Obligations shall only be granted as provided herein. To the extent permitted by law, neither the Administrative Agent, the holders of the Secured Obligations, nor any party acting as attorney for the Administrative Agent or the holders of the Secured Obligations, shall be liable hereunder for any acts or omissions or for any error of judgment or mistake of fact or law other than their bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct or a material breach of the Administrative Agents or such holders obligations hereunder. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the holders of the Secured Obligations under this Agreement shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any other right or remedy which the Administrative Agent or the holders of the Secured Obligations may have.
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(f) Retention of Collateral. In addition to the rights and remedies hereunder, the Administrative Agent may, in compliance with Sections 9-620 and 9-621 of the UCC or otherwise complying with the requirements of applicable law of the relevant jurisdiction, accept or retain the Collateral in satisfaction of the Secured Obligations. Unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have provided such notices, however, the Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have retained any Collateral in satisfaction of any Secured Obligations for any reason.
(g) Deficiency. In the event that the proceeds of any sale, collection or realization are insufficient to pay all amounts to which the Administrative Agent or the holders of the Secured Obligations are legally entitled, the Obligors shall be jointly and severally liable for the deficiency, together with interest thereon at the rate provided for Default Interest in the Credit Agreement, together with, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 10.3 of the Credit Agreement, the costs of collection and the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel. Any surplus remaining after the full payment and satisfaction of the Secured Obligations shall be returned to the Obligors or to whomsoever a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine to be entitled thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, in any of the other Loan Documents or in any other documents relating to the Secured Obligations, the obligations of each Obligor under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render such obligations subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States or any other applicable Debtor Relief Law (including any comparable provisions of any applicable state law).
8. Rights of the Administrative Agent.
(a) Power of Attorney. In addition to other powers of attorney contained herein, each Obligor hereby designates and appoints the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, and each of its designees or agents, as attorney-in-fact of such Obligor, irrevocably and with power of substitution, with authority to take any or all of the following actions during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) to demand, collect, settle, compromise, adjust, give discharges and releases, all as the Administrative Agent may reasonably determine;
(ii) to commence and prosecute any actions at any court for the purposes of collecting any Collateral and enforcing any other right in respect thereof;
(iii) to defend, settle or compromise any action brought and, in connection therewith, give such discharge or release as the Administrative Agent may deem reasonably appropriate;
(iv) to receive, open and dispose of mail addressed to an Obligor and endorse checks, notes, drafts, acceptances, money orders, bills of lading, warehouse receipts or other instruments or documents evidencing payment, shipment or storage of the Goods giving rise to the Collateral of such Obligor on behalf of and in the name of such Obligor, or securing, or relating to such Collateral;
(v) to sell, assign, transfer, make any agreement in respect of, or otherwise deal with or exercise rights in respect of, any Collateral or the Goods or services which have given rise thereto, as fully and completely as though the Administrative Agent were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes;
(vi) to adjust and settle claims under any insurance policy relating thereto;
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(vii) to execute and deliver all assignments, conveyances, statements, financing statements, renewal financing statements, security agreements, affidavits, notices and other agreements, instruments and documents that the Administrative Agent may reasonably determine necessary in order to perfect and maintain the security interests and liens granted in this Agreement and in order to fully consummate all of the transactions contemplated herein;
(viii) to institute any foreclosure proceedings that the Administrative Agent may deem appropriate;
(ix) to sign and endorse any drafts, assignments, proxies, stock powers, verifications, notices and other documents relating to the Collateral;
(x) to exchange any of the Pledged Equity or other property upon any merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or other readjustment of the issuer thereof and, in connection therewith, deposit any of the Pledged Equity with any committee, depository, transfer agent, registrar or other designated agency upon such terms as the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem appropriate;
(xi) upon prior written notice to the Obligors, to vote for a shareholder resolution, or to sign an instrument in writing, sanctioning the transfer of any or all of the Pledged Equity into the name of the Administrative Agent or one or more of the holders of the Secured Obligations or into the name of any transferee to whom the Pledged Equity or any part thereof may be sold pursuant and subject to Section 7 hereof;
(xii) to pay or discharge taxes, liens, security interests or other encumbrances levied or placed on or threatened against the Collateral;
(xiii) to direct any parties liable for any payment in connection with any of the Collateral to make payment of any and all monies due and to become due thereunder directly to the Administrative Agent or as the Administrative Agent shall direct;
(xiv) to receive payment of and receipt for any and all monies, claims, and other amounts due and to become due at any time in respect of or arising out of any Collateral; and
(xv) to do and perform all such other acts and things as the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem to be necessary, proper or convenient to accomplish the purposes of the Loan Documents.
This power of attorney is a power coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable until such time as the Secured Obligations arising under the Loan Documents have been paid in full and the Commitments have expired or been terminated. The Administrative Agent shall be under no duty to exercise or withhold the exercise of any of the rights, powers, privileges and options expressly or implicitly granted to the Administrative Agent in this Agreement, and shall not be liable for any failure to do so or any delay in doing so. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any act or omission or for any error of judgment or any mistake of fact or law in its individual capacity or its capacity as attorney-in-fact except acts or omissions resulting from its bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct or a material breach of its obligations hereunder. This power of attorney is conferred on the Administrative Agent solely to protect, preserve and realize upon its security interest in the Collateral.
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(b) Assignment by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may from time to time assign the Secured Obligations to a successor Administrative Agent appointed in accordance with the Credit Agreement, and such successor shall be entitled to all of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement in relation thereto.
(c) The Administrative Agents Duty of Care. Other than the exercise of reasonable care to assure the safe custody of the Collateral while being held by the Administrative Agent hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall have no duty or liability to preserve rights pertaining thereto, it being understood and agreed that the Obligors shall be responsible for preservation of all rights in the Collateral, and the Administrative Agent shall be relieved of all responsibility for the Collateral upon surrendering it or tendering the surrender of it to the Obligors. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Administrative Agent accords its own property, which shall be no less than the treatment employed by a reasonable and prudent agent in the industry, it being understood that the Administrative Agent shall not have responsibility for taking any necessary steps to preserve rights against any parties with respect to any of the Collateral. In the event of a public or private sale of Collateral pursuant to Section 7 hereof, the Administrative Agent shall have no responsibility for (i) ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities, tenders or other matters relating to any Collateral, whether or not the Administrative Agent has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters, or (ii) taking any steps to clean, repair or otherwise prepare the Collateral for sale.
(d) Liability with Respect to Accounts. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each of the Obligors shall remain liable under each of the Accounts to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it thereunder, all in accordance with the terms of any agreement giving rise to each such Account. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any holder of Secured Obligations shall have any obligation or liability under any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto) by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or the receipt by the Administrative Agent or any holder of Secured Obligations of any payment relating to such Account pursuant hereto, nor shall the Administrative Agent or any holder of Secured Obligations be obligated in any manner to perform any of the obligations of an Obligor under or pursuant to any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto), to make any payment, to make any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by it or as to the sufficiency of any performance by any party under any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto), to present or file any claim, to take any action to enforce any performance or to collect the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or times.
(e) Voting and Payment Rights in Respect of the Pledged Equity.
(i) So long as no Event of Default shall exist, each Obligor may (A) exercise any and all voting and other consensual rights pertaining to the Pledged Equity of such Obligor or any part thereof for any purpose not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement or the Credit Agreement and (B) receive and retain any and all dividends (other than stock dividends and other dividends constituting Collateral which are addressed hereinabove), principal or interest paid in respect of the Pledged Equity to the extent they are allowed under the Credit Agreement; and
(ii) During the continuance of an Event of Default and upon one (1) Business Days prior written notice to the Obligors, (A) all rights of an Obligor to exercise the voting and other consensual rights which it would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to clause (i)(A) above shall cease and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Administrative Agent which shall then have the sole right to exercise such voting and other consensual rights, (B) all rights of an Obligor to receive the dividends, principal and interest payments which it would otherwise be authorized to receive and retain pursuant to clause (i)(B) above shall cease and all such rights shall thereupon be vested in the Administrative Agent which shall then have the sole right to receive and hold as Collateral such dividends, principal and interest payments, and (C) all
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dividends, principal and interest payments which are received by an Obligor contrary to the provisions of clause (ii)(B) above shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, shall be segregated from other property or funds of such Obligor, and shall be forthwith paid over to the Administrative Agent as Collateral in the exact form received, to be held by the Administrative Agent as Collateral and as further collateral security for the Secured Obligations. Upon the cure or waiver of such Event of Default in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall as soon reasonably practicable repay to each Obligor all dividends, interest, principal or other distributions received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this clause (ii) that such Obligor would otherwise have been permitted to retain pursuant to the terms of clause (i) above that (x) were not applied to repay the Obligations in accordance with the Credit Agreement and other Loan Documents and (y) that the Administrative Agent is not otherwise required to hold for the repayment of the Obligations in accordance with the Credit Agreement and other Loan Documents.
(f) Releases of Collateral. (i) If any Collateral shall be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by any Obligor in a transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement, the Administrative Agent, at the request and sole expense of such Obligor, shall promptly execute and deliver to such Obligor all releases and other documents, and take such other action, reasonably necessary to evidence such release of the Liens created hereby or by any other Collateral Document on such Collateral. (ii) The Administrative Agent may release any of the Pledged Equity from this Agreement or may substitute any of the Pledged Equity for other Pledged Equity without altering, varying or diminishing in any way the force, effect, lien, pledge or security interest of this Agreement as to any Pledged Equity not expressly released or substituted, and this Agreement shall continue as a lien on all Pledged Equity not expressly released or substituted.
9. Application of Proceeds. Upon the acceleration of the Obligations under the Loan Documents pursuant to Section 8.1 of the Credit Agreement, any payments in respect of the Secured Obligations and any proceeds of the Collateral, when received by the Administrative Agent or any holder of the Secured Obligations in Money or its equivalent, will be applied in reduction of the Secured Obligations in the order set forth in Section 8.2 of the Credit Agreement.
10. Continuing Agreement.
(a) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until such time as the Secured Obligations arising under the Loan Documents have been paid in full and the Commitments have expired or been terminated, at which time this Agreement and the liens and security interests of the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be automatically terminated and the Administrative Agent shall, upon the request and at the expense of the Obligors, forthwith execute and deliver all UCC termination statements and/or other documents reasonably requested by the Obligors evidencing such termination and/or release.
(b) This Agreement shall continue to be effective or be automatically reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, in whole or in part, of any of the Secured Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any holder of the Secured Obligations as a preference, fraudulent conveyance or otherwise under any Debtor Relief Law, all as though such payment had not been made; provided that in the event payment of all or any part of the Secured Obligations is rescinded or must be restored or returned, but subject to the limitations of Section 10.3 of the Credit Agreement, all reasonable costs and expenses (including without limitation any reasonable legal fees and disbursements) incurred by the Administrative Agent or any holder of the Secured Obligations in defending and enforcing such reinstatement shall be deemed to be included as a part of the Secured Obligations.
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11. Amendments; Waivers; Modifications, Etc. This Agreement and the provisions hereof may not be amended, waived, modified, changed, discharged or terminated except as set forth in Section 10.2 of the Credit Agreement; provided that any update or revision to Schedule 2 hereof delivered by any Obligor shall not constitute an amendment for purposes of this Section 11 or Section 10.2 of the Credit Agreement.
12. Successors in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon each Obligor, its successors and assigns and shall inure, together with the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the holders of the Secured Obligations hereunder, to the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the holders of the Secured Obligations and their successors and permitted assigns.
13. Notices. All notices required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in conformance with Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement.
14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by telecopy), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission or by any other electronic imaging means (including .pdf), shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
15. Headings. The headings of the sections hereof are provided for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement.
16. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Venue; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. The terms of Sections 10.5 and 10.6 of the Credit Agreement with respect to governing law, submission to jurisdiction, venue, consent to service of process and waiver of jury trial are incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis, and the parties hereto agree to such terms.
17. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
18. Entirety. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent or the 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.
19. Other Security. To the extent that any of the Secured Obligations are now or hereafter secured by property other than the Collateral (including, without limitation, real property and securities owned by an Obligor), or by a guarantee, endorsement or property of any other Person, then the Administrative Agent shall have the right to proceed against such other property, guarantee or endorsement during the continuance of any Event of Default, and the Administrative Agent shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to determine which rights, security, liens, security interests or remedies the Administrative Agent shall at any time pursue, relinquish, subordinate, modify or take with respect thereto, without in any way modifying or affecting any of them or the Secured Obligations or any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or the holders of the Secured Obligations under this Agreement, under any other of the Loan Documents or under any other document relating to the Secured Obligations.
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20. Joinder. At any time after the date of this Agreement, one or more additional Persons may become party hereto by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a Guarantor Joinder Agreement. Immediately upon such execution and delivery of such Guarantor Joinder Agreement (and without any further action), each such additional Person will become a party to this Agreement as an Obligor and have all of the rights and obligations of an Obligor hereunder and this Agreement and the schedules hereto shall be deemed amended by such Guarantor Joinder Agreement.
21. Joint and Several Obligations of Obligors.
(a) Subject to Section 21(c), each of the Obligors is accepting joint and several liability hereunder, in consideration of the financial accommodation to be provided by the holders of the Obligations, of each of the Obligors and in consideration of the undertakings of each of the Obligors to accept joint and several liability for the obligations of each of them.
(b) Subject to Section 21(c), each of the Obligors jointly and severally hereby irrevocably and unconditionally accepts, not merely as a surety but also as a co-debtor, joint and several liability with the other Obligors with respect to the payment and performance of all of the Secured Obligations arising under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any other documents relating to the Secured Obligations, it being the intention of the parties hereto that all the Secured Obligations shall be the joint and several obligations of each of the Obligors without preferences or distinction among them.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, in any other of the Loan Documents or in any other documents relating to the Secured Obligations, the obligations of each Guarantor under the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the other documents relating to the Secured Obligations shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render such obligations subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any other Debtor Relief Law.
22. Consent of Issuers of Pledged Equity. Each issuer of Pledged Equity party to this Agreement hereby acknowledges, consents and agrees to the grant of the security interests in such Pledged Equity by the applicable Obligors pursuant to this Agreement, together with all rights accompanying such security interests as provided by this Agreement and applicable law, notwithstanding any anti-assignment provisions in any operating agreement, limited partnership agreement or similar organizational or governance documents of such issuer.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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Each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
OBLIGORS:
AARONS, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
THE AARONS COMPANY, INC., a Georgia corporation | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
[TBD],10 | ||
By: |
||
Name: |
||
Title: |
10 | To include all Loan Parties at the time of entry into the Agreement. |
AARONS, LLC
SECURITY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE 1
PLEDGED EQUITY
Obligor |
Name of Subsidiary |
Number of Shares/ Units |
Certificate Number |
Percentage Ownership | ||||
SCHEDULE 2
COMMERCIAL TORT CLAIMS
SCHEDULE 3
COPYRIGHTS, PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
Patents:
Copyrights:
Trademarks:
EXHIBIT 4(a)
IRREVOCABLE [STOCK][UNIT] POWER
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to:
the following equity interests of ____________________, a _________ [corporation][limited liability company]:
No. of Shares ____________ Certificate No. ______________
and irrevocably appoints ______________ its agent and attorney-in-fact to transfer all or any part of such equity interests and to take all necessary and appropriate action to effect any such transfer. The agent and attorney-in-fact may substitute and appoint one or more persons to act for him.
Dated: ____________, 20___
__________________________________ |
By:_________________________________ |
Name:_______________________________ |
Title:________________________________ |
EXHIBIT 4(b)(i)
NOTICE
OF
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST
IN
COPYRIGHTS
United States Copyright Office
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Please be advised that pursuant to the Security and Pledge Agreement, dated as of [_____ __], 202[_] (as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the Agreement; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement), by and among the Obligors party thereto (each an Obligor and collectively, the Obligors) and Truist Bank, as Administrative Agent (the Administrative Agent) for the holders of the Secured Obligations referenced therein, the undersigned Obligor has granted a continuing security interest in and continuing lien upon the copyrights and copyright applications set forth on Schedule 1 hereto to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations.
The undersigned Obligor and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, hereby acknowledge and agree that the security interest in the foregoing copyrights and copyright applications (i) may only be terminated in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and (ii) is not to be construed as an assignment of any copyright or copyright application.
Very truly yours, | ||
[Obligor] | ||
By: |
||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
[Address] |
Acknowledged and Accepted: | ||
TRUIST BANK, as Administrative Agent | ||
By: |
||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
[Address] |
EXHIBIT 4(b)(ii)
NOTICE
OF
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST
IN
PATENTS
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Please be advised that pursuant to the Security and Pledge Agreement, dated as of [_____ __], 202[_] (as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the Agreement; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement), by and among the Obligors party thereto (each an Obligor and collectively, the Obligors) and Truist Bank, as Administrative Agent (the Administrative Agent) for the holders of the Secured Obligations referenced therein, the undersigned Obligor has granted a continuing security interest in and continuing lien upon the patents and patent applications set forth on Schedule 1 hereto to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations.
The undersigned Obligor and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, hereby acknowledge and agree that the security interest in the foregoing patents and patent applications (i) may only be terminated in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and (ii) is not to be construed as an assignment of any patent or patent application.
Very truly yours, | ||
[Obligor] | ||
By: |
||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
[Address] |
Acknowledged and Accepted: | ||
TRUIST BANK, as Administrative Agent | ||
By: |
||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
[Address] |
EXHIBIT 4(b)(iii)
NOTICE
OF
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST
IN
TRADEMARKS
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Please be advised that pursuant to the Security and Pledge Agreement, dated as of [_____ __], 202[_] (as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the Agreement; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement), by and among the Obligors party thereto (each an Obligor and collectively, the Obligors) and Truist Bank, as Administrative Agent (the Administrative Agent) for the holders of the Secured Obligations referenced therein, the undersigned Obligor has granted a continuing security interest in and continuing lien upon the trademarks and trademark applications set forth on Schedule 1 hereto to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations.
The undersigned Obligor and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, hereby acknowledge and agree that the security interest in the foregoing trademarks and trademark applications (i) may only be terminated in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and (ii) is not to be construed as an assignment of any trademark or trademark application.
Very truly yours, | ||
[Obligor] | ||
By: |
||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
[Address] |
Acknowledged and Accepted: | ||
TRUIST BANK, as Administrative Agent | ||
By: |
||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
[Address] |
Exhibit 10.2
EXECUTION COPY
LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT
AND GUARANTY
by and among
AARONS, LLC,
THE AARONS COMPANY, INC.,
TRUIST BANK, as Servicer
and
EACH OF THE PARTICIPANTS PARTY HERETO
Dated as of April 1, 2022
TRUIST SECURITIES, INC.,
as Lead Arranger and Bookrunner
Table of Contents
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
1 | |||||
Section 1.1 |
Definitions |
1 | ||||
Section 1.2 |
Accounting Terms and Determination | 36 | ||||
Section 1.3 |
Times of Day | 36 | ||||
Section 1.4 |
Other Definitional Terms | 36 | ||||
Section 1.5 |
Exhibits and Schedules | 37 | ||||
Section 1.6 |
Divisions | 37 | ||||
Section 1.7 |
Rates | 37 | ||||
ARTICLE II LOAN FACILITY |
38 | |||||
Section 2.1 |
Establishment of Facility Commitment; Terms of Loans | 38 | ||||
Section 2.2 |
Conveyance of Participants Interest | 42 | ||||
Section 2.3 |
Funding of Advances; Swing Line; Funding of Participants Interest in Loans | 42 | ||||
Section 2.4 |
Participant Commitment Fees | 43 | ||||
Section 2.5 |
Interest on Funded Participations | 44 | ||||
Section 2.6 |
Default Interest | 46 | ||||
Section 2.7 |
Voluntary Reduction of the Unutilized Commitment | 46 | ||||
Section 2.8 |
Extension of Commitments | 46 | ||||
Section 2.9 |
Wind-Down Events | 47 | ||||
Section 2.10 |
Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances; Change in Lending Offices | 48 | ||||
Section 2.11 |
Pro Rata Treatment | 49 | ||||
Section 2.12 |
Payments | 49 | ||||
Section 2.13 |
Sharing of Setoffs | 50 | ||||
Section 2.14 |
Canadian Dollar Provisions | 50 | ||||
Section 2.15 |
Excess Loan Commitments Resulting From Exchange Rate Changes | 51 | ||||
Section 2.16 |
Interest Act | 51 | ||||
Section 2.17 |
Reallocation and Cash Collateralization of Defaulting Participant Exposure | 52 | ||||
ARTICLE III SERVICERS SERVICING OBLIGATIONS; DISTRIBUTION OF PAYMENTS |
53 | |||||
Section 3.1 |
Servicers Obligations with Respect to Loans; Collateral; Non-Recourse | 53 | ||||
Section 3.2 |
Application of Payments | 54 | ||||
Section 3.3 |
Monthly Servicing Report | 55 | ||||
ARTICLE IV LOAN DEFAULT; RIGHT TO MAKE GUARANTY DEMAND |
55 | |||||
Section 4.1 |
Notice Of Loan Defaults | 55 | ||||
Section 4.2 |
Waiver or Cure By The Sponsor of Covenant Defaults and Loan Payment Defaults | 55 | ||||
Section 4.3 |
[Reserved] | 56 | ||||
Section 4.4 |
Rights during Response Period | 56 | ||||
Section 4.5 |
Rights after Response Period and for Loan Defaults other than Loan Payment Defaults | 56 |
i
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
56 | |||||
Section 5.1 |
Existence; Power | 56 | ||||
Section 5.2 |
Organizational Power; Authorization | 57 | ||||
Section 5.3 |
Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts | 57 | ||||
Section 5.4 |
Financial Statements | 57 | ||||
Section 5.5 |
Litigation and Environmental Matters | 57 | ||||
Section 5.6 |
Compliance with Laws and Agreements | 58 | ||||
Section 5.7 |
Investment Company Act, Etc. | 58 | ||||
Section 5.8 |
Taxes | 58 | ||||
Section 5.9 |
Margin Regulations | 58 | ||||
Section 5.10 |
ERISA | 58 | ||||
Section 5.11 |
Ownership of Property | 58 | ||||
Section 5.12 |
Disclosure | 59 | ||||
Section 5.13 |
Labor Relations | 59 | ||||
Section 5.14 |
Subsidiaries | 59 | ||||
Section 5.15 |
Representations and Warranties with Respect to Specific Loans | 59 | ||||
Section 5.16 |
Solvency | 60 | ||||
Section 5.17 |
Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions | 60 | ||||
Section 5.18 |
No Affected Financial Institutions | 60 | ||||
Section 5.19 |
Inactive Subsidiaries | 60 | ||||
Section 5.20 |
Collateral Representations | 61 | ||||
ARTICLE VI AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS |
61 | |||||
Section 6.1 |
Financial Statements and Other Information | 61 | ||||
Section 6.2 |
Notices of Material Events | 63 | ||||
Section 6.3 |
Existence; Conduct of Business | 63 | ||||
Section 6.4 |
Compliance with Laws, Etc. | 64 | ||||
Section 6.5 |
Payment of Obligations | 64 | ||||
Section 6.6 |
Books and Records | 64 | ||||
Section 6.7 |
Visitation, Inspection, Etc. | 64 | ||||
Section 6.8 |
Maintenance of Properties; Insurance | 64 | ||||
Section 6.9 |
Use of Proceeds | 65 | ||||
Section 6.10 |
Additional Subsidiaries | 65 | ||||
Section 6.11 |
Further Assurances | 66 | ||||
Section 6.12 |
Collateral | 66 | ||||
Section 6.13 |
Additional Real Estate | 67 | ||||
Section 6.14 |
Designation of Subsidiaries | 68 | ||||
ARTICLE VII FINANCIAL COVENANTS |
69 | |||||
Section 7.1 |
Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio | 69 | ||||
Section 7.2 |
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio | 69 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII NEGATIVE COVENANTS |
69 | |||||
Section 8.1 |
Indebtedness | 69 | ||||
Section 8.2 |
Negative Pledge | 72 | ||||
Section 8.3 |
Fundamental Changes | 73 | ||||
Section 8.4 |
Investments, Loans, Etc. | 74 | ||||
Section 8.5 |
Restricted Payments | 75 | ||||
Section 8.6 |
Sale of Assets | 75 | ||||
Section 8.7 |
Transactions with Affiliates | 76 | ||||
Section 8.8 |
Restrictive Agreements | 76 | ||||
Section 8.9 |
Sale and Leaseback Transactions | 76 | ||||
Section 8.10 |
Legal Name, State of Formation and Form of Entity | 76 |
ii
Section 8.11 |
Accounting Changes | 76 | ||||
Section 8.12 |
Hedging Transactions | 77 | ||||
Section 8.13 |
Activities of Inactive Subsidiaries | 77 | ||||
Section 8.14 |
Government Regulation | 77 | ||||
Section 8.15 |
Ownership of Subsidiaries | 77 | ||||
Section 8.16 |
Amendment of Organizational Documents | 77 | ||||
Section 8.17 |
Activities of Holdings | 77 | ||||
ARTICLE IX CREDIT EVENTS AND REMEDIES |
78 | |||||
ARTICLE X GUARANTY |
81 | |||||
Section 10.1 |
Unconditional Guaranty | 81 | ||||
Section 10.2 |
Continuing Guaranty | 81 | ||||
Section 10.3 |
Waivers | 81 | ||||
Section 10.4 |
Additional Actions | 82 | ||||
Section 10.5 |
Additional Waivers | 82 | ||||
Section 10.6 |
Postponement of Obligations | 82 | ||||
Section 10.7 |
Effect on Additional Guaranties | 82 | ||||
Section 10.8 |
Reliance on Guaranty and Purchase Obligation; Disclaimer of Liability | 83 | ||||
Section 10.9 |
Reinstatement of Obligations | 83 | ||||
Section 10.10 |
Right to Bring Separate Action | 83 | ||||
Section 10.11 |
Subordination of Liens | 84 | ||||
Section 10.12 |
Exercise of Remedies With Respect to Collateral | 84 | ||||
Section 10.13 |
Rights Of Sponsor Upon Payment; Cooperation By Servicer | 85 | ||||
ARTICLE XI INDEMNIFICATION |
86 | |||||
Section 11.1 |
Indemnification | 86 | ||||
Section 11.2 |
Notice Of Proceedings; Right To Defend | 86 | ||||
ARTICLE XII SURVIVAL OF LOAN FACILITY |
87 | |||||
ARTICLE XIII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EFFECTIVENESS |
88 | |||||
Section 13.1 |
Conditions to Effectiveness | 88 | ||||
ARTICLE XIV THE SERVICER |
89 | |||||
Section 14.1 |
Appointment of Servicer as Agent | 89 | ||||
Section 14.2 |
Nature of Duties of Servicer | 90 | ||||
Section 14.3 |
Lack of Reliance on the Servicer | 90 | ||||
Section 14.4 |
Certain Rights of the Servicer | 90 | ||||
Section 14.5 |
Reliance by Servicer | 90 | ||||
Section 14.6 |
Indemnification of Servicer | 91 | ||||
Section 14.7 |
The Servicer in its Individual Capacity | 91 | ||||
Section 14.8 |
Holders of Participation Certificates | 91 | ||||
Section 14.9 |
Collateral and Guaranty Matters | 91 | ||||
Section 14.10 |
Right to Realize on Credit Party Collateral and Enforce Guarantee | 92 | ||||
ARTICLE XV MISCELLANEOUS |
92 | |||||
Section 15.1 |
Notices | 92 | ||||
Section 15.2 |
Amendments, Etc. | 94 | ||||
Section 15.3 |
No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative | 95 | ||||
Section 15.4 |
Payment of Expenses, Etc. | 95 | ||||
Section 15.5 |
Right of Setoff | 96 |
iii
Section 15.6 |
Benefit of Agreement; Assignments; Participations |
96 | ||||
Section 15.7 |
Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction |
97 | ||||
Section 15.8 |
Counterparts |
98 | ||||
Section 15.9 |
Severability |
98 | ||||
Section 15.10 |
Independence of Covenants |
98 | ||||
Section 15.11 |
No Joint Venture |
98 | ||||
Section 15.12 |
Repurchase Right |
98 | ||||
Section 15.13 |
Confidentiality |
98 | ||||
Section 15.14 |
Headings Descriptive; Entire Agreement |
99 | ||||
Section 15.15 |
Patriot Act |
99 | ||||
Section 15.16 |
Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions |
99 | ||||
Section 15.17 |
Certain ERISA Matters |
100 | ||||
Section 15.18 |
Acknowledgement Regarding any Supported QFCs |
102 |
iv
EXHIBITS |
||||||
Exhibit A |
- | Form of Assignment and Acceptance Agreement | ||||
Exhibit B |
- | Form of Canadian Loan Agreement | ||||
Exhibit C |
- | Form of US Loan Agreement | ||||
Exhibit D |
- | Form of Guaranty Agreement | ||||
Exhibit E |
- | Form of Participation Certificate | ||||
Exhibit F |
- | Form of Monthly Servicing Report | ||||
Exhibit G |
- | Form of Security Agreement | ||||
SCHEDULES |
||||||
Schedule 1.1(a) |
- | Pricing Grid | ||||
Schedule 1.1(b) |
- | Participant Commitments | ||||
Schedule 1.1(c) |
- | Inactive Subsidiaries | ||||
Schedule 5.14 |
- | Subsidiaries | ||||
Schedule 8.1 |
- | Outstanding Indebtedness | ||||
Schedule 8.2 |
- | Existing Liens | ||||
Schedule 8.4 |
- | Existing Investments |
v
LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY
THIS LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY (the Agreement) made as of this 1st day of April, 2022, by and among AARONS, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company having its principal place of business and chief executive office at 400 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30339 (Sponsor), THE AARONS COMPANY, INC., a Georgia corporation having its principal place of business and chief executive office at 400 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30339 (Holdings), TRUIST BANK (Truist) and each of the other lending institutions listed on the signature pages hereto (Truist, such lenders, together with any assignees thereof becoming Participants pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Participants) and TRUIST BANK, a banking corporation organized and existing under the laws of North Carolina having its principal office in Charlotte, North Carolina, as Servicer (in such capacity, the Servicer).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Sponsor is willing, subject to the limitations set forth herein, to repurchase loans upon the occurrence of certain events, all as more fully set forth below;
NOW, THEREFORE, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, and in consideration of the mutual premises set forth above and other adequate consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions. In addition to the other terms defined herein, the following terms used herein shall have the meanings herein specified (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):
Aarons shall mean the Sponsor.
Aarons Proprietary System shall mean the Sponsors proprietary point of sale software system, as modified from time to time, used by the Sponsor and its franchisees.
ACH Authorization shall mean an authorization from a Borrower to automatically debit Loan payments from a deposit account of such Borrower, substantially in the form attached to the Servicing Agreement as Exhibit A or such other form as the Servicer may require from time to time.
Acquired Business shall mean the Target and its subsidiaries.
Acquisition shall mean any transaction in which Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries directly or indirectly (i) acquires any ongoing business, (ii) acquires all or substantially all of the assets of any Person or division thereof, whether through a purchase of assets, merger or otherwise, (iii) acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) control of at least a majority of the voting stock of a corporation, other than the acquisition of voting stock of a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary solely in connection with the organization and capitalization of that Restricted Subsidiary by the Sponsor, Holdings or another Guarantor, or (iv) acquires control of more than fifty percent (50%) ownership interest in any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company.
Adjusted Canadian LIBO Rate shall mean, with respect to each Payment Period, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) determined pursuant to the following formula:
Adjusted Canadian LIBO Rate = Canadian LIBOR | ||
1.00LIBOR Reserve Percentage | ||
As used herein, LIBOR Reserve Percentage shall mean, for any Payment Period for any Funded Participation outstanding hereunder, the reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal) equal to the then stated maximum rate of all reserve requirements (including, without limitation, any marginal, emergency, supplemental, special or other reserves) applicable to any member bank of the Federal Reserve System in respect of Eurocurrency liabilities as defined in Regulation D (or against any successor category of liabilities as defined in Regulation D).
Advance shall mean a funding of a loan to a Borrower by the Servicer pursuant to such Borrowers Loan Commitment.
Affected Financial Institution shall mean (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.
Affiliate shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition Control shall mean the power, directly or indirectly, either to (i) vote ten percent (10%) or more of securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of a Person or (ii) direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. The terms Controlled by, and under common Control with have meanings correlative thereto.
Agent Parties shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 15.1(b)(iv).
Agreement shall have the meaning given to such term in the introductory paragraph hereof.
Amortization Period shall mean (i) with respect to a US Borrower, 18 or 24 months, as determined from time to time by Aarons; provided, however, in the event any US Line of Credit Commitment is terminated upon 90 days notice from the Servicer, all amounts outstanding under such US Line of Credit Commitment shall be due and payable in full no later than the 24-month anniversary of such termination, and (ii) with respect to a Canadian Borrower, 24 months; provided, however, in the event any Canadian Line of Credit Commitment is terminated upon 90 days notice from the Servicer, all amounts outstanding under such Canadian Line of Credit Commitment shall be due and payable in full no later than the 24-month anniversary of such termination.
Anti-Corruption Laws shall mean all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to Holdings, the Sponsor and its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.
Applicable Margin shall mean, with respect to all Funded Participations, as of any date, the percentage per annum determined by reference to the applicable Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio in effect on such date for Loans as set forth on Schedule 1.1(a) attached hereto; provided, that a change in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio shall be effective on the second day after which the Sponsor has delivered the financial statements required by Section 6.1(a) or (b) and the compliance certificate required by Section 6.1(c); provided, further, that if at any time the
2
Sponsor shall have failed to deliver such financial statement and such certificate when due hereunder, the Applicable Margin shall be at Level IV until such time as such financial statements and certificates are delivered, at which time the Applicable Margin shall be determined as provided above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Margin from the Effective Date until the financial statements and certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Sponsor delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(c) for the Fiscal Quarter ending September 30, 2022 are delivered shall be at Level II.
Applicable Percentage shall mean, with respect to the Participant Commitment Fee, as of any date, the percentage per annum determined by reference to the applicable Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio in effect on such date as set forth on Schedule 1.1(a) attached hereto; provided, that a change in the Applicable Percentage resulting from a change in the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio shall be effective on the second day after which the Sponsor has delivered the financial statements required by Section 6.1(a) or (b) and the compliance certificate required by Section 6.1(c); provided, further, that if at any time the Sponsor shall have failed to deliver such financial statement and such certificate when due hereunder, the Applicable Percentage shall be at Level IV until such time as such financial statements and certificates are delivered, at which time the Applicable Percentage shall be determined as provided above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Percentage from the Effective Date until the financial statements and certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Sponsor delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(c) for the Fiscal Quarter ending on September 30, 2022 are delivered shall be at Level II.
Arranger shall mean Truist Securities, Inc., in its capacity as lead arranger and bookrunner.
Asset Disposition shall mean (i) all sales of Merchandise; (ii) all Merchandise which is determined to have been stolen; (iii) all Merchandise that is destroyed, lost or otherwise removed from the premises of a Borrower other than pursuant to a Lease Contract or by outright sale or for repair work; and (iv) all skipped Merchandise which is Merchandise subject to a Lease Contract.
Assignment and Acceptance shall mean an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Participant and an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and substantially in the form of Exhibit A.
Authorized Signatory shall mean each officer of the Sponsor specified from time to time in an appropriate certificate to the Servicer as authorized to execute Funding Approval Notices and other such documents relating to the Loan Documents.
Available Tenor shall mean, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, (x) if such Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining the length of an interest period pursuant to this Agreement or (y) otherwise, any payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, in each case, as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of Payment Period pursuant to Section 2.5(d).
Bail-In Action shall mean the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.
Bail-In Legislation shall mean (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of
3
the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).
Bankruptcy Code shall mean The Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended and in effect from time to time (11 U.S.C. §101 et seq.).
Benchmark shall mean, initially, (i) with respect to Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars, Canadian LIBOR, and (ii) with respect to Loan denominated in US Dollars, the Term SOFR Reference Rate; provided, however, that if a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to (i) Canadian LIBOR or the then current Benchmark for Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars, or (ii) the Term SOFR Reference Rate or the then current Benchmark for Loans denominated in US Dollars, then, in either case, Benchmark with respect to such currency shall mean the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 2.5(d).
Benchmark Replacement shall mean, with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Servicer for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date; provided, that, with respect to any Benchmark for Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars, Benchmark Replacement shall mean the alternative set forth in clause (b) below:
(a) Daily Simple SOFR; or
(b) the sum of: (i) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Servicer and the Sponsor giving due consideration to (A) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (B) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement to the then-current Benchmark for syndicated credit facilities denominated in the currency applicable to such Benchmark at such time and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Operative Documents.
Benchmark Replacement Adjustment shall mean, with respect to any replacement of any then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Servicer and the Sponsor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for syndicated credit facilities denominated in the currency applicable to such Benchmark at such time.
Benchmark Replacement Date shall mean the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to any then-current Benchmark:
4
(a) in the case of clause (a) or (b) of the definition of Benchmark Transition Event, the later of (i) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (ii) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or
(b) in the case of clause (c) of the definition of Benchmark Transition Event, the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be non-representative or non-compliant with or non-aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks; provided that such non-representativeness, non-compliance or non-alignment will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (c) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (a) or (b) above with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
Benchmark Transition Event shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to then-current Benchmark for any applicable currency:
(a) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);
(b) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or
(c) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are not, or as of a specified future date will not be, representative or in compliance with or aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks.
5
For the avoidance of doubt, a Benchmark Transition Event will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
Benchmark Unavailability Period shall mean, with respect to any then-current Benchmark, the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Operative Document in accordance with Section 2.5(d)(iii)-(vi) and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Operative Document in accordance with Section 2.5(d)(iii)-(vi).
Beneficial Ownership Certification shall mean a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
Beneficial Ownership Regulation shall mean 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
Benefit Plan shall mean any of (a) an employee benefit plan (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a plan as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c), any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) 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.
Borrower shall mean a US Borrower or a Canadian Borrower, as the case may be.
Borrower Payment Date shall mean, with respect to any Loans, the last day of each calendar month; provided, however, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day.
Borrower Rate shall mean, (a) with respect to each US Loan, the Prime Rate per annum plus any additional margin per annum specified for such US Loan by Sponsor in the applicable Funding Approval Notice, such margin not to exceed ten percent (10.0%) per annum calculated based upon the actual number of days elapsed in a 360 day year; provided that, at no time may there be more than five different Borrower Rates for US Line of Credit Loans, and no more than five different Borrower Rates for US Revolving Loans and US Term Loans and (b) with respect to each Canadian Loan, the Canadian Prime Rate per annum plus any additional margin per annum specified for such Canadian Loan by Sponsor in the applicable Funding Approval Notice, such margin not to exceed ten percent (10.0%) per annum calculated based upon the actual number of days elapsed in a 360-day year; provided that, at no time may there be more than five different Borrower Rates for Canadian Line of Credit Loans, and no more than five different Borrower Rates for Canadian Revolving Loans and Canadian Term Loans.
Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Charlotte, North Carolina or New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.
Canadian Borrower shall mean any Franchisee domiciled in Canada (other than in the Province of Quebec) that is primarily liable for repayment of a Canadian Loan as a result of having executed Canadian Loan Documents as maker, or its permitted assignee.
Canadian Borrower Payment Date shall mean, with respect to any Canadian Loans, the last day of each calendar month; provided, however, if such day is not a Canadian Business Day, the next succeeding Canadian Business Day which is also a Business Day.
6
Canadian Business Day shall mean (i) any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Toronto, Ontario are authorized or required by law to close and (ii) if such day relates to Adjusted Canadian LIBO Rate, any day on which dealings in Canadian Dollars are carried on in the London interbank market.
Canadian Dollar Equivalent shall mean, on any date, (i) with respect to any amount denominated in Canadian Dollars, such amount and (ii) with respect to any amount denominated in US Dollars, the amount of Canadian Dollars that would be required to purchase the amount of such US Dollars on such date based upon the Exchange Rate as of the applicable date of determination.
Canadian Dollars or Cdn$ shall mean the lawful currency of Canada.
Canadian Franchisee shall mean those certain store operators located in Canada (other than in the Province of Quebec) that own and operate stores under the Aarons franchise.
Canadian Funded Participation shall mean, for any Participant, the portion of such Participants Funded Participation in Canadian Dollars.
Canadian LIBOR shall mean the rate per annum equal to the Canadian Dealer Offered Rate, or a comparable or successor rate which is approved by the Servicer, appearing on the applicable Reuters screen or the Bloomberg screen page, as selected by the Servicer, as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in Canadian Dollars at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such one-month interest period for a one-month period. If for any reason such rate is not available, Canadian LIBOR shall be, for any such interest period, the rate per annum reasonably determined by the Servicer as the rate of interest at which Canadian Dollar deposits in an amount comparable to the aggregate outstanding Funded Participations in US Dollars are offered to the Servicer by prime banks in the Canadian Dollar market reasonably selected by the Servicer determined as of 10:00 a.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such interest period for a term comparable to such interest period; provided, that, if Canadian LIBOR would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
Canadian Line of Credit Commitment shall mean a commitment to make Canadian Line of Credit Loans to a Canadian Borrower in Canadian Dollars pursuant to a Canadian Loan Agreement.
Canadian Line of Credit Loans shall mean Advances made to a Canadian Borrower pursuant to a Canadian Line of Credit Commitment.
Canadian Line of Credit Note shall mean a Canadian Line of Credit Note, executed by a Canadian Borrower in favor of the Servicer, evidencing such Canadian Borrowers obligation to repay all Canadian Line of Credit Loans made to it pursuant to a Canadian Line of Credit Commitment, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 to the Canadian Loan Agreement, with such changes as the Sponsor and the Servicer shall agree to from time to time.
Canadian Loan shall mean either a Canadian Term Loan, a Canadian Revolving Loan or a Canadian Line of Credit Loan, as the case may be.
Canadian Loan Agreement shall mean a Loan Agreement setting forth the terms and conditions, as between a Canadian Borrower and the Servicer, under which the Servicer has established a Canadian Loan Commitment to make Advances to such Canadian Borrower pursuant to the Canadian Loan Commitment, substantially in the form of Exhibit B, with such changes as may be mutually agreed by the Sponsor and the Servicer (it being understood that the Servicer will not unreasonably withhold or delay its agreement to any such changes requested by the Sponsor).
7
Canadian Loan Commitment shall mean the commitment by the Servicer to make Advances to any Canadian Borrower in Canadian Dollars in the amount not exceeding, and upon the terms described in, the applicable Funding Approval Notice and the applicable Canadian Loan Documents, which Canadian Loan Commitment may be a Canadian Line of Credit Commitment, a Canadian Revolving Commitment or a Canadian Term Loan Commitment.
Canadian Loan Documents shall mean, with respect to any Canadian Loan, the Canadian Loan Agreement, the Canadian Master Note, any Personal Guaranty, any Canadian Security Agreement, any Spousal Consent, the Collateral Agreements, in each case relating to such Loan, any other documents relating to such Loan delivered by any Borrower or any guarantor or surety thereof to the Servicer and any amendments thereto (provided that such amendments are made with the consent of the Sponsor, where such consent is required under this Agreement).
Canadian Master Note shall mean a Canadian Line of Credit Note, a Canadian Revolving Note or a Canadian Term Note, as the case may be.
Canadian Prime Rate shall mean, on any date of determination, the higher of (a) the reference rate of interest, expressed as an annual rate, publicly announced or posted from time to time by Bloomberg on page BTMM for Canadian Money Market rates or (b) the average one month Bankers Acceptance rate quoted on Reuters Service, page CDOR, as at approximately 10:00 a.m. (Toronto, Ontario time) on such day plus 1% per annum.
Canadian Revolving Commitment shall mean a commitment to make Canadian Revolving Loans to a Canadian Borrower pursuant to a Loan Agreement.
Canadian Revolving Loans shall mean Advances made to a Canadian Borrower pursuant to a Canadian Revolving Commitment.
Canadian Revolving Note shall mean that certain Revolving Note, executed by a Canadian Borrower in favor of the Servicer, evidencing such Canadian Borrowers obligation to repay all Canadian Revolving Loans made to it pursuant to a Canadian Revolving Commitment, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-3 to the Canadian Loan Agreement, with such changes as the Sponsor and the Servicer shall agree to from time to time.
Canadian Security Agreement shall mean any security agreement executed by a Canadian Borrower substantially in the form required by the Servicing Agreement.
Canadian Subfacility Amount shall mean Cdn$12,500,000, as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 2.7, Section 2.9 or Article IX.
Canadian Term Loan Commitment shall mean a commitment to make Canadian Term Loans to a Canadian Borrower pursuant to a Canadian Loan Agreement.
Canadian Term Loans shall mean Advances made to a Canadian Borrower pursuant to a Canadian Term Loan Commitment.
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Canadian Term Note shall mean that certain Term Note, executed by a Canadian Borrower in favor of the Servicer, evidencing such Canadian Borrowers obligation to repay all Canadian Term Loans made to it pursuant to a Canadian Term Loan Commitment, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 to the Canadian Loan Agreement, with such changes as the Sponsor and the Servicer shall agree to from time to time.
Capital Lease Obligations of any Person shall mean all obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
Capital Stock shall mean, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.
Cash Collateralize shall mean, in respect of any obligations, to provide and pledge (as a first priority perfected security interest) cash collateral for such obligations in US Dollars or Canadian Dollars, as applicable, with the Servicer pursuant to documentation in form and substance, reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer (and Cash Collateralization has a corresponding meaning).
Cash Equivalents shall mean, as at any date, (i) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than twelve months from the date of acquisition, (ii) Dollar denominated time deposits and certificates of deposit of (A) any Participant, (B) any domestic commercial bank of recognized standing having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 or (C) any bank whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof or from Moodys is at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof (any such bank being an Approved Bank), in each case with maturities of not more than two hundred seventy (270) days from the date of acquisition, (iii) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by any Approved Bank (or by the parent company thereof) or any variable rate notes issued by, or guaranteed by, any domestic corporation rated A-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or P-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moodys and maturing within six months of the date of acquisition, (iv) repurchase agreements entered into by any Person with a bank or trust company (including any Participant) or recognized securities dealer having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 for direct obligations issued by or fully guaranteed by the United States in which such Person shall have a perfected first priority security interest (subject to no other Liens) and having, on the date of purchase thereof, a fair market value of at least one hundred percent (100)% of the amount of the repurchase obligations and (v) investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 which are administered by reputable financial institutions having capital of at least $500,000,000 and the portfolios of which are limited to Investments of the character described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv).
Change in Control shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following events: (i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of Holdings to any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder in effect on
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the date hereof), (ii) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) of thirty-three and one third percent (331⁄3%) or more of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled to vote in the election of directors of Holdings; (iii) during any period of twenty-four (24) consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of Holdings cease to be composed of individuals (A) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (B) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (A) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (C) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (A) and (B) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body; or (iv) Holdings shall cease to own and control, of record and beneficially, directly one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding Capital Stock of the Sponsor.
Closing Date shall mean, for any Loan, the date upon which all Loan Documents have been executed and delivered and the conditions precedent to funding such Loan have been satisfied.
Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time.
Collateral shall mean, with respect to any Loan, all property of the Borrower and all guarantors obligated with respect to such Loan that secures such Loan, which property shall be designated by the Sponsor and may include all accounts receivable, inventory, Lease Contracts and other business assets of such Borrower and guarantors.
Collateral Agreement shall mean an agreement executed by a Borrower and any other Persons primarily or secondarily liable for all or part of the Loan or granting a security interest or other Lien to the Servicer in specified Collateral as security for such Loan, including without limitation, any Loan Agreements, any Canadian Security Agreement and any Personal Guaranties.
Communications shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 15.1(b)(iv).
Conforming Changes shall mean, with respect to either the use or administration of any Benchmark or the use, administration, adoption or implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of Business Day, the definition of U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the definition of Payment Period or any similar or analogous definition (or the addition of a concept of interest period), timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, the applicability and length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage or other early termination fees and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Servicer decides may be appropriate (in consultation with the Sponsor) to reflect the adoption and implementation of any such rate or to permit the use and administration thereof by the Servicer in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Servicer decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Servicer determines that no market practice for the administration of any such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Servicer decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Operative Documents).
Consolidated Companies shall mean, collectively, Holdings and all of its Subsidiaries.
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Consolidated EBITDA shall mean for Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, an amount equal to the sum of (i) Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (ii) to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, but without duplication, (A) Consolidated Interest Expense, (B) income tax expense, (C) depreciation (excluding depreciation of rental merchandise) and amortization, (D) all other non-cash charges (including, without limitation, any non-cash charges, expenses or losses incurred in connection with any stock option plan, cash incentive plan or any other employee benefit plan or agreement, but excluding any such non-cash charges or losses (1) representing an accrual or reserve for future cash charges or losses, (2) to the extent that there were cash charges or losses with respect thereto in past accounting periods, and (3) representing a write-down of current assets; provided that in the case of (1) and (2), if any such non-cash charges or losses represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA in such future period to the extent paid), (E) any fees, expenses or charges related to any issuance of Capital Stock, Investment, Acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or the incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Agreement (in each case including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful), including such fees, expenses or charges related to the Project Everglade Acquisition, (F) business optimization, restructuring and transition expenses, costs, charges, accruals or reserves incurred within two (2) years of any Permitted Acquisition (provided that, with respect to the Project Everglade Acquisition only, any such business optimization, restructuring and transition expenses, costs, charges, accruals or reserves incurred on or before the end of the second full fiscal year following the consummation of the Project Everglade Acquisition may be added back pursuant to this clause (F)), which for the avoidance of doubt shall include severance payments and costs, legal defense and settlement costs (including any costs paid in satisfaction of judgments), relocation costs, costs related to the closure, opening, curtailment and/or consolidation of facilities, retention charges, systems establishment costs, spin-off costs, integration costs, signing costs, retention and completion bonuses, amortization of signing bonuses, inventory optimization expenses, contract termination costs, transaction costs, costs related to entry into new markets, consulting fees, recruiter fees; (G) business optimization, restructuring and transition related expenses, costs, charges, accruals or reserves which are unrelated to any Permitted Acquisition or divestiture of assets, all as determined on a consolidated basis for Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period; (H) loss of on-lease and off-lease inventory, physical damage to stores, infrastructure, capital assets and other assets of the business and loss of revenue, in each case, (1) to the extent reasonably identifiable by the Sponsor as having resulted from significant weather events or other natural disasters in areas that have been declared a federal disaster or otherwise qualify for federal emergency assistance, (2) to the extent occurring within twelve (12) months after the occurrence of such significant weather event or natural disaster, and (3) net of all related insurance proceeds received related thereto (including, without limitation, all business interruption insurance and casualty insurance), all as determined on a consolidated basis for Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period; (I) the amount of cost savings and synergies projected by the Sponsor in good faith to be reasonably anticipated to be realized from actions taken or committed to be taken during such period in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or any permitted disposition of assets (in each case calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost savings and synergies had been realized on the first day of such period, net of the amount of actual benefits realized prior to or during such period from such actions); provided that such actions have been taken or have been committed to be taken, and the benefits resulting therefrom are anticipated by the Sponsor in good faith to be realized within twenty-four (24) months after the completion of the related Permitted Acquisition or permitted disposition of assets (provided that, with respect to the Project Everglade Acquisition only, any such actions have been taken or have been committed to be taken, and the benefits resulting therefrom are anticipated by the Sponsor in good faith to be realized on or before the end of the second full fiscal year following the consummation of the Project Everglade Acquisition); and provided, further, that the aggregate amount for all such items under this clause (I) shall not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement; (J) non-cash expenses, costs, charges, accruals or reserves relating to the formation of Holdings, in each case, to the extent incurred prior to November 9, 2020 or within two (2) years thereafter, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any
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amortization or accruals for prior cash payments to the extent such cash payments were made prior to November 9, 2020 or within six (6) months thereafter; and (K) expenses, cost, charges, accruals or reserves relating to the repositioning, relocating, remodeling, consolidation and closure of retail locations, offices or operating centers, all as determined on a consolidated basis for Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amounts added back to Consolidated Net Income in reliance on clauses (ii)(F), (ii)(G), (ii)(H) and (ii)(K) above shall not exceed, in the aggregate during any four fiscal quarter period, the greater of (i) $40,000,000 and (ii) 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (calculated prior to adding back any such amounts). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Consolidated EBITDA shall be deemed to be $81,808,691 for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2021, $77,425,545 for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2021 and $61,829,293 for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2021, (which amounts, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be subject to, without duplication, addbacks and adjustments set forth in this definition (including clause (I) above) for events and transactions following the Effective Date and shall give effect to calculations on a Pro Forma Basis).
Consolidated EBITDAR shall mean, for Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, an amount equal to the sum of (a) Consolidated EBITDA plus (b) Consolidated Lease Expense.
Consolidated Fixed Charges shall mean, for Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense paid or payable for such period plus (b) Consolidated Lease Expense.
Consolidated Interest Expense shall mean, for Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, total cash interest expense, including without limitation the interest component of any payments in respect of Capital Leases Obligations capitalized or expensed during such period (whether or not actually paid during such period).
Consolidated Lease Expense shall mean, for any period, the aggregate amount of fixed and contingent rentals payable by Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to leases of real and personal property (excluding Capital Lease Obligations) determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP for such period.
Consolidated Net Income shall mean, for any period, the net income (or loss) of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, but excluding therefrom (to the extent otherwise included therein) (i) any extraordinary gains or losses, (ii) any gains attributable to write-ups of assets, (iii) any equity interest of Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings in the unremitted earnings of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary and (iv) any income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary on the date that such Persons assets are acquired by Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary, except to the extent provided for in the definition of Pro Forma Basis in connection with a Permitted Acquisition. For the avoidance of doubt, Consolidated Net Income (i) shall exclude any income (or loss) for such period of Unrestricted Subsidiaries and (ii) shall include any amounts actually distributed in cash by Unrestricted Subsidiaries to Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary.
Consolidated Total Debt shall mean, at any time, all then currently outstanding obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis of the types described in the definition of Indebtedness.
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Credit Agreement shall mean that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, by and among Sponsor, the lenders from time to time parties thereto and Truist Bank, as administrative agent, as amended, restated, replaced, refinanced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Credit Documents shall mean, collectively, the Credit Agreement and any and all other instruments, agreements, documents and writings executed in connection with the foregoing.
Credit Event shall have the meaning set forth in Article IX of this Agreement.
Credit Parties shall mean, collectively, each of the Sponsor, Holdings and the Guarantors.
Credit Party Collateral shall mean all tangible and intangible property, real and personal, of any Credit Party that is or purports to be the subject of a Lien to the Servicer to secure the whole or any part of the obligations of the Credit Parties under the Operative Documents (including any Guarantee thereof), and shall include, without limitation, all casualty insurance proceeds and condemnation awards with respect to any of the foregoing.
Credit Party Collateral Documents shall mean, collectively, the Security Agreement, any Real Estate Documents, all assignments of key man life insurance policies and all other instruments and agreements now or hereafter securing or perfecting the Liens securing the whole or any part of the obligations of the Credit Parties under the Operative Documents (including any Guarantee thereof), all UCC financing statements, fixture filings and stock powers, and all other documents, instruments, agreements and certificates executed and delivered by any Credit Party to the Servicer and the Participants in connection with the foregoing.
Daily Simple SOFR shall mean, for any day, SOFR, with the conventions for this rate (which will include a lookback) being established by the Servicer in accordance with the conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining Daily Simple SOFR for syndicated business loans; provided, that if the Servicer decides that any such convention is not administratively feasible for the Servicer, then the Servicer may establish another convention in its reasonable discretion.
Default Waiver Letter shall mean a waiver letter sent by Sponsor to the Servicer which such waiver letter shall (i) waive and cure a Loan Payment Default or (ii) waive a covenant default with respect to a Loan that does not constitute a Loan Default, such waiver letter to be substantially in the form required in the Servicing Agreement.
Defaulted Borrower shall mean a Borrower under a Defaulted Loan.
Defaulted Loan shall mean a Loan evidenced by Loan Documents under the terms of which exist one or more Loan Defaults that have not been cured or waived as permitted herein.
Defaulting Participant shall mean, at any time, subject to Section 2.17(b), (i) any Participant that has failed for two (2) or more Business Days to comply with its obligations under this Agreement to fund any Participant Funding (each a funding obligation), unless such Participant has notified the Servicer and the Sponsor in writing that such failure is the result of such Participants determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding has not been satisfied (which conditions precedent, together with any applicable Credit Event, will be specifically identified in such writing), (ii) any Participant that has notified the Servicer in writing, or has stated publicly, that it does not intend to comply with any such funding obligation hereunder, unless such writing or public statement states that such position is based on such Participants determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding cannot be satisfied
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(which conditions precedent, together with any applicable Credit Event will be specifically identified in such writing or public statement), (iii) any Participant that has defaulted on its obligation to fund generally under any other loan agreement, credit agreement or other financing agreement, (iv) any Participant that has, for three (3) or more Business Days after written request of the Servicer or the Sponsor, failed to confirm in writing to the Servicer and the Sponsor that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Participant will cease to be a Defaulting Participant pursuant to this clause (iv) upon the Servicers and the Sponsors receipt of such written confirmation), (v) any Participant with respect to which a Participant Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing or (vi) any Participant that has become the subject of a Bail-In Action. Any determination by the Servicer that a Participant is a Defaulting Participant will be conclusive and binding, absent manifest error, and such Participant shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Participant (subject to Section 2.17(b)) upon notification of such determination by the Servicer to the Sponsor and the Participants.
Delaware Divided LLC shall mean any Delaware LLC which has been formed upon the consummation of a Delaware LLC Division.
Delaware LLC shall mean any limited liability company organized or formed under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Delaware LLC Division shall mean the statutory division of any Delaware LLC into two or more Delaware LLCs pursuant to Section 18-217 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.
Domestic Controlled Affiliate shall mean each Affiliate of the Sponsor that is (a) Controlled by the Sponsor, and (b) incorporated or organized under the laws of any State of the United States, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico.
Domestic Subsidiary shall mean any Subsidiary of the Sponsor that is incorporated or organized under the laws of any State of the United States, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico.
EEA Financial Institution shall mean (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clause (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.
EEA Member Country shall mean any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
EEA Resolution Authority shall mean 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 shall mean the date upon which all conditions precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement have been satisfied.
Eligible Assignee shall mean (i) a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof having total assets in excess of $1,000,000,000.00 or any commercial finance or asset-based lending Affiliate of any such commercial bank and (ii) any Participant.
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Environmental Indemnity shall mean each environmental indemnity made by each Credit Party with respect to Real Estate required to be pledged as Credit Party Collateral in favor of the Servicer for the benefit of the holders of the obligations under the Operative Documents, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer.
Environmental Laws shall mean all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.
Environmental Liability shall mean any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental investigation and remediation, costs of administrative oversight, fines, natural resource damages, penalties or indemnities), of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (i) any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law, (ii) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (iii) any actual or alleged exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (iv) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (v) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
ERISA Affiliate shall mean any trade or business (whether or not incorporated), which, together with the Sponsor, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for the purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
ERISA Event shall mean (i) 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); (ii) the existence with respect to any Plan of an accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (iii) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (iv) the incurrence by the Sponsor or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (v) the receipt by the Sponsor or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator appointed by the PBGC of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (vi) the incurrence by the Sponsor or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (vii) the receipt by the Sponsor or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Sponsor or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.
EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule shall mean the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.
Exchange Rate shall mean the offered rate at which Canadian Dollars may be exchanged into US Dollars or US Dollars may be exchanged into Canadian Dollars, as the case may be, as set forth at approximately 11:00 a.m. on such day on the Reuters NFX Page (or if such page is not available, or the rate does not appear on such page, the comparable page on the Telerate or Bloomberg Service). In the event
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that such rate does not appear on the applicable page of any such services, the Exchange Rate shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available services for displaying exchange rates as may be agreed upon by the Servicer and the Sponsor, or, in the absence of such agreement, such Exchange Rate shall instead be the offered spot rate of exchange of the Servicer or, if the Servicer shall so determine, one of its affiliates in the market where its foreign currency exchange operations in respect of Canadian Dollars are then being conducted, at or about 10:00 a.m., local time, on such date for the purchase or sale of US Dollars for delivery two Business Days later; provided that if at the time of any such determination, for any reason, no such spot rate is being quoted, the Servicer, after consultation with the Sponsor, may use any reasonable method it deems appropriate to determine such rate, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Exchange Rate shall be initially the Exchange Rate as of the Effective Date and shall be reset periodically on each Reset Date pursuant to Section 2.14(c).
Existing Loan shall mean any of the loans made by the Servicer pursuant to the Existing Loan Facility Agreement as in effect from time to time.
Existing Loan Commitments shall mean any of the commitments to make loans made by the Servicer pursuant to the Existing Loan Facility Agreement as in effect from time to time.
Existing Loan Facility Agreement shall mean that certain Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty dated as of November 17, 2020 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time) by and among the Sponsor, the participants party thereto and the Servicer.
Existing Note shall mean any of the promissory notes from the Borrowers to the Servicer substantially in the form attached to the Existing Loan Facility Agreement as in effect from time to time.
Facility Commitment shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
Facility Commitment Termination Date shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
Federal Funds Rate shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100th of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with member banks of the Federal Reserve System, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the next succeeding Business Day; provided, (i) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day and (ii) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate charged to Truist Bank or any other Participant selected by the Servicer on such day on such transactions as determined by the Servicer.
Federal Reserve Board shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
Fee Letter shall mean that certain letter agreement dated as of the Effective Date, by and among the Sponsor and the Servicer, setting forth certain fees applicable to the loan facility described herein, either as originally executed or as hereafter amended or modified.
Final Termination Date shall mean the date that is ninety (90) days after the last Maturity Date of the Loans.
Financing Statement shall mean, (a) with respect to a US Loan, a document that among other things, describes the Collateral, the proper filing of which perfects a security interest in the Collateral described therein under the laws of the state in which such document is filed and (b) with respect to a Canadian Loan, a document that among other things, describes the Collateral, the proper filing of which perfects a security interest in the Collateral described therein under the laws of the province or territory in which such document is filed.
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Fiscal Quarter shall mean any fiscal quarter of Holdings.
Fiscal Year shall mean a fiscal year of Holdings; references to a Fiscal Year with a number corresponding to any calendar year (e.g., the Fiscal Year 2020) refers to the Fiscal Year ending during such calendar year.
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall mean, at any date, the ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDAR for the four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on such date to (ii) Consolidated Fixed Charges for the four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on such date.
Flood Hazard Property shall mean Real Estate located in an area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as having special flood or mud slide hazards.
Flood Insurance Laws shall mean, collectively, (i) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (which comprehensively revised the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973), as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto, (ii) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto and (iii) the Biggert Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, as now or hereafter in effect or any successor statute thereto.
Floor shall mean a rate of interest equal to 0.00%.
Foreign Pledge Date shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 6.10(b).
Foreign Subsidiary shall mean any Subsidiary of the Sponsor that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
Franchise Agreement shall mean the written agreement between Sponsor and a Franchisee whereby the Franchisee is authorized to establish an Aarons franchise.
Franchisee shall mean a Canadian Franchisee or a US Franchisee, as the case may be.
Franchisee Borrowing Base shall mean, on any date of determination, an amount equal to a multiple of Rental Revenue for the most recently ended three calendar months, as determined for each Borrower by Aarons and specified in the Funding Approval Notice for such Borrower.
Franchisee Loan shall mean either a Canadian Loan or a US Loan, as the case may be.
Franchisee Loan Program shall mean the transaction evidenced by (i) this Agreement wherein the Sponsor has guaranteed, to the extent set forth herein, certain obligations of Franchisees of the Sponsor, and (ii) the other Operative Documents executed in connection herewith and therewith.
Funded Participation shall mean (x) with respect to any Participant other than Truist Bank, the portion of such Participants Participating Commitment that has been funded in US Dollars or Canadian Dollars, and (y) with respect to Truist Bank, the portion of the Facility Commitment (including Swing Line Advances) that has been funded in US Dollars or Canadian Dollars, less the aggregate Funded Participations of all other Participants.
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Funding Approval Notice shall mean a written notice to the Servicer from Sponsor setting forth the conditions of a proposed Loan Commitment, consistent with the requirements therefor as set forth in this Agreement, and containing such information and in substantially such form as shall be agreed to by Servicer and Sponsor pursuant to the Servicing Agreement.
GAAP shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis and subject to the terms of Section 1.2.
Governmental Authority shall mean the government of the United States of America, Canada, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.
Guarantee of or by any Person (the guarantor) shall mean 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, direct or indirect, of the guarantor (i) 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, (ii) 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, (iii) 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 (iv) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued in support of such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposits in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which Guarantee is made or, if not so stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith. The term Guarantee used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
Guaranteed Obligations shall mean the aggregate amount of all Loan Indebtedness of all Borrowers outstanding under all Loan Documents to include, without limitation (i) all principal, interest and commitment fees due with respect to all Loans, including post-petition interest in any proceeding under federal bankruptcy laws, (ii) all fees, expenses, and amounts payable by all Borrowers for reimbursement or indemnification under the terms of all Loan Agreements and all other Loan Documents executed in connection with the Loan to such Borrower, (iii) all amounts advanced by Servicer to protect or preserve the value of any security for the Loans, and (iv) all renewals, extensions, modifications, and refinancings (in whole or in part) of any of the amounts referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above).
