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): December 1, 2021
QUEST RESOURCE HOLDING CORPORATION |
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) |
Nevada | 001-36451 | 51-0665952 | ||
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
3481 Plano Parkway, The Colony, Texas | 75056 | |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (972) 464-0004
(Former name or former address if changed since last report) |
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the follow provisions:
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, $0.001 par value | QRHC | The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC |
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. |
On December 1, 2021, Quest Resource Holding Corporation (the “Company”) and certain of its domestic subsidiaries entered into an amendment (the “Monroe Second Amendment”) to their credit agreement (as amended, the “Monroe Credit Agreement”), dated as of October 19, 2020, as amended by the First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated September 3, 2021, with Monroe Capital Management Advisors, LLC, as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”) for the lenders thereto (the “Lenders”), and the Lenders. The Monroe Second Amendment extends the date that loans may be requested under a delayed draw term loan facility in the maximum principal amount of $12.5 million from November 30, 2021 to December 15, 2021. The information contained in Exhibit 10.1 filed herewith is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.
On December 7, 2021, the Company and certain of its domestic subsidiaries entered into an amendment (the “Monroe Third Amendment”) to the Monroe Credit Agreement, with the Administrative Agent for the Lenders, and the Lenders. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Monroe Credit Agreement. Among other things, the Monroe Third Amendment provides for the following:
1. | Each of RWS Facility Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“RWS”), and Sustainable Solutions Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (each individually a “New Party” and collectively, the “New Parties”), being added as a “Guarantor” under the Monroe Credit Agreement; |
2. | The Lenders making Term C Loans to the Borrowers on the Third Amendment Effective Date in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $34,700,000, to provide the funds required to finance a portion of the RWS Acquisition (as defined below), to repay existing indebtedness of RWS, and to pay fees and expenses in connection with the RWS Acquisition and the transactions consummated in connection therewith on the Third Amendment Effective Date; |
3. | The Lenders making Term D Loans to the Borrowers during the Term D Loan Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $16,000,000, to finance Permitted Acquisitions; |
4. | The Applicable Margin was decreased from the Applicable Margin under the Monroe Credit Agreement and the Senior Net Leverage Ratio was increased from the Senior Net Leverage Ratio from the Monroe Credit Agreement; and |
5. | The aggregate amount of addbacks and adjustments under EBITDA was increased from a cap of twenty percent (20%) to a cap of twenty-five percent (25%). |
As security for the obligations of the Borrowers under the Monroe Credit Agreement, the New Parties have granted a first priority lien on the capital stock and membership interests, as applicable, of the Company’s direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries. The information contained in Exhibit 10.2 filed herewith is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.
In addition, on December 7, 2021, the Company and certain of its domestic subsidiaries entered into a joinder and second amendment (the “PNC Amendment”) to that certain Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of August 5, 2020 (as amended, the “PNC Loan Agreement”), as amended by the First Amendment to the PNC Loan Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2020, with PNC Bank, National Association, successor to BBVA USA, as a lender, and as administrative agent, collateral agent, and issuing bank, to, among other things, make certain corresponding changes consistent with the Monroe Credit Agreement and add the New Parties as borrowers. The information contained in Exhibit 10.3 filed herewith is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.
The above description of the Monroe Second Amendment, Monroe Third Amendment and PNC Amendment does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Monroe Second Amendment, Monroe Third Amendment and PNC Amendment, which are filed as Exhibit 10.1, Exhibit 10.2 and Exhibit 10.3, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.
The information set forth below in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.
Item 2.01 | Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets. |
On December 3, 2021, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement (the “APA”), effective as of November 30, 2021, by and among the Company, Quest Resource Management Group, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Buyer”), InStream Environmental, LLC (“InStream”), and John Little, Larry Seay and Joel Powell, and completed the acquisition by Buyer of substantially all of the assets used in the business of InStream and assumed certain liabilities of InStream, as set forth in the APA (the “InStream Acquisition”).
As consideration for the InStream Acquisition, under the APA, InStream received a purchase price of (i) $11,000,000 in cash subject to certain adjustments set forth in the APA at the closing of the InStream Acquisition; and (ii) up to $1,500,000 in deferred payments which may be earned tied to future performance. The purchase price was funded through the Term B Loan.
The foregoing summary of the APA and the InStream Acquisition does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the APA which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and is incorporated herein by reference.
On December 7, 2021, Quest Sustainability Services, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“QSS”), entered into a membership interest purchase agreement (the “MIPA”), effective as of November 30, 2021, by and among QSS, Rome Holdings, LLC (“Rome”), M&A Business Consulting, Inc. (together with Rome, the “RWS Sellers”), and solely for purposes of Section 5.3(a) therein, Anthony J. DiIenno, Sr., RWS Investors, LLC and ATAR RWS Investors, LLC, and completed the acquisition by QSS of all of the outstanding membership interests of RWS held by the RWS Sellers (the “RWS Acquisition”). As consideration for the RWS Acquisition, under the MIPA, the RWS Sellers received an aggregate purchase price of $33,000,000.
The foregoing summary of the MIPA and the RWS Acquisition does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the MIPA which is filed as Exhibit 2.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, 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. |
Certain information with respect to the Monroe Third Amendment set forth above in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 2.03 by reference.
Item 3.02. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities. |
As previously reported, in connection with the Monroe Credit Agreement, the Company had agreed to grant a warrant to purchase 350,000 shares at the earlier of October 19, 2021 or certain other events. As of the date hereof, such warrant is now in effect.
Item 8.01. | Other Events. |
On December 8, 2021, the Company issued a press release relating to the signing of the APA and the MIPA and the closing of the InStream Acquisition and the RWS Acquisition. A copy of the press release is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(a) | Financial Statements of Business Acquired. |
The Company intends to file the financial statements of each of InStream and RWS required by Item 9.01(a) as part of an amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K no later than 71 calendar days after the applicable required filing date for Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
(b) | Pro Forma Financial Information. |
The Company intends to file the financial statements of each of InStream and RWS required by Item 9.01(b) as part of an amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K no later than 71 calendar days after the applicable required filing date for Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
(d) | Exhibits. |
* The schedules and exhibits to this Exhibit have been omitted. The Company agrees to furnish a copy of the omitted schedules and exhibits to the Securities and Exchange Commission on a supplemental basis upon its request.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
QUEST RESOURCE HOLDING CORPORATION | ||||
Dated: December 8, 2021 | By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | ||
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Execution Version
ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
by and among
QUEST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC,
QUEST RESOURCE HOLDING CORPORATION,
INSTREAM ENVIRONMENTAL, llc
and
john LITTLE, LARRY SEAY AND JOEL POWELL
__________________________________________
Dated as of December 3, 2021
Effective as of November 30, 2021
__________________________________________
Table of Contents
Page
ARTICLE I | PURCHASE AND SALE; CLOSING | 1 |
Section 1.1. | Purchase and Sale of the Purchased Assets | 1 |
Section 1.2. | Excluded Assets | 2 |
Section 1.3. | Assumed Liabilities | 2 |
Section 1.4. | Excluded Liabilities | 2 |
Section 1.5. | The Closing | 2 |
Section 1.6. | Purchase Price | 3 |
Section 1.7. | Working Capital Adjustment | 3 |
Section 1.8. | Deferred Customer Payment | 6 |
Section 1.9. | Allocation of Purchase Price | 9 |
Section 1.10. | Non-Assignable Assets | 9 |
Section 1.11. | Deliveries by Seller and the Members | 10 |
Section 1.12. | Deliveries by Buyer | 11 |
ARTICLE II | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO SELLER AND MEMBERS | 11 |
Section 2.1. | Organization, Standing and Power | 11 |
Section 2.2. | Authority | 12 |
Section 2.3. | Title to Purchased Assets; Ownership | 12 |
Section 2.4. | Noncontravention; Governmental Approval | 13 |
Section 2.5. | Capital Structure | 13 |
Section 2.6. | Financial Statements; Liabilities | 14 |
Section 2.7. | Indebtedness | 14 |
Section 2.8. | Absence of Certain Changes or Events | 15 |
Section 2.9. | Litigation | 16 |
Section 2.10. | Contracts | 16 |
Section 2.11. | Compliance with Laws; Permits | 18 |
Section 2.12. | Real Properties | 19 |
Section 2.13. | Intellectual Property | 21 |
Section 2.14. | Tax Matters | 23 |
Section 2.15. | ERISA Compliance | 25 |
Section 2.16. | Labor and Employment Matters | 27 |
Section 2.17. | Environmental Matters | 29 |
Section 2.18. | Customers and Suppliers | 30 |
Section 2.19. | Affiliate Transactions | 30 |
Section 2.20. | Insurance | 31 |
Section 2.21. | Accounts Receivable | 31 |
Section 2.22. | Products and Services | 32 |
Section 2.23. | Guaranties | 32 |
Section 2.24. | Absence of Restrictions on Business Activities | 32 |
Section 2.25. | Brokers and Other Advisors | 32 |
Section 2.26. | Disclosure | 32 |
Section 2.27. | No Liability For Known Breaches | 33 |
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Table of Contents
(continued)
Page
ARTICLE III | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO BUYER | 33 |
Section 3.1. | Organization, Standing and Power | 33 |
Section 3.2. | Authority | 33 |
Section 3.3. | Noncontravention; Governmental Approval | 33 |
Section 3.4. | Brokers and Other Advisors | 34 |
ARTICLE IV | COVENANTS | 34 |
Section 4.1. | Subsequent Actions | 34 |
Section 4.2. | Public Announcements | 35 |
Section 4.3. | FIRPTA Certificate | 35 |
Section 4.4. | Taxes | 35 |
Section 4.5. | Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Non-Interference | 35 |
Section 4.6. | Transferred Employees | 37 |
Section 4.7. | Name Change | 37 |
Section 4.8. | Post-Closing Cooperation | 38 |
ARTICLE V | INDEMNIFICATION | 38 |
Section 5.1. | Escrow Fund | 38 |
Section 5.2. | Survival | 38 |
Section 5.3. | Indemnification by Seller and the Members | 38 |
Section 5.4. | Indemnification by Buyer | 40 |
Section 5.5. | Escrow Period; Release of Escrow Fund | 40 |
Section 5.6. | Claims Upon the Escrow Fund | 41 |
Section 5.7. | Notification of Claims | 41 |
Section 5.8. | Additional Indemnification Provisions | 42 |
Section 5.9. | Tax Treatment of Indemnity Payments | 43 |
ARTICLE VI | GENERAL PROVISIONS | 43 |
Section 6.1. | Fees and Expenses | 43 |
Section 6.2. | Amendments | 43 |
Section 6.3. | Waiver | 44 |
Section 6.4. | Notices | 44 |
Section 6.5. | Interpretation | 45 |
Section 6.6. | Counterparts | 45 |
Section 6.7. | Entire Agreement; Third-Party Beneficiaries | 45 |
Section 6.8. | GOVERNING LAW | 46 |
Section 6.9. | Assignment | 46 |
Section 6.10. | Specific Enforcement; Consent to Jurisdiction | 46 |
Section 6.11. | Waiver of Jury Trial | 47 |
Section 6.12. | Severability | 47 |
Section 6.13. | Effect of Investigation | 47 |
Section 6.14. | Definitions | 47 |
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Table of Contents
(continued)
Page
EXHIBITS: | ||||
Exhibit A | - | Illustrative Run-Rate Gross Profit Calculation | ||
Exhibit B | - | Preliminary Allocation Schedule | ||
Exhibit C | - | Form of Bill of Sale, Assignment and Assumption Agreement | ||
Exhibit D | - | Form of Escrow Agreement | ||
Exhibit E | - | Form of Consulting Agreements | ||
Exhibit F | - | Form of Offer Letter | ||
Exhibit G | - | Form of Lease |
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ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of December 3, 2021 (the “Closing Date”), but effective as of November 30, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and among Quest Resource Management Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Buyer”), Quest Resource Holding Corporation, a Nevada corporation (“Parent”), InStream Environmental, LLC, a South Carolina limited liability company (the “Seller” or the “Company”), and John Little, Larry Seay and Joel Powell (collectively, the “Members”). Buyer, Seller and the Members are referred to herein collectively as the “Parties” and each individually as a “Party.”
RECITALS:
A. Seller is a national waste and commodities recycling managed services firm (the “Business”);
B. Seller desires to sell to Buyer, and Buyer desires to purchase from Seller, the Purchased Assets, and Seller desires to transfer to Buyer, and Buyer desires to assume from Seller, certain limited liabilities of Seller as hereinafter specified; and
C. The Members, who are the sole members of the Seller and the holders of all of the membership interests of Seller (the “Membership Interests”), desire that the foregoing be effected.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
PURCHASE AND SALE; CLOSING
Section 1.1. Purchase and Sale of the Purchased Assets. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, Seller shall sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver to Buyer or cause to be sold, transferred, conveyed and delivered to Buyer, and Buyer shall purchase and acquire from Seller, free and clear of all Liens, subject to Permitted Encumbrances, all of Seller’s right, title and interest in, to and under all of the assets and properties of Seller, or otherwise used in the Business and owned by Seller of every kind, character and description, tangible or intangible, real, personal or mixed, and wherever located (other than the Excluded Assets), including but not limited to the following assets (collectively, the “Purchased Assets”):
(a) the Contracts listed on Section 1.1(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule (the “Assumed Contracts”);
(b) the Receivables listed on Section 1.1(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule;
(c) all of Seller’s documentation specifically relating to the Purchased Assets, including, books, records, ledgers, files, documents, lists (including but not limited to client, vendor, supplier, contractor and service provider lists), plans, specifications, surveys, drawings, advertising, marketing, sales and promotional materials, and subject to applicable Law, customer records, supplier lists, purchase and sale records, price lists, billing, payment and dispute histories, credit information and similar data, and correspondence;
(d) all Intellectual Property owned by Seller that is associated with the Business;
(e) customer lists, including current customers and any prospective customers in Seller’s pipeline, which have previously been provided to the Buyer;
(f) all assets set forth on Section 1.1(f) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule; and
(g) all goodwill associated with the Purchased Assets.
Section 1.2. Excluded Assets. The Purchased Assets to be purchased and sold hereunder, and the term “Purchased Assets” as used herein, shall not include the specified assets of Seller listed on Section 1.2 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule (collectively, the “Excluded Assets”).
Section 1.3. Assumed Liabilities. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, Buyer shall assume and agree to pay, perform and discharge when due (a) all liabilities and obligations of Seller under the Assumed Contracts to the extent such liabilities and obligations are to be performed after the Effective Date and do not arise out of or relate to a breach of any Assumed Contract existing or happening on or prior to the Effective Date or this Agreement; provided, that Buyer shall not assume any liability or obligation arising out of or relating to any occurrence, event or other condition existing or happening on or prior to the Effective Date, and (b) such liabilities listed on Section 1.3 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule (collectively, the “Assumed Liabilities”).
Section 1.4. Excluded Liabilities. Other than the Assumed Liabilities, Seller shall retain, and shall be responsible for paying, performing and discharging when due, and Buyer shall not assume or have any responsibility for, any and all liabilities and obligations of Seller of any nature whatsoever, whether past, current or future, whether accrued, contingent, known or unknown, including but not limited to the liabilities listed on Section 1.4 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule (collectively, the “Excluded Liabilities”).
Section 1.5. The Closing. Consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall take place on the Closing Date but shall be effective as of the Effective Date. The Closing shall occur electronically, with the Parties exchanging all signature pages to the documents specified herein via email delivery. The Closing shall be deemed to have become effective as of 12:01 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on the Effective Date (the “Effective Time”). It is the intention of the Parties that Seller shall operate the Business for its own account prior to the Effective Time, that Seller shall operate the Business for the benefit of the Buyer between the Effective Time and 11:59 p.m. on the Closing Date (the “Turn-over Time”), and that the Buyer shall operate the Business for its own account from and after the Turn-over Time.
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Section 1.6. Purchase Price.
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, in consideration of the sale by Seller of the Business and the Purchased Assets to Buyer, in addition to the assumption of the Assumed Liabilities, the purchase price to be paid by Buyer at the Closing shall be an amount equal to (i) $11,000,000 in cash, less the Escrow Fund (collectively, the “Cash Payment”), plus or minus (ii) the Preliminary Working Capital Adjustment set forth in Section 1.6(b), in each case to be paid in accordance with Section 1.6(c) (the “Initial Purchase Price”). The Initial Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 1.7 and Section 1.8, including the Deferred Customer Payment, if and when payable pursuant to Section 1.8 (as so adjusted, the “Purchase Price”).
(b) On or prior to the Closing, the Seller shall have delivered to the Buyer a written statement (the “Purchase Price Closing Settlement Statement”), setting forth (i) the Seller’s good faith estimate, based upon its most recently available month end internal financial statements prior to the Closing, of the amount of the Working Capital as of the Effective Date (the “Preliminary Working Capital”) and the amount by which the Preliminary Working Capital exceeds or is less than the Target Working Capital (such difference, the “Preliminary Working Capital Adjustment”), (ii) the aggregate amount of Seller’s Indebtedness as of the Closing Date (which shall be the same as the amount thereof specified in the payoff letters described in Section 1.11(e)), together with a listing of the individual accounts, their payees and amounts due to each in respect thereof, (iii) the aggregate amount of Seller Transaction Expenses unpaid as of the Closing Date, together with a listing of the individual accounts, their payees and amounts due to each in respect thereof, and (iv) based on the foregoing, the amount to be paid to Seller by Buyer at the Closing.
(c) At the Closing, the Buyer will pay the Initial Purchase Price as follows: Buyer shall pay, or cause to be paid, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, an amount equal to (i) the Escrow Fund to such account provided by the Escrow Agent to Buyer and Seller no later than three (3) days prior to the Closing Date; (ii) Seller’s Indebtedness, if any, in such amounts and to such accounts as set forth on the Purchase Price Closing Settlement Statement; (iii) the unpaid Seller Transaction Expenses, if any, in such amounts and to such accounts as set forth on the Purchase Price Closing Settlement Statement; and (iv) after payment of (i), (ii) and (iii) above, the balance of the Cash Payment to the Seller in the amount and to such account as set forth on the Purchase Price Closing Settlement Statement.
Section 1.7. Working Capital Adjustment. The Purchase Price shall be adjusted after the Closing in accordance with the following procedures:
(a) Within ninety (90) days following the Closing Date, Buyer shall prepare and deliver to Seller a statement (the “Initial Statement”) calculating and setting forth the actual Working Capital as of the Effective Date (the amount calculated and set forth on such Initial Statement, the “Initial Working Capital”), which statement shall be in substantially the same format as set forth in Section 1.7(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule and include a worksheet setting forth in reasonable detail how such amount was calculated. The Initial Statement, the Target Working Capital and the Initial Working Capital shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistent with, but subject to, the methodologies and non-GAAP treatment as set forth on Section 1.7(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule.
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(b) During the thirty (30) days immediately following Seller’s receipt of the Initial Statement (the “Purchase Price Adjustment Review Period”), Seller shall be permitted to review Buyer’s working papers and any working papers of Buyer’s independent accountants relating to the preparation of the Initial Statement and the calculation of the Initial Working Capital, as well as all of the books, records and other relevant information relating to the Initial Working Capital with respect to the period up to and including the Business Day immediately prior to the Effective Date, and Buyer shall make reasonably available to Seller the individuals responsible for and knowledgeable about the information used in, and the preparation or calculation of, the Initial Statement and the Initial Working Capital; provided, however, that the independent accountants of Buyer shall not be obligated to make any working papers available to Seller unless and until Seller has signed a customary confidentiality and hold harmless agreement relating to such access to working papers in form and substance reasonably acceptable to such independent accountants.
(c) Seller shall notify Buyer in writing (the “Adjustment Notice”) prior to the expiration of the Purchase Price Adjustment Review Period if Seller disagrees with the Initial Statement or the Initial Working Capital. The Adjustment Notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for such disagreement, the amounts involved and Seller’s determination of the amount of the Initial Working Capital. Any items not disputed in the Adjustment Notice shall be deemed to have been accepted by Seller. If no Adjustment Notice is received by Buyer on or prior to the expiration date of the Purchase Price Adjustment Review Period, then the Initial Statement and the Initial Working Capital set forth in the Initial Statement shall be deemed to have been accepted by Seller and shall become final and binding upon Seller and Buyer in accordance with the last sentence of Section 1.7(e).
(d) During the thirty (30) days immediately following the delivery of an Adjustment Notice (the “Purchase Price Adjustment Consultation Period”), Seller and Buyer shall seek in good faith to resolve any disagreement that they may have with respect to the matters specified in the Adjustment Notice.
(e) If, at the end of the Purchase Price Adjustment Consultation Period, Seller and Buyer have been unable to resolve all disagreements that they may have with respect to the matters specified in the Adjustment Notice, then Seller and Buyer shall submit all matters that remain in dispute with respect to the Adjustment Notice (along with a copy of the Initial Statement marked to indicate those line items that are in dispute) to a regional or national firm of independent accountants mutually acceptable to Seller and Buyer (the “Independent Accountant”). Within thirty (30) days after the submission of such matters to the Independent Accountant, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the Independent Accountant, acting as an expert and not as an arbitrator, will make a final determination, binding on Seller and Buyer, in accordance with this Section 1.7(e), of the appropriate amount of each of the line items in the Initial Statement as to which Seller and Buyer disagree as specified in the Adjustment Notice. With respect to each disputed line item, such determination, if not in accordance with the position of either Seller or Buyer, shall not be in excess of the higher, nor less than the lower, of the amounts advocated by Seller in the Adjustment Notice or Buyer in the Initial Statement with respect to such disputed line item. For the avoidance of doubt, the Independent Accountant shall not review any line items or make any determination with respect to any matter other than those matters in the Adjustment Notice that remain in dispute. If either party disputes the determination of the Independent Accountant, such party must initiate arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”) then in effect in order to resolve such dispute. If the amount in controversy is in excess of $250,000, then the matter shall be decided by a panel of three arbitrators selected in accordance with the applicable rules of the AAA. All other matters shall be decided by a single arbitrator. The award rendered by the arbitrator(s) shall be final, and judgment may be entered upon it in accordance with applicable law in any court of competent jurisdiction. Such final judgment by the arbitrator(s) shall be appealable in the applicable court of competent jurisdiction. Buyer and Seller expressly agree that this provision is bargained for and agreed upon, and that this provision shall be specifically enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction.
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(f) The statement of the Working Capital as of the Effective Date and the determination of the Working Capital set forth therein that are final and binding on Seller and Buyer, as determined either through agreement of Seller and Buyer (deemed or otherwise) pursuant to Section 1.7(a) or (c) or through the determination of the Independent Accountant, arbitrator(s) or a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to Section 1.7(e), are referred to herein as the “Final Statement” and the “Final Working Capital”, respectively. The date on which the Final Working Capital is finally determined in accordance with this Section 1.7(f) is hereinafter referred to as the “Working Capital Determination Date.”
(g) The cost of the Independent Accountant’s review and determination shall be shared equally by Seller and Buyer. Seller and Buyer shall each bear the fees of their respective counsel, auditors and other representatives incurred in connection with the determination and review of the Initial Statement. During the review by the Independent Accountant, Buyer and Seller shall each make available to the Independent Accountant such individuals and such information, books, records and work papers, as may be reasonably required by the Independent Accountant to fulfill its obligations under Section 1.7(e); provided, however, that the independent accountants of Seller or Buyer shall not be obligated to make any working papers available to the Independent Accountant unless and until the Independent Accountant has signed a customary confidentiality and hold harmless agreement relating to such access to working papers in form and substance reasonably acceptable to such independent accountants.
(h) As used herein, the “Final Working Capital Adjustment” may be a positive or negative amount, and shall be equal to the Final Working Capital minus the Target Working Capital. Upon the determination of the Final Working Capital Adjustment on the Working Capital Determination Date, the Initial Purchase Price shall be recomputed using the Final Working Capital Adjustment instead of the Preliminary Working Capital Adjustment. If such recomputation results in an increase of the Initial Purchase Price, the Buyer shall pay to the Seller an amount in cash equal to such increase within three (3) Business Days after the Working Capital Determination Date. If such recomputation results in a decrease of the Initial Purchase Price, then the Buyer and the Seller shall instruct the Escrow Agent to release from the Escrow Fund an amount in cash equal to such decrease to the Buyer within three (3) Business Days after the Working Capital Determination Date.
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Section 1.8. Deferred Customer Payment.
(a) Seller shall be entitled to receive a payment (the “Deferred Customer Payment”) payable in cash following the Deferred Customer Payment Date, to be determined and paid in accordance with this Section 1.8 and the principles and requirements set forth on Exhibit A hereto. The Deferred Customer Payment shall be calculated based on a 3.0x multiple of the average run-rate Gross Profit for the trailing three (3) months from (i) executed contracts for the sale of services and goods with new customers entered into after the date hereof and on or prior to the Deferred Customer Payment Date and (ii) material expansions of existing customer contracts, as determined by Buyer in a commercially reasonable manner, during the Deferred Customer Calculation Period (each such customer, a “Deferred Customer”); provided that the Deferred Customer Payment shall in no event exceed $1,500,000 in the aggregate (the “Maximum Deferred Customer Payment”). The Buyer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to achieve the Maximum Deferred Customer Payment; provided that, from and after the Closing Date and until the Deferred Customer Payment Date, the financial information and other documents related to the Business and the Purchased Assets shall be made available to the Seller upon reasonable request for the purpose of tracking progress and verifying payments made with respect to the Deferred Customers. Should any dispute arise regarding the Deferred Customer Payment amount, the dispute will be resolved by and through the same process laid out in Section 1.7.
(b) Within one hundred thirty five (135) days following the Deferred Customer Payment Date, Parent shall pay, or cause to be paid, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, an amount equal to the Deferred Customer Payment to the Seller to such account set forth on the Purchase Price Closing Settlement Statement or such alternative account designated by the Seller as delivered in writing to the Buyer before executing such wire transfer.
(c) Subordination of Deferred Customer Payment. For so long as the Credit Agreement remains in effect:
(i) Seller acknowledges and agrees that the Deferred Customer Payment is, and shall remain, unsecured. In the event that the Seller obtains any liens or security interests securing the Deferred Customer Payment, (A) Senior Agent shall be deemed authorized by the Seller to file UCC termination statements necessary to terminate such liens and security interests and (B) the Seller shall promptly execute and deliver to Senior Agent such releases and terminations as Senior Agent shall reasonably request to effect the release of such liens, and security interests.
(ii) Except as expressly provided for in this Agreement or as the Senior Agent may hereafter otherwise expressly consent in writing, the payment of the Deferred Customer Payment and any amount in respect thereof is and shall be expressly subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior Payment in Full of all Senior Indebtedness. Until the Payment in Full of all Senior Indebtedness, in no event shall Parent, directly or indirectly, pay, and in no event shall Seller accept, payment of the Deferred Customer Payment, except that Parent shall be permitted to pay, and Seller shall be permitted to receive, payment of the Deferred Customer Payment as calculated under this Section 1.8 (as in effect on the Closing Date) if and only to the extent that immediately before giving effect to such payment no Senior Default or Event of Default exists and is continuing and no Senior Default or Event of Default would exist as a result of such payment. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that each of the Senior Agent and each Senior Lender shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be deemed to have incurred Senior Indebtedness in reliance upon, the agreements set forth in this Section 1.8(c), and shall be a third party beneficiary of this Section 1.8(c), and that, no provision of this Section 1.8(c) (or any other provision hereunder that has the effect of materially adversely affecting the rights and protections afforded to the Senior Agent under this Section 1.8(c)) may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified or waived unless such amendment, supplement or other modification or waiver is in writing and signed by the parties hereto and the Senior Agent.
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(iii) In the event of any Reorganization, all Senior Indebtedness shall first be Paid in Full before any payment or distribution is made on account of the Deferred Customer Payment. Prior to such Payment in Full of the Senior Indebtedness, in any proceedings seeking to effect a Reorganization, any payment or distribution of any kind or character which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the Deferred Customer Payment shall be paid or delivered (in the form received duly endorsed to the Senior Agent) directly to the Senior Agent for application to payment of the Senior Indebtedness, until all Senior Indebtedness shall have been Paid in Full.
(iv) If the Deferred Customer Payment is then outstanding, then in any proceedings with respect to any Reorganization prior to the Payment in Full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Seller, by its acceptance hereof, irrevocably authorizes the Senior Agent, in its sole discretion:
(A) to prove and enforce any claims on the Deferred Customer Payment owed by Parent to Seller either in the name of the Senior Agent or in the name of Seller as the attorney-in-fact of Seller (including to execute, verify, deliver and file any proofs of claim and/or vote any such claim);
(B) to accept and execute receipts for any payment or distribution made with respect to any such Deferred Customer Payment and to apply such payment or distribution to the payment of the Senior Indebtedness; and
(C) to take any action and to execute any instruments necessary to effectuate the foregoing, either in the name of the Senior Agent or in the name of Seller as the attorney-in-fact of Seller.
(v) If, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.8, the Seller shall receive any payment or distribution from Parent in respect of the Deferred Customer Payment in contravention of this Section 1.8, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust by Seller and promptly paid over to the Senior Agent for application to the payment of Senior Indebtedness until all such Senior Indebtedness shall have been Paid in Full.
(vi) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or otherwise with respect to the Deferred Customer Payment, Seller shall not, prior to the Payment in Full of all Senior Indebtedness, without the prior written consent of the Senior Agent, institute or participate in any proceedings to enforce the Deferred Customer Payment or exercise any other remedies in respect of the Deferred Customer Payment (including acceleration of the Deferred Customer Payment or commencing, or joining with any other creditor of Parent and its Subsidiaries in commencing, any proceeding against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries seeking to effect a Reorganization). In addition, Seller shall not institute or participate in any proceedings or take any other action challenging the enforceability, validity, security, perfection or priority of the Senior Indebtedness or any liens or security interests securing the Senior Indebtedness.
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(vii) Parent and its Subsidiaries shall not grant, and Seller shall not demand, accept or receive, (A) any collateral, direct or indirect, for the Deferred Customer Payment or (B) any guarantee from Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of the Deferred Customer Payment.
(viii) Parent represents that the Deferred Customer Payment is not subordinated to any obligations other than the Senior Indebtedness and covenants that it will not subordinate the Deferred Customer Payment to any other obligations except with the prior written consent of the Senior Agent.
(ix) If Senior Agent or any Senior Lender is required by reason of a judgment or order of any court or administrative authority having competent jurisdiction to repay any amounts or property received by Senior Agent or such Senior Lender on account of the Senior Indebtedness, and Senior Agent or such Senior Lender repays or returns such amounts or property, then the subordination provisions of this Section 1.8 shall be reinstated retroactively with respect to the amounts so repaid or property so returned as if such amounts or property had never been received by Senior Agent or such Senior Lender, notwithstanding any termination thereof or the cancellation of any Senior Loan Documents.
(x) Seller, by its acceptance hereof, waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter created, incurred or assumed, and waives reliance by each such holder of Senior Indebtedness upon such provisions.
(xi) Senior Agent and the Senior Lenders may at any time, and from time to time, in their absolute discretion, without adversely affecting the subordination provisions of this Section 1.8(c) or their rights hereunder, increase the commitments under the revolving credit facility or increase the term loans or extend new term loans, change the manner, place or terms of payment of, change or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, any Senior Indebtedness, or amend, supplement or otherwise modify any Senior Loan Document or other document evidencing Senior Indebtedness, or exercise or refrain from exercising any other or their rights or remedies under the Senior Indebtedness, including, without limitation, the waiver of any Senior Default or Event of Default or any other default or event of default thereunder, all without notice to or assent from Seller.
(xii) No right of any present or future holder of Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of Parent or its Subsidiaries or Seller or by any act or failure to act by any such holder of Senior Indebtedness, or by any noncompliance by Parent or its Subsidiaries or Seller with the terms, provisions and covenants hereof, regardless of any knowledge thereof with which any such holder of Senior Indebtedness may have or otherwise be charged.
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(xiii) Each of Parent and Seller, by its respective acceptance hereof, covenants to execute and deliver to the Senior Agent such further instruments and to take such further action as the Senior Agent may at any time or times reasonably request in order to carry out the provisions and intent of this Section 1.8.
Section 1.9. Allocation of Purchase Price.
(a) Buyer shall prepare an allocation (the “Allocation Schedule”) of the Purchase Price (and all other capitalized costs) among the Purchased Assets in accordance with Section 1060 and the Treasury Regulations thereunder (and any similar provision of state, local, or non-U.S. law, as appropriate), which Allocation Schedule shall be binding upon the Seller. Based upon the terms hereof and the Seller Disclosure Schedule, a preliminary Allocation Schedule prepared by the Buyer is included herein as Exhibit B. Buyer shall deliver such Allocation Schedule to Seller within sixty (60) days after the Closing Date. Buyer and Seller shall report, act, and file Company Tax Returns (including, but not limited to IRS Form 8594) in all respects and for all purposes consistent with such Allocation Schedule. Seller shall timely and properly prepare, execute, file and deliver all such documents, forms and other information as Buyer may reasonably request to prepare such Allocation Schedule. Neither Buyer nor Seller shall take any position (whether in audits, Tax Returns or otherwise) that is inconsistent with such Allocation Schedule unless required to do so by applicable law.
(b) If Seller provides a notice of objections (the “Notice of Objections”) to Buyer within fifteen (15) Business Days of receipt of the Allocation Schedule, Seller and Buyer shall negotiate in good faith to resolve the objections raised by Seller in the Notice of Objections. If Buyer and Seller fail to resolve the objections raised by Seller within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Notice of Objections, then the dispute shall be resolved by the Independent Accountant in accordance with Section 1.7(e), including the arbitration provisions in the event of a dispute as to the Independent Accountant’s final determination. Buyer and Seller shall share equally the fees and expenses of the Independent Accountant for this purpose. The Parties shall report the Tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in a manner consistent with the Allocation Schedule, as originally provided by Buyer (if Seller does not provide a timely Notice of Objections), as agreed to by Buyer and Seller, or as determined by the Independent Accountant, arbitrator(s) or court of competent jurisdiction as the case may be (in each case, the “Final Allocation Schedule”), and shall not take any action or position that is inconsistent therewith. The Parties shall update the Final Allocation Schedule to reflect any further adjustments to the Purchase Price in a manner consistent with the principles used to create the Final Allocation Schedule, and the Parties shall report the Tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in a manner consistent with the Final Allocation Schedule, as revised, and shall not take any action or position that is inconsistent therewith.
Section 1.10. Non-Assignable Assets. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, this Agreement shall not constitute an agreement to assign any interest in any instrument, contract, lease or other agreement or arrangement or any claim, right or benefit, if an assignment without the consent of a third party would constitute a breach or violation thereof and would adversely affect Seller’s ability to convey the interest or impair the interest as conveyed to Buyer. Seller shall obtain each of the required consents or waivers of third parties set forth in Section 1.10 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer (the “Required Consents”), and deliver such Required Consents at the Closing unless otherwise mutually agreed between the Buyer and the Seller. If a Required Consent is not obtained on or prior to the Closing Date, or if an attempted assignment would be ineffective or would affect Seller’s ability to convey the interest unimpaired, then, at Buyer’s request, Seller shall use best efforts to cooperate with Buyer in any reasonable arrangement, including performance by Seller or Buyer, as the case may be, as agent for the other, in order to cause Buyer to receive the benefits of such interest, including but not limited to all revenue, Receivables and other cash flow under such interest, and to accept the burdens and perform the obligations, under any such instrument, contract, lease or other agreement or arrangement or any such claim, right or benefit all as of the Closing; provided, however, that the Parties will continue to use their best efforts after the Closing to obtain the applicable Required Consent. Any transfer or assignment to Buyer by Seller of any interest under any such instrument, contract, lease or other agreement or arrangement or any such claim, right or benefit that requires the consent of a third party shall be made subject to such consent or approval being obtained.
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Section 1.11. Deliveries by Seller and the Members. At the Closing, Seller and the Members, as applicable, shall deliver to Buyer:
(a) a duly executed Bill of Sale, Assignment and Assumption Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Bill of Sale, Assignment and Assumption Agreement”);
(b) a duly executed Escrow Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “Escrow Agreement”), pursuant to which the Escrow Fund will be held in escrow to satisfy certain potential obligations of Seller and will be released to Seller or Buyer when and as provided therein;
(c) duly executed consulting agreements between Buyer or an Affiliate of Buyer, on the one hand, and each of John Little and Larry Seay, on the other hand, in the form attached as Exhibit E (the “Consulting Agreements”);
(d) a duly executed employment offer letter, between Buyer or an Affiliate of Buyer, and Joel Powell, in the form attached as Exhibit F (the “Offer Letter”);
(e) copies of payoff letters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer, with respect to all Indebtedness of Seller, including but not limited to the Indebtedness set forth on Section 1.11(e) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, which payoff letters shall discharge fully the then outstanding balance, including all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and any other fees, costs and expenses payable to the holders in connection therewith, of such obligations;
(f) a duly executed Lease in the form attached as Exhibit G (the “Lease”), dated as of the Closing Date;
(g) a duly executed FIRPTA certificate of Seller, as described in Section 4.3;
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(h) duly executed assignments of all Intellectual Property owned by the Seller, including any and all domain names;
(i) duly and properly authorized and executed evidence (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer) as to the amendment of Seller’s articles of organization (the “Organizational Amendment”) changing Seller’s name to another name that does not include any of the following words “InStream Environmental” or any variation thereof;
(j) the Required Consents pursuant to Section 1.10; and
(k) all such other documents, certificates, instruments of assignment and transfer as are reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, including but not limited to all such documents effecting the transfer to Buyer of all of Seller’s right, title and interest in, to and under the Purchased Assets, free and clear of all Liens, subject to Permitted Encumbrances, in accordance with this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer, and to assist Buyer in exercising all rights with respect thereto.
Section 1.12. Deliveries by Buyer. At the Closing, Buyer shall deliver to Seller, the Members and the Escrow Agent, as applicable:
(a) the Initial Purchase Price in accordance with Section 1.6;
(b) each of the following documents, duly executed: (i) the Bill of Sale, Assignment and Assumption Agreement, (ii) the Escrow Agreement, (iii) the Consulting Agreements, (iv) any assignments with respect to the transfer of any Intellectual Property, (v) the Offer Letter, and (vi) the Lease; and
(c) such other documents as are required to be delivered by Buyer to Seller pursuant to this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO SELLER AND MEMBERS
Except as set forth in the disclosure schedule delivered by Seller to Buyer concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (the “Seller Disclosure Schedule”), Seller and the Members hereby, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to Buyer as of the Effective Date and the Closing Date as follows:
Section 2.1. Organization, Standing and Power. Seller is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of South Carolina. Seller has all requisite limited liability company power and authority necessary to enable it to use its name and to own, lease or otherwise hold and operate its properties and other assets and to carry on its business as it has been and is now currently being conducted. Seller is duly qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing (with respect to jurisdictions that recognize that concept) in each jurisdiction in which the conduct or nature of its business or the ownership, leasing or operation of its properties or other assets makes such qualification, licensing or good standing necessary. Seller has no Subsidiaries.
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(a) True, correct and complete copies of the Organizational Documents of Seller, as currently amended and in effect, have been made available to Buyer prior to the date hereof, and Seller is not in default under or in violation of any provision thereof.
(b) Seller does not, and has never, owned, directly or indirectly, any capital stock or other equity interests in any Person (except for investments in securities not exceeding 1% of the issued and outstanding equity of any publicly held company). Seller is not subject to any obligation (by Law, contract or otherwise) to make any investment or otherwise acquire capital stock or other equity interests in any other Person.
Section 2.2. Authority. Seller has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The Members have the legal authority and capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and to perform their obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements by Seller and the Members and the consummation by Seller and the Members of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Seller and the Members and no other proceedings on the part of Seller or the Members are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been, and, when executed and delivered, each of the Ancillary Agreements will have been, duly executed and delivered by Seller and the Members and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other Parties hereto and thereto, constitutes (and in the case of the Ancillary Agreements, will constitute) a legal, valid and binding obligation of Seller and the Members, enforceable against Seller and the Members in accordance with its terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, moratorium, reorganization or similar Laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and the availability of equitable remedies (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and any implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing (the “Bankruptcy and Equity Exception”).
Section 2.3. Title to Purchased Assets; Ownership. Seller has good, valid and marketable title to, a valid leasehold interest in, or other legal rights to possess or use, the Purchased Assets, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Encumbrances. Except for the personal property of the Members utilized in the Business and listed on Section 2.3 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, the Purchased Assets (i) constitute all of the assets and properties, including all real property, tangible personal property and intangible personal property, used to conduct the Business as such business is currently conducted, and, are sufficient to conduct the Business from and after the Closing in the same manner as currently conducted by Seller and (ii) are in the exclusive possession and control of Seller, and no other Person other than Seller is entitled to possession of any portion of the Purchased Assets (except under those circumstances where the nature of the conduct of the Business in the ordinary course thereof requires possession and/or control thereof by third persons). Seller has conveyed to Buyer at and effective upon the Closing good, valid and marketable title to, and ownership of, all of its properties and assets constituting the Purchased Assets and the enforceable right to receive and/or use such Purchased Assets, free and clear of all Liens. The Members are the sole members of Seller, and no other Person has any legal or beneficial interest in Seller, nor are the Membership Interests subject to any Liens.
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Section 2.4. Noncontravention; Governmental Approval.
(a) Except as contemplated by Section 2.4 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements by Seller and the Members do not and will not, and the consummation by Seller and the Members of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and compliance by Seller and the Members with the provisions of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements will not, conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of, or result in, termination, modification, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or to the loss of a benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien in or upon any of the properties, rights or assets of Seller under, or require any consent or approval by, or any notice to, any person under, (i) the Organizational Documents of Seller, (ii) any loan or credit agreement, bond, debenture, note, mortgage, indenture, lease, supply agreement, license agreement, distribution agreement or other contract, agreement, obligation, commitment or instrument (each, including all amendments, modifications and supplements thereto, a “Contract”), to which Seller is a party or any of its properties, rights or assets is subject or (iii) any (A) federal, state, local or foreign statute, law (including common law), ordinance, rule or regulation (domestic or foreign) issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Entity (each, a “Law”) applicable to Seller or any of its properties, rights or assets or (B) order, writ, injunction, decree, judgment, award, summons, notice of violation, directive, warning, notice or demand letter or request for information, settlement or stipulation issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Entity (each, an “Order”) applicable to Seller or its properties, rights or assets; (iv) breach any Assumed Contract; or (v) result in the imposition or creation of any Lien upon or with respect to any of the Purchased Assets.
(b) No consent, approval, license, permit, order, qualification or authorization of, action by or in respect of, or registration, declaration or filing with any Governmental Entity is required by or with respect to Seller or the Members in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by Seller and the Members of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Except as contemplated by Section 2.4 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, no consent, waiver, approval or authorization of, or action by, or any notice given to, any third party other than a Governmental Entity pursuant to a Contract or Real Property Lease must be obtained or made by Seller in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by Seller of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including, without limitation, as a result of a change of control of Seller.
Section 2.5. Capital Structure. Section 2.5 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth all of the issued and outstanding Membership Interests of the Seller as of the date of this Agreement, and such Membership Interests constitute all of the issued, outstanding and authorized Equity Interests of Seller. The Membership Interests of Seller are free of any restriction on the right to vote such Membership Interests. Except as set forth in Section 2.5 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, there are no options, convertible securities, warrants or convertible obligations of any nature to acquire Equity Interests of Seller.
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Section 2.6. Financial Statements; Liabilities.
(a) Section 2.6(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth (i) the unaudited balance sheets of Seller as of December 31, 2019 and 2020 (the balance sheet as of December 31, 2020, the “2020 Balance Sheet”), (ii) the unaudited statements of operations of Seller for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, (iii) the unaudited statements of operations of Seller for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 (the balance sheets and statements of operations referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above, together with any notes thereto, being collectively referred to as the “Annual Financial Statements”; the statements of operations referred to in clause (iii) above, together with any notes thereto, being collectively referred to as the “Interim Financial Statements”; and the Annual Financial Statements and the Interim Financial Statements being collectively referred to as the “Financial Statements”). Except as set forth on Section 2.6(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, the Interim Financial Statements have been prepared on the same basis as the Annual Financial Statements. The Financial Statements have been derived from the books and records of Seller, were prepared in accordance with the accounting methodologies of Seller, including the non-GAAP treatment set forth on Section 2.6(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, applied on a consistent basis (except as may be set forth in the notes thereto or as otherwise noted therein), and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows of Seller as of the respective dates thereof or for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of the Interim Financial Statements, to the absence of notes and normal year-end adjustments, the effect of which adjustments have not been and will not be material).
(b) Except as set forth in Section 2.6(b) the Seller Disclosure Schedule, there are no liabilities or obligations of Seller required to be recorded or disclosed under GAAP of any nature or type, whether or not absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise, other than as and only to the extent reflected or reserved against in the Financial Statements and for liabilities or obligations of Seller that have been incurred since September 30, 2021 in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices.
(c) Seller has no current intention to correct or restate, and to the Knowledge of Seller, there is not any basis to correct or restate any of the Financial Statements. Seller has not had any disagreement with any of its auditors regarding material accounting matters or policies during the past full fiscal year or during the current fiscal year-to-date.
Section 2.7. Indebtedness. Section 2.7 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth as of the date of this Agreement a list separately identifying (a) each agreement, indenture or contract relating to any Indebtedness of Seller, and (b) each guarantee by Seller of Indebtedness of another Person. Except as set forth on Section 2.7 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, Seller has no outstanding Indebtedness.