Guarantors shall mean, collectively, Holdings, Aaron Investment Company and certain other Restricted Subsidiaries of the Sponsor that from time to time become parties to the Guaranty Agreement and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Guaranty Agreement shall mean that certain Guaranty Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, executed by Holdings, the Sponsor and certain Restricted Subsidiaries of the Sponsor in favor of the Servicer and the Participants, substantially in the form of Exhibit D, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Hazardous Materials shall mean all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
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Hedging Transaction of any Person shall mean (i) any transaction (including an agreement with respect to any such transaction) now existing or hereafter entered into by such Person that is a rate swap transaction, swap option, basis swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap, commodity option, equity or equity index swap or option, bond option, interest rate option, foreign exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction, collar transaction, currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option, spot transaction, credit protection transaction, credit swap, credit default swap, credit default option, total return swap, credit spread transaction, repurchase transaction, reverse repurchase transaction, buy/sell-back transaction, securities lending transaction, or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any of these transactions) or any combination thereof, whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement and (ii) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a Master Agreement), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
Holdings shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereto.
Inactive Subsidiaries shall mean the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on Schedule 1.1(c).
Indebtedness of any Person shall mean, without duplication (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business; provided, that for purposes of Section 9.6, trade payables overdue by more than one hundred twenty (120) days shall be included in this definition except to the extent that any of such trade payables are being disputed in good faith and by appropriate measures), (iv) all obligations of such Person under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement(s) relating to property acquired by such Person, (v) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (vi) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of letters of credit, acceptances or similar extensions of credit, (vii) all Guarantees of such Person of the type of Indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (vi) above, (viii) all Indebtedness of a third party secured by any Lien on property owned by such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness has been assumed by such Person, provided, that, if such Indebtedness shall not have been assumed by such Person and is otherwise limited in recourse only to the property of such Person securing such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the fair market value of the property of such Person securing such obligation as determined by such Person in good faith and (B) the amount of such Indebtedness so secured, (ix) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, to purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value any Capital Stock of such Person, and (x) Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the extent that the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.
Intercreditor Agreement shall mean an intercreditor agreement to be entered into upon the occurrence of the Trigger Event by the Servicer, on behalf of the Participants, and Truist Bank, as administrative agent under the Credit Agreement, on behalf of the holders of the Obligations (as defined in the Credit Agreement), which intercreditor agreement shall provide for the sharing of collateral and the proceeds thereof as provided more specifically therein.
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Inventory Financing Agreement shall mean that certain Amended and Restated Inventory Financing Agreement dated as of June 28, 2013 by and among Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance, LLC (formerly known as Capital Solutions for the Home Product Industry) and the other parties thereto, as amended, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time.
Lease Contract shall mean a contract between a Borrower and a customer to lease Merchandise in the form approved by the Sponsor (and which may include purchase options).
Leverage Increase Period shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.1.
Lien shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, lien (statutory or otherwise), charge, encumbrance, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, or other arrangement having the practical effect of any of the foregoing or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any capital lease having the same economic effect as any of the foregoing). A covenant not to grant a Lien or a Negative Pledge shall not be determined a Lien for purposes of this Agreement.
Line of Credit Commitment shall mean either a US Line of Credit Commitment or Canadian Line of Credit Commitment, as the case may be.
Line of Credit Loans shall mean either a US Line of Credit Loan or Canadian Line of Credit Loan, as the case may be.
Line of Credit Note shall mean either a US Line of Credit Note or Canadian Line of Credit Note, as the case may be.
Loan Agreement shall mean either a US Loan Agreement or a Canadian Loan Agreement, as the case may be.
Loan Commitment shall mean either a US Loan Commitment or a Canadian Loan Commitment, as the case may be.
Loan Default shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to any Loan: (i) a Loan Payment Default, (ii) the bankruptcy or insolvency of the Borrower or any Guarantor of such Loan, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or similar fiduciary for such Borrower or Guarantor, or the assignment for the benefit of creditors by such Borrower or Guarantor, or the offering of settlement or composition to the unsecured creditors of such Borrower or Guarantor generally or (iii) the termination of (or failure to renew) the Franchise Agreement to which the Borrower of such Loan is a party.
Loan Documents shall mean, the US Loan Documents and the Canadian Loan Documents.
Loan Indebtedness shall mean all amounts due and payable by a Borrower under the terms of the Loan Documents governing the Loan to such Borrower, including, without limitation, outstanding principal, accrued interest, any commitment fees, and all reasonable costs and expenses of any legal proceeding brought by the Servicer to collect any of the foregoing (including without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees actually incurred).
Loan Payment Default shall mean the failure of a Borrower to make a payment of principal, accrued interest thereon or any other amounts, within the cure period following the due date therefor, as provided under the applicable Loan Documents.
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Loan Term shall mean, with respect to any Loan, the prescribed term of the Loan Commitment relating to such Loan, as documented in the applicable Loan Documents, and any term-out period thereafter; provided, however, that the Loan Term shall not exceed (x) in the case of a Line of Credit Commitment, 364 days subject to extension in accordance with the terms of the applicable Loan Agreement, plus, in the event that the Line of Credit Commitment is terminated upon ninety (90) days prior notice from the Servicer, the Amortization Period and (y) in the case of a US Revolving Commitment and a US Term Loan Commitment, four (4) years and (z) in the case of a Canadian Revolving Commitment and a Canadian Term Loan Commitment, two (2) years.
Loans shall mean either a US Loan or Canadian Loan, as the case may be.
Margin Regulations shall mean Regulation T, Regulation U and Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as the same may be in effect from time to time.
Master Note shall mean either a US Master Note or a Canadian Master Note, as the case may be.
Material Adverse Effect shall mean, with respect to any event, act, condition or occurrence of whatever nature (including any adverse determination in any litigation, arbitration, or governmental investigation or proceeding), whether singularly or in conjunction with any other event or events, act or acts, condition or conditions, occurrence or occurrences whether or not related, resulting in a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect on, (i) the business, results of operations, financial condition, assets or liabilities of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Sponsor or the Credit Parties taken as a whole to perform any of their respective obligations under the Operative Documents, (iii) the rights and remedies of the Servicer and the Participants under any of the Operative Documents or (iv) the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Operative Documents.
Material Domestic Subsidiary shall mean any Domestic Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Sponsor) that is a Restricted Subsidiary that has not already become a Guarantor that (i) at any time (A) accounted for five percent (5.0%) or more of Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four (4) Fiscal Quarters ended or (B) holds assets in an amount equal to or greater than five percent (5.0%) of the aggregate fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Sponsor) of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter, or (ii) when taken together with other Domestic Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries that are not already Guarantors, (x) accounted for ten percent (10.0%) of Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four (4) Fiscal Quarters ended or (y) holds assets in an amount equal to or greater than ten percent (10.0%) of the aggregate fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Sponsor) of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter. Upon the acquisition of a new Domestic Subsidiary or the merger or consolidation of any Person with or into an existing Domestic Subsidiary (or the acquisition of other assets by an existing Domestic Subsidiary), in each case, that is a Restricted Subsidiary, the qualification of the affected Domestic Subsidiary as a Material Domestic Subsidiary pursuant to the foregoing requirements of this definition shall be determined on a Pro Forma Basis as if such Domestic Subsidiary had been acquired or such merger, consolidation or other acquisition had occurred, as applicable, at the beginning of the relevant period of four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters.
Material Indebtedness shall mean, as of any date of determination, Indebtedness of any one or more of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount greater than an amount equal to two percent (2.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered.
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Material Real Estate shall mean Real Estate with a fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Sponsor in consultation with the Servicer) in excess of $10,000,000.
Material Subsidiary shall mean at any time any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings having: (a) assets in an amount equal to at least five percent (5.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter at such time; or (b) revenues or net income in an amount equal to at least five percent (5.0%) of the total revenues or net income of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the 12-month period ending on the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter at such time.
Maturity Date shall mean, with respect to any Loan, the date set forth under the applicable Loan Documents when the related Loan Commitment has terminated and all principal and interest with respect to such Loan shall become due and payable in full; provided that, each Maturity Date shall be a Borrower Payment Date or Canadian Borrower Payment Date, as the case may be.
Maximum Commitment Amount shall mean Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($12,500,000), as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 2.7, Section 2.9 or Article IX.
Merchandise shall mean goods distributed or sold to Franchisees through Sponsor.
Monthly Servicing Report shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.
Moodys shall mean Moodys Investors Service, Inc.
Mortgages shall mean, collectively, each mortgage, deed of trust, trust deed, security deed, debenture, deed of immovable hypothec, deed to secure debt or other real estate security documents delivered by any Credit Party to the Servicer from time to time, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer, as the same may be amended, amended and restated, extended, supplemented, substituted or otherwise modified from time to time.
Multiemployer Plan shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
Non-Defaulting Participant shall mean, at any time, a Participant that is not a Defaulting Participant.
Notes shall mean, collectively, the Canadian Line of Credit Notes, the Canadian Master Notes, the Canadian Revolving Notes, the Canadian Term Notes, the US Line of Credit Notes, the US Master Notes, the US Revolving Notes and the US Term Notes.
OFAC shall mean the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities of any Person shall mean (i) any repurchase obligation or liability of such Person with respect to accounts or notes receivable sold by such Person, other than indemnity obligations for any breach of any representation or warranty which are customary in non-recourse sales of such assets, (ii) any liability of such Person under any sale and leaseback transactions which do not create a liability on the balance sheet of such Person, (iii) any liability of such Person under any so-called synthetic lease transaction or (iv) any obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the balance sheet of such Person.
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Opening Date shall mean, with respect to each store location, the date determined by the Sponsor to be the opening date of such location in accordance with its standard practice, as notified to the Servicer in accordance with the terms hereof.
Operative Documents shall mean this Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Fee Letter, the Intercreditor Agreement, if any, the Credit Party Collateral Documents, if any, and any other documents delivered by Sponsor or any Guarantor to the Servicer or the Participants in connection herewith or therewith.
PAD Authorization shall mean a pre-authorized debit authorization executed by a Borrower authorizing the Servicer to cause a specified account of such Borrower to be debited to pay amounts payable, such authorization to be in the form attached to the Servicing Agreement as Exhibit K or such other form as the Servicer may require from time to time.
Parent Company shall mean, with respect to a Participant, the bank holding company (as defined in Regulation Y), if any, of such Participant, and/or any Person owning, beneficially or of record, directly or indirectly, a majority of the shares of such Participant.
Participant shall mean Truist, the other lending institutions listed on the signature pages hereof and each assignee thereof, if any, pursuant to the terms hereof.
Participant Canadian Monthly Payment Date shall mean the last day of each calendar month; provided, however, if such day is not a Canadian Business Day, the next succeeding Canadian Business Day which is also a Business Day.
Participant Canadian Quarterly Payment Date shall mean the last day of each calendar quarter; provided, however, if such day is not a Canadian Business Day, the next succeeding Canadian Business Day which is also a Business Day.
Participant Commitment Fee shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.
Participant Funding shall mean a funding by the Participants of their respective Participants Interest in Advances or Loans in US Dollars or Canadian Dollars.
Participant Insolvency Event shall mean that (i) a Participant or its Parent Company is insolvent, or is generally unable to pay its debts as they become due, or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (ii) a Participant or its Parent Company is the subject of a bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation or similar proceeding, or a receiver, trustee, conservator, custodian or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such capacity, has been appointed for such Participant or its Parent Company, or Participant or its Parent Company has taken any action in furtherance of or indicating its consent to or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment or (iii) a Participant or its Parent Company has been adjudicated as, or determined by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Person or its assets to be, insolvent; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, a Participant Insolvency Event shall not be deemed to have occurred solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in or control of a Participant or its Parent Company thereof by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof so long as such ownership or acquisition does not result in or provide such Participant with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Participant (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Participant.
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Participants Interest shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
Participant Monthly Payment Date shall mean the last day of each calendar month; provided, however, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day.
Participant Quarterly Payment Date shall mean the last day of each calendar quarter; provided, however, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day.
Participants Unused Commitment shall mean, with respect to any Participant, the difference between such Participants Participating Commitment Amount and the US Dollar Equivalent of such Participants Funded Participation.
Participating Commitment shall mean the commitment of each Participant to fund its Participants Interest in outstanding US Loans in US Dollars and in outstanding Canadian Loans in Canadian Dollars, in an aggregate amount (on a US Dollar Equivalent basis) not to exceed such Participants Participating Commitment Amount.
Participating Commitment Amount shall mean the amount set forth opposite each Participants name on Schedule 1.1(b) attached hereto, as such amount may be modified by assignment pursuant to the terms hereof; provided, that, following the termination of the Facility Commitment, each Participants Participating Commitment Amount shall be deemed to be its Pro Rata Share of the aggregate principal amount of all Loan Commitments.
Participation Certificate shall mean a certificate issued by the Servicer to a Participant, substantially in the form of Exhibit E attached hereto, evidencing such Participants ownership interest conveyed hereunder.
Payment Period shall mean a period of one (1) month; provided that (i) the first day of a Payment Period must be a Business Day, (ii) any Payment Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, (iii) the first Payment Period hereunder shall commence on the date hereof and shall end on the last day of the next succeeding calendar month and (iv) the first day of any succeeding Payment Period shall be the last day of the preceding Payment Period and shall end on the last day of the next succeeding calendar month.
PBGC shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA, and any successor entity performing similar functions.
Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of Term SOFR.
Permitted Acquisition shall mean any Acquisition (whether foreign or domestic) so long as (a) immediately before and after giving effect to such Acquisition, no Credit Event or Unmatured Credit Event is in existence, (b) such Acquisition has been approved by the board of directors of the Person being acquired prior to any public announcement thereof, (c) to the extent such Acquisition is of a Person or Persons that are not organized in the United States and/or of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person located outside the United States and the aggregate EBITDA attributable to all Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended twelve month period (giving pro forma effect to such Acquisition) exceeds twenty percent (20%) of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended
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twelve month period, the Sponsor complies with Section 6.10(b) hereof and (d) immediately after giving effect to such Acquisition, Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not be engaged in any business other than (A) substantially the same business as presently conducted or such other businesses that are reasonably related thereto, including but not limited to the business of leasing and selling furniture, consumer electronics, computers, appliances and other household goods and accessories inside and outside of the United States of America, through both independently-owned and franchised stores, providing lease-purchase solutions, credit and other financing solutions to customers for the purchase and lease of such products, the manufacture and supply of furniture and bedding for lease and sale in such stores, and the provision of virtual rent-to-own programs inside and outside of the United States of America (including but not limited to point-of-sale lease purchase programs), (B) any other businesses which are ancillary or complementary to, or reasonable extensions or expansions of, the business of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Effective Date, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Sponsor and (C) any businesses that are materially different from the business of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Effective Date provided that any Investments made, funds expended or financial support provided by Holdings, the Sponsor and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such alternative lines of business shall not exceed $50,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding. As used herein, Acquisitions will be considered related Acquisitions if the sellers under such Acquisitions are the same Person or any Affiliate thereof.
Permitted Encumbrances shall mean
(i) Liens imposed by law for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;
(ii) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other Liens imposed by law created in the ordinary course of business for amounts not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;
(iii) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;
(iv) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(v) judgment and attachment liens not giving rise to a Credit Event or Liens created by or existing from any litigation or legal proceeding that are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;
(vi) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
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(vii) other Liens incidental to the conduct of its business or the ownership of its property and assets which were not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit, and which do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of its property or assets or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of its business; and
(viii) Liens on insurance policies owned by the Sponsor on the lives of its officers securing policy loans obtained from the insurers under such policies; provided that (A) the aggregate amount borrowed on each policy shall not exceed the loan value thereof, and (B) the Sponsor shall not incur any liability to repay any such loan;
provided, that the term Permitted Encumbrances shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.
Permitted Investments shall mean:
(i) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;
(ii) commercial paper having an A or better rating, at the time of acquisition thereof, of S&P or Moodys and in either case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;
(iii) certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances and time deposits maturing within one year of 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 or any state thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;
(iv) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (i) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (iii) above; and
(v) mutual funds investing solely in any one or more of the Permitted Investments described in clauses (i) through (iv) above.
Person shall mean any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other entity, or any Governmental Authority.
Personal Guaranty shall mean any guaranty from a principal of a Borrower substantially in the form required by the Servicing Agreement.
Plan shall mean any employee benefit plan as defined in Section 3 of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) maintained or contributed to by the Sponsor or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Sponsor or any ERISA Affiliate has or may have an obligation to contribute, and each such plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA for the five-year period immediately following the latest date on which the Sponsor or any ERISA Affiliate maintained, contributed to or had an obligation to contribute to (or is deemed under Section 4069 of ERISA to have maintained or contributed to or to have had an obligation to contribute to, or otherwise to have liability with respect to) such plan.
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Platform shall mean Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system.
Prime Rate shall mean the per annum rate of interest designated from time to time by Truist to be its prime rate. The Prime Rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate of interest that is being offered by Truist to its borrowers.
Pro Forma Basis shall mean, for purposes of calculating compliance with respect to any asset sale (including any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division), casualty event, Permitted Acquisition, Restricted Payment or incurrence of Indebtedness, or any other transaction subject to calculation on a Pro Forma Basis as indicated herein (including without limitation, for purposes of determining compliance with the financial covenants in Article VII, and determining the Applicable Margin and Applicable Percentage) that such transaction shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently ended (the Reference Period) for which the Sponsor has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or (b). For purposes of any such calculation in respect of any Permitted Acquisition, (a) income statement and cash flow statement items attributable to the Person or property subject to such Permitted Acquisition shall be included in Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Permitted Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period; (b) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary (including the Person or property acquired) in connection with such transaction and any Indebtedness of the Person or property acquired which is not retired in connection with such transaction (i) shall be deemed to have been incurred as of the first day of the applicable period and (ii) if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination; (c) capital expenditures attributable to the Person or property acquired shall be included beginning as of the first day of the applicable period; and (d) except as permitted pursuant to clauses (G), (H) and (I) of the definition of Consolidated EBITDA, no adjustments for unrealized synergies shall be included. For purposes of any such calculation in respect of (a) the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (i) income statement and cash flow statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to such Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent relating to any period occurring prior to the date of such designation and (ii) Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be excluded and deemed to have been retired as of the first day of the Reference Period and (b) the designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as an Restricted Subsidiary, (i) income statement and cash flow statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to such Subsidiary shall be included to the extent relating to any period prior to the date of such designation to the extent such items are not otherwise included in such income statement and cash flow statement items for Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with any defined terms set forth in this Section 1.1.
Pro Forma Compliance Certificate shall mean a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Sponsor containing (x) reasonably detailed calculations of the financial covenants set forth in Article VII recomputed as of the end of the period of the four Fiscal Quarters most recently ended for which the Sponsor has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or (b) after giving effect to the applicable transaction on a Pro Forma Basis and (y) if delivered in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, certifications that clauses (i) through (iv) of the definition of Permitted Acquisition have been satisfied (or will be satisfied in the time permitted under this Agreement).
Pro Rata Share shall mean, with respect to each of the Participants at any time, the percentage determined by dividing such Participants Participating Commitment at such time by the total principal amount of all Participating Commitments at such time.
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Project Everglade Acquisition shall mean the acquisition by the Sponsor, directly or indirectly of all of the outstanding equity interests of the Acquired Business from the Seller pursuant to the terms of the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement.
Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement shall mean that certain Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of February 23, 2022 by and among Aarons Retail Solutions, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company, Interbond Enterprises, Inc., a Florida corporation, Michael Perlman, an individual resident of the State of Florida and the other sellers (collectively, the Seller).
Project Everglade Refinancing shall mean the refinancing of certain outstanding indebtedness of the Acquired Business.
PTE shall mean a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
Qualified Acquisition shall mean (a) the Project Everglade Acquisition and (b) a Permitted Acquisition with aggregate consideration of at least $150,000,000, or any series of related Permitted Acquisitions in any twelve (12) month period with aggregate consideration for all such Permitted Acquisitions of at least $150,000,000; provided that for any such Permitted Acquisition or series of related Permitted Acquisitions, a Responsible Officer of the Sponsor shall have delivered to the Servicer, prior to (i) the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition (or the last in such series of related Permitted Acquisitions, as applicable) or (ii) the date of required delivery of a certificate of a Responsible Officer pursuant to Section 6.1(c) for the Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, as applicable, ended immediately following the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition (or the last in such series of related Permitted Acquisitions, as applicable), a certificate (any such certificate, a Qualified Acquisition Notice) (x) certifying that such Permitted Acquisition or series of Permitted Acquisitions qualifies as a Qualified Acquisition and (y) notifying the Servicer that the Sponsor has elected to treat such Permitted Acquisition or series of related Acquisitions as a Qualified Acquisition.
Qualified Acquisition Notice has the meaning specified in the definition of Qualified Acquisition.
Qualified Acquisition Pro Forma Determination shall mean, to the extent required in connection with determining the permissibility of any Permitted Acquisition or series of related Permitted Acquisitions that the Credit Parties elect to treat as a Qualified Acquisition, the determination of whether the Credit Parties are in compliance with Section 7.1 on a Pro Forma Basis.
Real Estate shall mean all real property owned in fee by Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are Credit Parties.
Real Estate Documents shall mean, collectively, Mortgages covering all Material Real Estate owned by the Credit Parties, duly executed by each applicable Credit Party, together with (A) title insurance policies, current as-built ALTA/ACSM Land Title surveys certified to the Servicer, zoning letters, building permits and certificates of occupancy, in each case relating to such Real Estate and reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Servicer, (B) (x) Life of Loan Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard determinations, (y) notices, in the form required under the Flood Insurance Laws, about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance duly executed by each Credit Party, and (z) if any improved real property encumbered by any Mortgage is located in a special flood hazard area, a policy of flood insurance in minimum amounts required by applicable law and that is on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer, (C) evidence that counterparts of such Mortgages have been recorded in all places to the extent necessary or desirable, in the reasonable judgment of the Servicer, to create a valid and
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enforceable first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Encumbrances) on such Real Estate in favor of the Servicer for the benefit of the Participants (or in favor of such other trustee as may be required or desired under local law), (D) if requested by the Servicer, an opinion of counsel in each state in which such Real Estate is located in form and substance and from counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer, (E) a duly executed Environmental Indemnity with respect thereto, (F) Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Reports, consistent with American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard E 1527-05, and applicable state requirements, on all of the owned Real Estate, dated no more than six (6) months prior to the date on which the Trigger Event occurred (or date of the applicable Mortgage if provided post-closing) or later if accompanied by no change affidavits, prepared by environmental engineers satisfactory to the Servicer, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Servicer, and such environmental review and audit reports, including Phase II reports, with respect to the Real Estate of any Credit Party as the Servicer shall have reasonably requested, in each case together with letters executed by the environmental firms preparing such environmental reports, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer, authorizing the Servicer and the Participants to rely on such reports, and the Servicer shall be reasonably satisfied with the contents of all such environmental reports and (G) such other reports, documents, instruments and agreements as the Servicer shall reasonably request, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Servicer.
Regulation D shall mean Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.
Regulation T shall mean Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.
Regulation U shall mean Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.
Regulation X shall mean Regulation X of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.
Regulation Y shall mean Regulation Y of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.
Related Parties shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, such Persons Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Persons Affiliates.
Release shall mean any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or within any building, structure, facility or fixture.
Relevant Governmental Body shall mean the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or any successor thereto.
Rental Revenue shall mean, with respect to any Borrower for any period, the gross revenues of such Borrower from leases to the public of such Borrowers furniture inventory and lease equipment, including without limitation, all customer deposits, advance lease payments, waiver fees, late fees, delivery fees, nonsufficient funds fees, reinstatement fees, but excluding all retail sales proceeds and sales taxes.
Reportable Event shall have the meaning assigned to such term in ERISA.
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Required Participants shall mean (x) at any time prior to termination of the Facility Commitment, Participants holding at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the sum of (A) the aggregate Funded Participations, plus (B) the Participants Unused Commitments, and (y) at any time on and after the termination of the Facility Commitment, Participants holding at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the aggregate outstanding Funded Participations at such time; provided however, that to the extent that any Participant is a Defaulting Participant, such Defaulting Participant and all of its Participating Commitments, Funded Participations and Participants Unused Commitments shall be excluded for purposes of determining Required Participants.
Requirement of Law for any person shall mean the articles or certificate of incorporation and by-laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation, or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other governmental authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.
Reset Date shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(c).
Resolution Authority shall mean an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
Response Period shall mean with respect to any Loan, a period of thirty (30) days commencing on the day next succeeding the day on which the Sponsor receives a notice from the Servicer that a Loan Payment Default has occurred and is continuing; provided, however, that no Response Period for any Loan shall extend beyond the Final Termination Date.
Responsible Officer shall mean any of the president, the chief executive officer, the chief operating officer, the chief financial officer, the treasurer, the controller or a vice president of the Sponsor or such other representative of the Sponsor as may be designated in writing by any one of the foregoing with the consent of the Servicer; and, with respect to the financial covenants only, the chief financial officer, the treasurer or the controller of the Sponsor.
Restricted Payment shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 8.5.
Restricted Subsidiary shall mean any Subsidiary other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to Restricted Subsidiary hereunder shall mean a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings. For the avoidance of doubt, the Sponsor shall be a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings for all purposes under the Operative Documents.
Revolving Commitment shall mean either a US Revolving Commitment or Canadian Revolving Commitment, as the case may be.
Revolving Loans shall mean either a US Revolving Loan or Canadian Revolving Loan, as the case may be.
S&P shall mean Standard & Poors Financial Services, LLC, a subsidiary of S&P Global Inc. and any successor thereto.
Sanctioned Country shall mean, at any time, a country, region or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject or target of any Sanctions.
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Sanctioned Person shall mean, at any time, (i) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any EU member state, (ii) any Person located, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (iii) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or (iv) any Person otherwise the subject of any Sanctions.
Sanctions shall mean economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes administered or enforced from time to time by (i) the U.S. government, including those administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State or (ii) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any EU Member State or Her Majestys Treasury of the United Kingdom.
Security Agreement shall mean the security agreement in the form of Exhibit G.
Servicer shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereto.
Servicing Agreement shall mean that certain Servicing Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, by and between the Sponsor and the Servicer, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Servicing Fee shall mean the fee payable to the Servicer pursuant to the terms of the Servicing Agreement.
SOFR shall mean a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.
SOFR Administrator shall mean the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).
Solvent shall mean, with respect to any Person on a particular date, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including subordinated and contingent liabilities, of such Person; (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts and liabilities, including subordinated and contingent liabilities as they become absolute and matured; (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Persons ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature; and (d) such Person is not engaged in a business or transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or transaction, for which such Persons property would constitute an unreasonably small capital. The amount of contingent liabilities (such as litigation, guaranties and pension plan liabilities) at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at the time, represents the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
Sponsor shall have the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph hereof.
Sponsors Fee shall have the meaning set forth in the Servicing Agreement.
Spousal Consent shall mean any agreement provided by the spouse of any Person executing a guaranty to the extent such spouse has not personally executed a guaranty, to be substantially in the form provided by the Servicer.
Store Opening Information Sheet shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Servicing Agreement.
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Subordinated Debt shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.6.
Subsidiary shall mean, with respect to any Person (the parent), any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, 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, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the equity or more than fifty percent (50%) of the ordinary voting power, or in the case of a partnership, more than fifty percent (50%) of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to Subsidiary hereunder shall mean a Subsidiary of Holdings.
SWIFT shall mean Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication.
Swing Line Advances shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).
Target shall mean Interbond Corporation of America, a Florida corporation.
Taxes shall mean any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.
Term Loans shall mean either a US Term Loan or Canadian Term Loan, as the case may be.
Term SOFR shall mean the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to the applicable Payment Period on the day (such day, the Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the first day of such Payment Period, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided
Term SOFR Administrator shall mean the CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Reference Rate selected by the Servicer in its reasonable discretion).
Term SOFR Reference Rate shall mean the rate per annum determined by the Servicer as the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.
Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio shall mean, at any date of determination, the ratio of (a) the sum of (i) Consolidated Total Debt as of such date minus (ii) Unrestricted Cash in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time the aggregate amount of Unrestricted Cash of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries on deposit with, or otherwise held by, any Participant or Affiliate thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, cash in accounts that are subject to an account control agreement in favor of the Servicer) to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on such date.
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Transaction Documents shall mean, collectively, the Operative Documents and the Credit Documents.
Transactions shall mean the closing of this Agreement, the Project Everglade Acquisition, the Project Everglade Refinancing and the closing of the Credit Documents.
Trigger Event shall mean that (a) the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio for the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently ended, as calculated in the most recently delivered certificate of a Responsible Officer pursuant to Section 6.1(c), exceeds 1.50 to 1.0 or (b) a Trigger Event (as defined in the Credit Agreement) under the Credit Agreement has occurred; provided, that, upon the occurrence of a Qualified Acquisition, during any Leverage Increase Period, the required ratio set forth above may, upon receipt by the Servicer of a Qualified Acquisition Notice, be increased to (x) 2.00:1.00 for the Fiscal Quarter during which such Qualified Acquisition is consummated and the two Fiscal Quarters immediately thereafter and (y) 1.75:100 for the final Fiscal Quarter of such Leverage Increase Period; provided further, that (i) it is understood and agreed that, notwithstanding the foregoing, solely in connection with the Project Everglade Acquisition, the ratio set forth in clause (a) above shall be increased to 2.00:1.00 for each Fiscal Quarter of the applicable Leverage Increase Period, (ii) the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio set forth in clause (a) above shall revert to 1.50:1.00 following the end of each Leverage Increase Period, (iii) for at least two (2) full Fiscal Quarters ending immediately following the end of each Leverage Increase Period, the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio set forth in clause (a) above as of the end of each such Fiscal Quarter shall be 1.50:1.00 prior to giving effect to another Leverage Increase Period and (iv) the Leverage Increase Period shall apply for purposes of (w) determining compliance with Section 6.1, (x) determining whether a Trigger Event has occurred for purposes of Section 6.12, (y) any Qualified Acquisition Pro Forma Determination and (z) determining compliance on a Pro Forma Basis in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness under Section 8.1.
UK Financial Institution shall mean any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.
UK Resolution Authority shall mean the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.
Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement shall mean the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
Uniform Commercial Code or UCC shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York.
Unmatured Credit Event shall mean any condition or event which, with notice or the passage of time or both, would constitute a Credit Event.
Unrestricted Cash shall mean, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount (without duplication) of cash and Cash Equivalents of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent the same would be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries if the same were prepared as of such date; provided, that, Unrestricted Cash of Foreign Subsidiaries shall be net of repatriation costs.
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Unrestricted Subsidiary shall mean, collectively, each Subsidiary designated by the Sponsor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.14.
U.S. Government Securities Business Day shall mean any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.
US Borrower shall mean any Franchisee domiciled in the United States of America that is primarily liable for repayment of a US Loan as a result of having executed US Loan Documents as maker, or its permitted assignee.
US Dollar and the sign $ shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.
US Dollar Equivalent shall mean, on any date, (i) with respect to any amount denominated in US Dollars, such amount and (ii) with respect to any amount denominated in Canadian Dollars, the amount of US Dollars that would be required to purchase the amount of such Canadian Dollars on such date based upon the Exchange Rate as of the applicable date of determination.
US Franchisee shall mean those certain store operators located in the United States of America that own and operate stores under the Aarons franchise.
US Funded Participation shall mean, for any Participant, the portion of such Participants Funded Participation in US Dollars.
US Line of Credit Commitment shall mean a commitment to make Line of Credit Loans to a US Borrower in US Dollars pursuant to a US Loan Agreement.
US Line of Credit Loans shall mean Advances made to a US Borrower pursuant to a US Line of Credit Commitment.
US Line of Credit Note shall mean a US Line of Credit Note, executed by a US Borrower in favor of the Servicer, evidencing such US Borrowers obligation to repay all US Line of Credit Loans made to it pursuant to a US Line of Credit Commitment, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 to the US Loan Agreement, with such changes as the Sponsor and the Servicer shall agree to from time to time.
US Loan shall mean either a US Term Loan, a US Revolving Loan, a US Line of Credit Loan or an Existing Loan, as the case may be.
US Loan Agreement shall mean a Loan and Security Agreement setting forth the terms and conditions, as between a US Borrower and the Servicer, under which the Servicer has established a US Loan Commitment to make Advances to such Borrower pursuant to the US Loan Commitment, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, with such changes as may be mutually agreed by the Sponsor and the Servicer (it being understood that the Servicer will not unreasonably withhold or delay its agreement to any such changes requested by the Sponsor); provided, however, that any loan agreement or line of credit agreement executed by any Borrower and the Servicer prior to the Effective Date shall be substantially in the form required under the Existing Loan Facility Agreement (with such changes as may be mutually agreed by the Sponsor and the Servicer, it being understood that the Servicer will not unreasonably withhold or delay its agreement to any such changes requested by the Sponsor).
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US Loan Commitment shall mean the commitment by the Servicer to make Advances to a US Borrower in US Dollars in the amount not exceeding, and upon the terms described in, the applicable Funding Approval Notice and the applicable Loan Documents, which US Loan Commitment may be a US Line of Credit Commitment, US Revolving Commitment or a US Term Loan Commitment.
US Loan Documents shall mean, with respect to any US Loan, the US Loan Agreement, the US Master Note, any Personal Guaranty, any Spousal Consent, the Collateral Agreements, in each case relating to such Loan, any other documents relating to such Loan delivered by any Borrower or any guarantor or surety thereof to the Servicer and any amendments thereto (provided that such amendments are made with the consent of the Sponsor, where such consent is required under this Agreement).
US Master Note shall mean a US Line of Credit Note, US Revolving Note, or US Term Note, as the case may be.
US Revolving Commitment shall mean a commitment to make US Revolving Loans to a US Borrower pursuant to a Loan Agreement.
US Revolving Loans shall mean Advances made to a US Borrower pursuant to a US Revolving Commitment.
US Revolving Note shall mean that certain Revolving Note, executed by a US Borrower in favor of the Servicer, evidencing such US Borrowers obligation to repay all US Revolving Loans made to it pursuant to a US Revolving Commitment, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 to the US Loan Agreement, with such changes as the Sponsor and the Servicer shall agree to from time to time.
US Term Loan Commitment shall mean a commitment to make US Term Loans to a US Borrower pursuant to a Loan Agreement.
US Term Loans shall mean Advances made to a US Borrower pursuant to a US Term Loan Commitment.
US Term Note shall mean that certain Term Note, executed by a US Borrower in favor of the Servicer, evidencing such US Borrowers obligation to repay all US Term Loans made to it pursuant to a US Term Loan Commitment, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-3 to the Loan Agreement, with such changes as the Sponsor and the Servicer shall agree to from time to time.
Wind-Down Event shall mean the event that the Facility Commitment is not extended for any reason and the Facility Commitment Termination Date occurs.
Withdrawal Liability shall mean liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
Write-Down and Conversion Powers shall mean (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.
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Section 1.2 Accounting Terms and Determination.
(a) Unless otherwise defined or specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time, applied on a basis consistent with the most recent audited consolidated financial statement of Holdings delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(a) (or, if no such financial statements have been delivered, on a basis consistent with the audited consolidated financial statements of Holdings last delivered to the Servicer in connection with this Agreement); provided, that if the Sponsor notifies the Servicer that the Sponsor wishes to amend any covenant in Article VII to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of such covenant (or if the Servicer notifies the Sponsor that the Required Participants wish to amend Article VII for such purpose), then the Sponsors compliance with such covenant shall be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner satisfactory to the Sponsor and the Required Participants.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, (i) 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 any election under Accounting Standards Codification Section 825-10 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Credit Party at fair value, as defined therein and (ii) all liability amounts shall be determined excluding any liability relating to any operating lease, all asset amounts shall be determined excluding any right-of-use assets relating to any operating lease, all amortization amounts shall be determined excluding any amortization of a right-of-use asset relating to any operating lease, and all interest amounts shall be determined excluding any deemed interest comprising a portion of fixed rent payable under any operating lease, in each case to the extent that such liability, asset, amortization or interest pertains to an operating lease under which the covenantor or a member of its consolidated group is the lessee and would not have been accounted for as such under GAAP as in effect on December 31, 2015.
(c) Notwithstanding the above, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that all calculations of the financial covenants in Article VII (including for purposes of determining the Applicable Margin and the Applicable Percentage and any transaction that by the terms of this Agreement requires that any financial covenant contained in Article VII be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis ) shall be made on a Pro Forma Basis with respect to (a) sales, leases, transfers and/or involuntary dispositions of property in any period of twelve months with an aggregate fair market value in excess of $15,000,000, (b) any Acquisition, (c) any incurrence of any Incremental Term Loan (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and/or Incremental Revolving Commitment (as defined in the Credit Agreement), (d) any determination of whether a Domestic Subsidiary qualifies as a Material Domestic Subsidiary pursuant to the definition of Material Domestic Subsidiary or (e) any payment of a Restricted Payment occurring during such period.
Section 1.3 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
Section 1.4 Other Definitional Terms.
(a) The words hereof, herein and hereunder and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Article, Section, Schedule, Exhibit and like references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.
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(b) Any Franchisee Loan, Loan, Loan Commitment or Master Note existing on the Effective Date shall be deemed to be a Franchisee Loan, US Loan, US Loan Commitment, or US Master Note, as applicable.
(c) Any Revolving Loan, Revolving Commitment or Revolving Note existing on the Effective Date shall be deemed to be a US Revolving Loan, US Revolving Commitment or US Revolving Note, as applicable.
(d) Any Term Loan, Term Loan Commitment or Term Note existing on the Effective Date shall be deemed to be a US Term Loan, US Term Loan Commitment or US Term Note, as applicable.
(e) Any Line of Credit Loan, Line of Credit Commitment or Line of Credit Note existing on the Effective Date shall be deemed to be a US Line of Credit Loan, US Line of Credit Commitment or US Line of Credit Note, as applicable.
Section 1.5 Exhibits and Schedules. All Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto are by reference made a part hereof.
Section 1.6 Divisions. For all purposes under the Operative Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdictions laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its equity interests at such time.
Section 1.7 Rates. The Servicer does not warrant or accept responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to (a) the continuation of, administration of, submission of, calculation of or any other matter related to the Term SOFR Reference Rate or Term SOFR, or any component definition thereof or rates referred to in the definition thereof, or any alternative, successor or replacement rate thereto (including any Benchmark Replacement), including whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, or have the same volume or liquidity as, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR or any other Benchmark prior to its discontinuance or unavailability, or (b) the effect, implementation or composition of any Conforming Changes. The Servicer and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR, any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Sponsor. The Servicer may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR or any other Benchmark, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Sponsor, any Participant or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.
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ARTICLE II
LOAN FACILITY
Section 2.1 Establishment of Facility Commitment; Terms of Loans.
(a) Facility Commitment. Subject to and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the other Operative Documents, and in reliance upon the guaranty and other obligations of the Sponsor set forth herein, the Servicer hereby establishes a commitment to the Sponsor to establish Loan Commitments and to make Advances thereunder in US Dollars and Canadian Dollars to such Borrowers as may be designated by the Sponsor in its Funding Approval Notices during a period commencing on the date hereof and ending on March 31, 2023 (as such period may be extended for one or more subsequent 364-day periods pursuant to Section 2.8, the Facility Commitment Termination Date) in an aggregate committed amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Maximum Commitment Amount (the Facility Commitment); provided that, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, (x) at no time shall the Servicer establish any Loan Commitment for a Borrower if after giving effect to such Loan Commitment, the US Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate committed amounts of all Loan Commitments outstanding pursuant to the Facility Commitment would exceed the Maximum Commitment Amount and (y) at no time shall the Servicer establish any Canadian Loan Commitment for a Canadian Borrower if after giving effect to such Canadian Loan Commitment, the aggregate committed amounts of all Canadian Loan Commitments outstanding pursuant to the Facility Commitment would exceed the Canadian Subfacility Amount.
(b) Authorization of US Line of Credit Commitment; Loan Terms. Within the limits of the Facility Commitment and in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Agreement and the Servicing Agreement, the Sponsor may authorize the Servicer to establish a US Line of Credit Commitment in favor of a US Franchisee who meets the credit criteria established by the Sponsor. The amount of each US Line of Credit Commitment shall be determined by the Sponsor but shall not be less than $100,000. Pursuant to the US Line of Credit Commitment the Servicer shall agree to make Advances to the US Borrower thereunder. Each US Line of Credit Loan shall bear interest at the Borrower Rate designated by Sponsor in the applicable Funding Approval Notice, and interest shall be payable on each Borrower Payment Date and on the Maturity Date of such US Line of Credit Loan when all principal and interest shall be due and payable in full. Each US Line of Credit Loan may be prepaid in full or in part on any Business Day, without premium or penalty. The Loan Term of each US Line of Credit Commitment shall be, initially, one year, but shall automatically renew unless terminated by ninety (90) days prior written notice by Servicer to the US Borrower prior to the first anniversary date and may thereafter be terminated at any time by Servicer upon ninety (90) days prior written notice by Servicer to the US Borrower; provided that the amounts outstanding thereunder shall be allowed to term out over the Amortization Period as provided below. The proceeds of each Advance made pursuant to the US Line of Credit Commitments shall be used solely to purchase inventory, and to the extent permitted by Sponsor, to pay state sales and use taxes and freight charges. At the end of each month, the aggregate Advances made to each US Borrower during such month (net of any prepayments during such month) shall be amortized (in accordance with a straight-line amortization schedule) over the Amortization Period. In the event that the US Line of Credit Commitment of any US Borrower is terminated by the Servicer as provided above, such US Borrower shall, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 2.1(b), amortize all outstanding Advances over the Amortization Period (in accordance with a straight-line amortization schedule), with all Advances due and payable in full no later than 24 months after termination. In the event that a US Borrower terminates its US Line of Credit Commitment, all amounts advanced to such US Borrower shall be due and payable in full on the termination date, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon. Each US Borrower shall agree to pay a commitment fee on its unused US Line of Credit Commitment in an amount to be determined by the Sponsor but in any event not to exceed 1.00% per annum, such commitment fee to be paid quarterly, in arrears.
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(c) Authorization of Canadian Line of Credit Commitment; Loan Terms. Within the limits of the Facility Commitment and the Canadian Subfacility Amount, and in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Agreement and the Servicing Agreement, the Sponsor may authorize the Servicer to establish a Canadian Line of Credit Commitment in favor of a Canadian Franchisee who meets the credit criteria established by the Sponsor. The amount of each Canadian Line of Credit Commitment shall be determined by the Sponsor but shall not be less than Cdn$100,000. Pursuant to the Canadian Line of Credit Commitment the Servicer shall agree to make Advances to the Canadian Borrower thereunder. Each Canadian Line of Credit Loan shall bear interest at the Borrower Rate designated by Sponsor in the applicable Funding Approval Notice, and interest shall be payable on each Canadian Borrower Payment Date and on the Maturity Date of such Canadian Line of Credit Loan when all principal and interest shall be due and payable in full. Each Canadian Line of Credit Loan may be prepaid in full or in part only on a Canadian Borrower Payment Date for such Canadian Line of Credit Loan (and not on other days), without premium or penalty. The Loan Term of each Canadian Line of Credit Commitment shall be, initially, 364 days, but shall automatically renew unless terminated by ninety (90) days prior written notice by Servicer to the Canadian Borrower prior to the first anniversary date and may thereafter be terminated at any time by Servicer upon ninety (90) days prior written notice by Servicer to the Canadian Borrower; provided that the amounts outstanding thereunder shall be allowed to term out over the Amortization Period as provided below. The proceeds of each Advance made pursuant to the Canadian Line of Credit Commitments shall be used solely to purchase inventory, and to the extent permitted by Sponsor, to pay sales and use taxes and freight charges. At the end of each month, the aggregate Advances made to each Canadian Borrower during such month (net of any prepayments during such month) shall be amortized (in accordance with a straight-line amortization schedule) over the Amortization Period. In the event that the Canadian Line of Credit Commitment of any Canadian Borrower is terminated by the Servicer as provided above, such Canadian Borrower shall, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 2.1(c), amortize all outstanding Advances over the Amortization Period (in accordance with a straight-line amortization schedule), with all Advances due and payable in full no later than 24 months after termination. In the event that a Canadian Borrower terminates its Canadian Line of Credit Commitment, all amounts advanced to such Canadian Borrower shall be due and payable in full on the termination date, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon. Each Canadian Borrower shall agree to pay a commitment fee on its unused Canadian Line of Credit Commitment in an amount to be determined by the Sponsor but in any event not to exceed 1.00% per annum, such commitment fee to be paid quarterly, in arrears
(d) Authorization of US Revolving Commitment and US Term Loan Commitment; Loan Terms.
(i) Within the limits of the Facility Commitment and in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Agreement and the Servicing Agreement, the Sponsor may authorize the Servicer to establish a US Revolving Commitment and/or a US Term Loan Commitment in favor of a US Franchisee who meets the credit criteria established by the Sponsor.
(ii) The amount of each US Revolving Commitment shall be determined by the Sponsor, but shall not be less than $100,000. Pursuant to the US Revolving Commitment, the Servicer shall agree to make Advances in US Dollars to the US Borrower thereunder. Each US Revolving Loan shall bear interest at the Borrower Rate designated by Sponsor in the applicable Funding Approval Notice, and interest shall be payable on each Borrower Payment Date and on the Maturity Date of such US Revolving Loan when all principal and interest shall be due and payable in full. Each US Revolving Loan may be prepaid in full or in part on any Business Day, without premium or penalty. The Loan Term of each US Revolving Loan shall not exceed four years. The proceeds of each Advance made pursuant to the US Revolving Commitment shall be used for general corporate purposes. Each US Borrower with a US Revolving Commitment shall agree to pay a commitment fee on the unused US Revolving Commitment in an amount to be
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determined by the Sponsor but in any event not to exceed 1.00% per annum, such commitment fee to be paid quarterly, in arrears. At no time, except as otherwise provided in the form of Loan Agreement, shall the aggregate outstanding principal amount of any and all US Revolving Loans and US Term Loans made to any US Borrower exceed the Franchisee Borrowing Base of such US Borrower as in effect at such time.
(iii) The amount of each US Term Loan Commitment shall be determined by the Sponsor, but shall not be less than $100,000. Pursuant to the US Term Loan Commitment, the Servicer shall agree to make US Term Loans to the US Borrower thereunder. Each US Term Loan shall bear interest at the Borrower Rate designated by Sponsor in the applicable Funding Approval Notice, and interest shall be payable on each Borrower Payment Date and on the Maturity Date of such US Term Loan. Principal on each US Term Loan shall be payable on each Borrower Payment Date and shall be amortized over a period of no more than 7 years with the balance of all outstanding principal due and payable in full on the Maturity Date with respect to such US Term Loan; provided that the Sponsor shall have the option of allowing an interest-only payment schedule for up to the first six (6) months of such Loans term. Each US Term Loan may be prepaid in full or in part on any Business Day, without premium or penalty. The Loan Term of each US Term Loan shall not exceed four years. The proceeds of each US Term Loan shall be used for general corporate purposes.
(e) Authorization of Canadian Revolving Commitment and Canadian Term Loan Commitment; Loan Terms.
(i) Within the limits of the Facility Commitment and the Canadian Subfacility Amount and in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Agreement and the Servicing Agreement, the Sponsor may authorize the Servicer to establish a Canadian Revolving Commitment and/or a Canadian Term Loan Commitment in favor of a Canadian Franchisee who meets the credit criteria established by the Sponsor.
(ii) The amount of each Canadian Term Loan Commitment shall be determined by the Sponsor, but shall not be less than Cdn$100,000. Pursuant to the Canadian Term Loan Commitment, the Servicer shall agree to make Canadian Term Loans to the Canadian Borrower thereunder. Each Canadian Term Loan shall bear interest at the Borrower Rate designated by Sponsor in the applicable Funding Approval Notice, and interest shall be payable on each Canadian Borrower Payment Date and on the Maturity Date of such Canadian Term Loan. Principal on each Canadian Term Loan shall be payable on each Canadian Borrower Payment Date and shall be amortized over a period of no more than 7 years with the balance of all outstanding principal due and payable in full on the Maturity Date with respect to such Canadian Term Loan; provided that the Sponsor shall have the option of allowing an interest-only payment schedule for up to the first six (6) months of such Loans term. Each Canadian Term Loan may be prepaid in full or in part only on a Canadian Borrower Payment Date for such Canadian Term Loan (and not on other days), without premium or penalty. The Loan Term of each Canadian Term Loan shall not exceed two years.
(iii) The amount of each Canadian Revolving Commitment shall be determined by the Sponsor, but shall not be less than Cdn$100,000. Pursuant to the Canadian Revolving Commitment, the Servicer shall agree to make Advances in Canadian Dollars to the Canadian Borrower thereunder. Each Canadian Revolving Loan shall bear interest at the Borrower Rate designated by Sponsor in the applicable Funding Approval Notice, and interest shall be payable on each Borrower Payment Date and on the Maturity Date of such Canadian Revolving Loan when all principal and interest shall be due and payable in full. Each Canadian Revolving Loan may be
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prepaid in full or in part only on a Canadian Borrower Payment Date for such Canadian Revolving Loan (and not on other days), without premium or penalty. The Loan Term of each Canadian Revolving Loan shall not exceed two years. The proceeds of each Advance made pursuant to the Canadian Revolving Commitment shall be used for general corporate purposes. Each Canadian Borrower with a Canadian Revolving Commitment shall agree to pay a commitment fee on the unused Canadian Revolving Commitment in an amount to be determined by the Sponsor but in any event not to exceed 1.00% per annum, such commitment fee to be paid quarterly, in arrears. At no time, except as otherwise provided in the form of Loan Agreement, shall the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Canadian Revolving Loans and Canadian Term Loans made to any Canadian Borrower exceed the Franchisee Borrowing Base of such Canadian Borrower as in effect at such time.
(f) Conditions to Obligation of Servicer to Establish Loan Commitments. Servicers obligation to establish each Loan Commitment under the Operative Documents is subject to the fulfillment of the following conditions as of the Closing Date of such Loan:
(i) this Agreement and each of the other Operative Documents shall be in full force and effect;
(ii) the representations and warranties of the Sponsor contained in Article V shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on the Closing Date of such Loan;
(iii) the Servicer shall have received from the Sponsor a Funding Approval Notice authorizing such Loan Commitment and a Store Opening Information Sheet;
(iv) all conditions precedent to the Loan Commitment specified in the Servicing Agreement, together with such additional conditions precedent as may, at Sponsors election, be included in the applicable Funding Approval Notice, shall have been completed to the Servicers reasonable satisfaction;
(v) no Credit Event, Unmatured Credit Event, Change in Control or Wind-Down Event shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(vi) each Participant shall have confirmed in writing to the Servicer that it has (A) received all documentation and other information with respect to the applicable Borrower that any Participant reasonably believes is required by regulatory authorities under applicable know-your-customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the Patriot Act and (B) completed all applicable internal know-your-customer procedures.
(g) In addition to other conditions precedent herein set forth, if any Participant is a Defaulting Participant, the Servicer will not be required to establish any new Loan Commitment or increase any existing Loan Commitments, unless it is satisfied that 100% of the Participants Interest of such Defaulting Participant has been fully Cash Collateralized or the risk of such Defaulting Participant is otherwise fully eliminated by any combination satisfactory to the Servicer of the actions required in Section 2.17.
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Section 2.2 Conveyance of Participants Interest.
(a) The Servicer hereby sells, assigns, transfers and conveys to each of the Participants, without recourse or warranty, and each Participant hereby purchases from the Servicer, an undivided percentage ownership interest (which percentage shall be equal to each Participants Pro Rata Share) in (i) the Facility Commitment, (ii) the Loan Commitments, including, without limitation, the Existing Loan Commitments, (iii) the Loans, including, without limitation, the Existing Loans, (iv) the Collateral, (v) all rights against any guarantor of any Loan, including the Sponsor, (vi) the Loan Documents, (vii) all rights pursuant to the Guaranty Agreement and (viii) all right, title and interest to any payment or right to receive payment with respect to the foregoing (collectively, the Participants Interest). Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Participants right to receive payments of interest, commitments fees or other fees with respect to the Facility Commitment, the Loan Commitments and the Loans shall not exceed the amounts which such Participant is entitled to receive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
(b) In consideration of the entry by each Participant into this Agreement and the obligation of each Participant hereunder, the Servicer shall issue to each Participant on the Effective Date, a Participation Certificate. Each Participation Certificate shall be in an amount equal to the relevant Participants Participating Commitment Amount, and the Funded Participation outstanding thereunder shall bear interest as hereinafter set forth and shall be payable as hereinafter set forth.
(c) In accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and in consideration of the sale of the Participants Interest to such Participant, each Participant severally agrees from time to time, during the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the Final Termination Date, to fund in US Dollars its Participants Interest in outstanding US Loans made by the Servicer to the US Borrowers in accordance with the terms hereof and to fund in Canadian Dollars its Participants Interest in outstanding Canadian Loans made by the Servicer to the Canadian Borrowers in accordance with the terms hereof, so long as (x) the US Dollar Equivalent of its Funded Participation does not exceed its Participating Commitment and (y) its Funded Participation with respect to Canadian Loans does not exceed its Pro Rata Share of the Canadian Subfacility Amount.
Section 2.3 Funding of Advances; Swing Line; Funding of Participants Interest in Loans.
(a) Funding of Advances. The Servicer shall fund Advances requested by the Borrowers in accordance with the terms of the applicable Loan Documents and the Servicing Agreement. All advances to Canadian Borrowers shall be made in Canadian Dollars and all Advances to US Borrowers shall be made in US Dollars. On the date of any such funding, the Servicer shall elect whether or not to require the Participants to fund their respective Pro Rata Share of the Advances to be made on such date. All fundings by the Participants with respect to Canadian Loans shall be made in Canadian Dollars, and all fundings by the Participants with respect to US Loans shall be made in US Dollars. In the event that the Servicer elects not to require the Participants to fund their Pro Rata Share of the Advances to be made on such date, the Servicer shall make such Advances (each, a Swing Line Advance) to the Borrowers for the account of the Servicer; provided that the US Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate amount of Swing Line Advances outstanding on any date shall not exceed $12,500,000. If (i) any Credit Event, Change in Control or Wind-Down Event shall have occurred, (ii) after giving effect to any requested Advance, the US Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate Swing Line Advances outstanding hereunder would exceed $12,500,000, or (iii) the Servicer otherwise determines in its sole discretion to request a Participant Funding hereunder, then the Servicer shall notify the Participants pursuant to Section 2.3(b) requesting a Participant Funding.
(b) Notification of Participant Funding. In the event that the Servicer desires that the Participants fund their respective Pro Rata Shares of Advances or Loans made or outstanding pursuant to the Loan Documents, the Servicer shall deliver written or telecopy notice to the Participants (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing or by telecopy) (a Participant Funding Request) by no later than 10:00 a.m. (Atlanta, Georgia time) on the date which is the requested date of the Participant Funding which shall specify (x) the date of the Participant Funding, which shall be a Business Day, (y) each Participants Pro Rata Share of the Advances or Loans outstanding to be funded in connection with such Participant Funding and (z) the portion of such funding to be made in US Dollars and the portion of such funding to be made in Canadian Dollars.
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(c) Each Participant shall make available its Pro Rata Share of the requested Participant Funding in the applicable currency on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Servicer in Atlanta, Georgia by not later than 2:00 P.M. (Atlanta, Georgia time). Unless the Servicer shall have received notice from a Participant prior to the date of any Participant Funding that such Participant will not make available to the Servicer such Participants Pro Rata Share of such Participant Funding, the Servicer may assume that the Participant has made such portion available to the Servicer on the date of such Participant Funding in accordance with this Section 2.3(c) and the Servicer may, in reliance on such assumption, make available to the Borrowers a corresponding amount or credit the same to Swing Line Advances. If and to the extent that such Participant shall not have made such portion available to the Servicer, such Participant and the Sponsor shall severally agree to repay the Servicer forthwith (on demand in the case of the Participant and within three (3) days of such demand in the case of the Sponsor), without duplication, such amount with interest at the Federal Funds Rate plus 2% per annum and, until such time as such Participant has repaid to the Servicer such amount. If such Participant shall repay to the Servicer such amount, then such amount shall constitute part of such Participants Funded Participation.
(d) Each Participants obligations to fund its Pro Rata Share of any requested Participant Funding shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including, without limitation, (i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other right which such Participant may have against the Servicer, the Sponsor, any Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the occurrence of any Credit Event, Unmatured Credit Event, Change in Control or Wind-Down Event, (iii) the occurrence of any Loan Default or any other event of default under any Loan Documents, (iv) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Sponsor, any other Credit Party or any Borrower, (v) the acceleration or maturity of any Loan or the Sponsors obligations hereunder or the termination of the Facility Commitment, Loan Commitments or the Participating Commitments after the making of any Swing Line Advance, (vi) any breach of this Agreement by the Sponsor or any other Participant, or (vii) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.3, no Participant shall be required to fund its Pro Rata Share of any requested Participant Funding for purposes of refunding a Swing Line Advance pursuant to Section 2.3(d) above if a Loan Default with respect to the relevant Loan has occurred and is continuing and, prior to the making by the Servicer of such Swing Line Advance, the Servicer had received written notice from Sponsor, the relevant Borrower or any Participant specifying that such Loan Default had occurred and was continuing (and identifying the same as a Loan Default, as the case may be) which has not been cured or waived; provided that, in the case of a Loan Default arising from an Unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event where the Participants are not pursuing remedies, the Participants will be obligated to fund their respective Pro Rata Shares of Swing Line Advances.
Section 2.4 Participant Commitment Fees.
(a) Each Participant will receive, from amounts paid by the Borrowers under the Loan Documents and the Sponsor under the Operative Documents, a commitment fee (the Participant Commitment Fee) equal to the average daily amount of its Participants Unused Commitment for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the Final Termination Date, or such earlier date as the Participating Commitment shall expire or terminate, multiplied by the Applicable Percentage per annum, such Participant Commitment Fee to be payable in arrears on each Participant Quarterly Payment Date, commencing on June 30, 2022, for the preceding Payment Period, calculated on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed.
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(b) All Participant Commitment Fees shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Participants by the Servicer from amounts received from the Borrowers and Sponsor. All Participant Commitment Fees shall be paid in US Dollars.
(c) In the event that the US Dollar Equivalent of the commitment fees received by the Servicer from the Borrowers and the Sponsor is not sufficient on any Participant Quarterly Payment Date to pay the Participant Commitment Fees to the Participants required pursuant hereto, the Sponsor shall, upon demand of the Servicer, immediately fund such difference in US Dollars to the Servicer (with such payment allocated to specific Loan Payment Defaults as agreed by Sponsor and Servicer, if applicable) and either, at the election of the Sponsor, (x) the Sponsor shall be reimbursed by the Servicer upon receipt of such amount from a Borrower, (y) the Loan Indebtedness shall be deemed to be reduced by such amount for purposes of a repayment or purchase of such Defaulted Loan by Sponsor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or (z) if elected by Sponsor and if such amount is sufficient to cure any Loan Payment Default such amount shall be deemed to have satisfied Sponsors obligation to cure such Loan Payment Default hereunder.
(d) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, during such period as a Participant is a Defaulting Participant, such Defaulting Participant will not be entitled to Participant Commitment Fees accruing with respect to its Participating Commitment during such period pursuant to Section 2.4(a) (without prejudice to the rights of the Participants other than Defaulting Participants in respect of such fees).
Section 2.5 Interest on Funded Participations.
(a) Interest Rate. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.6, each Participants US Funded Participation shall bear interest (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) at a rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR for the Payment Period in which such US Funded Participation is outstanding (with Term SOFR applicable to all amounts outstanding during any Payment Period being automatically reset on the first day of each Payment Period regardless of the date of any Participant Funding hereunder) plus the Applicable Margin then in effect. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.6, each Participants Canadian Funded Participation shall bear interest (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted Canadian LIBO Rate for the Payment Period in which Canadian Funded Participation is outstanding (with the Adjusted Canadian LIBO Rate applicable to all amounts outstanding during any Payment Period being automatically reset on the first day of each Payment Period regardless of the date of any Participant Funding hereunder) plus the Applicable Margin then in effect.
(b) Payment of Interest. Interest on each Participants US Funded Participation shall be payable by the Servicer to the Participants in US Dollars on each Participant Monthly Payment Date from interest payments received on the US Loans on such Participant Monthly Payment Date for the preceding Payment Period and from other amounts received from the Sponsor. Interest on each Participants Canadian Funded Participation shall be payable by the Servicer to the Participants in Canadian Dollars on each Participant Canadian Monthly Payment Date from interest payments received on the Canadian Loans on such Participant Canadian Monthly Payment Date for the preceding Payment Period and from other amounts received from the Sponsor.
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(c) Sponsors Obligation. In the event that the interest received by the Servicer from the US Borrowers since the immediately prior Participant Monthly Payment Date is not sufficient to pay the interest to the Participants on the next Participant Monthly Payment Date as required pursuant hereto in the applicable currency or in the event that the interest received by the Servicer from the Canadian Borrowers since the immediately prior Participant Canadian Monthly Payment Date is not sufficient to pay the interest to the Participants on the next Participant Canadian Monthly Payment Date as required pursuant hereto in the applicable currency, the Sponsor shall, upon demand of the Servicer, immediately fund such difference to the Servicer in the applicable currency (with such payment allocated to specific Loan Payment Defaults as agreed by Sponsor and Servicer) and if such shortfall results from Loan Payment Defaults rather than interest rate variances, either, at the election of the Sponsor, (x) the Sponsor shall be reimbursed by the Servicer upon receipt of such amount from the applicable Borrower, (y) the Loan Indebtedness of such Borrower shall be deemed to be reduced by such amount for purposes of a repayment or purchase of such Defaulted Loan by Sponsor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or (z) if elected by Sponsor and if such amount is sufficient to cure any Loan Payment Default, such amount shall be deemed to have satisfied Sponsors obligation to cure such Loan Payment Default hereunder.
(d) Benchmark Not Determinable or Illegal.
(i) In the event that Term SOFR is not determinable by the Servicer or it becomes impossible or illegal for the Servicer to calculate interest on the US Funded Participations based upon Term SOFR, the parties agree that in such event that interest on the US Funded Participations shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Prime Rate plus a mutually agreed upon spread based upon current market conditions.
(ii) In the event that Canadian LIBOR is not determinable by the Servicer or it becomes impossible or illegal for the Servicer to calculate interest on the Canadian Funded Participations based upon Canadian LIBOR, the parties agree that in such event that interest on the Canadian Funded Participations shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Canadian Prime Rate plus a mutually agreed upon spread based upon current market conditions.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Operative Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to any setting of any applicable then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (a) of the definition of Benchmark Replacement for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Operative Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (b) of the definition of Benchmark Replacement for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Operative Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Participants without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Operative Document so long as the Servicer has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Participants comprising the Required Participants.
(iv) In connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Servicer will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Operative Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes (and no other changes) will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Operative Document.
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(v) The Servicer will promptly notify the Sponsor and the Participants of (i) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement and (ii) the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement. The Servicer will promptly notify the Sponsor of the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Section 2.5(d)(vi). Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Servicer or, if applicable, any Participant (or group of Participants) pursuant to this Section 2.5(d)(iii)-(vi), including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Operative Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.5(d)(iii)-(vi).
(vi) Upon the Sponsors receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, any Funded Participations shall bear interest as set forth in Section 2.5(d)(i) or 2.5(d)(ii), as applicable.
Section 2.6 Default Interest. If a Credit Event has occurred and is continuing, at the option of the Required Participants, or automatically in the case of a Credit Event under Sections 9.1, 9.7 or 9.8, the Sponsor shall pay interest (to the extent permitted by law) at a rate per annum (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) equal to the rate set forth in Section 2.5 plus an additional two percent (2.0%) per annum.
Section 2.7 Voluntary Reduction of the Unutilized Commitment. Upon at least three (3) Business Days prior telephonic notice (promptly confirmed in writing) to the Servicer, Sponsor shall have the right, without premium or penalty, to terminate the Facility Commitment, in part or in whole; provided that (i) any such termination shall apply to permanently reduce the Facility Commitment, (ii) any such termination shall apply to proportionately and permanently reduce the Participating Commitments of each of the Participants, (iii) any partial termination pursuant to this Section 2.7 shall be in an amount of at least $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000, (iv) the Facility Commitment may not be reduced if, as a result thereof, the amount of the Facility Commitment would be less than the US Dollar Equivalent of all outstanding Loan Commitments, and (v) to the extent that Facility Commitment is reduced to a level that is less than the US Dollar Equivalent of the Canadian Subfacility Amount, the Canadian Subfacility Amount shall be reduced to the Canadian Dollar Equivalent of the Facility Commitment.
Section 2.8 Extension of Commitments.
(a) The Sponsor may, by written notice to the Servicer (which shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Participants), given not more than sixty (60) days prior to any anniversary of the date of this Agreement while the Facility Commitment is effect, request that the Participants extend the then scheduled Facility Commitment Termination Date (the Existing Date) for an additional 364-day period. Each Participant shall, by notice to the Sponsor and the Servicer given within fifteen (15) Business Days after receipt of such request, advise the Sponsor and the Servicer whether or not such Participant consents to the extension request (and any Participant which does not respond during such 15-day period shall be deemed to have advised the Sponsor and the Servicer that it will not agree to such extension).