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Section 2.8. Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as set forth in Section 2.8 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, since December 31, 2020, (i) there has not been any change in the business, assets, financial position, operations, results of operations or prospects of Seller or the Business, other than any such changes that occurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) Seller has made all capital expenditures in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, and (iii) Seller has conducted the Business in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and has not:
(a) mortgaged, pledged or subjected to lien, restriction or any other Lien any of the property, businesses or assets, tangible or intangible, of Seller;
(b) paid any obligation or liability (absolute or contingent) other than current liabilities reflected in the 2020 Balance Sheet and current liabilities incurred since December 31, 2020 in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(c) sold, transferred, leased to others or otherwise disposed of any of its assets (or committed to do any of the foregoing), or canceled, waived, released or otherwise compromised any debt or claim, or any right of significant value, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(d) suffered any damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance);
(e) undertaken or committed to undertake any capital expenditures or capital additions or betterments for any single project or related series of projects other than (i) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (ii) those reflected on the Financial Statements;
(f) decreased the amount of any reserves for doubtful accounts receivable or written down or written up the value of any equipment or other asset, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(g) instituted any litigation or any Action before any Governmental Entity relating to the Business or Seller or any of its properties or assets;
(h) other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (i) increased the compensation levels, remuneration or the method of determining the compensation of any employee or any bonus payment or similar arrangement with or for the benefit of any such employee, (ii) increased benefits expense to Seller, any payments made or declared into any profit-sharing, pension, or other retirement plan for the benefit of employees, (iii) executed, implemented, amended or terminated any Seller Benefit Plan or other compensation agreement pertaining to any employees or (iv) agreed to increase the coverage or benefits available under any severance pay, termination pay, vacation pay, company awards, salary continuation for disability, sick leave, deferred compensation, share option or any other benefit relating to the profit or sales of Seller, bonus or other incentive compensation, insurance, pension or other employee benefit plan, payment or arrangement made to, for or with employees;
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(i) made any change in its accounting policies or principles or the methods by which such principles are applied for financial accounting purposes including, without limitation, with respect to the payments of accounts payable and collections of accounts receivable;
(j) made or changed any election concerning Taxes or Tax Returns, changed an annual accounting period, adopted or changed any accounting method, filed any amended return, entered into any closing agreement with respect to Taxes, settled any Tax claim or assessment, surrendered any right to claim a refund of Taxes or obtained or entered into any Tax ruling, agreement, contract, understanding, arrangement or plan;
(k) amended (including but not limited to granted price concessions under), terminated, waived or cancelled any Contract or amended, terminated, waived or cancelled any right or claim it had under any such Contract;
(l) canceled any debts owed to it or claims held by it (including the settlement of any claims or litigation) other than in the ordinary course of its business consistent with past practice;
(m) accelerated or delayed collection of accounts receivable in advance of or beyond their regular due dates or the dates when the same would have been collected except in the ordinary course of its business consistent with past practice;
(n) delayed or accelerated payment of any account payable or other liability beyond or in advance of its due date or the date when such liability would have been paid except in the ordinary course of its business consistent with past practice; or
(o) entered into or become committed to enter into any Contract or transaction, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, and there are no material purchase commitments outstanding.
Section 2.9. Litigation. Except as set forth in Section 2.9 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, (a) there are no Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened against or involving Seller or any of its properties, rights or assets, or, to the Knowledge of Seller, any present or former officer, director, manager, member or employee of Seller in their capacity as such and (b) neither Seller nor any of its properties, rights or assets, nor, to the Knowledge of Seller, any present or former officer, director, manager, member or employee of Seller in their capacity as such, is or are subject to any Order.
Section 2.10. Contracts.
(a) Section 2.10(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of each Contract to which Seller is a party or by which it is bound as of the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “Seller Contracts”) and that are:
(i) Contracts providing for severance, retention, change in control or other similar payments relating to the Employees;
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(ii) Contracts establishing any joint venture, partnership, strategic alliance, licensing arrangement, sharing of profits or other material collaboration;
(iii) Contracts that limit, or purport to limit, the ability of Seller or, after the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, Buyer, to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any geographic area or during any period of time or that require Seller or, after the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, Buyer, to deal exclusively with a given Person in respect of a given matter;
(iv) Contracts for the sale of any Purchased Assets or the grant of any preferential rights to purchase any Purchased Assets or requiring the consent of any party to the transfer thereof;
(v) Contracts related to an acquisition or sale of assets or other acquisition, divestiture, merger or similar transaction, in each case, involving consideration in excess of $100,000 and entered into during the five (5) years prior to the date hereof and containing representations, covenants, indemnities or other obligations that are still in effect;
(vi) Contracts relating to the incurrence, assumption or guarantee of any Liability or imposing a Lien on any of the Purchased Assets, including indentures, guarantees, loan or credit agreements, sale and leaseback agreements, purchase money obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, mortgages, pledge agreements, security agreements, or conditional sale or title retention agreements;
(vii) Contracts with material customers;
(viii) Contracts (or group of related contracts and accounts such as being under common management) currently in existence or actively serviced resulting in estimated payment obligations of more than $40,000 annually or $120,000 in the aggregate;
(ix) royalty Contracts, licenses or any other Contracts relating to any Intellectual Property rights (excluding licenses pertaining to “off-the-shelf” commercially available Software used pursuant to shrink-wrap or click-through license agreements on reasonable terms for a licensee fee of no more than $10,000);
(x) Contracts with material vendors;
(xi) material Contracts with independent contractors or consultants (or similar arrangements) that are not cancelable without penalty or further payment and without more than thirty (30) days’ notice; and
(xii) other Contracts in effect as of the date of this Agreement to which Seller is a party and that are material to the conduct of the Business, or the use or operation of the Purchased Assets or the Assumed Liabilities, as presently conducted.
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(b) Each Seller Contract is valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its respective terms against Seller and each other party thereto, and in full force and effect (and will continue in full force and effect after giving effect to the sale of the Purchased Assets without breaching the terms thereof or resulting in the forfeiture or impairment of any rights thereunder or the accelerating of any obligations thereunder and, except as set forth on Section 2.4 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, without notice to, the consent, approval or act of, or the making of any filing with, any Person), subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception, except to the extent that it has previously expired in accordance with its terms. Neither Seller nor any counterparty to any Seller Contract has violated any provision of, or committed or failed to perform any act which, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute a default under the provisions of, or provide any basis for termination of, any Seller Contract. Except as set forth in Section 2.10 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, no party to any Seller Contract has given Seller notice, orally or in writing, of its intention to cancel, terminate, change the scope of rights under, decrease its services or supplies to Seller or its usage of the services or products of Seller under, or fail to renew any Seller Contract and neither Seller nor any other party to any Seller Contract has repudiated in writing any provision thereof. Seller does not anticipate any termination or change to any Seller Contract as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby. Except as set forth in Section 2.10(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedules, Seller is not currently renegotiating any Seller Contract or paying liquidated damages in lieu of performance thereunder. Except as set forth in Section 2.4 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, each Seller Contract is freely assignable by the Seller without the consent of any counterparty. Seller has furnished Buyer, prior to the date hereof, with true, correct and complete list of Seller’s customer accounts that are currently in existence and has provided Buyer with true, correct and complete copies of each Seller Contract, each together with all amendments, waivers or other changes thereto. Section 2.10(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of any missing Seller Contracts and any oral Seller Contracts.
Section 2.11. Compliance with Laws; Permits.
(a) Except as set forth on Section 2.11 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, since December 31, 2020, (i) Seller is and has been in compliance with all Laws and Orders applicable to it, its properties, rights or assets or its business or operations and (ii) no Action has been filed or commenced or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened, against Seller alleging any failure to so comply. Seller is not a party to, or bound by, any Order that is material. All matters set forth on Section 2.11 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule have been resolved without any further obligation or liability of Seller.
(b) Seller has in effect all approvals, authorizations, certificates, filings, franchises, licenses, exemptions, notices and permits of or with all Governmental Entities (collectively, “Permits”) necessary for it to own, lease or operate its properties and other assets and to carry on its business and operations as currently conducted and as were conducted through the most recently completed fiscal year. All Permits included in the Purchased Assets, if any, are in full force and effect and constitute all Permits required to permit Seller to operate or conduct the Business as currently conducted or to hold any interest in the Purchased Assets except to the extent the failure to be in full force and effect would not be material to the Business, Purchased Assets or Assumed Liabilities. There has occurred no default under, or violation of, any such Permit, and Seller is in compliance with the terms of the Permits. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements would not cause the revocation, modification or cancellation of any Permit.
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(c) None of Seller or any of its officers, directors, managers, members, shareholders, employees, agents, advisors or Representatives, has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, any of them (i) knowingly used any funds of Seller for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity, (ii) unlawfully offered or provided, directly or indirectly, anything of value to (or received anything of value from) any foreign or domestic government employee or official or any other Person or (iii) violated any provision of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “Foreign Corrupt Practices Act”) or any other United States and foreign Laws concerning corrupting payments or practices, and each of such Persons is in compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and any other United States and foreign Laws concerning corrupting payments or practices. Since January 1, 2017, Seller has not received any written notice that it has been investigated by any Governmental Entity with respect to, or given notice by a Governmental Entity of, any violation by the Seller of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or any other United States or foreign Laws concerning corrupting payments or practices. Seller has instituted and maintains policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and any other United States or foreign Laws concerning corrupting payments or practices.
(d) No Action, Order or Law shall have been instituted or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened or proposed by any Governmental Entity that would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business.
Section 2.12. Real Properties.
(a) Seller does not own any interests in real property.
(b) Section 2.12(b)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule lists each real property leased, subleased, licensed or occupied by, or from, Seller (the “Leased Real Property”). Seller has delivered to Buyer true, correct and complete copies of all leases, subleases, licenses or other occupancy agreements or contracts (collectively, together with all amendments, modifications or supplements thereto, and assignments thereof, “Real Property Leases”) relating to the Leased Real Property or to which Seller is a party or by which Seller is bound. With respect to each Real Property Lease:
(i) Such Real Property Lease is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect against Seller, as applicable, and, to the Knowledge of Seller, the other party thereto;
(ii) Neither the Seller, nor to the Knowledge of Seller, the other party to such Real Property Lease is in breach or default under such Real Property Lease and, to the Knowledge of Seller, no event has occurred or circumstance exists which, with the delivery of notice, the passage of time, or both, would constitute such a breach or default, or permit the termination, modification or acceleration of rent under such Real Property Lease;
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(iii) Neither the Seller, and to the Knowledge of Seller, the other party to such Real Property Lease, has received any notice of cancellation or termination from any landlord or subtenant under any of the Real Property Leases;
(iv) Seller has paid or accrued its monthly rental, additional rent and all other monetary obligations due under each of the Real Property Leases through the last day of the month of this Agreement;
(v) The full security deposit, if any is required, is held under each Real Property Lease by the other party thereto, or in the case where the Seller is the sublessor, by the Seller. No security deposit or portion thereof deposited with respect to such Real Property Lease has been applied in respect of a breach or default under such Real Property Lease which has not been re-deposited in full;
(vi) The other party to such Real Property Lease is not an Affiliate of and, to the Knowledge of Seller, does not otherwise have any economic interest in the Seller; and
(vii) The Seller has received all approvals of Governmental Entities (including licenses and Permits) required in connection with the ownership or lease of the Real Property, as applicable, and operation thereof.
(c) The Seller has not assigned, transferred, conveyed, mortgaged, deeded in trust or encumbered any interest in any of the Leased Real Property. The Leased Real Property constitutes all of the land, buildings, structures, improvements, fixtures or other interests and rights in real property that are used or occupied by the Seller in connection with the Business. All of the Leased Real Property has access to public roads and to all utilities necessary for the operation of the Business. To the Knowledge of Seller, there is no pending or contemplated condemnation or eminent domain proceeding with respect to any Leased Real Property. The Seller is not a lessor, sublessor or grantor under any lease, sublease, consent, license or other instrument granting to another person or entity any right to the possession, use, occupancy or enjoyment of the Leased Real Property. There are no encroachments upon any of the parcels comprising the Leased Real Property (other than such encroachments as would not affect the usability or marketability of the applicable parcel of Leased Real Property) and no portion of any improvement encroaches upon any property not included within the Leased Real Property or upon the area of any easement affecting the Leased Real Property.
(d) To the Knowledge of Seller, all of the Leased Real Property, fixtures and improvements thereon owned or leased by the Seller, are in good operating condition without structural defects. To the Knowledge of Seller, all mechanical and other building systems located on the Leased Real Property, are (i) in good operating condition, and no condition exists requiring material repairs, alterations or corrections, and (ii) suitable, sufficient and appropriate in all respects for their current use. None of the improvements located on the Leased Real Property or uses being made of the Leased Real Property constitute a legal non-conforming use or otherwise require any special dispensation, variance or special permit under any Laws. The Seller has delivered to Buyer true, correct and complete copies of all deeds, title exception documents (for example, easements, restrictive covenants), title reports, title polices (“Existing Title Policies”) and surveys (“Existing Surveys”) for the Leased Real Property in the Seller’s possession or control. No claim has been made under any of the Existing Title Policies or Existing Surveys. The Seller has delivered to Buyer true, correct and complete copies of any Order entered, issued, made or rendered by, or any Contract with, any Governmental Entity in connection with or relating to the Leased Real Property.
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(e) None of the Leased Real Property is now damaged or injured as a result of any fire, explosion, accident or other casualty that is not adequately insured against under the insurance policies maintained by the Seller with respect to the Leased Real Property.
(f) To the Knowledge of the Seller, all reciprocal easement contracts, conditions and restrictions and similar public or private restrictive covenants to which the Leased Real Property is subject have not been violated. There exist no outstanding requirements or recommendations by (i) any insurance policy maintained by Seller currently insuring any Leased Real Property, (ii) any board of fire underwriters or other body exercising similar functions with respect to any Leased Real Property or (iii) the holder of any encumbrance on any Leased Real Property, in each such case that require or recommend any repairs or work of any material nature be performed on such Leased Real Property.
(g) Set forth in Section 2.12(g)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule is a true, correct and complete list of all material plans and specifications relating to the Leased Real Property in the possession of the Seller. True, correct and complete copies of such material plans and specifications in the possession of the Seller have been furnished to Buyer. Except as set forth in Section 2.12(g)(ii) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, to the Knowledge of Seller, no Leased Real Property is, or will be, subject to zoning, use or building code restrictions that would prohibit, and, to the Knowledge of Seller, no state of facts exist with respect to the Leased Real Property or will exist, that would prevent the continued leasing or use of such Leased Real Property after the Closing consistent with the current or contemplated use. Without limiting the foregoing, (i) to the Knowledge of Seller, there are no plans of any Governmental Entity to change the highway or road system in the vicinity of the Leased Real Property or to restrict or change access from any such highway or road to the Leased Real Property that could adversely affect access to any roads providing a means of ingress to or egress from the Leased Real Property, and (ii) to the Knowledge of Seller, there is no pending or proposed action to change or redefine the zoning classification of all or any portion of any of the Leased Real Property.
(h) To the Knowledge of the Seller, no action seeking a reduction in real estate Taxes imposed upon the Leased Real Property or the assessed valuation thereof (or any portion thereof) (i) has been settled during the period in which the Leased Real Property has been leased by the Seller or (ii) is currently pending.
Section 2.13. Intellectual Property.
(a) Section 2.13(a)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of all registered and unregistered Intellectual Property that is owned by Seller and used in the operation of the Business (collectively, the “Owned IP”), including but not limited to: (i) for each Patent and Patent application, the Patent number or the Patent application number, as applicable; (ii) for each registered trademark and trademark application, the registration number or the trademark application serial number, as applicable, and the class of goods covered, along with all common law trademarks; (iii) for each registered copyright or copyright application, the registration number or the copyright application number, as applicable, as well as all common law copyrights; (iv) trade names; (v) registered Internet domain names; and (vi) social media sites. Except as set forth in Section 2.13(a)(ii) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, Seller owns the entire right, title and interest to all Owned IP free and clear of all Liens and no Person (other than the Seller), including any current or former member, stockholder, officer, consultant, manager, employee or vendor of the Seller or any of its Affiliates, has any ownership claim to, ownership right (whether or not currently exercisable) to, ownership interest in, or exclusive rights to any improvements made to, any Owned IP. All renewal, application and other fees, and all other actions, required for the maintenance, registration or prosecution of any of the Owned IP prior to the Closing have been paid. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all assignments from Persons necessary or appropriate to vest ownership in the Seller of any Owned IP have been obtained and properly recorded. All of the Owned IP, the registrations and applications for registration of which are set forth on Section 2.13(a)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, are valid and in full force and effect. To the Knowledge of the Seller, all of the other rights within the Owned IP are valid and subsisting. The Seller is not subject to any Order that restricts or impairs the use of any Owned IP as currently used in the Business. All filings for the Owned IP are in good standing. Seller has not made any submission or suggestion to, and is not subject to any agreement with, any Person or standards body or other similar entity that would obligate the Seller or Buyer to grant licenses to any Person or otherwise impair or limit Seller’s control of any Intellectual Property.
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(b) Section 2.13(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of all Intellectual Property not owned by Seller and material or necessary to the conduct of the Business (the “Licensed IP”), together with all Contracts pursuant to which licenses of third party Intellectual Property are licensed to Seller (the “Transferred Licenses”). Seller has the right to use the Licensed IP free and clear of all Liens. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not violate, result in the breach of, give rise to any right of modification, cancellation, termination, acceleration or suspension of, or require the authorization of, exemption by or consent of any Person under, any of the Transferred Licenses. Immediately following the Closing Date, the Buyer will be permitted to exercise all of the Seller’s rights under all Transferred Licenses, to the same extent the Seller would have been able to had the transactions contemplated by this Agreement not occurred and without being required to pay any additional amounts or consideration other than fees, royalties or payments which the Seller would otherwise be required to pay had such transactions not occurred.
(c) The Owned IP, together with the Licensed IP, include all of the Intellectual Property used in or necessary to the conduct of the Business as currently conducted, and is not subject to any Liens. Neither the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements nor the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will result in the release, disclosure or delivery of any Owned IP or Licensed IP, by or to any escrow agent or other Person, or in the grant, assignment or transfer to any other Person of any license or other right to any Owned IP or Licensed IP, or in the termination or modification of (or right to terminate or modify) any Owned IP or Licensed IP.
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(d) No Actions (including oppositions, interferences, cancellations, litigations or other proceedings) or Orders are pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller, have been threatened in the last three years (including cease and desist letters or requests for a license) against Seller with regard to any Intellectual Property.
(e) To the Knowledge of Seller, operation of Seller’s business as currently conducted does not improperly use any Intellectual Property and does not infringe, misappropriate or violate the Intellectual Property of any other Person. To the Knowledge of Seller, no entity is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating any Intellectual Property used in the operation of the Business.
(f) Seller has provided Buyer with true, correct and complete copies of all Contracts relating to Intellectual Property used in the operation of the Business to which Seller is a party. There has not been any unauthorized disclosure of any third party Intellectual Property by Seller or its officers or employees. None of the products or services offered by, on behalf of, or through Seller (whether by sale, license or otherwise) has been, or is, falsely, incorrectly or improperly marked or mismarked with any Intellectual Property.
Section 2.14. Tax Matters.
(a) Except as set forth on Section 2.14 of the Seller Disclosure Schedules, the Company has:
(i) duly and timely filed, or caused to be filed, in accordance with applicable law all Company Tax Returns, each of which is true, correct and complete,
(ii) duly and timely paid in full, or caused to be paid in full, all Company Taxes due and payable (whether or not shown on any Company Tax Return) on or prior to the Closing Date, and
(iii) properly accrued in accordance with GAAP on its books and records a provision for the payment of all Company Taxes that are due, are claimed to be due, or may or will become due with respect to any Pre-Closing Period or the portion ending on the Closing Date.
(b) No extension of time to file a Company Tax Return, which Company Tax Return has not since been filed in accordance with applicable law, has been filed. There is no power of attorney in effect with respect or relating to any Company Tax or Company Tax Return.
(c) No Company Tax Return has ever been filed, and no Company Tax has ever been determined, on a consolidated, combined, unitary or other similar basis (including, but not limited to, a consolidated federal income Tax Return). There is no actual or potential theory or circumstance (including, but not limited to, as a transferee or successor, under Code Section 6901 or Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6, as a result of a Tax sharing agreement or other contract or by operation of law) under which the Company is or may be liable for any Tax determined, in whole or in part, by taking into account any income, sale, asset of or any activity conducted by any other Person.
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(d) Except as set forth on Section 2.14 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, the Company has complied in all respects with all applicable law relating to the deposit, collection, withholding, payment or remittance of any Tax (including, but not limited to, Code Section 3402).
(e) There is no lien for any Tax upon any asset or property of the Company (except for any statutory lien for any Tax not yet due).
(f) No Action is pending, threatened or proposed with regard to any Company Tax or Company Tax Return. No event or circumstance results in any significant risk that any such Action will occur.
(g) The statute of limitations applicable or relating to any Company Tax or any Company Tax Return has never been modified, extended or waived, nor has any request been made in writing for any such modification, extension or waiver.
(h) Any assessment, deficiency, adjustment or other similar item relating to any Company Tax or Company Tax Return has been reported to all Governmental Entities in accordance with applicable law.
(i) No jurisdiction where no Company Tax Return has been filed or no Company Tax has been paid has made or threatened to make a claim for the payment of any Company Tax or the filing of any Company Tax Return.
(j) The Company is not a party to any agreement with any Governmental Entity (including, but not limited to, any closing agreement within the meaning of Code Section 7121 or any analogous provision of applicable law). No private letter or other ruling or determination from any Governmental Entity relating to any Company Tax or Company Tax Return has ever been requested or received.
(k) The Company is not a party to any contract, agreement or other arrangement that (i) results or could result in any amount that is not deductible under Code Section 162, Code Section 280G, or Code Section 404, or any similar provision of applicable law or (ii) is or could become subject to Code Section 409A or any similar provision of applicable law.
(l) The Company is not nor has it ever been a beneficiary or otherwise participated in any reportable transaction within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(1).
(m) The Company (i) does not have, and has never had, a permanent establishment in any country outside the United States and is not, and has never been, subject to Tax in a jurisdiction outside the United States, (ii) has never entered into a gain recognition agreement pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.367(a)-8, and (iii) has never transferred an intangible the transfer of which would be subject to the rules of Code Section 367(d).
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(n) The Company is not a party to any joint venture, partnership or other agreement, contract or arrangement (whether written or oral) which could be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
(o) The Company has (i) filed all reports and has created and retained all records required under Code Section 6038A with respect to its ownership by, and transactions with, related parties, and (ii) has disclosed on its U.S. federal income Tax Returns all positions taken therein that could give rise to a substantial understatement of federal income Tax within the meaning of Code Section 6662.
(p) No asset of the Company is (i) required to be treated as being owned by any other Person pursuant to any provision of applicable law (including, but not limited to, the “safe harbor” leasing provisions of Code Section 168(f)(8), as in effect prior to the repeal of those “safe harbor” leasing provisions), (ii) subject to Code Section 168(g)(1)(A), or (iii) subject to a disqualified leaseback or long-term lease agreement as defined in Code Section 467.
(q) The Company has not participated and is not participating in an international boycott within the meaning of Code Section 999.
(r) Any adjustment of Taxes of the Company made by the IRS, which adjustment is required to be reported to appropriate Governmental Entities, has been so reported.
Section 2.15. ERISA Compliance.
(a) Section 2.15(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all Seller Benefit Plans. Each Seller Benefit Plan has been administered in all respects in accordance with its terms. Seller (with respect to each Seller Benefit Plan) and each Seller Benefit Plan, are in compliance in all respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code, and all other applicable Laws.
(b) Seller has made available to Buyer true, correct and complete copies of each Seller Benefit Plan and, to the extent applicable: (i) the most recent determination letter received from the IRS and any outstanding request for a determination letter; (ii) Forms 5500 for the three most recent plan years, including without limitation, all schedules thereto, all financial statements with attached opinions of independent accountants, and all actuarial reports; (iii) any written policies and/or procedures used in plan administration; (iv) current summary plan descriptions and any summaries of modifications; (v) any administrative service agreements, HIPAA business associate agreements, related trust agreements, annuity contracts and other funding instruments; (vi) with respect to any obligation relating to medical or other welfare benefits for retirees, any additional letters, memos, contracts or other written documentation relating to the obligation; (vii) with respect to each Seller Benefit Plan subject to Code Section 409A, any written policies and/or procedures used in plan administration; and (viii) any actuarial reports or funding statement prepared for any of the Seller Benefit Plans for the prior three (3) plan years.
(c) All Seller Benefit Plans intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code have received favorable determination letters from the IRS, to the effect that such Seller Benefit Plans are so qualified and exempt from federal income Taxes under Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the Code, no such determination letter has been revoked (nor, to the Knowledge of Seller has revocation been threatened) and to the Knowledge of Seller, no event has occurred since the date of the most recent determination letter relating to any such Seller Benefit Plan that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualification of such Seller Benefit Plan or increase the costs relating thereto.
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(d) No Multiemployer Plan exists, and neither Seller nor any Commonly Controlled Entity with respect to Seller has any liability in connection with any multiemployer plan (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA or Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA).
(e) Neither Seller nor any Commonly Controlled Entity has ever made any contributions to any pension benefit plan which is subject to the provisions of Title IV or otherwise has any liability under Title IV of ERISA. No condition exists that presents a risk to Seller or any Commonly Controlled Entity of incurring a liability under Title IV of ERISA. No event has occurred that would be reasonably expected to subject Seller or any Commonly Controlled Entity, to any Tax, fine, Lien, penalty or other liability imposed by ERISA, the Code, COBRA, HIPAA, or other applicable Laws, rules and regulations, and no such Tax, fine, Lien, penalty or other liability has been imposed. With respect to each Seller Benefit Plan, (i) there are no Actions by any Governmental Entity with respect to termination proceedings, (ii) there are no claims (except claims for benefits payable in the normal operation of the Seller Benefit Plans), suits or proceedings against or involving any Seller Benefit Plan or asserting any rights or claims to benefits under any Seller Benefit Plan that are pending, threatened or in progress, and (iii) to the Knowledge of Seller, there are not any facts that could give rise to any liability in the event of any such Action. Any employee and participant or other notices required by ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, the Code, or any other state or federal law or any ruling or regulation of any state or federal administrative agency with respect to each Seller Benefit Plan has been appropriately and timely given.
(f) Each Seller Benefit Plan and related trust agreement, annuity contract or other funding instrument is legal, valid and binding and in full force and effect, and there are no defaults thereunder. None of the rights of Seller thereunder will be impaired by the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and all of the rights of Seller thereunder will be enforceable by Buyer at or after the Closing without the consent or agreement of any other party. Each Seller Benefit Plan (including any Seller Benefit Plan covering former employees and retirees of Seller) may be amended or terminated by Buyer on or at any time after the Closing Date, without liability to Seller or Buyer. Seller has no liability or obligation to provide life, medical, or other welfare benefits to former or retired employees, other than under COBRA.
(g) With respect to each Seller Benefit Plan, (i) there has not occurred any prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code), and (ii) there has not occurred a reportable event (as such term is defined in Section 4043(c) of ERISA).
(h) All contributions with respect to each Seller Benefit Plan for all periods ending prior to the Closing Date (including periods from the first day of the current plan year to the Closing Date) have been made prior to the Closing Date by Seller in accordance with past practice and the recommended contribution in the applicable actuarial report. All contributions to the Seller Benefit Plans have been made on a timely basis in accordance with ERISA and the Code. All insurance premiums have been paid in full, subject only to normal retrospective adjustments in the ordinary course, with regard to the Seller Benefit Plans for policy years or other applicable policy periods ending on or before the Closing Date.
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(i) The Seller has not terminated or taken action to terminate (in whole or in part) any employee benefit plans as defined in ERISA Section 3(3).
(j) None of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (whether alone or in conjunction with any other event, including as a result of any termination of employment on or following the Closing) will (i) entitle any current or former officer, employee, manager, consultant or contractor of Seller to severance or termination pay or (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or trigger any payment or funding (through a grantor trust or otherwise) of, compensation or benefits under, increase the amount payable or trigger any other obligation pursuant to, any Seller Benefit Plan.
(k) Seller is not a party to any nonqualified deferred compensation plan, as defined in Section 409A of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. No Employee or former employee of Seller is or has been subject to any Tax or penalty under Section 409A of the Code in connection with any such nonqualified deferred compensation plan which would be subject to the adverse tax consequences imposed by Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. Seller will not be required to make any payments of any nature whatsoever to any Person on account of such Person having adverse tax consequences in connection with amounts payable under Section 409A of the Code.
(l) Each person classified by Seller as an independent contractor satisfies and has satisfied the requirements of any applicable law to be so classified; Seller has fully and accurately reported such independent contractors’ compensation on IRS Forms 1099 when required to do so; and Seller has paid all independent contractors all monies due and owing to them. Seller has not misclassified any individual as an independent contractor or otherwise, as determined under applicable Law, for purposes of Seller Benefit Plans or for any other purpose.
Section 2.16. Labor and Employment Matters.
(a) Section 2.16(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule contains a list setting forth (i) the name, title, location, base salary or wages, bonus entitlement, annual vacation entitlement and accrued vacation of each present employee of Seller (the “Employees”) and (ii) any employee that is not working due to leave (other than approved vacation), short-or long-term disability or workers compensation claims (separately identifying as such and stating the reason for the leave, disability or claim). Section 2.16(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule identifies which of the Employees, as well as other consultants, agents and independent contractors, are covered by or subject to an employment, consulting, non-competition or severance agreement with Seller, and copies of all such agreements have been delivered to Buyer.
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(b) (i) None of the Employees is, or has ever been during the period of employment by Seller, represented by any labor union or covered by any collective bargaining agreement, (ii) to the Knowledge of Seller, there are no attempts of whatever kind and nature being made to organize any of the Employees and (iii) Seller has not (A) breached or otherwise failed to comply with any provision of any collective bargaining agreement, works council agreement or other labor union contract applicable to any of the Employees or (B) received written notice during the past three years from any Governmental Entity relating to or concerning any audit or investigation of Seller regarding any labor, employment, occupational health and safety or workplace safety and insurance/workers compensation laws, and to the Knowledge of Seller, no such audit or investigation is in progress or anticipated.
(c) Seller is not delinquent in the payment of (i) any wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses or other compensation for all periods prior to the date hereof, or (ii) any amount which is due and payable to any state or state fund pursuant to any workers compensation statute, rule or regulation of any amount which is due and payable to any workers compensation claimant or any other party arising under or with respect to a claim that has been filed under any Law or administrative procedure. There is no reasonable basis for any claim by any Employee, candidate, or non-employee worker that they were subject to a wrongful discharge, or any employment discrimination or retaliation by Seller or its management, arising out of or relating to such individual’s race, sex, age, religion, national origin, ethnicity, handicap or any other protected characteristic or activity under applicable Laws; and Seller has not breached any promises, agreements or understandings made to or with any Employee, candidate or non-employee worker.
(d) Seller has not entered into any agreement, arrangement or understanding restricting its ability to terminate the employment of any or all of its Employees or non-employee workers at any time, for any lawful or no reason, without penalty or liability.
(e) Seller is not liable for any payment to any trust or other fund governed by or maintained by or on behalf of any Governmental Entity, with respect to unemployment compensation benefits or social security or other benefits or obligations for Employees (other than routine payments to be made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.
(f) There are no personnel policies or work rules applicable to the Employees of Seller, other than policies and work rules set forth in employee manuals, true, correct and complete copies of which have previously been provided to Buyer.
(g) Seller is in compliance with all Laws respecting labor, employment, employment practices and employment eligibility, including, but not limited to, Laws prohibiting discrimination in employment, and Laws regulating terms and conditions of employment, wages and hours, equal opportunity, immigration, occupational safety and health, collective bargaining, the classification of service providers as employees and/or independent contractors, and the payment of social security and other Taxes.
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(h) Seller has not received any correspondence from the Social Security Administration, IRS or any agency with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding any Employee or Employee Social Security Number.
Section 2.17. Environmental Matters.
(a) Except for the matters set forth in Section 2.17 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule:
(i) Seller possesses all Environmental Permits currently required under applicable Environmental Laws to operate its business, and within applicable statutes of limitation, has been in compliance with the terms and conditions of such Environmental Permits, and Seller has not received written notice that any Environmental Permits possessed by Seller will be revoked or suspended or will not be renewed;
(ii) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not require any notification, registration, reporting, filing, investigation or remediation under any Environmental Law;
(iii) Seller is currently in compliance, and within applicable statutes of limitation, has been in compliance, with all applicable Environmental Laws;
(iv) (A) Seller has not received notice of any Action and, to the Knowledge of Seller, is not subject to any Order that is open, pending, unresolved, or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened under any Environmental Law against Seller, and (B) to the Knowledge of Seller, neither Seller nor any predecessors in interest have any actual or potential liability under any Environmental Law that has not been resolved, including but not limited to any liability that Seller may have retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law;
(v) To the Knowledge of Seller no property or facility currently owned, operated or leased by Seller or any predecessor in interest is listed or proposed for listing on the National Priorities List or the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System, both promulgated under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (“CERCLA”), or on any comparable foreign or state list established under any Environmental Law;
(vi) (A) there has been no Release of any Hazardous Material generated, used, owned, stored or controlled by Seller or, to the Knowledge of Seller, any predecessor in interest, on, at, or under any property presently owned, leased or operated by Seller or any predecessor in interest or the property of any other Person, and (B) to the Knowledge of Seller there are no Hazardous Materials located in, at, on, or under such facility or property, or at any other location (including, without limitation, any location where Seller has conducted the Business), in either case (A) or (B) that could reasonably be expected to require investigation, removal, remedial or corrective action by Seller or that would reasonably be likely to result in liabilities of, or losses, damages or costs (including, response costs, corrective action costs, damages for personal injury or property damage, or natural resource damages) to Seller under any Environmental Law;
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(vii) To the Knowledge of Seller, no Lien has been recorded against any properties, assets or facilities owned or leased by Seller or at any location at which Seller has conducted the Business based upon any applicable Environmental Law or for costs incurred in response to any Release of Hazardous Substances; and
(viii) To the Knowledge of Seller (A) there has not been any underground or aboveground storage tank or other underground storage receptacle or related piping, or any impoundment or other disposal area in each case containing Hazardous Materials located on any facility owned, leased or operated by Seller except in compliance with Environmental Laws, and (B) no asbestos or polychlorinated biphenyls have been used or disposed of, or have been located at, on, or under such facility except in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws.
(b) Seller has provided to Buyer and its authorized representatives all records and files, including but not limited to, all assessments, reports, studies, analyses, audits, tests and data in the possession of Seller concerning the existence of Hazardous Materials or any other environmental concern at properties, assets and facilities currently or formerly owned, operated or leased by Seller or any predecessor in interest, or concerning compliance by Seller with, or liability under, any Environmental Laws.
Section 2.18. Customers and Suppliers. Seller is not required to provide bonding or any other security arrangements in connection with any transactions with any of its customers or suppliers. Section 2.18 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth for Seller, with respect to the calendar years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 and the six months ended June 30, 2021, a true, correct and complete list of the twenty (20) largest customers (or related group of customers) and the twenty (20) largest suppliers (or related group of suppliers) of Seller, based on the aggregate sales or purchases, as applicable, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 and the six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively (collectively, the “Material Customers and Suppliers”). Since January 1, 2020, through the Closing Date, (i) except as set forth in Section 2.18(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, there has not been, and there is not currently pending, any material dispute between the Seller and any such Material Customer or Supplier; and (ii) no Material Customer or Supplier has provided written notice that it intends to, and the Seller has no reason to believe of any Material Customer’s or Supplier’s intent to, terminate any agreement with the Seller or materially or adversely alter its relationship with the Seller or the Business.
Section 2.19. Affiliate Transactions.
(a) (i) There are no existing Contracts, transactions, Indebtedness or other arrangements, or any related series thereof, between Seller on the one hand, and any of the directors, officers, shareholders or other Affiliates of Seller, or any of their respective Affiliates or family members, on the other hand (except for (A) amounts due on normal salaries and bonuses and in reimbursement of ordinary expenses in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) any Seller Benefit Plan covering such person) and (ii) each of the Contracts, transactions, Indebtedness or other arrangements described in clause (i) was entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, on commercially reasonable terms and conditions that are no less favorable to Seller or its Affiliates than arm’s length terms and can be terminated without penalty or liability to Seller. No Employee or equity holder of Seller, or any of their respective relatives or spouses, is the direct or indirect owner of an interest in any Person which is a present competitor, supplier or customer of Seller (other than non-affiliated holdings in publicly-held companies).
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(b) Except as set forth in Section 2.19(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, no owner, equity holder, officer, Employee, agent or director of Seller or its Affiliates has any interest in Leased Real Property, Intellectual Property or other property of Seller.
Section 2.20. Insurance. Section 2.20 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth separately for Seller: (a) the policies of insurance presently in force and, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, those covering Seller’s personnel, properties, buildings, machinery, equipment, furniture, fixtures and operations, specifying with respect to each such policy the name of the insurer, type of coverage, term of policy, limits of liability and annual premium; (b) Seller’s Losses, by year and by type of coverage, for the past three (3) years based on information received from Seller’s insurance carrier(s); (c) all outstanding insurance claims by Seller for damage to or Loss of property or income which have been referred to insurers or which Seller believes to be covered by commercial insurance; and (d) any agreements, arrangements or commitments by or relating to Seller under which Seller indemnifies any other Person or is required to carry insurance for the benefit of any other Person. True, correct and complete copies of all such policies of insurance have been provided to Buyer. Seller has complied in all respects with each such insurance policy to which it is a party and has not failed to give any notice or present any claim thereunder in a due and timely manner. The full policy limits (subject to deductibles provided in such policies) are available and unimpaired under each such policy and no insurer under any of such policies has a basis to void such policy on grounds of non-disclosure on the part of Seller thereunder. Each such policy is in full force and effect and will not in any way be affected by or terminate or lapse by reason of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In addition to and not in limitation of the foregoing, Section 2.20 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule contains the current annual premium paid by Seller for its officers’ and directors’ liability insurance and the insurance carrier providing such insurance and the dates through which each such premium is paid.
Section 2.21. Accounts Receivable. All accounts receivable of Seller are properly included in the Financial Statements in accordance with the accounting methodologies of Seller, including the non-GAAP treatment set forth on Section 2.6(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule. The accounts receivable as of September 30, 2021 and all customer accounts receivable created since the date thereof through the Closing Date (collectively, the “Receivables”) represent valid obligations owing to Seller, are fully collectible by Seller subject to the reserve for doubtful accounts appearing on the Final Statement, if any, and are not subject to any counterclaims or setoffs. All Receivables and all trade accounts payable of Seller have arisen from bona fide transactions in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice. The reserve for doubtful accounts, if any, established by Seller is adequate and consistent with the operation of Seller’s business in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice. Seller has not collected, or accelerated the collection of, any Receivables in a manner that is inconsistent with the operation of its businesses in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice. All Receivables are owned by Seller free and clear of all Liens.
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Section 2.22. Products and Services.
(a) All of (i) the products manufactured, sold, leased, and delivered by Seller and (ii) the services sold and delivered by Seller, have conformed in all respects with all applicable contractual commitments and all express and implied warranties, and Seller does not have any liability, damage, loss or claim (and there is no valid basis for any present or future Action against Seller that, if adversely determined, would give rise to any liability, damage, loss or claim) for replacement or repair thereof or other damages in connection therewith, subject only to the reserve for warranty claims set forth in the 2020 Balance Sheet (and, for the avoidance of doubt, not merely in the notes thereto). No (A) product manufactured, sold, leased, or delivered by Seller or (B) service sold or delivered by Seller is subject to any guaranty, warranty, or other indemnity beyond (1) the applicable standard terms and conditions of sale or lease (which have been provided to Buyer) or (2) any extended warranty/service and maintenance agreements.
(b) Seller does not have any liability, damage, loss or claim (and to the Knowledge of Seller there is no valid basis for any present or future Action against Seller that, if adversely determined, would give rise to any liability, damage, loss or claim) arising out of any injury to individuals or property as a result of the ownership, possession, or use of any product manufactured, sold, leased, or delivered by Seller or any service sold or delivered by Seller.
Section 2.23. Guaranties. Seller is not a guarantor or otherwise responsible for any liability, damage, loss, claim or obligation (including Indebtedness) of any other Person.
Section 2.24. Absence of Restrictions on Business Activities. There is no Contract or Order binding upon Seller or any of its properties, rights or assets which has or could reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or impairing the Purchased Assets or the Business as to be conducted immediately following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements will not result in the granting by Buyer or any of its Affiliates of any additional rights or licenses to any Intellectual Property to a third party (including any covenant not to sue). Seller has not agreed with any third party to any non-competition, non-solicitation, standstill or similar restriction on their respective businesses.
Section 2.25. Brokers and Other Advisors. Except as set forth in Section 2.25 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, no broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled to receive any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Seller, the Members or any of their respective Affiliates.
Section 2.26. Disclosure. No representations or warranties by Seller in this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, including the Seller Disclosure Schedule, contains or will contain any untrue statement of material fact or omits or will omit to state any material fact necessary, in light of the circumstances under which it was made, in order to make the statements herein or therein not misleading. Seller has furnished or caused to be furnished to Buyer true, correct and complete copies of all agreements, instruments and documents set forth in the Seller Disclosure Schedule or underlying a disclosure set forth in the Seller Disclosure Schedule. The Seller Disclosure Schedule is true, correct and complete. Seller has made available true, correct and complete copies of each document that has been requested by and delivered to Buyer or its counsel in connection with their legal and accounting review of Seller. The Seller has not failed to disclose to Buyer in this Agreement or in the Seller Disclosure Schedule any facts that to the Knowledge of Seller would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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Section 2.27. No Liability For Known Breaches. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Seller have liability to the Buyer with respect to a breach of representation, warranty or covenant under this Agreement to the extent that the Buyer knew of such breach as of the Closing Date.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO BUYER
Buyer hereby represents and warrants to Seller as of the Effective Date and the Closing Date as follows:
Section 3.1. Organization, Standing and Power. Buyer has been duly organized, and is validly existing and in good standing (with respect to jurisdictions that recognize that concept) under the Laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite power and authority necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
Section 3.2. Authority. Buyer has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements by Buyer and the consummation by Buyer of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Buyer and no other proceedings on the part of Buyer are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been, and, when executed and delivered, each of the Ancillary Agreements will have been, duly executed and delivered by Buyer and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other Parties hereto and thereto, constitutes (and in the case of the Ancillary Agreements, will constitute) a legal, valid and binding obligation of Buyer, enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.
Section 3.3. Noncontravention; Governmental Approval.
(a) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements by Buyer do not and will not, and the consummation by Buyer of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and compliance by Buyer with the provisions of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements will not, conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of, or result in, termination, modification, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or to the loss of a benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien in or upon any of the properties, rights or assets of Buyer under, or require any consent or approval by, or any notice to, any person under, (i) the Organizational Documents of Buyer, (ii) any Contract to which Buyer is a party or any of its properties, rights or assets is subject or (iii) any (1) Law applicable to Buyer or any of its properties, rights or assets or (2) Order applicable to Buyer or its properties, rights or assets.
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(b) No consent, approval, license, permit, order, qualification or authorization of, action by or in respect of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity is required by or with respect to Buyer in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by Buyer of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
Section 3.4. Brokers and Other Advisors. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled to receive any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Buyer or any of its Affiliates.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
Section 4.1. Subsequent Actions. If at any time after the Effective Date, Buyer will consider or be advised that any bills of sale, instruments of conveyance, assignments, assurances or any other actions or things are reasonably necessary to vest, perfect or confirm ownership (of record or otherwise) in Buyer, its right, title or interest in, to or under any or all of the Purchased Assets or otherwise to carry out this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, Seller and the Members shall use their respective reasonable, good faith efforts to execute and deliver all bills of sale, instruments of conveyance, powers of attorney, assignments and assurances, and take and do all such other actions and things as may be reasonably requested by Buyer in order to vest, perfect or confirm any and all right, title and interest in, to and under such rights, properties or assets in Buyer or otherwise to carry out this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements. In addition to the foregoing, Seller acknowledges and agrees that for a period of up to one hundred eighty (180) days from and after the Effective Date (the “Transition Period”), Seller shall (i) continue to process and pay any vendor invoices received by Seller and other contractual obligations that constitute Assumed Liabilities in the ordinary course of business, subject to Buyer’s input, (ii) collect and remit to Buyer, at least weekly, but net of any payments made by Seller to cover Assumed Liabilities as provided herein, all cash collected from any Receivables or otherwise related to the Purchased Assets that may be received by Seller or the Members during this Transition Period and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to assist Buyer in ensuring proper posting and reconciliation of all of the foregoing transactions to the general ledger for the Acquired Business. To the extent Buyer collects on any accounts receivables of Seller that are more than ninety (90) days past due as of the Effective Date within a period of six (6) months from the Effective Date, Buyer shall promptly reimburse Seller for such cash collected, except to the extent such cash collected is accounted for in the Final Working Capital. Buyer and Seller further agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to work together to begin the process of sharing, transitioning and migrating data and accounts to Buyer with respect to the functions to be performed hereunder during the Transition Period. During the Transition Period, Buyer shall have the right to inspect the books and records of Seller and any related bank accounts upon its reasonable request.
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Section 4.2. Public Announcements. Seller shall not issue any press release or make any public announcement relating to the subject matter of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements without the prior written approval of the Buyer. Buyer shall notify the Seller before issuing, and give the Seller the opportunity to comment on, to the extent reasonably practicable, any press release or other public statements with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements. The Parties agree that the initial press release to be issued with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall be in the form heretofore agreed to by the Parties.
Section 4.3. FIRPTA Certificate. At the Closing, Seller shall deliver to Buyer a certification of non-foreign status described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.1445-2(b)(2) with respect to Seller.
Section 4.4. Taxes.
(a) All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other such Taxes, and all conveyance fees, recording charges and other fees and charges (including any penalties and interest) incurred in connection with consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by Seller when due, and Seller will, at its own expense, file all necessary Company Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to all such Taxes, fees and charges, and, if required by applicable law, Buyer will, and will cause its Affiliates (if applicable) to, join in the execution of any such Company Tax Returns and other documentation.
(b) Any Tax sharing or similar agreement with respect to or involving the Company shall be terminated as of the Effective Date, without liability to any party and shall have no further effect for any year (whether the current year, a future year or a past year). Any amounts payable under any Tax sharing or similar agreement shall be cancelled as of the Effective Date, without any liability to the Company or the Seller.
(c) If, at any time after the Effective Date, Buyer receives any state or federal Tax refunds on Taxes paid by Seller or the Members prior to the Effective Date, notice will be given to Seller and the Members upon receipt of the same and such refund shall be forwarded to Seller at the address listed in Section 6.4(a) below.
Section 4.5. Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Non-Interference.
(a) For a period of three (3) years from the Closing Date, none of Seller or the Members shall, acting individually or as an owner, shareholder, member, partner, employee, or independent contractor of any Person other than Buyer or one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, and Seller and the Members shall cause their Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, (i) establish, own, manage, operate, control, acquire, finance, invest in or otherwise engage or participate in any business, operation or activity that competes with or is substantially similar to the Business (a “Competing Business”) in the United States of America (collectively, the “Restricted Territory”), (ii) enter the employ of, or render any personal services to or for the benefit of, or act as an agent or representative of, or receive remuneration in the form of salary, commissions or otherwise from, any entity which is engaged in a Competing Business in the Restricted Territory or (iii) disclose any non-public information regarding the Business to a Competing Business in the Restricted Territory, or use such information for the benefit of a Competing Business in the Restricted Territory, provided, however, that the Seller, the Members and their Affiliates may own, directly or indirectly, solely as a passive investment, securities of any business traded on any national securities exchange, provided the Seller, the Members or any such Affiliate is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group that controls, such business; and further provided that Seller or the Members or their Affiliates do not, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, own three percent (3%) or more of any class of securities of such business.