(b) In the event that, on the 15th Business Day after receipt of the notice delivered pursuant to clause (a) above, all of the Participants shall have agreed to extend their respective Participating Commitments, the Facility Commitment Termination Date shall be deemed to have been extended, effective as of the Existing Date, to the date which is 364 days thereafter.
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(c) In the event that, on the 15th Business Day after receipt of the notice delivered pursuant to clause (a) above, all of the Participants shall not have agreed to extend their respective Participating Commitments, the Sponsor and the Servicer shall notify the consenting Participants (Consenting Participants) of the aggregate Participating Commitment Amounts of the non-extending Participants (Non-Consenting Participants) and such Consenting Participants shall, by notice to the Sponsor and the Servicer given within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of such notice, advise the Servicer and Sponsor whether or not such Participant wishes to purchase all or a portion of the Participating Commitments of the Non-Consenting Participants (and any Participant which does not respond during such 10-Business Day period shall be deemed to have rejected such offer). In the event that more than one Consenting Participant agrees to purchase all or a portion of such Participating Commitments, the Sponsor and the Servicer shall allocate such Participating Commitments among such Consenting Participants so as to preserve, to the extent possible, the relative Pro Rata Shares of the Consenting Participants of the Participating Commitments prior to such extension request. If Consenting Participants do not elect to assume all of the Participating Commitments of the Non-Consenting Participants, the Sponsor shall have the right, subject to the terms and conditions of Section 15.6, to arrange for one or more financial institutions (any such financial institution being called a New Participant) to purchase the Participating Commitment of any Non-Consenting Participant. Each Non-Consenting Participant shall assign its Participating Commitment and its Participants Interest outstanding hereunder to the Consenting Participant or New Participant purchasing such Participating Commitment in accordance with Section 15.6, in return for payment in full of all principal, interest and other amounts owing to such Non-Consenting Participant hereunder, on or before the Existing Date and, as of the effective date of such assignment, shall no longer be a party hereto; provided that each New Participant shall be subject to the approval of the Servicer (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld). If (and only if) Participants (including New Participants) holding Participating Commitments representing at least an amount equal to the greater of (x) the sum of the US Dollar Equivalent of all outstanding Loan Commitments and (y) 66 2/3 % of the aggregate Participating Commitments on the date of such extension request shall have agreed to such extension by the Existing Date (the Continuing Participants), then (i) the Facility Commitment Termination Date shall be extended for an additional 364-day period and (ii) the Participating Commitment of any Non-Consenting Participant which has not been assigned to a Consenting Participant or a New Participant shall terminate (with the result that the amount of the Facility Commitment shall be decreased proportionately by the amount of such Participating Commitment), and all amounts owing to such Non-Consenting Participant, together with all interest accrued thereon and all other amounts owed to such Non-Consenting Participant hereunder, shall be due and payable to such Non-Consenting Participant on the Existing Date applicable to such Participant without giving effect to any extension of the Facility Commitment Termination Date.
Section 2.9 Wind-Down Events. In the event a Wind-Down Event occurs, then (x) the Sponsor shall not have the right to request that any further Loan Commitments be established, and (y) the Servicer shall, within a reasonable period of time and in any event no later than thirty (30) days after the Facility Commitment Termination Date, give notice to each of the applicable Borrowers terminating the Line of Credit Commitments as of the date which is ninety (90) days after delivery of such notice, subject, in each case, to the right of the Borrowers to term out the amounts outstanding under their Line of Credit Commitments as set forth in Section 2.1(b) and Section 2.1(c), as applicable; provided, however, that the occurrence of such Wind-Down Event shall not affect the obligation of (i) the Servicer to make Advances pursuant to existing Line of Credit Commitments, except to the extent that the Line of Credit Commitments are terminated pursuant to clause (y) above, (ii) the Servicer to make Advances pursuant to existing Revolving Commitments, (iii) the Participants to fund their Participants Interest as provided herein, except to the extent that the Line of Credit Commitments are terminated pursuant to clause (y) above or (iv) the Credit Parties under the Operative Documents.
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Section 2.10 Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances; Change in Lending Offices.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if, by reason of (i) after the date hereof, the introduction of or any change (including any change by way of imposition or increase of reserve requirements) in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued) or (ii) the compliance with any guideline or request from any central bank or other governmental authority or quasi-governmental authority exercising control over banks or financial institutions generally (whether or not having the force of law), any reserve (including any imposed by the Federal Reserve Board), special deposit or similar requirement (including a reserve, special deposit or similar requirement that takes the form of a tax) against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Participants office through which it funds its obligations hereunder shall be imposed or deemed applicable or any other condition affecting its obligation to make or maintain its Funded Participation at a rate based upon Term SOFR or the Adjusted Canadian LIBO Rate shall be imposed on any Participant or its office through which it funds its obligations hereunder or the interbank Eurocurrency market; and as a result thereof there shall be any increase in the cost to such Participant of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining funds its obligations hereunder (except to the extent already included in the determination of the applicable Term SOFR or Adjusted Canadian LIBO Rate), or there shall be a reduction in the amount received or receivable by that Participant or its office through which it funds its obligations hereunder, then the Sponsor shall from time to time, upon written notice from and demand by the Participant (with a copy of such notice and demand to the Servicer), pay to the Servicer for the account of that Participant within five Business Days after the date specified in such notice and demand, additional amounts sufficient to indemnify that Participant against such increased cost. A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost submitted to the Sponsor and the Servicer by that Participant, shall, except for manifest error, be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes.
(b) If while the Facility Commitment or any Loan Commitments are outstanding, any Participant (including any the Servicer) determines that the adoption of any law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy or capital maintenance (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued), or any change in any of the foregoing or in the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Participant (or any lending office of such Participant) or any Participants holding company with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy or capital maintenance (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable agency, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Participants capital or on the capital of such Participants holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Loan Documents or the purchases made by such Participant pursuant hereto to a level below that which such Participant or such Participants holding company could have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking into consideration such Participants policies and the policies of such Participants holding company with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount reasonably deemed by such Participant to be material, then from time to time, within 15 days after written demand by such Participant, the Sponsor pay to such Participant such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Participant or such
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Participants holding company for such reduction. A certificate as to the amount of any such additional amount or amounts, submitted to the Sponsor and the Servicer by such Participant, shall, except for manifest error, be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes. For the avoidance of doubt, Participants may only make claims for compensation pursuant to this Section 2.10, to the extent such claims are a consequence of this Agreement, the Loan Documents or the purchases made by such Participant pursuant hereto.
(c) Each Participant agrees that, if requested by the Sponsor, it will use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Participant) to designate an alternate lending office with respect to any of its Funded Participation affected by the matters or circumstances described above to reduce the liability of the Sponsor or avoid the results provided thereunder, so long as such designation is not disadvantageous to such Participant as determined by such Participant, which determination if made in good faith, shall be conclusive and binding on all parties hereto. Nothing in this Section 2.10(c) shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of the Sponsor or any right of any Participant provided hereunder.
Section 2.11 Pro Rata Treatment. Subject to the application of payments pursuant to Article III and except as specifically provided therein, each payment of principal of any Funded Participation, each payment of interest with respect to the Funded Participation, each payment of the Participant Commitment Fees and each reduction of the Participating Commitments shall be allocated pro rata among the Participants in accordance with their respective applicable Pro Rata Shares. Each Participant agrees that in computing its Pro Rata Share of any Participant Funding hereunder, the Servicer may, in its discretion, round each Participants percentage of such Participant Funding Request to the next higher or lower whole dollar amount.
Section 2.12 Payments.
(a) The Sponsor shall make each payment required to be made by Sponsor hereunder and under any other Operative Document to any Participant or the Servicer not later than 1:00 p.m. (Atlanta, Georgia time), on the date when due in the Contractual Currency (as defined below) to the Servicer at its offices in Atlanta, Georgia in immediately available funds, free and clear of any defenses, rights of set-off, counterclaim, or withholding or deduction of taxes.
(b) Whenever any payment hereunder or under any other Operative Document shall become due, or otherwise would occur, on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest or Participant Commitment Fees, if applicable.
(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any amount paid by any Borrower or the Sponsor for the account of a Defaulting Participant under this Agreement (whether on account of principal, interest, fees, indemnity payments or other amounts) will be retained by the Servicer in a segregated non-interest bearing account until the Facility Commitment Termination Date at which time the funds in such account will be applied by the Servicer, to the fullest extent permitted by law, in the following order of priority: first to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Participant to the Servicer under this Agreement, including, without limitation, amounts owing to the Servicer in its capacity as lender with respect to Swing Line Advances hereunder, second, to the payment of interest due and payable to the Participants hereunder other than Defaulting Participants, ratably among them in accordance with the amounts of such interest then due and payable to them, third to the payment of fees then due and payable to the Participants hereunder other than Defaulting Participants hereunder, ratably among them in accordance with the amounts of such fees then due and payable to them, fourth to the ratable payment of other amounts then due and payable to the Participants hereunder other than Defaulting Participants, and fifth to pay amounts owing under this Agreement to the Defaulting Participants or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.
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Section 2.13 Sharing of Setoffs. Each Participant agrees that if it shall, in accordance with applicable law, through the exercise of a right of bankers lien, setoff or counterclaim against the Sponsor or any Borrower, or pursuant to a secured claim under Section 506 or Title 11 of the United States Code or other security or interest arising from, or in lieu of, such secured claim, received by the Participant under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or otherwise, or by any other means, obtain payment (voluntary or involuntary) in respect of any Funded Participation under this Agreement (other than pursuant to Section 2.12(c)) as a result of which the unpaid principal portion of its Funded Participation shall be proportionately less than the unpaid principal portion of the Funded Participation of any other Participant, it shall be deemed simultaneously to have purchased from such other Participant at face value, and shall promptly pay to such other Participant the purchase price for, a participation in the Funded Participation of such other Participant, so that the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Funded Participation and participations in Funded Participations held by each Participant shall be in the same proportion to the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Funded Participations then outstanding as the principal amount of its purchases prior to such exercise of bankers lien, setoff or counterclaim or other event was to the principal amount of all Funded Participations outstanding prior to such exercise of bankers lien, setoff or counterclaim or other event; provided, however, that, if any such purchase or purchases or adjustments shall be made pursuant to this Section 2.13 and the payment giving rise thereto shall thereafter be recovered, such purchase or purchases or adjustments shall be rescinded to the extent of such recovery and the purchase price or prices or adjustment restored without interest. The Servicer and each Participant hereby further agrees that any set-off amount received with respect to any Borrower, the Sponsor or any Guarantor shall first be applied to amounts outstanding under the Franchisee Loan Program prior to application to any other obligations of any such Person to the Servicer or such Participant. The Sponsor expressly consents to the foregoing arrangements and agrees, to the extent permitted by applicable law, that any Participant holding a Funded Participation or a participation in a Funded Participation deemed to have been so purchased may exercise any and all rights of bankers lien, setoff or counterclaim with respect to any and all moneys owing by the Sponsor to such Participant by reason thereof.
Section 2.14 Canadian Dollar Provisions.
(a) If any payment due hereunder or under any other Operative Document is not made in the currency due under this Agreement (the Contractual Currency) or if any court or tribunal shall render a judgment or order for the payment of amounts due hereunder or under the Operative Documents and such judgment is expressed in a currency other than the Contractual Currency, the Sponsor shall indemnify and hold the Servicer and each Participant harmless against any deficiency incurred by the Servicer or such Participant with respect to the amount received by the Servicer or such Participant to the extent the rate of exchange at which the Contractual Currency is convertible into the currency actually received or the currency in which the judgment is expressed (the Received Currency) is not the reciprocal of the rate of exchange at which the Servicer would be able to purchase the Contractual Currency with the Received Currency, in each case on the Business Day following receipt of the Received Currency in accordance with normal banking procedures. If the court or tribunal has fixed the date on which the rate of exchange is determined for the conversion of the judgment currency into the Contractual Currency (the Conversion Date) and if there is a change in the rate of exchange prevailing between the Conversion Date and the date of receipt by the Servicer and the relevant Participant, then the Sponsor will, notwithstanding such judgment or order, pay such additional amount (if any) as may be necessary to ensure that the amount paid in the Received Currency when converted at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of receipt will produce the amount then due to the Servicer and the relevant Participant from the Sponsor hereunder in the Contractual Currency.
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(b) If a Credit Event of the type described in Sections 9.7, 9.8 or 9.9 occurs: (i) any amounts owing to the Servicer and the Participants under the Operative Documents, (ii) any damages owing to the Servicer or the Participants, as the case may be, in respect of a breach of any of the terms of the Operative Documents, or (iii) any judgment or order rendered in respect of such amounts or damages, the Sponsor shall indemnify and hold the Servicer and the Participants harmless against any deficiency with respect to the Contractual Currency in the amounts received by the Servicer and the Participants with respect to any of the amounts described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above arising or resulting from any variation as between: (i) the rate of exchange at which the Contractual Currency is converted into another currency (the Liquidation Currency) for purposes of such winding-up, liquidation, dissolution or bankruptcy with regard to the amount in the Contractual Currency due or contingently due under the Operative Documents or under any judgment or order to which the relevant obligations under the Operative Documents shall have been merged and (ii) the rate of exchange at which the Servicer would, in accordance with normal banking procedures, be able to purchase the Contractual Currency with the Liquidation Currency at the earlier of (A) the date of payment of such amounts or damages and (B) the final date or dates for the filing of proofs of a claim in a winding-up, liquidation, dissolution or bankruptcy. As used in the preceding sentence, the final date or dates for the filing of proofs of a claim in a winding-up, liquidation, dissolution or bankruptcy shall be the date fixed by the liquidator under the applicable law as being the last practicable date as of which the liabilities of the Borrowers or the Sponsor, as the case may be, may be ascertained for such winding-up, liquidation, dissolution or bankruptcy before payment by the liquidator or other appropriate Person in respect thereof.
(c) Exchange Rates. Not later than 2:00 p.m. (Atlanta, Georgia time) on each date of determination (which date of determination shall be at least quarterly and frequently as the Servicer shall require if a Credit Event has occurred and is continuing and after a Wind-Down Event), the Servicer shall (A) determine the Exchange Rate as of such date of determination with respect to Canadian Dollars, and (B) give notice thereof to the Sponsor and Participants. The Exchange Rate as so determined shall become effective on the first Business Day immediately following the relevant date of determination (a Reset Date), shall remain effective until the next succeeding Reset Date, and shall for all purposes of this Agreement, be the Exchange Rate employed in determining the US Dollar Equivalent of any amounts in Canadian Dollars.
Section 2.15 Excess Loan Commitments Resulting From Exchange Rate Changes. If on any Reset Date, after giving effect to any changes in Exchange Rate implemented pursuant to Section 2.14, the US Dollar Equivalent of all Loan Commitments exceeds the Maximum Commitment Amount, the Sponsor shall promptly and, in any case, within ten (l0) days thereafter, either (i) purchase Loans and related Loan Commitments from the Servicer in an amount sufficient to cause the US Dollar Equivalent of all outstanding Loan Commitments not to exceed the Maximum Commitment Amount, or (ii) to the extent that the US Dollar Equivalent of all Loan Commitments does not exceed the Maximum Commitment Amount by more than $1,000,000, cause to be issued to the Servicer a letter of credit (from an issuer and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer) in an amount equal to or greater than the amount by which the US Dollar Equivalent of all Loan Commitments exceeds the Maximum Commitment Amount.
Section 2.16 Interest Act. For the purposes of the Interest Act (Canada), any amount of interest or fees calculated on the Facility Commitment or the Canadian Funded Participations using 360, 365 or 366 days per year and expressed as an annual rate is equal to the said rate of interest or fees multiplied by the actual number of days comprised within the calendar year, divided by 360, 365 or 366, as the case may be. The parties agree that all interest with respect to the Facility Commitment or the Canadian Funded Participations accruing under this Agreement will be calculated using the nominal rate method and not the effective rate method, and that the deemed re-investment principle shall not apply to such calculations. In addition, the parties acknowledge that there is a material distinction between the nominal and effective rates of interest and that they are capable of making the calculations necessary to compare such rates.
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Section 2.17 Reallocation and Cash Collateralization of Defaulting Participant Exposure.
(a) If a Participant becomes, and during the period it remains, a Defaulting Participant, the following provisions shall apply, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement; provided that neither any such reallocation nor any payment by a Non-Defaulting Participant pursuant thereto nor any such Cash Collateralization or reduction will constitute a waiver or release of any claim the Servicer, the Sponsor or any other Participant may have against such Defaulting Participant or cause such Defaulting Participant to be a Non-Defaulting Participant:
(1) the Participants Interest of such Defaulting Participant in the unfunded portion of outstanding Loan Commitments will, subject to the limitation in the proviso below, automatically be reallocated (effective no later than one (1) Business Day after the Servicer has actual knowledge that such Participant has become a Defaulting Participant) among the Non-Defaulting Participants pro rata in accordance with their respective Participants Interest (calculated as if the Defaulting Participants Participants Interest was reduced to zero and each Non-Defaulting Participants Participants Interest had been increased proportionately); provided that each Non-Defaulting Participants total Participants Interest may not in any event exceed the Participating Commitment of such Non-Defaulting Participant as in effect at the time of such reallocation; and
(2) to the extent that any portion (the unreallocated portion) of the Participants Interest of such Defaulting Participant in the unfunded portion of outstanding Loan Commitments cannot be reallocated pursuant to clause (1) for any reason, the Sponsor will, not later than two (2) Business Days after demand by the Servicer, (a) Cash Collateralize the obligations of Defaulting Participant to the Servicer in respect of such unfunded portion of outstanding Loan Commitments in full or (b) make other arrangements satisfactory to the Servicer to protect them against the risk of non-payment by such Defaulting Participant.
(b) If the Sponsor and the Servicer agree in writing in their discretion that any Defaulting Participant has ceased to be a Defaulting Participant, the Servicer will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein, the Participants Interest of the other Participants shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Participants Participating Commitment, and such Participant will purchase at par such portion of the Participants Interest of such other Participants in Loans outstanding under Loan Commitments and/or make such other adjustments as the Servicer may determine to be necessary to cause all Funded Participations in all outstanding Loans of the Participants to be on a pro rata basis in accordance with their respective Participants Interests, whereupon such Participant will cease to be a Defaulting Participant and will be a Non-Defaulting Participant (and such Funded Participation of each Participant will automatically be adjusted on a prospective basis to reflect the foregoing). If any cash collateral has been posted, the Servicer will promptly return such cash collateral to the Sponsor; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Sponsor while such Participant was a Defaulting Participant; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Participant to Non-Defaulting Participant will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Participants having been a Defaulting Participant
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ARTICLE III
SERVICERS SERVICING OBLIGATIONS; DISTRIBUTION OF PAYMENTS
Section 3.1 Servicers Obligations with Respect to Loans; Collateral; Non-Recourse.
(a) The Servicer shall, for itself and the benefit of all of the Participants and the Sponsor, (i) document, close, manage, administer and collect the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Servicing Agreement and exercise all discretionary powers involved in such management, administration and collection and (ii) shall distribute the funds received with respect to the Loans and from the Sponsor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Servicer agrees that it will exercise the same care in administering the Loans as it exercises with respect to loans of similar size and type and in accordance with the terms of the Servicing Agreement and Section 10.12 hereto.
(b) The forms of Loan Agreements, Canadian Security Agreement and Notes used by the Servicer as documentation for each Loan on and after the Effective Date shall be substantially in the forms attached hereto with such changes as may be mutually agreed by the Sponsor and the Servicer (it being understood that the Servicer will not unreasonably withhold or delay its agreement to any such changes requested by the Sponsor).
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each of the Participants acknowledges and agrees that the Servicer shall have no obligation to the Participants with respect to the obtaining or retention of any guaranties required by the Sponsor (other than to distribute any proceeds therefrom in accordance with the terms of this Article III). The Participants acknowledge and agree that the Sponsor has the right to release or modify the terms of, or not require, any Personal Guaranty or any Spousal Consent.
(d) In addition, each of the Participants acknowledges and agrees that the obligations of the Servicer with respect to the Collateral shall be expressly limited to the filing of Financing Statements (but not fixture filings) in the locations indicated in the applicable Funding Approval Notice for each Borrower and filing continuation statements with respect thereto and taking enforcement action in accordance with Section 10.12 hereto.
(e) Each of the Participants acknowledges and agrees that the Servicer shall be relying solely upon the Sponsor for purposes of calculating and ensuring compliance by Borrowers with the Franchisee Borrowing Base for each US Revolving Loan, US Term Loan, Canadian Revolving Loan and Canadian Term Loan.
(f) Each of the Participants acknowledges and agrees that any payments of delinquent payment fees received from the Borrowers pursuant to the Loan Agreements shall be for the sole account of the Sponsor and that the Participants shall have no right to receive such payments unless a Credit Event has occurred and is continuing; provided that, with respect to any payments received from a Borrower, such payments shall be first applied to pay all accrued but unpaid interest and principal and other fees due and owing from such Borrower before application of such payment to any delinquent payment fees.
(g) Each Participant hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Servicer has no ability to halt an ACH transfer upon the inputting of such transfer request by Sponsor from the Aarons Proprietary System into the ACH system (other than the ability to retrieve ACH transfers which are sent to the wrong party or otherwise manifestly erroneous as provided in the ACH agreement with Sponsor), and Sponsor hereby accepts full responsibility for any overadvance created by such inputting of information and shall indemnify the Servicer and the Participants therefor as provided herein.
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Section 3.2 Application of Payments.
(a) The Servicer and the Sponsor shall instruct each Borrower to make payments with respect to Loans and the Loan Commitments directly to the Servicer, either by wire transfer, SWIFT transfer or debit pursuant to an ACH Authorization or a PAD Authorization.
(b) On each Participant Quarterly Payment Date and each Participant Canadian Quarterly Payment Date, all payments of commitment fees received by the Servicer from the Borrowers since the immediately prior Participant Quarterly Payment Date or each Participant Canadian Quarterly Payment Date (as applicable) and from the Sponsor pursuant to the Operative Documents and not previously distributed by the Servicer, shall be applied to pay all accrued but unpaid Participant Commitment Fees in the applicable currency pursuant to this Agreement, such payment to be distributed by the Servicer to the Participants pro rata in accordance with Section 2.4, with any remainder to be applied as set forth in the Servicing Agreement.
(c) On each Participant Monthly Payment Date and each Participant Canadian Monthly Payment Date, all payments of interest received by the Servicer from the Borrowers since the immediately prior Participant Monthly Payment Date or Participant Canadian Monthly Payment Date (as applicable) and from the Sponsor pursuant to its guaranty contained herein with respect to the Loans and not previously distributed by the Servicer, shall be applied to pay all accrued but unpaid interest on the Funded Participation in the applicable currencies pursuant to this Agreement, then to pay all accrued but unpaid Servicing Fees and then to pay the Sponsors Fee, in accordance with the terms of the Servicing Agreement and Fee Letter and in the applicable currencies.
(d) On any Business Day on which the Servicer shall receive any payment in respect of the principal amount of any Loan, whether from a Borrower, the Sponsor pursuant to its guaranty contained herein, or any other obligor with respect thereto, the Servicer may elect, in its sole discretion to (i) apply such principal payment to fund any requested Advances, (ii) apply such amount to repay any outstanding Swing Line Advances, or (iii) to either (x) distribute such amount to the Participants to reduce each Participants Funded Participation or (y) apply such amount to Truists Funded Participation only (with the understanding that the Funded Participation of each Participant shall not be deemed to have been repaid until such amount is actually received by such Participant); provided that, in the event that the Servicer elects to apply any repayment to reduce Truists Funded Participation without a corresponding reduction of the other Participants Funded Participation, Truist shall be obligated to make a payment to each Participant equal to such Participants Pro Rata Share of such payment in the applicable currency upon the earlier of (i) the next Participant Monthly Payment Date or Participant Canadian Monthly Payment Date (as applicable) and (ii) the occurrence of a Credit Event hereunder.
(e) If during any period when no Credit Event has occurred and is continuing, amounts received by Servicer are not capable of being allocated to any specific Loan or, in the case of amounts allocable to a specific Loan, are not sufficient to repay all obligations then due and owing with respect thereto, such amounts shall be applied by the Servicer as follows: (i) first, to the payment of Participant Commitment Fees owing to the Participants hereunder, (ii) second, to the payment of accrued interest on the Funded Participation hereunder, (iii) third, to the payment of the Servicing Fees owing under the Servicing Agreement, (iv) fourth, to the repayment of the Funded Participations outstanding hereunder, (v) fifth, to the payment of all other amounts owing to the Servicer or any Participant hereunder, and (vi) sixth, if all obligations of the Sponsor pursuant to the Operative Documents have been satisfied in full, to the Sponsor; provided, however, that (i) to the extent such amounts received by the Servicer are in Canadian Dollars, such amounts shall be applied only to the foregoing obligations that are payable in Canadian Dollars, and (ii) to the extent such amounts received by the Servicer are in US Dollars, such amounts shall be applied only to the foregoing obligations that are payable in US Dollars.
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(f) During any period when a Credit Event has occurred and is continuing, any amounts received by Servicer with respect to the Loans shall be applied, after deduction of any expenses incurred in the collection of any such amounts and after conversion to the applicable currency as necessary, as follows (i) first, to the payment of any accrued and unpaid Servicing Fee, (ii) second, to each Participant in accordance with Pro Rata Share, and (iii) thereafter, to such Persons as may be legally entitled thereto.
(g) If not sooner repaid, all amounts due and payable to the Servicer and the Participants under the Operative Documents shall be due and payable in full on the Final Termination Date.
Section 3.3 Monthly Servicing Report. Within three (3) Business Days after the end of each calendar month, the Servicer shall telecopy (or email) to the Sponsor a servicing report in a form substantially similar to Exhibit F or such other form as may be mutually agreed between the Servicer and Sponsor (the Monthly Servicing Report) setting forth the following information with respect the Loans:
(a) the aggregate principal balance of the US Loans and the aggregate principal balance of the Canadian Loans as of the close of business on the last day of the preceding Payment Period and on such day;
(b) the aggregate amount of the US Loans and the aggregate principal balance of the Canadian Loans repurchased by the Sponsor, and all amounts collected with respect to the Collateral for the US Loans and the Canadian Loans since the date of the last Monthly Servicing Report;
(c) the aggregate US Loan Commitments and the aggregate Canadian Loan Commitments as of the close of business on the last Business Day of the preceding calendar month and on such day; and
(d) each US Loan and each Canadian Loan which is past due (including the past due amount and the number of days past due).
ARTICLE IV
LOAN DEFAULT; RIGHT TO MAKE GUARANTY DEMAND
Section 4.1 Notice Of Loan Defaults. Within ten (10) days after the occurrence of any Loan Payment Default, the Servicer shall send written notice of such Loan Payment Default to the applicable Borrower and Sponsor. Within ten (10) days after the Servicer obtains actual knowledge of the occurrence of any Loan Default other than a Loan Payment Default, the Servicer shall send written notice of such Loan Default to the applicable Borrower and Sponsor.
Section 4.2 Waiver or Cure By The Sponsor of Covenant Defaults and Loan Payment Defaults.
(a) Unless a Credit Event or an Unmatured Credit Event has occurred and is continuing, the Sponsor shall be entitled (but not obligated) to request that the Servicer waive any default by the Borrower or any Guarantor under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, other than a Loan Default or a default arising based upon the action or inaction of the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, by sending to the Servicer for execution a Default Waiver Letter, which Servicer agrees to execute and mail to the appropriate Borrower if such Default Waiver Letter is in form and substance satisfactory to the Servicer.
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(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing clause (a), unless a Credit Event or an Unmatured Credit Event has occurred and is continuing, the Sponsor shall be entitled (but not obligated) to request that the Servicer waive any Loan Payment Default (including a Loan Payment Default resulting from the failure of a Borrower to remain in compliance with the borrowing base requirements of the applicable Loan Agreement) by sending to the Servicer for execution a Default Waiver Letter, which Servicer agrees to execute and mail to the appropriate Borrower if such Default Waiver Letter is in form and substance satisfactory to the Servicer, curing such Loan Payment Default in full; provided, however, that (i) Sponsor shall not waive and cure more than two (2) consecutive Loan Payment Defaults for any Loan nor more than a total of four (4) Loan Payment Defaults in any four year period for any Loan and (ii) such Loan Payment Default must be cured by Sponsor, and the Default Waiver Letter for such Loan Payment Default received by Servicer, during the Response Period for such Loan.
Section 4.3 [Reserved].
Section 4.4 Rights during Response Period. Unless a Credit Event or an Unmatured Credit Event has occurred and is continuing, the Servicer shall refrain during any Response Period from taking any legal action against the Defaulted Borrower under the Defaulted Loan which is the subject of such Response Period, and from accelerating payment of the Loan Indebtedness under such Defaulted Loan but the Servicer shall cease funding any further Advances pursuant to the Loan Commitment to such Defaulted Borrower. If the Sponsor waives and cures (or causes the applicable Borrower to cure) any Loan Payment Default prior to the expiration of a Response Period, then as to each Loan Payment Default so waived and cured, the Defaulted Borrowers and the Servicers respective rights and obligations under the Loan Documents shall be restored to the same status as if such waived Loan Payment Default never occurred.
Section 4.5 Rights after Response Period and for Loan Defaults other than Loan Payment Defaults. In the event that (a) any Loan Default (other than a Loan Payment Default) occurs and is continuing or (b) any Loan Payment Default is not cured during the applicable Response Period, (i) the Servicer shall have the right to (A) demand that Sponsor comply with its obligations with respect to such Defaulted Loan set forth in Article X and (B) administer and enforce such Loan as it deems appropriate, without regard to any limitations or restrictions set forth herein (but subject to Article III in all events) or in any other Operative Document, and (ii) notwithstanding anything contained in this Article IV to the contrary, the Sponsor shall, within five (5) Business Days of its receipt of a written demand from the Servicer instructing it to do so, purchase the Loan Indebtedness of the Defaulted Loan and assume the Loan Commitment related thereto.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Each of Holdings and the Sponsor represents and warrants to the Servicer and each Participant as follows:
Section 5.1 Existence; Power. Holdings, the Sponsor and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted, and (c) is duly qualified to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where a failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 5.2 Organizational Power; Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by each Credit Party of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party are within such Credit Partys organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational, and if required, partner, member or stockholder, action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Sponsor, and constitutes, and each other Transaction Document to which any Credit Party is a party, when executed and delivered by such Credit Party, will constitute, valid and binding obligations of the Sponsor or such Credit Party (as the case may be), enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and by general principles of equity.
Section 5.3 Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings and the Sponsor of this Agreement, and by each Credit Party of the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any action by, any Governmental Authority, except those as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect or where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any judgment or order of any Governmental Authority binding on Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, material agreement or other material instrument binding on Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of its assets or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, except Liens (if any) created under the Operative Documents and the other Liens permitted hereunder.
Section 5.4 Financial Statements. The Sponsor has furnished to each Participant the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2021, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders equity and cash flows for the Fiscal Year then ended prepared by Ernst & Young. Such financial statements fairly present the consolidated financial condition of the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such dates and the consolidated results of operations for such periods in conformity with GAAP consistently applied. Since December 31, 2021, there have been no changes with respect to Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries which have had or could reasonably be expected to have, singly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.5 Litigation and Environmental Matters.
(a) No litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrators or Governmental Authorities is pending against or, to the knowledge of the Sponsor, threatened against or affecting Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination that could reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) which in any manner draws into question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.
(b) Except as could reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, none of Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply in any material respect with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law or (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability. None of Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (x) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (y) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability that, in each case, could reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 5.6 Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Holdings, the Sponsor and each Restricted Subsidiary is in compliance with (a) all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority, and (b) all indentures, agreements or other instruments binding upon it or its properties, except in the cases of both clauses (a) and (b) where non-compliance, either singly or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.7 Investment Company Act, Etc. None of Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is (a) an investment company, or is controlled by an investment company, as such terms are defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended or (b) otherwise subject to any other regulatory scheme limiting its ability to incur debt.
Section 5.8 Taxes. Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries and each other Person for whose taxes Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary could become liable have timely filed or caused to be filed all Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns that are required to be filed by them, and have paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns or on any assessments made against it or its property and all other taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its property by any Governmental Authority, except (i) to the extent the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) where the same are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which Holdings, the Sponsor or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, has set aside on its books adequate reserves. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of such taxes are adequate, and no tax liabilities that could be materially in excess of the amount so provided are anticipated.
Section 5.9 Margin Regulations. None of the proceeds of any of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, for purchasing or carrying any margin stock (with the respective meanings of each of such terms under Regulation U) which would result in a violation of Regulation T, U or X or for any purpose that violates the provisions of the Regulation T, U or X. None of Holdings, the Sponsor or its Restricted Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.
Section 5.10 ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $20,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $20,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans. As of the Effective Date, no Credit Party nor any of its Subsidiaries are, and will not be, a Benefit Plan.
Section 5.11 Ownership of Property.
(a) Each of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all of its real and personal property material to the operation of its business.
(b) Each of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries owns, or licenses, or otherwise has the right, to use, all patents, trademarks, service marks, tradenames, copyrights and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries does not infringe on the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 5.12 Disclosure.
(a) The Sponsor has disclosed to the Participants all agreements, instruments, and corporate or other restrictions to which Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to any of them, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the reports (including without limitation all reports that Holdings or the Sponsor is required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission), financial statements, certificates or other written information furnished by or on behalf of the Sponsor or Holdings to the Servicer or any Participant in connection with the negotiation or syndication of this Agreement or any other Operative Document or delivered hereunder or thereunder (as modified or supplemented by any other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, taken as a whole, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that with respect to projected financial information, the Sponsor represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time, it being recognized by the Participants that such projections as to future events are not to be viewed as facts and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections may materially differ from the projected results.
(b) As of the Effective Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification (if any) is true and correct in all respects.
Section 5.13 Labor Relations. There are no strikes, lockouts or other material labor disputes or grievances against Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or, to the Sponsors knowledge, threatened against or affecting Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and no significant unfair labor practice, charges or grievances are pending against Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or to the Sponsors knowledge, threatened against any of them before any Governmental Authority. All payments due from Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the provisions of any collective bargaining agreement have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of Holdings, the Sponsor or any such Restricted Subsidiary, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.14 Subsidiaries. Schedule 5.14 sets forth the name of, the ownership interest of Holdings in, the jurisdiction of incorporation of, and the type of, each Subsidiary and identifies each Subsidiary that is a Guarantor, in each case as of the Effective Date.
Section 5.15 Representations and Warranties with Respect to Specific Loans. The Sponsor represents and warrants to the Servicer and each Participant with respect to each Loan Commitment established and each Advance made pursuant to the Operative Documents that:
(a) The Franchise Agreement, the Master Note, the Loan Agreement and each other Loan Document executed in connection with such Loan Commitment each constitutes a valid and binding agreement of each Borrower or guarantor party thereto and is enforceable against each such party in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and by general principles of equity.
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(b) The Master Note and accompanying Loan Documents executed in connection with such Loan and delivered to the Servicer are the only contracts evidencing the transaction described therein and constitute the entire agreement of the parties thereto with respect to such transaction and Sponsor has not made any other promises, agreements or representations and warranties with respect to the transactions evidenced by such Master Note.
(c) The Master Note and each accompanying Loan Document executed in connection with such Loan is genuine and all signatures, names, amounts and other facts and statements therein and thereon are true and correct.
(d) All disclosures required to be made under applicable federal and state law in connection with such Loan have been properly and completely made with respect to each Master Note, the other Loan Documents and the Loan and each such Master Note, other Loan Documents and Loan is in full compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, including without limitation, applicable state and federal usury laws and regulations.
(e) The proceeds of each Advance made pursuant to the US Line of Credit Commitments shall be used solely to purchase inventory, and to the extent permitted by Sponsor, to pay state sales and use taxes and freight charges. The proceeds of each Advance made pursuant to the Canadian Line of Credit Commitments shall be used solely to purchase inventory, and to the extent permitted by Sponsor, to pay sales and use taxes and freight charges. The proceeds of each Revolving Loan or Term Loan will be solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition and expansion of stores franchised by the Sponsor and operated by the relevant Borrower and for Sponsor-approved working capital purposes, but excluding in all cases any non-business purposes.
Section 5.16 Solvency. After giving effect to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Operative Documents, (a) the Sponsor is Solvent on the Effective Date and (b) Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis are Solvent.
Section 5.17 Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. The Sponsor and Holdings have implemented and maintain in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance in all material respects by Holdings, the Sponsor, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and Holdings, the Sponsor, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers (in such capacity), employees (in such capacity) and, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Sponsor, its directors and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions. None of (a) Holdings, the Sponsor, any Subsidiary or any of their respective officers (in such capacity) or employees (in such capacity), or (b) to the knowledge of Holdings or the Sponsor, any director or agent of Holdings or any Subsidiary is a Sanctioned Person. No use by Holdings, the Sponsor or any Subsidiary of the proceeds thereof or other transactions contemplated hereby will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.
Section 5.18 No Affected Financial Institutions. No Credit Party is an Affected Financial Institution.
Section 5.19 Inactive Subsidiaries. The Inactive Subsidiaries do not (a) have assets with an aggregate book value in excess of $1,000,000, (b) have revenue in excess of $1,000,000 in the aggregate and (c) conduct any business activities.
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Section 5.20 Collateral Representations. After the execution and delivery of the Credit Party Collateral Documents following the occurrence of the Trigger Event in accordance with Section 6.12:
(a) The provisions of the Credit Party Collateral Documents are effective to create in favor of the Servicer, for the benefit of the Participants, a legal, valid and enforceable first priority Lien (subject to Liens permitted by Section 8.2) on all right, title and interest of the respective Credit Parties in the Collateral described therein. Except for filings completed prior to the occurrence of the Trigger Event and as contemplated hereby and by the Credit Party Collateral Documents, no filing or other action will be necessary to perfect such Liens that are required to be perfected under the terms of the Credit Party Collateral Documents.
(b) No Mortgage encumbers improved real property that is located in an area that has been identified by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as an area having special flood hazards and in which flood insurance has been made available under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, except to the extent that the applicable Credit Party maintains flood insurance with respect to such improved real property in compliance with the requirements of Section 5.20(c) and the definition of Real Estate Documents.
(c) Each Credit Party maintains, if available, fully paid flood hazard insurance on all Flood Hazard Properties, with such deductibles as are commercially acceptable for Persons of established reputation engaged in similar business as the Credit Parties and on such terms and in such amounts as required by Flood Insurance Laws or as otherwise reasonably required by the Servicer.
ARTICLE VI
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Each of Holdings and the Sponsor covenant and agree that it will, as long as the Facility Commitment is in effect or the Servicer is committed to make Advances under any Loan Documents and thereafter so long as any Loans or Loan Commitments remain outstanding under this Agreement or Sponsor has any other unsatisfied obligations under the Operative Documents:
Section 6.1 Financial Statements and Other Information. The Sponsor will deliver to the Servicer and each Participant:
(a) as soon as available and in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year of Holdings, a copy of the annual audited report for such Fiscal Year for Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries, containing a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows (together with all footnotes thereto) of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail and reported on by Ernst & Young or other independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing (without a going concern or like qualification, exception or explanation and without any qualification or exception as to scope of such audit) to the effect that such financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and the results of operations of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and that the examination by such accountants in connection with such consolidated financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. It is understood and agreed that the requirements of this Section 6.1(a) (x) shall be satisfied by the delivery of the applicable annual report on Form 10-K of Holdings to the Securities and Exchange Commission if delivered within the applicable time period noted herein and is available to the Participants on EDGAR and (y) are effective as of the Effective Date;
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(b) as soon as available and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter of each Fiscal Year of Holdings (other than the last Fiscal Quarter), an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and cash flows of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter and the then elapsed portion of such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding quarter and the corresponding portion of Holdings previous Fiscal Year, all certified by the chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of Holdings as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes. It is understood and agreed that the requirements of this Section 6.1(b) (x) shall be satisfied by the delivery of the applicable quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Holdings to the Securities and Exchange Commission if delivered within the applicable time period noted herein and is available to the Participants on EDGAR and (y) are effective as of the Effective Date;
(c) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.1(a) and (b) above, a certificate of a Responsible Officer, (i) certifying as to whether there exists a Credit Event or an Unmatured Credit Event on the date of such certificate, and if a Credit Event or an Unmatured Credit Event then exists, specifying the details thereof and the action which the Sponsor has taken or proposes to take with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth in reasonable detail calculations demonstrating compliance with Article VII and (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or the application thereof has occurred since the date of Holdings audited financial statements referred to in Section 5.4 and, if any change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;
(d) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.1(a) above, a certificate of the accounting firm that reported on such financial statements stating whether they obtained any knowledge during the course of their examination of such financial statements of any Credit Event or Unmatured Credit Event (which certificate may be limited to the extent required by accounting rules or guidelines);
(e) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all functions of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by Holdings to its shareholders generally, as the case may be, it being agreed that the requirements of this Section 6.1(e) may be satisfied by the delivery of the applicable reports, statements or other materials to the Securities and Exchange Commission to the extent that such reports, statements or other materials are available to the Participants on EDGAR;
(f) promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the results of operations, business affairs and financial condition of Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary as the Servicer or any Participant may reasonably request;
(g) as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of Holdings, a forecasted income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows for the following Fiscal Year, in each case, on a quarter by quarter basis for such forecasted Fiscal Year information; and
(h) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.1(a) and (b), for any period in which there exist any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, unaudited consolidating financial statements reflecting adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of Unrestricted Subsidiaries (if any) from such financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(a) and (b), all in reasonable detail and certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Sponsor as
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fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders equity and cash flows of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
Section 6.2 Notices of Material Events. The Sponsor will furnish to the Servicer and each Participant prompt written notice of the following:
(a) the occurrence of any Credit Event or Unmatured Credit Event;
(b) the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or, to the knowledge of the Sponsor, affecting Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary which, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) the occurrence of any event or any other development by which Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) fails 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) becomes subject to any Environmental Liability in excess of $10,000,000, (iii) receives notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability in excess of $10,000,000, or (iv) becomes aware of any basis for any Environmental Liability in excess of $10,000,000 and in each of the preceding clauses, which individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(d) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that alone, or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $10,000,000;
(e) any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in parts (c) or (d) of such certification; and
(f) any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
(g) Each notice delivered under this Section 6.2 shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer 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 6.3 Existence; Conduct of Business. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and its respective rights, licenses, permits, privileges, franchises, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade names material to the conduct of its business and will continue to engage in (a) substantially the same business as presently conducted or such other businesses that are reasonably related thereto, including but not limited to the business of leasing and selling furniture, consumer electronics, computers, appliances and other household goods and accessories inside and outside of the United States of America, through both independently-owned and franchised stores, providing lease-purchase solutions, credit and other financing solutions to customers for the purchase and lease of such products, the manufacture and supply of furniture and bedding for lease and sale in such stores, and the provision of virtual rent-to-own programs inside and outside of the United States of America (including but not limited to point-of-sale lease purchase programs), (b) any other businesses which are ancillary or complementary to the business, or reasonable extensions or expansions of, the business of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Effective Date, as reasonably determined in
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good faith by the Sponsor and (c) any businesses that are materially different from the business of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Effective Date provided that any Investments made, funds expended or financial support provided by Holdings, the Sponsor and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such alternative lines of business shall not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding; provided, that nothing in this Section 6.3 shall prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 8.3.
Section 6.4 Compliance with Laws, Etc. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and requirements of any Governmental Authority applicable to its business and properties, including without limitation, all Environmental Laws, ERISA and OSHA, except where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.5 Payment of Obligations. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, pay and discharge all taxes (including without limitation all tax liabilities and claims that could result in a statutory Lien) and all other obligations which, if unpaid, might become a Lien or charge upon any of their properties, 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 and Holdings, the Sponsor or such Restricted Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP or (b) the failure to make payment could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.6 Books and Records. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities to the extent necessary to prepare the consolidated financial statements of Holdings in conformity with GAAP.
Section 6.7 Visitation, Inspection, Etc. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, permit any representative of the Servicer or any Participant, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine its books and records and to make copies and take extracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with any of its officers and with its independent certified public accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as the Servicer or any Participant may reasonably request after reasonable prior notice to the Sponsor; provided, however, if a Credit Event or Unmatured Credit Event has occurred and is continuing, no prior notice shall be required. All reasonable expenses incurred by the Servicer and, at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Credit Event, any Participants in connection with any such visit, inspection, audit, examination and discussions shall be borne by the Sponsor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, representatives of the Servicer or any Participant shall only have the right to visit and inspect once in every twelve (12) consecutive months, unless Credit Event has occurred and is continuing.
Section 6.8 Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted 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, except where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (b) maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its properties and business, and the properties and business of its Restricted Subsidiaries, against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by companies in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations (including, after the occurrence of the Trigger Event, flood insurance as described in the definition of Real Estate Documents). In addition, and not in limitation of the foregoing, Holdings shall maintain and keep in force insurance coverage on its inventory, as is consistent with best industry practices. The Credit Parties shall at all times cause the Servicer to be named as
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additional insured on all of its casualty and liability policies. Promptly after the occurrence of the Trigger Event, the Credit Parties shall cause each issuer of an insurance policy to provide the Servicer with an endorsement (i) showing the Servicer as lenders loss payee with respect to each policy of property or casualty insurance and naming the Servicer and each Participant as an additional insured with respect to each policy of liability insurance, (ii) providing that 30 days notice will be given to the Servicer prior to any cancellation of, material reduction or change in coverage provided by or other material modification to such policy and (iii) reasonably acceptable in all other respects to the Servicer.
Section 6.9 Use of Proceeds. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that would violate any rule or regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, including Regulations T, U or X.
The Sponsor shall ensure that the Borrowers and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use the proceeds of any Loans (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 or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.
Section 6.10 Additional Subsidiaries.
(a) Within ten (10) Business Days (or such later date as the Servicer may agree in its sole discretion) after any Domestic Subsidiary is acquired or formed (including, without limitation, upon the formation of any Subsidiary that is a Delaware Divided LLC) or after any Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Sponsor shall (i) notify the Servicer and the Participants thereof, (ii) if such Domestic Subsidiary is a Material Domestic Subsidiary, cause such Subsidiary to become a Guarantor by (x) executing agreements in the form of Annex 1 to the Guaranty Agreement and (y) if the Trigger Event has occurred, a security agreement or a joinder agreement thereto granting to the Servicer for the benefit of the Participants a first priority security interest and lien in all of its assets pursuant to the Credit Party Collateral Documents (subject to Liens permitted hereunder), in form reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer and (iii) if such Subsidiary is a Material Domestic Subsidiary, cause such Domestic Subsidiary to deliver simultaneously therewith similar documents applicable to such Domestic Subsidiary described in Section 3.1 as reasonably requested by the Servicer. In the event that any Domestic Subsidiary that is not already a Guarantor becomes a Material Domestic Subsidiary at any time after its formation or acquisition, the Sponsor shall have up to ten (10) Business Days (or such later date as the Servicer may agree in its sole discretion) to cause it to (x) become a Guarantor by executing agreements in the form of Annex 1 to the Guaranty Agreement and (y) deliver simultaneously therewith similar documents applicable to such Domestic Subsidiary described in Section 13.1 as reasonably requested by the Servicer.
(b) Upon any acquisition or formation of additional Foreign Subsidiaries by the Sponsor after the Effective Date (subject to Section 8.4) if the Trigger Event has occurred and to the extent the aggregate EBITDA attributable to all Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries whose stock has not been pledged to secure the Guaranteed Obligations pursuant to this Section 6.10(b) for the most recently ended twelve month period exceeds twenty percent (20%) of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended twelve month period (the Foreign Pledge Date), the Sponsor (i) shall notify the Servicer and the Participants thereof, (ii) deliver stock certificates and related pledge agreements, in form satisfactory to a collateral agent acceptable to the Servicer, evidencing the pledge of sixty-six percent (66%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) and one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock not entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries directly owned by a Credit Party to secure the Guaranteed Obligations to the extent necessary such that, after giving
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effect to such pledge, the EBITDA attributable to all Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries whose stock has not been pledged to secure the Guaranteed Obligations pursuant to this Section 6.10(b) for the most recently ended twelve (12) month period does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of Consolidated EBITDA, and (iii) cause such Foreign Subsidiary whose stock is pledged pursuant to the immediately preceding Section 6.10(b)(ii) to deliver simultaneously therewith similar documents applicable to such Foreign Subsidiary described in Section 13.1 as reasonably requested by the Servicer; provided that in no event shall any such Foreign Subsidiary be required to join the Guaranty Agreement or otherwise to guarantee any of the Guaranteed Obligations. Upon the occurrence of the Foreign Pledge Date, the Sponsor will be required to comply with the terms of this Section 6.10(b) within thirty (30) days after any new Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary is acquired or formed. Upon the occurrence of the Foreign Pledge Date and within a reasonable time thereafter, the Servicer shall enter into an intercreditor agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Sponsor and the Required Participants, with all other creditors of the Sponsor having a similar covenant with the Sponsor.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) none of the Inactive Subsidiaries shall be required to become a Guarantor or to execute the Guaranty Agreement, subject to compliance with Section 8.13 and (ii) the Sponsor shall cause each Inactive Subsidiary to be dissolved as soon practicable without incurring adverse tax consequences unless otherwise permitted by the Servicer with such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
(d) Holdings will cause any Domestic Subsidiary or any other Domestic Controlled Affiliate that provides a Guarantee or otherwise becomes liable (including as a borrower or co-borrower) in respect of the obligations under any agreement providing for the incurrence of Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Indebtedness under this Agreement to become a Guarantor by executing agreements in the form of Annex 1 to the Guaranty Agreement and deliver simultaneously therewith similar documents applicable to such Domestic Subsidiary described in Section 13.1 as reasonably requested by the Servicer.
Section 6.11 Further Assurances. Promptly upon request by the Servicer, or any Participant through the Servicer, (a) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in any Operative Document or in the execution or acknowledgment thereof, and (b) do, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such further acts, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Servicer, or any Participant through the Servicer, may reasonably require from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of the Operative Documents, or, after the occurrence of the Trigger Event, to grant, preserve, protect or perfect the Liens created by the Credit Party Collateral Documents or the validity or priority of any such Lien, all at the expense of the Credit Parties.
Section 6.12 Collateral.
(a) Promptly upon, and in any event within thirty (30) days of, the occurrence of the Trigger Event (or such longer periods as the Servicer shall agree in its sole discretion), Holdings shall, and shall cause the Credit Parties, to (i) grant Liens in favor of the Servicer, for the benefit of the Participants, in substantially all of its personal property (with exceptions as provided in the Security Agreement) by executing and delivering to the Servicer a Security Agreement and such other Credit Party Collateral Documents in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer, and authorizing and delivering, at the request of the Servicer, such UCC financing statements or similar instruments required by the Servicer to perfect the Liens in favor of the Servicer, for the benefit of the Servicer and the Participants, and granted under any of the Operative Documents, (ii) grant Liens in favor of the Servicer, for the benefit of the Servicer and the Participants, in all fee ownership interests in Material Real Estate by executing and delivering to the Servicer such Real Estate Documents as the Servicer shall reasonably require and (iii) deliver such other documentation (including, without limitation, certified organizational documents, resolutions, lien searches, title insurance policies, surveys, environmental reports and legal opinions)
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reasonably requested by the Servicer and to take all such other actions that such Credit Party would be required to deliver pursuant to Section 6.13 with respect to any Material Real Estate. In addition, Holdings shall, or shall cause the applicable Credit Party to (x) pledge all of the Capital Stock of the Sponsor and any such Domestic Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary to the Servicer as security for the Obligations by executing and delivering a Security Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer, (y) pledge sixty-six percent (66%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) and one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock not entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) of the Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries directly owned by the Credit Parties and (z) deliver the original certificates evidencing such pledged Capital Stock to the Servicer, together with appropriate powers executed in blank. In the event of the occurrence of the Trigger Event, the requirements of this Section 6.12(a), and not those of Section 6.10(b), shall govern the pledge of Capital Stock in Foreign Subsidiaries. Concurrently with the grant of Liens in the first sentence of this Section 6.12(a), the Servicer and the Administrative Agent (as defined in the Credit Agreement) shall enter into the Intercreditor Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer, the Required Participants and the Administrative Agent (as defined in the Credit Agreement). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, or otherwise in any Operative Document, the Servicer shall not enter into, accept, or record any mortgage in respect of any Material Real Estate until the Servicer shall have received written confirmation (which confirmation shall, for purposes hereunder, include email) from each Participant that flood insurance compliance has been completed by such Participant with respect to such Material Real Estate (such written confirmation not to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed); provided, that, the inability of a Credit Party to deliver, enter into, or record a Mortgage with respect to any Material Real Estate within the time period required by this Section 6.12 due to the failure of the Servicer to receive written confirmation from each Participant that flood insurance compliance has been completed by such Participant with respect to such Material Real Estate within such time period shall not be deemed to be a failure by such Credit Party to satisfy the requirements of this Section 6.12.
(b) Holdings and the Sponsor agree that, following the delivery of any Credit Party Collateral Documents required to be executed and delivered by this Section 6.12, the Servicer shall have a valid and enforceable, first priority perfected Lien on the property required to be pledged pursuant to Sections 6.12(a) and 6.12(b) (to the extent that such Lien can be perfected by execution, delivery and/or recording of the Credit Party Collateral Documents or UCC financing statements, or possession of such Collateral), free and clear of all Liens other than Liens expressly permitted by Section 8.2. All actions to be taken pursuant to this Section 6.12 shall be at the expense of the Sponsor or the applicable Credit Party, and shall be taken to the reasonable satisfaction of the Servicer.
Section 6.13 Additional Real Estate. To the extent otherwise permitted hereunder, if any Credit Party proposes to acquire a fee ownership interest in Material Real Estate after the occurrence of the Trigger Event, it shall within ninety (90) days of such acquisition (or such longer period as the Servicer shall agree in its sole discretion) provide to the Servicer Real Estate Documents in regard to such Material Real Estate. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, or otherwise in any Operative Document, the Servicer shall not enter into, accept, or record any mortgage in respect of any Material Real Estate until the Servicer shall have received written confirmation (which confirmation shall, for purposes hereunder, include email) from each Participant that flood insurance compliance has been completed by such Participant with respect to such Material Real Estate (such written confirmation not to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed); provided, that, the inability of a Credit Party to deliver, enter into, or record a Mortgage with respect to any Material Real Estate within the time period required by this Section 6.13 due to the failure of the Servicer to receive written confirmation from each Participant that flood insurance compliance has been completed by such Participant with respect to such Material Real Estate within such time period shall not be deemed to be a failure by such Credit Party to satisfy the requirements of this Section 6.13.
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Section 6.14 Designation of Subsidiaries
(a) The Sponsor may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (a) no Unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event shall exist immediately prior or immediately after giving effect to such designation; (b) the Sponsor shall have delivered to the Servicer a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate demonstrating that after giving effect to such designation on a Pro Forma Basis, the Credit Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VII measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder; (c) no Restricted Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if such Restricted Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries (i) owns any equity interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Liens on, any property of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) Guarantees any Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (after giving effect to the release of the Guarantee of the Guaranteed Obligations by such Subsidiary in connection with the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary); (d) any Unrestricted Subsidiary that has been re-designated as a Restricted Subsidiary may not subsequently be re-designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and (e) no Restricted Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless concurrent with such designation such Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an unrestricted subsidiary (or otherwise not be subject to the covenants) under any Indebtedness.
(b) The designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall constitute an Investment (which must be an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 8.4) by its direct parent (whether the Sponsor or a Restricted Subsidiary) in such Subsidiary on the date of such designation in an amount equal to the outstanding amount of all Investments by Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Subsidiary on such date.
(c) The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute (i) the incurrence on the date of such designation of any Investment, Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing on such date and (ii) for purposes of calculating the outstanding amount of Investments by Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries in all Unrestricted Subsidiaries, a return on all Investments by Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Subsidiary in an amount equal to the outstanding amount of all such Investments in such Subsidiary on the date of such designation.
(d) If at any time any Unrestricted Subsidiary (i) owns any equity interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Liens on, any property of Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) Guarantees any Indebtedness of Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary or (iii) ceases to be an unrestricted subsidiary (or otherwise becomes subject to the covenants) under any Indebtedness, then the Servicer shall, concurrent therewith, re-designate such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary.
Notwithstanding any of the definitions or covenants contained in this Agreement to the contrary, Holdings and the Sponsor will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, consummate any transaction that results in the transfer (whether by way of any Restricted Payment, Investment, or any sale, conveyance, transfer, or other disposition, or a designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Subsidiary, and whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of material intellectual property rights (including patents, trademarks, service marks, tradenames, copyrights, proprietary leasing records and systems and other intellectual property) from Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Unrestricted Subsidiary. Except as expressly set forth herein, Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the covenants set forth in this Agreement.
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ARTICLE VII
FINANCIAL COVENANTS
Holdings and the Sponsor covenant and agree that so long as the Facility Commitment remains outstanding or any Loans or Loan Commitments remain outstanding or the Sponsor has any obligations under the Operative Documents, and until the full and final payment of all indebtedness of all Borrowers incurred pursuant to the Loan Documents and unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Required Participants:
Section 7.1 Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio. Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall maintain, as of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter, a Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio of not greater than 2.75:1.00; provided, that, upon the occurrence of a Qualified Acquisition, for the four (4) Fiscal Quarters commencing with the Fiscal Quarter during which such Qualified Acquisition closes (each such period, a Leverage Increase Period), the required ratio set forth above may, upon receipt by the Servicer of a Qualified Acquisition Notice, be increased to 3.00:1.00; provided further, that (i) the maximum Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio permitted pursuant to this Section 7.1 shall revert to 2.75:1.00 following the end of each Leverage Increase Period, (ii) for at least two (2) full Fiscal Quarters ending immediately following the end of each Leverage Increase Period, the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio as of the end of each such Fiscal Quarter shall not be permitted to be greater than 2.75:1.00 prior to giving effect to another Leverage Increase Period and (iii) the Leverage Increase Period shall apply for purposes of (w) determining compliance with this Section 7.1, (x) determining whether a Trigger Event has occurred for purposes of Section 6.12, (y) any Qualified Acquisition Pro Forma Determination and (z) determining compliance on a Pro Forma Basis in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness under Section 8.1.
Section 7.2 Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall maintain, as of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter, a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.75:1.00.
ARTICLE VIII
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Holdings and the Sponsor covenant and agree that so long as the Facility Commitment remains outstanding or any Loans or Loan Commitments remain outstanding or the Sponsor has any obligations under the Operative Documents, and until the full and final payment of all indebtedness of all Borrowers incurred pursuant to the Loan Documents and unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Required Participants:
Section 8.1 Indebtedness. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness created pursuant to the Operative Documents;
(b) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 8.1 and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (immediately prior to giving effect to such extension, renewal or replacement) or shorten the maturity or the weighted average life thereof;
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(c) Indebtedness of the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred after the Effective Date 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; provided, that such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within ninety (90) days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvements or extensions, renewals, and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (immediately prior to giving effect to such extension, renewal or replacement) or shorten the maturity or the weighted average life thereof; provided further, (x) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, as of any date of determination, does not at any time exceed three percent (3.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered, and (y) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness incurred by Foreign Subsidiaries under this Section 8.1(c), together with the principal amount of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 8.1(j) does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries measured on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of the end of the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered (giving effect to any Acquisition financed with such Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis);
(d) Indebtedness of the Sponsor owing to any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Credit Party and of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Credit Party owing to the Sponsor or any other Restricted Subsidiary that is a Credit Party;
(e) Guarantees by the Sponsor of Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Sponsor that is a Credit Party and by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Sponsor that is a Credit Party of Indebtedness of the Sponsor or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Sponsor that is a Credit Party;
(f) Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement;
(g) Guarantees by the Sponsor of Indebtedness of certain franchise operators of the Sponsor; provided such guarantees are given by the Sponsor in connection with (i) loans made pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or (ii) loans made pursuant to terms of any other loan facility agreements and guaranteed on an unsecured basis with terms otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Servicer entered into after the date hereof in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed, as of any date of determination, three percent (3.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered;
(h) endorsed negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business;
(i) Guarantees by Sponsor of permitted Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries;
(j) unsecured Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries (whether such Indebtedness represents loans made by the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or by a third party) so long as (i) after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis, (as evidenced by a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate delivered to the Servicer), (A) Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VII measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder, (B) no Unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event has occurred and is continuing, or would result therefrom and (C) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the amount of and Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by such Foreign Subsidiaries under Section 8.1(c) does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries measured on a consolidated basis in accordance with
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GAAP as of the end of the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered (giving effect to any Acquisition financed with such Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis) and (ii) (A) the terms of such Indebtedness do not provide for any scheduled repayment (including payment at maturity), mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligations (other than customary mandatory prepayments upon a change of control, asset sale, event of loss, unpermitted debt issuance and customary acceleration rights after an event of default) prior to the date that is 91 days after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and the latest Maturity Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement) in effect at the time of the incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness; (B) the covenants, events of default, guarantees and other non-economic terms of such Indebtedness are either (1) customary for similar Indebtedness in light of then-prevailing market conditions (as reasonably determined by the Sponsor) or (2) reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer, (C) any financial maintenance covenants with respect to such Indebtedness are not more restrictive to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries than those set forth in this Agreement; and (D) such Indebtedness shall not be Guaranteed by any Person that is not a Credit Party (or that does not simultaneously become a Credit Party);
(k) secured Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $15,000,000 and (ii) ten percent (10%) of Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four (4) Fiscal Quarters most recently ended prior to the date of determination for which financial statements were delivered under Section 5.1(a) or (b); provided, that, (i) no unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (ii) after giving effect to the incurrence thereof on a Pro Forma Basis (as evidenced by delivery of a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate to the Servicer), Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VII measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder, (iii) the terms of such Indebtedness do not provide for any scheduled repayment (including payment at maturity), mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligations (other than customary mandatory prepayments upon a change of control, asset sale, event of loss, unpermitted debt issuance and customary acceleration rights after an event of default) prior to the date that is 91 days after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and the latest Maturity Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement) in effect at the time of the incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness; (iv) the covenants, events of default, guarantees and other non-economic terms of such Indebtedness are either (A) customary for similar Indebtedness in light of then-prevailing market conditions (as reasonably determined by the Sponsor) or (B) reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer, (v) any financial maintenance covenants with respect to such Indebtedness are not more restrictive to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries than those set forth in this Agreement; (vi) such Indebtedness shall not be Guaranteed by any Person that is not a Credit Party (or that does not simultaneously become a Credit Party); and (viii) such Indebtedness shall not include any restriction on the ability of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries to grant Liens in favor of the Servicer in accordance with the terms hereof;
(l) any other unsecured Indebtedness of Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Credit Party so long as after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis (as evidenced by delivery of a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate to the Servicer), (i) Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VII measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder, (ii) no Unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event has occurred and is continuing, or would result therefrom, (iii) the terms of such Indebtedness do not provide for any scheduled repayment (including payment at maturity), mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligations (other than customary mandatory prepayments upon a change of control, asset sale, event of loss, unpermitted debt issuance and customary acceleration rights after an event of default) prior to the date that is 91 days after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and the latest Maturity Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement) in effect at the time of the incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness; (iv) the covenants, events of default, guarantees and other non-economic
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terms of such Indebtedness are either (A) customary for similar Indebtedness in light of then-prevailing market conditions (as reasonably determined by the Sponsor) or (B) reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer, (v) any financial maintenance covenants with respect to such Indebtedness are not more restrictive to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries than those set forth in this Agreement; and (vi) such Indebtedness shall not be Guaranteed by any Person that is not a Credit Party (or that does not simultaneously become a Credit Party);
(m) Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or assets were acquired from such Person in connection with an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 8.4, to the extent that (i) such Indebtedness was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or the acquisition of such assets and (ii) neither the Sponsor nor any Restricted Subsidiary thereof (other than such Person or any other Person that such Person merges with or that acquires the assets of such Person) shall have any liability or other obligation with respect to such Indebtedness; and
(n) Indebtedness created pursuant to the Inventory Financing Agreement, so long as the Inventory Financing Agreement is terminated and no Indebtedness thereunder remains outstanding on or after March 31, 2023.
Section 8.2 Negative Pledge. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of its assets or property now owned or hereafter acquired (other than any shares of stock of Holdings that are repurchased by the Sponsor and retired or held by Holdings) or, except:
(a) Permitted Encumbrances;
(b) any Liens on any property or asset of the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary existing on the Effective Date set forth on Schedule 8.2; provided, that such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(c) purchase money Liens upon or in any fixed or capital assets to secure the purchase price or the cost of construction or improvement of such fixed or capital assets or to secure Indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition, construction or improvement of such fixed or capital assets (including Liens securing any Capital Lease Obligations); provided, that (i) such Lien secures Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(c), (ii) such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently or within ninety (90) days after the acquisition, improvement or completion of the construction thereof; (iii) such Lien does not extend to any other asset; and (iv) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets together with all interest, fees and costs incurred in connection therewith;
(d) any Lien (i) existing on any asset of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Sponsor, (ii) existing on any asset of any Person at the time such Person is merged with or into the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Sponsor or (iii) existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Sponsor; provided, that any such Lien was not created in the contemplation of any of the foregoing and any such Lien secures only those obligations which it secures on the date that such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or the date of such merger or the date of such acquisition;
(e) extensions, renewals, or replacements of any Lien referred to in Sections 8.2(a) through 8.2(d); provided, that the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased and that any such extension, renewal or replacement is limited to the assets originally encumbered thereby; and
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(f) (i) Liens securing the Obligations (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of the Sponsor under the Credit Agreement and (ii) Liens securing Guaranteed Obligations;
(g) Liens on shares of stock of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the Guaranteed Obligations are secured pari passu with any other Indebtedness or obligations secured thereby;
(h) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(k);
(i) Liens securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business (other than Indebtedness) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time $5,000,000; and
(j) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(n).