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(b) For a period of three (3) years from the Closing Date, without the prior written consent of Buyer, none of Seller or the Members shall, acting individually or as an owner, shareholder, member, partner, employee, or independent contractor of any Person other than Buyer or one of its subsidiaries or Affiliates, and Seller and the Members shall cause their Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, (i) hire, employ or otherwise engage the services of any employee of Buyer or its Affiliates (the “Buyer Employees”) or (ii) induce, solicit, recruit or encourage any Buyer Employee to leave the employ of Buyer or its Affiliates (or any successor (including by merger) to Buyer or any of its Affiliates (a “Successor”)), as applicable, or violate the terms of his or her contract or any other employment arrangement with such employer; provided, that nothing in this Section 4.5(b) shall prohibit Seller or the Members from (i) engaging in general solicitations to the public or general advertising not targeted at employees of Buyer or any of its Affiliates (or any Successor), or (ii) hiring any Buyer Employees that have been terminated by Buyer in a non-competing capacity, or (iii) hiring any Buyer Employee, in a non-competing capacity, six (6) months after such Employee has voluntarily resigned from employment with Buyer.
(c) For a period of three (3) years from the Closing Date, none of Seller or the Members shall, acting individually or as an owner, shareholder, member, partner, employee, or independent contractor of any Person other than Buyer or one of its subsidiaries or Affiliates, and Seller and the Members shall cause their Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, (i) interfere with the relationship between Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries (or any Successor) and any of the customers of the Business who were customers within the twelve (12) month period prior to the Closing Date, (ii) interfere with the relationship between Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries (or any Successor) and any of the suppliers of the Business who were suppliers within the twelve (12) month period prior to the Closing Date or (iii) solicit, divert or appropriate, or attempt to solicit, divert or appropriate any customers of the Business who were customers within the twelve (12) month period prior to the Closing Date, or any potential customers of the Business who were being actively solicited by Seller within the twelve (12) month period prior to the Closing Date.
(d) The Parties hereto acknowledge that the covenants set forth in this Section 4.5 are an essential element of this Agreement and that, but for these covenants, the Parties hereto would not have entered into this Agreement. The Parties hereto acknowledge that, except as set forth herein, this Section 4.5 constitutes an independent covenant and shall not be affected by performance or nonperformance of any other provision of this Agreement or any other document contemplated by this Agreement.
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(e) It is the intention of the Parties hereto that if any of the restrictions or covenants contained in this Section 4.5 is held to cover a geographic area or to be for a length of time which is not permitted by applicable Law, or in any way construed to be too broad or to any extent invalid, such restrictions or covenants shall not be held to be null, void and of no effect, but to the extent such restrictions or covenants would be valid or enforceable under any applicable Law, if modified, a court of competent jurisdiction shall construe and interpret or modify this Section 4.5 to provide for a covenant having the maximum enforceable geographic area, time period and scope (not greater than those contained in this Section 4.5) that would be valid and enforceable under such applicable Law.
Section 4.6. Transferred Employees.
(a) Subject to and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.6 and Sections 1.11(d), Buyer may, in its sole discretion, effective upon the Closing, offer full-time employment to the Seller’s Employees on compensation and benefit terms substantially similar to those afforded by the Seller to such Employees immediately prior to Closing. Effective as of the Closing, Seller shall terminate and Buyer shall hire all of the Employees who accept such offer. Each of the Employees who actually becomes a full-time employee of Buyer upon the Closing is hereinafter referred to as a “Transferred Employee.”
(b) The employment of each Transferred Employee by Seller shall end effective as of the close of business on the day before the Closing Date and the employment of the Transferred Employees by Buyer shall commence at or after 12:01 a.m., local time, on the day of the Closing Date.
(c) Buyer shall have no responsibility for Employees of Seller who are not Transferred Employees. Seller shall be responsible for, among other things (i) payments due to all Employees of Seller (whether or not they become Transferred Employees) under any Law as a result of the execution, delivery and performance by the Seller of this Agreement and the consummation of the transaction contemplated herein and (ii) the payment of any termination or severance payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Buyer agrees to offer to any of Seller’s Employees who do not become Transferred Employees health insurance coverage as may be required by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), so long as the cost for such health insurance coverage is borne solely by such employees electing COBRA coverage.
Section 4.7. Name Change. Upon the Closing, Seller shall file the Organizational Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of South Carolina and in each state in which Seller is qualified to do business on Seller’s behalf. Furthermore, after the filing of the Organizational Amendment, Seller shall discontinue the use of its current name (and any other tradenames currently utilized by Seller) and shall not subsequently change its name to or otherwise use or employ any name that includes the words “InStream Environmental” or any variation thereof, without the prior written consent of Buyer. From and after the Closing, Seller covenants and agrees not to use or otherwise employ any of the trade names, corporate names, or dba’s utilized by Seller in the conduct of the Business, which right are included in the Purchased Assets purchased hereunder.
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Section 4.8. Post-Closing Cooperation. For a period of one (1) year after the Closing, Seller shall cause its officers, employees, consultants, agents, accountants, attorneys and other Representatives to cooperate with Buyer’s and its Representatives’ reasonable requests in connection with the Buyer’s year-end audits, the transfer of Assumed Contracts to the Buyer, and the preparation of any reports required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or otherwise by Buyer, including, without limitation, providing any management representation letters reasonably requested by Buyer; provided, however, that such requests must be reasonable in nature and not overly burdensome and that Seller shall not be required to incur any additional fees, expenses or personal liability (other than for fraud or gross negligence) in order to comply with this Section.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 5.1. Escrow Fund. On the Closing Date, Buyer shall cause to be deposited with a mutually agreed upon escrow agent (the “Escrow Agent”) a portion of the Purchase Price equal to $2,200,000 (the “Escrow Fund”), such deposit to be governed by the terms set forth herein and in the Escrow Agreement.
Section 5.2. Survival. All representations and warranties contained in Articles II and III will survive the Closing and will remain in full force and effect until the date that is twelve (12) months after the Closing Date, at which time they will terminate (and no claims with respect to such representations and warranties shall be made by any Person for indemnification under Sections 5.3 or 5.4 thereafter), except that (a) the Fundamental Representations shall survive five (5) years from the Closing Date and (b) the Special Representations shall survive the Closing until the six (6) month anniversary of the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations (after giving effect to any extensions or waivers thereof). A representation or warranty which is not a Fundamental Representation or a Special Representation is referred to herein as a “Non-Fundamental Representation”. All covenants and agreements that by their terms apply or are to be performed in whole or in part after the Closing will survive indefinitely or for the period provided in such covenants and agreements, if any, or until fully performed. All covenants and agreements that by their terms apply or are to be performed in their entirety on or prior to the Closing shall terminate at the Closing.
Section 5.3. Indemnification by Seller and the Members.
(a) After the Closing and subject to this Article V, Seller and the Members, jointly and severally, shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Buyer and its Subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors, managers, shareholders, members, partners, employees, and Representatives (each, a “Buyer Indemnified Party”) against, and reimburse any Buyer Indemnified Party for, all Losses that such Buyer Indemnified Party suffers or incurs as a result of or arising out of:
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(i) the inaccuracy or breach of any representation or warranty made by Seller or the Members in this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;
(ii) any breach or failure by Seller or the Members to perform any of their covenants or obligations contained in this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;
(iii) any Excluded Liabilities;
(iv) the operation of the Business prior to the Effective Date;
(v) any and all Company Taxes for all periods ending on or before the Effective Date;
(vi) any Environmental Claims and the investigation, remediation or correction of Environmental Conditions caused by, relating to or arising out of (A) any conditions prior to the Effective Date at properties currently or previously owned, leased or operated by Seller , (B) the operations prior to the Effective Date of Seller or any predecessors in interest, including without limitation arising out of the disposal, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Substance owned, controlled or possessed by Seller, and (C) any Release or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened Release of any Hazardous Substance by a third party during periods prior to the Effective Date onto any Leased Real Property;
(vii) any failure of Seller to comply with Environmental Laws prior to the Effective Date;
(viii) any liability, obligation or legal responsibility arising under Environmental Laws assumed by Seller or any predecessors in interest prior to the Effective Date pursuant to the terms of any Contract, settlement or other written and legally binding arrangement between Seller or any predecessors in interest and any other Person; and
(ix) all actions, suits, proceedings, claims or demands incident to any of the foregoing or initiated to enforce the indemnification provisions herein.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except in the case of fraud, Seller shall not be required to indemnify, defend or hold harmless any Buyer Indemnified Party against, or reimburse any Buyer Indemnified Party for, any Losses under Section 5.3(a)(i) (other than Losses arising out of the breach of any Fundamental Representation) (the “Non-Fundamental or Non-Special Representation Losses”) unless and until such Non-Fundamental or Non-Special Representation Losses exceed $25,000 in the cumulative aggregate (the “Deductible”), after which point the Seller shall be liable for all indemnifiable Non-Fundamental or Non-Special Representation Losses incurred by the Buyer Indemnified Party up to an aggregate amount of $2,200,000 which shall be limited to an amount equal to the Escrow Fund.
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(c) In the case of any claim for indemnification of Losses (the “Fundamental and Special Representation Losses”) arising from a breach of any Fundamental Representation or Special Representation under Section 5.3(a)(i) of this Agreement, the aggregate cumulative liability of the Seller to indemnify the Buyer Indemnified Parties from and against any Fundamental and Special Representation Losses in excess of amounts satisfied from the Escrow Fund shall in all cases be limited to the portion of the Purchase Price received by the Seller (including amounts received pursuant to distributions from the Escrow Fund).
(d) Except as provided for in this Section 5.3(d), all damages shall be limited to actual damages and, under no circumstances shall Seller be liable to Buyer or Buyer Indemnified Parties for special, incidental, exemplary, or consequential damages (hereafter referred to collectively as “consequential damages”), including, but not limited to, interest, capital cost, loss of use, loss by reason of shutdown, overhead, nonoperation, or other such claims arising from any cause whatsoever, whether or not such loss or damage is based in contract, warranty, tort (including negligence), strict liability, indemnity or otherwise. Provided that for purposes of this Section 5.3(d), consequential damages shall not include lost profits or lost revenue.
Section 5.4. Indemnification by Buyer. After the Closing and subject to this Article V, Buyer shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Seller, its Representatives, and Members (each, a “Seller Indemnified Party”) against, and reimburse any Seller Indemnified Party for, all Losses that such Seller Indemnified Party suffers or incurs as a result of or arising out of: (i) the breach of any representation or warranty made by Buyer in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; (ii) any breach or failure by Buyer to perform any of its covenants or obligations contained in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; (iii) the Assumed Liabilities; and/or (iv) any liability, damages, loss, actions, suits, proceedings, claims, demands, or potential claims arising from, around or associated with any actions or inaction taken by Buyer after the Closing Date either in connection with the operation of the Business or not otherwise contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 5.5. Escrow Period; Release of Escrow Fund.
(a) The Escrow Fund shall commence on the Closing Date and terminate (the “Escrow Termination Date”) on the date that is twelve (12) months after the Closing Date (the “Escrow Period”); provided that if a written contract with Schneider Electric USA (the “Schneider Contract”) is executed after the Closing Date and before the Escrow Termination Date, then 50% of the then-remaining funds of the Escrow Fund shall be released to Seller within fifteen (15) Business Days after such execution. On the Escrow Termination Date, all funds then remaining in the Escrow Fund shall be released as set forth herein; provided, that funds representing the amount of any claim made pursuant to Section 5.6 or Section 1.7 during the Escrow Period shall be withheld and remain in the Escrow Fund pending resolution of such claim. Any portion of the Escrow Fund at the Escrow Termination Date for which there is no claim pursuant to this Article V or pursuant to Section 1.7 (the “Remaining Escrow Amount”) shall be promptly delivered by the Escrow Agent in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement to Seller.
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(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, if the Schneider Contract has not been executed as of the Escrow Termination Date, but Schneider Electric USA remains a customer of the Business as of such date, Buyer shall be entitled to a portion of any remaining Escrow Funds pro-rated for any reduction in business locations with Schneider Electric USA from and after the Closing Date pursuant to the illustrative calculation set forth in Exhibit H hereto. Provided, however, that Buyer shall not be entitled to a portion of the remaining Escrow Funds pro-rated for reduction in business locations in the event of a Schneider Electric USA plant shutdown that results in the reallocation of business to another Schneider Electric USA facility under contract with the Acquired Business, as confirmed in writing by Schneider Electric USA.
Section 5.6. Claims Upon the Escrow Fund. Subject to the provisions of this Article V, a Person that may be entitled to be indemnified under this Agreement (the “Indemnified Party”), other than in respect of a Third Party Claim, shall provide written notice to the Party or Parties liable for such indemnification (the “Indemnifying Party”) and the Escrow Agent, specifying in reasonable detail the individual items of Losses for which indemnification is being sought, the date each such item was paid, or properly accrued or arose, and the nature of the misrepresentation, breach of warranty or claim to which such item or category is related (the “Indemnity Notice”). The Indemnity Notice shall be delivered by the Indemnified Party to the Indemnifying Party and the Escrow Agent on or before the last day of the Escrow Period. If the Indemnifying Party, within a period of thirty (30) days after the giving of the Indemnity Notice, shall not give written notice to the Indemnified Party and the Escrow Agent announcing its intention to contest such assertion of the Indemnified Party, such assertion of the Indemnified Party shall be deemed accepted and the amount of the Losses shall be deemed established. If, however, the Indemnifying Party contests the assertion of the Losses, within the 30-day period, the Seller and Buyer shall direct the Escrow Agent to retain the amount of disputed Losses and the Indemnified Party shall have the right to bring suit to resolve the contested assertion. The Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party may agree in writing, at any time, as to the existence and the amount of the Losses, and upon the execution of such agreement, such Losses shall be deemed established.
Section 5.7. Notification of Claims.
(a) An Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Indemnifying Party in writing to Buyer or to Seller and the Members, as applicable, with a copy to the Escrow Agent, as applicable, of any third party claim in respect of which indemnity may reasonably be sought under this Article V, including any pending claim or demand by a third party that the Indemnified Party has determined has given or could reasonably give rise to a right of indemnification under this Agreement (including a pending claim or demand asserted by a third party against the Indemnified Party) (each, a “Third Party Claim”), describing in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances with respect to the subject matter of such claim or demand; provided, however, that the failure to provide such notice shall not release the Indemnifying Party from any of its obligations under this Article V except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced by such failure.
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(b) Upon receipt of a notice of a claim for indemnity from an Indemnified Party pursuant to Section 5.7(a) in respect of a Third Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party may, by notice to the Indemnified Party delivered within ten (10) Business Days of the receipt of notice of such Third Party Claim, assume the defense and control of any Third Party Claim, with its own counsel and at its own expense, provided the Indemnifying Party shall allow the Indemnified Party a reasonable opportunity to participate in the defense of such Third Party Claim with its own counsel and at its own expense. Upon prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party (which such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), the Indemnified Party may take any actions reasonably necessary to defend such Third Party Claim prior to the time that it receives a notice from the Indemnifying Party as contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence. Each of Seller, the Members or Buyer (as the case may be), shall, and shall cause each of its Affiliates and Representatives to, cooperate fully with the Indemnifying Party in the defense of any Third Party Claim. The Indemnifying Party shall not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), consent to a settlement, compromise or discharge of, any Third Party Claim provided, that consent from the Indemnified Party shall not be required if the Indemnifying Party agrees to (i) pay or cause to be paid all amounts arising out of such settlement or judgment concurrently with the effectiveness of such settlement or judgment (unless otherwise provided in such judgment), (ii) not encumber any of the assets of any Indemnified Party or agree to any restriction or condition that would apply to or affect any Indemnified Party or the conduct of any Indemnified Party’s business and (iii) obtain, as a condition of any settlement, compromise or discharge, a complete and unconditional release of each Indemnified Party from any and all liabilities in respect of such Third Party Claim. Provided that the Indemnifying Party has assumed the defense and control of a claim or demand in accordance with this Section 5.7(b), the Indemnified Party shall not settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to such claim or demand or admit to any liability with respect to such claim or demand without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). In the event that the Indemnifying Party does not assume the defense and control of any Third Party Claim in accordance with this Section 5.7(b), the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to defend and control such claim as it deems appropriate, without prejudice to any other rights of the Indemnified Party under this Article V.
Section 5.8. Additional Indemnification Provisions.
(a) Each of Seller, the Members and Buyer agree that with respect to each indemnification obligation set forth in this Article V: (i) all Losses shall be net of any Eligible Insurance Proceeds, and (ii) in no event shall an Indemnifying Party have any liability to an Indemnified Party for any punitive or special damages other than punitive or special damages payable to third parties pursuant to a final and non-appealable determination by a court of competent jurisdiction in connection with a Third Party Claim.
(b) Any amount payable by an Indemnifying Party pursuant to this Article V shall be paid promptly and payment shall not be delayed pending any determination of Eligible Insurance Proceeds. In any case where an Indemnified Party recovers any Eligible Insurance Proceeds in respect of any Loss for which an Indemnifying Party has actually reimbursed it pursuant to this Article V, such Indemnified Party shall promptly pay over to the Indemnifying Party the amount of such Eligible Insurance Proceeds, but not in excess of the sum of (i) any amount previously paid by the Indemnifying Party to or on behalf of the Indemnified Party in respect of such claim and (ii) any amount expended by the Indemnifying Party in pursuing or defending any claim arising out of such matter.
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(c) If any portion of Losses to be reimbursed by the Indemnifying Party shall be covered, in whole or in part, by insurance coverage (including the insurance policies maintained for the benefit of Seller prior to the Closing), then any such insurance proceeds actually received by the Indemnified Party, net of costs reasonably incurred by the Indemnified Party in seeking such collection, shall be considered “Eligible Insurance Proceeds”, it being understood that such Indemnified Party shall use its reasonable efforts to promptly make any such insurance claim. Failure to make such claims shall constitute a breach of this Agreement and waiver of indemnification in the amount equal to the Eligible Insurance Proceeds.
(d) No Indemnified Party shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article V for any Losses to the extent that such Losses are finally accounted for in the recalculation of the Initial Purchase Price as set forth in Section 1.7(g).
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, Buyer shall have the right to set off against or deduct from any amount due to Seller and/or the Members pursuant to this Agreement any claims made against Seller and/or the Members pursuant to this Agreement, including without limitation by recourse to the Deferred Customer Payment.
Section 5.9. Tax Treatment of Indemnity Payments. Seller, the Members and Buyer agree to treat any indemnity payment made pursuant to this Article V as an adjustment to the Purchase Price for all income tax purposes. If, notwithstanding the treatment required by the preceding sentence, any indemnification payment under this Article V (including this Section 5.9) is determined to be taxable to the Party receiving such payment by any Governmental Entity, the paying Party shall also indemnify the Party receiving such payment for any Taxes incurred by reason of the receipt of such payment and any Losses incurred by the party receiving such payment in connection with such Taxes (or any asserted deficiency, claim, demand, action, suit, proceeding, judgment or assessment, including the defense or settlement thereof, relating to such Taxes), which amount shall be determined by the Independent Accountant and in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.7(e) herein.
ARTICLE VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 6.1. Fees and Expenses. Except as expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement, all fees, costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisers and accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement, the sale of the Purchased Assets and the Ancillary Agreements shall be paid by the Party incurring such fees, costs or expenses.
Section 6.2. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended, supplemented or modified only by a written instrument duly executed by or on behalf of Buyer, Members and Seller.
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Section 6.3. Waiver. Any agreement on the part of a Party to any waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such Party. The failure of any Party to this Agreement to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights nor shall any single or partial exercise by any Party to this Agreement of any of its rights under this Agreement preclude any other or further exercise of such rights or any other rights under this Agreement.
Section 6.4. Notices. Except for notices that are specifically required by the terms of this Agreement to be delivered orally, all notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given personally, by electronic mail or sent by overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
(a) if to Seller and/or the Members:
John Little
1 Maverick Lane
Travelers Rest, SC 29690
[***]
Larry Seay
12070 Old White Horse Road
Travelers Rest, 29690
[***]
Joel Powell
221 Beverly Road
Greenville, SC 29609
E-mail: jpowell@instreamenv.com
with a copy to:
Law Office of Childs Cantey Thrasher, LLC
Attention: Childs Thrasher, Esq.
PO Box 1389
Columbia, SC 29202
E-mail: cthrasher@thrasherfirm.com
(b) if to Buyer:
Quest Resource Holding Corporation
3481 Plano Parkway
The Colony, Texas 75056
Attn: Laurie L. Latham
E-mail: LaurieL@questrmg.com
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with a copy to:
Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP
1325 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Elizabeth Gonzalez-Sussman, Esq. and Kenneth A. Schlesinger, Esq.
E-mail: egonzalez@olshanlaw.com; kschlesinger@olshanlaw.com
Any such notice, communication or delivery shall be deemed given or made (a) on the date of delivery, if delivered in person or by email transmission, or (b) on the first Business Day following timely delivery to a national overnight courier.
Section 6.5. Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, a Section, an Exhibit or a Schedule, such reference shall be to an Article of, a Section of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”. The 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. References to “this Agreement” shall include the Seller Disclosure Schedule. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. The word “or” is not exclusive. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply “if”. All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein. All Exhibits and Schedules annexed hereto or referred to herein, and the Seller Disclosure Schedule, are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such term. Any Contract, instrument or Law defined or referred to herein means such Contract, instrument or Law as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of Contracts or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of Laws) by succession of comparable successor Laws and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein. References to a person are also to its permitted successors and assigns. This Agreement is the product of negotiation by the Parties having the assistance of counsel and other advisers. It is the intention of the Parties that this Agreement not be construed more strictly with regard to one party than with regard to the others.
Section 6.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties (including by facsimile or other electronic image scan transmission).
Section 6.7. Entire Agreement; Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement (including the Exhibits and the Seller Disclosure Schedule) and the Ancillary Agreements (a) constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and (b) are not intended to and do not confer upon any person other than the Parties hereto any legal or equitable rights or remedies. Notwithstanding the foregoing clause (b), the provisions of Article V shall be enforceable by the Indemnified Parties and other Persons referred to therein.
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Section 6.8. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, REGARDLESS OF THE LAWS THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE GOVERN UNDER APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS THEREOF.
Section 6.9. Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise by any of the Parties without the prior written consent of the other Parties, and any assignment without such consent shall be null and void; provided, however, that (a) Buyer may assign its rights under this Agreement to any Affiliate, but such assignment shall not relieve Buyer of its obligations or liabilities under this Agreement, and (b) Buyer may assign its rights under this Agreement to any parties providing debt financing to Buyer pursuant to the terms thereof for purposes of creating a security interest herein or otherwise assign as collateral in respect of such debt financing, but such assignment shall not relieve Buyer of its obligations or liabilities under this Agreement. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.
Section 6.10. Specific Enforcement; Consent to Jurisdiction.
(a) The Parties agree that irreparable damage could occur and that the Parties could not have any adequate remedy at law in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any Texas state court, without proof of actual damages or otherwise (and each Party hereby waives any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedy), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. The Parties further agree not to assert that a remedy of specific enforcement is unenforceable, invalid, contrary to law or inequitable for any reason, nor to assert that a remedy of monetary damages would provide an adequate remedy.