Section 8.3 Fundamental Changes.
(a) Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate into any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of (in a single transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired and including, in each case, pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division) or all or substantially all of the stock of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired) or liquidate or dissolve; provided, that (i) any Inactive Subsidiary may (A) liquidate into its immediate parent company or dissolve, (B) merge into any other Inactive Subsidiary or (C) merge into the Sponsor or any other Restricted Subsidiary that is a Credit Party; provided that the Sponsor or such Restricted Subsidiary that is a Credit Party is the survivor of such merger, and (ii) if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto, no Credit Event shall have occurred and be continuing (A) the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary may merge with a Person (other than Holdings); provided, that (x) if the Sponsor is a party to such merger, the Sponsor shall be the surviving Person and (y) if the Sponsor is not a party to such merger, such Restricted Subsidiary or, in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, such Person if upon such merger such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, is the surviving Person, (B) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge into another Restricted Subsidiary or the Sponsor; provided, however, that if the Sponsor is a party to such merger, the Sponsor shall be the surviving Person; provided, further, that if any Restricted Subsidiary to such merger is a Guarantor, the Guarantor shall be the surviving Person, (C) any Restricted Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to the Sponsor or to a Guarantor, and (D) any other Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Sponsor determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Sponsor, is not materially disadvantageous to the Participants, and such Restricted Subsidiary dissolves into another Guarantor or the Sponsor; provided, that any such merger involving a Person that is not a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by Section 8.4.
(b) Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than (i) substantially the same business as presently conducted or such other businesses that are reasonably related thereto, including but not limited to the business of leasing and selling furniture, consumer electronics, computers, appliances and other household goods and accessories inside and outside of the United States of America, through both independently-owned and franchised stores, providing lease-purchase solutions, credit and other financing solutions to customers for the purchase and lease of such products, the manufacture and supply of furniture and bedding for lease and sale in such stores, and the provision of virtual rent-to-own programs inside and outside of the United States of America (including but not limited to point-of-sale lease purchase programs), (ii) any other businesses which are ancillary or complementary to, or reasonable extensions or expansions of, the business of Holdings, the
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Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Effective Date, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Sponsor and (iii) any businesses that are materially different from the business of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Effective Date provided that any Investments made, funds expended or financial support provided by Holdings, the Sponsor and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such alternative lines of business shall not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding.
Section 8.4 Investments, Loans, Etc. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary prior to such merger), any Capital Stock, evidence 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, any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person (all of the foregoing being collectively called Investments), or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person that constitute a business unit, or create or form any Subsidiary, except:
(a) Investments (other than Permitted Investments) in Restricted Subsidiaries in existence on the Effective Date and other Investments set forth on Schedule 8.4;
(b) Permitted Investments;
(c) Permitted Acquisitions;
(d) Investments made by the Sponsor in or to any other Credit Party (other than Holdings) and by any other Credit Party (other than Holdings) to the Sponsor or in or to another Credit Party (other than Holdings);
(e) loans or advances to employees, officers, directors or stockholders of the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of all such loans and advances does not exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(f) loans to franchise operators and owners of franchises acquired or funded pursuant to this Agreement and the other credit facility agreements referenced in Section 8.1(g);
(g) Guarantees permitted under Section 8.1(g);
(h) the acquisition or ownership of stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts (created in the ordinary course of business) owing to any Guarantor or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries;
(i) loans to and other investments in Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that, the aggregate amount of such outstanding loans to and investments in such Foreign Subsidiaries do not exceed the amount permitted under Section 8.1(j).
(j) Investments in investment grade corporate bonds and variable rate demand notes having a rating of BBB+ (or the equivalent) or higher, at the time of acquisition thereof, from S&P or Moodys and in either case maturing within two years from the date of acquisition thereof in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000,000 at any time;
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(k) other Investments (other than Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries); provided, that, (i) no Unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) after giving effect to the payment thereof on a Pro Forma Basis, Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VII measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder;
(l) other Investments (other than Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries) not to exceed $50,000,000 at any time; and
(m) other Investments not to exceed, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to three percent (3.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered; provided, that, (i) no unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) after giving effect to the payment thereof on a Pro Forma Basis, Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VII measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder.
Section 8.5 Restricted Payments. Holdings will not, and will not permit its Restricted Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any dividend on any class of its Capital Stock, or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition of, any shares of Capital Stock or Indebtedness subordinated to the Guaranteed Obligations of the Sponsor or any options, warrants, or other rights to purchase such Capital Stock or such subordinated Indebtedness, whether now or hereafter outstanding (each, a Restricted Payment), except for (a) dividends payable by Holdings solely in shares of any class of its common stock, (b) Restricted Payments made by any Restricted Subsidiary to Holdings or to another Credit Party and (c) other Restricted Payments made by Holdings in cash so long as, (x) no Credit Event or Unmatured Credit Event has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (y) after giving effect to the payment thereof on a Pro Forma Basis, Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VII measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder.
Section 8.6 Sale of Assets. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of (including any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division), any of its assets, business or property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or, in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary, issue or sell any shares of such Restricted Subsidiarys Capital Stock to any Person other than the Sponsor or a Guarantor (or to qualify directors if required by applicable law), except (a) the sale or other disposition for fair market value of obsolete or worn out property or other property not necessary for operations disposed of in the ordinary course of business; (b) the sale of inventory and Permitted Investments in the ordinary course of business, (c) sales and dispositions permitted under Section 8.3(a) and sale and leaseback transactions permitted under Section 8.9, (d) sales of assets in connection with the sale of a store owned by Sponsor to a franchisee of the Sponsor, (e) other sales of assets made on or after the Effective Date not to exceed, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to five percent (5.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered and (f) the sale or other disposition of assets in an amount at least equal to the fair market value of such asset (as reasonably determined in good faith by the Sponsor) and at least 75% of the cash consideration of which is paid to the Sponsor or the Restricted Subsidiary in cash or Cash Equivalents.
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Section 8.7 Transactions with Affiliates. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted 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 materially less favorable to Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arms-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among the Sponsor and its wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliates, (c) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 8.5 and (d) transactions permitted under Section 8.4(e).
Section 8.8 Restrictive Agreements. Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to create, incur or permit any Lien upon any of its assets or properties, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or (b) the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to its Capital Stock, to make or repay loans or advances to Holdings or any other Restricted Subsidiary, to Guarantee Indebtedness of Holdings or any other Restricted Subsidiary or to transfer any of its property or assets to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings; provided, that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by law or by this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or any other indenture, note purchase agreement or loan agreement in connection with any permitted refinancing of the debt evidenced by the Credit Documents, so long as the restrictions and conditions in such other indenture, note purchase agreement or loan agreement are no more burdensome in any material respect than those imposed by the Credit Documents), (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Restricted Subsidiary pending such sale; provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Restricted Subsidiary that is sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iii) Section 8.8(a) shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement (including the Inventory Financing Agreement) if such restrictions and conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (iv) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions contained in the Inventory Financing Agreement as in effect on the Effective Date and (v) Section 8.8(a) shall not apply to customary provisions in leases restricting the assignment thereof.
Section 8.9 Sale and Leaseback Transactions. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereinafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property sold or transferred; provided, however, the Sponsor may engage in such sale and leaseback transactions so long as the aggregate fair market value of all assets sold and leased back does not exceed $150,000,000 from and after the date hereof.
Section 8.10 Legal Name, State of Formation and Form of Entity. Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, without providing ten (10) days prior written notice to the Servicer (or such lesser period as the Servicer may agree), change its name, state of formation or form of organization.
Section 8.11 Accounting Changes. Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make any significant change in accounting treatment or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP, or change the Fiscal Year of Holdings or of any Restricted Subsidiary, except to change the Fiscal Year of a Restricted Subsidiary to conform its Fiscal Year to that of Holdings.
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Section 8.12 Hedging Transactions. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any Hedging Transaction, other than Hedging Transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management of its liabilities. Solely for the avoidance of doubt, the Sponsor acknowledges that a Hedging Transaction entered into for speculative purposes or of a speculative nature is not a Hedging Transaction entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks.
Section 8.13 Activities of Inactive Subsidiaries. Unless any Inactive Subsidiary has become a Guarantor in accordance with the terms of Section 6.10 of this Agreement, the Sponsor will not permit such Inactive Subsidiary to engage in any business activity other than (a) maintaining its existence and/or winding up its affairs and (b) activities related to the completion of any ongoing tax audits, and (x) no Credit Party shall make any additional Investment in any Inactive Subsidiary other than in connection with the business and activities set forth in Sections 8.13(a) and (b) above and (y) no Inactive Subsidiary shall incur Indebtedness of any type (including, without limitation, any guaranties).
Section 8.14 Government Regulation. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (a) be or become subject at any time to any law, regulation, or list of any Governmental Authority of the United States (including, without limitation, the OFAC list) that prohibits or limits the Participants or the Servicer from making any advance or extension of credit to the Sponsor or from otherwise conducting business with Credit Parties, or (b) fail to provide documentary and other evidence of the identity of the Credit Parties as may be reasonably requested by the Participants or the Servicer at any time to enable the Participants or the Servicer to verify the identity of the Credit Parties or to comply with any applicable law or regulation, including, without limitation, Section 326 of the Patriot Act at 31 U.S.C. Section 5318.
Section 8.15 Ownership of Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, Holdings will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to (a) permit any Person (other than the Sponsor, any other Guarantor or any wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary thereof) to own any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, except to qualify directors if required by applicable Requirements of Law, and except for any dispositions of Restricted Subsidiaries otherwise permitted under this Agreement, or (b) permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue or have outstanding any shares of preferred Capital Stock.
Section 8.16 Amendment of Organizational Documents. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, amend, modify or waive any of its rights in a manner materially adverse to the Participants or any Credit Party under its charter, by-laws or other organizational document, except in any manner that would not have an adverse effect on the Participants, the Servicer, Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
Section 8.17 Activities of Holdings. Holdings will not engage in any operations, business or activity other than (a) owning the Capital Stock in its Subsidiaries, (b) maintaining its corporate existence including the issuance of Capital Stock, holding director and shareholder meetings, and entering into those agreements and arrangements incidental thereto and incurring and paying fees, costs and expenses relating to thereto, (c) participating in tax, accounting, corporate and other administrative activities or other activities incidental thereto as a member of the consolidated group of companies including the Credit Parties, (d) executing, delivering and the performance of rights and obligations under the Operative Documents, (e) the consummation of the Transactions, (f) making any Restricted Payment permitted by this Agreement, (g) making capital contributions to the other Credit Parties, (h) executing, delivering and the performance of rights and obligations under any employment agreements and any
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documents related thereto, (i) making Investments permitted under this Agreement, (j) providing indemnification to its officers and directors in the ordinary course of business, (k) the performing of activities in preparation for and consummating any public offering of its Capital Stock or any other issuance or sale of its Capital Stock, (l) the holding of any cash and Cash Equivalents (but not owning or operating any property), (m) the entry into and performance of its obligations with respect to contracts and other arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business providing for indemnification to officers, managers, directors and employees, (n) any activities incidental to the foregoing or required to comply with applicable law, and (o) any action or transaction permitted hereunder.
ARTICLE IX
CREDIT EVENTS AND REMEDIES
In the event that:
Section 9.1 the Sponsor shall fail to pay any amount due hereunder; or
Section 9.2 any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of Holdings, the Sponsor or any other Restricted Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Operative Document (including the Schedules attached thereto) and any amendments or modifications hereof or waivers hereunder, or in any certificate, report, financial statement or other document submitted to the Servicer or the Participants by any Credit Party or any representative of any Credit Party pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Operative Document shall prove to be incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made or submitted; or
Section 9.3 the Sponsor or Holdings shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in Sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 (solely with respect to the Sponsors or Holdings existence) or 6.11 or Article VII or VIII; or
Section 9.4 (i) the Sponsor or Holdings shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in Section 6.12, and such failure shall remain unremedied for ten (10) Business Days after the earlier of (A) any officer of the Sponsor becomes aware of such failure or (B) notice thereof shall have been given to the Sponsor by the Servicer or any Participant or (ii) any Credit Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those referred to in Sections 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 and 9.4(i) above), and such failure shall remain unremedied for thirty (30) days after the earlier of (A) any officer of the Sponsor becomes aware of such failure or (B) notice thereof shall have been given to the Sponsor by the Servicer or any Participant; or
Section 9.5 any event of default (after giving effect to any grace period) shall have occurred and be continuing under the Credit Documents, or all or any part of the obligations due and owing under the Credit Agreement are accelerated, declared to be due and payable or required to be prepaid or redeemed, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof;
Section 9.6 Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether as primary obligor or as guarantor or other surety) shall fail to pay any principal of or premium or interest on any Material Indebtedness that is outstanding, when and as the same shall become due and payable (whether at scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument evidencing such Indebtedness; or any other event shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating to such Indebtedness and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such event or condition is to accelerate, or permit the acceleration of, the maturity of such Indebtedness; or any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable; or required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or redemption), purchased or defeased, or any offer to prepay, redeem, purchase or defease such Indebtedness shall be required to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof; or
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Section 9.7 Holdings, the Sponsor, any Material Subsidiary, or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary shall (i) commence a voluntary case or other proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in Section 9.7(i), (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official for Holdings, the Sponsor or any such 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; or
Section 9.8 an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of Holdings, the Sponsor, any Material Subsidiary, or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary, or its debts, or any substantial part of its assets, under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official for Holdings, the Sponsor, any Material Subsidiary, or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary, or for a substantial part of its assets, and in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall remain undismissed for a period of sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered; or
Section 9.9 Holdings, the Sponsor, any Material Subsidiary, or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary shall become unable to pay, shall admit in writing its inability to pay, or shall fail to pay, its debts as they become due; or
Section 9.10 an ERISA Event shall have occurred that when taken together with other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability to Holdings, the Sponsor and the Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to two percent (2.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered or otherwise having a Material Adverse Effect; or
Section 9.11 judgments and orders for the payment of money in excess of in the aggregate, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to two percent (2.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered, to the extent not covered by insurance for which the insurance carrier has acknowledged coverage, shall be rendered against Holdings, the Sponsor, any Material Subsidiary or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary, and to the extent such judgments or orders have not been discharged either (i) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or (ii) there shall be a period of thirty (30) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or
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Section 9.12 any non-monetary judgment or order shall be rendered against Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there shall be a period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or
Section 9.13 a Change in Control shall occur or exist; or
Section 9.14 any provision of any Guaranty Agreement shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on, or enforceable against, any Guarantor, or any Guarantor shall so state in writing, or any Guarantor shall seek to terminate the Guaranty Agreement; or
Section 9.15 there shall exist or occur any default or event of default as provided under the terms of any other Operative Document (after giving effect to any notice and cure periods set forth in such Operative Document), or any Operative Document ceases to be in full force and effect or the validity or enforceability thereof is disaffirmed by or on behalf of the Sponsor or any other Credit Party, or at any time it is or becomes unlawful for Sponsor or any other Credit Party to perform or comply with its obligations under any Operative Document, or the obligations of the Sponsor or any other Credit Party under any Operative Document are not or cease to be legal, valid and binding on Sponsor or any such Credit Party; or
Section 9.16 the Servicer shall not have or shall cease to have a valid and perfected lien in any material portion of the Credit Party Collateral purported to be covered by the Credit Party Collateral Documents for any reason other than the failure of the Servicer to take any action within its control;
then upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any such event (each, a Credit Event):
(a) the Servicer may, with the consent of the Required Participants, and upon the written request of the Required Participants, shall, take any or all of the following actions, without prejudice to the rights of the Servicer or any Participant to enforce its claims against Sponsor, any other Credit Party, any Borrower or other obligor with respect to any Loan: (i) declare the Facility Commitment terminated, whereupon the Facility Commitment shall terminate immediately and any unpaid Participant Commitment Fee shall forthwith become due and payable without any other notice of any kind (with the express understanding that such termination of the Facility Commitment shall not result in a termination of the Participating Commitments of each Participant or of the obligation of the Servicer to fund any Loan Commitment); (ii) demand that the Sponsor purchase specified or all outstanding Loans and Loan Commitments by paying to the Servicer the Loan Indebtedness of each such Loan and assuming the Servicers obligations under each Loan Commitment, whereupon such amount shall become, forthwith due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Sponsor (with the express understanding the limitations on Sponsors guaranty obligations set forth in Article X shall not apply); and (iii) take any other action and exercise any other remedy available by contract or at law; provided, that, if a Credit Event specified in Sections 9.7, 9.8 or 9.9 shall occur, the result which would occur upon the giving of notice by the Servicer to any Credit Party, shall occur automatically without the giving of any such notice; and
(b) in addition, the Servicer may, with the consent of the Required Participants and shall, upon the written request of the Required Participants, to the extent authorized to do so pursuant to the Loan Agreements (which authorization is limited to certain specified Credit Events), (x) cease funding further Advances pursuant to the Revolving Commitments and the Line of Credit Commitments and (y) declare all Loan Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to the US Revolving Commitments, the Canadian Revolving Commitments, the Line of Credit Commitments, the US Term Loan Commitments and the Canadian Term Loan Commitments to be immediately due and payable in accordance with the terms of the applicable Operative Documents and exercise all rights and remedies provided under the Operative Documents.
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ARTICLE X
GUARANTY
In addition to its obligations upon the occurrence of a Credit Event or a Change in Control and its other obligations pursuant to the Operative Documents, the Sponsor hereby agrees as follows:
Section 10.1 Unconditional Guaranty. The Sponsor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Servicer, each Participant and any transferee of the Participants, the full and prompt payment of all of the Guaranteed Obligations relating to the Loans and all costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees) actually incurred or sustained by the Servicer or any Participant in enforcing the obligations of the Sponsor hereunder or the obligations of the Borrowers under the applicable Operative Documents. If any portion of the Loan Indebtedness with respect to any Defaulted Loan is not paid by the date specified herein, Sponsor hereby agrees to and will immediately pay the same in the applicable currency, without resort by Servicer or any Participant to any other person or party. The obligation of the Sponsor to Servicer and the Participants hereunder is primary, absolute and unconditional, except as may be specifically set forth herein. This is a guaranty of payment and not of collection. The obligations of the Sponsor pursuant to this Article X constitute a guarantee that is continuing in nature.
The Servicer may, with the consent of the Required Participants and shall, upon the written request of the Required Participants, in the event that the obligations of the Sponsor with respect to a Defaulted Loan have arisen hereunder, request that the Sponsor purchase the Defaulted Loan and related Loan Commitment from the Servicer prior to the acceleration of the Defaulted Loan pursuant to the terms of the applicable Operative Documents for an amount equal to the Loan Indebtedness with respect to such Defaulted Loan, and Sponsor shall promptly upon receipt of such request, purchase such Defaulted Loan and assume the Loan Commitment related thereto, and such purchase by the Sponsor shall be deemed to be a payment hereunder in such amount.
Section 10.2 Continuing Guaranty. The obligations of the Sponsor pursuant to this Article X constitute a guarantee which is continuing in nature and shall be effective with respect to the full amount outstanding under all Guaranteed Obligations, now existing or hereafter made or extended, regardless of the amount.
Section 10.3 Waivers. The Sponsor hereby waives notice of Servicers and each Participants acceptance of this Agreement and the creation, extension or renewal of any Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations. Sponsor hereby consents and agrees that, at any time or times, without notice to or further approval from Sponsor, and without in any way affecting the obligations of the Sponsor hereunder, Servicer and the Participants may, with or without consideration (i) release, compromise with, or agree not to sue, in whole or in part, any Borrower or any other obligor, guarantor, endorser or surety on any Loans or any other Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) renew, extend, accelerate, or increase or decrease the principal amount of any Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations, either in whole or in part, (iii) amend, waive, or otherwise modify any of the terms of any Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations or of any mortgage, deed of trust, security agreement, or other undertaking of any of the Borrowers or any other obligor, endorser, guarantor or surety in connection with any Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations, and (iv) apply any payment received from Borrowers or from any other obligor, guarantor, endorser or surety on the Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations to any of the liabilities of Borrowers or of such other obligor, guarantor, endorser, or surety which Servicer may choose, subject, however, to the rights of the Sponsor to bring a separate action for any breach of the Operative Documents pursuant to Section 10.10.
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Section 10.4 Additional Actions. Subject to Section 10.10, Sponsor hereby consents and agrees that the Servicer may at any time or times, either with or without consideration, surrender, release or receive any property or other Collateral of any kind or nature whatsoever held by it or for its account securing any Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations, or substitute any Collateral so held by Servicer for other Collateral of like or different kind, without notice to or further consent from Sponsor, and such surrender, receipt, release or substitution shall not in any way affect the obligations of the Sponsor hereunder. Subject to Section 10.10, Servicer shall have full authority to adjust, compromise, and receive less than the amount due upon any such Collateral, and may enter into any accord and satisfaction agreement with respect to the same as Servicer may deem advisable without affecting the obligations of the Sponsor hereunder. Servicer shall be under no duty to undertake to collect upon such Collateral or any part thereof, and Sponsors obligations hereunder shall not be affected by Servicers alleged negligence or mistake in judgment in handling, disposing of, obtaining, or failing to collect upon or perfect a security interest in, any such Collateral.
Section 10.5 Additional Waivers. Sponsor hereby waives presentment, demand, protest, and notice of dishonor of any of the liabilities guaranteed hereby. Neither Servicer nor any Participant shall have any duty or obligation (i) to proceed or exhaust any remedy against any Borrower, any other obligor, guarantor, endorser, or surety on any Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations, or any other security held by Servicer or any Participant for any Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations, or (ii) to give any notice whatsoever to Borrowers, Sponsor, or any other obligor, guarantor, endorser, or surety on any Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations, before bringing suit, exercising rights to any such security or instituting proceedings of any kind against Sponsor, any Borrower, or any of them, and Sponsor hereby waives any requirement for such actions by Servicer or any Participant. Upon default by any Borrower and Servicers demand to Sponsor hereunder, Sponsor shall be held and bound to Servicer and each Participant directly as principal debtor in respect of the payment of the amounts hereby guaranteed, such liability of the Sponsor being joint and several with each Borrower and all other obligors, guarantors, endorsers and sureties on the Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations, subject, however, to the rights of the Sponsor to bring a separate action for any breach of the Operative Documents pursuant to Section 10.10.
Section 10.6 Postponement of Obligations. Until the Loan and other Guaranteed Obligations of any Borrower to the Servicer and the Participants have been paid in full (i) all present and future indebtedness of such Borrower to Sponsor (the Subordinated Debt) is hereby postponed to the present and future Loan Indebtedness of such Borrower to Servicer and each Participant, and all monies received from such Borrower or for its account by Sponsor with respect to such Subordinated Debt shall be received in trust for Servicer and the Participants, and promptly upon receipt, shall be paid over to Servicer for distribution to the Participants in accordance herewith until such Borrowers Loan Indebtedness to Servicer and the Participants is fully paid and satisfied, all without prejudice to and without in any way affecting the obligations of the Sponsor hereunder; provided that unless a Loan Default or Loan Payment Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such Borrower, the Sponsor may accept and retain any payments made by such Borrower to the Sponsor in the ordinary course of business, and (ii) Sponsor shall not have any rights of subrogation or otherwise to participate in any security held by the Servicer for any Loan to such Borrower or any other Guaranteed Obligations arising therefrom, and Sponsor hereby waives such rights until such time as such Loan and other Guaranteed Obligations have been paid in full to the Servicer and each Participant (whether by repurchase by the Sponsor, pursuant to this Article X or otherwise).
Section 10.7 Effect on Additional Guaranties. The obligations of the Sponsor pursuant to this Article X are in addition to, and are not intended to supersede or be a substitute for any other guarantee, suretyship agreement, or instrument which Servicer may hold in connection with any Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations.
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Section 10.8 Reliance on Guaranty and Purchase Obligation; Disclaimer of Liability. Sponsor expressly acknowledges and agrees that each of the Servicer and the Participants, in making its credit decision with regard to the funding of the Loans, will rely solely upon the guaranty and purchase obligation of the Sponsor set forth above and that neither the Servicer nor any Participant is under any obligation or duty to perform any credit analysis or investigation with regard to the creditworthiness of any Borrower. In addition, the Servicer expressly disclaims any responsibility or liability for the authenticity of signatures on any of the Loan Documents (other than the Servicers), the authority of the Persons executing the Loan Documents (other than the Servicer) or the enforceability or compliance with laws of any of the Loan Documents.
SPONSOR EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT SPONSORS GUARANTY OBLIGATIONS TO PURCHASE LOANS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT ARE ABSOLUTE AND UNCONDITIONAL. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, SPONSORS OBLIGATION SHALL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE EXISTENCE OF ANY DEFAULT BY ANY BORROWER UNDER THE APPLICABLE LOAN DOCUMENTS, ANY EXCHANGE, RELEASE OR NONPERFECTION OF ANY LIEN WITH RESPECT TO ANY COLLATERAL SECURING PAYMENT OF ANY LOAN, THE SUBSTITUTION OR RELEASE OF ANY ENTITY PRIMARILY OR SECONDARILY LIABLE FOR ANY LOAN, ANY LACK OF ENFORCEABILITY OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, ANY LAW, REGULATION, OR ORDER OF ANY JURISDICTION AFFECTING ANY LOAN OR LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE RIGHTS OF THE HOLDER THEREOF, ANY CHANGE IN THE CONDITION OR PROSPECTS OF THE SPONSOR, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, INSOLVENCY, BANKRUPTCY, REORGANIZATION OR SIMILAR PROCEEDING, OR ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE WHICH MIGHT, BUT FOR THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH, CONSTITUTE A LEGAL OR EQUITABLE DISCHARGE OF THE SPONSORS OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER. SPONSORS OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER SHALL NOT BE AFFECTED BY ANY SET-OFF OR CLAIM WHICH IT MIGHT HAVE AGAINST THE SERVICER OR ANY PARTICIPANT, WHETHER ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE, BUT SUBJECT TO SECTION 10.11 BELOW.
Section 10.9 Reinstatement of Obligations. The obligations of the Sponsor pursuant to the Operative Documents shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment or any part thereof, of principal of, interest on or any other amount with respect to any Loan or any obligation of the Sponsor pursuant to the Operative Documents is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by the Servicer or any Participant upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Sponsor, any Borrower or any guarantor or otherwise.
Section 10.10 Right to Bring Separate Action. Nothing contained in this Article X shall be construed to affect any other right that Sponsor may otherwise have under this Agreement, or any Operative Document or Loan Documents, at law or in equity to institute an action or assert a claim against the Servicer or any Participant based upon a breach of Servicers or such Participants obligations set forth in the Operative Documents or Loan Documents or to assert a compulsory counterclaim with respect thereto and any waiver of notice or other matter set forth in this Article X shall not affect Sponsors right to seek damages arising from the failure of the Servicer to give such notice otherwise required by the terms of the Operative Documents or Loan Documents.
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Section 10.11 Subordination of Liens. The Sponsor hereby subordinates the lien and priority of the Sponsors existing and future liens and other interests, if any, in and to the Collateral to the Servicers existing and future interest in the Collateral under the Loan Documents notwithstanding the time of attachment of the interests of the Sponsor or the Servicer or the time the Loan Indebtedness or the Subordinated Debt is incurred. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, under applicable law or otherwise, in the event that the liens of the Servicer are at any time unperfected with respect to any or all of the Collateral, the lack of perfection by the Servicer as to any such Collateral shall not affect the validity, enforceability or priority of any lien on the Collateral in favor of the Sponsor. In any such event, the liens of the Sponsor shall have priority over any and all other Liens in favor of any third party with respect to the Collateral (including, but not limited to any trustee under the Bankruptcy Code) and the Sponsor shall be, and is hereby constituted, as the Servicers agent and bailee for purposes of perfection of the Liens of the Servicer in the Collateral such that the Lien in favor of the Sponsor shall be held by the Sponsor for the benefit of the Servicer and the proceeds of any disposition of the Collateral of any Borrower shall be and are in all respects subject to the priority of right to payment and satisfaction of first, the Loan Indebtedness of such Borrower and then, the Subordinated Debt with respect to such Borrower. The lien priorities provided in this Section 10.11 shall not be altered or otherwise affected by any amendment, modification, supplement, extension, renewal, restatement or refinancing of either the applicable Loan Indebtedness or the Subordinated Debt, nor by any action or inaction which either the Servicer or the Borrowers may take or fail to take in respect of the Collateral, except as otherwise provided above in this Section 10.11.
Section 10.12 Exercise of Remedies With Respect to Collateral.
(a) Until the Loan Indebtedness of any Borrower has been fully and indefeasibly paid in cash, the Sponsor shall not, without the prior written consent of the Servicer, ask, demand, assign, declare a default under, sue for, liquidate, sell, foreclose, set off, collect, accept a surrender, petition, commence or otherwise initiate any bankruptcy action (or join any other Person in so doing) against the Borrower or its assets or otherwise realize or seek to realize upon all or any part of the Collateral without the prior written consent of the Servicer or as expressly authorized hereunder. In the event that following the occurrence of a Loan Default, the Servicer may from time to time execute releases, partial releases, terminations, reconveyances, subordinations or other documents releasing or otherwise limiting the Servicers interests in the Collateral in connection with the exercise of the Servicers remedies or the refinancing of the Defaulted Loan, the Sponsor agrees to execute and deliver at such time such further documents as the Servicer may require to effect a corresponding change to the Sponsors position in the same Collateral.
(b) In the event that the Loan Indebtedness of any Defaulted Loan is not repaid or repurchased by the Sponsor as set forth herein, the Servicer, on behalf of the Participants, shall have the exclusive right to exercise and enforce all privileges and rights with respect to the Collateral according to the Servicers discretion and the exercise of its business judgment, including, without limitation, the exclusive right to take or retake control or possession of such Collateral and to hold, prepare for sale, process, sell, lease, dispose of, or liquidate such Collateral.
(c) Only the Servicer, acting on behalf of the Participants, shall have the right to restrict or permit, or approve or disapprove, the sale, transfer or other disposition of Collateral following the occurrence of a Loan Default where the Loan Indebtedness is not repaid or repurchased by the Sponsor in accordance with the terms hereof. In the event the Servicer releases its Liens on all or any part of the Collateral, the Sponsor will, immediately upon the request of the Servicer, release its Liens upon the same Collateral, but only to the extent such Collateral is sold or otherwise disposed of by the Borrower with the consent of the Servicer or in a commercially reasonable manner by the Servicer or its agents. The Sponsor will immediately deliver such releases, acknowledgments and other documents as the Servicer may require in connection therewith.
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(d) In exercising its rights pursuant to this Section 10.12, the Servicer agrees that it will not release Liens or Collateral or commence enforcement actions under the Loan Documents without the direction of the Required Participants. The Servicer agrees to administer the Loan Documents and the Collateral and to make such demands and give such notices thereunder as the Required Participants may request and to take such action to enforce the Loan Documents and to realize upon, collect and dispose of the Collateral as the Required Participants may direct. The Servicer shall not be required to take any action that is, in its opinion, contrary to law or the terms of the Loan Documents or the Operative Documents or that would, in the opinion of the Servicer, subject it or any of its officers, employees, agents or directors to liability and the Servicer shall not be required to take any action unless and until it is indemnified to its satisfaction by the Participants for any loss, cost or liability resulting from any required action.
(i) The Servicer may at any time request directions from the Required Participants as to any course of action or other matter relating hereto or relating to any of the Loan Documents. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, directions of the Required Participants shall be binding on all Participants hereunder.
(ii) Nothing set forth in this Section 10.12 shall modify the rights of the Servicer set forth in Section 3.1.
Section 10.13 Rights Of Sponsor Upon Payment; Cooperation By Servicer. Upon receipt by the Servicer of payment in full of the Loan Indebtedness of a Defaulted Borrower by Sponsor, Sponsor shall be subrogated to the rights of the Servicer with respect to such Loan Indebtedness and the Servicer shall be deemed to have assigned to Sponsor, and Sponsor shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, automatically, immediately and without further action by any Person, be entitled to, all rights and remedies that the Servicer may have had against the Defaulted Borrower and any other Persons primarily or secondarily liable on such Loan Indebtedness, including without limitation the right to resort to any and all Collateral which secures such Loan Indebtedness, and the Sponsor shall, automatically, immediately and without further action, be deemed to have assumed all obligations of the Servicer under the Loan Commitment and the Operative Documents with respect to such Loan Indebtedness, and the Servicer shall be released from any further obligations with respect thereto. The Servicer agrees that, upon receipt of payment in full of such Loan Indebtedness, the Servicer shall:
(a) execute on a timely basis, without recourse, representation or warranty of any kind (except as to its own title), all such instruments and documents as are reasonably requested in order to evidence Sponsors rights hereunder or permit Sponsor to exercise such rights;
(b) permit Sponsor at reasonable times and as often as may be reasonably requested to discuss with appropriate Servicer employees and officers the Servicers experience, relationships, books, accounts and files and to review the Servicers loan files relating to the purchased Defaulted Loan (and Sponsor hereby agrees to keep all such information confidential); and
(c) otherwise reasonably cooperate with Sponsor in the exercise of the Sponsors rights.
Sponsor shall reimburse the Servicer for its expenses reasonably and actually incurred in complying with this Section 10.13.
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ARTICLE XI
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 11.1 Indemnification.
(a) In addition to the other rights of the Servicer and the Participants hereunder, Sponsor hereby agrees to protect, indemnify and save harmless the Servicer, each Participant, and the officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents and representatives thereof (each an Indemnified Party) from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable attorney fees and costs actually incurred), expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever, whether direct, indirect, consequential or incidental, with respect to or in connection with or arising out of (i) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any other Operative Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, including without limitation, the Loan Documents, the performance by the parties hereto or thereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) the making or administration of the Loan Commitments, the Loans or any of them, including any violation of federal or state usury or other laws; provided that with respect to clauses (i) and (ii), Sponsor shall have no obligation to indemnify the Servicer and all Participants with respect to legal fees and expenses for more than one (1) counsels reasonable fees and expenses, (iii) the enforcement, performance and administration of this Agreement or the Loan Documents or any powers granted to the Servicer hereunder or under any Loan Documents, (iv) any misrepresentation of the Sponsor hereunder, (v) any matter arising pursuant to any Environmental Laws as a result of the Collateral or (vi) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether or not the Indemnified Party is a named party thereto, except to the extent that such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements 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 Indemnified Party or arise solely from the nonpayment of any Loan Indebtedness notwithstanding the performance by Sponsor of all of its obligations under the Operative Documents relating to such Loan Indebtedness.
(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and separate and apart from any obligation of the Sponsor pursuant to Article X, Sponsor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Party from and against, and on demand will pay or reimburse any Indemnified Party for, any and all (i) liabilities arising from a breach of any representation or warranty made by Sponsor hereunder (whether or not Sponsors obligations under Article X have been satisfied), (ii) any breach by Sponsor of its agreements with the Borrowers, (iii) any overadvance to any Borrower caused by the transfer of ACH transfer instructions from the Aarons Proprietary System to the Servicer by Sponsor resulting in aggregate advances to such Borrower in excess of the Loan Commitment to such Borrower, and (iv) any breach by Sponsor of the terms of its MicroACH Service Agreement with the Servicer or any failure by Sponsor to maintain such agreement in full force and effect.
(c) This indemnity shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
Section 11.2 Notice Of Proceedings; Right To Defend
(a) Any Person with an indemnification claim (or potential claim) pursuant to Section 11.1 (Potential Indemnitee) agrees to notify Sponsor (the Potential Indemnitor) in writing within a reasonable time after receipt by it of written notice of the commencement of any administrative, legal or other proceeding, suit or action by a Person (other than Indemnitee or an affiliate thereof), if a claim for indemnification may be made by the Potential Indemnitee against the Potential Indemnitor under this Article XI.
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(b) Following receipt by the Potential Indemnitor of any such notice from a Potential Indemnitee, (an Indemnity Notice), the Potential Indemnitor shall be entitled at its own cost and expense to investigate and participate in the proceeding, suit or action referred to in the Indemnity Notice. At such time as the Potential Indemnitor shall have acknowledged in writing to the Potential Indemnitee that it will pay any judgment, damages, or losses incurred by the Potential Indemnitee in the proceeding, suit or action referred to in the Indemnity Notice other than those for gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Potential Indemnitee (at which time the Potential Indemnitor shall be deemed to be the Indemnitor and the Potential Indemnitee shall be deemed to be the Indemnitee), the Indemnitor shall be entitled, to the extent that it shall desire, to assume the defense of such proceeding, suit or action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee. If the Indemnitor shall so assume the defense of such proceeding, suit or action, the Indemnitor shall conduct such defense with due diligence and at its own cost and expense.
(c) In the event that the Indemnitor so assumes the defense of such proceeding, suit or action, the Indemnitor shall not be entitled to settle such proceeding, suit or action without the written consent of the Indemnitee; provided that in the event that the Indemnitee does not consent to such settlement (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) (i) the Indemnitors indemnification liability in connection with such proceeding, suit or action shall not exceed the amount of such proposed settlement and (ii) Indemnitee shall assume and pay all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys fees, incurred by Indemnitor from the date that the Indemnitor presented the Indemnitee the terms of the proposed settlement. An Indemnitor shall not be liable to an Indemnitee for any settlement of a claim in any proceeding, suit or other action referred to in an Indemnity Notice, consented to by the Indemnitee without the consent of the Indemnitor.
(d) A Potential Indemnitor shall be liable to a Potential Indemnitee for a settlement of a claim in any proceeding, suit or other action referred to in an Indemnity Notice consented to by such Potential Indemnitee only if (i) such Potential Indemnitor first had a reasonable opportunity to investigate such claim and participate in such proceeding, suit or action, (ii) the Potential Indemnitee gave the Potential Indemnitor at least ten (10) Business Days notice of the proposed terms of such settlement prior to entering into such settlement and (iii) the Potential Indemnitor did not acknowledge in writing to the Potential Indemnitee, by the expiration of such ten (10) Business Days period, or such longer period as may be agreed to by the Potential Indemnitee and Potential Indemnitor that it would pay any judgment, damages or losses incurred by the Potential Indemnitee in such proceeding suit or action.
Section 11.3 Third Party Beneficiaries. No Persons shall be deemed to be third party beneficiaries of this Agreement. Except as expressly otherwise provided in this Agreement, this Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Sponsor and the Servicer, the Participants and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and no other Person shall have any right, benefit, priority or interest under, or because of the existence of, this Agreement.
ARTICLE XII
SURVIVAL OF LOAN FACILITY
The terms of this Agreement shall survive the termination of the Facility Commitment hereunder and the termination of any Loan Commitment established pursuant the terms hereof until the indefeasible payment in full of each of the Loans outstanding hereunder and Article XIII shall survive the termination of this Agreement upon such repayment.
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ARTICLE XIII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EFFECTIVENESS
Section 13.1 Conditions to Effectiveness. This Agreement shall not become effective, the Sponsor shall have no rights under this Agreement and neither the Servicer nor the Participants shall be obligated to take, fulfill or perform any action hereunder, until the following conditions have been fulfilled to the satisfaction of the Servicer:
(a) Receipt of Documents. The Servicer shall have received the following, each dated as of the Effective Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Servicer and (except in the case of the Fee Letter) the Participants:
(i) Duly executed counterparts of this Agreement.
(ii) Duly executed Servicing Agreement.
(iii) Duly executed counterparts of the Guaranty Agreement and the Fee Letter.
(iv) A duly executed closing certificate of the Sponsor, dated as of the Effective Date and signed by a Responsible Officer certifying that (A) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to this Agreement and the other Operative Documents, no Unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event shall exist, (B) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to this Agreement and the other Operative Documents, all representations and warranties of each Credit Party set forth in the Operative Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects); provided, that to the extent such representation or warranty relates to a specific prior date, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) only as of such specific prior date, and (C) since the date of the audited financial statements of the Sponsor described in Section 5.4, there shall have been no change which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(v) A duly executed certificate of the Sponsor identifying the Authorized Signatories, in form and substance satisfactory to the Servicer and each Participant;
(vi) Copies of the organizational papers of the Sponsor and each Guarantor, certified as true and correct by the Secretaries of State of their respective states of incorporation, and certificates from the Secretaries of State of such states of incorporation certifying Sponsors and each Guarantors good standing as a corporation in such State.
(vii) A certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of each of the Sponsor and each Guarantor certifying (i) the names and true signatures of the officers of the Sponsor and each Guarantor authorized to execute the Guaranty Agreement, this Agreement, the Servicing Agreement and the other Operative Documents to be delivered hereunder to which each is a party, (ii) the bylaws of the Sponsor and each Guarantor, respectively, and (iii) the resolutions of the Board of Directors of each of the Sponsor and each Guarantor, respectively, approving the Operative Documents to which each is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby.
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(viii) A favorable written opinion of Jones Day, counsel for Sponsor and Guarantors, in a form satisfactory to the Servicer and each Participant and covering such matters relating to the transactions contemplated hereby as the Servicer may reasonably request.
(ix) A copy of the duly executed Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Servicer.
(x) All documentation and other information with respect to the Credit Parties that the Sponsor or any Participant reasonably believes is required by regulatory authorities under applicable know-your-customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the Patriot Act.
(xi) Each of the Participants shall have received a duly executed Participation Certificate from the Servicer.
(xii) (A) all obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no demand has been made) under the Existing Loan Facility Agreement shall have been repaid in full (or substantially concurrently with the Effective Date, will be repaid in full) and the Existing Loan Facility Agreement shall have been terminated and (B) the Project Everglade Refinancing shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the Effective Date;
(xiii) copies of all governmental and third party consents and approvals to the Transactions (all of which shall be final, with no waiting period to expire or ongoing governmental inquiry or investigation);
(xiv) (A) audited consolidated financial statements of Holdings for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2021, (B) the audited consolidated financial statements of the Acquired Business for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2021, (C) the reviewed financial statements of the Acquired Business for the fiscal quarter ended December 25, 2021 and (D) a five year projection model in form and substance to be mutually agreed upon by the Arrangers and the Sponsor;
(xv) a solvency certificate, dated as of the Effective Date and signed by the chief financial officer of the Sponsor, confirming that the Sponsor is Solvent, and Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, are Solvent before and after giving effect to any extensions of credit on the Effective Date and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated herein; and
(xvi) The Project Everglade Acquisition shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the initial funding hereunder in accordance in all material respects with the terms of the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement (as amended or otherwise modified, if applicable, in accordance with Section 3.1(c) of the Credit Agreement).
ARTICLE XIV
THE SERVICER
Section 14.1 Appointment of Servicer as Agent. To the extent of its ownership interest in the Loans, each Participant hereby designates Servicer as its agent to administer all matters concerning the Loans and to act as herein specified. Each Participant hereby irrevocably authorizes the Servicer to take such actions on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement, the other Operative Documents, and all other instruments and agreements referred to herein or therein, and to exercise such powers and to perform such duties hereunder and thereunder as are specifically delegated to or required of the Servicer by the terms hereof and thereof and such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Servicer may perform any of its duties hereunder by or through its agents or employees.
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Section 14.2 Nature of Duties of Servicer. The Servicer shall have no duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Operative Documents. None of the Servicer nor any of its respective officers, directors, employees or agents shall be liable for any action taken or omitted by it as such hereunder or in connection herewith, unless caused by its or their gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Servicer shall not have by reason of this Agreement a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Participant; and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall be so construed as to impose upon the Servicer any obligations in respect of this Agreement or the other Operative Documents except as expressly set forth herein.
Section 14.3 Lack of Reliance on the Servicer.
(a) Independently and without reliance upon the Servicer, each Participant, to the extent it deems appropriate, has made and shall continue to make (i) its own independent investigation of the financial condition and affairs of the Credit Parties in connection with the taking or not taking of any action in connection herewith, and (ii) its own appraisal of the creditworthiness of the Credit Parties, and, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the Servicer shall have no duty or responsibility, either initially or on a continuing basis, to provide any Participant with any credit or other information with respect thereto, whether coming into its possession before the making of the Loans or at any time or times thereafter.
(b) The Servicer shall not be responsible to any Participant for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties herein or in any document, certificate or other writing delivered in connection herewith or for the execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability, collectability, priority or sufficiency of this Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement, and Loan Document or any other documents contemplated hereby or thereby, or the financial condition of the Credit Parties or any Borrower, or be required to make any inquiry concerning either the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions or conditions of this Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement or the other documents contemplated hereby or thereby, or the financial condition of the Credit Parties or any Borrower, or the existence or possible existence of any Unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event.
Section 14.4 Certain Rights of the Servicer. If the Servicer shall request instructions from the Required Participants with respect to any action or actions (including the failure to act) in connection with this Agreement, the Servicer shall be entitled to refrain from such act or taking such act, unless and until the Servicer shall have received instructions from the Required Participants; and the Servicer shall not incur liability in any Person by reason of so refraining. Without limiting the foregoing, no Participant shall have any right of action whatsoever against the Servicer as a result of the Servicer acting or refraining from acting hereunder in accordance with the instructions of the Required Participants.
Section 14.5 Reliance by Servicer. The Servicer shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any note, writing, resolution, notice, statement, certificate, telex, teletype or telecopier message, cable gram, radiogram, order or other documentary, teletransmission or telephone message believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person. The Servicer may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for any Credit Party), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts.
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Section 14.6 Indemnification of Servicer. To the extent the Servicer is not reimbursed and indemnified by the Credit Parties, each Participant will reimburse and indemnify the Servicer, ratably according to the respective Pro Rata Shares, in either case, for and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses (including counsel fees and disbursements) or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Servicer in performing its duties hereunder, in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the other Operative Documents; provided that no Participant shall be liable to the Servicer for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the Servicers gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Section 14.7 The Servicer in its Individual Capacity. With respect to its obligations under this Agreement and the amounts advanced by it, the Servicer shall have the same rights and powers hereunder as any other Participant and may exercise the same as though it were not performing the duties specified herein; and the terms Participants, Required Participants, or any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Servicer in its individual capacity. The Servicer may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory or other business with the Consolidated Companies or any affiliate of the Consolidated Companies as if it were not performing the duties specified herein, and may accept fees and other consideration from the Consolidated Companies for services in connection with this Agreement and otherwise without having to account for the same to the Participants.
Section 14.8 Holders of Participation Certificates. The Servicer may deem and treat the payee of any Participation Certificate as the owner thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until a written notice of the assignment or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Servicer. Any request, authority or consent of any Person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is the holder of any Participation Certificate shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder, transferee or assignee of such Participation Certificate or of any Participation Certificate or Participation Certificates issued in exchange therefor.
Section 14.9 Collateral and Guaranty Matters. The Participants irrevocably authorize the Servicer, at its option and in its discretion:
(a) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Servicer under any Operative Document (i) upon the termination of all Facility Commitments, and the payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations), (ii) that is sold or to be sold as part of or in connection with any sale permitted hereunder or under any other Operative Document or the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.14, or (iii) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing in accordance with Section 15.2; and
(b) to release any Credit Party from its obligations under the applicable Credit Party Collateral Documents if such Person ceases to be a Credit Party as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder.
Upon request by the Servicer at any time, the Required Participants will confirm in writing the Servicers authority to release its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Credit Party from its obligations under the applicable Credit Party Collateral Documents pursuant to this Section 14.9. In each case as specified in this Section 14.9, the Servicer is authorized, at the Sponsors expense, to execute and deliver to the applicable Credit Party such documents as such Credit Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Credit Party Collateral from the Liens granted under the applicable Credit Party Collateral Documents, or to release such Credit Party from its obligations under the applicable Credit Party Collateral Documents, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Operative Documents and this Section 14.9.
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Section 14.10 Right to Realize on Credit Party Collateral and Enforce Guarantee. Anything contained in any of the Operative Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, Holdings, the Sponsor, the Servicer and each Participant hereby agree that (i) no Participant shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Credit Party Collateral or to enforce the Credit Party Collateral Documents, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies hereunder and under the Credit Party Collateral Documents may be exercised solely by the Servicer, and (ii) in the event of a foreclosure by the Servicer on any of the Credit Party Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition, the Servicer or any Participant may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Credit Party Collateral at any such sale or other disposition and the Servicer, as agent for and representative of the Participants (but not any Participant or Participants in its or their respective individual capacities unless the Required Participants shall otherwise agree in writing), shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Credit Party Collateral sold at any such public sale, to use and apply any of the Guaranteed Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by the Servicer at such sale or other disposition.
ARTICLE XV
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 15.1 Notices.
(a) Written Notices.
(i) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, all notices and other communications to any party herein to be effective 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:
To the Sponsor: |
Aarons, LLC | |
400 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 300 | ||
Atlanta, GA 30339 | ||
Attn: Chief Financial Officer | ||
Telecopy Number: (855) 778-8565 | ||
with a copy to: | ||
Aarons, LLC 400 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 300 | ||
Atlanta, GA 30339 | ||
Attn: General Counsel | ||
Telecopy Number: (855) 778-8565 | ||
To the Servicer: |
Aarons Program Manager | |
Truist Bank | ||
Program Lending 303 Peachtree Street, N.E., 25th Floor | ||
Atlanta, Georgia 30308 |
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With a copy to: To any other Participant: Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications
hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All such notices and other communications shall, when transmitted by overnight delivery, or faxed, be effective when delivered for overnight (next-day)
delivery, or transmitted in legible form by facsimile machine, respectively, or if mailed, upon the third Business Day after the date deposited into the mails or if delivered, upon delivery; provided, that notices delivered to the Servicer
shall not be effective until actually received by such Person at its address specified in this Section 15.1. (ii) Any agreement of the Servicer and the Participants herein to receive certain notices by telephone or facsimile is solely
for the convenience and at the request of the Sponsor. The Servicer and the Participants shall be entitled to rely on the authority of any Person purporting to be a Person authorized by the Sponsor to give such notice and the Servicer and the
Participants shall not have any liability to the Sponsor or other Person on account of any action taken or not taken by the Servicer or the Participants in reliance upon such telephonic or facsimile notice. The obligation of the Sponsor to
repurchase the Loans and Loan Commitments and all other obligations and Guarantees hereunder shall not be affected in any way or to any extent by any failure of the Servicer and the Participants to receive written confirmation of any telephonic or
facsimile notice or the receipt by the Servicer and the Participants of a confirmation which is at variance with the terms understood by the Servicer and the Participants to be contained in any such telephonic or facsimile notice. (b) Electronic Communications. (i) Notices and other communications to the Participants hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication
(including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by Servicer; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Participant pursuant to Article II
unless such Participant and Servicer have agreed to receive notices under such Article by electronic communication and have agreed to the procedures governing such communications. Servicer or Sponsor 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. (ii) Unless Servicer otherwise prescribes, (A) 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); provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be
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deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (B) 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 Section 15.1(b)(ii)(A) of notification that such notice or communication
is available and identifying the website address therefor. (iii) The Sponsor agrees that the Servicer may, but shall not
be obligated to, make Communications (as defined below) available to the Participants by posting the Communications on Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar or a substantially similar electronic system (each, an Electronic
System). (iv) Any Electronic System used by the Servicer is provided as is and as
available. The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the adequacy of such Electronic Systems and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Communications. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory,
including, without limitation, any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent
Party in connection with the Communications or any Electronic System. In no event shall the Servicer or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the Agent Parties) have any liability to any Credit Party, any Participant or
any other Person or entity for damages of any kind, including, without limitation, direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Credit Partys
or the Servicers transmission of Communications through an Electronic System. Communications means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of
any Credit Party pursuant to any Operative Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Servicer or any Participant by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section 15.1,
including through an Electronic System. Section 15.2 Amendments, Etc. Except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 2.5 with respect to the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement or Conforming Changes (as set forth therein), no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the
other Operative Documents, nor consent to any departure by any Credit Party therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Required Participants (and in the case of any amendment, the applicable
Credit Party), and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all the
Participants do any of the following: (i) waive any of the conditions specified in Section 2.1 or 13.1, (ii) increase the Participating Commitment Amounts or contractual obligations of the Participants to
Servicer or Sponsor under this Agreement, (iii) reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Participation Certificates or any fees hereunder, (iv) postpone any date fixed for the payment in respect of principal of, or interest on, the
Participation Certificates or any fees hereunder, (v) agree to release any Guarantor from its obligations under any Guaranty Agreement (other than the release of a Guarantor in connection with its designation as an Unrestricted Subsidiary
pursuant to the terms of Section 6.14) or the Sponsor from its obligations pursuant to this Agreement, (vi) modify the definition of Required Participants, (vii) modify
Section 2.9, Section 2.11, Article IV, Article X or this Section 15.2, (viii) release all or substantially all collateral (if any)
securing any of the Guaranteed Obligations or agree to subordinate any Lien in all or substantially all of the collateral securing the Guaranteed Obligations to any other creditor of Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary, without the
written consent of each Participant, (ix) change Section 2.7 in a manner that would alter the ratable reduction or termination of the Facility Commitments required thereby, without the written consent of each Participant, or
(x) subordinate the payment priority of the Guaranteed Obligations or subordinate the Liens granted to the Servicer (for the benefit of the holders of the Guaranteed Obligations) in the Collateral,
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without the written consent of each Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Servicer in addition to the Participants
required hereinabove to take such action, affect the rights or duties of the Servicer under this Agreement or under any other Operative Document or Loan Document. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) the Servicer and the Sponsor may,
without the consent of or notice to the Participants, enter into amendments, modifications or waivers with respect to the Servicing Agreement and the Fee Letter as long as such amendments or modifications do not conflict with the terms of this
Agreement and (y) the Servicer and the Sponsor shall be permitted to amend any provision of the Operative Documents (and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to any Operative Document)
if the Servicer and the Sponsor shall have jointly identified an obvious error or any error or omission of a technical or immaterial nature in any such provision. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Participant shall have
any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Participating Commitment of such Defaulting Participant may not be increased or extended, and amounts payable to such Defaulting Participant hereunder may
not be permanently reduced without the consent of such Defaulting Participant (other than reductions in fees and interest in which such reduction does not disproportionately affect such Defaulting Participant). Section 15.3 No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative. No failure or delay on the part of the Servicer or any
Participant in exercising any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Operative Document, and no course of dealing between any Credit Party and the Servicer or any Participant shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Operative Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy hereunder or thereunder. The rights and remedies herein expressly provided
are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which the Servicer or any Participant would otherwise have. No notice to or demand on any Credit Party not required hereunder or under any other Operative Document in any case shall entitle
any Credit Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of the Servicer or the Participants to any other or further action in any circumstances without notice or demand. Section 15.4 Payment of Expenses, Etc. Sponsor shall: (a) whether or not the transactions hereby contemplated are consummated, pay all reasonable, out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Servicer in the administration (both before and after the execution hereof and including reasonable expenses actually incurred relating to advice of counsel as to the
rights and duties of the Servicer and the Participants with respect thereto) of, and in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of, preservation of rights under, enforcement of, and, after a Unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event,
refinancing, renegotiation or restructuring of, this Agreement and the other Operative Documents and the documents and instruments referred to therein, and any amendment, waiver or consent relating thereto (including, without limitation, the
reasonable fees actually incurred and disbursements of counsel for the Servicer), and in the case of enforcement of this Agreement or any Operative Document after a Credit Event, all such reasonable, out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees actually incurred and reasonable disbursements and changes of counsel), for any of the Participants; and (b) From and after the occurrence of the Trigger Event, pay and hold the Servicer and each of the Participants harmless from and against any
and all present and future stamp, documentary, and other similar Taxes with respect to this Agreement, the Participation Certificates, the Loan Documents and any other Operative Documents, any collateral described therein, or any payments due
thereunder, and save the Servicer and each Participant harmless from and against any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any delay or omission to pay such Taxes. 95
Section 15.5 Right of Setoff. In addition to and not
in limitation of all rights of offset that any Participant may have under applicable law, each Participant shall, upon the occurrence of any Credit Event and whether or not such Participant has made any demand or any Credit Partys obligations
have matured, have the right to appropriate and apply to the payment of any Credit Partys obligations hereunder and under the other Operative Documents, all deposits of any Credit Party (general or special, time or demand, provisional or
final) then or thereafter held by and other indebtedness or property then or thereafter owing by such Participant or other holder to any Credit Party, whether or not related to this Agreement or any transaction hereunder. Section 15.6 Benefit of Agreement; Assignments; Participations. (a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the respective successors and assigns of the
parties hereto; provided that Sponsor may not assign or transfer any of its interest hereunder without the prior written consent of the Participants. (b) Any Participant may make, carry or transfer Loans at, to or for the account of, any of its branch offices or the office of an Affiliate of
such Participant. (c) Each Participant may assign all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all of its
Participating Commitments and the Funded Participation at the time owing to it and the Participation Certificates held by it) to any Eligible Assignee; provided, however, that (i) the Sponsor and the Servicer shall each have given
its prior written consent to such assignment (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) unless such assignment is to an Affiliate of the assigning Participant or, in the case of the Sponsor, unless a Credit Event has occurred and
is continuing hereunder, (ii) unless the Participant is assigning its entire Participating Commitment, the Participating Commitment Amount of the assigning Participant subject to each assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and
Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Servicer) shall not be less than the lesser of (x) 50% of the amount of its original Participating Commitment or (y) $1,000,000, and (iii) the parties to each such assignment shall
execute and deliver to the Servicer an Assignment and Acceptance, together with the Participation Certificate subject to such assignment and, unless such assignment is to an Affiliate of such Participant, a processing and recordation fee of $1,000.
Within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of the notice and the Assignment and Acceptance, Servicer shall execute and deliver, in exchange for the surrendered Participation Certificate, a new Participation Certificate to the order of the
assignor and such assignee in a principal amount equal to the applicable Participating Commitment Amount retained and assumed by it, respectively, pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance. Such new Participation Certificate shall be in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such surrendered Participation Certificate, shall be dated the date of the surrendered Participation Certificate which it replaces, and shall otherwise be in substantially the
form attached hereto. (d) Each Participant may, without the consent of the Sponsor or the Servicer, sell participations to one or more
banks or other entities in all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Participating Commitment and the Funded Participation owing to it); provided, however, that (i) no
Participant may sell a participation in its Participating Commitment (after giving effect to any permitted assignment hereof) unless it retains an aggregate exposure of 25% of its original Participating Commitment Amount; provided,
however, sales of participations to an Affiliate of such Participant shall not be included in such calculation; provided, however, no such maximum amount shall be applicable to any such participation sold at any time there
exists an Credit Event hereunder, (ii) such Participants obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (iii) such Participant shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such
obligations, and (iv) the participating bank or other entity shall not be entitled to the benefit (except through its selling Participant) of the cost protection provisions contained in Article II of this Agreement, and (v) Sponsor,
Servicer and 96
the other Participants shall continue to deal solely and directly with each Participant in connection with such Participants rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other
Operative Documents, and such Participant shall retain the sole right to enforce the obligations of the Sponsor relating to the Loans and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provisions of this Agreement (other than an amendment
requiring approval of 100% of the Participants). Each Participant shall promptly notify in writing the Servicer and the Sponsor of any sale of a participation hereunder and shall certify to Sponsor and Servicer its compliance with the terms hereof.
(e) Any Participant or participant may, in connection with the assignment or participation or proposed assignment or participation,
pursuant to this Section 15.6, disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant any information relating to Sponsor or the other Consolidated Companies furnished to such Participant by or on
behalf of the Sponsor or any other Consolidated Company. With respect to any disclosure of confidential, non-public, proprietary information, such proposed assignee or participant shall agree to use the
information only for the purpose of making any necessary credit judgments with respect to this credit facility and not to use the information in any manner prohibited by any law, including without limitation, the securities laws of the United
States. The proposed participant or assignee shall agree not to disclose any of such information except (i) to directors, employees, auditors or counsel to whom it is necessary to show such information, each of whom shall be informed of and
shall acknowledge the confidential nature of the information, (ii) in any statement or testimony pursuant to a subpoena or order by any court, governmental body or other agency asserting jurisdiction over such entity, or as otherwise required
by law (provided prior notice is given to Sponsor and the Servicer unless otherwise prohibited by the subpoena, order or law), and (iii) upon the request or demand of any regulatory agency or authority with proper jurisdiction. The proposed
participant or assignee shall further agree to return all documents or other written material and copies thereof received from any Participant, the Servicer or Sponsor relating to such confidential information unless otherwise properly disposed of
by such entity. (f) Any Participant may at any time assign all or any portion of its rights in this Agreement to a Federal Reserve Bank;
provided that no such assignment shall release the Participant from any of its obligations hereunder. Section 15.7 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. (a) THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND BE GOVERNED BY THE LAW
(WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF) OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. (b) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH
RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER OPERATIVE DOCUMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE SUPREMEN COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITING IN NEW YORK COUNTY, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, OR ANY OTHER COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, SPONSOR HEREBY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. THE PARTIES HERETO
HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY, AND SPONSOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO
THE BRINGING OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH RESPECTIVE JURISDICTIONS. 97
(c) Nothing herein shall affect the right of the Servicer, any Participant, or any Credit
Party to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against Sponsor in any other jurisdiction. Section 15.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the
different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Section 15.9 Severability. In case any provision in or obligation under this Agreement or the other
Operative Documents shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, in whole or in part, in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other
jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. Section 15.10 Independence of
Covenants. All covenants hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is not permitted by any of such covenants, the fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or be otherwise within the
limitation of, another covenant, shall not avoid the occurrence of a Unmatured Credit Event or an Credit Event if such action is taken or condition exists. Section 15.11 No Joint Venture. Nothing in this Agreement, the Servicing Agreement or any of the Loan
Documents shall be construed as constituting Sponsor and the Servicer or any Participant as partners or joint venturers or as creating the relationship of employer and employee, master and servant, principle and agent, or franchisor or franchisee
between Sponsor and the Servicer or any Participant. Neither Sponsor nor Servicer or any Participant shall have any right or authority to bind the other party or to assume or create any obligation or responsibility, express or implied, on behalf of
the other party or in the other partys name. All rights, duties and obligations under this Agreement and the Operative Documents are exclusively for the benefit of the Sponsor and the Servicer and Participants, as the case may be, and shall
not be deemed to affect any agreement between either of such parties and any third party (including, without limitation, any Borrower). Section 15.12 Repurchase Right. Sponsor may at any time (upon thirty (30) days prior
written notice to Servicer) purchase from Servicer all Loans and Loan Commitments and all rights, titles and interests of the Servicer and the Participants in and to the Loan Documents and the Collateral relating thereto for a purchase price
(payable in immediately available funds) equal to the aggregate Loan Indebtedness, plus all amounts otherwise owing by the Sponsor pursuant to the Operative Documents, and the Servicer shall assign, without recourse, representation or warranty
(except as to its own title), its right, title and interest therein to Sponsor upon the Servicers receipt of such purchase price. Thereafter, Servicers shall have no responsibility with respect to any Loans or Loan Commitments. Section 15.13 Confidentiality. Each Participant agrees that it will maintain in confidence and will
not disclose, publish or disseminate, to any Person, any confidential information which it has or shall acquire during the term of this Agreement relating to the business, operations and condition, financial or otherwise of Holdings, the Sponsor or
any Borrower, except that such information may be disclosed by such Participant if and to the extent that: (a) such information is in
the public domain at the time of disclosure; (b) such information is required to be disclosed by subpoena or similar process of
applicable law or regulations; (c) such information is required to be disclosed to any regulatory or administrative body or commission to
whose jurisdiction such Participant or any of its Affiliates may be subject; 98
(d) such information is disclosed to counsel, auditors or other professional advisors to
such Participant or to affiliates of such Participant provided that such affiliates agree to keep such information confidential as set forth herein; (e) such information is disclosed with the prior written consent of Holdings, the Sponsor or the relevant Borrower, as the case may be, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; (f) such information is disclosed in connection with any litigation or dispute
between such Participant and Holdings, the Sponsor or any Borrower concerning the Operative Documents or the Loan Documents of such Borrower; (g) such information is disclosed in connection with a prospective assignment, grant of a participation interest in or other transfer by such
Participant of any of its interest in the Operative Documents; provided that the Person to whom such information shall be disclosed shall have agreed to keep such information confidential as set forth herein; (h) such information was in the possession of such Person or such Persons affiliates without obligation of confidentiality prior to such
Participant furnishing it to such Person; or (i) such information is received by such Participant, without restriction as to its
disclosure or use, from a Person, who, to such Participants knowledge or reasonable belief, was not prohibited from disclosing it by any duty of confidentiality. (j) Each Participant agrees to use its best efforts to give the Sponsor prompt notice of any subpoena or similar process referred to in clause
(b) above; provided that such Participant shall have no liability in event such notice is not given. Section 15.14 Headings Descriptive; Entire Agreement. The headings of the several sections and
subsections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement. This Agreement, the other Operative Documents, and the agreements and documents required
to be delivered pursuant to the terms of this Agreement constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto and thereto regarding the subject matters hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements, representations and understandings
related to such subject matters. Section 15.15 Patriot Act. The Servicer and each Participant
hereby notifies the Sponsor and each of its Subsidiaries that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the Patriot
Act), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each of the Sponsor and its Subsidiaries, which information includes the name and address of the Sponsor or such Subsidiary and other information that will
allow such Participant or the Servicer, as applicable, to identify the Sponsor or such Subsidiary in accordance with the Patriot Act. Section 15.16 Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of Affected
Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Operative Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected
Financial Institution arising under any Operative Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and
agrees to be bound by (a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such 99
liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and (b) the effects of any
Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable: (i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability; (ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability
into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, 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 Operative Document; or (iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and
Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority. Section 15.17 Certain ERISA Matters.