(b) In addition, each of the Parties hereto (i) consents to submit itself, and hereby submits itself, to the personal jurisdiction of any Texas state court in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court, and agrees not to plead or claim any objection to the laying of venue in any such court or that any judicial proceeding in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum, (iii) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or any of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby in any court other than a Texas state court or, if under applicable Law exclusive jurisdiction is vested in the federal courts, any court of the United States located in the State of Texas and (iv) consents to service of process being made through the notice procedures set forth in Section 6.4.
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(c) Without limiting other means of service of process permissible under applicable Law, Seller and Buyer hereby agree that service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to the respective addresses set forth in Section 6.4 shall be effective service of process for any suit or proceeding in connection with this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
Section 6.11. 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 suit, action or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Each Party hereto (a) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such party would not, in the event of any action, suit or proceeding, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (b) acknowledges that it and the other Parties hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement, by, among other things, the mutual waiver and certifications in this Section 6.11.
Section 6.12. Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements are fulfilled to the extent possible.
Section 6.13. Effect of Investigation. No information provided to or obtained by Buyer or any other investigation or knowledge acquired by Buyer, any other Buyer Indemnified Party or any of their respective Representatives, whether before or after the execution hereof, shall (a) operate as a waiver with respect to or otherwise affect any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made or given (as modified by the Seller Disclosure Schedule delivered concurrently with the execution of this Agreement) by Seller or any condition to the obligations of Buyer, in each case, in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or in any other instrument or document delivered in connection herewith or therewith, or (b) limit or otherwise affect the remedies available to Buyer hereunder (including, but not limited to, any Buyer Indemnified Party’s right to seek indemnification pursuant to Article V hereof).
Section 6.14. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the terms set forth below shall have the following meanings:
“Acquired Business” means the Business being acquired under this Agreement.
“Actions” mean any criminal, civil or administrative actions, suits, claims, hearings, proceedings, arbitrations, mediations, audits, inquiries or investigations.
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An “Affiliate” of any person means another person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first person. For the purposes of this definition, “Control” means, as to any person, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. The term “Controlled” shall have a correlative meaning.
“Ancillary Agreements” mean, collectively, the Bill of Sale, Assignment and Assumption Agreement, Escrow Agreement, Consulting Agreements, Offer Letter, Lease and assignments with respect to the transfer of any Intellectual Property.
“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are required or authorized by law to be closed in New York, New York.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder as in effect on the date hereof.
“Commonly Controlled Entity” means any other entity that, together with such entity, would be treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
“Company Tax” means any Tax, if and to the extent that the Company and any Subsidiary is or may be potentially liable under applicable law, under contract or on any other grounds (including, but not limited to, as a transferee or successor, under Code Section 6901 or Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6, as a result of any Tax sharing or other agreement, or by operation of law) for any such Tax.
“Company Tax Return” means any return, election, declaration, report, schedule, information return, document, information, opinion, statement, or any amendment to any of the foregoing (including, without limitation, any consolidated, combined or unitary return) filed or required to be filed with any Governmental Entity, if, in any manner or to any extent, relating to or inclusive of the Company, any Subsidiary, or any Company Tax.
“Credit Agreement” means (i) the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2020, by and among the Buyer, certain Affiliates of the Buyer party thereto from time to time, Monroe Capital Management Advisors, LLC, as Senior Agent, and the lenders party thereto from time to time, and (ii) Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement dated as of August 5, 2020 by and among Buyer, certain Affiliates of Buyer party thereto, PNC Bank, National Association, successor to BBVA USA and lenders from time to time party thereto, in each case, as amended, restated, amended and restated, replaced or refinanced from time to time.
“Current Assets” means (i) accounts receivable (excluding intercompany receivables) other than accounts receivables that are (y) more than 90 days past due and (z) not collected in the ordinary course of business, unless collected from and after the Effective Date until the date an Initial Statement is delivered by Buyer to Seller in accordance with Section 1.7 of this Agreement, and (ii) inventory of Seller, other than any such assets that are Excluded Assets (including, without limitation, cash).
“Current Liabilities” means accounts payable and accrued expenses, including all Tax liabilities and all employee benefits accrued through the Effective Date, other than any such liabilities that are Excluded Liabilities.
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“Deferred Customer Calculation Period” means the six (6) month period starting on the Closing Date and ending on the Deferred Customer Payment Date.
“Deferred Customer Payment Date” means the six (6) month anniversary of the Closing Date.
“Environment” means all, or any part, of the air (including the air within buildings and natural or man-made structures above or below ground), sediment, soils, water and land.
“Environmental Claims” means any and all directives, administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of non-compliance or violation, investigations or requests for information by a Governmental Entity, proceedings, consent orders or consent agreements relating in any way to any Environmental Law, Hazardous Material or any Environmental Permit, including, without limitation, (i) any and all claims by Governmental Entities for enforcement, investigation, cleanup, removal, response, corrective, remedial, monitoring, or other actions, damages, fines or penalties pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law, and (ii) any and all claims by any one or more Persons seeking damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation, injunctive or other relief resulting from a Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety, property, natural resources or the Environment.
“Environmental Condition” means any and all conditions and circumstances of any property, including, without limitation, any property currently or formerly owned, operated or leased by Seller, relating to or arising or resulting from a failure to comply with any applicable Environmental Law or Environmental Permit or from a Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials into the indoor or outdoor Environment.
“Environmental Law” means CERCLA, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, and any Law now or previously in effect regulating, relating to, or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning any Hazardous Material, drinking water, surface and groundwater, wetlands, landfills, open dumps, above ground storage tanks, underground storage tanks, solid waste, waste water, storm water run-off, waste emissions, wells, air emissions, water discharges, noise emissions, or otherwise relating to pollution or protection of the outdoor or indoor environment or health or safety as related to exposure to Hazardous Materials.
“Environmental Permit” means any permit, license, approval, consent or other authorization by a Governmental Entity pursuant to any Environmental Law.
“Equity Interests” means capital stock, partnership or membership interests or units (whether general or limited), subscription rights, conversion rights, exchange rights, stock appreciation rights, profit participation, and any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distribution of assets of, the issuing entity.
“ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
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“Financing” means third party debt financing on commercially reasonable terms and conditions, including, without limitation, amounts and interest rate, acceptable to Buyer in its sole discretion.
“Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties of Seller and the Members made in Sections 2.1 (relating to Organization, Standing and Power), 2.2 (relating to authority), 2.3 (that portion thereof relating to title to assets), 2.4 (Noncontravention; Governmental Approvals), 2.6 (Financial Statements; Liabilities); 2.18 (Customers and Suppliers); 2.19 (Affiliate Transactions); 2.21 (Accounts Receivable); and 2.25 (Brokers and Other Advisors).
“GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles.
“Governmental Entity” means any international, national, regional, state, local or other government, any court, administrative, regulatory or other governmental agency, commission or authority or any organized securities exchange.
“Gross Profit” means the revenue from sales of goods and services less the cost of any such goods and services sold by Seller, in each case, as determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Hazardous Material” means any element, compound, chemical, contaminant, pollutant, material, waste or other substance or constituent that is defined or regulated as such in, or for purposes of any Environmental Law, determined or identified as hazardous, toxic, biohazardous or dangerous under any applicable Environmental Law, or the release of which is prohibited or regulated under any applicable Environmental Law, including, any asbestos, any petroleum, oil (including crude oil or any fraction thereof), any radioactive substance, any polychlorinated biphenyls, any toxin, chemical, infectious and medical waste, microbial matter, greenhouse gas and any other substance that may give rise to liability under any Environmental Law.
“Indebtedness” shall mean as at any date of determination, the sum of the following items of Seller, without duplication: (i) obligations of Seller created, issued or incurred for borrowed money, including all fees and obligations thereunder (including interest and similar charges however denominated, late fees, and any prepayment or termination fees arising or which will arise out of the prepayment of such Indebtedness prior to its maturity and termination), (ii) obligations of Seller to pay the deferred purchase price or acquisition price of property or services, other than trade or accounts payable arising, and accrued expenses incurred, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (iii) the face amount of all letters of credit issued for the account of Seller and all drafts thereunder, (iv) capital lease obligations of Seller, if any, and (v) any obligation guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligations of any other Person (including any obligations under any keep well or support agreements).
“Intellectual Property” shall mean all intellectual property rights, including without limitation Patents, inventions, technology, discoveries, utility models, processes, formulae and know-how, copyrights and copyrightable works (including software, databases, applications, code, systems, networks, website content, documentation and related items), trademarks, service marks, trade names, logos, domain names, corporate names, trade dress and other source indicators, and the goodwill of the business appurtenant thereto, trade secrets, customer data and other confidential or proprietary information, and applications for and registrations of the foregoing (including divisionals, provisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, re-examinations, foreign counterparts and renewals).
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“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“Knowledge of Seller” means, with respect to any matter in question, the actual knowledge of the Members, after due inquiry.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, lien (statutory or other), defect of title, charge, option, restriction on transfer (such as a right of first offer or refusal), third-party right, conditional or installment sale agreement, encroachment, survey exception, encumbrance, liability, obligation, security interest or other claim of any kind or nature whatsoever; provided, however, that Liens shall exclude liens for Taxes which are not yet due and payable.
“Loss” or “Losses”” means any and all losses, damages, costs, fees, expenses, debts, charges, liabilities, settlement payments, awards, judgments, penalties, fines, interest, obligations, and claims of any kind.
“Material Adverse Effect” means any event or circumstance that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or caused, or would reasonably be expected to have or cause, a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), assets (including intangible assets), liabilities or operations of the Business, Purchased Assets or Assumed Liabilities.
“Multiemployer Plan” shall mean a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA or Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, and to which Seller, or any entity which is or was a Commonly Controlled Entity with Seller is making, is obligated to make, or has made or been obligated to make during the last six years, contributions on behalf of participants who are or were employed by any of them.
“Organizational Documents” means, with respect to any Person, the articles or certificate of incorporation or organization and by-laws, the limited partnership agreement, the partnership agreement or the limited liability company agreement, or such other organizational documents of such Person, including those that are required to be registered or kept in the place of incorporation, organization or formation of such Person and which establish the legal personality of such Person.
“Patents” means worldwide patents, patent applications, invention disclosures, and other rights of invention, and all reissues, divisions, renewals, extensions, provisionals, continuations and continuations-in-part thereof and all reexamined patents or other applications or patents claiming the benefit of any of the foregoing.
“Payment in Full” or “Paid in Full” means the date on which (i) all commitments under the Senior Loan Documents have been terminated, (ii) all Senior Indebtedness has been paid and satisfied in full in cash (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no claims have been asserted), and (iii) there shall have been deposited cash collateral with respect to all contingent Senior Indebtedness (or other collateral support) in an amount sufficient to the Senior Agent.
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“Permitted Encumbrances” means (a) Liens for Taxes and other governmental charges and assessments which are not yet due and payable; (b) landlords’, workers’, carriers’ and mechanic and other like Liens incurred in the ordinary course of the Business with respect to amounts that are not past due and (c) zoning, building and land use Laws, ordinances, orders, decrees, restrictions and conditions imposed by any Governmental Entity that do not interfere with the present or proposed use of the properties they affect.
“person” or “Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity or a Governmental Entity.
“Post-Closing Period” means any Tax period beginning on or after the Effective Date.
“Pre-Closing Period” means any Tax period (or portion thereof) ending on or before the Effective Date.
“Release” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, injecting, depositing, disposing, discharging, dispersal, escaping, dumping, or leaching into the indoor or outdoor Environment.
“Reorganization” means any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization by judicial proceedings, bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other statutory or common law proceedings, including any proceeding under the federal bankruptcy code or any similar law or any other jurisdiction, involving the Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets and the readjustment of the respective liabilities of the Buyer or any such other Person or any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any marshaling of the assets or liabilities of the Buyer or any such other Person.
“Representatives” means, with respect to any person, such person’s directors, managers, shareholders, partners, officers, employees, agents and representatives, including any investment banker, financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other advisor, agent, representative or Affiliate.
“Seller Benefit Plan” means (other than a Multiemployer Plan) each “employee pension benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) (whether or not subject to ERISA), each “employee welfare benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) (whether or not subject to ERISA) and any other plan, program, agreement, arrangement, policy, practice, contract, fund or commitment providing for pension, severance or retention benefits, profit-sharing, fees, bonuses, retention, stock ownership, stock options, stock appreciation, stock purchase, phantom stock or other stock-related benefits, incentive or deferred compensation, vacation benefits, life or other insurance (including any self-insured arrangements), health or medical benefits, dental benefits, employee assistance programs, salary continuation, unemployment benefits, disability or sick leave benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, tuition, company car, club dues, maternity, paternity or family leave, health care reimbursement, dependent care assistance, cafeteria plan, employment agreement, consulting agreement, retainer agreement, golden parachute agreement, benefit contingent upon a change in control, relocation or post-employment or retirement benefits (including compensation, pension, health, medical and life insurance benefits) or other form of benefits which is or has been maintained, administered, participated in or contributed to by Seller, which covers any employee or former employee of Seller by virtue of their current or former employment with Seller, or in connection with which Seller has any liability.
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“Seller Transaction Expenses” means all expenses of Seller and the Members incurred or to be incurred in connection with the preparation and execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby to be consummated on or before the Closing, including fees and expenses incurred in connection with the repayment of Indebtedness, and fees and disbursements of the Seller’s attorneys, accountants, investment bankers and other advisors and service providers, payable by the Seller or the Members and that, in each case, have not been paid as of the Closing Date.
“Senior Agent” means any Person party to the Senior Loan Documents as administrative agent.
“Senior Default” or “Event of Default” means the occurrence and continuance of “default” or “event of default” as defined in the Senior Loan Documents.
“Senior Indebtedness” means any and all indebtedness (principal, interest (including, without limitation, any interest accruing or that would have accrued but for the filing of a bankruptcy, reorganization or other insolvency proceeding whether or not such interest constitutes an allowable claim in such proceeding), fees, collection costs and expenses and other amounts), liabilities and other Obligations (as defined in the Senior Loan Documents) which Buyer or other obligor may now or at any time or times hereafter owe under any of the Senior Loan Documents or any other documentation referenced in such definition of “Obligations”.
“Senior Lenders” means any Person party to the Senior Loan Documents as a lender, and any other holder of Senior Indebtedness.
“Senior Loan Documents” means any documentation which, by its terms, requires the Earn-Out Payment to be subordinated to the indebtedness (principal, interest, fees, collection costs and expenses and other amounts), liabilities and obligations arising under such documentation and any of the Loan Documents (as defined in the applicable Credit Agreement), in any case, as amended, modified, restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time, including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement, and each other Loan Document (as defined in such Credit Agreement), each as amended, modified, restated, amended and restated, refinanced or replaced from time to time.
“Special Representations” means the representations and warranties of Seller and the Members made in Sections 2.9 (Litigation); 2.14 (Tax Matters); 2.15 (ERISA Compliance); and 2.17 (Environmental Matters).
A “Subsidiary” of any person means another person, an amount of the voting securities, other voting rights or voting membership or partnership interests of which is sufficient to elect at least a majority of its board of directors or other governing body (or, if there are no such voting interests, 50% or more of the Equity Interests of which) is owned directly or indirectly by such first person.
“Target Working Capital” means $200,000.
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“Tax” means any tax, charge, deficiency, duty, fee, levy, toll or other amount (including, without limitation, any net income, gross income, profits, gross receipts, escheat, excise, property, sales, ad valorem, withholding, social security, retirement, excise, employment, unemployment, minimum, alternative, add-on minimum, estimated, severance, stamp, occupation, environmental, premium, capital stock, disability, windfall profits, use, service, net worth, payroll, franchise, license, gains, customs, transfer, recording, registration or other tax) assessed or otherwise imposed by any Governmental Entity or under applicable law, together with any interest, penalties or any other additions or increases.
“Tax Return” means any return, election, declaration, report, schedule, information return, document, information, opinion, statement, or any amendment to any of the foregoing (including, without limitation, any consolidated, combined or unitary return) filed or required to be filed with any Governmental Entity.
“Working Capital” means the Current Assets minus Current Liabilities of Seller, determined in accordance with GAAP and excluding balance sheet cash.
[signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
QUEST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | ||
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | ||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
QUEST RESOURCE HOLDING CORPORATION | |||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | ||
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | ||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
INSTREAM ENVIRONMENTAL LLC | |||
By: | /s/ John E. Little | ||
Name: | John E. Little | ||
Title: | President |
MEMBERS: | |
/s/ John E. Little | |
JOHN E. LITTLE |
/s/ Larry Seay | |
LARRY SEAY |
/s/ Joel Powell | |
JOEL POWELL |
MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT
by and among
ROME HOLDINGS, LLC,
M & A BUSINESS CONSULTING, INC.,
as the Sellers,
solely for purposes of Section 5.3(a) herein,
ANTHONY J. DIIENNO, SR.,
RWS INVESTORS, LLC
and
ATAR RWS INVESTORS, LLC
and
QUEST SUSTAINABILITY SERVICES, INC.
as the Buyer
Dated as of December 7, 2021
Effective as of November 30, 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
SECTION 1 | DEFINITIONS | 1 |
SECTION 2 | PURCHASE AND CLOSING | 12 |
2.1. | Purchase and Sale | 12 |
2.2. | Purchase Price; Closing Cash Payment | 12 |
2.3. | Purchase Price Adjustment | 12 |
2.4. | Closing | 14 |
2.5. | Closing Deliveries | 14 |
2.6. | Aggregate Escrow Amount | 16 |
2.7. | Withholding | 18 |
SECTION 3 | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO THE COMPANY, SSG AND THE SELLERS | 18 |
3.1. | Organization and Qualification | 18 |
3.2. | Corporate Power | 18 |
3.3. | Authorization, Governmental Approvals | 18 |
3.4. | Equity; Title to the Transferred Units | 19 |
3.5. | Conflict with Other Instruments | 19 |
3.6. | Validity and Binding Effect | 19 |
3.7. | Capitalization; Subsidiaries | 19 |
3.8. | Affiliated Transactions | 20 |
3.9. | Compliance with Instruments | 21 |
3.10. | Brokerage | 21 |
3.11. | Litigation | 21 |
3.12. | Compliance with Laws; Permits | 21 |
3.13. | Financial Statements; Books and Records | 21 |
3.14. | Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities | 22 |
3.15. | Absence of Certain Changes | 22 |
3.16. | Material Agreements | 23 |
3.17. | Proprietary Rights; Data Privacy; Software and Information Systems | 26 |
3.18. | Insurance | 27 |
3.19. | Employees. | 28 |
3.20. | Employee Benefit Plans | 29 |
3.21. | Taxes | 31 |
3.22. | Real Property; Title and Sufficiency of Assets | 34 |
3.23. | Environmental | 35 |
3.24. | Material Customers; Material Suppliers | 36 |
3.25. | PPP1 Loan and Related Matters | 36 |
3.26. | Representations and Warranties Relating To Each Seller | 36 |
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SECTION 4 | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER | 38 |
4.1. | Authority and Valid and Binding Effect | 38 |
4.2. | Authorization, Governmental Approvals | 38 |
4.3. | Conflict with Other Instruments | 38 |
4.4. | Brokerage | 38 |
4.5. | Litigation | 38 |
4.6. | No Defaults | 39 |
4.7. | Investment | 39 |
SECTION 5 | ADDITIONAL COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS | 39 |
5.1. | Fees and Expenses | 39 |
5.2. | Confidentiality; Access to Information | 39 |
5.3. | Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Non-Interference | 40 |
5.4. | Public Announcements | 42 |
5.5. | Tax Matters | 42 |
5.6. | Solvency | 45 |
5.7. | R&W Insurance Policy | 45 |
SECTION 6 | NON-SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; INDEMNIFICATION; R&W INSURANCE POLICY | 45 |
6.1. | Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties; Remedies | 45 |
6.2. | Seller’s Indemnification Obligations | 46 |
6.3. | Buyer’s Indemnification Obligations | 47 |
6.4. | R&W Insurance Policy; Limitations on Indemnification | 47 |
6.5. | Determination of Damages | 48 |
6.6. | Limitation on Damages | 48 |
6.7. | Matters Involving Third parties | 49 |
6.8. | Direct Claims | 49 |
6.9. | Exclusive Remedy | 50 |
SECTION 7 | MISCELLANEOUS | 50 |
7.1. | Benefit of Agreement; Assignment | 50 |
7.2. | Remedies | 50 |
7.3. | Notices | 50 |
7.4. | Choice of Law | 51 |
7.5. | Entire Agreement | 52 |
7.6. | No Implied Waivers; Cumulative Remedies; Writing Required | 52 |
7.7. | Jurisdiction | 52 |
7.8. | No Third-Party Beneficiaries | 53 |
7.9. | Specific Performance | 53 |
7.10. | Severability | 53 |
7.11. | Headings | 53 |
7.12. | Counterparts | 53 |
7.13. | Sellers’ Representative | 54 |
7.14. | Provision Respecting Representation of the Sellers and the Selling Members | 55 |
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Exhibits
Exhibit A | Disclosure Schedule |
Exhibit B | R&W Insurance Policy Binder |
Exhibit C | Working Capital Schedule |
Exhibit D | Consulting Agreement |
Exhibit E | Escrow Agreement |
iii
MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of December 7, 2021 (the “Closing Date”), but effective as of November 30, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), by and among Rome Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings”, and the “Sellers’ Representative”) M&A Business Consulting, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (“MBC”, and together with Holdings, each a “Seller”, and collectively, the “Sellers”), solely for purposes of Section 5.3(a) herein, Anthony J. DiIenno, Sr., RWS Investors, LLC and ATAR RWS Investors, LLC (collectively, the “Selling Members”), and Quest Sustainability Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Buyer”, and together with Sellers, each, a “party”, and collectively, the “parties”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, RWS Facility Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), is a full-service management company engaged in the brokering of recycling, waste and sustainability solutions (the “Business”);
WHEREAS, Holdings and MBC collectively own beneficially and of record one hundred (100) units of limited liability company membership interests in the Company (collectively, the “Units”), representing one hundred percent (100%) of all of the issued and outstanding membership interests of the Company (collectively, the “Interests”); and
WHEREAS, Holdings and MBC desire to sell to Buyer, and Buyer desires to purchase from Holdings and MBC, all of the Interests (collectively, the “Transferred Units”) for the consideration and on the terms set forth in this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION
1
DEFINITIONS
In addition to other terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“Adjustment Amount” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.3(f).
“Affiliate” means, as to any Person: (a) any Person which directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or manages, is controlled or managed by, or is under common control or management with, such Person; or (b) any Person who is a member, stockholder, director or officer of (i) such Person, or (ii) any Person described in clause (a) of this definition.
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“Affiliated Group” means any “affiliated group” within the meaning of Section 1504 of the Code and any analogous combined, consolidated or unitary group of entities (including corporations) defined under state, local or foreign income Tax Laws.
“Allocation” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.5(c).
“Base Cash Consideration” means an amount equal to Thirty Three Million U.S. Dollars (US $33,000,000).
“Benefit Plan” means any of the following (whether written, unwritten or terminated) that the Company or any ERISA Affiliate thereof sponsors or maintains for the benefit of any employee of the Company, or to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate thereof, within the three (3) year period immediately prior to Closing, made contributions on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any employee of the Company or with respect to which the Company has any other Liability (contingent or otherwise), whether on account of the Company or an ERISA Affiliate thereof or otherwise: (a) any “employee welfare benefit plan,” as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA, including, but not limited to, any medical plan, life insurance plan, short-term or long-term disability plan, dental plan, and sick leave; (b) any “employee pension benefit plan,” as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, including, but not limited to, any excess benefit, top hat or deferred compensation plan or any nonqualified deferred compensation or retirement plan or arrangement or any qualified defined contribution or defined benefit plan; or (c) any other plan, policy, program, arrangement or agreement which provides employee benefits or benefits to any current or former employee, dependent, beneficiary, director, independent contractor or like person, including, but not limited to, any severance agreement or plan, vacation time, material fringe benefit plan or program, bonus or incentive plan, stock option, restricted stock, stock bonus or deferred bonus plan, salary reduction, change-of-control or employment agreement (or consulting agreement with a former employee).
“Business” shall have the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.
“Business Day” means any day except a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, are authorized or required by Law to be closed.
“Buyer” shall have the meaning specified in the Preface.
“Buyer Indemnitee(s)” means Buyer, its Affiliates (including, on and after the Closing, the Company) and each of their respective equityholders, directors, managers, officers, employees, accountants, consultants, legal counsel, financial advisors, agents and other representatives of such Person.
“Buyer Transaction Documents” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.1.
“Cash” means the Company’s aggregate cash and cash equivalents, calculated in a manner consistent with the Financial Statements (and including without limitation the lines of cash on deposit with UC Funding), but excluding any and all amounts that are then the subject of outstanding and unpresented checks.
“Closing” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.4.
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“Closing Balance Sheet” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.3(b).
“Closing Cash” means Cash of the Company as of 11:59 p.m. (Pennsylvania time) on the Effective Date.
“Closing Cash Payment” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.2(b).
“Closing Date” shall have the meaning specified in the Preface.
“Closing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Company as of 11:59 p.m. (Pennsylvania time) on the Effective Date.
“Closing Statement” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.3(b).
“Closing Working Capital” shall mean the Working Capital as of 11:59 p.m. (Pennsylvania time) on the Effective Date, determined in accordance with the Working Capital Schedule and GAAP.
“COBRA” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.20(g).
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Company” shall have the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Company Group” means, collectively, the Company and SSG.
“Company Transaction Expenses” means, without duplication, (a) any unpaid bonus (including any transaction bonus) payments owed to any director, officer or employee of the Company or either Seller, in each case, arising as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (b) any unpaid fees or expenses incurred by, or on behalf of, the Company or either Seller in connection with the negotiation and effectuation of this Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents, including legal, accounting, financial advisory, consulting, finders, and all other fees and expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation and effectuation of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents.
“Competing Business” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.3(a).
“Confidential Information” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.2(b)(i).
“Contract” means any written or oral contract, lease, license, loan or credit agreement, bond, debenture, note, mortgage, indenture, supply agreement, sale or purchase order, or any other binding agreement, commitment, arrangement or understanding.
“COVID-19” means the infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and known as “COVID-19”.
“COVID-19 Pandemic” means the pandemic caused by COVID-19, which began in China in late 2019 and, as of the date hereof, has globally spread throughout other areas, including without limitation Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America, and has resulted in authorities implementing numerous measures to try to contain COVID-19, including travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, shelter in place orders, and shutdowns.
3
“Current Assets” means, without duplication, current assets of the Company, including accounts receivable (excluding such outstanding accounts receivable in the SSG business that are aged more than one hundred twenty (120) days past their respective due dates at the Effective Date) and prepaid expenses, but excluding Cash of the Company determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments, and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of financial statements for the most recent fiscal year-end as if such accounts were being prepared as of a fiscal year-end.
“Current Liabilities” means, without duplication, current liabilities of the Company, including accounts payable, accrued Taxes of the Business, and accrued expenses but excluding (a) deferred Tax liabilities, (b) the current portion of long-term debt and any other Indebtedness, determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of financial statements for the most recent fiscal year-end as if such accounts were being prepared as of a fiscal year-end, and (c) Company Transaction Expenses.
“Data Protection Laws” means all Laws concerning the protection and/or processing of Personal Data, including the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020, as applicable to the operation of the Business by the Company.
“Deductible” shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.2(b).
“Disclosure Schedule” means the Disclosure Schedule attached as Exhibit A hereto and made a part hereof.
“Effective Date” shall have the meaning specified in the Preface.
“Environmental Laws” means all Laws and orders relating to pollution, contamination, the environment, health or safety (including all Laws and orders relating to Hazardous Material).
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any entity that, together with another entity, is treated as a single employer pursuant to Section 414(b), 414(c), 414(m) or 414(o) of the Code.
“Escrow Account” means a segregated, interest-bearing account maintained by the Escrow Agent pursuant to the Escrow Agreement into which the Escrow Amount shall be deposited.
“Escrow Agent” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.6(a).
“Escrow Agreement” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.6(a).
“Escrow Amount” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.6(a).
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“Estimated Closing Cash” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.3(a).
“Estimated Closing Indebtedness” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.3(a).
“Estimated Closing Statement” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.3(a).
“Estimated Closing Working Capital” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.3(a).
“Estimated Company Transaction Expenses” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.3(a).
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the SEC’s rules and regulations thereunder.
“Final Closing Cash” means the Closing Cash as finally determined in accordance with Section 2.3.
“Final Closing Indebtedness” means the Closing Indebtedness as finally determined in accordance with Section 2.3.
“Final Closing Working Capital” means the Closing Working Capital as finally determined in accordance with Section 2.3.
“Final Company Transaction Expenses” means the Company Transaction Expenses as finally determined in accordance with Section 2.3.
“Financial Statements” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.14.
“Fraud” means actual and intentional fraud in the making of the representations and warranties contained in Section 3, Section 4 or Section 5 of this Agreement, as applicable (and in each case as expressly qualified by the Disclosure Schedule), and involving a knowing and intentional misrepresentation of fact in such representations and warranties and that are material to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with the intent of inducing any other party hereto to enter into this Agreement and upon which such other party actually and reasonably relied to its detriment under applicable Laws and this Agreement (excluding, for example, any theory of fraud premised upon imputed or constructive fraud, negligent misrepresentation or omission, recklessness or negligence.
“Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.1 (Organization and Qualification); 3.2 (Corporate Power); 3.3 (Authorization); 3.5 (Conflict with Other Instruments); 3.21 (Taxes); 3.26(a) (Organization; Authorization); and 3.26(b) (Ownership of Interests).
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect on the date hereof, applied in a manner consistent with past practices.
“Governing Documents” means, with respect to any corporation, its articles or certificate of incorporation, charter and bylaws; with respect to any partnership, its articles or certificate of partnership and partnership agreement; with respect to any limited liability company, its articles or certificate of formation and limited liability company or operating agreement; with respect to any trust, its declaration or agreement of trust; and with respect to each other entity, its comparable governing instruments or documents.
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“Governmental Authority” means any supranational, national, federal, state or local government, foreign or domestic, or the government of any political subdivision of any of the foregoing, or any entity, authority, agency, ministry, department, board, commission, court or other similar body exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative authority, or conducting functions of or pertaining to government, including any authority or other quasi-governmental entity established by a Governmental Authority to exercise any such authority or perform any such functions.
“Hazardous Material” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.23.
“Income Tax” means any Tax measured by or imposed on net income or earnings (and any franchise Tax or other Tax in connection with doing business imposed in lieu thereof), including any interest, penalty or addition thereto, whether disputed or not.
“Income Tax Return” means any Tax Return filed for Income Taxes.
“Indebtedness” means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or services, contingent or otherwise (including, without limitation, reimbursement and all other obligations with respect to the PPP2 Loan, surety bonds, letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances, whether or not matured, but excluding all accounts payable and accruals payable in the Ordinary Course of Business), including the current portion of such indebtedness, (b) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, (c) any indebtedness or liabilities secured by a Lien on a Person’s assets, (d) the direct or indirect guaranty, endorsement (other than for collection or deposit in the Ordinary Course of Business), co-making, discounting with recourse, or sale with recourse by a Person of the obligation of another Person, and (e) any accrued interest, penalties, fees and expenses arising from any breach or prepayment of any of the foregoing.
“Indemnified Party” shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.7(a).
“Indemnifiable Losses” or “Losses” shall mean any and all damages, losses, awards, actions, proceedings, causes of action, obligations, liabilities, claims, encumbrances, penalties, demands, assessments, settlements, judgments, Taxes and expenses including reasonable legal fees directly related to the foregoing, in each case to the extent actually incurred by an Indemnified Party; provided, that Indemnifiable Losses shall exclude consequential, special or punitive damages or any loss of profits or future revenue, income or earnings or business interruption, or lost opportunities of such other Person, diminution of value, or damages calculated on a multiple of lost earnings or similar methods.
“Indemnifying Party” shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.7(a).
“Indemnity Escrow Account” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.6(a).
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“Indemnity Escrow Amount” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.6(a).
“Indemnity Escrow Release Amount” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.6(b).
“Indemnity Escrow Release Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.6(a).
“Independent Accountants” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.3(d).
“Insurer” means DUAL North America.
“Key Employees” means the employees of the Company listed in Schedule 1.1 of the Disclosure Schedule.
“Knowledge” means, with respect to the Company, the actual knowledge of Anthony J. DiIenno Sr., Eric King, Jeff Roney and Anthony DiIenno, Jr., in each case, after reasonable (but not exhaustive) inquiry and investigation of all relevant current managers, officers and employees of the Company who would have actual knowledge of the particular matters represented.
“Latest Balance Sheet” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.14.
“Laws” means, collectively, all laws (including common law), statutes, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, decrees, orders, permits, writs, injunctions, judgments, rulings or other requirements of any Governmental Authority.
“Leased Real Property” means, collectively, all real property that the Company leases.
“Liability” or “Liabilities” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.14.
“Lien” shall mean any mortgage, license, charge, interest, pledge, claim, lien, encumbrance, option, security interest, restriction on the right to sell or dispose (and in the case of securities, vote) or other adverse claim of any kind or nature whatsoever (whether arising by Contract or by operation of law and whether voluntary or involuntary) in real or personal property (including Proprietary Rights).
“Material Adverse Effect” means any change, development, event, effect or condition that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a materially adverse effect on (i) the ability of Seller or the Company to perform its material obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the Transactions, or (ii) the condition (financial or otherwise), Business, assets, liabilities, operations or financial performance of the Company; provided, however, that any adverse effect caused by the following shall not be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred: (A) conditions generally affecting the industries, geographies and markets in which the Company operates, or changes or developments generally affecting the economy or the financial or securities markets, in the United States or globally (including changes in the credit, debt or financial capital markets and changes in interest or exchange rates), (B) changes resulting from any regulatory and political conditions or developments in general, (C) the financial, banking or securities markets (including any disruption thereof) or change in currency exchange rates, (D) any outbreak or escalation of war, hostilities, terrorist attack, sabotage (including cyberattacks) natural disaster, civil unrest or any other similar emergency, calamity or crisis and any actions taken in response thereto, (E) any pandemic, disease outbreak or other public health emergency, including the COVID-19 Pandemic, or the effect of any abatement thereof, and any actions taken in response thereto, (F) changes in GAAP or other applicable Laws, rules or regulations, (G) failure to meet financial or operational projections, (H) statements by Buyer regarding the plans or intentions of Buyer with respect to the conduct of the business of the Company, (I) any act or omission of the Company prior to the Closing Date taken at the express request of Buyer, (J) the announcement of this Agreement or the announcement of the proposed consummation of the Transactions (including the impact thereof on relationships, with, or loss or impairment of, customers, vendors, distributors or landlords having relationships with the Company) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, or (K) any action taken by the Company which is required by the express terms and conditions of this Agreement; provided, however, that any change, development, event, effect or condition referred to in clauses (A) through (I) immediately above shall be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or could reasonably be expected to occur, to the extent that such change, development, event, effect or condition has a disproportionate effect on the Company compared to other participants in the industries in which the Company conducts its Business.
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“Material Agreements” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.16(a).
“Objection Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.3(c).
“Open Source License” means any license identified as an open source license by the Open Source Initiative (www.opensource.org).
“Ordinary Course of Business” means, with respect to a Person, (i) for periods of time prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the ordinary course of business prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, consistent with such Person’s past custom and practice (including with respect to quantity and frequency), and ignoring any effects of COVID-19; and (ii) for periods of time beginning after the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the ordinary course of business during the COVID-19 Pandemic, consistent with such Person’s custom and practice (including with respect to quantity and frequency), and taking into account the effects of COVID-19.
“Pending Claims” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.6(b).
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, company, limited liability company, joint venture, association, bank, business trust or other entity, whether or not legal entities, or any governmental entity or agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Personal Data” means any information relating to an identified or identifiable individual, including names, postal addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers as determined under the applicable Data Protection Laws.
“PPP1 Loan” means that certain loan in the amount of $950,427 received by the Company pursuant to the Payroll Protection Program under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
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“PPP2 Loan” means that certain loan in the amount of $826,670 received by the Company pursuant to the Payroll Protection Program under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
“Pre-Closing Tax Period” means any taxable period that ends on or prior to the Effective Date and the portion of any Straddle Period through the end of the Effective Date.
“Proceeding” means any action, arbitration, audit, hearing, investigation, examination, complaint, charge, litigation or suit (whether civil, criminal or administrative) commenced, conducted, or heard by or before any Governmental Authority or arbitrator.
“Proprietary Rights” means all patents, patent applications, patent disclosures, inventions (whether or not patentable and whether or not reduced to practice), and any reissues, continuations, continuations-in-part, divisions, extensions or reexaminations thereof; trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, domain names, trade names, corporate names (including the use of the current corporate name and trade names and all translations, adaptations, derivations and combinations of the foregoing) and the goodwill associated therewith; copyrights and works of authorship; all registrations, applications and renewals for any of the foregoing; all Trade Secrets, know-how, specifications, designs, technical and other data, databases and customer and supplier lists and related information); all copies and tangible embodiments of the foregoing (in whatever form or medium); all income, royalties, damages and payments due or payable as of the Closing (including damages and payments for past or future infringements or misappropriation thereof), and the right to sue and recover for past or future infringements or misappropriation thereof; and any and all corresponding rights that, now or hereafter, may be secured throughout the world.
“Pro Rata Share” means 95% with respect to Holdings, and 5% with respect to MBC.
“Purchase Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.2.
“Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Account” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.6(a).
“Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Amount” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.6(a).
“Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Release Amount” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.6(d).
“Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Release Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.6(a).
“R&W Insurance Policy” means the Buyer-side Representations and Warranties Insurance Policy issued to Buyer pursuant to the R&W Insurance Policy Binder.
“R&W Insurance Policy Binder” means the Buyer-side Representations and Warranties Insurance Policy Binder, including the R&W Insurance Policy, each dated as of the date of this Agreement, and each between Insurer and Buyer, and substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit B.
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“R&WI Exclusions” shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.2(a).
“Real Property Lease” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.22(a).
“Registered Proprietary Rights” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.17(a).
“Restricted Area” means the entirety of North America.
“Restricted Period” means, with respect to a Restricted Seller, the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on (i) the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date, with respect to the Sellers and the Selling Members other than Anthony J. DiIenno, Sr., and (ii) the third anniversary of the Closing Date, with respect to Anthony J. DiIenno, Sr.
“Restricted Sellers” means the Sellers and the Selling Members.
“Retention Amount” means the retention amount provided for under the R&W Insurance Policy, which shall initially be an amount equal to one percent (1%) of the Purchase Price, subject to reduction.
“Review Period” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.3(c).
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the SEC’s rules and regulations thereunder.
“Seller” or “Sellers” shall have the meaning specified in the Preface.
“Seller Indemnitee” means Seller, its Affiliates, and their respective directors, managers, officers, employees, accountants, consultants, legal counsel, financial advisors, agents and other representatives of such Person.
“Seller Released Party” means a Seller and any of its Affiliates.
“Selling Members” shall have the meaning specified in the Preface.
“Straddle Period” means any taxable period that includes (but does not end on) the Effective Date.
“Successor” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.3(b).
“SSG” means Sustainable Solutions Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Target Working Capital” means an amount of Working Capital equal to a negative <$1,013,000>.
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“Tax” or “Taxes” means all federal, state, local, foreign or other taxes, charges, fees, levies or other tax or assessments of any nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, any income, alternative or add-on minimum tax, gross receipts, unincorporated business, excise, real or personal property, sales, value-added, withholding, social security, payroll, escheat or unclaimed property, employment, severance, stamp, documentary, gains, environmental (including under Section 59A of the Code), retirement, unemployment, disability, occupation, commercial, rent, use, ad valorem, service, net worth, franchise, profits, license, premium windfall profits, duties including customs duties, capital stock, estimated, registration, transfer, real estate transfer, and recording taxes, imposed by any federal, state, local or foreign taxing authority, and shall include all interest, penalties and additions imposed with respect to such amounts, whether disputed or not, including any liability for Taxes of any member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined, or unitary group, including pursuant to Reg. Sec 1.1502-6 or any analogous or similar state, local or foreign Law or regulation, and any liability for the foregoing of any Person as a transferee or successor (by contract pursuant to Law, rule, regulation, or otherwise), and including without limitation any obligation to indemnify or otherwise assume or succeed to the liability for Taxes of any other Person.
“Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return or statement or other document (including any related or supporting schedule, statement, attachment or other information) filed or required to be filed with any Governmental Authority or retained or required to be retained in connection with the determination, assessment or collection of any Tax of any Person or the administration of any Laws, regulations or administrative requirements relating to any Tax, and including any amendment thereof.
“Third-Party Claim” shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.7(a).
“Trade Secrets” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.2(b)(ii).
“Transactions” means the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement (including the Disclosure Schedule attached hereto), the Escrow Agreement and all other documents and certificates executed by the parties in connection with the consummation of the Transactions.
“Transfer Taxes” means all transfer, documentary, sales, use, value added, gains, goods and services, stamp, registration, notarial fees and other similar Taxes and fees incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
“Treasury Regulations” means the Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Code.
“UC Funding” means United Capital Funding Group, LLC.
“UC Funding Agreement” means that certain Factoring and Security Agreement, dated August 31, 2017, between the Company and UC Funding, as amended.
“Working Capital” means Current Assets less Current Liabilities.
“Working Capital Schedule” means the illustrative calculation of Closing Working Capital as of the Effective Date, set forth on the Working Capital Schedule attached hereto as Exhibit C.
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SECTION
2
PURCHASE AND CLOSING
2.1. Purchase and Sale. In accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions contained in Section 2.4, at the Closing, each Seller shall sell, assign, transfer and deliver to Buyer all of such Seller’s right, title and interest in and to its Transferred Units, free and clear of all Liens and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and Buyer shall purchase and acquire the Transferred Units for the Purchase Price.
2.2. Purchase Price; Closing Cash Payment.
(a) The consideration to be paid by Buyer to the Sellers in respect of the Transferred Units shall be an aggregate amount equal to (i) the Base Cash Consideration, plus (ii) the amount, if any, by which the Closing Working Capital exceeds the Target Working Capital, less (iii) the amount, if any, by which the Target Working Capital exceeds the Closing Working Capital, plus (iv) the Closing Cash, minus (v) the Closing Indebtedness, minus (vi) the Final Company Transaction Expenses (collectively, the “Purchase Price”).
(b) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, at the Closing, Buyer shall pay or deliver to each Seller, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account specified in writing by such Seller to Buyer at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing, an amount equal to such Seller’s Pro Rata Share of (x) the cash portion of the Purchase Price (calculated on an estimated basis consistent with Section 2.3(a)), minus (y) the Escrow Amount (such resulting total amount, the “Closing Cash Payment”).
2.3. Purchase Price Adjustment.
(a) Not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Sellers’ Representative shall have prepared (or caused to be prepared) and delivered to Buyer a statement (the “Estimated Closing Statement”) setting forth (i) a balance sheet of the Company as of 11:59 p.m. (Pennsylvania time) on the Effective Date, prepared in accordance with the Working Capital Schedule and GAAP, and (ii) Sellers’ Representative’s good-faith estimate of the Closing Working Capital (the “Estimated Closing Working Capital”), the Closing Cash (the “Estimated Closing Cash”), the Closing Indebtedness (the “Estimated Closing Indebtedness”) and the Company Transaction Expenses (the “Estimated Company Transaction Expenses”) in each case, calculated in accordance with the Working Capital Schedule and GAAP, which shall be used to determine the amount of the Closing Cash Payment payable at the Closing as set forth in Section 2.2. The Company shall make available to the Buyer and its designated advisors all material records and work papers used in preparing the Estimated Closing Statement.
(b) No later than the date that is one-hundred twenty (120) days following the Closing Date, Buyer will deliver to the Sellers’ Representative a statement (the “Closing Statement”) setting forth (i) a balance sheet of the Company as of 11:59 p.m. (Pennsylvania time) on the Effective Date (the “Closing Balance Sheet”) prepared in accordance with the Working Capital Schedule and GAAP, (ii) Buyer’s calculation of the Closing Working Capital, the Closing Cash, the Closing Indebtedness and the Company Transaction Expenses based upon the Closing Balance Sheet, in each case calculated in accordance with the Working Capital Schedule and GAAP, and (iii) the Adjustment Amount as calculated in accordance with Section 2.3(f).
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(c) If within thirty (30) days following delivery by Buyer of the Closing Statement to the Sellers’ Representative (the “Review Period”), the Sellers’ Representative has not given Buyer notice of its objection to the determination of the Adjustment Amount or any component thereof, specifying in reasonable detail the particulars of those items or amounts with which the Sellers’ Representative disagrees (an “Objection Notice”), then the Adjustment Amount, as calculated by Buyer, shall be binding and conclusive on the parties. Any item to which Sellers’ Representative does not specifically object to in the Objection Notice shall be binding and conclusive on the parties.
(d) If the Sellers’ Representative provides Buyer with an Objection Notice prior to the expiration of the Review Period, and if Buyer and the Sellers’ Representative fail to resolve the issues outstanding with respect to the Closing Statement and the determination of the Adjustment Amount and the components thereof through good-faith negotiations within thirty (30) days of Buyer’s receipt of the Objection Notice, then the Sellers’ Representative and Buyer shall submit the issues remaining in dispute to an independent public accounting firm of national standing to be agreed upon in advance in writing by the Sellers’ Representative and Buyer (the “Independent Accountants”). If issues are submitted to the Independent Accountants for resolution, (i) the Sellers’ Representative and Buyer shall each be permitted to present a supporting brief to the Independent Accountants limited to detailing the Sellers’ Representative’s or Buyer’s proposed resolution, as applicable, of each item identified in the Objection Notice that is still unresolved (which supporting brief shall also be concurrently provided to the other party) within ten (10) Business Days of the Independent Accountant’s engagement and, within ten (10) Business Days of receipt of a supporting brief, the receiving party may present a responsive brief to the Independent Accountants (which responsive brief shall also be concurrently provided to the other party) limited to the matters reflected in the brief to which it responds, (ii) the Independent Accountants shall determine the Closing Working Capital and the Adjustment Amount strictly in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.3, the Working Capital Schedule and GAAP, (iii) the determination by the Independent Accountants, as set forth in a notice to be delivered to the Sellers’ Representative and Buyer within thirty (30) days of the submission to the Independent Accountants of the issues remaining in dispute (provided, that any such determination shall be equal to or between the amount of the Adjustment Amount proposed by each of Buyer and the Sellers’ Representative, as adjusted for any difference resolved by Buyer and the Sellers’ Representative prior to the submission of the disputed items to the Independent Accountants), shall be final, binding and conclusive on the parties, absent Fraud or manifest error, and shall be used in the determination of the Adjustment Amount, and (iv) the fees and expenses of the Independent Accountants shall be allocated between Buyer, on the one hand, and the Sellers’ Representative (on behalf of all Sellers), on the other hand, based upon the percentage that the amount not awarded to Buyer or Sellers’ Representative pursuant to this Section 2.3(d) bears to the amount actually contested by Buyer or Sellers’ Representative, as applicable. If Buyer and the Sellers’ Representative are unable to agree on such allocation, the Independent Accountants shall determine such allocation upon application by Buyer, on the one hand, or Sellers’ Representative, on the other hand.