(a) Each Participant (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Participant party hereto, to, and
(y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Participant party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Participant party hereto, for the benefit of, the Servicer, the Arranger, and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the
avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Sponsor or any other Credit Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true: (i) such Participant is not using plan assets (within the meaning of 29 CFR §
2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans or the Loan 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 Participants entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Loan Commitments and this Agreement; (iii) (A) such Participant 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 Participant to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the
Loan Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Loan 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 Participant, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE
84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Participants entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Loan Commitments and this Agreement; or (iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Servicer, in its sole discretion,
and such Participant. (b) In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately
preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Participant or such Participant has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the
immediately preceding clause (a), such Participant further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Participant party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Participant party hereto
to the date such Person ceases being a Participant party hereto, for the benefit of, the Servicer, the Arranger, and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Sponsor or any other Credit Party,
that: (i) none of the Servicer, the Arranger, or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the
assets of such Participant (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Servicer under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto); 100
(ii) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Participant
with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Loan Commitments and this Agreement is independent (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21) and is a bank, an insurance carrier, an
investment adviser, a broker-dealer or other person that holds, or has under management or control, total assets of at least $50,000,000, in each case as described in 29 CFR § 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E);
(iii) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Participant with respect to the entrance into,
participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Loan 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 Guaranteed Obligations); (iv) the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such
Participant with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Loan Commitments and this Agreement is a fiduciary under ERISA or the Code, or both, with respect to the Loans, the Loan 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 Servicer, the Arranger or any their respective Affiliates for
investment advice (as opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the Loan Commitments or this Agreement. The representations
set forth in this Section 15.17(b)(ii)-(v) are intended to comply with the Department of Labors regulation Sections 29 C.F.R. 2510.3-21(a) and (c)(1) as promulgated on April 8, 2016 (81
Fed. Reg. 20,997), and if such regulations are no longer in effect, these representations shall be deemed to be no longer in effect. (c)
The Servicer and the Arranger hereby inform the Participants 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 Loan Commitments and this Agreement,
(ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans or the Loan Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans or the Loan Commitments by such Participant or (iii) may receive fees or other payments
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, utilization fees, minimum usage
fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing. 101
Section 15.18 Acknowledgement Regarding any Supported
QFCs. To the extent that the Operative Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Hedging Transaction or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, QFC Credit Support
and each such QFC, a Supported QFC), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the
provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Operative Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of Georgia and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States): (a) In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a Covered Party) becomes subject to a
proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property
securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and
any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S.
Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Operative Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent
than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Operative Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the
foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Participant shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support. (b) As used in this Section 15.18, the following terms have the following meanings: BHC Act Affiliate of a party means an affiliate (as such term is defined under, and
interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party. Covered Entity shall mean any
of the following: (i) a covered entity as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12
C.F.R. §252.82(b); (ii) a covered bank as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with,
12 C.F.R. §47.3(b); or (iii) a covered FSI as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance
with, 12 C.F.R. §382.2(b). Default Right has the meaning assigned to that term in, and
shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. QFC has the meaning assigned to the term qualified financial contract in, and shall be
interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D). [Signatures Set Forth on Next Page] 102
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of
the day and year first above written. Address for Notices: Aarons, LLC AARONS, LLC By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall Name: C. Kelly Wall Title: Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer Address for Notices: The Aarons Company, Inc. THE AARONS COMPANY, INC. By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall Name: C. Kelly Wall Title: Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer AARONS LLC LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY
Address for Notices: 303 Peachtree Street N.E., 25th Floor Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Attention: Aarons Program
Manager Telecopy No. (404) 724-3716 TRUIST BANK, as individually and as Servicer By: /s/
Tesha Winslow
Name: Tesha Winslow Title: Director with a copy to: 303 Peachtree Street NE, 25th Floor Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Attention: Don Besch AARONS LLC LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY
Schedule 1.1(a) PRICING GRID Level Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio I II ≥ 0.75:1.00 but < 1.25:1.00 III ≥ 1.25:1.00 but < 1.75:1.00 IV
Truist Bank
Agency Services
303 Peachtree Street, N.E. / 25th Floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Attention: Agency Services
Telecopy Number: (404) 495-2170
the address set forth on the on such Participants signature page hereof, or such other address or applicable teletransmission number as such party may hereafter specify by notice to the Servicer and Sponsor
400 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30339
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
Telecopy Number: (855) 778-8565
400 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30339
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
Telecopy Number: (855) 778-8565
Applicable
Margin
Applicable
Percentage
< 0.75:1.00
1.50%
0.20%
1.75%
0.25%
2.00%
0.25%
≥ 1.75:1.00
2.25%
0.30%
EXHIBIT A
TO
LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT
AND GUARANTY
FORM OF
ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE
[ ], 202[ ]
Reference is made to the Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty dated as of April 1, 2022 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Loan Facility Agreement), among Aarons, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (Sponsor), Holdings, the Participants from time to time party thereto and Truist Bank, (Servicer). Terms defined in the Loan Facility Agreement are used herein with the same meanings.
The Assignor hereby sells and assigns, without recourse, to the Assignee designated below, and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes, without recourse, from the Assignor, effective as of the Assignment Date set forth below, the interests set forth below (the Assigned Interest) in the Assignors rights and obligations under the Loan Facility Agreement, including, without limitation, the interests set forth below in the Funded Participation of the Assignor on the Assignment Date, and the Participating Commitment of the Assignor on the Assignment Date. The Assignee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Loan Facility Agreement. From and after the Assignment Date (i) the Assignee shall be a party to and be bound by the provisions of the Loan Facility Agreement and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, have the rights and obligations of a Participant thereunder and (ii) the Assignor shall, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under the Loan Facility Agreement.
This Assignment and Acceptance is being delivered to the Servicer together with, the Participation Certificate subject to this Assignment and Acceptance and, unless this assignment is to an Affiliate of the Assignor, the Assignee shall pay the fee payable to the Servicer pursuant to Section 15.6(c) of the Loan Facility Agreement.
The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Loan Facility Agreement or any other Operative Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Operative Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Sponsor, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Operative Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Sponsor, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Operative Document.
The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Participant under the Loan Facility Agreement, (ii) it meets all requirements of an Eligible Assignee under the Loan Facility Agreement (subject to receipt of such consents as may be required under the Loan Facility Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective
Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Loan Facility Agreement as a Participant thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Participant thereunder, and (iv) it has received a copy of the Loan Facility Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.1 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Servicer or any other Participant, and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Servicer, the Assignor or any other Participant, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Operative Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Operative Documents are required to be performed by it as a Participant.
Choose in the alternative [Alternative A: From and after the Effective Date, the Servicer shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.] [Alternative B: From and after the Effective Date, the Servicer shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignee whether such amounts have accrued prior to, on or after the Effective Date. The Assignor and the Assignee shall make all appropriate adjustments in payments by the Servicer for periods prior to the Effective Date or with respect to the making of this assignment directly between themselves.]
This Assignment and Acceptance shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Acceptance may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Acceptance by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Acceptance. This Assignment and Acceptance shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Date of Assignment:
Legal Name of Assignor:
Legal Name of Assignee:
Assignees Address for Notices:
Effective Date of Assignment:
(Assignment Date):
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Assignment Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year date first above written.
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR] | [NAME OF ASSIGNEE] | |||||
By: | _________________________________________ | By: | _________________________________________ | |||
Name: | Name: | |||||
Title: | Title: |
2
Assignees Share of
Participating Commitment:
$__________________________________
Assignees Share of
Funded Participation:
$__________________________________
Address:
Tel. No:
Fax No:
The undersigned hereby consents to the within assignment:
Aarons, LLC, as Sponsor | Truist Bank, as Servicer | |||||
By: | _________________________________________ | By: | _________________________________________ | |||
Name: | Name: | |||||
Title: | Title: |
EXHIBIT B
TO
LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT
AND GUARANTY
FORM OF CANADIAN LOAN AGREEMENT
THIS LOAN AGREEMENT (this Agreement) dated as of _______________, is made between _________________ (Borrower), a ______________________________ [incorporated]/[formed]under the laws of ___________ , and TRUIST BANK (Bank), a North Carolina banking corporation having its principal office in Charlotte, North Carolina.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Borrower engages in the business of leasing and selling furniture, electronics, appliances, and other household goods and is a franchisee of Aarons, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company formerly known as Aarons, Inc. (Aarons);
WHEREAS, Borrower has requested and Bank has agreed to provide financing to Borrower;
WHEREAS, Borrower and Bank wish to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions of Banks establishment of a credit facility for Borrower;
THEREFORE, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, and in consideration of the mutual premises set forth above and other adequate consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
1.1 As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below (terms defined in the singular to have the same meaning when used in the plural and vice versa):
Aarons Proprietary System means Aarons proprietary point of sale software system, as modified from time to time, used by Aarons and its franchisees, such as Borrower.
Account means any right of Borrower to payment for goods sold or leased or for services rendered which is not evidenced by an Instrument or Chattel Paper, whether or not earned by performance.
Account Debtor means any Person who is liable on an Account.
Advance means an advance of funds by Bank on behalf of Borrower pursuant to the Line of Credit Note executed by Borrower.
Agreement means this Loan Agreement and all exhibits, riders and schedules at any time executed by the parties and made a part hereof by reference, either as originally executed or as hereafter amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time.
Anti-Corruption Laws shall mean all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to Borrower and its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.
Applicable Law means all laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Person, conduct, transaction, covenant or Loan Documents in question, including, without limitation, all applicable law and equitable principles; all provisions of all applicable state, provincial, territorial and federal constitutions, statutes, rules, regulations and orders of governmental bodies; and all orders, judgments and decrees of all courts and arbitrators.
Approved Invoice means an invoice for the aggregate purchase price of Merchandise purchased by Borrower with a purchase order approved by Aarons.
Asset Disposition means (i) all sales of Merchandise; (ii) all Merchandise which is determined to have been stolen; (iii) all Merchandise that is destroyed, lost or otherwise removed from the premises of Borrower other than pursuant to a Lease Contract or by outright sale or for repair work; and (iv) all skipped Merchandise which is Merchandise subject to a Lease Contract.
Asset Disposition Prepayment shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b) hereof.
Bank means Truist Bank and its successors and assigns.
BIA means the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), as it may be amended from time to time.
Books and Records means all of Borrowers books and records evidencing or relating to its business, financial condition or the Collateral, including, but not limited to, all customer lists, ledgers, invoices, purchase orders, financial statements, computer tapes and disks.
Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in Toronto, Ontario are authorized by law to close.
Business PAD shall have the meaning set forth in the Pre-Authorized Debt Rules.
CCAA means the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada), as it may be amended from time to time.
Chattel Paper shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the PPSA.
Closing Date means for (i) the Term Loan, the date set forth in the Term Note on which all Loan Documents have been executed and delivered and the conditions precedent to funding the loan have been satisfied, and (ii) the Line of Credit Commitment, the date set forth in the Line of Credit Note on which all Loan Documents have been executed and delivered and the conditions precedent to funding the loan have been satisfied.
Closing Fee shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.11 hereof.
Collateral shall have the meaning given to such term in the Security Agreement.
Collateral Agreement means an agreement executed by Borrower and any other Persons primarily or secondarily liable for all or part of the Loans or granting a security interest to Bank in specified Collateral as security for the Loans, including without limitation, this Agreement and any Guaranties.
2
Commitment Fee shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.12 hereof.
Debt means (i) indebtedness for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable on customary terms in the ordinary course of business), (ii) financial obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) financial obligations as lessee under leases which shall have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases, and (iv) obligations under direct or indirect guaranties in respect of, and obligations (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire, or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss in respect of, indebtedness or financial obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (i) through (iii) above.
Debt Service means, for any particular period, the total required payments of principal (excluding any payments of principal required to be made as a result of any Asset Disposition), interest and fees made by Borrower with respect to its Debt (other than Debt of Borrower which is subordinated to the Loan Indebtedness owing to Bank pursuant to a subordination agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Bank) during such period to the extent that such Debt arises pursuant to this Agreement or any other financing arrangement with respect to Merchandise.
Default Condition means the occurrence of any event which, after satisfaction of any requirement for the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default.
Default Rate means the annual percentage interest rate applied to the principal of the Loans not paid when due under the terms of the applicable Loan Documents, which rate shall equal the sum of two percent (2%) per annum plus the Floating Rate.
Delinquent Payment Fee shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.13 hereof.
Environment means the component of the Earth, and includes (i) land, water and air, including all layers of the atmosphere; (ii) all organic and inorganic matter and living organisms; and (iii) the interacting natural systems that include components referred to in paragraphs (i) and (ii).
Environmental Laws means federal, provincial, local and foreign laws, principles of common law, regulations and codes, as well as orders, decrees, judgments or injunctions issued, promulgated, approved or entered thereunder relating to pollution, protection and presentation of the environment or occupational health and safety, including, but not limited to the release or threatened release of Hazardous Substances into the Environment or otherwise relating to the presence, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Substances.
Equipment means all machinery, equipment, furniture, fixtures, motor vehicles and other tangible personal property (other than Inventory) of Borrower, including, but not limited to, all items described on the Equipment Schedule (if attached) and all substitutions and replacements thereof.
Event of Default shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9 hereof.
FCTA means Borrowers Foreign Currency Transaction Account held with Bank into which Bank shall deposit the Advances for the purpose of paying, by means of SWIFT transfer, Approved Invoices arising from purchases of Merchandise from a supplier, including any freight charges to the extent Aarons consents thereto.
3
Floating Rate means a rate of interest per annum equal to the Prime Rate plus an additional [four and three-quarters] percent ([4.75%]1) per annum, such rate to change as and when the Prime Rate changes.
Franchise Agreement means the written agreement between Aarons and Borrower whereby Borrower is authorized to establish an Aarons franchise.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in Canada, consistently applied.
Guarantor means each Person who now or hereafter guarantees payment of the whole or any part of the Loan Indebtedness.
Guaranty means any guaranty agreement executed by each of the partners, shareholders, and where not prohibited by law, the spouses of such persons, of Borrower, or such other Persons as may be required by Bank, in favor of Bank with respect to the obligations of Borrower with respect to the Loans in the form provided by Bank, as the same may be amended, restated or supplemented from time to time.
Hazardous Substances means any waste, pollutant, hazardous substance, toxic substance, hazardous waste, special waste, industrial substance or waste, petroleum or petroleum-derived substance or waste, or any constituent of any such substance or waste, including without limitation, any such substance regulated under or defined by any Environmental Law.
Instrument shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the PPSA.
Inventory means all inventory of Borrower, including, without limitation, all raw materials, work in process, finished goods, goods being leased pursuant to Lease Contracts, and other goods held by Borrower for sale or lease or furnished under contracts of service.
Lease Contract means a contract between Borrower and a customer to lease Merchandise in the form approved by Aarons (and which may include purchase options).
Lien means any interest in property securing an obligation, whether such interest is based on the common law, statute or contract, including, without limitation, a security interest, lien or security title arising from a security agreement, mortgage, security deed, trust deed, pledge, hypothec or conditional sale, or a lease, consignment or bailment for security purposes.
Line of Credit Commitment means the committed line of credit facility established by Bank in favor of Borrower in the amount set forth in the Line of Credit Note and upon the terms described in this Agreement.
Line of Credit Loan means a loan or an advance made by Bank to Borrower under its Line of Credit Commitment.
Line of Credit Note means a note executed by Borrower in favor of Bank, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 attached hereto in the committed principal amount of Banks Line of Credit Commitment evidencing the obligation of Borrower to repay its Line of Credit Loans.
Loan Account means the internal bank loan account established by Bank for Borrower.
1 | Note: This interest rate shall be as designated by Aarons in the applicable loan Funding Approval Notice. |
4
Loan Documents means this Agreement, the Notes, the Collateral Agreements, any other documents relating to the Loans delivered by Borrower or any guarantor or surety thereof to Bank and any amendments thereto.
Loan Indebtedness means all amounts due and payable by Borrower under the terms of the Loan Documents with respect to the Loans made thereunder, including, without limitation, outstanding principal, accrued interest, any late charges, and all reasonable costs and expenses of any legal proceeding brought by Bank to collect any of the foregoing (including without limitation, reasonable legal or attorneys fees).
Loans means the Line of Credit Loans or Term Loan.
Loan Term shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(i) hereof.
Material Adverse Effect means any materially adverse change in (i) the business, results of operations, financial condition, assets or prospects of Borrower, taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement, or (iii) the ability of the Guarantors (taken as a whole) to perform their respective obligations under the Guaranty.
Maturity Date means for (i) the Term Loan, the date set forth in the Term Note and (ii) the Line of Credit Commitment, the date set forth in the Line of Credit Note.
Merchandise means goods distributed or sold to Borrower through Aarons.
Net Book Value means, for any item of Merchandise, the cost of such Merchandise less accumulated depreciation as calculated in accordance with the Aarons Proprietary System.
Note means the Line of Credit Note or the Term Note, as the case may be.
OFAC shall mean the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Opening Date means with respect to each store location, the date determined by Aarons to be the opening date of such location in accordance with its standard practice, as notified to Bank.
PAD Authorization means a pre-authorized debit authorization executed by Borrower authorizing Bank to cause a specified account of Borrower to be debited to pay amounts payable hereunder, such authorization to be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F or such other form as Bank may require from time to time.
Payment Date means the last day of each calendar month; provided, however, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day which is also a US Business Day.
Permitted Liens means Liens in favor of Bank or Aarons; Liens for taxes not yet due or payable; statutory Liens securing the claims of materialmen, mechanics, carriers and landlords for labor, materials, supplies or leases incurred in the ordinary course of Borrowers business, but only if payment thereof is not at the time required and such Liens are at all times junior in priority to the Liens in favor of Bank; Liens shown on Exhibit B attached hereto (if any); and Liens hereafter consented to by Bank in writing.
5
Person means a corporation, an association, partnership, an organization, a business, a business trust, a limited liability company, an individual, a government or political subdivision thereof or a governmental agency.
Personal PAD shall have the meaning set forth in the Pre-Authorized Debit Rules.
PPSA means the Personal Property Security Act as in effect from time to time in the Province of Ontario.
Pre-Authorized Debit Rules means Rule H-1 of the Canadian Payments Association, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented, restated, re-enacted or replaced from time to time.
Prime Rate means, on any date of determination, the higher of (a) the reference rate of interest, expressed as an annual rate, publicly announced or posted from time to time by Bloomberg on page BTMM for Canadian Money Market rates or (b) the average one month Bankers Acceptance rate quoted on Reuters Service, page CDOR, as at approximately 10:00 a.m. (Toronto, Ontario time) on such day plus 1% per annum.
Quarterly Covenant Compliance Report means that Quarterly Covenant Compliance Report substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto.
Rental Revenue means, for any period, the gross revenues of Borrower from leases to the public of Borrowers furniture inventory, computers, electronics, appliances and lease equipment including, without limitation, all customer deposits, advance lease payments, waiver fees, late fees, delivery fees, nonsufficient fund fees and reinstatement fees, but excluding all retail sales proceeds, goods and services tax, harmonized sales tax or provincial sales taxes.
Sanctioned Country shall mean, at any time, a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject or target of any Sanctions.
Sanctioned Person shall mean, at any time, (i) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any EU member state, (ii) any Person located, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (iii) any Person controlled by any such Person.
Sanctions shall mean economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes administered or enforced from time to time by (i) the U.S. government, including those administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State or (ii) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or Her Majestys Treasury of the United Kingdom.
Security Agreement means a security agreement made by Borrower in favour of Bank substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E attached hereto.
Set Interval shall have the meaning set forth in the Pre-Authorized Debit Rules.
Solvent means, as to any Person, such Person (i) is able to pay, and does pay, its debts as they mature and (ii) has a positive tangible net worth determined in accordance with GAAP.
Sporadic shall have the meaning set forth in the Pre-Authorized Debit Rules.
6
Spousal Consent means any agreement provided by the spouse of any Person executing a Guaranty to the extent such spouse has not personally executed a Guaranty, to be substantially in the form provided by Bank.
Subsidiary means any corporation or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned by Borrower.
SWIFT means Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication.
Term Loan means a single loan made by Bank to Borrower in an amount not to exceed the Term Loan Commitment.
Term Loan Commitment means the obligation of Bank to make a Term Loan in favor of Borrower in the amount set forth in the Term Note and upon the terms described in this Agreement.
Term Note means a note executed by Borrower in favor of Bank, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 attached hereto in the committed principal amount of Banks Term Loan Commitment evidencing the obligation of Borrower to repay its Term Loan.
US Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in Charlotte, North Carolina are authorized by law to close.
1.2 Accounting Terms and Determination. Accounting terms used in this Agreement such as amortization, depreciation, interest expense, and tangible net worth shall have the meaning normally given them by, and shall be calculated (both as to amounts and classification of items) in accordance with, GAAP. Any pronoun used herein shall be deemed to cover all genders. All references to statutes and related regulations shall include any amendments of same and any successor statutes and regulations, and all references to any instruments or agreements, including, without limitation, references to any of the Loan Documents, shall include any and all modifications or amendments thereto and any and all extensions or renewals thereof.
1.3 Interest Calculation and Payments. Unless otherwise stated, wherever in this Agreement reference is made to a rate of interest per annum or a similar expression is used, such interest will be calculated on the basis of a calendar year of 360 days, as the case may be, and using the nominal rate method of calculation and not the effective rate method of calculation or on any other basis that gives effect to the principle of deemed reinvestment of interest. Interest will continue to accrue after maturity and default and/or judgment, if any, until payment thereof, and interest will accrue on overdue interest, if any.
1.4 Interest Act (Canada). For the purposes of this Agreement, whenever interest to be paid hereunder is to be calculated on the basis of 360 days or any other period of time that is less than a calendar year, the yearly rate of interest to which the rate determined pursuant to such calculation is equivalent is the rate so determined multiplied by the actual number of days in the calendar year in which the same is to be ascertained and divided by 360 or such other number of days in such period, as the case may be.
1.5 Currency. All references herein to currency or to $ are to lawful currency of Canada.
7
2. LOAN; USE OF PROCEEDS.
2.1 Establishment of FCTA; Loan Account.
(i) Prior to the Closing Date, Bank shall (unless the Borrower has only a Term Loan) establish a FCTA for Borrower.
(ii) Prior to the Closing Date, Bank shall also establish on its books an internal loan account in Borrowers name (the Loan Account) in which Bank shall record, in accordance with customary accounting practice, all charges, expenses and other items properly chargeable to Borrower; all payments made by Borrower on account of indebtedness evidenced by the Loan Account; all proceeds of Collateral which are finally paid to Bank at its office in cash or solvent credits; and other appropriate debits and credits. The debit balance of the Loan Account shall reflect the amount of Borrowers Loan Indebtedness from time to time by reason of the Loans and other appropriate charges hereunder. At least once each month, Bank shall render a statement of account for the Loan Account, which statement shall be considered correct, and accepted by and conclusively binding upon Borrower, unless Borrower notifies Bank to the contrary within thirty (30) days after Banks sending of said statement to Borrower.
2.2 Establishment of Line of Credit Loan. Any Line of Credit Commitment now or hereafter committed to by Bank pursuant to which Borrower shall execute and deliver to Bank a Line of Credit Note shall be governed by and issued pursuant to the provisions, terms and conditions set forth herein.
2.3 Line of Credit Advances.
(i) Upon Borrowers execution of this Agreement and a Line of Credit Note and compliance with the terms of this Agreement, and subject to Banks confirmation if requested by Aarons that Bank has a first priority security interest in the Collateral, Bank shall notify Borrower that Borrower may request Advances pursuant to the Line of Credit Commitment. Bank shall make such Advances into the FCTA for the sole purposes of (x) honoring requests from Borrower, made through Aarons by fax, email or other electronic form of notification to Aarons by 12:00 noon (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the last Business Day immediately prior to the 10th or the 25th day of each month, for SWIFT transfers to suppliers of Merchandise in payment of Approved Invoices and, to the extent permitted by Aarons, to pay sales and use taxes and freight charges, for working capital and for other purposes to the extent approved by Aarons.
Each Advance shall be made by Servicer for the sole purposes of (i) honoring requests from any US Borrower, made through the Aarons Proprietary System, for ACH transfers to suppliers of Merchandise in payment of Approved Invoices, (ii) honoring requests from any US Borrower for Advances made via ACH transfers to an operating account or other location specified by such Borrower (and granted a vendor identification number by Aarons) and, to the extent permitted by Aarons, for working capital and for other purposes to the extent approved by Aarons or (iii) honoring requests from any Canadian Borrower, made through Aarons by fax, email or other electronic forms of notification to the Servicer. The maximum principal amount of Advances under the Line of Credit Commitment at any time outstanding shall not exceed the committed amount of the Line of Credit Commitment. Each Advance shall be in the amount of not less than $500.
(ii) Borrower shall submit purchase order requests for Merchandise to Aarons from time to time. In the event that the purchase order is authorized pursuant to the Franchise Agreement, Aarons will prepare the purchase order and submit the same to the appropriate supplier requested by Borrower. The supplier will be instructed to ship all Merchandise directly to Borrower and Borrower will be responsible for (a) inspecting all Merchandise and resolving all disputes regarding the Merchandise
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with such supplier and (b) paying all freight and other shipping and/or insurance charges arising in connection therewith with funds other than the proceeds of Loans, unless otherwise agreed by Aarons. The supplier will invoice Borrower for such Merchandise in accordance with normal industry practice. When Borrower wishes to pay such invoice, Borrower, subject to availability of the Line of Credit Commitment and the minimum borrowing threshold, shall pay such invoice by requesting, by way of fax, email or other electronic form of notification by 12:00 noon (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the last Business Day immediately prior to the 10th or the 25th day of each month, that Aarons direct Bank to pay such invoice by initiating a SWIFT transfer from Borrowers FCTA to the applicable vendor and Bank shall be entitled to rely on such request from Aarons as if it had been made directly by the Borrower. Any directions for SWIFT transfers transmitted by Aarons to Bank prior to 12:00 noon (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the Business Day immediately preceding the 10th or the 25th day of a month, shall be paid by Bank no later than the next Business Day thereafter, unless Borrower is otherwise notified by Aarons or Bank.
(iii) Upon receipt of the request for an SWIFT transfer (provided, however, that such request relates to an Approved Invoice), Bank shall honor such request by making an Advance pursuant to the Line of Credit Commitment in the amount of such request into Borrowers FCTA and forwarding such amount to the supplier by means of a SWIFT transfer in accordance with the instructions of Borrower. Upon receipt of any request to deposit funds into an account in the name of Borrower and receipt of Aarons approval thereof, Bank shall honor such request by making an Advance pursuant to the Line of Credit Commitment in the amount of such request into Borrowers FCTA and automatically forwarding such amount to such account of Borrower by means of an SWIFT transfer in accordance with the instructions of Borrower. In the event that a request for a SWIFT transfer is presented for payment and Borrowers availability pursuant to the Line of Credit Commitment is insufficient to honor such request, Bank may, but shall have no obligation to, make such overadvance, which shall be an Advance for all purposes hereunder, but shall be due and payable upon demand. At the end of each calendar month, Bank shall provide Borrower with a monthly FCTA statement in the form customarily used by Bank for its commercial customers and a loan account statement.
(iv) The aggregate amount of Advances made to Borrower during such month shall be amortized into twenty-four (24) equal payments of principal due and payable on the next succeeding Payment Dates; provided, however, that, in the event that Bank terminates the Line of Credit Commitment as provided in Section 2.6 below, all outstanding amounts shall be due and payable on the 24th Payment Date following such termination.
2.4 Term Loan. Any Term Loan Commitment now or hereafter committed to by Bank pursuant to which Borrower shall execute and deliver to Bank a Term Note shall be governed by and issued pursuant to the provisions, terms and conditions set forth herein. Upon Borrowers execution of this Agreement and a Term Note and compliance with the terms of this Agreement and subject to Banks confirmation if requested by Aarons that Bank has a first priority security interest in the Collateral, Bank may make a Term Loan to Borrower in a principal amount not to exceed the Term Loan Commitment; provided, however, that if for any reason the full amount of Banks Term Loan Commitment is not fully drawn on the Closing Date, the undrawn portion thereof shall automatically be cancelled.
2.5 Repayment.
(i) Line of Credit Loans. Payments of principal for Line of Credit Loans shall be due and payable by Borrower to Bank on each Payment Date and subject to the provisions of Section 2.6 below, on the Maturity Date for the Line of Credit Commitment, unless sooner accelerated in accordance with the terms hereof.
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(ii) Term Loans. Payments of principal for Term Loans shall be due and payable by Borrower to Bank in installments payable on the dates set forth in the Term Note, provided, however, that, to the extent not previously paid, the aggregate unpaid principal balance of the Term Loans shall be due and payable on the Maturity Date for the Term Loan.
(iii) Except as provided below, all payments of principal of, or interest on, the Loans (including Asset Disposition Prepayments) and all other sums due under the terms of the Loan Documents at Set Intervals shall be made by way of pre-authorized debit from an account at a financial institution in Canada specified by Borrower. All voluntary prepayments of the Loan shall be made to Bank at the Lenders Account by way of SWIFT transfer of immediately available funds or by pre-authorized debit from an account at a financial institution in Canada specified by Borrower.
2.6 Loan Term; Voluntary Termination.
(i) The original term of the Line of Credit Commitment shall be for a period of 364 days from the Closing Date (the Loan Term). Thereafter, the Loan Term shall automatically be extended on each anniversary of the Closing Date for an additional 364 day period unless either party terminates the Line of Credit Commitment as set forth hereunder. Upon ninety (90) days prior written notice to Borrower, Bank may, at its option, terminate the Line of Credit Commitment. Upon written notice to Bank, Borrower may, at its option, terminate the Line of Credit Commitment. Bank may also terminate the Line of Credit Commitment pursuant to Section 10 hereof. Upon the effective date of a termination of the Line of Credit Commitment effected by Borrower, the principal of and all accrued but unpaid interest on the Loan Indebtedness in respect of the Line of Credit Loans shall be forthwith due and payable, but all of the duties and covenants of Borrower hereunder, and all rights, remedies and privileges of Bank under this Agreement and Banks security interest in the Collateral, shall continue in full force and effect until all of the Loan Indebtedness in respect of the Line of Credit Loans is fully and finally paid. In the event Bank elects to terminate, (a) Bank shall continue to make Advances until the effective date of the termination and (b) Advances outstanding at the effective date of the termination shall be repaid according to the twenty-four (24) month amortization schedule provided above, provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing all outstanding Loan Indebtedness in respect of the Line of Credit Loans shall be due and payable in full on the 24th Payment Date following termination of the Line of Credit Commitment by Bank. Nothing set forth in this Section 2.6(i) shall be deemed to limit the ability of Bank to declare all amounts outstanding under the Line of Credit Note immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder as provided herein.
(ii) The Term Loan shall terminate on the Maturity Date for the Term Loan set forth in the Term Note, as the case may be, which date shall be no more than two years from the Closing Date, subject to Section 10 hereof. Upon the termination of the Term Loan, the principal of and all accrued but unpaid interest on the Loan Indebtedness in respect of the Term Loan shall be forthwith due and payable, but all of the duties and covenants of Borrower hereunder, and all rights, remedies and privileges of Bank under this Agreement and Banks security interest in the Collateral, shall continue in full force and effect until all of such Loan Indebtedness is fully and finally paid.
2.7 Interest.
(i) From and after the date hereof, interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal amount of the Loan Indebtedness at the Floating Rate. Interest shall be calculated daily and shall be computed on the basis of actual days elapsed over the period of a 360 day year. Interest shall be payable in arrears on each Payment Date and on the Maturity Date, whether due to acceleration or otherwise. Any principal balance outstanding pursuant to a Loan not paid when due shall bear interest at a rate of interest per annum equal to the Default Rate, such interest to be payable upon demand. After the occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuance thereof, the outstanding principal balance of the Loans shall bear interest at the Default Rate, which shall be payable on demand.
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(ii) In no contingency or event whatsoever shall the amount paid or agreed to be paid to Bank for the use, forbearance or detention of money advanced under this Agreement exceed the highest lawful rate permissible under Applicable Law. It is the intent hereof that Borrower will not pay or contract to pay, and that Bank not receive or contract to receive, directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever, interest in excess of that which may be charged to and paid by Borrower under Applicable Law. All interest (and charges deemed interest) paid or agreed to be paid to Bank shall, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, be amortized, pro rated, allocated and spread in equal parts throughout the full term hereof until payment in full of the principal amount of the Loan Indebtedness owing hereunder (including the period of any renewal or extension hereof) so that interest on the principal amount of the Loan Indebtedness outstanding hereunder for such full period will not exceed the maximum amount permitted by Applicable Law.
2.8 Loan Prepayment.
(i) Voluntary Prepayment. Borrower shall have the right to prepay the Loans in whole or in part on any Payment Date, but subject to Borrower having provided at least two (2) Business Days prior written notice to Bank. Partial prepayments of any Line of Credit Loan (other than proceeds of Asset Dispositions which shall be applied as set forth in the following Section 2.10(ii)) shall be applied to reduce the current months Advance(s) to such Borrower with any excess prepayment applied to unpaid principal payments of the Loan as Aarons may request and the Servicer may agree in its sole discretion (which may include, but is not limited to, application of such excess prepayment to unpaid principal payments of the Loan in inverse order of maturity or on a pro rata basis).
(ii) Mandatory Prepayment. For the Line of Credit Loan, mandatory prepayment shall be required for Asset Dispositions.
2.9 Audits. Borrower hereby consents and authorizes Aarons or Bank or any agent or representative thereof to conduct periodic field audits of Borrower. Such field audits may include, without limitation, examinations of the payment receipts, tax returns, bank statements, loan statements, Lease Contracts, inventory on hand, computer-generated reports of Asset Dispositions, Rental Revenue and other financial data necessary to determine the accuracy and validity of the reports, compliance certificates, financial reports and other information forwarded to either of Bank or Aarons by Borrower in connection with the Loan.
2.10 Tracking of Merchandise; Asset Dispositions.
(i) All Merchandise financed by Bank must be serialized by means of the Aarons Proprietary System for appropriate reconciliation of Advances and receipt of Merchandise and for purposes of tracking Asset Dispositions, if applicable. Borrower shall be obligated to furnish serial numbers for all Merchandise purchased directly to Aarons on a weekly basis (and, if available, on a daily basis) by transmittal of Borrowers receiving report (containing Aarons Proprietary System numbers) directly to Aarons on the Aarons Proprietary System. As set forth more fully below, Aarons will maintain and track such information as agent for Bank and Bank shall at all times have access to such information.
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(ii) If Borrower has a Line of Credit Note and an Asset Disposition occurs, Borrower shall immediately report such Asset Disposition to Aarons by means of the Aarons Proprietary System, such information to include the Aarons Proprietary System numbers, and if assigned, the serial numbers of the Merchandise subject to the Asset Disposition, the Net Book Value of such Merchandise and the proceeds received by Borrower therefrom. Aarons, on a monthly basis, shall transmit all such information to Bank in a summary form. Based solely on such information provided by Aarons, Bank will notify Borrower on a monthly basis, of the amount of the required prepayment (the Asset Disposition Prepayment) of the aggregate outstanding amount of the Line of Credit Loan due on the next Payment Date which amount shall be equal to the Net Book Value of the Asset Dispositions during the preceding month not applied to Advances made during such month as set forth above, unless otherwise agreed to by Bank. Borrower shall be notified by Bank by the Business Day next following the 25th day of each calendar month of the Asset Disposition Prepayment and payment thereof shall be due on the next succeeding Payment Date.
2.11 Closing Fee. On the Closing Date of each Loan, Borrower shall pay to Bank a closing fee (Closing Fee) in the amount of $500 per store location [plus $5,000]2 .
2.12 Commitment Fees.
(i) Borrower shall pay a commitment fee (the Commitment Fee) on any unused portion of the Line of Credit Commitment in the amount of _________________% per annum, such Commitment Fee to be paid quarterly in arrears on every third Payment Date, commencing on the third Payment Date after the Closing Date.
(ii) All Commitment Fees shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to Bank.
2.13 Delinquent Payment Fees. In the event that any payment due and payable hereunder is not received by Bank on the Payment Date when due (including, without limitation, any payment not received as a result of the dishonour of a pre-authorized debit or a return of a pre-authorized debit initiated by Borrower), Borrower shall, upon request from Bank, pay to Bank a delinquent payment fee (the Delinquent Payment Fee) in an amount equal to the greater of (i) one percent (1%) of the amount of the late payment and (ii) $500.00.
3. COLLATERAL AND INSURANCE.
3.1 Granting of Security Interest in Collateral. As security for the payment and performance of all of the Loan Indebtedness, Borrower shall enter into the Security Agreement and grant Bank thereunder a continuing security interest in its Collateral. The Loan Indebtedness shall also be secured by any other property (whether real or personal) in which Borrower may have heretofore or concurrently herewith granted, or may hereafter grant, a Lien in favor of Bank.
3.2 Form of Lease Contracts. All Lease Contracts will be (i) in a form prescribed by Aarons for use by its franchisees, (ii) be transferable to Bank and (iii) contain the following provision directly above Borrowers customers signature:
NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY, THE UNDERSIGNED ACKNOWLEDGES AND CONSENTS TO THE TRANSFER OF, OR GRANT OF A SECURITY INTEREST IN, ANY OR ALL OF THE LESSORS RIGHT, TITLE AND INTEREST (RESIDUAL OR OTHERWISE) IN AND UNDER THIS AGREEMENT TO ANY THIRD PARTY. NO SUCH TRANSFER OR GRANT
2 | Note: in the case of a Borrower with a Term Loan Commitment that has customized financial covenants as specified by Aarons in accordance with Section 6 hereof, an additional $5,000 fee will be charged. |
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OF SECURITY INTEREST WILL: (A) AFFECT THE UNDERSIGNEDS LOAN INDEBTEDNESS; (B) CHANGE ANY DUTIES OF, OR INCREASE ANY BURDENS OR RISKS IMPOSED ON, THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT; NO ENFORCEMENT OF ANY SECURITY INTEREST WILL CONSTITUTE A TRANSFER THAT CHANGES ANY DUTIES OF, OR INCREASES ANY BURDENS OR RISK IMPOSED ON, THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT.
Immediately upon execution of the same, all Lease Contracts shall be hereby assigned to Bank, and, immediately upon Banks request, delivered to Bank together with any and all related documents, and will contain, by way of a stamp or as a part of the preprinted lease contract, the following legend directly below Borrowers customers signature:
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO TRUIST BANK AND THERE ARE NO DEFENSES AGAINST THE ASSIGNEE.
Borrower will not assign, sell, pledge, convey or by any other means transfer to any person other than Bank any Lease Contracts or Chattel Paper, without Banks prior written consent.
3.3 Other Documents. Borrower shall execute and deliver, or shall be caused to be executed and delivered, to Bank such other instruments, agreements, assignments, notifications or other documents relating to the Collateral as Bank may from time to time request in order to evidence, perfect or continue the perfection of Banks Liens upon any of the Collateral.
3.4 Insurance. Borrower shall maintain and keep in force insurance of the types and in the amounts customarily carried in lines of business similar to Borrowers and such other insurance as Bank may require, including, without limitation, theft, fire, public liability, business interruption, casualty, property damage, and workers compensation insurance, which insurance shall be carried with companies and in amounts satisfactory to Bank. All casualty and property damage insurance shall name Bank as mortgagee, sole loss payee, or additional insured, as appropriate. Borrower shall deliver to Bank from time to time, at Banks request, copies of all such insurance policies and certificates of insurance and schedules setting forth all insurance then in effect. Each policy of insurance shall contain a clause requiring the insurer to give not less than thirty (30) days prior written notice to Bank in the event of any lapse, termination or cancellation of the policy for any reason whatsoever and a clause that the interest of Bank shall not be impaired or invalidated by any act or neglect of Borrower or owner of the property nor by the occupation of the premises for purposes more hazardous than are permitted by said policy. All such insurance policies shall contain such other provisions as Bank may require in order to protect Banks Lien in the collateral and Banks right to receive payments under such policies. Borrower hereby appoints Bank as attorney in fact for Borrower to file claims under any insurance policies, to receive, receipt and give acquittance for any payments that may be payable to Borrower thereunder, and to execute any and all endorsements, receipts, releases, assignments, reassignments, or other documents that may be necessary to effect the collection, compromise or settlement of any claims under any such insurance policies, which power of attorney shall be deemed coupled with an interest and irrevocable so long as Bank shall have a Lien in any of the Collateral pursuant to this Agreement. If Borrower shall fail to procure such insurance or to pay any premium with respect thereto, then Bank may, at its discretion, procure such insurance or pay such premium and any costs so incurred by Bank shall constitute a part of the Loan Indebtedness. Bank may apply the proceeds of any insurance policy received by Bank to the payment of any liabilities, whether or not due, in such order of application as Bank shall determine. Borrower shall promptly furnish Bank with certificates or other evidence satisfactory to Bank indicating compliance with the foregoing insurance requirements.
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3.5 Validation and Collection of Accounts. Whether or not a Default Condition or an Event of Default has occurred, Bank shall have the right, at any time or times hereafter, in the name of Bank or any designee of Bank to verify the validity, amount or any other matter relating to any Accounts by mail, telephone or otherwise, and Borrower shall fully cooperate with Bank in an effort to facilitate and promptly conclude any such verification process. Unless Bank shall at any time following the occurrence of an Event of Default, elect to give notice to Account Debtors to make payments on the Accounts directly to Bank, Borrower shall endeavor in the first instance to make collection of its Accounts for Bank. Borrower shall at the request of Bank notify the Account Debtors of the security interest of Bank in any Account and Bank may itself at any time so notify Account Debtors. Upon or after the occurrence of an Event of Default, Borrower shall (if and to the extent requested to do so by Bank) notify the Account Debtors to make all payments owing to Borrower directly to Bank for application to the Loan Indebtedness.
3.6 Maintenance of Collateral. Borrower shall maintain all Inventory and Equipment in good condition, reasonable wear and tear excepted in the case of Equipment, and shall, as and when requested by Bank, provide Bank with a list of all of the Equipment and evidence of ownership thereof. Borrower shall not permit any of the Equipment to become affixed to any real property so that such Equipment is deemed a fixture under the real estate laws of the applicable jurisdiction.
3.7 Expenses Relating to Collateral. Borrower shall pay Bank on demand an amount equal to any and all expenses, including legal fees, incurred or paid by Bank in connection with Banks insuring, maintaining, protecting, storing, safeguarding, or paying Liens with respect to any of the Collateral or otherwise discharging any duty or obligation of Borrower with respect to any of the Collateral.
3.8 Rights to Collateral. Bank shall have no duty to collect, protect or preserve the underlying value of any Collateral or any income thereon or to preserve any rights against prior parties. Bank may exercise its rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral without first resorting (and without regard) to any other security for the Loans or other sources of payment or reimbursement for the Loan Indebtedness.
4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.
Borrower shall deliver and Bank shall have received the following documents, each in form and substance satisfactory to Bank, as conditions precedent of the Loans:
(i) a validly executed copy of this Agreement and the Security Agreement;
(ii) the validly executed Notes;
(iii) a validly executed copy of a Guaranty of each partner or majority stockholder of Borrower, and to the extent not prohibited by Applicable Law, the spouse of such Person together, in the case of the spouse, a certificate of independent legal advice with respect to the spouses execution of such Guaranty; provided, however, that if such spouse is not providing a Guaranty, a validly executed copy of the Spousal Consent;
(iv) All documentation and other information with respect to the Credit Parties that Aarons or any Participant reasonably believes is required by regulatory authorities under applicable know-your-customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the Patriot Act;
(v) a validly executed PAD Authorization in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F, authorizing Bank to debit Borrowers bank account at a Canadian financial institution specified therein for payments due hereunder at Set Intervals, including without limitation, Asset Disposition Prepayments and mandatory prepayments of the Loans pursuant to Section 2.8(ii);
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(vi) a validly executed subordination agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to Bank, from each other debtholder of Borrower;
(vii) evidence of Borrowers good standing;
(viii) a validly executed officers certificate or such other evidence acceptable to Bank evidencing Borrowers corporate, partnership or other necessary authorization of the Loans and incumbency;
(ix) a certificate of insurance from an insurer acceptable to Bank evidencing Borrowers compliance with Section 3.4 hereof and naming Bank as loss payee/additional insured as follows:
Aarons Program Manager
Truist Bank
Program Lending
303 Peachtree Street, N.E.
2nd Floor
Mail Code 1802
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
(x) a validly executed authorization in favour of Aarons, authorizing Aarons to initiate SWIFT transfers from the FCTA to pay vendors in accordance with Section 2.3(ii); and
(xi) valid Personal Property Security Act financing statements suitable for filing to enable Bank to perfect the security interest granted to it under this Agreement.
In addition, Bank shall have satisfied itself that (y) all necessary steps have been taken and all necessary registrations have been made to perfect Banks security interest in the Collateral, and (z) there are no Liens on any of the Collateral, and Bank shall be satisfied that all corporate or partnership proceedings necessary for the authorization of the Loan shall have been taken and Bank shall have received any other documents that it deems necessary or advisable.
5. BORROWERS REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
To induce Bank to enter into this Agreement, Borrower represents and warrants as follows:
5.1 Organization and Qualification of Borrower. Borrower is _________________ under the laws of the province shown on the first page hereof or under the laws of Canada, and is qualified to do business in all jurisdictions where the character of its properties or the nature of its activities make such qualification necessary.
5.2 Trade Names, Subsidiaries and Location of Assets. Exhibit B attached hereto and made a part hereof fully and accurately discloses any legal name, trade name or style ever used by Borrower, any Subsidiaries owned by Borrower, and each office, other place of business or location of assets of Borrower.
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5.3 Corporate or Other Authority; No Violation of Other Agreements. The execution, delivery and performance by Borrower of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Borrower and do not and will not (i) violate any provision of Borrowers articles of incorporation, by laws, or other organizational documents or any Applicable Law, or (ii) be in conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute (following notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any agreement to which Borrower is a party or by which Borrower or any of its property is bound. Each PAD Authorization has been executed by persons with signing authority in respect of the account at a Canadian financial institution that is the subject of such PAD Authorization and any such PAD Authorization is a Business PAD and not a Personal PAD.
5.4 Enforceability. This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents create legal, valid and binding obligations of Borrower enforceable against Borrower in accordance with their respective terms.
5.5 Entire Agreement. The Notes and accompanying Loan Documents executed in connection with the Loans and delivered to Bank are the only contracts evidencing the transaction described herein and constitute the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the transaction.
5.6 Genuineness of Signatures. The Notes and each accompanying Loan Document executed in connection with the Loans are genuine and all signatures, names, amounts and other facts and statements therein and thereon are true and correct.
5.7 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending or, to the knowledge of Borrower, threatened before any court, tribunal or administrative or governmental agency that may, individually or collectively, adversely affect the financial condition or business operations of Borrower.
5.8 Financial Condition. Borrowers financial statement previously delivered to Aarons, fairly and accurately presents the financial condition of Borrower as of such date and has been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, and since the date of that financial statement, there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition of Borrower. Borrower is now and will remain Solvent.
5.9 Taxes. All federal, provincial and local tax returns have been duly filed, and all taxes, assessments and withholdings shown on such returns or billed to Borrower have been paid, and Borrower maintains adequate reserves and accruals in respect of all such federal, provincial and other taxes, assessments and withholdings. There are no unpaid assessments pending against Borrower for any taxes or withholdings, and Borrower knows of no basis therefor.
5.10 Compliance with Laws. Borrower has duly complied with, and its properties and business operations are in compliance in all material respects with, the provisions of all Applicable Laws, including, without limitation, all Environmental Laws. Borrower possesses all permits, franchises, licenses, trademark rights, trade names, patents and other authorizations necessary to enable it to conduct its business operations as now conducted, and no filing with, and no consent, authorization, order or license of, any Person is necessary in connection with the execution or performance of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.
5.11 No Default. No Default Condition or Event of Default exists.
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5.12 Accounts. Each Account arises out of a bona fide lease or sale and delivery of goods or rendition of services by Borrower and, unless otherwise indicated by Borrower to Bank in writing promptly after learning thereof, the facts appearing on the invoice evidencing such Account and Borrowers books relating thereto are true and accurate and payment thereof is not subject to any known dispute, offset or claim except for discounts granted in the ordinary course of Borrowers business that are reflected on the face of such invoice.
5.13 Use of Proceeds. None of the proceeds of any Advances by Bank or the Term Loan have been or will be used (i) to purchase or carry (or to satisfy or refinance any indebtedness incurred to purchase or carry) any margin stock (as defined in Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board), (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 or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto. Advances shall be made for the sole purposes of honoring requests for SWIFT transfers to (a) suppliers of Merchandise in payment of Approved Invoices, and (b) other accounts specified by Borrower with respect to Advances made for working capital purposes, subject to the approval of Aarons, which requests have been made to Aarons as provided in Section 2.3(i) or Section 2.3(ii), or upon the consent of Aarons, for the purpose of payment of freight charges (but not for the purpose of paying provincial sales taxes, goods and services tax, harmonized sales tax or customs duty). The proceeds of the Term Loan shall be used solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition and expansion of stores franchised by Aarons and operated by the Borrower and for Aarons-approved working capital purposes, but excluding in all cases any non-business purposes.
Each submission of an Approved Invoice made by Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall constitute an automatic representation and warranty by Borrower to Bank that there does not then exist any Default Condition or Event of Default and a reaffirmation as of the date of said request that all representations and warranties of Borrower contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true in all material respects. All representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or in any of the other Loan Documents shall survive the execution, delivery and acceptance hereof by Bank and the closing of the transactions described herein.
5.14 Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance in all material respects by Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers (in such capacity), employees (in such capacity) and, to the knowledge of Borrower, its directors and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions. None of (a) Borrower, any Subsidiary or any of their respective officers (in such capacity) or employees (in such capacity), or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any director or agent of Borrower or any Subsidiary is a Sanctioned Person. No Advance nor the Term Loan, use by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the proceeds thereof or other transactions contemplated hereby will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.
6. FINANCIAL COVENANTS.
Borrower shall comply with the following financial covenant[s]:
(i) [Rental Revenue to Debt Service. Commencing on the first day of the calendar quarter in which the 25th month following the Opening Date of the first store location of Borrower occurs and measured as of the last day of the calendar quarter in which such 25th month occurs and on the last day of each calendar quarter thereafter, the ratio of Borrowers Rental Revenue to Debt Service for such quarter shall not be less than 2.2:1.0;]3
3 | Note: This covenant will not apply in the case of any Borrowers who have only Term Loans. |
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(ii) Debt to Rental Revenue. [Commencing on the first day of the calendar quarter in which the first day of the 19th month following the Opening Date of the first store location of Borrower occurs and measured as of the last day of the calendar quarter in which such 19th month occurs and on the last day of each calendar quarter thereafter,][On the last day of each calendar quarter] the ratio of Borrowers Debt to Borrowers Rental Revenue shall not exceed [__]:1.0.4
To the extent any of the financial covenants set forth above in this Section 6 are calculated based upon the Opening Date of a store location, the financial information from store locations that have not reached the Opening Date anniversary incorporated into such covenants shall be excluded from such calculations. Debt Service and Debt attributable to such locations and deducted from the final calculations shall be deducted on a pro rata basis calculated by dividing such stores aggregate Net Book Value of Merchandise by the Net Book Value of Merchandise for all store locations. The financial covenants shall otherwise be calculated on a consolidated basis as to all store locations.
7. BORROWERS AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.
During the term of this Agreement, and thereafter for so long as there is any outstanding Loan Indebtedness to Bank, Borrower covenants that, unless otherwise consented to by Bank in writing, it shall:
7.1 Financial Reports. Deliver to Aarons or cause to be delivered to Aarons:
(i) on or before the last Business Day of each month, an unaudited balance sheet and income statement accurately reflecting the financial transactions and status of Borrower as of the end of the prior month and on a year to date basis, on a consolidated and per store basis; prepared in accordance with GAAP in the format recommended by Aarons;
(ii) on or before the last Business Day of each month after the end of each calendar quarter (a) an unaudited balance sheet and income statement accurately reflecting the financial transactions and status of Borrower as of the end of the prior month and on a quarterly basis, on a consolidated and per store basis, prepared in accordance with GAAP in the format recommended by Aarons, and (b) a compliance certificate as described below in Section 7.2;
(iii) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year a balance sheet and income statement of Borrower as of the end of such year and for the fiscal year then ended, compiled by such firm of chartered accountants as may be designated by Borrower and be satisfactory to Bank as prepared in accordance with GAAP and, to the extent delivered to Aarons, audited financial statements for such period;
(iv) within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, an annual personal financial statement of each Guarantor; and
(v) with reasonable promptness, all reports by Borrower to its shareholders and such other information as Aarons or Bank may reasonably request from time to time.
4 | Note: This covenant will apply and be tested on last day of each calendar quarter and not be tied to any Opening Date of store locations in the case of any Borrowers who have Term Loans. Covenant levels for this covenant will be established by Aarons or in the applicable Loan Agreement for each Borrower. |
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7.2 Compliance Certificate. Prepare and deliver to Aarons, to the extent Borrower has a Line of Credit Loan, in conjunction with the quarterly financial reports required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.1(iii) above, a quarterly compliance certificate (the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit C), including a Quarterly Covenant Compliance Report (the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit D) presenting the calculation of the financial covenants set forth above in Section 6, noting any negative variances with the covenants and explaining any such variances.
Borrower acknowledges that Aarons will review each compliance certificate and may revise the calculations set forth on such compliance certificate to be consistent with the information shown on quarterly detailed Inventory reconciliation reports and detailed revenue reports prepared by Aarons each quarter showing the amount of Inventory at each of Borrowers stores as of the end of such quarter and the amount of monthly and quarterly revenue at each of Borrowers stores. Borrower acknowledges that Aarons will forward copies of each compliance certificate, with revised calculations as appropriate, to Bank and agrees that Bank shall be entitled to rely each such compliance certificate, as revised by Aarons, for purposes of determining whether the covenants set forth in Section 6 above have been met.
7.3 Books and Records. Maintain its Books and Records and accounts in accordance with GAAP and permit any Person designated by Bank or Aarons to visit Borrowers premises, inspect any of the Collateral or any of the Books and Records, and to make copies thereof and take extracts therefrom, and to discuss Borrowers financial affairs with Borrowers financial officers and accountants.
7.4 Taxes. Promptly file all tax returns and pay and discharge all taxes, assessments, withholdings and other governmental charges imposed upon it, its income or profits, or upon any property belonging to it, prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto.
7.5 Notices to Bank. Promptly notify Bank in writing of (i) the occurrence of any Default Condition or Event of Default; (ii) any pending or threatened litigation claiming damages in excess of $25,000 or seeking relief that, if granted, would adversely affect the financial condition or business operations of Borrower; (iii) the release or discharge of any Hazardous Substance on any property owned by Borrower; and (iv) any asserted violation by Borrower of or demand for compliance by Borrower with any Applicable Law.
7.6 Compliance with Applicable Laws. Comply in all material respects with all Applicable Laws, including, without limitation, all Environmental Laws.
7.7 Corporate Existence. Maintain its separate corporate existence and all rights, privileges and franchises in connection therewith, and maintain its qualification and good standing in all jurisdictions where the failure to do so could have a Material Adverse Effect upon its financial condition or ability to collect the Accounts.
7.8 Electronic Debit Authorizations. Execute and deliver to Bank and maintain in effect at all times a PAD Authorization authorizing Bank to debit Borrowers specified account at a Canadian financial institution for all payments required hereunder that are due at Set Intervals, including, without limitation, all payments of interest payable pursuant to Section 2.7, all Asset Disposition Prepayments and other mandatory principal prepayments payable pursuant to Section 2.8 and all Commitment Fees payable pursuant to Section 2.12 and, if requested by Bank in connection with any Sporadic payment required to be made by Borrower hereunder, a PAD Authorization in respect of such Sporadic payment, each such PAD Authorization to be executed and delivered by persons having signing authority over the bank account that is the subject of such PAD Authorization.
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8. NEGATIVE COVENANTS.
During the term of this Agreement, and thereafter for so long as there are is Loan Indebtedness outstanding, Borrower covenants that unless Bank has first consented thereto in writing, it will not:
8.1 Merger; Disposal or Moving of Collateral. Amalgamate, merge or consolidate with or acquire any substantial portion of the assets or stock of any Person; sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any portion of its properties (including any of the Collateral), except sales or leases of Inventory in the ordinary course of business; or, without having given Bank at least 60 days prior written notice and having executed such instruments and agreements as Bank shall require, change its name, adopt a French form of name, change the location of any Collateral or the location of its chief executive office, principal place of business or the office at which it maintains its Books and Records. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that Borrower is calculating its compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 6 hereof on a consolidated basis, Borrower may move Inventory from one location included in such calculation to another of Borrowers Aarons locations without complying with the notice provisions hereof, as long as such Inventory is properly transferred in the Aarons Proprietary System.
8.2 Liens. Grant or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of the Collateral except Permitted Liens.
8.3 Guarantees. Guarantee, assume, endorse or otherwise become contingently liable for any obligation or indebtedness of any Person, either directly or indirectly, exceeding $25,000 not existing as of this date, except by endorsement of items of payment for deposit or collection.
8.4 Loans. Make loans or advances of money to or investments in any Person, or (except in the ordinary course of business and on fair and reasonable terms) engage in any transaction with a Subsidiary or affiliate.
8.5 Stock of Borrower. Repurchase, or pay or declare any dividend on, any of its capital stock; provided, however, that if no Default Condition or Event of Default exists and Borrower remains in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 6 above after giving effect thereto, it may pay dividends and make such repurchases.
9. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
9.1 List of Events of Default. The occurrence of any one or more of the following conditions or events shall constitute an Event of Default:
(i) Borrower shall fail to pay any of the Loan Indebtedness (including any overadvance) or to repay principal as required in connection with any Asset Disposition within ten (10) days of the due date thereof (whether due at stated maturity, on demand, upon acceleration or otherwise and including any failure to pay resulting from a dishonour of a pre-authorized debit or a return of a pre-authorized debit initiated by Borrower);
(ii) any warranty, representation, or other statement by Borrower herein or in any instrument, certificate or financial statement furnished in compliance herewith proves to have been false or misleading in any material respect when made;
(iii) Borrower shall fail or neglect to perform, keep or observe any covenant contained in this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any other agreement now or hereafter entered into with Bank; Borrower shall fail to abide by the financial covenants set forth in Section 6 hereof, provided that Aarons may waive any financial covenant;
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(iv) Borrower or any Guarantor shall fail to pay when due any amount owed to any creditor (other than Bank) or Borrower or any Guarantor shall fail to pay or perform any liability or obligation in accordance with the terms of any agreement with Bank;
(v) Borrower, Aarons or any Guarantor shall cease to be Solvent, shall die or become incompetent, shall suffer the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or similar fiduciary, shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall make an offer of settlement or composition to their respective unsecured creditors generally;
(vi) any petition for an order for relief shall be filed by or against Borrower or any Guarantor or Aarons under the BIA or the CCAA (if against Borrower or any Guarantor, the continuation of such proceeding for more than 30 days);
(vii) any judgment, writ of attachment or similar process is entered or filed against Borrower or any Guarantor or any of Borrowers or any Guarantors property and such judgment, writ of attachment or process is not dismissed, satisfied or vacated within ten (10) days thereafter or (ii) results in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any Collateral that is not a Permitted Lien;
(viii) any Guarantor shall revoke or attempt to revoke the guaranty signed by such Guarantor or shall repudiate such Guarantors liability thereunder or Aarons shall default in its obligations to Bank with respect to the Loan Indebtedness or repudiate its liability therefor;
(ix) any Person, or group of Persons (whether or not related), shall have or obtain legal or beneficial ownership of a majority of the outstanding voting securities or rights of Borrower, other than any Person, or group of Persons, that has such majority ownership on the date of execution of this Agreement;
(x) Borrower shall lose its franchise, license or right to lease or to sell the Inventory or Borrowers Franchise Agreement is terminated or revoked for any reason;
(xi) Borrower shall fail to enter properly any acquisition of Inventory or Equipment or any Asset Disposition on the Aarons Proprietary System;
(xii) Borrower shall use its FCTA for any use other than as explicitly authorized pursuant to this Agreement; or
(xiii) Borrower shall not have in effect at all times an effective PAD Authorization in respect of the payment of all amounts payable by it hereunder at Set Intervals or shall fail, if so requested by Lender, to execute and deliver a PAD Authorization in respect of any sporadic payment due hereunder.
9.2 Cure Period. Borrower shall have a five (5) calendar day period after Bank gives it notice of the occurrence of an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default pursuant to Section 9.1(vi)) above, during which it may cure such Event of Default. An Event of Default arising under Section 9.1(i)(i)) above shall only be cured by Banks receipt of payment in immediately available funds by wire transfer or pre-authorized debit.
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9.3 Advances. In no event shall Bank have any obligation to make any Loan hereunder or an Advance pursuant to a Line of Credit Commitment hereunder if there exists a Default Condition or an Event of Default.
10. REMEDIES.
All of the Loan Indebtedness shall become immediately due and payable and the Line of Credit Commitment shall be deemed immediately terminated (without notice to or demand upon Borrower) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 9.1(vi) of this Agreement; and upon and after the occurrence of any other Event of Default, subject to the cure period set forth in Section 9.2 hereof, Bank shall have the right to terminate immediately the Line of Credit Commitment and to declare the entire unpaid principal balance of and accrued interest with respect to the Loan Indebtedness to be, and the same shall thereupon become, immediately due and payable upon receipt by Borrower of written notice and demand. From and after the date on which the Loan Indebtedness becomes automatically due and payable or is declared by Bank to be due and payable as aforesaid, Bank shall have and may exercise from time to time any and all rights and remedies afforded to a secured party under the PPSA or any other Applicable Law. If the Loan Indebtedness is collected by or through legal counsel, Bank shall be entitled to collect reasonable legal fees and court costs from Borrower. In addition to, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Bank shall have the rights and remedies set forth in the Security Agreement and the following rights and remedies which it may exercise at any time or times (all of which rights and remedies shall be cumulative and may be exercised singularly or concurrently):
(i) the right to notify any Account Debtor to make all payments owing to Borrower directly to Bank for application to the Loan Indebtedness and to collect all amounts owing from any such Account Debtor;
(ii) the right to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any or all of the Collateral at public or private sale, for cash, upon credit or upon such other terms as Bank deems advisable in its sole discretion, or otherwise to realize upon the whole or from time to time any part of the Collateral in which Bank may have a security interest. Any requirement of reasonable notice shall be met if such notice is sent to Borrower in accordance with Section 12 hereof at least seven (7) days before the date of sale or other disposition of the Collateral. Bank may bid and be the purchaser at any such sale if permitted by Applicable Law;
(iii) the right to require Borrower, at Borrowers expense, to assemble the Collateral and make it available to Bank at a place reasonably convenient to both parties (and, for purposes hereof, Borrower stipulates that Bank shall be entitled to the remedy of specific performance). Alternatively, Bank may peaceably by its own means or with judicial assistance enter Borrowers premises and take possession of the Collateral or dispose of the Collateral on Borrowers premises without interference by Borrower;
(iv) the right to incur legal fees and expenses in exercising any of the rights, remedies, powers or privileges provided hereunder, and the right (but not the obligation) to pay, satisfy and discharge, or to bond, deposit or indemnify against, any tax or other Lien which in the opinion of Bank may in any manner or to any extent encumber any of the Collateral, all of which fees, payments and expenses shall become part of Banks expenses of retaking, holding, preparing for sale and the like, and shall be added to and become a part of the principal amount of the Loan Indebtedness;
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(v) the right, in Banks sole discretion, to perform any agreement of Borrower hereunder which Borrower shall fail to perform and take any other action which Bank deems necessary for the maintenance or preservation of any of the Collateral or Banks interest therein, and Borrower agrees forthwith to reimburse Bank for all expenses incurred in connection with the foregoing, together with interest thereon at the Default Rate from the date incurred until the date of reimbursement;
(vi) the right at any time or times, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand) held by Bank for Borrowers account against any of the Loan Indebtedness, irrespective of whether or not Bank has made any demand under the this Agreement;
(vii) the right to apply the proceeds realized from any collection, sale, lease or other disposition of the Collateral first to the costs, expenses and legal fees incurred by Bank for collection and for acquisition, protection, removal, storage, sale and delivery of the Collateral; secondly, to interest due upon the principal amount of the Loan Indebtedness; and thirdly, to the principal amount of the Loan Indebtedness. If any deficiency shall arise, Borrower and Guarantors shall remain bound and liable to Bank therefor; and
(viii) the right to act as Borrowers attorney in fact (and Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints Bank as Borrowers agent and attorney in-fact), in Borrowers or Banks name, but at Borrowers cost and expense, to receive, open and dispose of all mail addressed to Borrower pertaining to any of the Collateral, to notify postal authorities to change the address and delivery of mail to Borrower to such address as Bank may designate, to sign Borrowers name on any bill of lading constituting or relating to any Collateral, to send verifications with respect to the Collateral, to execute in Borrowers name any affidavits or notices with regard to any and all Lien rights and to do all other acts and things necessary to carry out the terms of this Agreement or to discharge any obligation of Borrower hereunder, this power, being coupled with an interest, is to be irrevocable so long as any Loan Indebtedness is outstanding.
11. WAIVERS.
Borrower waives notice of Banks acceptance hereof. Borrower hereby waives any requirement on the part of Bank to post any bond or other security as a condition to Banks right to obtain an immediate writ of possession with respect to any Collateral. Bank shall not be deemed to have waived any of its rights upon or remedies hereunder or any Event of Default unless such waiver be in writing and signed by Bank. No delay or omission on the part of Bank in exercising any right shall operate as a waiver of such right or any other right. A waiver on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any right on any future occasion.
12. NOTICES.
All notices and demands to or upon a party hereto shall be in writing and shall be sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, personal delivery against receipt or by telecopier or other facsimile transmission and shall be deemed to have been validly served, given or delivered when delivered against receipt or one Business Day after deposit in the mail, postage prepaid, or, in the case of facsimile transmission, when indicated by verification receipt printed by the sending machine as having been received at the office of the noticed party, addressed in each case as follows:
If to Borrower: |
_________________ | |
Attn: _________________ | ||
_________________ | ||
_________________, _________________ _____________ | ||
Telecopier No.: _________________ |
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If to Bank: Attn: Aarons Program Manager 303
Peachtree Street, N.E., 2nd Floor or to such other address as each party may designate for itself by like notice given in accordance with this Section 12.
Any written notice or demand that is not sent in conformity with the provisions hereof shall nevertheless be effective on the date that such notice is actually received by the individual to whose attention such notice is to be sent as specified
above or such individuals successor in office. 13. INDEMNIFICATION. Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify Bank and hold Bank harmless from and against any liability, loss, damage, suit, action or proceeding ever
suffered or incurred by Bank as the result of Borrowers failure to observe, perform or discharge Borrowers duties hereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this indemnity shall extend to any claims asserted against
Bank by any Person under any environmental laws. If any taxes, fees or other charges shall be payable by Borrower or Bank on account of the execution, delivery or recording of any of the Loan Documents or any loans outstanding hereunder, Borrower
will pay (or reimburse Banks payment of) all such taxes, fees or other charges, including any applicable interests and penalties, and will indemnify and hold Bank harmless from and against liability in connection therewith. The indemnity
obligations of Borrower under this Section 13 shall survive the payment in full of the Loan Indebtedness. 14. ENTIRE AGREEMENT;
AMENDMENT. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents embody the entire understanding and agreement between the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof, and this Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an agreement in writing signed by Borrower and Bank. 15. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; but Borrower
shall not assign this Agreement or any right or benefit hereunder to any Person. Bank may assign its rights and obligations hereunder at any time and to any Person, including without limitation, to Aarons. 16. ARBITRATION. ANY
CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DETERMINED BY ARBITRATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION RULES OF THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT OTHERWISE SET FORTH IN THIS
SECTION 16. THE PLACE OF ARBITRATION SHALL BE ATLANTA, GEORGIA AND THE LANGUAGE OF ARBITRATION SHALL BE ENGLISH. THE NUMBER OF ARBITRATORS SHALL BE THREE SELECTED AS FOLLOWS: WITHIN FOURTEEN (14) DAYS AFTER THE COMMENCEMENT OF ARBITRATION,
EACH PARTY WILL APPOINT ONE ARBITRATOR. THESE TWO ARBITRATORS WILL THEN NAME A PRESIDING ARBITRATOR WITHIN FOURTEEN (14) DAYS AFTER THE SELECTION OF THE PARTY APPOINTEES. EACH ARBITRATOR SHALL 24
BE AN ATTORNEY ADMITTED BEFORE THE BAR OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE BAR OF ANY PROVINCE OF CANADA. IF EITHER PARTY FAILS TO APPOINT AN ARBITRATOR, OR IF THE TWO ARBITRATORS DO NOT
NAME A THIRD ARBITRATOR WITHIN THESE TIME PERIODS, THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION SHALL AT THE WRITTEN REQUEST OF EITHER PARTY COMPLETE THE APPOINTMENTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN MADE PURSUANT TO THE INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION RULES OF THE
AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION. THE ARBITRATORS SHALL AWARD TO THE PREVAILING PARTY, IF ANY, AS DETERMINED BY THE ARBITRATORS, ALL COSTS AND EXPENSES OF THE ARBITRATORS AND THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION. ALL WITNESS TESTIMONY AT
THE HEARING SHALL BE TRANSCRIBED BY A PUBLIC STENOGRAPHER OR COURT REPORTER. ALL PARTIES AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE RESULTS OF SUCH ARBITRATIONS; JUDGMENT UPON THE AWARD SO RENDERED MAY BE ENTERED AND ENFORCED IN ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION.
TO THE EXTENT REASONABLY PRACTICABLE, BOTH PARTIES AGREE TO CONTINUE PERFORMING THEIR RESPECTIVE OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WHILE THE DISPUTE IS BEING RESOLVED. 17. MISCELLANEOUS. Time
is of the essence of this Agreement. Bank reserves the right to participate, sell or assign the Loans made hereunder and provide any participant or assignee all information in Banks possession regarding Borrower, its business and the
Collateral. Borrower shall reimburse Bank for Banks out-of-pocket expenses and for the fees and expenses and disbursements of Banks counsel in connection
with the negotiation, documentation and closing of the transactions contemplated hereby, and Borrower will pay all expenses incurred by Borrower in connection with the transactions. The Section headings are for convenience only and shall not limit
or otherwise affect any of the terms hereof. THIS AGREEMENT AND ALL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER, INCLUDING MATTERS OF CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY AND PERFORMANCE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA (WITHOUT REGARD TO
THE LAWS OF CONFLICTS THEREOF) AND IS INTENDED TO TAKE EFFECT AS A SEALED INSTRUMENT. 18. RELATIONS WITH
AARONS. Borrower recognizes and acknowledges that Bank has made the Loans available to Borrower hereunder at the
behest of and as an accommodation to Aarons. Accordingly, Borrower agrees that from time to time Bank may release to Aarons such information about Borrower and the Loans as Aarons may request, and Bank may condition its agreement
to any waiver, modification or amendment on the prior written consent of Aarons. Borrower further agrees that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder, Bank may notify Aarons of such Event of Default prior to notifying
Borrower thereof, and Bank shall not be liable to Borrower for failure to give simultaneous notice to Borrower. Borrower further agrees that Bank shall not be liable to Borrower as a result of any information or document obtained by Bank regarding
Borrower which is shared by Bank with Aarons. 25
WITNESS the hand and seal of the parties hereto on the date first above written. Accepted in Atlanta, Georgia: 26
EXHIBIT A-1 FORM OF LINE
OF CREDIT NOTE FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, _________________ (the Borrower), promises to pay to
the order of TRUIST BANK, a North Carolina banking corporation (the Bank), at Banks principal office in Charlotte, North Carolina, or at such other place as the holder hereof may designate by notice in writing to Borrower,
in immediately available funds in lawful money of Canada, on _________________________, (the Maturity Date, as such date may be extended from time to time, for an additional 364 day period unless either party terminates the Loan
as set forth in Section 2.6 of the Loan Agreement), the lesser of (x) the principal sum of the Line of Credit Commitment: _________________ ($_________________), or (y) so much principal thereof as shall have been from time to time
disbursed hereunder in accordance with that certain Loan Agreement, dated as of [___________], by and between Borrower and Bank (as amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time, the Agreement) and not theretofore repaid,
as shown on the records of Bank. In addition to principal, Borrower agrees to pay interest on the principal amounts disbursed hereunder
at a floating rate of interest equal to the Prime Rate plus an additional _________________________, from time to time, upon such dates as provided for in the Agreement. Interest shall accrue on the outstanding principal balance from the date hereof
up to and through the date on which all principal and interest hereunder is paid in full, and shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days. Such interest is to be paid to Bank at its address set forth
above or as otherwise provided in the Agreement. For informational purposes, as of the date hereof the Prime Rate in effect is __________% per annum, thus producing an initial interest rate under the Agreement on such date of ___________% per annum
and, when adjusted for a year of 365 days, an initial simple interest rate of _____________% per annum. Any principal amount due under this Line of Credit Note (the Note) that is not paid on the due date therefor whether on the
Maturity Date, or resulting from the acceleration of maturity upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as defined in the Agreement), shall bear interest from the date due until payment in full at the Default Rate, as such term is defined in the
Agreement. This Note evidences a loan incurred pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Agreement to which reference is hereby made
for a full and complete description of such terms and conditions, including, without limitation, provisions for the acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the existence or occurrence of certain conditions or events, and the terms of any permitted
prepayments hereof. All capitalized terms used in this Note shall have the same meanings as set forth in the Agreement. Upon the
existence or occurrence of any Event of Default, the principal and all accrued interest hereof shall automatically become, or may be declared, due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Agreement. In addition, this Note is
subject to mandatory prepayment upon the terms and conditions of the Agreement. Bank shall at all times have a right of set off against
any deposit balances of Borrower in the possession of Bank and Bank may apply the same against payment of this Note or any other indebtedness of Borrower to Bank. The payment of any indebtedness evidenced by this Note prior to the Maturity Date
shall not affect the enforceability of this Note as to any future, different or other indebtedness incurred hereunder by Borrower. In the event the indebtedness evidenced by this Note is
collected by legal action or through legal counsel, Bank shall be entitled to recover from Borrower all costs of collection, including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees if collected by or through legal counsel. Borrower acknowledges that the actual crediting of the amount of any disbursement under the Agreement to an account of Borrower or recording
such amount in the records of Bank shall, in the absence of manifest error, constitute presumptive evidence of such disbursement and that such Advance was made and borrowed under the Agreement. Such account records shall constitute, in the absence
of manifest error, presumptive evidence of principal amounts outstanding and the payments made under the Agreement at any time and from time to time, provided, however, that the failure of Bank to record in such account the type or
amount of any Advance shall not affect the obligation of the undersigned to repay such amount together with interest thereon in accordance with this Note and the Agreement. For the purposes of this Note, whenever interest to be paid hereunder is to be calculated on the basis of 360 days or any other period of time
that is less than a calendar year, the yearly rate of interest to which the rate determined pursuant to such calculation is equivalent is the rate so determined multiplied by the actual number of days in the calendar year in which the same is to be
ascertained and divided by 360 or such other number of days in such period, as the case may be. Failure or forbearance of Bank to
exercise any right hereunder, or otherwise granted by the Agreement or by law, shall not affect or release the liability of Borrower hereunder, and shall not constitute a waiver of such right unless so stated by Bank in writing. THIS NOTE AND THE
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND BE GOVERNED BY THE LAW (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF) OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS NOTE. PRESENTMENT FOR PAYMENT, NOTICE OF DISHONOR AND PROTEST ARE HEREBY WAIVED. Executed under hand and seal of Borrower as of the day and year first above written. 2
EXHIBIT A-2 FORM OF TERM
NOTE FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, _________________ (the Borrower), promises to pay to
the order of TRUIST BANK, a North Carolina banking corporation (the Bank), at Banks principal office in Charlotte, North Carolina, or at such other place as the holder hereof may designate by notice in writing to Borrower,
in immediately available funds in lawful money of Canada, _____________________ ($_______________). Repayment will be in _____ consecutive equal monthly installments of principal in the amount of $_____________ based on a ________month amortization
plus accrued and unpaid interest and shall be due and payable on each Payment Date, with the first installment being due and payable on ________________, and the remaining outstanding principal balance, together with all accumulated unpaid interest
shall be due and payable on _________________________, (the Maturity Date). In addition to principal, Borrower agrees
to pay interest on the principal amounts disbursed hereunder at a floating rate of interest equal to the Prime Rate plus an additional _________________________, from time to time, upon such dates as provided for in that certain Loan Agreement dated
as of [____________], by and between Borrower and Bank (as amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time, the Agreement). Interest shall accrue on the outstanding principal balance from the date hereof up to and through
the date on which all principal and interest hereunder is paid in full, and shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days. Such interest is to be paid to Bank at its address set forth above or as otherwise
provided in the Agreement. For informational purposes, as of the date hereof the Prime Rate in effect is __________% per annum, thus producing an initial interest rate under the Agreement on such date of ___________ % per annum and, when adjusted
for a year of 365 days, an initial simple interest rate of _____________% per annum. Any principal amount due under this Term Note (the Note) that is not paid on the due date therefor whether on the due date, or resulting from the
acceleration of maturity upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as defined in the Agreement), shall bear interest from the date due until payment in full at the Default Rate, as such term is defined in the Agreement. This Note evidences a loan incurred pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Agreement to which reference is hereby made for a full and
complete description of such terms and conditions, including, without limitation, provisions for the acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the existence or occurrence of certain conditions or events, and the terms of any permitted prepayments
hereof. All capitalized terms used in this Note shall have the same meanings as set forth in the Agreement. Upon the existence or
occurrence of any Event of Default, the principal and all accrued interest hereof shall automatically become, or may be declared, due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Agreement. In addition, this Note is subject to
mandatory prepayment upon the terms and conditions of the Agreement. Bank shall at all times have a right of set off against any deposit
balances of Borrower in the possession of Bank and Bank may apply the same against payment of this Note or any other indebtedness of Borrower to Bank, irrespective of whether or not Bank has made any demand under the Agreement. The payment of any
indebtedness evidenced by this Note prior to the Maturity Date shall not affect the
enforceability of this Note as to any future, different or other indebtedness incurred hereunder by Borrower. In the event the indebtedness evidenced by this Note is collected by legal action or
through legal counsel, Bank shall be entitled to recover from Borrower all costs of collection, including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees if collected by or through legal counsel. Borrower acknowledges that the actual crediting of the amount of any disbursement under the Agreement to an account of Borrower or recording
such amount in the records of Bank shall, in the absence of manifest error, constitute presumptive evidence of such disbursement. Such account records shall constitute, in the absence of manifest error, presumptive evidence of principal amounts
outstanding and the payments made under the Agreement at any time and from time to time, provided, however, that the failure of Bank to record in such account the type or amount of any advance shall not affect the obligation of the
undersigned to repay such amount together with interest thereon in accordance with this Note and the Agreement. For the purposes of
this Note, whenever interest to be paid hereunder is to be calculated on the basis of 360 days or any other period of time that is less than a calendar year, the yearly rate of interest to which the rate determined pursuant to such calculation
is equivalent is the rate so determined multiplied by the actual number of days in the calendar year in which the same is to be ascertained and divided by 360 or such other number of days in such period, as the case may be. Failure or forbearance of Bank to exercise any right hereunder, or otherwise granted by the Agreement or by law, shall not affect or release
the liability of Borrower hereunder, and shall not constitute a waiver of such right unless so stated by Bank in writing. THIS NOTE AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND BE GOVERNED BY THE LAW (WITHOUT
GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF) OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS NOTE. PRESENTMENT
FOR PAYMENT, NOTICE OF DISHONOR AND PROTEST ARE HEREBY WAIVED. Executed under hand and seal of Borrower as of the day and year first
above written. 2
EXHIBIT B Permitted Liens The following described Liens are Permitted Liens (if none, so state): Trade Names and Styles The following are the only trade names or trade styles ever used by Borrower (if none, so state): Subsidiaries The
following are all of the subsidiaries owned by Borrower (if none, so state): Business Locations The following are all of the locations where Borrower has an office or other place of business or owns assets:
EXHIBIT C COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE OF BORROWER (Pursuant to Section 7.2 of Loan Agreement dated __________________) __________________ (the Borrower) HEREBY CERTIFIES that: This Compliance Certificate is furnished pursuant to the Loan Agreement (the Agreement) dated __________________ by and
between Borrower and TRUIST BANK (Bank). Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms used in this Report have the meanings given to them in this Agreement. The figures and information for determining compliance by Borrower with the financial covenants set forth in the Quarterly Covenant Compliance Report attached
hereto have been prepared based upon the financial reports accompanied hereby and both the Quarterly Covenant Compliance Report and such financial reports are true and complete as of the date hereof. The activities of Borrower during the preceding quarter have been reviewed by the president or other authorized officer or the employees or agents under his
immediate supervision. Based on such review, to the best knowledge and belief of the president or other authorized officer, and as of the date of this Certificate, Borrower has performed and observed each and every covenant contained in the
Agreement to be performed by it, and no Event of Default or Default Condition exists, except for the following: Please describe or indicate
None if none exist: Borrower has properly and accurately reported all Asset Dispositions pursuant to Section 2.10 of the Agreement. WITNESS my hand this _______ day of ______________________, _______.
EXHIBIT D QUARTERLY COVENANT COMPLIANCE REPORT (Section 6Financial Covenants) Test
Borrower
For Quarter Ending:
With respect to the financial covenants set forth below which are calculated based upon the Opening
Date of a store location, the financial information from store locations that have not reached the Opening Date anniversary incorporated into such covenants shall be excluded from such calculations. [Debt Service and] Debt attributable to such
locations and deducted from the final calculations shall be deducted on a pro rata basis calculated by dividing such stores aggregate Net Book Value of Merchandise by the Net Book Value of Merchandise for all store locations. The financial
covenants shall otherwise be calculated on a consolidated basis as to all store locations.
Note: All terms are those used in generally accepted accounting practices unless specifically defined in the Agreement. Note: This covenant will apply and be tested on last day of each calendar quarter, and not be tied to any
Opening Date of store locations in the case of any Borrowers who have Term Loans. In which case, the bracketed portions of this Debt to Rental Revenue covenant will not be applicable. Covenant levels for this covenant will be established by
Aarons or in the applicable Loan Agreement for each Borrower 2
EXHIBIT E FORM OF SECURITY AGREEMENT THIS AGREEMENT is made as of , 20 BETWEEN , a [corporation][limited
partnership][partnership] [incorporated/formed] under the laws of [the Province of ][Canada] (the Debtor), - and
- TRUIST BANK, a North Carolina banking corporation (the Secured Party). WHEREAS the Debtor has entered into the Loan Agreement with the Secured Party pursuant to which certain credit facilities will be extended to
the Debtor; AND WHEREAS the Debtor has agreed to grant a security interest and assignment, mortgage and charge in the Collateral to the
Secured Party in order to secure the performance of its Obligations; NOW THEREFORE THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSES that in consideration of the
covenants and agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows: ARTICLE 1INTERPRETATION 1.1
Interpretation. In this Agreement, unless something in the subject matter or context is inconsistent therewith, capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in this Agreement have the meanings given to them in the Loan agreement and: Agreement means this agreement, including its recitals and schedules, as amended from time to time. Collateral has the meaning set out in Section 2.1. Loan Agreement means the loan agreement made as of , 20 between the Debtor and the Secured Party as amended from time to time.
Event of Default means any of the events described as events of default in the Loan Agreement. Obligations means all obligations and liabilities of any kind whatsoever of the Debtor to the Secured Party in connection with or relating
to the Loan Agreement, including all debts and liabilities, present or future, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or not, whenever, wherever and however incurred, in any currency at any time owing by the Debtor to the Secured Party
or remaining unpaid by the Debtor to the Secured Party and whether the same is from time to time reduced and thereafter increased or entirely extinguished and thereafter incurred again, whether incurred by the Debtor alone or with another or others
and whether as principal or surety or otherwise, including all interest, commissions, legal and other costs, charges and expenses.
The terms accessions, accounts, chattel paper,
documents of title, goods, instruments, intangibles, inventory, money, proceeds and securities whenever used herein have the meanings given to those
terms in the Personal Property Security Act currently in effect in the province referred to in Section 5.13 below. 1.2 Headings. The
division of this Agreement into Articles and Sections and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and do not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. The terms hereof, hereunder and
similar expressions refer to this Agreement and not to any particular Article, Section or other portion hereof. Unless something in the subject matter or context is inconsistent therewith, references herein to Articles and Sections are to Articles
and Sections of this Agreement. 1.3 Extended Meanings. In this Agreement words importing the singular number only include the plural and vice versa, words importing any gender include all genders and words importing persons include
individuals, corporations, limited and unlimited liability companies, general and limited partnerships, associations, trusts, unincorporated organizations, joint ventures and governmental authorities. The term including means
including without limiting the generality of the foregoing. The inclusion of reference to Permitted Liens in the Loan Agreement or herein, by reference or otherwise, is not intended to subordinate, and will not subordinate, the security
granted hereunder to any such Permitted Lien. ARTICLE IIGRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST 2.1 Security Interest. As general and continuing security for the payment and performance of all Obligations, the Debtor hereby grants to the Secured
Party a security interest in all of the Debtors present and after-acquired undertaking and property, both real and personal including, without limitation, all Lease Contracts (collectively, the Collateral), and, as further
general and continuing security for the payment and performance of the Obligations, the Debtor hereby also assigns the Collateral (other than trademarks) to the Secured Party and mortgages and charges the Collateral as and by way of a fixed and
specific mortgage and charge to the Secured Party. 2.2 Attachment of Security Interest. The Debtor acknowledges that value has been given and
agrees that the security interest granted hereby attaches upon the execution of this Agreement by the Debtor (or, in the case of any after-acquired property, at the time of acquisition by the Debtor of any rights therein). 2.3 Real Property. The assignment, mortgage and charge granted hereby will not extend to the last day of the term of any lease or agreement relating to
real property, but the Debtor will hold such last day in trust for the Secured Party and, upon the enforcement by the Secured Party of its security, will assign such last day as directed by the Secured Party. ARTICLE IIIDEALING WITH COLLATERAL 3.1
Dealing with Collateral by the Debtor. The Debtor must not sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any of the Collateral without the prior written consent of the Secured Party, except that the Debtor may, until an Event of Default occurs, deal
with its money or rent, lease or sell items of Inventory in the ordinary course of its business so that the purchaser thereof takes title thereto free and clear of the security interest, assignment and mortgage and charge granted hereby, but all
proceeds of any such sale will continue to be subject to the security granted hereby. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and the exercise by the Secured Party of any of its rights and remedies under Section 4.1, all money received by
the Debtor will be held by the Debtor in trust for the Secured Party and must be held separate and apart from other money of the Debtor and paid over to the Secured Party on request. 2
3.2 Rights and Duties of the Secured Party. The Secured Party may perform any of its rights and
duties hereunder by or through agents and is entitled to retain counsel and to act in reliance upon the advice of such counsel concerning all matters pertaining to its rights and duties hereunder. ARTICLE IVREMEDIES 4.1 Consequences of
a Default. On or after the occurrence of any Event of Default that has not been either cured or waived, at the option of the Secured Party, (a) any or all of the Obligations not yet payable will become immediately payable, without
presentment, protest, notice of protest or notice of dishonour, all of which are expressly waived; (b) the obligation, if any, of the Secured Party to extend further credit to the Debtor will cease; and (c) the security granted hereby will
become immediately enforceable. 4.2 Remedies. In addition to any right or remedy otherwise provided herein or by law, on or after the occurrence
of any Event of Default that has not been either cured or waived, the Secured Party will have the rights and remedies set out in the Loan Agreement and those rights and remedies set forth below, all of which may be enforced successively or
concurrently: (a) the Secured Party may take possession of the Collateral and require the Debtor to assemble the Collateral and deliver or
make the Collateral available to the Secured Party at such places as may be specified by the Secured Party, and neither the Secured Party nor any Receiver will be or be deemed to be a mortgagee in possession by virtue of any such actions; (b) the Secured Party may take such steps as it considers desirable to maintain, preserve or protect the Collateral; (c) the Secured Party may carry on, or concur in the carrying on of, all or any part of the business of the Debtor; (d) the Secured Party may have, exercise or enforce any rights of the Debtor in respect of the Collateral; (e) the Secured Party may sell, lease or otherwise dispose of the Collateral at public auction, by private tender, by private sale or otherwise
either for cash or upon credit, upon such terms and conditions as the Secured Party may determine and without notice to the Debtor unless required by law; (f) the Secured Party may accept all or any part of the Collateral in total or partial satisfaction of the Obligations in the manner provided
by law; (g) the Secured Party may, for any purpose specified herein, including for the maintenance, preservation or protection of any
Collateral or for carrying on any of the business or undertaking of the Debtor, borrow money on the security of the Collateral, which security will rank in priority to the security granted hereby; (h) the Secured Party may occupy and use all or any of the premises, buildings and plants occupied by the Debtor and use all or any of the
Equipment and other property of the Debtor for such time as the Secured Party requires to facilitate the realization of the Collateral, free of charge and the Secured Party will not be liable for any rent, charges, depreciation or damages in
connection with such actions, nor will the Secured Party or any Receiver be or be deemed to be a mortgagee in possession by virtue of any such actions; 3
(i) the Secured Party may appoint a receiver or receiver and manager (each herein referred
to as the Receiver) of the whole or any part of the Collateral and may remove or replace such Receiver from time to time or may institute proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a Receiver of the
Collateral; (j) the Secured Party may discharge any claim, lien, mortgage, charge, security interest, encumbrance or any rights of others
that may exist or be threatened against the Collateral, and in every such case the amounts so paid together with costs, charges and expenses incurred in connection therewith will be added to the Obligations. 4.3 Powers of the Receiver. Any Receiver will have all of the rights and powers that the Secured Party is entitled to exercise pursuant to
Section 4.3 but the Secured Party will not be in any way responsible for any misconduct or negligence of any such Receiver. 4.4 Liability of
Secured Party. The Secured Party will not be liable or responsible for any failure to seize, collect, realize, or obtain payment with respect to the Collateral and is not bound to institute proceedings or to take other steps for the purpose of
seizing, collecting, realizing or obtaining possession or payment with respect to the Collateral or for the purpose of preserving any rights of the Secured Party, the Debtor or any other person in respect of the Collateral. In the exercise of its
rights and the performance of its obligations, the Secured Party will only be liable for gross negligence or wilful misconduct. 4.5 Proceeds of
Realization. The Secured Party may apply any proceeds of realization of the Collateral to payment of costs, fees and expenses, including those related to the realization of the Collateral, and the Secured Party may apply any balance to payment
of all other Obligations in such order as the Secured Party sees fit. If there is any surplus remaining, the Secured Party may pay it to any person entitled thereto by law of whom the Secured Party has knowledge and any balance remaining may be paid
to the Debtor. If the realization of the Collateral fails to satisfy the Obligations, the Debtor will be liable to pay any deficiency to the Secured Party. 4.6 Waivers by Debtor. The Secured Party may (a) grant extensions of time, (b) take and perfect or abstain from taking and perfecting
security, (c) give up any security, (d) accept compositions or compromises, (e) grant releases and discharges, and (f) otherwise waive rights against the Debtor, debtors of the Debtor, guarantors and others and with respect to
the Collateral and other security as the Secured Party sees fit. No such action or omission will reduce the Obligations or affect the Secured Partys rights hereunder. ARTICLE VGENERAL 5.1 Appointment of
Consultant. The Secured Party will be entitled to an appoint a consultant to provide such services and advice as the Secured Party may determine in its sole discretion, with power to enter the Debtors premises, to inspect and evaluate the
Collateral, to make copies of the Debtors records, to review the Debtors business plans and projections, to assess the conduct and viability of the Debtors business, to prepare reports on the Debtors affairs and to distribute
such reports to the Secured Party or to other such persons as the Secured Party may direct. Such consultant will act as an agent for the Secured Party and will owe no duty to the Debtor. The consultant is to have no managerial or advisory capacity
and will have no decision making responsibility. The Debtor authorizes the Secured Party to provide confidential information to the consultant. All fees and expenses in connection with the engagement of a consultant are payable by the Debtor to the
Secured Party. 4
5.2 Waivers of Legal Limitations. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Debtor waives all of
the rights, benefits and protections that is given by the provisions of any law that imposes limitations upon the powers, rights or remedies of a secured party, including any law that limits the rights of a secured party to both seize Collateral and
sue for any deficiency following realization of Collateral. Without limitation, the Debtor (if a corporation) agrees that the Limitation of Civil Rights Act and Part IV of the Saskatchewan Farm Securities Act of the
Province of Saskatchewan will not apply to this agreement or any of the rights, remedies or powers of the Secured Party or any Receiver hereunder. 5.3
Benefit of the Agreement. This Agreement will enure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and permitted assigns of the parties. 5.4 Entire Agreement. This Agreement has been entered into pursuant to the provisions of the Loan Agreement and is subject to all the terms and
conditions thereof and, if there is any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the Loan Agreement, the rights and obligations of the parties will be governed by the provisions of the Loan Agreement.
This Agreement cancels and supersedes any prior understandings and agreements between the parties with respect thereto. There are no representations, warranties, terms, conditions, undertakings or collateral agreements, express, implied or
statutory, between the Secured Party and the Debtor with respect to the subject matter hereof except as expressly set forth herein or in the Loan Agreement. 5.5 Amendments and Waivers. No amendment to this Agreement will be valid or binding unless set forth in writing and duly executed by all of the
parties. No waiver of any breach of any provision of this Agreement will be effective or binding unless made in writing and signed by the party purporting to give the same and, unless otherwise provided, will be limited to the specific breach
waived. 5.6 Assignment. The rights of the Secured Party under this Agreement may be assigned by the Secured Party without the prior consent of the
Debtor. The Debtor may not assign its obligations under this Agreement. 5.7 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is determined by any
court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal or unenforceable, that provision will be severed from this Agreement and the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions
contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to either of the parties. 5.8 Notices. Any demand, notice or other
communication to be given in connection with this Agreement must be given in accordance with the Loan Agreement 5.9 Remedies Cumulative; Additional
Continuing Security. The rights and remedies of the Secured Party hereunder are cumulative and are in addition to and not in substitution for any other security now or hereafter held by the Secured Party or any other rights or remedies available
at law or in equity or otherwise. No single or partial exercise by the Secured Party of any right or remedy precludes or otherwise affects the exercise of any other right or remedy to which the Secured Party may be entitled. This Agreement is a
continuing agreement and security that will remain in full force and effect until discharged by the Secured Party. 5.10 Further Assurances. Each
of the Debtor and the Secured Party will from time to time execute and deliver all such further documents and instruments, including financing statements and schedules, and do all acts and things as the other party may reasonably require to
effectively carry out or better evidence or perfect the security granted hereby and the full intent and meaning of this Agreement. 5
5.11 Power of Attorney. The Debtor hereby irrevocably appoints any officer for the time being of the
Secured Party the true and lawful attorney of the Debtor upon the occurrence of an Event of Default that is continuing, with full power of substitution, to do all things and execute and deliver all such documents and instruments, including financing
statements and schedules, as are referred to in Section 5.9 above, with the right to use the name of the Debtor whenever and wherever the officer may deem necessary or expedient and from time to time to exercise all rights and powers and to
perform all acts of ownership in respect to the Collateral in accordance with this Agreement. 5.12 Discharge. The Debtor will be entitled to a
discharge of this Agreement and termination of any and all commitments under the Loan Agreement or under any other Loan Document upon written request by the Debtor and full and irrevocable payment, performance and satisfaction of the Obligations. No
discharge will be effective unless in writing and executed by the Secured Party. 5.13 Governing Law. This Agreement is governed by and will be
construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of and the laws of Canada applicable therein. 5.14 Copy of Documents and Consent to
Filings. The Debtor acknowledges having received a fully executed copy of this Agreement and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, waives all rights to receive from the Secured Party a copy of any financing statement, financing change
statement, or verification statement, filed or issued at any time in respect of this Agreement. The Debtor confirms its consent to the filing by the Secured Party or on its behalf of any financing statement or financing change statement filed or
issued at any time in respect of this Agreement. IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have executed this Agreement.
c/s 6
c/s 7
EXHIBIT F FORM OF PAYORS PAD AGREEMENT Business Pre-Authorized Debit Plan* - Authorization of the Payor to the Payee to Direct Debit an Account Instructions: Please complete all sections in order to instruct your financial institution to make payments directly from
your account. Please sign the Terms and Conditions that are part of this document. Return the completed form with a blank cheque marked VOID to the Payee at the address noted below.
If you have any questions, please write or call the Payee. PAYOR INFORMATION (Please type or print clearly) Payor Name: Address: Telephone: Name(s) of Authorized Signing Officer(s): Signature(s) of Authorized Signing Officer(s): Date: PAYOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTION/BANKING INFORMATION (Please type or print clearly) Branch Number Institution # Account Number Name of Financial Institution Branch Branch Address City/Province Postal Code
PAYEE INFORMATION (Please type or print clearly) Payee Name: Address: Number, Street/Avenue/Blvd/Crsc/ City/Province/Postal Code Telephone: Fax: Email: PAYMENT INFORMATION (Please type or print clearly) Please specify whether the payment is a: ☐ Fixed Amount: (Please specify) ☐ Variable Amount: If variable, please specify whether there is a maximum amount or indicate
N/A if there is no maximum amount: Occurring at: ☐ Set intervals: Please specify the timing (i.e. weekly,
Sporadic intervals The Payor must describe the occurrence of an Event or other criteria that will trigger the debit of the account ☐Mandatory description here:
Are top-ups or adjustments permissible? ☐ Yes ☐ No This form is for PADs which relate to commercial activities of a Payor who is a corporation, organization,
trade, association, government entity, profession, venture or enterprise. 2
PAYORS PAD AGREEMENT Business Pre-Authorized Debit Plan Terms & Conditions 1. In this Agreement we, us and our refers to the
Payor indicated on page 1. 2. We agree to participate in this Business
Pre-Authorized Debit Plan and we authorize the Payee indicated on page 1 and any successor or assign of the Payee to draw a debit in paper, electronic or other form for the purpose of making payment for goods
or services related to our commercial activities (a Business PAD) on our account indicated on the page 1 (the Account) at the financial institution indicated on page 1 (the Financial Institution) and we authorize
the Financial Institution to honour and pay such debits. This
Agreement and our authorization are provided for the benefit of the Payee and our Financial Institution and are provided in consideration of our Financial Institution agreeing to process debits against our Account in accordance with the Rules of the
Canadian Payments Association. We agree that any direction we
may provide to draw a Business PAD, and any Business PAD drawn in accordance with this Agreement, shall be binding on us as if signed by us, and, in the case of paper debits, as if they were cheques signed by us. 3. We may revoke or cancel this Agreement at any time upon notice being provided by us
either in writing or orally. We acknowledge that in order to revoke or cancel the authorization provided in this Agreement, we must provide notice of revocation or cancellation to the Payee. This Agreement applies only to the method of payment and we agree
that revocation or cancellation of this Agreement does not terminate or otherwise have any bearing on any contract that exists between us and the Payee. The Payee shall use best efforts to cancel the Business PAD in the next business, billing or processing cycle but shall within not more
than 30 days from the notice cease to issue any new Business PADs. We understand that we may obtain a sample cancellation form, or further information on our right to cancel a PAD Agreement, at our
financial institution or at www.cdnpay.ca. 4. We agree that our Financial Institution is not required to verify that any
Business PAD has been drawn in accordance with this Agreement, including the amount, frequency and fulfillment of any purpose of any Business PAD. 5. We agree that delivery of this Agreement to the Payee constitutes delivery by us
to our Financial Institution. We agree that the Payee may deliver this Agreement to the Payees financial institution and agree to the disclosure of any information which may be contained in this Agreement to such financial
institution. 6. (a) We understand that with respect to: (i) fixed amount Business PADs occurring at set intervals, we shall receive written notice from the Payee of the
amount to be debited and the due date(s) of debiting, at least 10 calendar days before the first Business PAD, and such notice shall be received every time there is a change in the amount or payment date(s), except as provided in clause
(iii) below; (ii) variable
amount Business PADs occurring at set intervals, we shall receive written notice from the Payee of the amount to be debited and the due date(s) of debiting, at least 10 calendar days before the due date of every Business PAD, except as provided in
clause (iii) below; and (iii) fixed amount and variable amount Business PADs occurring at set intervals, where the Business PAD
Plan provides for a change in the amount of such fixed and variable amount PADs as a result of our direct action (such as, but not limited to, a telephone instruction) requesting the Payee to change the amount of a PAD, no pre-notification of such changes is required.
2
Signature of Authorized Signing Officer Name: Title: Signature of Authorized Signing Officer Name: Title: 3
EXHIBIT C TO LOAN
FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY FORM OF LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT THIS LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (this Agreement) dated as of _______________, is made between _________________
(Borrower), and TRUIST BANK (Bank), a North Carolina banking corporation having its principal office in Charlotte, North Carolina. W I T N E S S E T H: WHEREAS, Borrower engages in the business of leasing and selling furniture, electronics, appliances, and other household goods and is a
franchisee of Aarons, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company formerly known as Aarons, Inc. (Aarons); WHEREAS, Borrower has requested and Bank has agreed to provide financing to Borrower; WHEREAS, Borrower and Bank wish to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions of Banks establishment of a credit
facility for Borrower; THEREFORE, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, and in consideration of the mutual premises set forth
above and other adequate consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows: 1. DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION 1.1. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below (terms defined in the singular to have the same
meaning when used in the plural and vice versa): Aarons Proprietary System shall mean Aarons proprietary
point of sale software system, as modified from time to time, used by Aarons and its franchisees, such as Borrower. Account means any right of Borrower to payment for goods sold or leased or for services rendered which is not evidenced by
an Instrument or Chattel Paper, whether or not earned by performance. Account Debtor means any Person who is liable on
an Account. Advance shall mean an advance of funds by Bank on behalf of Borrower pursuant to the Line of Credit Note
or Revolving Note executed by Borrower. Agreement means this Loan and Security Agreement and all exhibits, riders and
schedules at any time executed by the parties and made a part hereof by reference, either as originally executed or as hereafter amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time. Anti-Corruption Laws shall mean all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to Borrower and its
Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.
Applicable Law means all laws, rules and regulations applicable to the
Person, conduct, transaction, covenant or Loan Documents in question, including, without limitation, all applicable law and equitable principles; all provisions of all applicable state and federal constitutions, statutes, rules, regulations and
orders of governmental bodies; and all orders, judgments and decrees of all courts and arbitrators. Approved Invoice
means an invoice for the aggregate purchase price of Merchandise purchased by Borrower with a purchase order approved by Aarons. Asset Disposition shall mean (i) all sales of Merchandise; (ii) all Merchandise which is determined to have been
stolen; (iii) all Merchandise that is destroyed, lost or otherwise removed from the premises of Borrower other than pursuant to a Lease Contract or by outright sale or for repair work; and (iv) all skipped Merchandise which is
Merchandise subject to a Lease Contract. Asset Disposition Prepayment shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.12(b) hereof. Balances means all monies and funds of Borrower at any time on deposit with Bank. Bank shall mean Truist Bank and its successors and assigns. Bankruptcy Code means the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, as may be amended from time to time. Books and Records means all of Borrowers books and records evidencing or relating to its business, financial
condition or the Collateral, including, but not limited to, all customer lists, ledgers, invoices, purchase orders, financial statements, computer tapes and disks. Borrowing Base shall mean, on any date of determination, an amount equal to [____] multiplied by Rental Revenue for the
most recently ended three calendar months. Borrowing Base Report shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.5(iv) hereof. Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which
commercial banks in Charlotte, North Carolina are authorized by law to close. Chattel Paper shall have the meaning
ascribed to it in the Code. Closing Date shall mean for (i) the Revolving Commitment, the date set forth in the
Revolving Note on which all Loan Documents have been executed and delivered and the conditions precedent to funding the loan have been satisfied, (ii) the Term Loan, the date set forth in the Term Note on which all Loan Documents have been
executed and delivered and the conditions precedent to funding the loan have been satisfied and (iii) the Line of Credit Commitment, the date set forth in the Line of Credit Note on which all Loan Documents have been executed and delivered and
the conditions precedent to funding the loan have been satisfied. Closing Fee shall have the meaning given to such
term in Section 2.13 hereof. Code means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State
of Georgia. Collateral shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 3.1 hereof. 2
Collateral Agreement means an agreement executed by Borrower and any
other Persons primarily or secondarily liable for all or part of the Loans or granting a security interest to Bank in specified Collateral as security for the Loans, including without limitation, this Agreement and any Guaranties. Commitment Fee shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.14 hereof. DDA Account shall mean Borrowers Demand Deposit Account into which Bank shall deposit the Advances for the purpose of
(i) paying, by means of ACH transfer, Approved Invoices arising from purchases of Merchandise from a supplier, including any freight charges to the extent Aarons consents thereto and (ii) paying, to Borrowers own account upon
the consent of Aarons, state use taxes associated therewith. Debt means (i) indebtedness for borrowed money
or for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable on customary terms in the ordinary course of business), (ii) financial obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments,
(iii) financial obligations as lessee under leases which shall have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases, and (iv) obligations under direct or indirect guaranties in respect of, and obligations (contingent
or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire, or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss in respect of, indebtedness or financial obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (i) through (iii) above. Debt Service shall mean, for any particular period, the total required payments of principal (excluding any payments of
principal required to be made as a result of any Asset Disposition), interest and fees made by Borrower with respect to its Debt (other than Debt of the Borrower which is subordinated to the Loan Indebtedness owing to the Bank pursuant to a
subordination agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank) during such period to the extent that such Debt arises pursuant to this Agreement or any other financing arrangement with respect to Merchandise. Default Condition means the occurrence of any event which, after satisfaction of any requirement for the giving of notice
or the lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default. Default Rate means the annual percentage interest
rate applied to the principal of the Loans not paid when due under the terms of the applicable Loan Documents, which rate shall equal the sum of two percent (2%) per annum plus the Floating Rate. Delinquent Payment Fee shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.15 hereof. Documents shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Code. Environment means navigable waters, waters of the contiguous zone, ocean waters, natural resources, surface waters, ground
water, drinking water supply, land surface, subsurface strata, ambient air, both inside and outside of buildings and structures. Environmental Laws means federal, state, local and foreign laws, principles of common law, regulations and codes, as well
as orders, decrees, judgments or injunctions issued, promulgated, approved or entered thereunder relating to pollution, protection of the environment or public health and safety, including, but not limited to the release or threatened release of
Hazardous Substances into the Environment or otherwise relating to the presence, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Substances. 3
Equipment means all machinery, equipment, furniture, fixtures, motor
vehicles and other tangible personal property (other than Inventory) of Borrower, including, but not limited to, all items described on the Equipment Schedule (if attached) and all substitutions and replacements thereof. ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. Event of Default shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 9 hereof. Floating Rate means a rate of interest per annum equal to the Prime Rate plus an additional [four and three-quarters]
percent ([4.75%]6) per annum, such rate to change as and when the Prime Rate changes. Franchise Agreement means the written agreement between Aarons and Borrower whereby Borrower is authorized to
establish an Aarons franchise. GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States, consistently applied. General Intangibles shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Code and shall include,
without limitation, all of Borrowers tax refund claims, patents, copyrights, licenses, trademarks, trade names, service marks, patent applications and choses in action. Guarantor means each Person who now or hereafter guarantees payment of the whole or any part of the Loan Indebtedness. Guaranty means any guaranty agreement executed by each of the partners, shareholders, and where not prohibited by law, the
spouses of such persons, of Borrower, or such other Persons as may be required by the Bank, in favor of the Bank with respect to the obligations of Borrower with respect to the Loans in the form provided by the Bank, as the same may be amended,
restated or supplemented from time to time. Hazardous Substances means any waste, pollutant, hazardous substance,
toxic substance, hazardous waste, special waste, industrial substance or waste, petroleum or petroleum-derived substance or waste, or any constituent of any such substance or waste, including without limitation, any such substance regulated under or
defined by any Environmental Law. Instrument shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Code. Inventory means all inventory of Borrower, including, without limitation, all raw materials,
work-in-process, finished goods, goods being leased pursuant to Lease Contracts, and other goods held by Borrower for sale or lease or furnished under contracts of
service. Investment Property shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Code. Lease Contract means a contract between Borrower and a customer to lease Merchandise in the form approved by Aarons
(and which may include purchase options). Lien means any interest in property securing an obligation, whether such
interest is based on the common law, statute or contract, including, without limitation, a security interest, lien or security title arising from a security agreement, mortgage, security deed, trust deed, pledge or condition sale, or a lease,
consignment or bailment for security purposes. Note: This interest rate shall be as designated by Aarons in the applicable loan Funding Approval Notice.
4
Line of Credit Commitment means the committed line of credit facility
established by the Bank in favor of Borrower in the amount set forth in the Line of Credit Note and upon the terms described in this Agreement. Line of Credit Loan means a loan or an advance made by the Bank to the Borrower under its Line of Credit Commitment. Line of Credit Note means a note executed by Borrower in favor of Bank, substantially in the form of
Exhibit A-1 attached hereto in the committed principal amount of the Banks Line of Credit Commitment evidencing the obligation of the Borrower to repay its Line of Credit
Loans. Loan Account means the internal bank loan account established by the Bank for Borrower. Loan Documents means this Agreement, the Notes, the Collateral Agreements, any other documents relating to the Loans
delivered by Borrower or any guarantor or surety thereof to the Bank and any amendments thereto. Loan Indebtedness
means all amounts due and payable by Borrower under the terms of the Loan Documents with respect to the Loans made thereunder, including, without limitation, outstanding principal, accrued interest, any late charges, and all reasonable costs and
expenses of any legal proceeding brought by the Bank to collect any of the foregoing (including without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees). Loans means the Line of Credit Loans, Revolving Loans or Term Loans. Loan Term shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.8 hereof. Maturity Date shall mean for (i) the Revolving Commitment, the date set forth in the Revolving Note, (ii) the
Term Loan, the date set forth in the Term Note and (iii) the Line of Credit Commitment, the date set forth in the Line of Credit Note. Merchandise means goods distributed or sold to Borrower through Aarons. Net Book Value means, for any item of Merchandise, the cost of such Merchandise less accumulated depreciation as
calculated in accordance with the Aarons Proprietary System. Note means the Line of Credit Note, the Revolving
Note, or the Term Note, as the case may be. OFAC shall mean the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of
Foreign Assets Control. Opening Date shall mean with respect to each store location, the date determined by
Aarons to be the opening date of such location in accordance with its standard practice, as notified to the Bank. Payment
Date shall mean the last day of each calendar month; provided, however, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day. Permitted Liens means Liens in favor of Bank or Aarons; Liens for taxes not yet due or payable; statutory Liens
securing the claims of materialmen, mechanics, carriers and landlords for labor, materials, supplies or leases incurred in the ordinary course of Borrowers business, but only if payment thereof is not at the time required and such Liens are at
all times junior in priority to the Liens in favor of Bank; Liens shown on Exhibit B (if any); and Liens hereafter consented to by Bank in writing. 5
Person means a corporation, an association, partnership, an organization,
a business, a business trust, a limited liability company, an individual, a government or political subdivision thereof or a governmental agency. Prime Rate means the per annum rate of interest designated from time to time by the Bank to be its prime rate, with any
change in the rate of interest resulting from a change in the Prime Rate to be effective as of the opening of business of the Bank on the day of such change. The prime rate is one of several reference rates used by the Bank and the Bank makes loans
at rates both higher and lower than the Prime Rate. Quarterly Covenant Compliance Report shall mean that Quarterly
Covenant Compliance Report substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto. Rental
Revenue means, for any period, the gross revenues of Borrower from leases to the public of Borrowers furniture inventory, computer, electronics, appliances and lease equipment including, without limitation, all customer deposits,
advance lease payments, waiver fees, late fees, delivery fees, nonsufficient fund fees, reinstatement fees, but excluding all retail sales proceeds and sales taxes. Revolving Commitment means the committed revolving facility established by the Bank in favor of Borrower in the amount set
forth in the Revolving Note and upon the terms described in this Agreement. Revolving Loan means a loan or an advance
made by the Bank to the Borrower under its Revolving Commitment. Revolving Note means a note executed by Borrower in
favor of Bank, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 attached hereto, in the committed principal amount of the Banks Revolving Commitment evidencing the obligation of the
Borrower to repay its Revolving Loans. Sanctioned Country shall mean, at any time, a country or territory that is, or
whose government is, the subject or target of any Sanctions. Sanctioned Person shall mean, at any time, (i) any
Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any EU member state, (ii) any Person located, organized or resident
in a Sanctioned Country or (iii) any Person controlled by any such Person. Sanctions shall mean economic or
financial sanctions or trade embargoes administered or enforced from time to time by (i) the U.S. government, including those administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State or (ii) the United Nations Security Council, the European
Union or Her Majestys Treasury of the United Kingdom. Solvent means, as to any Person, such Person (i) is
able to pay, and does pay, its debts as they mature and (ii) has a positive tangible net worth determined in accordance with GAAP. 6
Spousal Consent shall mean any agreement provided by the spouse of any
Person executing a Guaranty to the extent such spouse has not personally executed a Guaranty, to be substantially in the form provided by the Bank. Subsidiary means any corporation or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting
power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned by Borrower. Term Loan shall mean a single loan made by the Bank to the Borrower in an amount not to exceed the Term Loan Commitment.
Term Loan Commitment shall mean the obligation of the Bank to make a Term Loan in favor of Borrower in the
amount set forth in the Term Note and upon the terms described in this Agreement. Term Note means a note executed by
Borrower in favor of Bank, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-3 attached hereto in the committed principal amount of the Banks Term Loan Commitment evidencing the
obligation of the Borrower to repay its Term Loan. 1.2. Accounting Terms and Determination. Accounting terms used in this
Agreement such as amortization, depreciation, interest expense, and tangible net worth shall have the meaning normally given them by, and shall be calculated (both as to amounts and classification of
items) in accordance with, GAAP. Any pronoun used herein shall be deemed to cover all genders. All references to statutes and related regulations shall include any amendments of same and any successor statutes and regulations, and all references to
any instruments or agreements, including, without limitation, references to any of the Loan Documents, shall include any and all modifications or amendments thereto and any and all extensions or renewals thereof. 2. LOAN; USE OF PROCEEDS. 2.1.
Establishment of DDA Account; Loan Account. (a) Prior to the Closing Date, Bank shall establish a DDA Account for Borrower. (b) Prior to the Closing Date, Bank shall also establish on its books an internal loan account in Borrowers name (the Loan
Account) in which Bank shall record, in accordance with customary accounting practice, all charges, expenses and other items properly chargeable to Borrower; all payments made by Borrower on account of indebtedness evidenced by the Loan
Account; all proceeds of Collateral which are finally paid to Bank at its office in cash or solvent credits; and other appropriate debits and credits. The debit balance of the Loan Account shall reflect the amount of Borrowers Loan
Indebtedness from time to time by reason of the Loans and other appropriate charges hereunder. At least once each month, Bank shall render a statement of account for the Loan Account, which statement shall be considered correct, and accepted by and
conclusively binding upon Borrower, unless Borrower notifies Bank to the contrary within thirty (30) days after Banks sending of said statement to Borrower. 2.2. Establishment of Line of Credit Loan. Any Line of Credit Commitment now or hereafter committed to by Bank pursuant to which
Borrower shall execute and deliver to Bank a Line of Credit Note shall be governed by and issued pursuant to the provisions, terms and conditions set forth herein. 7
2.3. Line of Credit Advances. (i) Upon Borrowers execution of this Agreement and a Line of Credit Note and compliance with the terms of this Agreement, and subject to
Banks confirmation if requested by Aarons that Bank has a first priority security interest in the Collateral, Bank shall notify Borrower that Borrower may request Advances pursuant to the Line of Credit Commitment. Bank shall make such
Advances into the DDA Account (or, with the written consent of Aarons, such other account for which wiring instructions have been provided to the Bank) for the sole purposes of (x) honoring requests from Borrower, made through the
Aarons Proprietary System, for ACH transfers (or such other method approved in writing by Aarons) to suppliers of Merchandise in payment of Approved Invoices, including any freight charges to the extent Aarons consents thereto, or
with Aarons consent, to Borrowers own account for the payment of sales use taxes or (y) honoring requests from any Borrower for Advances made via ACH transfers to an operating account or other location specified by such Borrower
(and granted a vendor identification number by Aarons) and, to the extent permitted by Aarons, for working capital and for other purposes to the extent approved by Aarons. The maximum principal amount of Advances under the Line of
Credit Commitment at any time outstanding shall not exceed the committed amount of the Line of Credit Commitment. Each Advance shall be in the amount of not less than $500. (ii) Borrower shall submit purchase order requests for Merchandise to Aarons from time to time. In the event that the purchase order is
authorized pursuant to the Franchise Agreement, Aarons will prepare the purchase order and submit the same to the appropriate supplier requested by Borrower. The supplier will be instructed to ship all Merchandise directly to Borrower and
Borrower will be responsible for (i) inspecting all Merchandise and resolving all disputes regarding the Merchandise with such supplier and (ii) paying all freight and other shipping and/or insurance charges arising in connection therewith
with funds other than Loan proceeds, unless otherwise agreed by Aarons. The supplier will invoice Borrower for such Merchandise in accordance with normal industry practice. When Borrower wishes to pay such invoice, Borrower, subject to
availability of the Line of Credit Commitment, shall pay such invoice by directing the Bank, through the Aarons Proprietary System, to pay such invoice by means of an ACH transfer from its DDA Account (or such other method approved in writing
by Aarons). Any directions for ACH transfers correctly inputted into the Aarons Proprietary System prior to 12:00 Midnight (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on any Business Day, shall be paid by the Bank no later than the third Business
Day thereafter, unless Borrower is otherwise notified by Aarons or the Bank. (iii) Upon receipt of the request for an ACH transfer
(provided that such request relates to an Approved Invoice), the Bank shall honor such request by making an Advance pursuant to the Line of Credit Commitment in the amount of such request into the Borrowers DDA Account (or, with the written
consent of Aarons, such other account for which wiring instructions have been provided to the Bank) and automatically forwarding such amount to the supplier by means of an ACH transfer in accordance with the instructions of Borrower (or such
other method approved in writing by Aarons). Upon receipt of any request to deposit funds into an account in the name of Borrower and receipt of Aarons approval thereof, the Bank shall honor such request by making an Advance pursuant to
the Line of Credit Commitment in the amount of such request into the Borrowers DDA Account or, with the written consent of Aarons, such other account for which wiring instructions have been provided to the Bank) and automatically
forwarding such amount to such account of the Borrower by means of an ACH transfer in accordance with the instructions of Borrower (or such other method approved in writing by Aarons). In the event that a request for an ACH transfer is
presented for payment and Borrowers availability pursuant to the Line of Credit Commitment is insufficient to honor such request, the Bank may, but shall have no obligation to, make such overadvance, which shall be an Advance for all purposes
hereunder, but shall be due and payable upon demand. At the end of each calendar month, Bank shall provide Borrower with a monthly DDA Account statement in the form customarily used by Bank for its commercial customers and a loan account statement.
8
(iv) The aggregate amount of Advances made to the Borrower during such month shall be
amortized into eighteen (18) or twenty-four (24) (as designated by Aarons in writing from time to time) equal payments of principal due and payable on the next succeeding Payment Dates; provided that, in the event that the Bank
terminates the Line of Credit Commitment as provided in Section 2.8 below, all outstanding amounts shall be due and payable on the 24th Payment Date following such termination. 2.4. Establishment of Revolving Loan. Any Revolving Commitment now or hereafter committed to by Bank pursuant to which Borrower shall
execute and deliver to Bank a Revolving Note shall be governed by and issued pursuant to the provisions, terms and conditions set forth herein. 2.5. Revolving Advances. (i) Upon Borrowers execution of this Agreement and a Revolving Note and compliance with the terms of this Agreement and subject to
Banks confirmation if requested by Aarons that Bank has a first priority security interest in the Collateral, Bank shall notify Borrower that Borrower may request Advances pursuant to the Revolving Commitment. Bank shall make such
Advances into the DDA Account (or, with the written consent of Aarons, such other account for which wiring instructions have been provided to the Bank) solely for the purposes specified in Section 2.3. The maximum principal amount of
Advances under the Revolving Commitment at any time outstanding shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the committed amount of the Revolving Commitment and (B) the sum of the Borrowing Base minus the outstanding principal amount of the Term
Loan, as most recently reported by Aarons to Bank pursuant to Section 2.5(iv) hereof (such lesser amount herein referred to as the Revolver Availability). Each Advance shall be in the amount of not less than $500. (ii) Borrower shall submit purchase order requests for Merchandise to Aarons. In the event that the purchase order is authorized
pursuant to the Franchise Agreement, Aarons will prepare the purchase order and submit the same to the appropriate supplier requested by Borrower. The supplier will be instructed to ship all Merchandise directly to Borrower and Borrower will
be responsible for (i) inspecting all Merchandise and resolving all disputes regarding the Merchandise with such supplier and (ii) paying all freight and other shipping and/or insurance charges arising in connection therewith with funds
other than Loan proceeds, unless otherwise agreed by Aarons. The supplier will invoice Borrower for such Merchandise in accordance with normal industry practice. When Borrower wishes to pay such invoice, Borrower, subject to the Revolver
Availability, shall pay such invoice by directing the Bank, through the Aarons Proprietary System, to pay such invoice by means of an ACH transfer from its DDA Account (or such other method approved in writing by Aarons). Any directions
for ACH transfers correctly inputted into the Aarons Proprietary System prior to 12:00 Midnight (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on any Business Day, shall be paid by the Bank no later than the third Business Day thereafter, unless Borrower is
otherwise notified by Aarons or the Bank. (iii) Upon receipt of the request for an ACH transfer (provided that such request relates
to an Approved Invoice), the Bank shall honor such request by making an Advance pursuant to the Revolving Commitment in the amount of such request into the Borrowers DDA Account (or, with the written consent of Aarons, such other account
for which wiring instructions have been provided to the Bank) and automatically forwarding such amount to the supplier by means of an ACH transfer in accordance with the instructions of Borrower (or such other method approved in writing by
Aarons). Upon receipt of any request to deposit funds into an account in the name of Borrower and receipt of Aarons approval thereof, the Bank shall honor such request by making an Advance pursuant to the Revolving Commitment in the
amount of such request into the Borrowers DDA Account (or, with the written consent of Aarons, such other account for which wiring instructions have been provided to the Bank) and automatically forwarding such amount to such account of
the Borrower by means of an ACH 9
transfer in accordance with the instructions of Borrower (or such other method approved in writing by Aarons). In the event that a request for an ACH transfer is presented for payment and
Borrowers availability pursuant to the Revolving Commitment is insufficient to honor such request, the Bank may, but shall have no obligation to, make such overadvance, which shall be an Advance for all purposes hereunder, but shall be due and
payable upon demand. At the end of each calendar month, Bank shall provide Borrower with a monthly DDA Account statement in the form customarily used by Bank for its commercial customers and a loan account statement. (iv) On the fifth Business Day of each month, for Borrowers with a Revolving Loan (as determined on the last day of the preceding calendar
month), Aarons shall calculate the Borrowing Base and report the same to Bank in writing (the Borrowing Base Report), and Bank shall be entitled to rely conclusively upon such information. Upon receipt of the Borrowing Base Report,
Bank shall input such information into Banks loan records to be effective as of the date which is two Business Days after receipt of such information. On the 15th day of each calendar month,
Bank shall mail to Borrower a bill setting forth the total amount of principal (to the extent that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans exceeds the lesser of the Revolving Commitment or the Borrowing Base as set forth in
the most recent Borrowing Base Report) and interest due on the next Payment Date which bill shall be considered correct, and accepted by and conclusively binding upon Borrower, unless Borrower notifies Bank to the contrary within thirty
(30) days after Banks sending of said bill to Borrower. In addition, Bank, on the date which is two Business Days after receipt of the Borrowing Base Report from Aarons, shall notify Borrower in writing (including facsimile) of the
new Borrowing Base for Borrower and shall require that Borrower repay on the next Payment Date any additional Advances made since the date of the preparation of the statement for such Payment Date if necessary to avoid any overadvance as of such
date and such amount (in addition to any amounts set forth in the bill to Borrower) shall be due and payable on the next Payment Date. 2.6. Term Loan. Any Term Loan Commitment now or hereafter committed to by Bank pursuant to which Borrower shall execute and deliver to
Bank a Term Note shall be governed by and issued pursuant to the provisions, terms and conditions set forth herein. Upon Borrowers execution of this Agreement and a Term Note and compliance with the terms of this Agreement and subject to
Banks confirmation if requested by Aarons that Bank has a first priority security interest in the Collateral, Bank may make a Term Loan to the Borrower in a principal amount not to exceed the Term Loan Commitment; provided, that
if for any reason the full amount of the Banks Term Loan Commitment is not fully drawn on the Closing Date, the undrawn portion thereof shall automatically be cancelled. 2.7. Repayment. (i)
Line of Credit Loans. Payments of principal and interest with respect to Line of Credit Loans shall be due and payable by Borrower to Bank on each Payment Date and subject to the provisions of Section 2.8 below, on the Maturity Date for
the Line of Credit Commitment, unless sooner accelerated in accordance with the terms hereof. (ii) Revolving Loans. Payments of
principal for Revolving Loans shall be due and payable by Borrower to Bank, subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b) below, on the Maturity Date for the Revolving Commitment, unless sooner accelerated in accordance with the terms hereof.
(iii) Term Loans. Payments of principal for Term Loans shall be due and payable by Borrower to Bank in installments payable on the
dates set forth in the Term Note, provided, that, to the extent not previously paid, the aggregate unpaid principal balance of the Term Loans shall be due and payable on the Maturity Date for the Term Loan. 10
(iv) Except as provided below, all payments of principal of, or interest on, the Loan
Documents (including Asset Disposition Prepayments) and all other sums due under the terms of the Loan shall be made in either (x) immediately available funds (including ACH transfers), or (y) checks or money orders made payable to the
Bank at its principal office in Charlotte, North Carolina in accordance with written instructions provided by the Bank. All voluntary prepayments of the Loan shall be made to the Bank at its Program Lending Department in Atlanta, Georgia using
preprinted envelopes provided by the Bank for such purpose or, if such envelopes are unavailable, mailed to the following address: Aarons Program Manager Truist Bank Program Lending
303 Peachtree Street, N.E., 2nd Floor Mail Code 1802 Atlanta,
Georgia 30308 2.8. Loan Term; Voluntary Termination. (i) The original term of the Line of Credit Commitment shall be for a period of one year from the Closing Date (the Loan Term).
Thereafter, the Loan Term shall automatically be extended on each anniversary of the Closing Date for an additional one year period unless either party terminates the Loan as set forth hereunder. Upon ninety (90) days prior written notice to
the Borrower, the Bank may, at its option, terminate the Line of Credit Commitment. Upon written notice to the Bank, the Borrower may, at its option, terminate the Line of Credit Commitment. Bank may also terminate the Line of Credit Commitment
pursuant to Section 10 hereof. Upon the effective date of a termination of the Line of Credit Commitment effected by Borrower, the principal of and all accrued but unpaid interest on the Loan Indebtedness shall be forthwith due and payable, but
all of the duties and covenants of Borrower hereunder, and all rights, remedies and privileges of Bank under this Agreement and Banks security interest in the Collateral, shall continue in full force and effect until all of the Loan
Indebtedness is fully and finally paid. In the event Bank elects to terminate, (i) Bank shall continue to make Advances until the effective date of the termination and (ii) Advances outstanding at the effective date of the termination
shall be repaid according to an eighteen (18) month amortization schedule or a twenty-four (24) month amortization schedule provided above, provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing all outstanding Loan Indebtedness shall be due and
payable in full on the 24th Payment Date following termination of the Line of Credit Commitment by the Bank. Nothing set forth in this Section 2.8 shall be deemed to limit the ability of the Bank to declare all amounts outstanding under the
Note immediately due and payable upon the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder as provided herein. (ii) The Revolving Commitment
and the Term Loan shall terminate on the Maturity Date for the Revolving Commitment and the Term Loan set forth in the Revolving Note and the Term Note, as the case may be, which date shall be no more than four years from the Closing Date, subject
to Section 10 hereof. Upon the termination of the Revolving Commitment or the Term Loan, the principal of and all accrued but unpaid interest on the Loan Indebtedness shall be forthwith due and payable, but all of the duties and covenants of
Borrower hereunder, and all rights, remedies and privileges of Bank under this Agreement and Banks security interest in the Collateral, shall continue in full force and effect until all of the Loan Indebtedness is fully and finally paid. 11
2.9. Interest. (a) From and after the date hereof, interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal amount of the Loan Indebtedness at the Floating Rate.
Interest shall be calculated daily and shall be computed on the basis of actual days elapsed over the period of a 360 day year. Interest shall be payable in arrears on each Payment Date and on the Maturity Date, whether due to acceleration or
otherwise. Any principal amount outstanding pursuant to a Loan not paid when due shall bear interest at the Default Rate, which shall be payable upon demand. After the occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuance thereof, the
outstanding principal balance of the Loans shall bear interest at the Default Rate, which shall be payable upon demand. (b) In no
contingency or event whatsoever shall the amount paid or agreed to be paid to Bank for the use, forbearance or detention of money advanced under this Agreement exceed the highest lawful rate permissible under Applicable Law. It is the intent hereof
that Borrower will not pay or contract to pay, and that Bank not receive or contract to receive, directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever, interest in excess of that which may be charged to and paid by Borrower under Applicable Law. All
interest (and charges deemed interest) paid or agreed to be paid to Bank shall, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, be amortized, pro rated, allocated and spread in equal parts throughout the full term hereof until payment in full of the
principal amount of the Loan Indebtedness owing hereunder (including the period of any renewal or extension hereof) so that interest on the principal amount of the Loan Indebtedness outstanding hereunder for such full period will not exceed the
maximum amount permitted by Applicable Law. 2.10. Loan Prepayment. (a) Voluntary Prepayment. Borrower shall have the right to prepay the Loans in whole or in part upon at least two (2) Business
Days prior written notice to Bank. Partial prepayments of any Line of Credit Loan (other than proceeds of Asset Dispositions which shall be applied as set forth in the following Section 2.12(b)) shall be applied to reduce the current
months Advance(s) to such Borrower with any excess prepayment applied to unpaid principal payments of the Loan as Aarons may request and the Servicer may agree in its sole discretion (which may include, but is not limited to, application
of such excess prepayment to unpaid principal payments of the Loan in inverse order of maturity or on a pro rata basis). (b) Mandatory
Prepayment. (i) For the Line of Credit Loan, mandatory prepayment shall be required for Asset Dispositions. For the Revolving Loan, on any Payment Date on which the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loan exceeds the
lesser of the Revolving Commitment or the Borrowing Base, as most recently reported to Borrower by Bank pursuant to Section 2.5(iv) hereof, Borrower shall prepay the Revolving Loans in the amount of such overadvance, as notified to Borrower by
Bank. 2.11. Audits. Borrower hereby consents and authorizes Aarons or the Bank or any agent or representative thereof to
conduct periodic field audits of Borrower. Such field audits may include, without limitation, examinations of the payment receipts, tax returns, bank statements, loan statements, Lease Contracts, inventory on hand, computer-generated reports of
Asset Dispositions, Rental Revenue and other financial data necessary to determine the accuracy and validity of the reports, compliance certificates, financial reports and other information forwarded to either of the Bank or Aarons by Borrower
in connection with the Loan. 2.12. Tracking of Merchandise; Asset Dispositions. (a) All Merchandise financed by the Bank must be serialized by means of the Aarons Proprietary System for appropriate reconciliation of
Advances and receipt of Merchandise and for purposes of tracking Asset Dispositions, if applicable. Borrower shall be obligated to furnish serial numbers for all Merchandise purchased directly to Aarons on a weekly basis (and, if available, on
a daily basis) by transmittal of Borrowers receiving report (containing Aarons Proprietary System numbers) directly to Aarons on the Aarons Proprietary System. As set forth more fully below, Aarons will maintain and
track such information as agent for the Bank and the Bank shall at all times have access to such information. 12
(b) If Borrower has a Line of Credit Note and an Asset Disposition occurs, Borrower shall
immediately report such Asset Disposition to Aarons by means of the Aarons Proprietary System, such information to include the Aarons Proprietary System numbers, and if assigned, the serial numbers of the Merchandise subject to the
Asset Disposition, the Net Book Value of such Merchandise and the proceeds received by Borrower therefrom. Aarons, on a monthly basis, shall transmit all such information to the Bank in a summary form. Based solely on such information provided
by Aarons, the Bank will notify Borrower on a monthly basis, of the amount of the required prepayment (the Asset Disposition Prepayment) of the aggregate outstanding amount of the Line of Credit Loan due on the next Payment Date
which amount shall be equal to the Net Book Value of the Asset Dispositions during the preceding month not applied to Advances made during such month as set forth above, unless otherwise agreed to by the Bank. The Borrower shall be notified by the
Bank by the 15th day of each calendar month of the Asset Disposition Prepayment and payment thereof shall be due on the next succeeding Payment Date. 2.13. Closing Fee. On the Closing Date of each Loan, Borrower shall pay to Bank a closing fee (Closing Fee) in the amount
of $500 per store location [plus $5,000]7. 2.14. Commitment Fees. (a) Borrower shall pay a commitment fee (the Commitment Fee) on any unused portion of the Line of Credit Commitment and the
Revolving Commitment in the amount of _________________% per annum, such Commitment Fee to be paid quarterly in arrears on every third Payment Date, commencing on the third Payment Date after the Closing Date. (b) All Commitment Fees shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Bank. 2.15. Delinquent Payment Fees. In the event that any payment due and payable hereunder is not received by the Bank on the Payment Date
when due, the Borrower shall, upon request from the Bank, pay to the Bank a delinquent payment fee (the Delinquent Payment Fee) in an amount equal to the greater of (i) one percent (1%) of the amount of the late payment and
(ii) $500.00. 3. COLLATERAL AND INSURANCE. 3.1. Granting of Security Interest in Collateral. As security for the payment and performance of all of the Loan Indebtedness, Bank
shall have and Borrower hereby grants to Bank a continuing security interest in the following described property of Borrower, whether now in existence or hereafter created or acquired and wherever located (collectively, the Collateral):
all Accounts, Merchandise, Inventory, Investment Property, Equipment, General Intangibles, Documents, Instruments, Chattel Paper (including, but not limited to, the Lease Contracts), Balances, fixtures, and Books and Records, and all products and
proceeds of the foregoing (including insurance proceeds). The Loan Indebtedness shall also be secured by any other property (whether real or personal) in which Borrower may have heretofore or concurrently herewith granted, or may hereafter grant, a
Lien in favor of Bank. Note: in the case of a Borrower with a Revolving Commitment or a Term Loan Commitment that has customized
financial covenants as specified by Aarons in accordance with Section 6 hereof, an additional $5,000 fee will be charged. 13
3.2. Form of Lease Contracts. All Lease Contracts will (a) be in a form
prescribed by Aarons for use by its franchisees, (b) be transferable to Bank and (c) contain the following provision directly above Borrowers customers signature: NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY, THE UNDERSIGNED ACKNOWLEDGES AND CONSENTS TO THE TRANSFER OF, OR
GRANT OF A SECURITY INTEREST IN, ANY OR ALL OF THE LESSORS RIGHT, TITLE AND INTEREST (RESIDUAL OR OTHERWISE) IN AND UNDER THIS AGREEMENT TO ANY THIRD PARTY. NO SUCH TRANSFER OR GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST WILL: (A) AFFECT THE
UNDERSIGNEDS LOAN INDEBTEDNESS; (B) CHANGE ANY DUTIES OF, OR INCREASE ANY BURDENS OR RISKS IMPOSED ON, THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT; OR (C) GIVE RISE TO ANY RIGHTS OR REMEDIES PROVIDED UNDER
SECTION 2A-303(1)(b) OF THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE, AS ADOPTED IN THE APPLICABLE JURISDICTION. NO ENFORCEMENT OF ANY SECURITY INTEREST WILL CONSTITUTE A TRANSFER THAT CHANGES ANY DUTIES OF, OR INCREASES
ANY BURDENS OR RISK IMPOSED ON, THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT. THE UNDERSIGNED WAIVES ALL RIGHTS AND REMEDIES PROVIDED UNDER SECTION 2A-303 OF THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE, AS ADOPTED IN THE APPLICABLE
JURISDICTION. Immediately upon execution of the same, all Lease Contracts shall be hereby assigned to Bank, and, immediately upon Banks
request, delivered to Bank together with any and all related documents, and will contain, by way of a stamp or as a part of the preprinted lease contract, the following legend directly below Borrowers customers signature: FOR VALUE RECEIVED, THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO TRUIST BANK AND THERE ARE NO DEFENSES AGAINST THE ASSIGNEE. Borrower will not assign, sell, pledge, convey or by any other means transfer to any person other than Bank any Lease Contracts or Chattel Paper, without
Banks prior written consent. 3.3. Other Documents. Borrower shall execute and deliver, or shall be caused to be executed and
delivered, to Bank such other instruments, agreements, assignments, notifications or other documents relating to the Collateral as Bank may from time to time request in order to evidence, perfect or continue the perfection of Banks Liens upon
any of the Collateral. 3.4. Insurance. Borrower shall maintain and keep in force insurance of the types and in the amounts
customarily carried in lines of business similar to Borrowers and such other insurance as Bank may require, including, without limitation, theft, fire, public liability, business interruption, casualty, property damage, and workers
compensation insurance, which insurance shall be carried with companies and in amounts satisfactory to Bank. All casualty and property damage insurance shall name Bank as mortgagee, sole loss payee or additional insured, as appropriate. Borrower
shall deliver to Bank from time to time, at Banks request, copies of all such insurance policies and certificates of insurance and schedules setting forth all insurance then in effect. Each policy of insurance shall contain a clause requiring
the insurer to give not less than thirty (30) days prior written notice to Bank in the event of any lapse, termination or cancellation of the policy for any reason whatsoever and a clause that the interest of Bank shall not be impaired or
invalidated by any act or neglect of Borrower or owner of the property nor by the occupation of the premises for purposes more hazardous than are permitted by said policy. All such insurance policies shall contain such other provisions as Bank may
require in order to protect Banks security interests in the collateral and Banks right to receive payments under such policies. Borrower hereby appoints Bank as
attorney-in-fact for Borrower to file claims under any insurance policies, to 14
receive, receipt and give acquittance for any payments that may be payable to Borrower thereunder, and to execute any and all endorsements, receipts, releases, assignments, reassignments, or
other documents that may be necessary to effect the collection, compromise or settlement of any claims under any such insurance policies, which power of attorney shall be deemed coupled with an interest and irrevocable so long as Bank shall have a
security interest in any of the Collateral pursuant to this Agreement. If Borrower shall fail to procure such insurance or to pay any premium with respect thereto, then Bank may, at its discretion, procure such insurance or pay such premium and any
costs so incurred by Bank shall constitute a part of the liabilities secured hereby. Bank may apply the proceeds of any insurance policy received by Bank to the payment of any liabilities, whether or not due, in such order of application as Bank
shall determine. Borrower shall promptly furnish Bank with certificates or other evidence satisfactory to Bank indicating compliance with the foregoing insurance requirements. 3.5. Validation and Collection of Accounts. Whether or not a Default Condition or an Event of Default has occurred, Bank shall have the
right, at any time or times hereafter, in the name of Bank or any designee of Bank to verify the validity, amount or any other matter relating to any Accounts by mail, telephone or otherwise, and Borrower shall fully cooperate with Bank in an effort
to facilitate and promptly conclude any such verification process. Unless Bank shall at any time following the occurrence of an Event of Default, elect to give notice to Account Debtors to make payments on the Accounts directly to Bank, Borrower
shall endeavor in the first instance to make collection of its Accounts for Bank. Borrower shall at the request of Bank notify the Account Debtors of the security interest of Bank in any Account and Bank may itself at any time so notify Account
Debtors. Upon or after the occurrence of an Event of Default, Borrower shall (if and to the extent requested to do so by Bank) notify the Account Debtors to make all payments owing to Borrower directly to Bank for application to the Loan
Indebtedness. 3.6. Maintenance of Collateral. Borrower shall maintain all Inventory and Equipment in good condition, reasonable
wear and tear excepted in the case of Equipment, and shall, as and when requested by Bank, provide Bank with a list of all of the Equipment and evidence of ownership thereof. Borrower shall not permit any of the Equipment to become affixed to any
real property so that such Equipment is deemed a fixture under the real estate laws of the applicable jurisdiction. 3.7. Expenses
Relating to Collateral. Borrower shall pay Bank on demand an amount equal to any and all expenses, including legal fees, incurred or paid by Bank in connection with Banks insuring, maintaining, protecting, storing, safeguarding, or paying
Liens with respect to any of the Collateral or otherwise discharging any duty or obligation of Borrower with respect to any of the Collateral. 3.8. Rights to Collateral. Bank shall have no duty to collect, protect or preserve the underlying value of any Collateral or any income
thereon or to preserve any rights against prior parties. Bank may exercise its rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral without first resorting (and without regard) to any other security for the Loan or other sources of payment or
reimbursement for the Loan Indebtedness. 4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT. Borrower shall deliver and Bank shall have received the following documents, each in form and substance satisfactory to Bank, as conditions
precedent of the Loans: (a) a validly executed copy of this Agreement; (b) the validly executed Notes; 15
(c) a validly executed copy of a Guaranty of each partner or majority
stockholder of Borrower, and to the extent not prohibited by Applicable Law, the spouse of such Person; provided, however, that if such spouse is not providing a Guaranty, a validly executed copy of the Spousal Consent; (d) All documentation and other information with respect to the Credit Parties that Aarons or any Participant reasonably
believes is required by regulatory authorities under applicable know-your-customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the Patriot Act; (e) a validly executed subordination agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank, from each other debtholder of
Borrower; (f) valid Uniform Commercial Code Financing Statements suitable for filing to enable Bank to perfect the
security interest granted to it under this Agreement; (g) evidence of Borrowers good standing; (h) a validly executed officers certificate or such other evidence acceptable to Bank evidencing Borrowers
corporate, partnership or other necessary authorization of the Loans and incumbency; (i) a certificate of insurance from
an insurer acceptable to Bank evidencing Borrowers compliance with Section 3.4 hereof and naming the Bank as loss payee/additional insured as follows: Aarons Program Manager Truist Bank Program Lending
303 Peachtree Street, N.E., 2nd Floor Mail Code 1802 Atlanta,
Georgia 30308 (j) a validly executed authorization to make the ACH transfers for payments of principal, interest and fees
contemplated hereunder, including without limitation, Asset Disposition Prepayments, mandatory prepayments of the Loans pursuant to Section 2.10(b), which authorization shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank; and (k) an initial Borrowing Base Report from Aarons, if applicable. In addition, Bank shall have satisfied itself that there are no Liens on any of the Collateral, and Bank shall be satisfied that all corporate
or partnership proceedings necessary for the authorization of the Loan shall have been taken and the Bank shall have received any other documents that it deems necessary or advisable. 16
5. BORROWERS REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. To induce Bank to enter into this Agreement, Borrower represents and warrants as follows: 5.1. Organization and Qualification of Borrower. Borrower is _________________ under the laws of the state shown on the first page
hereof, and is qualified to do business in all jurisdictions where the character of its properties or the nature of its activities make such qualification necessary. 5.2. Trade Names, Subsidiaries and Location of Assets. Exhibit B attached hereto and made a part hereof fully
and accurately discloses any legal name, trade name or style ever used by Borrower, any Subsidiaries owned by Borrower, and each office, other place of business or location of assets of Borrower. 5.3. Corporate or Other Authority; No Violation of Other Agreements. The execution, delivery and performance by Borrower of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Borrower and do not and will not (i) violate any provision of Borrowers articles of incorporation,
by-laws, or other organizational documents or any Applicable Law, or (ii) be in conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute (following notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any
agreement to which Borrower is a party or by which Borrower or any of its property is bound. 5.4. Enforceability. This Agreement
and each of the other Loan Documents create legal, valid and binding obligations of Borrower enforceable against Borrower in accordance with their respective terms. 5.5. Entire Agreement. The Notes and accompanying Loan Documents executed in connection with the Loans and delivered to Bank are the
only contracts evidencing the transaction described herein and constitute the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the transaction. 5.6. Genuineness of Signatures. The Notes and each accompanying Loan Document executed in connection with the Loans are is genuine and
all signatures, names, amounts and other facts and statements therein and thereon are true and correct. 5.7. Litigation. There are
no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending or, to the knowledge of Borrower, threatened before any court or administrative or governmental agency that may, individually or collectively, adversely affect the financial condition or
business operations of Borrower. 5.8. Financial Condition. Borrowers financial statement previously delivered to
Aarons, fairly and accurately presents the financial condition of Borrower as of such date and has been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, and since the date of that financial statement, there has been no material adverse
change in the financial condition of Borrower. Borrower is now and will remain Solvent. 5.9. Taxes. All federal, state and local
tax returns have been duly filed, and all taxes, assessments and withholdings shown on such returns or billed to Borrower have been paid, and Borrower maintains adequate reserves and accruals in respect of all such federal, state and other taxes,
assessments and withholdings. There are no unpaid assessments pending against Borrower for any taxes or withholdings, and Borrower knows of no basis therefor. 17
5.10. Compliance with Laws. Borrower has duly complied with, and its properties and
business operations are in compliance in all material respects with, the provisions of all Applicable Laws, including, without limitation ERISA, the Fair Labor Standards Act and all Environmental Laws. Borrower possesses all permits, franchises,
licenses, trademark rights, trade names, patents and other authorizations necessary to enable it to conduct its business operations as now conducted, and no filing with, and no consent, authorization, order or license of, any Person is necessary in
connection with the execution or performance of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents. 5.11. No Default. No Default Condition
or Event of Default exists. 5.12. Accounts. Each Account arises out of a bona fide lease or sale and delivery of goods or
rendition of services by Borrower and, unless otherwise indicated by Borrower to Bank in writing promptly after learning thereof, the facts appearing on the invoice evidencing such Account and Borrowers books relating thereto are true and
accurate and payment thereof is not subject to any known dispute, offset or claim except for discounts granted in the ordinary course of Borrowers business that are reflected on the face of such invoice. 5.13. Use of Proceeds. None of the proceeds of any Advances or the Term Loan by Bank have been or will be used (i) to purchase or
carry (or to satisfy or refinance any indebtedness incurred to purchase or carry) any margin stock (as defined in Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board), (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 or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto. Advances shall be made for the sole purposes of
honoring requests for ACH transfers to (a) suppliers of Merchandise in payment of Approved Invoices, and (b) other accounts specified by Borrower with respect to Advances made for working capital purposes, subject to the approval of
Aarons, which requests have been entered by the Borrower in the Aarons Proprietary System as provided above, or upon the consent of Aarons, for the purpose of payment of state use taxes and freight charges. The proceeds of the Term
Loan shall be used for acquisition financing, general working capital purposes or such other purpose approved by Aarons. 5.14
Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance in all material respects by Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers,
employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers (in such capacity), employees (in such capacity) and, to the knowledge of Borrower, its directors and agents, are
in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions. None of (a) Borrower, any Subsidiary or any of their respective officers (in such capacity) or employees (in such capacity), or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any
director or agent of Borrower or any Subsidiary is a Sanctioned Person. No Advance nor the Term Loan, use by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the proceeds thereof or other transactions contemplated hereby will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or
applicable Sanctions. Each submission of an Approved Invoice made by Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall constitute an
automatic representation and warranty by Borrower to Bank that there does not then exist any Default Condition or Event of Default and a reaffirmation as of the date of said request that all representations and warranties of Borrower contained in
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true in all material respects. All representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or in any of the other Loan Documents shall survive the execution, delivery and acceptance hereof by Bank
and the closing of the transactions described herein. 18
FINANCIAL COVENANTS. Borrower shall comply with the following financial covenant[s]: [(i) Rental Revenue to Debt Service. Commencing on the first day of the calendar quarter in which the 25th month
following the Opening Date of the first store location of the Borrower occurs and measured as of the last day of the calendar quarter in which such 25th month occurs and on the last day of each calendar quarter thereafter, the ratio of the
Borrowers Rental Revenue to Debt Service for such quarter shall not be less than 2.2:1.0;]8 (ii) Debt to Rental Revenue. [Commencing on the first day of the calendar quarter in which the first day of the 19th
month following the Opening Date of the first store location of Borrower occurs and measured as of the last day of the calendar quarter in which such 19th month occurs and on the last day of each calendar quarter thereafter,][On the last day of each
calendar quarter] the ratio of Borrowers Debt to Borrowers Rental Revenue, shall not exceed [ ]:1.0.9 To the extent any of the financial covenants set forth above in this Section 6 are calculated based upon the Opening Date of a store
location, the financial information from store locations that have not reached the Opening Date anniversary incorporated into such covenants shall be excluded from such calculations. Debt Service and Debt attributable to such locations and deducted
from the final calculations shall be deducted on a pro rata basis calculated by dividing such stores aggregate Net Book Value of Merchandise by the Net Book Value of Merchandise for all store locations. The financial covenants shall otherwise
be calculated on a consolidated basis as to all store locations. BORROWERS AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS. During the term of this Agreement, and thereafter for so long as there is any outstanding Loan Indebtedness to Bank, Borrower covenants that,
unless otherwise consented to by Bank in writing, it shall: 7.1. Financial Reports. Deliver to Aarons or cause to be
delivered to Aarons: (i) on or before the last Business Day of each month, an unaudited balance sheet and income
statement accurately reflecting the financial transactions and status of the Borrower as of the end of the prior month and on a year to date basis, on a consolidated and per store basis; prepared in accordance with GAAP in the format recommended by
Aarons; (ii) on or before the last Business Day of each month after the end of each calendar quarter (a) an
unaudited balance sheet and income statement accurately reflecting the financial transactions and status of Borrower as of the end of the prior month and on a quarterly basis, on a consolidated and per store basis, prepared in accordance with GAAP
in the format recommended by Aarons, and (b) a compliance certificate as described below in Section 7.2; Note: This covenant will not apply in the case of any Borrowers who have Revolving Loans or Term Loans as, in
such case, the Borrowing Base in the applicable Loan Agreement will apply in lieu of this covenant. Note: This covenant will apply and be tested on last day of each calendar quarter and not be tied to any
Opening Date of store locations in the case of any Loan Agreement providing for Loans to be made available to a Borrower consisting of Revolving Loans and/or Term Loans. Covenant levels for this covenant will be established by Aarons for each
Borrower as per the Servicing Agreement. 19
(iii) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year a balance sheet and
income statement of Borrower as of the end of such year, compiled by such firm of independent public accountants as may be designated by Borrower and be satisfactory to Bank as prepared in accordance with GAAP and, to the extent delivered to
Aarons, audited financial statements for such period; (iv) within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, an
annual personal financial statement of each Guarantor; and (v) with reasonable promptness, all reports by Borrower to its
shareholders and such other information as Aarons or the Bank may reasonably request from time to time. 7.2. Compliance
Certificate. Prepare and deliver to Aarons, to the extent that Borrower has a Line of Credit Loan, in conjunction with the quarterly financial reports required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.1(iii) above, a quarterly Compliance
Certificate (the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit C) including the Quarterly Covenant Compliance Report attached hereto as Exhibit D) presenting the calculation of the financial
covenants set forth above in Section 6, noting any negative variances with the covenants and explaining any such variances. Borrower acknowledges
that Aarons will review each Compliance Certificate and may revise the calculations set forth on such Compliance Certificate to be consistent with the information shown on quarterly detailed Inventory reconciliation reports and detailed
revenue reports prepared by Aarons each quarter showing the amount of Inventory at each of Borrowers stores as of the end of such quarter and the amount of monthly and quarterly revenue at each of Borrowers stores. Borrower
acknowledges that Aarons will forward copies of each Compliance Certificate, with revised calculations as appropriate, to Bank and agrees that Bank shall be entitled to rely each such Compliance Certificate, as revised by Aarons, for
purposes of determining whether the covenants set forth in Section 6 above have been met. 7.3. Books and Records. Maintain
its Books and Records and accounts in accordance with GAAP and permit any Person designated by Bank or Aarons to visit Borrowers premises, inspect any of the Collateral or any of the Books and Records, and to make copies thereof and take
extracts therefrom, and to discuss Borrowers financial affairs with Borrowers financial officers and accountants. 7.4.
Taxes. Promptly file all tax returns and pay and discharge all taxes, assessments, withholdings and other governmental charges imposed upon it, its income or profits, or upon any property belonging to it, prior to the date on which penalties
attach thereto. 7.5. Notices to Bank. Promptly notify Bank in writing of (i) the occurrence of any Default Condition or Event
of Default; (ii) any pending or threatened litigation claiming damages in excess of $25,000 or seeking relief that, if granted, would adversely affect the financial condition or business operations of Borrower; (iii) the release or
discharge of any Hazardous Substance on any property owned by Borrower; and (iii) any asserted violation by Borrower of or demand for compliance by Borrower with any Applicable Law. 7.6. Compliance with Applicable Laws. Comply in all material respects with all Applicable Laws, including, without limitation, ERISA,
the Fair Labor Standards Act and all Environmental Laws. 7.7. Corporate Existence. Maintain its separate corporate existence and
all rights, privileges and franchises in connection therewith, and maintain its qualification and good standing in all jurisdictions where the failure to do so could have a material adverse effect upon its financial condition or ability to collect
the Accounts. 20
NEGATIVE COVENANTS. During the term of this Agreement, and thereafter for so long as there are is Loan Indebtedness outstanding, Borrower covenants that unless
Bank has first consented thereto in writing, it will not: 8.1. Merger; Disposal or Moving of Collateral. Merge or consolidate with
or acquire any substantial portion of the assets or stock of any Person; sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any portion of its properties (including any of the Collateral), except sales or leases of Inventory in the ordinary course
of business; or, without having given Bank at least 60 days prior written notice and having executed such instruments and agreements as Bank shall require, change its name, the location of any Collateral or the location of its chief executive
office, principal place of business or the office at which it maintains its Books and Records. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that Borrower is calculating its compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 6 hereof
on a consolidated basis, Borrower may move Inventory from one location included in such calculation to another of Borrowers Aarons locations without complying with the notice provisions hereof, as long as such Inventory is properly
transferred in the Aarons Proprietary System. 8.2. Liens. Grant or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of the Collateral
except Permitted Liens. 8.3. Guarantees. Guarantee, assume, endorse or otherwise become contingently liable for any obligation or
indebtedness of any Person, either directly or indirectly, exceeding $25,000 not existing as of this date, except by endorsement of items of payment for deposit or collection. 8.4. Loans. Make loans or advances of money to or investments in any Person, or (except in the ordinary course of business and on fair
and reasonable terms) engage in any transaction with a Subsidiary or affiliate. 8.5. Stock of Borrower. Repurchase, or pay or
declare any dividend on, any of its capital stock; provided, however, that if no Default Condition or Event of Default exists and Borrower remains in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 6 above after
giving effect thereto, it may pay dividends and make such repurchases. EVENTS OF DEFAULT. 9.1. List of Events of Default. The occurrence of any one or more of the following conditions or events shall constitute an Event
of Default: (a) Borrower shall fail to pay any of the Loan Indebtedness (including any overadvance) or to pay for
any Asset Disposition within ten (10) days of the due date thereof (whether due at stated maturity, on demand, upon acceleration or otherwise); (b) any warranty, representation, or other statement by Borrower herein or in any instrument, certificate or financial
statement furnished in compliance herewith proves to have been false or misleading in any material respect when made; (c)
Borrower shall fail or neglect to perform, keep or observe any covenant contained in this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any other agreement now or hereafter entered into with Bank; Borrower shall fail to abide by the financial
covenants set forth in Section 6 hereof, provided that Aarons may waive any financial covenant; 21
(d) Borrower or any Guarantor shall fail to pay when due any amount owed to
any creditor (other than Bank) or any Guarantor shall fail to pay or perform any liability or obligation in accordance with the terms of any agreement with Bank; (e) Borrower, Aarons or any Guarantor shall cease to be Solvent, shall die or become incompetent, shall suffer the
appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or similar fiduciary, shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall make an offer of settlement or composition to their respective unsecured creditors generally; (f) any petition for an order for relief shall be filed by or against Borrower or any Guarantor or Aarons under the
Bankruptcy Code (if against Borrower or any Guarantor, the continuation of such proceeding for more than 30 days); (g) any
judgment, writ of attachment or similar process is entered or filed against Borrower or any Guarantor or any of Borrowers or any Guarantors property and such judgment, writ of attachment or process is not dismissed, satisfied or vacated
within ten (10) days thereafter or results in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any Collateral that is not a Permitted Lien; (h) Any Guarantor shall revoke or attempt to revoke the guaranty signed by such Guarantor or shall repudiate such
Guarantors liability thereunder or Aarons shall default in its obligations to Bank with respect to the Loan Indebtedness or repudiate its liability therefor; (i) any Person, or group of Persons (whether or not related), shall have or obtain legal or beneficial ownership of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities or rights of Borrower, other than any Person, or group of Persons, that has such majority ownership on the date of execution of this Agreement; (j) Borrower shall lose its franchise, license or right to lease or to sell the Inventory or Borrowers Franchise
Agreement is terminated or revoked for any reason; (k) Borrower shall fail to enter properly any acquisition of Inventory
or Equipment or any Asset Disposition on the Aarons Proprietary System; or (l) Borrower shall use its DDA Account
for any use other than as explicitly authorized pursuant to this Agreement. 9.2. Cure Period. Borrower shall have a five
(5) calendar day period after the Bank gives it notice of the occurrence of an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default pursuant to Section 9.1(f)) above, during which it may cure such Event of Default. An Event of Default arising
under Section 9.1(a) above shall only be cured by the Banks receipt of payment in immediately available funds by wire transfer, money order or cashiers check. 9.3. Advances. In no event shall the Bank have any obligation to make any Loan hereunder or an Advance pursuant to a Line of Credit
Commitment or Revolving Commitment hereunder if there exists a Default Condition or an Event of Default. 22
REMEDIES. All of the Loan Indebtedness shall become immediately due and payable and the Line of Credit Commitment and Revolving Commitment shall be
deemed immediately terminated (without notice to or demand upon Borrower) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 9.1(f) of this Agreement; and upon and after the occurrence of any other Event of Default, subject to the cure
period set forth in Section 9.2 hereof, Bank shall have the right to terminate immediately the Line of Credit Commitment and Revolving Commitment and to declare the entire unpaid principal balance of and accrued interest with respect to the
Loan Indebtedness to be, and the same shall thereupon become, immediately due and payable upon receipt by Borrower of written notice and demand. From and after the date on which the Loan Indebtedness becomes automatically due and payable or is
declared by Bank to be due and payable as aforesaid, Bank shall have and may exercise from time to time any and all rights and remedies afforded to a secured party under the Code or any other Applicable Law. If the Loan Indebtedness is collected by
or through an attorney at law, Bank shall be entitled to collect reasonable attorneys fees and court costs from Borrower. In addition to, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Bank shall have the following rights and remedies
which it may exercise at any time or times (all of which rights and remedies shall be cumulative and may be exercised singularly or concurrently): (a) The right to notify any Account Debtor to make all payments owing to Borrower directly to Bank for application to the Loan Indebtedness
and to collect all amounts owing from any such Account Debtor; (b) The right to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any or all of the
Collateral at public or private sale, for cash, upon credit or upon such other terms as Bank deems advisable in its sole discretion, or otherwise to realize upon the whole or from time to time any part of the Collateral in which Bank may have a
security interest. Any requirement of reasonable notice shall be met if such notice is sent to Borrower in accordance with Section 12 hereof at least seven (7) days before the date of sale or other disposition of the Collateral. Bank may
bid and be the purchaser at any such sale if permitted by Applicable Law; (c) The right to require Borrower, at Borrowers expense,
to assemble the Collateral and make it available to Bank at a place reasonably convenient to both parties (and, for purposes hereof, Borrower stipulates that Bank shall be entitled to the remedy of specific performance). Alternatively, Bank may
peaceably by its own means or with judicial assistance enter Borrowers premises and take possession of the Collateral or dispose of the Collateral on Borrowers premises without interference by Borrower; (d) The right to incur attorneys fees and expenses in exercising any of the rights, remedies, powers or privileges provided hereunder,
and the right (but not the obligation) to pay, satisfy and discharge, or to bond, deposit or indemnify against, any tax or other Lien which in the opinion of Bank may in any manner or to any extent encumber any of the Collateral, all of which fees,
payments and expenses shall become part of Banks expenses of retaking, holding, preparing for sale and the like, and shall be added to and become a part of the principal amount of the Loan Indebtedness; (e) The right, in Banks sole discretion, to perform any agreement of Borrower hereunder which Borrower shall fail to perform and take
any other action which Bank deems necessary for the maintenance or preservation of any of the Collateral or Banks interest therein, and Borrower agrees forthwith to reimburse Bank for all expenses incurred in connection with the foregoing,
together with interest thereon at the Default Rate from the date incurred until the date of reimbursement; (f) The right at any time or
times, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand) held by Bank for Borrowers account against any of the Loan Indebtedness, irrespective of whether or not
Bank has made any demand under the this Agreement; 23
(g) The right to apply the proceeds realized from any collection, sale, lease or other
disposition of the Collateral first to the costs, expenses and attorneys fees incurred by Bank for collection and for acquisition, protection, removal, storage, sale and delivery of the Collateral; secondly, to interest due upon the principal
amount of the Loan Indebtedness; and thirdly, to the principal amount of the Loan Indebtedness. If any deficiency shall arise, Borrower and Guarantors shall remain bound and liable to Bank therefor; (h) The right to act as Borrowers attorney-in-fact (and
Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints Bank as Borrowers agent and attorney-in-fact), in Borrowers or Banks name, but at Borrowers cost and
expense, to receive, open and dispose of all mail addressed to Borrower pertaining to any of the Collateral, to notify postal authorities to change the address and delivery of mail to Borrower to such address as Bank may designate, to sign
Borrowers name on any bill of lading constituting or relating to any Collateral, to send verifications with respect to the Collateral, to execute in Borrowers name any affidavits or notices with regard to any and all Lien rights and to
do all other acts and things necessary to carry out the terms of this Agreement or to discharge any obligation of Borrower hereunder, this power, being coupled with an interest, is to be irrevocable so long as any Loan Indebtedness is outstanding.
WAIVERS. Borrower waives notice of Banks acceptance hereof. Borrower hereby waives any requirement on the part of Bank to post any bond or other
security as a condition to Banks right to obtain an immediate writ of possession with respect to any Collateral. Bank shall not be deemed to have waived any of its rights upon or remedies hereunder or any Event of Default unless such waiver be
in writing and signed by Bank. No delay or omission on the part of Bank in exercising any right shall operate as a waiver of such right or any other right. A waiver on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any right on any
future occasion. NOTICES. All notices and demands to or upon a party hereto shall be in writing and shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, personal
delivery against receipt or by telecopier or other facsimile transmission and shall be deemed to have been validly served, given or delivered when delivered against receipt or one Business Day after deposit in the mail, postage prepaid, or, in the
case of facsimile transmission, when indicated by verification receipt printed by the sending machine as having been received at the office of the noticed party, addressed in each case as follows: 24
or to such other address as each party may designate for itself by like notice given in accordance with this
Section. Any written notice or demand that is not sent in conformity with the provisions hereof shall nevertheless be effective on the date that such notice is actually received by the individual to whose attention such notice is to be sent as
specified above or such individuals successor in office. INDEMNIFICATION. Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify Bank and hold Bank harmless from and against any liability, loss, damage, suit, action or proceeding ever
suffered or incurred by Bank as the result of Borrowers failure to observe, perform or discharge Borrowers duties hereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this indemnity shall extend to any claims asserted against
Bank by any Person under any environmental laws. If any taxes, fees or other charges shall be payable by Borrower or Bank on account of the execution, delivery or recording of any of the Loan Documents or any loans outstanding hereunder, Borrower
will pay (or reimburse Banks payment of) all such taxes, fees or other charges, including any applicable interests and penalties, and will indemnify and hold Bank harmless from and against liability in connection therewith. The indemnity
obligations of Borrower under this Section shall survive the payment in full of the Loan Indebtedness. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents embody the entire understanding and agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the
subject matter hereof, and this Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an agreement in writing signed by Borrower and Bank. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; but Borrower
shall not assign this Agreement or any right or benefit hereunder to any Person. The Bank may assign its rights and obligations hereunder at any time and to any Person, including without limitation, to Aarons. ARBITRATION. ANY CONTROVERSY ARISING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DETERMINED BY ARBITRATION IN THE CITY AGREED UPON BY BORROWER AND BANK. IF
BORROWER AND BANK FAIL TO SO AGREE, THEN SUCH ARBITRATION SHALL TAKE PLACE IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. ARBITRATION SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION RULES OF THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT OTHERWISE SET FORTH
IN THIS SECTION. THE DISPUTE SHALL BE DETERMINED BY AN ARBITRATOR ACCEPTABLE TO BOTH PARTIES WHO SHALL BE SELECTED WITHIN SEVEN (7) DAYS OF FILING OF NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ARBITRATE. OTHERWISE, THE DISPUTE SHALL BE DETERMINED BY A PANEL OF
THREE ARBITRATORS SELECTED AS FOLLOWS: WITHIN SEVEN (7) DAYS OF FILING NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ARBITRATE, EACH PARTY WILL APPOINT ONE ARBITRATOR, WHO SHALL BE AN ATTORNEY ADMITTED BEFORE THE BAR OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES (BUT NEITHER
SUCH ATTORNEY NOR ANY FIRM WITH WHICH SUCH ATTORNEY HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING FIVE YEARS SHALL HAVE BEEN RETAINED BY SUCH PARTY DURING THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING FIVE YEARS). THESE TWO ARBITRATORS WILL THEN NAME A THIRD
ARBITRATOR, WHO SHALL ALSO BE AN ATTORNEY ADMITTED BEFORE THE BAR OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES (BUT NEITHER SUCH ATTORNEY NOR ANY FIRM WITH WHICH SUCH ATTORNEY HAD 25
BEEN ASSOCIATED FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING FIVE YEARS SHALL HAVE BEEN RETAINED BY EITHER PARTY DURING THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING FIVE YEARS) AND WHO SHALL PRESIDE OVER THE PANEL. IF EITHER
PARTY FAILS TO APPOINT AN ARBITRATOR, OR IF THE TWO ARBITRATORS DO NOT NAME A THIRD ARBITRATOR WITHIN SEVEN (7) DAYS, EITHER PARTY MAY REQUEST THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION TO APPOINT THE NECESSARY ARBITRATOR(S) PURSUANT TO THE
COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION RULES. ARBITRATORS SHALL BE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR SERVICES BY THE NON-PREVAILING PARTY AT THE STANDARD HOURLY RATE CHARGED BY SUCH ARBITRATORS IN THEIR PRIVATE PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES.
ALL TESTIMONY SHALL BE TRANSCRIBED BY A PUBLIC STENOGRAPHER OR COURT REPORTER. THE AWARD OF THE PANEL SHALL BE ACCOMPANIED BY FINDINGS OF FACT AND A STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR THE DECISION. ALL PARTIES AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE RESULTS OF SUCH
ARBITRATIONS; JUDGMENT UPON THE AWARD SO RENDERED MAY BE ENTERED AND ENFORCED IN ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION. TO THE EXTENT REASONABLY PRACTICABLE, BOTH PARTIES AGREE TO CONTINUE PERFORMING THEIR RESPECTIVE OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT
WHILE THE DISPUTE IS BEING RESOLVED. MISCELLANEOUS. Time is of the essence of this Agreement. Bank reserves the right to participate, sell or assign the Loans made hereunder and provide any
participant or assignee all information in Banks possession regarding Borrower, its business and the Collateral. Borrower shall reimburse Bank for Banks
out-of-pocket expenses and for the fees and expenses and disbursements of Banks counsel in connection with the negotiation, documentation and closing of the
transactions contemplated hereby, and Borrower will pay all expenses incurred by Borrower in connection with the transactions. The Section headings are for convenience only and shall not limit or otherwise affect any of the terms hereof. THIS
AGREEMENT AND ALL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER, INCLUDING MATTERS OF CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY AND PERFORMANCE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA (WITHOUT REGARD TO THE LAWS OF CONFLICTS THEREOF) AND IS INTENDED TO TAKE
EFFECT AS A SEALED INSTRUMENT. RELATIONS WITH AARONS. Borrower recognizes and acknowledges that the Bank has made the Loans available to Borrower hereunder at the behest of and as an accommodation
to Aarons. Accordingly, Borrower agrees that from time to time the Bank may release to Aarons such information about Borrower and the Loans as Aarons may request, and the Bank may condition its agreement to any waiver, modification
or amendment on the prior written consent of Aarons. Borrower further agrees that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder, the Bank may notify Aarons of such Event of Default prior to notifying Borrower thereof, and the Bank
shall not be liable to Borrower for failure to give simultaneous notice to Borrower. Borrower further agrees that the Bank shall not be liable to Borrower as a result of any information or document obtained by Bank regarding Borrower which is shared
by Bank with Aarons. 26
WITNESS the hand and seal of the parties hereto on the date first above written. Accepted in Atlanta, Georgia: 27
EXHIBIT A-1 FORM OF LINE
OF CREDIT NOTE FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, _________________ (the Borrower), promises to pay to
the order of TRUIST BANK, a North Carolina banking corporation (the Bank), at Banks principal office in Charlotte, North Carolina, or at such other place as the holder hereof may designate by notice in writing to Borrower, in
immediately available funds in lawful money of the United States of America, on _________________________, (the Maturity Date, as such date may be extended from time to time, for an additional 364 day period unless either party
terminates the Loan as set forth in Section 2.8 of the Loan and Security Agreement) the lesser of (x) the principal sum of the Line of Credit Commitment: _________________ ($_________________), or (y) so much principal thereof as
shall have been from time to time disbursed hereunder in accordance with that certain Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of [___________], by and between the Borrower and Bank (as amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time, the
Agreement) and not theretofore repaid, as shown on the records of the Bank. In addition to principal, Borrower agrees
to pay interest on the principal amounts disbursed hereunder at a floating rate of interest equal to the Prime Rate plus an additional _________________________, from time to time, from the date of each disbursement until paid at such rates of
interest per annum and upon such dates as provided for in the Agreement. Interest shall accrue on the outstanding principal balance from the date hereof up to and through the date on which all principal and interest hereunder is paid in full, and
shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a 360-day year. Such interest is to be paid to Bank at its address set forth above or as otherwise provided in the Agreement. For
informational purposes, as of the date hereof the Prime Rate in effect is __________% per annum, thus producing an initial interest rate under the Agreement on such date of ___________ %per annum and, when adjusted for a year of 365 days, an initial
simple interest rate of _____________% per annum. Any principal amount due under this Line of Credit Note (the Note) that is not paid on the due date therefor whether on the Maturity Date, or resulting from the acceleration of
maturity upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as defined in the Agreement), shall bear interest from the date due until payment in full at the Default Rate, as such term is defined in the Agreement. This Note evidences a loan incurred pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Agreement to which reference is hereby made for a full and
complete description of such terms and conditions, including, without limitation, provisions for the acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the existence or occurrence of certain conditions or events, and the terms of any permitted prepayments
hereof. All capitalized terms used in this Note shall have the same meanings as set forth in the Agreement. Upon the existence or
occurrence of any Event of Default, the principal and all accrued interest hereof shall automatically become, or may be declared, due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Agreement. In addition, this Note is subject to
mandatory prepayment upon the terms and conditions of the Agreement.
Bank shall at all times have a right of set-off
against any deposit balances of Borrower in the possession of the Bank and the Bank may apply the same against payment of this Note or any other indebtedness of Borrower to the Bank. The payment of any indebtedness evidenced by this Note prior to
the Maturity Date shall not affect the enforceability of this Note as to any future, different or other indebtedness incurred hereunder by the Borrower. In the event the indebtedness evidenced by this Note is collected by legal action or through an attorney-at-law, the Bank shall be entitled to recover from Borrower all costs of collection, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees if collected by or
through an attorney-at-law. Borrower acknowledges that
the actual crediting of the amount of any disbursement under the Agreement to an account of Borrower or recording such amount in the records of the Bank shall, in the absence of manifest error, constitute presumptive evidence of such disbursement
and that such Advance was made and borrowed under the Agreement. Such account records shall constitute, in the absence of manifest error, presumptive evidence of principal amounts outstanding and the payments made under the Agreement at any time and
from time to time, provided that the failure of Bank to record in such account the type or amount of any Advance shall not affect the obligation of the undersigned to repay such amount together with interest thereon in accordance with this Note and
the Agreement. Failure or forbearance of Bank to exercise any right hereunder, or otherwise granted by the Loan Agreement or by law,
shall not affect or release the liability of Borrower hereunder, and shall not constitute a waiver of such right unless so stated by Bank in writing. THIS NOTE AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND BE
GOVERNED BY THE LAW (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF) OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS NOTE. PRESENTMENT FOR PAYMENT, NOTICE OF DISHONOR AND PROTEST ARE HEREBY WAIVED. Executed under hand and seal of the Borrower as of the day and year first above written. 2
EXHIBIT A-2 FORM OF REVOLVING NOTE FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, _________________ (the Borrower), promises to pay to
the order of TRUIST BANK, a North Carolina banking corporation (the Bank), at Banks principal office in Charlotte, North Carolina, or at such other place as the holder hereof may designate by notice in writing to Borrower,
in immediately available funds in lawful money of the United States of America, on _________________________, (the Maturity Date, as such date may be extended from time to time, for an additional 364 day period unless either party
terminates the Loan as set forth in Section 2.8 of the Loan and Security Agreement), the lesser of (i) principal sum of the Revolving Commitment: _________________ ($_________________), or (ii) so much thereof as shall have been
from time to time disbursed hereunder in accordance with certain Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of [___________], by and between the Borrower and Bank (as amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time, the
Agreement) and not theretofore repaid, as shown on the records of the Bank. In addition to principal, Borrower agrees
to pay interest on the principal amounts disbursed hereunder at a floating rate of interest equal to the Prime Rate plus an additional _________________________, from time to time, from the date of each disbursement until paid at such rates of
interest per annum and upon such dates as provided for in the Agreement. Interest shall accrue on the outstanding principal balance from the date hereof up to and through the date on which all principal and interest hereunder is paid in full, and
shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a 360-day year. Such interest is to be paid to Bank at its address set forth above or as otherwise provided in the Agreement. For
informational purposes, as of the date hereof the Prime Rate in effect is __________% per annum, thus producing an initial interest rate under the Agreement on such date of ___________% per annum and, when adjusted for a year of 365 days, an initial
simple interest rate of _____________% per annum. Any principal amount due under this Revolving Note (the Note) that is not paid on the due date therefor whether on the Maturity Date, or resulting from the acceleration of maturity
upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as defined in the Agreement), shall bear interest from the date due until payment in full at the Default Rate, as such term is defined in the Agreement. This Note evidences loans incurred pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Agreement to which reference is hereby made for a full and
complete description of such terms and conditions, including, without limitation, provisions for the acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the existence or occurrence of certain conditions or events, and the terms of any permitted prepayments
hereof. All capitalized terms used in this Note shall have the same meanings as set forth in the Agreement. Upon the existence or
occurrence of any Event of Default, the principal and all accrued interest hereof shall automatically become, or may be declared, due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Agreement. In addition, this Note is subject to
mandatory prepayment upon the terms and conditions of the Agreement.
Bank shall at all times have a right of set-off
against any deposit balances of Borrower in the possession of the Bank and the Bank may apply the same against payment of this Note or any other Bank shall at all times have a right of set-off against any deposit balances of Borrower in the
possession of the Bank and the Bank may apply the same against payment of this Note or any other indebtedness of Borrower to the Bank, irrespective of whether or not Bank has made any demand under the Loan Agreement. The payment of any indebtedness
evidenced by this Note prior to the Maturity Date shall not affect the enforceability of this Note as to any future, different or other indebtedness incurred hereunder by the Borrower. In the event the indebtedness evidenced by this Note is
collected by legal action or through an attorney-at-law, the Bank shall be entitled to recover from Borrower all costs of collection, including, without limitation,
reasonable attorneys fees if collected by or through an attorney-at-law. Borrower acknowledges that the actual crediting of the amount of any disbursement under the Agreement to an account of Borrower or recording
such amount in the records of the Bank shall, in the absence of manifest error, constitute presumptive evidence of such disbursement and that such Advance was made and borrowed under the Agreement. Such account records shall constitute, in the
absence of manifest error, presumptive evidence of principal amounts outstanding and the payments made under the Agreement at any time and from time to time, provided that the failure of Bank to record in such account the type or amount of any
Advance shall not affect the obligation of the undersigned to repay such amount together with interest thereon in accordance with this Note and the Agreement. Failure or forbearance of Bank to exercise any right hereunder, or otherwise granted by the Agreement or by law, shall not affect or release
the liability of Borrower hereunder, and shall not constitute a waiver of such right unless so stated by Bank in writing. THIS NOTE AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND BE GOVERNED BY THE LAW (WITHOUT
GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF) OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS NOTE. PRESENTMENT FOR PAYMENT, NOTICE OF DISHONOR AND PROTEST ARE HEREBY WAIVED. Executed under hand and seal of the Borrower as of the day and year first above written. 2
EXHIBIT A-3 FORM OF TERM
NOTE FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, _________________ (the Borrower), promises to pay to
the order of TRUIST BANK, a North Carolina banking corporation (the Bank), at Banks principal office in Charlotte, North Carolina, or at such other place as the holder hereof may designate by notice in writing to Borrower,
in immediately available funds in lawful money of the United States of America, _____________________ ($_______________). Repayment will be in _____ consecutive equal monthly installments of principal in the amount of $_____________ based on a
________month amortization plus accrued and unpaid interest and shall be due and payable on each Payment Date, with the first installment being due and payable on ________________, and the remaining outstanding principal balance, together with all
accumulated unpaid interest shall be due and payable on __________________ (the Maturity Date). In addition to
principal, Borrower agrees to pay interest on the principal amounts disbursed hereunder at a floating rate of interest equal to the Prime Rate plus an additional _________________________, from time to time, upon such dates as provided for in that
certain Loan Agreement dated as of [____________], by and between Borrower and Bank (as amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time, the Agreement). Interest shall accrue on the outstanding principal balance from
the date hereof up to and through the date on which all principal and interest hereunder is paid in full, and shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a 360-day year. Such
interest is to be paid to Bank at its address set forth above or as otherwise provided in the Agreement. For informational purposes, as of the date hereof the Prime Rate in effect is __________% per annum, thus producing an initial interest rate
under the Agreement on such date of ___________% per annum and, when adjusted for a year of 365 days, an initial simple interest rate of _____________% per annum. Any principal amount due under this Term Note (the Note) that is
not paid on the due date therefor whether on the due date, or resulting from the acceleration of maturity upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as defined in the Agreement), shall bear interest from the date due until payment in full at the
Default Rate, as such term is defined in the Agreement. This Note evidences a loan incurred pursuant to the terms and conditions of the
Agreement to which reference is hereby made for a full and complete description of such terms and conditions, including, without limitation, provisions for the acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the existence or occurrence of certain
conditions or events, and the terms of any permitted prepayments hereof. All capitalized terms used in this Note shall have the same meanings as set forth in the Agreement. Upon the existence or occurrence of any Event of Default, the principal and all accrued interest hereof shall automatically become, or may be
declared, due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Agreement. In addition, this Note is subject to mandatory prepayment upon the terms and conditions of the Agreement.
Bank shall at all times have a right of set-off
against any deposit balances of Borrower in the possession of the Bank and the Bank may apply the same against payment of this Note or any other indebtedness of Borrower to the Bank, irrespective of whether or not Bank has made any demand under the
Agreement. The payment of any indebtedness evidenced by this Note prior to the Maturity Date shall not affect the enforceability of this Note as to any future, different or other indebtedness incurred hereunder by the Borrower. In the event the
indebtedness evidenced by this Note is collected by legal action or through an attorney-at-law, the Bank shall be entitled to recover from Borrower all costs of
collection, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees if collected by or through an attorney-at-law. Borrower acknowledges that the actual crediting of the amount of any disbursement under the Agreement to an account of Borrower or recording
such amount in the records of the Bank shall, in the absence of manifest error, constitute presumptive evidence of such disbursement. Such account records shall constitute, in the absence of manifest error, presumptive evidence of principal amounts
outstanding and the payments made under the Agreement at any time and from time to time, provided that the failure of Bank to record in such account the type or amount of any advance shall not affect the obligation of the undersigned to repay such
amount together with interest thereon in accordance with this Note and the Agreement. Failure or forbearance of Bank to exercise any
right hereunder, or otherwise granted by the Loan Agreement or by law, shall not affect or release the liability of Borrower hereunder, and shall not constitute a waiver of such right unless so stated by Bank in writing. THIS NOTE AND THE RIGHTS
AND OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND BE GOVERNED BY THE LAW (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF) OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS NOTE. PRESENTMENT FOR PAYMENT, NOTICE OF DISHONOR AND PROTEST ARE HEREBY WAIVED. Executed under hand and seal of the Borrower as of the day and year first above written. 2
EXHIBIT B Permitted Liens The following described Liens are Permitted Liens (if none, so state): Name of Lien Holder Date of Recording Collateral Trade Names and Styles The following are the only trade names or trade styles ever used by Borrower (if none, so state): Subsidiaries The following are all of the subsidiaries owned by Borrower (if none, so state): Business Locations The following are all of the locations where Borrower has an office or other place of business or owns assets:
EXHIBIT C COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE OF BORROWER (Pursuant to Section 7.2 of Loan and Security Agreement dated __________________) __________________ (the Borrower) HEREBY CERTIFIES that: This Compliance Certificate is furnished pursuant to the Loan and Security Agreement (the Agreement) dated __________________
by and between the Borrower and TRUIST BANK (the Bank). Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms used in this Report have the meanings given to them in this Agreement. 1. The figures and information for determining compliance by the Borrower with the financial covenants set forth in the Quarterly Covenant
Compliance Report attached hereto have been prepared based upon the financial reports accompanied hereby and both the Quarterly Covenant Compliance Report and such financial reports are true and complete as of the date hereof. 2. The activities of the Borrower during the preceding quarter have been reviewed by the president or other authorized officer or the
employees or agents under his immediate supervision. Based on such review, to the best knowledge and belief of the president or other authorized officer, and as of the date of this Certificate, the Borrower has performed and observed each and every
covenant contained in the Agreement to be performed by it, and no Event of Default or Default Condition exists, except for the following: Please describe
or indicate None if none exist: 3. The Borrower has properly and accurately reported all Asset Dispositions pursuant to Section 2.12 of
the Agreement. WITNESS my hand this _______ day of ______________________, _______.
EXHIBIT D QUARTERLY COVENANT COMPLIANCE REPORT (Section 6Financial Covenants) With respect to the financial covenants set forth below which are calculated based upon the Opening Date of a
store location, the financial information from store locations that have not reached the Opening Date anniversary incorporated into such covenants shall be excluded from such calculations. [Debt Service and] Debt attributable to such locations and
deducted from the final calculations shall be deducted on a pro rata basis calculated by dividing such stores aggregate Net Book Value of Merchandise by the Net Book Value of Merchandise for all store locations. The financial covenants shall
otherwise be calculated on a consolidated basis as to all store locations. Rental Revenue to Debt Service A. Enter amount of quarterly Rental Revenue. B. Enter amount of quarterly Rental Revenue attributable to store locations open
less than 25 months. C. Subtract B from A. D. Enter amount of quarters Debt Service. $______ E. Enter amount of quarters Debt Service attributable to store
locations open less than 25 months. F. Subtract E from D.
Ratio of C:F.
STANDARD - Ratio not less than -2.2: 1.0 Compliance? ☐
Yes ☐ No Debt to Rental Revenue A. Enter amount of Debt. B. [Enter amount of Debt attributable to store locations open less than 19
months. C. [Subtract B from A.
D. Enter Amount of last quarters Rental Revenue. E. [Enter amount of last quarters Rental Income attributable to store locations
open less than 19 months. F. [Subtract E from D.
Ratio of C : F.
STANDARD------------- [__] : 1.0 Compliance? ☐ Yes
☐ No Note: All terms are those used in generally accepted accounting practices unless specifically defined in the Agreement. Note: This covenant will apply and be tested on last day of each calendar quarter and not be tied to any
Opening Date of store locations in the case of any Loan Agreement providing for Loans to make available to a Borrower consisting solely of Revolving Loans. In which case, the bracketed portions of this Debt to Rental Revenue covenant will not be
applicable. Covenant levels for this covenant will be established by Aarons for each Borrower as per the Servicing Agreement. 2
EXHIBIT D TO LOAN
FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY FORM OF GUARANTY AGREEMENT This Guaranty Agreement (this Agreement), dated as of April 1, 2022, is by and among AARONS, LLC, a Georgia
limited liability company (the Sponsor), THE AARONS COMPANY, INC., a Georgia corporation (Holdings), certain Subsidiaries of Holdings listed on Schedule I hereto (together with Holdings, each,
individually, a Guarantor and collectively, the Guarantors) and TRUIST BANK, a North Carolina banking corporation, as servicer (the Servicer). Reference is made to that certain Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty dated as of the date hereof (as amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time, the Loan Facility Agreement) by and among the Sponsor, Holdings, the Participants and Truist Bank, as Servicer (the Servicer and the Participants shall be referred to collectively as the
Guaranteed Parties). Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Loan Facility Agreement. The Participants have agreed to provide lines of credit to Franchisees of the Sponsor pursuant to, and upon the terms and subject to the
conditions specified in, the Loan Facility Agreement. Holdings is the direct parent of the Sponsor and acknowledges that it will derive substantial benefit from the Loan Facility Agreement. Each Guarantor (other than Holdings) is a direct or
indirect Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings and acknowledges that it will derive substantial benefit from the Loan Facility Agreement. It is a condition precedent to the effectiveness of the Loan Facility Agreement and the obligations of the
Participants to continue to make Loans are conditioned on, among other things, the execution and delivery by the Guarantors of this Agreement. As consideration therefor and in order to induce the Participants to make Loans, and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, each Guarantor is willing to execute this Agreement. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows: SECTION 1. Guarantee. Each Guarantor unconditionally guarantees, jointly with the other Guarantors and severally, as a primary obligor
and not merely as a surety, (a) the due and punctual payment of all obligations owing by the Sponsor to the Guaranteed Parties, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise
(including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), under the Loan Facility Agreement and the other
Operative Documents and (b) the due and punctual performance of all covenants, agreements, obligations and liabilities of the Sponsor under or pursuant to the Loan Facility Agreement and the other Operative Documents (all the monetary and other
obligations referred to in the preceding clauses (a) and (b) being collectively called the Obligations). Each Guarantor further agrees that the 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 notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Obligation. SECTION 2. Obligations Not Waived. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives presentment to, demand of
payment from and protest to the Sponsor of any of the Obligations, and also waives notice of acceptance of its guarantee and notice of protest for nonpayment. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the obligations of each Guarantor
hereunder shall not be affected by (a) the failure of any Guaranteed Party to assert any claim or demand or to enforce or exercise
any right or remedy against the Sponsor or any other Guarantor under the provisions of the Loan Facility Agreement, any other Operative Document or otherwise, (b) any rescission, waiver,
amendment or modification of, or any release from any of the terms or provisions of, this Agreement, any other Operative Document, any Guarantee or any other agreement, including with respect to any other Guarantor under this Agreement or
(c) the failure to perfect any security interest in, or the release of, any of the security held by or on behalf of any Guaranteed Parties. SECTION 3. Guarantee of Payment. Each Guarantor further agrees that its guarantee constitutes a guarantee of payment when due and not
of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any Guaranteed Party to any of the security held for payment of the Obligations or to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of any Guaranteed Party in favor
of the Sponsor or any other person. SECTION 4. No Discharge or Diminishment of Guarantee. The obligations of each Guarantor
hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or
compromise of any of the Obligations, and shall not be subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Guaranteed Party to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under the Loan
Facility Agreement, any other Operative Document or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any provision of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations, or by any other
act or omission that may or might in any manner or to the extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of each Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of all
the Obligations). SECTION 5. Defenses of Borrower Waived. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives
any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Sponsor or the unenforceability of the Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Sponsor, other than the final and indefeasible
payment in full in cash of the Obligations. The Guaranteed Parties may, at their election, foreclose on any security held by one or more of them by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such security in lieu of
foreclosure, compromise or adjust any part of the Obligations, make any other accommodation with the Sponsor or any other guarantor, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the
Obligations have been fully, finally and indefeasibly paid in cash. Pursuant to applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election operates, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or to
extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of each Guarantor against the Sponsor or any other Guarantor or guarantor, as the case may be, or any security. SECTION 6. Agreement to Pay; Subordination. In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that any
Guaranteed Party has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of any Credit Party to pay any Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or
otherwise, each Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Servicer for the benefit of the Participants in cash the amount of such unpaid Obligations. Upon payment by any Guarantor of any sums to the Servicer,
all rights of such Guarantor against the Sponsor arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior
indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the 2
Obligations. In addition, any indebtedness of the Sponsor now or hereafter held by any Guarantor is hereby subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash of the
Obligations. If any amount shall erroneously be paid to any Guarantor on account of (i) such subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or similar right or (ii) any such indebtedness of the Sponsor, such amount shall be held in
trust for the benefit of the Guaranteed Parties and shall forthwith be paid to the Servicer to be credited against the payment of the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the Operative Documents. SECTION 7. Information. Each Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Sponsors financial
condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that such Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder, and agrees that none of the Guaranteed
Parties will have any duty to advise any of the Guarantors of information known to it or any of them regarding such circumstances or risks. SECTION 8. Representations and Warranties. Holdings represents and warrants as to itself that all representations and warranties
relating to it contained in the Loan Facility Agreement are true and correct. Each Guarantor (other than Holdings) represents and warrants as to itself that all representations and warranties relating to it (as a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings)
contained in the Loan Facility Agreement are true and correct. SECTION 9. Termination. The guarantees made hereunder
(a) shall terminate when all the Obligations have been paid in full in cash and the Participants have no further commitment to lend under the Loan Facility Agreement and (b) shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may
be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Participant or any Guarantor upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of any Credit Party or otherwise. In connection with the
foregoing, the Servicer shall execute and deliver to such Guarantor or such Guarantors designee, at such Guarantors expense, any documents or instruments which such Guarantor shall reasonably request from time to time to evidence such
termination and release. SECTION 10. Binding Effect; Several Agreement; Assignments. Whenever in this Agreement any of the parties
hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the successors and assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and agreements by or on behalf of the Guarantors that are contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the
benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Agreement shall become effective as to any Guarantor when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf of such Guarantor shall have been delivered to the Servicer, and a
counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Servicer, and thereafter shall be binding upon such Guarantor and the Servicer and their respective successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of such Guarantor, the Guaranteed
Parties, and their respective successors and assigns, except that no Guarantor shall have the right to assign its rights or obligations hereunder or any interest herein (and any such attempted assignment shall be void). If (a) all of the
Capital Stock of a Guarantor (other than Holdings) is sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of pursuant to a transaction permitted by the Loan Facility Agreement or (b) a Guarantor (other than Holdings) ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary as
a result of a transaction permitted by the Loan Facility Agreement, such Guarantor shall be released from its obligations under this Agreement without further action. This Agreement shall be construed as a separate agreement with respect to each
Guarantor and may be amended, modified, supplemented, waived or released with respect to any Guarantor without the approval of any other Guarantor and without affecting the obligations of any other Guarantor hereunder. 3
SECTION 11. Waivers; Amendment. (a) No failure or delay of the Servicer if any in exercising any power or right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and
remedies of the Servicer hereunder and of the Participants under the other Operative 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 any Guarantor therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by Section 11(b), and then such waiver and consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the
purpose for which given. No notice or demand on any Guarantor in any case shall entitle such Guarantor to any other or further notice in similar or other circumstances. (b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to a written agreement entered into
between the Guarantors with respect to which such waiver, amendment or modification relates and the Servicer, with the prior written consent of the Required Participants (except as otherwise provided in the Loan Facility Agreement). SECTION 12. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
(WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF). SECTION 13. Notices. All communications and notices hereunder
shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 15.1 of the Loan Facility Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to each Guarantor shall be given to it at its address set forth on Schedule I attached hereto. SECTION 14. Survival of Agreement; Severability. (a) All covenants, agreements representations and warranties made by the Guarantors herein and in the certificates or other instruments
prepared or delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or the other Operative Documents shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Guaranteed Parties and shall survive the making by the Participants of the Loans regardless
of any investigation made by any of them or on their behalf, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any other fee or amount payable under this Agreement or any other Operative
Document is outstanding and unpaid and as long as the Facility Commitments have not been terminated. (b) In the event one or more of the
provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other Operative Document should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not
in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being understood that the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction). The parties shall
endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions. SECTION 15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which
when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. 4
SECTION 16. Rules of Interpretation. The rules of interpretation specified in
Section 1.3 of the Loan Facility Agreement shall be applicable to this Agreement. SECTION 17. Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of
Process. (a) Each Guarantor 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, and of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County, Borough of Manhattan and any appellate court from any thereof,, in any
action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Operative Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in
respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding
shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any Guaranteed Party may otherwise have to bring any action or
proceeding relating to this Agreement or the other Operative Documents against any Guarantor or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction. (b) Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection
that 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 the other Operative Documents in any New York State or Federal court. 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. (c) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 13. Nothing in
this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. SECTION 18.
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 RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER OPERATIVE DOCUMENTS. 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 AND THE OTHER OPERATIVE DOCUMENTS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND
CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 18. SECTION 19. Additional Guarantors. Pursuant to Section 6.10 of the Loan Facility
Agreement, after any Subsidiary is acquired or formed (including, without limitation, upon the formation of any Subsidiary that is a Delaware Divided LLC) or after any Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary
shall, if such Subsidiary is a Material Domestic Subsidiary, become a Guarantor hereunder by executing an agreement substantially in the form of Annex 1 hereto (a Guaranty Supplement). Upon execution and delivery by the
Servicer and such Subsidiary of a Guaranty Supplement, such Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Guarantor herein. The execution and delivery of a Guaranty Supplement causing such
Subsidiary to become a Guarantor hereunder shall not require the consent of any other Guarantor hereunder. The rights and obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any additional
Guarantor as a party to this Agreement. 5
SECTION 20. Right of Setoff. If a Credit Event shall have occurred and be continuing,
each Participant 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
Indebtedness at any time owing by such Participant to or for the credit or the account of any Guarantor against any or all the obligations of such Guarantor now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and the other Operative Documents held by
such Participant, irrespective of whether or not such Person shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Operative Document and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Participant under this
Section 20 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Participant may have. SECTION 21. Indemnity, Contribution, and Subrogation. (a) In addition to all such rights of indemnity and subrogation as each Guarantor may have under applicable law, the Servicer agrees that
(i) in the event a payment shall be made on behalf of the Sponsor by any Guarantor hereunder, the Sponsor shall indemnify such Guarantor for the full amount of such payment and such Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of the person to
whom such payment shall have been made to the extent of such payment, and (ii) in the event any assets of any Guarantor shall be sold to satisfy a claim of any Guaranteed Party hereunder, the Sponsor shall indemnify such Guarantor in an amount
equal to the greater of the book value or the fair market value of the assets so sold. (b) Each Guarantor (a Contributing
Guarantor) agrees that, in the event a payment shall be made by any other Guarantor hereunder, or assets of any other Guarantor shall be sold to satisfy a claim of any Guaranteed Party hereunder, and such other Guarantor (the
Claiming Guarantor) shall not have been fully indemnified by the Sponsor as provided in Section 21(a), each Contributing Guarantor shall indemnify each Claiming Guarantor in an amount equal to the amount
of such payment or the greater of the book value or the fair market value of such assets, as the case may be, in each case multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the net worth of such Contributing Guarantor on the date hereof and
the denominator shall be the aggregate net worth of the Sponsor and all of the Guarantors on the date hereof (or, in the case of any Guarantor becoming a party hereto pursuant to Section 19, the date of the Supplement
hereto executed and delivered by such Guarantor). Any Contributing Guarantor making any payment to a Claiming Guarantor pursuant to this Section 21(b) shall be subrogated to the rights of such Claiming Guarantor under
Section 21(a) to the extent of such payment. As used herein, the term net worth shall mean, as at any date of determination, the consolidated shareholders equity of the Sponsor and the Guarantors, as
determined in each case on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. [remainder of page intentionally left blank] 6
Each Guarantor has read, understands, and agrees to the provisions of this Agreement and has
executed the same voluntarily, under seal, with full authority and with the intent to be legally bound by its terms, conditions, and obligations. By: Name: Title: By: Name: Title: By: Name: Title: By: Name: Title: AARONS US HOLDCO, INC., as a
Guarantor By: Name: Title: AARONS, LLC GUARANTY AGREEMENT (LFA)
AARONS, LLC GUARANTY AGREEMENT (LFA)
BRANDSMART U.S.A. OF GEORGIA, LLC, as a Guarantor BRANDS MART SERVICE, LLC, as a
Guarantor BRANDSMART USA DADELAND, LLC, as a
Guarantor AARONS, LLC GUARANTY AGREEMENT (LFA)
SCHEDULE I TO THE GUARANTY AGREEMENT Guarantors Address
ANNEX 1 TO THE GUARANTY AGREEMENT This
SUPPLEMENT NO. [ ] (this Supplement), dated as of [ ], to the Guaranty Agreement (the Guaranty
Agreement) dated as of April 1, 2022, among THE AARONS COMPANY, INC., a Georgia corporation (Holdings), certain Subsidiaries of Holdings listed on Schedule I thereto (together with Holdings, each,
individually, a Guarantor and collectively, the Guarantors) and TRUIST BANK, a North Carolina banking corporation, as Servicer (the Servicer) for the Participants (as defined in the Loan
Facility Agreement referred to below) (the Servicer and the Participants shall hereafter be referred to collectively as the Guaranteed Parties). A. Reference is made to the Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty, dated as of April 1, 2022 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the Loan Facility Agreement), among the Sponsor, Holdings, the lending institutions listed on the signature pages thereto (the Participants) and the Servicer. B. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Guaranty Agreement and
the Loan Facility Agreement. C. The Guarantors have entered into the Guaranty Agreement in order to induce the Participants to extend
credit to Franchisees of the Sponsor. Pursuant to Section 6.10 of the Loan Facility Agreement, each Restricted Subsidiary that is a Material Domestic Subsidiary that was not in existence or not a Credit Party on the date of the Loan Facility
Agreement is required to enter into the Guaranty Agreement as a Guarantor upon becoming a Restricted Subsidiary. Section 19 of the Guaranty Agreement provides that additional Restricted Subsidiaries of Holdings may become Guarantors under the
Guaranty Agreement by execution and delivery of an instrument in the form of this Supplement. The undersigned Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings (the New Guarantor) is executing this Supplement in accordance with the requirements
of the Loan Facility Agreement to become a Guarantor under the Guaranty Agreement in order to induce the Participants to make additional Loans and as consideration for Loans previously made. Accordingly, the Servicer and the New Guarantor agree as follows: SECTION 1. In accordance with Section 19 of the Guaranty Agreement, the New Guarantor by its signature below becomes a Guarantor under
the Guaranty Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Guarantor and the New Guarantor hereby (a) agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Guaranty Agreement applicable to it as Guarantor thereunder and
(b) represents and warrants that the representations and warranties made by it as a Guarantor thereunder are true and correct on and as of the date hereof. Each reference to a Guarantor in the Guaranty Agreement shall be deemed to include the
New Guarantor. The Guaranty Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference. SECTION 2. The New Guarantor represents and warrants to
the Guaranteed Parties that this Supplement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and by general principles of equity. SECTION 3. This Supplement may be executed in counterparts each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together
shall constitute a single contract. This Supplement shall become effective when the Servicer shall have received counterparts of this Supplement that, when taken together, bear the signatures of the New Guarantor and the Servicer. Delivery of an
executed signature page to this Supplement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Supplement.
SECTION 4. Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Guaranty Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect. SECTION 5. THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF). SECTION 6. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in
this Supplement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and in the Guaranty Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby (it being understood that the invalidity of a particular provision hereof in a particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction). The parties hereto shall endeavor in
good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions. SECTION 7. All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 13 of the Guarantee Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Guarantor and the Servicer have duly executed this Supplement to
the Guaranty Agreement as of the day and year first above written. [Name of New
Guarantor] By: Name: Title: Address: TRUIST BANK, as
Servicer By: Name: Title:
EXHIBIT E TO LOAN
FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY FORM OF PARTICIPATION CERTIFICATE Program Lending 303 Peachtree Street, N.E. 2nd Floor DATE: ,
This is to certify that Truist Bank (Servicer), has
sold to _____________ (Participant) and Participant has purchased from Servicer an undivided ____% ownership interest in (i) the Facility Commitment, (ii) the Loan Commitments, (iii) the Loans, (iv) the
Collateral, (v) all rights against any guarantor of any Loan, including the Sponsor, (vi) all rights pursuant to the Guaranty Agreement, (vii) the Loan Documents and (viii) all right, title and interest to any payment or right to
receive payment with respect to the foregoing (collectively, the Participants Interest). Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Participants right to receive payments of interest, commitment fees or other fees with
respect to the Commitment, the Loan Commitments and the Loans shall not exceed the amounts which such Participant is entitled to receive pursuant to the terms of the Loan Facility Agreement referenced below. This Certificate is issued pursuant to the terms and conditions of that certain Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty dated as of April 1,
2022, by and among Servicer, Participant, Aarons, LLC, Holdings and certain other financial institutions named therein and from time to time a party thereto (as amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time, the
Loan Facility Agreement). Reference is made to said Loan Facility Agreement for the terms and conditions of the participation evidenced hereby. All terms used in this Certificate shall have the same meanings as set forth in
said Loan Facility Agreement. This Certificate is neither transferable nor negotiable.
EXHIBIT F TO LOAN
FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY FORM OF MONTHLY SERVICING REPORT Aarons, LLC Loan Program Aarons, LLC Loan Program Monthly Servicing Report Payment Date:
________________________ Payment Period: ________ thru _______________ Program Summary Borrowers with Line of Borrowers with Revolving Past Due US Loans None for this period See Attached Past Due Report Past Due Canadian Loans None for this period See Attached Past Due Report
EXHIBIT G TO LOAN
FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY FORM OF SECURITY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT THIS SECURITY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT (as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified and supplemented from time to time, this
Agreement) is entered into as of [ ] among the parties identified as Obligors on the signature pages hereto and such other parties that may
become Obligors hereunder after the date hereof (each individually an Obligor and collectively the Obligors), and TRUIST BANK, in its capacity as Servicer (in such capacity, the Servicer) for
the holders of the Secured Obligations (defined below). RECITALS WHEREAS, reference is made to that certain Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty (as amended, modified, supplemented, increased, extended,
restated, refinanced and replaced from time to time, the Loan Facility Agreement) dated as of April 1, 2022 among Aarons, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (the Sponsor), The Aarons
Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation (Holdings), the Participants from time to time party thereto, and Truist Bank, in its capacity as Servicer; and WHEREAS, this Agreement is required by the terms of the Loan Facility Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows: 1. Definitions. (a) Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Loan Facility Agreement, and
the following terms which are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code in effect from time to time in the State of New York except as such terms may be used in connection with the perfection of the Collateral and then the applicable jurisdiction with
respect to such affected Collateral shall apply (the UCC): Accession, Account, Adverse Claim, As-Extracted Collateral, Chattel Paper, Commercial Tort Claim, Consumer Goods, Deposit Account,
Document, Electronic Chattel Paper, Equipment, Farm Products, Financial Asset, Fixtures, General Intangible, Goods, Instrument, Inventory, Investment Company Security, Investment Property, Letter-of-Credit Right, Manufactured Home, Money, Proceeds, Securities Account, Securities Intermediary, Security, Security Entitlement, Software, Supporting Obligation and Tangible Chattel Paper. (b) In addition, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below: Agreement has the meaning provided in the introductory paragraph hereof. Collateral has the meaning provided in Section 2 hereof. Copyright License shall mean any written agreement, naming any Obligor as licensor, granting any right under
any Copyright. Copyrights shall mean (a) all registered United States copyrights in all Works, now
existing or hereafter created or acquired, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications in connection therewith, including, without limitation, registrations, recordings and applications in the United States Copyright Office, and
(b) all renewals thereof.
Excluded Accounts shall mean (a) deposit and/or
securities accounts the balance of which consists exclusively of (i) withheld income taxes and federal, state or local employment taxes in such amounts as are required in the reasonable judgment of the Sponsor to be paid to the IRS or state or
local government agencies within the following two (2) months with respect to employees of any of the Credit Parties or (ii) amounts required to be paid over to an employee benefit plan pursuant to DOL Reg. Sec. 2510.3-102 on behalf of or for the benefit of employees of one or more Credit Parties, (b) all tax accounts (including, without limitation, sales tax accounts), accounts used solely for payroll, accounts
maintained solely in trust for the benefit of third parties and fiduciary purposes, escrow accounts, zero balance or swept accounts and employee benefit accounts (including 401(k) accounts and pension fund accounts), in each case, so long as such
account is used solely for such purpose, (c) any deposit and/or securities account maintained in a jurisdiction outside of the United States and (d) accounts the balance of which consists exclusively of amounts to be paid to employees in
the ordinary course of business. Excluded Property shall mean, with respect to any Obligor,
(a) any owned real property located outside the United States, (b) any owned real property located in the United States that is owned in fee by an Obligor which is not Material Real Estate, (c) any leased real property, (d) any
copyrights, copyright licenses, patents, patent licenses, trademarks or trademark licenses for which a perfected Lien thereon is not effected either by filing of a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement or by appropriate evidence of such Lien
being filed in either the United States Copyright Office or the United States Patent and Trademark Office, (e) any personal property for which the attachment or perfection of a Lien thereon is not governed by the Uniform Commercial Code
(including motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title), (f) the Capital Stock in any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (g) the Capital Stock in any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent not required to be
pledged to secure the Guaranteed Obligations pursuant to Section 6.10(b) of the Loan Facility Agreement, (h) any property which, subject to the terms of Section 8.8 of the Loan Facility Agreement, is subject to a Lien of the type
described in Section 8.2(c) of the Loan Facility Agreement pursuant to documents which prohibit such Credit Party from granting any other Liens in such property, (i) Excluded Accounts, (j) those assets over which the granting of a
Lien in such assets in favor of the Servicer would be prohibited by applicable law, regulation or contract (including any requirement under or in accordance with such law, rule or regulation to obtain consent from a third party, including any
governmental or regulatory authority), so long as (i) any contractual restriction is not incurred in contemplation of the owning entitys becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or the entry of such owning entity into the Credit Documents and
(ii) such contract is permitted under this Agreement, in each case, after giving effect to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 and 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable law or principle of equity, other than any receivables and proceeds thereof (the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform
Commercial Code notwithstanding such prohibition), (k) any intent-to-use trademark application prior to the filing of a Statement of Use or Amendment
to Allege Use with respect thereto, to the extent, if any, that, and solely during the period, if any, in which the grant or enforcement of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use trademark application under applicable federal law, (l) assets to the extent a security interest in such assets would result in material adverse tax
consequences (including, without limitation, as a result of the operation of Section 956 of the United States Code or any similar law or regulation in any applicable jurisdiction), as reasonably determined by the Sponsor in good faith,
(m) at any time before the date that is 1 year after the Funding Availability Date, the Specified Asset and (n) other assets to the extent the Sponsor and the Servicer agree in writing that the cost of obtaining or perfecting a security
interest in such assets is excessive in relation to the value of the security afforded thereby; provided, however, that the security interest granted to the Servicer under this Agreement or any other Credit Document shall attach
immediately to any asset of any Credit Party at such time as such asset ceases to meet any of the criteria for Excluded Property described in any of the foregoing clauses (a) through (n) above. 2
Loan Facility Agreement has the meaning provided in the
recitals hereof. Obligor and Obligors have the meanings provided in the introductory
paragraph hereof. Patent License shall mean any agreement, whether written or oral, providing for the
grant by or to an Obligor of any right to manufacture, use or sell any invention covered by a Patent. Patents shall mean (a) all letters patent of the United States or any other country and all reissues
and extensions thereof, and (b) all applications for letters patent of the United States or any other country and all divisions, continuations and
continuations-in-part thereof. Pledged Equity shall mean, with respect to each Obligor, (a) one hundred percent (100%) of the issued
and outstanding Capital Stock of each Domestic Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary and (b) sixty-six percent (66%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock entitled to vote (within the meaning
of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) and one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock not entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg.
Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) in each Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, directly owned by any Obligor, including without limitation the Capital Stock of the Subsidiaries owned by such Obligor
as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, in each case together with the certificates (or other agreements or instruments), if any, representing such Capital Stock, and all options and other rights, contractual or otherwise, with
respect thereto, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) all Capital Stock representing a dividend thereon, or
representing a distribution or return of capital upon or in respect thereof, or resulting from a stock split, revision, reclassification or other exchange therefor, and any subscriptions, warrants, rights or options issued to the holder thereof, or
otherwise in respect thereof; and (2) in the event of any consolidation or merger involving the issuer thereof and in
which such issuer is not the surviving Person, all shares of each class of the Capital Stock of the successor Person formed by or resulting from such consolidation or merger, to the extent that such successor Person is a direct Subsidiary of an
Obligor; provided that if such successor Person is a Foreign Subsidiary or a Domestic Subsidiary that is an Excluded Subsidiary, such Capital Stock shall be limited to the amount described in clause (b) hereof. Secured Obligations shall mean, without duplication, (a) all Guaranteed Obligations and
(b) subject to the limitations set forth in Section 15.4 of the Loan Facility Agreement, all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation,
the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of one outside counsel) incurred in connection with enforcement and collection of the Guaranteed Obligations. Sponsor has the meaning provided in the recitals hereof. Trademark License shall mean any agreement, written or oral, providing for the grant by or to an Obligor of
any right to use any Trademark. 3
Trademarks shall mean (a) all trademarks, trade
names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, service marks, logos and other source or business identifiers, and the goodwill associated therewith, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired, all
registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications in connection therewith, whether in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any state thereof or any other country or any
political subdivision thereof, or otherwise and (b) all renewals thereof. UCC has the meaning
provided in Section 1(a) hereof. Work shall mean any work that is subject to
copyright protection pursuant to Title 17 of the United States Code. 2. Grant of Security Interest in the Collateral. To secure
the prompt payment and performance in full when due, whether by lapse of time, acceleration, mandatory prepayment or otherwise, of the Secured Obligations, each Obligor hereby grants to the Servicer, for the benefit of the holders of the Secured
Obligations, a continuing security interest in, and a right to set off against, any and all right, title and interest of such Obligor in and to all of the following, whether now owned or existing or owned, acquired, or arising hereafter
(collectively, the Collateral): (a) all Accounts; (b) all Money; (c) all Chattel Paper; (d) those certain Commercial Tort Claims set forth on Schedule 2 hereto; (e) all Copyrights;
(f) all Copyright Licenses; (g) all Deposit Accounts; (h) all Documents; (i) all Equipment; (j) all Fixtures; (k) all General Intangibles; (l) all Goods; (m) all Instruments; (n) all Inventory;
(o) all Investment Property; (p) all Letter-of-Credit Rights; (q) all Patents; (r) all Patent Licenses; (s) all Pledged Equity; (t) all
Software; (u) all Supporting Obligations; (v) all Trademarks; (w) all Trademark Licenses; (x) all books and records related to the Collateral; and (y) all Accessions and all Proceeds of any and all of the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the security interests granted under this Agreement shall not extend to any
Excluded Property; provided that upon the occurrence of an event that renders property to no longer constitute Excluded Property, a security interest in such property shall be automatically and simultaneously granted hereunder and shall be
included as Collateral hereunder. The Obligors and the Servicer, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, hereby acknowledge
and agree that the security interest created hereby in the Collateral (i) constitutes continuing collateral security for all of the Secured Obligations, whether now existing or hereafter arising and (ii) is not to be construed as an
assignment of any Copyrights, Copyright Licenses, Patents, Patent Licenses, Trademarks or Trademark Licenses. 3. Representations and
Warranties. Each of the Obligors hereby represents and warrants to the Servicer, for the benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations, that: (a) Ownership. Such Obligor is the legal and beneficial owner of its Collateral and has the right to pledge, sell,
assign or transfer the same. There exists no Adverse Claim with respect to the Pledged Equity of such Obligor other than non-consensual Liens permitted by Section 8.2 of the Loan Facility Agreement. (b) Security Interest/Priority. This Agreement creates a valid security interest in favor of the Servicer, for the
benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations, in the Collateral of such Obligor and, when properly perfected by filing a UCC-1 financing statement in the appropriate jurisdiction, shall constitute a valid
and perfected security interest in such Collateral (including all uncertificated Pledged Equity consisting of partnership or limited liability company interests that do not constitute Securities), to the extent such security interest can be
perfected by filing under the 4
UCC, free and clear of all Liens except for Liens permitted by Section 8.2 of the Loan Facility Agreement. The taking of possession by the Servicer of the certificated securities (if any)
evidencing the Pledged Equity and all other Instruments constituting Collateral (and any necessary endorsements) will perfect the Servicers security interest in all the Pledged Equity evidenced by such certificated securities and such
Instruments (subject to Permitted Liens). With respect to any Collateral consisting of a Deposit Account, Security Entitlement or assets held in a Securities Account (in each case, other than Excluded Accounts), upon execution and delivery by the
applicable Obligor, the bank or Securities Intermediary, as applicable, and the Servicer of an agreement granting control to the Servicer over such Collateral, the Servicer shall have a valid and perfected security interest in such Collateral,
subject to Permitted Liens. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, the Obligors and the Servicer acknowledge and agree that no account control agreement shall be required with respect to any Deposit Account or Securities Account
that has a balance (or which holds assets with a fair market value) less than $5,000,000. (c) Types of Collateral.
None of the Collateral consists of, or is the Proceeds of, As-Extracted Collateral, Consumer Goods, Farm Products, Manufactured Homes or standing timber. (d) Equipment and Inventory. With respect to any Equipment and/or Inventory of such Obligor, such Obligor has exclusive
possession and control of such Equipment and Inventory of such Obligor except for (i) Equipment leased by such Obligor as a lessee, (ii) Equipment or Inventory in transit with common carriers, (iii) mobile goods, (iv) Equipment
or Inventory out for repair or refurbishment, (v) Equipment or Inventory kept with third parties in the ordinary course of business, and/or (vi) Equipment or Inventory in possession of employees in the ordinary course of business. Subject
to the foregoing, no Inventory of such Obligor is held by a Person other than such Obligor pursuant to consignment, sale or return, sale on approval or similar agreement. (e) Authorization of Pledged Equity. All Pledged Equity is duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and, to the
extent applicable, non-assessable and is not subject to the preemptive rights, warrants, options or other rights to purchase of any Person, or equityholder, voting trust or similar agreements outstanding with
respect to, or property that is convertible, into, or that requires the issuance and sale of, any of the Pledged Equity, except to the extent expressly permitted under the Credit Documents. (f) No Other Capital Stock, Instruments, Etc. As of the Closing Date, such Obligor owns all certificated Capital Stock
in any Subsidiary that is required to be pledged and delivered to the Servicer hereunder, other than as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, and all such certificated Capital Stock has been delivered to the Servicer. (g) Partnership and Limited Liability Company Interests. Except as previously disclosed to the Servicer in writing, none
of the Collateral consisting of an interest in a partnership or a limited liability company (i) is dealt in or traded on a securities exchange or in a securities market, (ii) by its terms expressly provides that it is a Security governed
by Article 8 of the UCC, (iii) is an Investment Company Security, (iv) is held in a Securities Account or (v) constitutes a Security or a Financial Asset. (h) [Reserved]. 5
(i) Consents; Etc. There are no restrictions in any articles of
incorporation, articles of formation, articles of organization, bylaws, operating agreement or other applicable agreement of formation or organization governing any Pledged Equity or any other document related thereto which would limit or restrict
(i) the grant of a Lien pursuant to this Agreement on such Pledged Equity, (ii) the perfection of such Lien or (iii) the exercise of remedies in respect of such perfected Lien in the Pledged Equity as contemplated by this Agreement.
Except for (i) the filing or recording of UCC financing statements, (ii) the filing of appropriate notices with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, (iii) obtaining control to perfect
the Liens created by this Agreement (to the extent required under Section 4(a) hereof), (iv) such actions as may be required by laws affecting the offering and sale of securities, (v) such actions as may be required by
applicable foreign laws affecting the pledge of the Pledged Equity of Foreign Subsidiaries, (vi) any approvals that may be required to be obtained from any bailee or landlord to collect the Collateral, and (vii) consents, authorizations,
filings or other actions which have been obtained or made, no material consent or material authorization of, filing with, or other act by or in respect of, any arbitrator or Governmental Authority and no consent of any other Person (including,
without limitation, any stockholder, member or creditor of such Obligor), is required for (A) the grant by such Obligor of the security interest in the Collateral granted hereby or for the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by
such Obligor, (B) the perfection of such security interest (to the extent such security interest can be perfected by filing under the UCC, the granting of control (to the extent required under Section 4(a) hereof) or
by filing an appropriate notice with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office) or (C) the exercise by the Servicer or the holders of the Secured Obligations of the rights and remedies provided for in
this Agreement. (j) Commercial Tort Claims. As of the Closing Date, such Obligor has no Commercial Tort Claims
seeking damages in excess of $2,000,000 in any individual instance or $5,000,000 in the aggregate when taken together with all Commercial Tort Claims of all of the other Obligors, other than as set forth on Schedule 2 hereto. (k) Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks. (i) Schedule 3 hereto includes all registrations or applications for Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks and all material
Copyright Licenses, Patent Licenses and Trademark Licenses (excluding off-the-shelf licenses pursuant to standard licensing terms which have not been
modified or customized by a third party for the Obligor) owned by such Obligor in its own name, or to which any Obligor is a party, as of the date hereof. (ii) All registrations or applications pertaining to such Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks as have been set forth on
Schedule 3 hereto have been duly and properly filed, and to any Obligors knowledge, each Copyright, Patent and Trademark of such Obligor is valid, subsisting, unexpired, enforceable and has not been abandoned. (iii) Except as set forth on Schedule 3 hereto, none of such Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks is the subject of any
exclusive licensing or franchise agreement as of the date hereof. (iv) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect, to such Obligors knowledge, no holding, decision or judgment has been rendered by any Governmental Authority that would limit, cancel or question the validity of any such Copyright, Patent or Trademark. (v) No action or proceeding is pending, seeking to limit, cancel or question the validity of any Copyright, Patent or Trademark
of any Obligor or Subsidiary of any Obligor that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 6
4. Covenants. Each Obligor covenants that until such time as the Secured Obligations
arising under the Credit Documents have been paid in full and the Participating Commitments have expired or been terminated, such Obligor shall: (a) Instruments/Chattel Paper/Pledged Equity/Control. (i) If any amount in excess of $2,000,000 in any individual instance or $5,000,000 in the aggregate payable under or in
connection with any of the Collateral shall be or become evidenced by any Instrument or Tangible Chattel Paper, or if any property constituting Collateral shall be stored or shipped subject to a Document, ensure that such Instrument, Tangible
Chattel Paper or Document is either in the possession of such Obligor at all times or, if requested by the Servicer to perfect its security interest in such Collateral, is delivered to the Servicer duly endorsed in a manner reasonably satisfactory
to the Servicer. Such Obligor shall ensure that any Collateral consisting of Tangible Chattel Paper is marked with a legend reasonably acceptable to the Servicer indicating the Servicers security interest in such Tangible Chattel Paper. (ii) Deliver to the Servicer promptly upon the receipt thereof by or on behalf of such Obligor, all certificates and
instruments constituting Pledged Equity. Prior to delivery to the Servicer, all such certificates constituting Pledged Equity shall be held in trust by such Obligor for the benefit of the Servicer pursuant hereto. All such certificates representing
Pledged Equity shall be delivered in suitable form for transfer by delivery or shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, substantially in the form provided in Exhibit 4(a) hereto
(or other form acceptable to the Servicer in its reasonable discretion). (iii) Execute and deliver all agreements,
assignments, instruments or other documents as reasonably requested by the Servicer for the purpose of obtaining and maintaining control with respect to any Collateral consisting of (A) Deposit Accounts, (B) Investment Property, (C) Letter-of-Credit Rights and (D) Electronic Chattel Paper. (b) Filing of Financing Statements, Notices, Etc. Such Obligor shall execute and deliver to the Servicer such
agreements, assignments or instruments (including affidavits, notices, reaffirmations and amendments and restatements of existing documents, as the Servicer may reasonably request) and do all such other things as the Servicer may reasonably deem
necessary or appropriate (i) to assure to the Servicer its security interests hereunder, including (A) such instruments as the Servicer may from time to time reasonably request in order to perfect and maintain the security interests
granted hereunder in accordance with the UCC, (B) with regard to Copyrights, a Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Copyrights in the form of Exhibit 4(b)(i) hereto, (C) with regard to Patents, a Notice of Grant of Security
Interest in Patents for filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the form of Exhibit 4(b)(ii) hereto and (D) with regard to Trademarks, a Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Trademarks for filing with the United
States Patent and Trademark Office in the form of Exhibit 4(b)(iii) hereto, (ii) to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and (iii) to otherwise protect and assure the Servicer of its rights and interests hereunder.
Furthermore, such Obligor also hereby irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the Servicer, its nominee or any other person whom the Servicer may designate, as such Obligors attorney in fact with full power and for the limited purpose to
prepare and file (and, to the extent applicable, sign) in the name of such Obligor any financing statements, or amendments and supplements to financing statements, renewal financing statements, notices or any similar documents which in the
Servicers reasonable discretion would be necessary or appropriate in order to perfect and maintain perfection of the security interests granted hereunder, such power, being coupled with 7
an interest, being and remaining irrevocable until such time as the Secured Obligations arising under the Credit Documents have been paid in full and the Participating Commitments have expired or
been terminated. Such Obligor hereby agrees that a carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Agreement or any such financing statement is sufficient for filing as a financing statement by the Servicer without notice thereof to such Obligor
wherever the Servicer may in its sole discretion desire to file the same. (c) Collateral Held by Warehouseman, Bailee,
Etc. If any Collateral with a book value in excess of $5,000,000 is at any time in the possession or control of a warehouseman, bailee or any agent or processor of such Obligor and the Servicer so reasonably requests (i) notify such Person
in writing of the Servicers security interest therein, (ii) instruct such Person to hold all such Collateral for the Servicers account and subject to the Servicers instructions and (iii) use commercially reasonable
efforts to obtain a written acknowledgment from such Person that it is holding such Collateral for the benefit of the Servicer. (d) Commercial Tort Claims. (i) Promptly forward to the Servicer an updated Schedule 2 listing any and all
Commercial Tort Claims by or in favor of such Obligor seeking damages in excess of $2,000,000 in any individual instance or $5,000,000 in the aggregate for all Commercial Tort Claims of the Obligors not subject to a Lien in favor of the
Servicer for the benefit of itself and the other holders of the Secured Obligations and (ii) execute and deliver such statements, documents and notices and do and cause to be done all such things as may be reasonably required by the Servicer,
or required by law to create, preserve, perfect and maintain the Servicers security interest in any Commercial Tort Claims initiated by or in favor of any Obligor. (e) Books and Records. Each Obligor shall mark its books and records (and shall cause the issuer of the Pledged Equity
of such Obligor to mark its books and records) to reflect the security interest granted pursuant to this Agreement. (f)
Nature of Collateral. At all times maintain the Collateral as personal property and not affix any of the Collateral to any real property in a manner which would change its nature from personal property to real property or a Fixture to real
property, unless the Servicer shall have a perfected Lien on such Fixture or real property. (g) Issuance or Acquisition
of Capital Stock in Partnership or Limited Liability Company. Not without executing and delivering, or causing to be executed and delivered, to the Servicer such agreements, documents and instruments as the Servicer may reasonably require, issue
or acquire any Pledged Equity consisting of an interest in a partnership or a limited liability company that (i) is dealt in or traded on a securities exchange or in a securities market, (ii) by its terms expressly provides that it is a
Security governed by Article 8 of the UCC, (iii) is an Investment Company Security, (iv) is held in a Securities Account or (v) constitutes a Security or a Financial Asset. 5. Authorization to File Financing Statements. Each Obligor hereby authorizes the Servicer to prepare and file such financing
statements (including continuation statements) or amendments thereof or supplements thereto or other instruments as the Servicer may from time to time deem necessary or appropriate in order to perfect and maintain the security interests granted
hereunder in accordance with the UCC (including authorization to describe the Collateral as all personal property, all assets or words of similar meaning). 8
6. Advances. (a) Upon the occurrence of a Credit Event and during the continuation thereof, or (b) upon the failure of any Obligor to perform any of
the covenants and agreements contained herein or in any other Credit Document if, with respect to this clause (b), the Servicer reasonably determines that the taking of a particular action is required prior to the expiration of any applicable
cure period(s) in order to prevent an impairment of its rights in and to any Collateral, then in either case, the Servicer may, at its sole option and in its sole discretion upon notice to the applicable Obligors, perform the same and in so doing
may expend such sums as the Servicer may reasonably deem advisable in the performance thereof, including, without limitation, the payment of any insurance premiums, the payment of any taxes, a payment to obtain a release of a Lien or potential Lien,
expenditures made in defending against any adverse claim and all other expenditures which the Servicer may make for the protection of the security hereof or may be compelled to make by operation of law. All such sums and amounts so expended shall be
repayable by the Obligors on a joint and several basis promptly upon timely notice thereof and demand therefor, shall constitute additional Secured Obligations and shall bear interest from the date said amounts are expended at 2% per annum. No such
performance of any covenant or agreement by the Servicer on behalf of any Obligor, and no such advance or expenditure therefor, shall relieve the Obligors of any Unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event. The Servicer may make any payment hereby
authorized in accordance with any bill, statement or estimate procured from the appropriate public office or holder of the claim to be discharged without inquiry into the accuracy of such bill, statement or estimate or into the validity of any tax
assessment, sale, forfeiture, tax lien, title or claim except to the extent such payment is being contested in good faith by an Obligor in appropriate proceedings and against which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP. 7. Remedies. (a)
General Remedies. During the continuance of a Credit Event, the Servicer shall have, in addition to the rights and remedies provided herein, in the Credit Documents, in any other documents relating to the Secured Obligations, or by law
(including, but not limited to, levy of attachment, garnishment and the rights and remedies set forth in the UCC of the jurisdiction applicable to the affected Collateral), the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC (regardless of
whether the UCC is the law of the jurisdiction where the rights and remedies are asserted and regardless of whether the UCC applies to the affected Collateral), and further, the Servicer may, with or without judicial process or the aid and
assistance of others, (i) enter on any premises on which any of the Collateral may be located and, without resistance or interference by the Obligors, take possession of the Collateral, (ii) dispose of any Collateral on any such premises,
(iii) require the Obligors to assemble and make available to the Servicer at the expense of the Obligors any Collateral at any place and time designated by the Servicer which is reasonably convenient to both parties, (iv) remove any
Collateral from any such premises for the purpose of effecting sale or other disposition thereof, and/or (v) without demand and without advertisement, notice, hearing or process of law, all of which each of the Obligors hereby waives to the
fullest extent permitted by law, at any place and time or times, sell and deliver any or all of the Collateral held by or for it at a public or private sale (which in the case of a private sale of Pledged Equity, may be to a restricted group of
purchasers who will be obligated to agree, among other things, to acquire such securities for their own account, for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof), at any exchange or brokers board or elsewhere, by one
or more contracts, in one or more parcels, for cash, upon credit or otherwise, at such prices and upon such terms as the Servicer deems advisable, in its sole discretion (subject to any and all mandatory legal requirements). Each Obligor
acknowledges that any such private sale may be at prices and on terms less favorable to the seller than the prices and other terms which might have been obtained at a public sale and, notwithstanding the foregoing, agrees that such private sale
shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner and, in the case of a sale of Pledged Equity, that the Servicer shall have no obligation to delay sale of any such securities for the period of time necessary to permit the issuer
of such securities to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act of 1933. Neither the Servicers compliance with applicable law nor its disclaimer of warranties relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to adversely
affect the commercial reasonableness of any sale. To the extent the rights of notice 9
cannot be legally waived hereunder, each Obligor agrees that any requirement of reasonable notice shall be met if such notice, specifying the place of any public sale or the time after which any
private sale is to be made, is personally served on or mailed, postage prepaid, to the Obligors in accordance with the notice provisions of Section 15.1 of the Loan Facility Agreement at least ten (10) days before the time of sale or other
event giving rise to the requirement of such notice. The Servicer may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place
to which it was so adjourned. Each Obligor further acknowledges and agrees that any offer to sell any Pledged Equity which has been (i) publicly advertised on a bona fide basis in a newspaper or other publication of general circulation in the
financial community of New York, New York (to the extent that such offer may be advertised without prior registration under the Securities Act of 1933), or (ii) made privately in the manner described above shall be deemed to involve a
public sale under the UCC, notwithstanding that such sale may not constitute a public offering under the Securities Act of 1933, and the Servicer may, in such event, bid for the purchase of such securities. The Servicer shall
not be obligated to make any sale or other disposition of the Collateral regardless of notice having been given. To the extent permitted by applicable law, any holder of Secured Obligations may be a purchaser at any such sale. To the extent
permitted by applicable law, each of the Obligors hereby waives all of its rights of redemption with respect to any such sale. Subject to the provisions of applicable law, the Servicer may postpone or cause the postponement of the sale of all or any
portion of the Collateral by announcement at the time and place of such sale, and such sale may, without further notice, to the extent permitted by law, be made at the time and place to which the sale was postponed, or the Servicer may further
postpone such sale by announcement made at such time and place. (b) Remedies Relating to Accounts. During the continuance of a
Credit Event, whether or not the Servicer has exercised any or all of its rights and remedies hereunder, (i) each Obligor will promptly upon the request of the Servicer instruct all of its account debtors to remit all payments in respect of
Accounts to a mailing location selected by the Servicer and (ii) the Servicer shall have the right to enforce any Obligors rights against its customers and account debtors, and the Servicer or its designee may notify any Obligors
customers and account debtors that the Accounts of such Obligor have been assigned to the Servicer or of the Servicers security interest therein, and may (either in its own name or in the name of an Obligor or both) demand, collect (including
without limitation by way of a lockbox arrangement), receive, take receipt for, sell, sue for, compound, settle, compromise and give acquittance for any and all amounts due or to become due on any Account, and, in the Servicers discretion,
file any claim or take any other action or proceeding to protect and realize upon the security interest of the holders of the Secured Obligations in the Accounts. Each Obligor acknowledges and agrees that the Proceeds of its Accounts remitted to or
on behalf of the Servicer in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be solely for the Servicers own convenience and that such Obligor shall not have any right, title or interest in such Accounts or in any such other amounts except as
expressly provided herein. Neither the Servicer nor the holders of the Secured Obligations shall have any liability or responsibility to any Obligor for acceptance of a check, draft or other order for payment of money bearing the legend
payment in full or words of similar import or any other restrictive legend or endorsement or be responsible for determining the correctness of any remittance. Furthermore, during the continuance of a Credit Event, (i) the Servicer
shall have the right, but not the obligation, to make test verifications of the Accounts in any manner and through any medium that it reasonably considers advisable, and the Obligors shall furnish all such assistance and information as the Servicer
may require in connection with such test verifications, (ii) upon the Servicers request and at the expense of the Obligors, the Obligors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause independent public accountants or others
satisfactory to the Servicer to furnish to the Servicer reports showing reconciliations, aging and test verifications of, and trial balances for, the Accounts and (iii) upon three (3) Business Days prior written notice to the
Obligors, the Servicer in its own name or in the name of others may communicate with account debtors on the Accounts to verify with them to the Servicers satisfaction the existence, amount and terms of any Accounts. 10
(c) Deposit Accounts. Upon the occurrence of a Credit Event and during the
continuation thereof, the Servicer may (i) prevent withdrawals or other dispositions of funds in Deposit Accounts (other than Excluded Accounts) maintained with the Servicer and (ii) exercise control pursuant to any control agreement
governing a Deposit Account (other than Excluded Accounts) not maintained with the Servicer. (d) Access. In addition to the rights
and remedies hereunder, during the continuance of a Credit Event, the Servicer shall have the right to peaceably enter and remain upon the various premises of the Obligors without cost or charge to the Servicer, and use the same, together with
materials, supplies, books and records of the Obligors for the purpose of collecting and liquidating the Collateral, or for preparing for sale and conducting the sale of the Collateral, whether by foreclosure, auction or otherwise. In addition, the
Servicer may remove Collateral, or any part thereof, from such premises and/or any records with respect thereto, in order to effectively collect or liquidate such Collateral. (e) Nonexclusive Nature of Remedies. Failure by the Servicer or the holders of the Secured Obligations to exercise any right, remedy or
option under this Agreement, any other Credit Document, any other document relating to the Secured Obligations, or as provided by law, or any delay by the Servicer or the holders of the Secured Obligations in exercising the same, shall not operate
as a waiver of any such right, remedy or option. No waiver hereunder shall be effective unless it is in writing, signed by the party against whom such waiver is sought to be enforced and then only to the extent specifically stated, which in the case
of the Servicer or the holders of the Secured Obligations shall only be granted as provided herein. To the extent permitted by law, neither the Servicer, the holders of the Secured Obligations, nor any party acting as attorney for the Servicer or
the holders of the Secured Obligations, shall be liable hereunder for any acts or omissions or for any error of judgment or mistake of fact or law other than their bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct or a material breach of the
Servicers or such holders obligations hereunder. The rights and remedies of the Servicer and the holders of the Secured Obligations under this Agreement shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any other right or remedy which the
Servicer or the holders of the Secured Obligations may have. (f) Retention of Collateral. In addition to the rights and remedies
hereunder, the Servicer may, in compliance with Sections 9-620 and 9-621 of the UCC or otherwise complying with the requirements of applicable law of the relevant
jurisdiction, accept or retain the Collateral in satisfaction of the Secured Obligations. Unless and until the Servicer shall have provided such notices, however, the Servicer shall not be deemed to have retained any Collateral in satisfaction
of any Secured Obligations for any reason. (g) Deficiency. In the event that the proceeds of any sale, collection or realization
are insufficient to pay all amounts to which the Servicer or the holders of the Secured Obligations are legally entitled, the Obligors shall be jointly and severally liable for the deficiency, together with interest thereon at the rate provided for
in Section 2.3(c) of the Loan Facility Agreement, together with, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 15.4 of the Loan Facility Agreement, the costs of collection and the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel. Any surplus
remaining after the full payment and satisfaction of the Secured Obligations shall be returned to the Obligors or to whomsoever a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine to be entitled thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary
contained herein, in any of the other Credit Documents or in any other documents relating to the Secured Obligations, the obligations of each Obligor under the Loan Facility Agreement and the other Credit Documents shall be limited to an aggregate
amount equal to the largest amount that would not render such obligations subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States or any other applicable Debtor Relief Law (including any comparable provisions of any
applicable state law). 11
8. Rights of the Servicer. (a) Power of Attorney. In addition to other powers of attorney contained herein, each Obligor hereby designates and appoints the
Servicer, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, and each of its designees or agents, as attorney-in-fact of such Obligor, irrevocably and with power of
substitution, with authority to take any or all of the following actions during the continuance of a Credit Event: (i) to
demand, collect, settle, compromise, adjust, give discharges and releases, all as the Servicer may reasonably determine; (ii) to commence and prosecute any actions at any court for the purposes of collecting any Collateral and enforcing any other
right in respect thereof; (iii) to defend, settle or compromise any action brought and, in connection therewith, give such
discharge or release as the Servicer may deem reasonably appropriate; (iv) to receive, open and dispose of mail addressed
to an Obligor and endorse checks, notes, drafts, acceptances, money orders, bills of lading, warehouse receipts or other instruments or documents evidencing payment, shipment or storage of the Goods giving rise to the Collateral of such Obligor on
behalf of and in the name of such Obligor, or securing, or relating to such Collateral; (v) to sell, assign, transfer,
make any agreement in respect of, or otherwise deal with or exercise rights in respect of, any Collateral or the Goods or services which have given rise thereto, as fully and completely as though the Servicer were the absolute owner thereof for all
purposes; (vi) to adjust and settle claims under any insurance policy relating thereto; (vii) to execute and deliver all assignments, conveyances, statements, financing statements, renewal financing statements,
security agreements, affidavits, notices and other agreements, instruments and documents that the Servicer may reasonably determine necessary in order to perfect and maintain the security interests and liens granted in this Agreement and in order to
fully consummate all of the transactions contemplated herein; (viii) to institute any foreclosure proceedings that the
Servicer may deem appropriate; (ix) to sign and endorse any drafts, assignments, proxies, stock powers, verifications,
notices and other documents relating to the Collateral; (x) to exchange any of the Pledged Equity or other property upon
any merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or other readjustment of the issuer thereof and, in connection therewith, deposit any of the Pledged Equity with any committee, depository, transfer agent, registrar or other designated
agency upon such terms as the Servicer may reasonably deem appropriate; (xi) upon prior written notice to the Obligors, to
vote for a shareholder resolution, or to sign an instrument in writing, sanctioning the transfer of any or all of the Pledged Equity into the name of the Servicer or one or more of the holders of the Secured Obligations or into the name of any
transferee to whom the Pledged Equity or any part thereof may be sold pursuant and subject to Section 7 hereof; (xii) to pay or discharge taxes, liens, security interests or other encumbrances levied or placed on or threatened against the
Collateral; 12
(xiii) to direct any parties liable for any payment in connection with any
of the Collateral to make payment of any and all monies due and to become due thereunder directly to the Servicer or as the Servicer shall direct; (xiv) to receive payment of and receipt for any and all monies, claims, and other amounts due and to become due at any time in
respect of or arising out of any Collateral; and (xv) to do and perform all such other acts and things as the Servicer may
reasonably deem to be necessary, proper or convenient to accomplish the purposes of the Credit Documents. This power of attorney is a
power coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable until such time as the Secured Obligations arising under the Credit Documents have been paid in full and the Participating Commitments have expired or been terminated. The Servicer shall be
under no duty to exercise or withhold the exercise of any of the rights, powers, privileges and options expressly or implicitly granted to the Servicer in this Agreement, and shall not be liable for any failure to do so or any delay in doing so. The
Servicer shall not be liable for any act or omission or for any error of judgment or any mistake of fact or law in its individual capacity or its capacity as
attorney-in-fact except acts or omissions resulting from its bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct or a material breach of its obligations hereunder. This
power of attorney is conferred on the Servicer solely to protect, preserve and realize upon its security interest in the Collateral. (b)
Assignment by the Servicer. The Servicer may from time to time assign the Secured Obligations to a successor Servicer appointed in accordance with the Loan Facility Agreement, and such successor shall be entitled to all of the rights and
remedies of the Servicer under this Agreement in relation thereto. (c) The Servicers Duty of Care. Other than the exercise
of reasonable care to assure the safe custody of the Collateral while being held by the Servicer hereunder, the Servicer shall have no duty or liability to preserve rights pertaining thereto, it being understood and agreed that the Obligors shall be
responsible for preservation of all rights in the Collateral, and the Servicer shall be relieved of all responsibility for the Collateral upon surrendering it or tendering the surrender of it to the Obligors. The Servicer shall be deemed to have
exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Servicer accords its own property, which shall be no less than the treatment
employed by a reasonable and prudent agent in the industry, it being understood that the Servicer shall not have responsibility for taking any necessary steps to preserve rights against any parties with respect to any of the Collateral. In the event
of a public or private sale of Collateral pursuant to Section 7 hereof, the Servicer shall have no responsibility for (i) ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities, tenders
or other matters relating to any Collateral, whether or not the Servicer has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters, or (ii) taking any steps to clean, repair or otherwise prepare the Collateral for sale. (d) Liability with Respect to Accounts. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each of the Obligors shall remain liable under
each of the Accounts to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it thereunder, all in accordance with the terms of any agreement giving rise to each such Account. Neither the Servicer nor any holder of
Secured Obligations shall have any obligation or liability under any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto) by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or the receipt by the Servicer or any holder of Secured Obligations of any payment
relating to such Account pursuant hereto, nor shall the Servicer or any holder of Secured Obligations be obligated in any manner to perform any of the obligations of an Obligor under or pursuant to any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto),
to make any payment, to make any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by it or as to the sufficiency of any performance by any party under any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto), to present or file any
claim, to take any action to enforce any performance or to collect the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or times. 13
(e) Voting and Payment Rights in Respect of the Pledged Equity. (i) So long as no Credit Event shall exist, each Obligor may (A) exercise any and all voting and other consensual rights
pertaining to the Pledged Equity of such Obligor or any part thereof for any purpose not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement or the Loan Facility Agreement and (B) receive and retain any and all dividends (other than stock dividends
and other dividends constituting Collateral which are addressed hereinabove), principal or interest paid in respect of the Pledged Equity to the extent they are allowed under the Loan Facility Agreement; and (ii) During the continuance of a Credit Event and upon one (1) Business Days prior written notice to the Obligors,
(A) all rights of an Obligor to exercise the voting and other consensual rights which it would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to clause (i)(A) above shall cease and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the
Servicer which shall then have the sole right to exercise such voting and other consensual rights, (B) all rights of an Obligor to receive the dividends, principal and interest payments which it would otherwise be authorized to receive and
retain pursuant to clause (i)(B) above shall cease and all such rights shall thereupon be vested in the Servicer which shall then have the sole right to receive and hold as Collateral such dividends, principal and interest payments, and
(C) all dividends, principal and interest payments which are received by an Obligor contrary to the provisions of clause (ii)(B) above shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Servicer, shall be segregated from other property or
funds of such Obligor, and shall be forthwith paid over to the Servicer as Collateral in the exact form received, to be held by the Servicer as Collateral and as further collateral security for the Secured Obligations. Upon the cure or waiver of
such Credit Event in accordance with the terms of the Loan Facility Agreement, the Servicer shall as soon reasonably practicable repay to each Obligor all dividends, interest, principal or other distributions received by the Servicer pursuant to
this clause (ii) that such Obligor would otherwise have been permitted to retain pursuant to the terms of clause (i) above that (x) were not applied to repay the Guaranteed Obligations in accordance with the Loan
Facility Agreement and other Credit Documents and (y) that the Servicer is not otherwise required to hold for the repayment of the Guaranteed Obligations in accordance with the Loan Facility Agreement and other Credit Documents. (f) Releases of Collateral. (i) If any Collateral shall be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by any Obligor in a
transaction permitted by the Loan Facility Agreement, the Servicer, at the request and sole expense of such Obligor, shall promptly execute and deliver to such Obligor all releases and other documents, and take such other action, reasonably
necessary to evidence such release of the Liens created hereby or by any other Collateral Agreement on such Collateral. (ii) The Servicer may release any of the Pledged Equity from this Agreement or may substitute any of the Pledged Equity for
other Pledged Equity without altering, varying or diminishing in any way the force, effect, lien, pledge or security interest of this Agreement as to any Pledged Equity not expressly released or substituted, and this Agreement shall continue as a
lien on all Pledged Equity not expressly released or substituted. 9. Application of Proceeds. Upon the acceleration of the
Guaranteed Obligations under the Credit Documents pursuant to Article IX of the Loan Facility Agreement, any payments in respect of the Secured Obligations and any proceeds of the Collateral, when received by the Servicer or any holder of the
Secured Obligations in Money or its equivalent, will be applied in reduction of the Secured Obligations in the order set forth in Article IX of the Loan Facility Agreement. 14
10. Continuing Agreement. (a) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until such time as the Secured Obligations arising under the Credit Documents have
been paid in full and the Participating Commitments have expired or been terminated, at which time this Agreement and the liens and security interests of the Servicer hereunder shall be automatically terminated and the Servicer shall, upon the
request and at the expense of the Obligors, forthwith execute and deliver all UCC termination statements and/or other documents reasonably requested by the Obligors evidencing such termination and/or release. (b) This Agreement shall continue to be effective or be automatically reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, in whole or in
part, of any of the Secured Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Servicer or any holder of the Secured Obligations as a preference, fraudulent conveyance or otherwise under any Debtor Relief Law, all as though
such payment had not been made; provided that in the event payment of all or any part of the Secured Obligations is rescinded or must be restored or returned, but subject to the limitations of Section 15.4 of the Loan Facility Agreement,
all reasonable costs and expenses (including without limitation any reasonable legal fees and disbursements) incurred by the Servicer or any holder of the Secured Obligations in defending and enforcing such reinstatement shall be deemed to be
included as a part of the Secured Obligations. 11. Amendments; Waivers; Modifications, Etc. This Agreement and the provisions
hereof may not be amended, waived, modified, changed, discharged or terminated except as set forth in Section 15.2 of the Loan Facility Agreement; provided that any update or revision to Schedule 2 hereof delivered by any Obligor shall
not constitute an amendment for purposes of this Section 11 or Section 15.2 of the Loan Facility Agreement. 12. Successors in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon each Obligor, its successors and assigns and shall inure, together
with the rights and remedies of the Servicer and the holders of the Secured Obligations hereunder, to the benefit of the Servicer and the holders of the Secured Obligations and their successors and permitted assigns. 13. Notices. All notices required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in conformance with Section 15.1 of the
Loan Facility Agreement. 14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any
number of separate counterparts (including by telecopy), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account for
more than one such counterpart. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission or by any other electronic imaging means (including .pdf), shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed
counterpart of this Agreement. 15. Headings. The headings of the sections hereof are provided for convenience only and shall not
in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement. 16. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction;
Venue; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. The terms of Section 15.7 of the Loan Facility Agreement with respect to governing law, submission to jurisdiction, venue, consent to service of process and waiver of jury trial are incorporated herein by
reference, mutatis mutandis, and the parties hereto agree to such terms. 15
17. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid
or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal,
invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not
invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. 18. Entirety. This Agreement, the other Credit
Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Servicer, 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. 19. Other Security. To the extent that any of the Secured Obligations are now
or hereafter secured by property other than the Collateral (including, without limitation, real property and securities owned by an Obligor), or by a guarantee, endorsement or property of any other Person, then the Servicer shall have the right to
proceed against such other property, guarantee or endorsement during the continuance of any Credit Event, and the Servicer shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to determine which rights, security, liens, security interests or remedies the
Servicer shall at any time pursue, relinquish, subordinate, modify or take with respect thereto, without in any way modifying or affecting any of them or the Secured Obligations or any of the rights of the Servicer or the holders of the Secured
Obligations under this Agreement, under any other of the Credit Documents or under any other document relating to the Secured Obligations. 20. Joinder. At any time after the date of this Agreement, one or more additional Persons may become party hereto by executing and
delivering to the Servicer a joinder agreement to this Agreement. Immediately upon such execution and delivery of such joinder agreement (and without any further action), each such additional Person will become a party to this Agreement as an
Obligor and have all of the rights and obligations of an Obligor hereunder and this Agreement and the schedules hereto shall be deemed amended by such joinder agreement. 21. Joint and Several Obligations of Obligors. (a) Subject to Section 21(c), each of the Obligors is accepting joint and several liability hereunder, in
consideration of the financial accommodation to be provided by the holders of the Guaranteed Obligations, of each of the Obligors and in consideration of the undertakings of each of the Obligors to accept joint and several liability for the
obligations of each of them. (b) Subject to Section 21(c), each of the Obligors jointly and severally hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally accepts, not merely as a surety but also as a co-debtor, joint and several liability with the other Obligors with respect to the payment and performance of all of the Secured
Obligations arising under this Agreement, the other Credit Documents and any other documents relating to the Secured Obligations, it being the intention of the parties hereto that all the Secured Obligations shall be the joint and several
obligations of each of the Obligors without preferences or distinction among them. (c) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary
contained herein, in any other of the Credit Documents or in any other documents relating to the Secured Obligations, the obligations of each Guarantor under the Loan Facility Agreement, the other Credit Documents and the other documents relating to
the Secured Obligations shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render such obligations subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any
other Debtor Relief Law. 16
22. Consent of Issuers of Pledged Equity. Each issuer of Pledged Equity party to this
Agreement hereby acknowledges, consents and agrees to the grant of the security interests in such Pledged Equity by the applicable Obligors pursuant to this Agreement, together with all rights accompanying such security interests as provided by this
Agreement and applicable law, notwithstanding any anti-assignment provisions in any operating agreement, limited partnership agreement or similar organizational or governance documents of such issuer. [SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW] 17
Each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as
of the date first above written. AARONS, LLC, a Georgia
limited liability company THE AARONS COMPANY, INC., a
Georgia corporation By: Name: Title: By: Name: Title: To include all Guarantors at the time of entry into the Agreement AARONS, LLC SECURITY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE 1 PLEDGED EQUITY Obligor Name of Subsidiary Number of Shares/ Units Certificate Number Percentage Ownership
SCHEDULE 2 COMMERCIAL TORT CLAIMS
SCHEDULE 3 COPYRIGHTS, PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS Patents:. Copyrights:. Trademarks:
EXHIBIT 4(a) IRREVOCABLE [STOCK][UNIT] POWER FOR VALUE
RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to: the following equity interests
of ____________________, a _________ [corporation][limited liability company]: No. of Shares
____________ Certificate No. ______________ and irrevocably appoints ______________ its agent and
attorney-in-fact to transfer all or any part of such equity interests and to take all necessary and appropriate action to effect any such transfer. The agent and attorney-in-fact may substitute and appoint one or more persons to act for him. Dated: ____________, 20___
EXHIBIT 4(b)(i) NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN COPYRIGHTS United States Copyright Office Ladies and Gentlemen: Please be advised that
pursuant to the Security and Pledge Agreement dated as of [_____ __], 202[ ] (as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the Agreement) by and among the Obligors
party thereto (each an Obligor and collectively, the Obligors) and Truist Bank, as Servicer (the Servicer) for the holders of the Secured Obligations referenced therein, the undersigned
Obligor has granted a continuing security interest in and continuing lien upon the copyrights and copyright applications set forth on Schedule 1 hereto to the Servicer for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations. The undersigned Obligor and the Servicer, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, hereby acknowledge and agree that the security
interest in the foregoing copyrights and copyright applications (i) may only be terminated in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and (ii) is not to be construed as an assignment of any copyright or copyright application.
EXHIBIT 4(b)(ii) NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS United States Patent and Trademark
Office Ladies and Gentlemen: Please be
advised that pursuant to the Security and Pledge Agreement dated as of [_____ __], 202[ ] (as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the Agreement) by and among the
Obligors party thereto (each an Obligor and collectively, the Obligors) and Truist Bank, as Servicer (the Servicer) for the holders of the Secured Obligations referenced therein, the
undersigned Obligor has granted a continuing security interest in and continuing lien upon the patents and patent applications set forth on Schedule 1 hereto to the Servicer for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations. The undersigned Obligor and the Servicer, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, hereby acknowledge and agree that the security
interest in the foregoing patents and patent applications (i) may only be terminated in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and (ii) is not to be construed as an assignment of any patent or patent application.
EXHIBIT 4(b)(iii) NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN TRADEMARKS United States Patent and Trademark
Office Ladies and Gentlemen: Please be
advised that pursuant to the Security and Pledge Agreement dated as of [_____ __], 202[ ] (as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the Agreement) by and among the
Obligors party thereto (each an Obligor and collectively, the Obligors) and Truist Bank, as Servicer (the Servicer) for the holders of the Secured Obligations referenced therein, the
undersigned Obligor has granted a continuing security interest in and continuing lien upon the trademarks and trademark applications set forth on Schedule 1 hereto to the Servicer for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations.
The undersigned Obligor and the Servicer, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, hereby acknowledge and agree that the
security interest in the foregoing trademarks and trademark applications (i) may only be terminated in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and (ii) is not to be construed as an assignment of any trademark or trademark application.
Very truly yours, [Obligor] By: Name: Title: [Address] Acknowledged and Accepted: TRUIST BANK, as Servicer By: Name: Title:
Truist Bank
Program Lending
Mail Code 1802
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Telecopier No.: (404) 724-3716
BORROWER:
BANK:
TRUIST BANK:
By:
Name:
Title:
Closing Date: [Closing Date]
$
Atlanta, Georgia
_________________
_________________
_________________
Closing Date: [Closing Date]
$
Atlanta, Georgia
_________________
_________________
_________________
Name of Lien Holder
Date of Recording
Collateral
5
DEBTOR
Per:
________________________________________
__________________________________________
Date of Execution
Name:
Title:
___________________________________________
Name:
Title:
SECURED PARTY:
TRUIST BANK
Per:
________________________________________
__________________________________________
Date of Execution
Name:
Title:
___________________________________________
Name:
Title:
1.
2.
3.
4.
(Please check one)
(Please check one)
bi-weekly, monthly)
(Please check
one)
*
Delete either 6(a) or 6(b) as applicable
- OR -
Per:
Name of Payor
Date
Per:
Date
6
7
6.
7.
8
9
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
If to Borrower:
Attn:
,
Telecopier No.:
If to Bank:
Truist Bank
Program Lending
Attn: Aarons Program Manager 303 Peachtree Street, N.E., 2nd Floor
Mail Code 1802
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Telecopier No.: (404)724-3716
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
BORROWER:
BANK:
TRUIST BANK:
By:
Name:
Title:
Closing Date: [Closing Date]
$
Atlanta, Georgia
Closing Date: [Closing Date]
$
Atlanta, Georgia
Closing Date: [Closing Date]
$
Atlanta, Georgia
A.
B.
C.
D.
Test Borrower
For Quarter Ending:
I.
$
______________
$
______________
$
______________
$
______________
$
______________
______________
II.
$
_______________
$
______________]
$
______________]
$
______________
$
______________
]
$
______________
]10
______________
10
THE AARONS COMPANY, INC., as Holdings
AARON INVESTMENT COMPANY, LLC as a Guarantor
AARONS BUSINESS REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS, LLC, as a Guarantor
AARONS LOGISTICS, LLC, as a Guarantor
ENVIZZO, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:
Name:
Title:
WOODHAVEN FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:
Name:
Title:
AARONS RETAIL SOLUTIONS, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:
Name:
Title:
RETAIL RTO SOLUTIONS, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:
Name:
Title:
INTERBOND OF AMERICA, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:
Name:
Title:
BRANDSMART USA OF SOUTH DADE, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:
Name:
Title:
By:
Name:
Title:
By:
Name:
Title:
By:
Name:
Title:
BRANDSMART U.S.A. OF CLAYTON COUNTY, LLC, as a Guarantor
By:
Name:
Title:
The Aarons Company, Inc.
Aaron Investment Company, LLC
400 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 300
Aarons Business Real Estate Holdings, LLC
Atlanta, GA 30339
Aarons Logistics, LLC
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
Aarons US HoldCo, Inc.
Envizzo, LLC
Woodhaven Furniture Industries, LLC
Aarons Retail Solutions, LLC
Retail RTO Solutions, LLC
Interbond of America, LLC
Brandsmart USA of South Dade, LLC
Brandsmart U.S.A. of Georgia, LLC
Brands Mart Service, LLC
Brandsmart USA Dadeland, LLC
Brandsmart U.S.A. of Clayton County, LLC
SERVICER:
Truist Bank
CERTIFICATE NO. __
Aarons Program Manager
Mail Code 1802
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
TRUIST BANK, as Servicer
By:
Name:
Title:
Credit
Commitments
Commitments or
Term
Loan Commitments
US Loans Outstanding as of Last Day of Payment Period
Canadian Loans Outstanding as of Last Day of Payment Period
US Loans Outstanding as of Payment Date
Canadian Loans Outstanding as of Payment Date
Amount of US Loans Repurchased by Sponsor Since Last Payment Date
Amounts collected with respect to Collateral for US Loans since Last Payment Date
Amount of Canadian Loans Repurchased by Sponsor since Last Payment Date
Amounts collected with respect to Collateral for Canadian Loans since Last Payment Date
Aggregate Loan Commitments as of Preceding Payment Date
Aggregate US Loan Commitments as of Payment Date
Aggregate Canadian Loan Commitments as of Payment Date
___
___
___
___
OBLIGORS:
By:
Name:
Title:
[TBD],11
11
By:
Name:
Title:
Very truly yours,
[Obligor]
By:
Name:
Title:
[Address]
Acknowledged and Accepted:
TRUIST BANK, as Servicer
By:
Name:
Title:
[Address]
Very truly yours,
[Obligor]
By:
Name:
Title:
[Address]
Acknowledged and Accepted:
TRUIST BANK, as Servicer
By:
Name:
Title:
[Address]
[Address]
Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Media Contact: Investor Relations; investorrelations@aarons.com |
THE AARONS COMPANY COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF BRANDSMART U.S.A.
ATLANTA (April 1, 2022) The Aarons Company, Inc. (Aarons) (NYSE: AAN), a leading technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions, today announced the completion of its previously announced acquisition of BrandsMart U.S.A. (BrandsMart) for $230 million in cash plus customary closing adjustments.
This is an exciting day as we welcome the BrandsMart team to the Aarons family. Together, we are well positioned to continue to execute on Aarons mission of providing consumers with easy access to high quality products on affordable lease and retail purchase options through a wider set of channels. We believe that the consolidated business can deliver strong revenue and double-digit annual adjusted EBITDA growth over the next five years and beyond, said Douglas Lindsay, Chief Executive Officer of Aarons.
In connection with the closing of the BrandsMart acquisition, Aarons replaced its existing $250 million unsecured revolving credit facility with a new credit facility that includes an unsecured $375 million revolving credit facility and a five-year $175 million unsecured term loan. At closing, Aarons had approximately $117 million of borrowings outstanding under its revolving credit facility.
About The Aarons Company
Headquartered in Atlanta, The Aarons Company, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) is a leading omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions. Aarons engages in direct-to-consumer sales and lease ownership of furniture, appliances, consumer electronics and accessories through its approximately 1,300 company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform, Aarons.com. For more information, visit Aarons.com or investor.aarons.com.
About BrandsMart U.S.A.
Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, BrandsMart U.S.A. is one of the leading appliance and consumer electronics retailers in the southeast United States and one of the largest appliance retailers in the country with ten retail stores in Florida and Georgia and a growing e-commerce presence at brandsmartusa.com. BrandsMart U.S.A. offers hundreds of name brands across thousands of different items, including large and small appliances, consumer electronics, computers, furniture, and home goods. For more information, visit brandsmartusa.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this news release regarding our business that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as remain, believe, outlook, expect, assume, assumed, and similar terminology. These risks and uncertainties include factors such as (i) any ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic due to new variants or efficacy and rate of vaccinations, as well as related measures taken by governmental or regulatory authorities to combat the pandemic; (ii) risks related to the disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the acquisition; (iii) failure to realize the benefits expected from the acquisition, including projected synergies; (vi) failure to promptly and effectively integrate the acquisition; (iv) the effect of the acquisition on our operating results and businesses and on the ability of Aarons and BrandsMart to retain and hire key personnel or maintain relationships with
suppliers; (v) the risks associated with our strategy and strategic priorities not being successful, including our e-commerce and real estate repositioning and optimization initiatives or being more costly than anticipated; (vi) our ability to adjust pricing to offset, or partially offset, inflationary pressure on the cost of our products and services; (vii) supply chain delays and disruptions, including adverse consequences to our supply chain function from decreased procurement volumes and from the COVID-19 pandemic; and (viii) the other risks and uncertainties discussed under Risk Factors in the Aarons Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and any subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this press release that are forward-looking include without limitation statements with respect to Aarons goals, plans, expectations, projections regarding the expected financial benefits and results of operations following the acquisition. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, Aarons undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances after the date of this press release.
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