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(e) Within five (5) Business Days after the determination of the Adjustment Amount becomes binding and conclusive on the parties pursuant to this Section 2.3:
(i) if the Adjustment Amount is payable by the Sellers to Buyer (i.e., if the Adjustment Amount is a negative number), then Buyer and the Sellers’ Representative shall jointly instruct the Escrow Agent to pay such Adjustment Amount to Buyer from the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Account; provided, that if the Adjustment Amount to be paid to Buyer exceeds the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Amount, then each Seller shall remit to Buyer its Pro Rata Share of such excess; or
(ii) if the Adjustment Amount is payable by Buyer to the Sellers (i.e., if the Adjustment Amount is a positive number), then Buyer shall pay to the Sellers, by wire transfer to an account specified in writing in advance by such Sellers, its Pro Rata Share of the Adjustment Amount.
(f) The Purchase Price shall be adjusted, dollar for dollar (i) upward by: (A) the amount by which the Final Closing Working Capital is greater than the Estimated Closing Working Capital; (B) the amount by which the Final Closing Cash is greater than the Estimated Closing Cash; (C) the amount by which the Final Closing Indebtedness is less than the Estimated Closing Indebtedness; and (D) the amount by which the Final Company Transaction Expenses is less than the Estimated Company Transaction Expenses; and (ii) downward by: (A) the amount by which the Final Closing Working Capital is less than the Estimated Closing Working Capital; (B) the amount by which the Final Closing Cash is less than the Estimated Closing Cash; (C) the amount by which the Final Closing Indebtedness is greater than the Estimated Closing Indebtedness; and (D) the amount by which the Final Company Transaction Expenses is greater than the Estimated Company Transaction Expenses. The aggregate net amount of such adjustment, as specified in this Section 2.3(f), upwards or downwards, as the case may be, is referred to herein as the “Adjustment Amount.”
2.4. Closing. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the consummation of the purchase and sale of the Transferred Units and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (the “Closing”) shall take place remotely by electronic delivery, on the Closing Date, or at such other place and/or time as is agreed to in writing by Buyer and the Sellers’ Representative, but shall be effective as of the Effective Date. The Closing shall be deemed to have become effective as of 11:59 p.m. (Pennsylvania Time) on the Effective Date.
2.5. Closing Deliveries. Pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing:
(a) Sellers shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Buyer or any other Person designated by Buyer, the following documents or items, in each case duly executed or otherwise in proper form:
(i) an assignment of membership interest in respect of the Transferred Units owned by each Seller, in each case duly executed by such Seller and in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Buyer;
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(ii) all books and records of the Company in possession of Seller (it being understood and agreed that delivery of such books and records to the Company’s principal place of business shall be sufficient delivery);
(iii) correct and complete copies of the operating agreement of the Company as in effect on the Closing Date, as certified by a senior executive officer of the Company;
(iv) resignations of each officer and manager of the Company, as requested by Buyer, effective as of the Closing;
(v) a certificate of good standing dated not more than three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date from (i) the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, attesting to the good standing in Pennsylvania of the Company, (ii) the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, attesting to the good standing in Delaware of the Company, and (iii) the secretary of state of each other state where the Company is qualified to do business, attesting to the good standing of the Company in such state;
(vi) any required consents, approvals and copies of the notices (if any) listed on Schedule 3.3 of the Disclosure Schedule;
(vii) the Escrow Agreement, duly executed by the Seller;
(viii) the consulting agreement between Buyer or an Affiliate of Buyer and Anthony J. DiIenno, Sr., in the form of Exhibit D hereto (the “Consulting Agreement”), duly executed by Mr. DiIenno;
(ix) payoff letters duly executed by each lender to the Indebtedness of the Company, indicating that, upon payment of the amount specified in such payoff letter, all outstanding obligations of the Company arising under or relating to such Indebtedness shall be repaid and extinguished in full, and that upon receipt of such amount, such Person shall release its Liens and other security interests in, and shall file, or authorize the Company to file, Uniform Commercial Code Termination Statements and such other documents necessary to release of record its Liens and other security interests in, the assets and properties of the Company;
(x) evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer of the forgiveness of the PPP1 Loan;
(xi) evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer of the termination of any Company employee benefit plans;
(xii) evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer of the termination of any related party agreements;
(xiii) evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer of the termination of the UC Funding Agreement;
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(xiv) duly executed copies of employment offer letters and any related and customary confidentiality and non-solicitation agreements to be entered into by the Key Employees;
(xv) an IRS Form W-9; and
(xvi) all other instruments, agreements, certificates and documents required by Buyer to be delivered by Sellers at or prior to the Closing pursuant to this Agreement.
(b) Buyer shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Sellers’ Representative, the following documents or items, in each case duly executed or otherwise in proper form:
(i) the Closing Cash Payment, in accordance with Section 2.2;
(ii) the Escrow Agreement, duly executed by Buyer and the Escrow Agent;
(iii) the Consulting Agreement, duly executed by Buyer or an Affiliate of Buyer; and
(iv) all other instruments, agreements, certificates and documents required by the Sellers’ Representative to be delivered by Buyer at or prior to the Closing pursuant to this Agreement.
2.6. Aggregate Escrow Amount.
(a) At the Closing, Buyer shall deposit with U.S. Bank National Association (the “Escrow Agent”) (i) a portion of the Purchase Price equal to $500,000 (the “Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Amount”) into a designated non-interest bearing account (the “Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Account”), (ii) a portion of the Purchase Price equal to $660,000 (the “Indemnity Escrow Amount”) into a designated non-interest bearing account (the “Indemnity Escrow Account”) and (iii) a portion of the Purchase Price equal to $826,670 (the “PPP2 Loan Escrow Amount” and, together with the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Amount and the Indemnity Escrow Amount, the “Escrow Amount”) into a designated non-interest bearing account (the “PPP2 Loan Escrow Account”), to be held under the terms of this Agreement and the escrow agreement to be entered into at the Closing by and among Buyer, the Sellers’ Representative and the Escrow Agent, attached hereto as Exhibit E (the “Escrow Agreement”). Subject to the terms of the Escrow Agreement, the Escrow Amount shall serve as a source of funds for satisfaction of any payment owing from Sellers to Buyer pursuant to Section 2.3 and Section 6.2. Except as otherwise provided herein, (i) the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Amount shall be retained by the Escrow Agent until the date on which the Final Purchase Price is determined (such date of determination, the “Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Release Date”) for the purpose of funding the payment set forth in Section 2.3(e)(i), (ii) the Indemnity Escrow Amount shall be retained by the Escrow Agent until the date that is eighteen (18) months following the Closing Date (the “Indemnity Escrow Release Date”) for the purpose of securing the Sellers’ indemnification obligations set forth in Section 6.2, and (iii) the PPP2 Loan Escrow Amount shall be retained by the Escrow Agent until the earlier of (A) the date on which the PPP2 Loan is forgiven, or (B) December 31, 2022 (the “PPP2 Loan Escrow Release Date”).
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(b) In accordance with, and subject to, the provisions of this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement, promptly (and in any event within five (5) Business Days) after the Indemnity Escrow Release Date, Buyer and the Sellers’ Representative shall jointly instruct the Escrow Agent to release and pay to Sellers from the Indemnity Escrow Amount an amount (the “Indemnity Escrow Release Amount”) equal to (i) the funds remaining in the Indemnity Escrow Account, minus (ii) the aggregate amount of all indemnity claims made by the Buyer (collectively, the “Pending Claims”) that remain unresolved as of 5:00 p.m. (Pennsylvania time) on the Indemnity Escrow Release Date. The Escrow Agent shall pay to the Sellers the Indemnity Escrow Release Amount by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account(s) designated by the Sellers’ Representative in writing at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Indemnity Escrow Release Date.
(c) Following the Indemnity Escrow Release Date, within five (5) Business Days after the resolution of each Pending Claim, Buyer and the Sellers’ Representative shall jointly instruct the Escrow Agent to release and pay to the Sellers an amount equal to (i) the funds remaining in the Indemnity Escrow Account, minus (ii) the total amount of Pending Claims that remain unresolved as of 5:00 p.m. (Pennsylvania time) on the date of the resolution of such Pending Claim.
(d) In accordance with, and subject to, the provisions of this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement, within five (5) Business Days after the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Release Date, the Buyer and the Sellers’ Representative shall jointly instruct the Escrow Agent to release and pay to the Sellers’ Representative (on behalf of the Sellers, in proportion to their respective shares of the Purchase Price) from the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Account an amount (the “Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Release Amount”) equal to the funds remaining in the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Account after taking into account any funds released to the Buyer pursuant to Section 2.3. The Escrow Agent shall pay to the Sellers’ Representative (on behalf of the Sellers, in proportion to their respective shares of the Purchase Price) the Purchase Price Adjustment Escrow Release Amount by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account(s) designated by the Seller Representative at least three (3) Business Days prior to such release.
(e) In accordance with, and subject to, the provisions of this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement, promptly (and in any event within five (5) Business Days) after the PPP2 Loan Escrow Release Date, Buyer and the Sellers’ Representative shall jointly instruct the Escrow Agent to release and pay to Sellers from the PPP2 Loan Escrow Amount an amount (the “PPP2 Loan Escrow Release Amount”) equal to (i) the funds remaining in the PPP2 Loan Escrow Account, minus (ii) the amount of any portion of the PPP2 Loan that is not forgiven. The Escrow Agent shall pay to the Sellers the PPP2 Loan Escrow Release Amount by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account(s) designated by the Sellers’ Representative in writing at least three (3) Business Days prior to the PPP2 Loan Escrow Release Date.
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(f) Each of the Sellers, collectively, on the one hand, and Buyer, on the other hand, will pay one-half of the fees and expenses of the Escrow Agent, as provided further in the Escrow Agreement.
2.7. Withholding. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Buyer, each of its Affiliates and the Escrow Agent will be entitled to deduct and withhold (or cause to be deducted and withheld) from any amount otherwise payable to any Person, in connection with or with respect to the Transactions, or pursuant to a Transaction Document such amounts as are required to be deducted and withheld from such payment under the Code or any other provision of applicable Law. Any amounts so withheld shall be treated for all purposes of the Transaction Documents as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.
SECTION
3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO THE COMPANY, SSG
AND THE SELLERS
As a material inducement to Buyer to enter into this Agreement and purchase the Transferred Units hereunder, except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule, the Company makes the following representations and warranties to Buyer as of the Effective Date and the Closing Date.
3.1. Organization and Qualification. Each member of the Company Group is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. Each member of the Company Group has all licenses, permits and authorizations necessary to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted, and each member of the Company Group is duly qualified to do business as a foreign entity in each state in which such members operate, except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(a) of the Disclosure Schedule and where the failure to be so duly qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Each jurisdiction in which the Company Group is qualified or registered to do business as a foreign entity is identified on Schedule 3.1(b) of the Disclosure Schedule.
3.2. Corporate Power. The Company has the requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and carry out this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and all other instruments, documents and agreements contemplated or required by the provisions of this Agreement and any of the other Transaction Documents to be executed, delivered and carried out by the Company hereunder or thereunder. Each member of the Company Group has all requisite power and authority under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization to own and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted.
3.3. Authorization, Governmental Approvals. The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and all other instruments, documents and agreements contemplated or required by the provisions of any of the Transaction Documents to be executed and delivered have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company, and no other action is necessary on the part of the Company to authorize this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.3 of the Disclosure Schedule, no notice to, no authorization, consent, approval, license or exemption of, and no registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary for (a) the transfer of the Transferred Units in accordance with this Agreement, (b) the valid execution and delivery by the Company of the Transaction Documents and all other instruments, documents and agreements contemplated or required by the provisions hereof or thereof and to be executed and delivered by the Company, or (c) the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein and therein contemplated to be consummated by the Company.
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3.4. Equity; Title to the Transferred Units. The Transferred Units, when sold, assigned and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement for the consideration expressed herein, will be duly and validly issued and will be free of all Liens and free of restrictions on transfer other than restrictions on transfer under the applicable state and federal securities Laws. The sale of the Transferred Units to Buyer under this Agreement is not subject to preemptive rights in favor of any other Person. Each Seller is the sole record and beneficial owner of the outstanding Interests listed next to its name on Schedule 3.4 of the Disclosure Schedule, free and clear of all Liens. There are no agreements, arrangements, warrants, options, puts, rights or other commitments, plans or understandings of any character assigned or granted by such Seller or the Company or to which such Seller or the Company is a party relating to the issuance, sale, purchase, redemption, conversion, exchange, registration, voting or transfer of any of the Interests or any other equity interests of the Company.
3.5. Conflict with Other Instruments. Except as provided in Schedule 3.5 of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the execution and delivery by the Sellers of this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents or the other instruments, documents and agreements contemplated or required hereby or thereby to which it is a party, nor the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated to be consummated, nor compliance by the Sellers with the terms, conditions and provisions hereof or thereof, shall conflict with or result in a breach of, or require notice under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the Governing Documents of each member of the Company Group, or any law or any regulation, order, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority or any agreement, lease or instrument to which any member of the Company Group is a party to or by which the Company Group or either Seller or any of their respective properties are bound, or constitute a default thereunder, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien.
3.6. Validity and Binding Effect. The Transaction Documents to which the Company or either Seller is a party have been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and/or such Seller and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company and/or such Seller, and all such obligations of the Company and/or such Seller are enforceable against the Company and/or such Seller in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, moratorium, insolvency, Fraudulent conveyance and similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles.
3.7. Capitalization; Subsidiaries.
(a) All of the Interests have been duly authorized, are validly issued and fully paid, and are held of record and beneficially owned by the Sellers, free and clear of all Liens, and constitute one hundred percent (100%) of the authorized, issued and outstanding equity interests in the Company. None of the Interests are subject to, or have been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of an applicable Law, the Governing Documents of the Company or any Contract to which any Seller or the Company is a party or otherwise bound. All of the Interests have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law, including federal and state securities laws, and all requirements set forth in any applicable Contracts governing the issuance of such equity interests.
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(b) The Company has no other outstanding units, equity interests, securities, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible securities and other rights (unvested, vested, contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of the Company. There are no outstanding equity appreciation rights, phantom equity or other equity-based compensation, nor is the Company under any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to redeem or otherwise acquire any of their equity securities or any securities, rights or options to acquire such equity securities, equity appreciation rights or phantom equity. No Person other than the Sellers is entitled to receive any consideration as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (other than as such consideration may relate to Company Transaction Expenses), and each Seller is entitled to its Pro Rata Share of the Purchase Price consistent with the Company’s Governing Documents.
(c) There are no statutory or contractual rights of first refusal or preemptive rights with respect to any equity of the Company. The Company and the Seller have not violated and will not violate any applicable federal or state securities Laws in connection with the offer, sale or transfer of the Transferred Units, and such transfers, offers or sales do not require registration of the Transferred Units under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities Laws. Except for the Company’s Governing Documents, there are no agreements between or among the equity holders of the Company (or any one or more of them) with respect to the voting or transfer of the equity of the Company.
(d) Except for SSG, there are no other corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, associations, trusts or other entities (regardless of how they are treated for tax purposes) in which the Company owns, of record or beneficially, or is considered to own for Tax purposes, any equity interests or any right (contingent or otherwise) to acquire the same. All of the membership interests of SSG have been duly authorized, are validly issued and fully paid, and are held of record and beneficially owned by the Company, free and clear of all Liens, and constitute one hundred percent (100%) of the authorized, issued and outstanding equity interests in SSG. None of the membership interests of SSG are subject to, or have been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of an applicable Law, the Governing Documents of SSG or any Contract to which SSG or the Company is a party or otherwise bound. All of the membership interests of SSG have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law, including federal and state securities laws, and all requirements set forth in any applicable Contracts governing the issuance of such equity interests.
3.8. Affiliated Transactions. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.8 of the Disclosure Schedule, no Affiliate of any Seller, the Company or SSG, or any entity in which any such Person owned or owns any beneficial interest, was or is a party to any Contract or transaction with the Company, other than the Transaction Documents, or had or has any interest in any property used by the Company, other than as an equityholder of the Company.
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3.9. Compliance with Instruments. Neither the Company, SSG nor any Seller is, nor has it been, in violation of any term of its Governing Documents.
3.10. Brokerage. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.10 of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no claims for brokerage commissions, finders’ fees or similar compensation in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based on any arrangement or agreement binding upon the Sellers, the Company or SSG.
3.11. Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11 of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no, and for the past three (3) years there have not been, any Proceedings pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against or directly affecting the Company, SSG or any of their respective officers, directors, or managers, any Seller (solely with respect to the Business) or the Business, before any Governmental Authority, domestic or foreign. Neither Seller nor any member of the Company Group is a party to or named in or subject to any order, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority with respect to the Business. There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation by either Seller, SSG or the Company pending or that either Seller, SSG or the Company intends to initiate with respect to the Business.
3.12. Compliance with Laws; Permits. Each member of the Company Group is, and for the past three (3) years has been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws and regulations of any Government Authority, including foreign, federal, state and local governments and all agencies thereof. In the past three (3) years, neither the Company, SSG nor any Seller has received any written notice, or to the Company’s Knowledge, other communication from any Governmental Authority or other Person indicating that the Company, SSG or any Seller (solely with respect to the Business) is or may be in violation in any material respect of, or under, any applicable Law. No event has occurred that could result in a material violation of or conflict with any applicable Law or regulation. Each member of the Company Group is in possession of all material permits, licenses, registrations and government authorizations (“Permits”) required under applicable Law for the current operation of its Business, and is in compliance with the requirements and limitations included in such Permits. Schedule 3.12 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of all Permits currently held by the Company and SSG. In the past three (3) years, neither the Company nor SSG has received written notification from a Governmental Authority threatening revocation of any such Permit.
3.13. Financial Statements; Books and Records.
(a) Schedule 3.13 of the Disclosure Schedule consists of (i) the internally prepared unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of September 30, 2021 (the “Latest Balance Sheet Date”), and the related internally prepared statement of income of the Company for the nine (9) months ended September 30, 2021, and (ii) the audited balance sheet and the related audited statements of income and cash flows of the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 (together with the financial statements referred to in the preceding clause (i), the “Financial Statements”). Each of the Financial Statements (including in all cases the notes thereto, if any) was prepared in accordance with GAAP, is accurate and complete in all material respects, is consistent with the books and records of the Company (which, in turn, are accurate and complete in all material respects), and fairly presents the financial condition of the Company as at their respective dates and the results of operations for the periods covered thereby.
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(b) The books and records of the Company, all of which have been made available to Buyer, are complete and correct, have been maintained in accordance with sound business practices, and accurately, reflect in all material respects the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company as set forth in the Financial Statements.
3.14. Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. The Company has no obligation or liability (whether absolute, accrued or contingent and whether due or to become due and regardless of if or when asserted) (each a “Liability,” and collectively, “Liabilities”) arising out of any transactions entered into on or prior to the date hereof, any action or inaction on or prior to the date hereof, or any state of facts existing on or prior to the date hereof other than (a) Liabilities set forth on the Latest Balance Sheet (including any notes thereto), (b) Liabilities and obligations that have arisen after the date of the Latest Balance Sheet in the Ordinary Course of Business, or (c) Liabilities under Contracts described on Schedule 3.8, Schedule 3.16, Schedule 3.20 or Schedule 3.22(a) of the Disclosure Schedule; provided, that no such Liability contemplated by the foregoing clauses (a) through (c) is a Liability resulting from breach of Contract, breach of warranty, tort, infringement, claim or lawsuit or a violation of any Law.
3.15. Absence of Certain Changes. Except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth on Schedule 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedule, since December 31, 2020, the Company has been operated in the Ordinary Course of Business and has not:
(a) experienced a change, effect or circumstance that has had, or would be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate with any other related or concurrent changes, effects or circumstances experienced by the Company, a Material Adverse Effect;
(b) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property or any combination thereof), in respect of any securities of the Company, or redemption, repurchase or other acquisition or offer to redeem, repurchase, or otherwise acquire any securities of the Company;
(c) incurred any Indebtedness for borrowed money or agreed to incur any such Indebtedness or incurred or become subject to any other material Liabilities other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(d) been subjected to any Lien on any portion of its assets;
(e) sold, assigned or transferred any of its assets or agreed to sell, assign or transfer any of its assets, in each case outside of the Ordinary Course of Business;
(f) sold, assigned, licensed, transferred, abandoned or permitted to lapse any Proprietary Rights;
(g) made, or agreed to make, any loans or advances to, or guarantees for the benefit of, any Persons;
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(h) changed or authorized any change in its Governing Documents;
(i) had any liquidation or dissolution or filing of a petition in bankruptcy under any provisions of federal or state bankruptcy Law or consented to the filing of any bankruptcy petition against it under any similar Law;
(j) made, changed or rescinded any Tax election, changed any method of accounting for Tax purposes, entered into any agreement in respect of Taxes including the settlement or compromise of any Tax liability, Tax refund claim or action in respect of Taxes, prepared any Tax Returns in a manner inconsistent with the past practices of the Seller or the Company, as applicable, with respect to the treatment of items on such Tax Returns, amended any Tax Return, surrendered any right to claim a refund of Taxes, changed any Tax period, incurred any liability for any Taxes outside of the Ordinary Course of Business, or taken any action that would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability of the Company or the Buyer in respect of any Tax period ending after the Closing Date;
(k) entered into any written or oral employment, deferred compensation or other similar agreement (or amended any such existing agreement) with any director, officer, manager or employee of the Company, and has not changed the compensation or benefits of any employee of the Company;
(l) established, adopted or amended (except as required by law) any bonus, profit-sharing, thrift, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, compensation, stock option, restricted stock or other benefit plan or arrangement covering any director, officer, manager or employee of the Company;
(m) agreed to or received notice of the acceleration, termination, modification or cancellation of any Material Agreement;
(n) accelerated or delayed collection of accounts receivable in advance of or beyond their regular due dates or the dates when the same would have been collected, except in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(o) delayed or accelerated payment of any account payable or other liability beyond or in advance of its due date or the date when such liability would have been paid, except in the Ordinary Course of Business; or
(p) made any agreement, other than this Agreement, to take any actions specified in this Section 3.15.
3.16. Material Agreements.
(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.16(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company has no Contracts with Material Suppliers (the “Material Supplier Contracts”) that (i) can be terminated without cause on less than ninety (90) days' notice, or (ii) cover or provide supplies to more than five percent (5%) of the Company's customer locations.
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(b) Except for the Material Supplier Contracts, Schedule 3.16(b) of the Disclosure Schedule includes an accurate and complete list of the following Contracts (all Contracts listed or required to be listed on Schedule 3.16 of the Disclosure Schedule, collectively, the “Material Agreements”) to which the Company is a party as of the date hereof (other than the Real Property Leases):
(i) all joint venture, profit-sharing, cost-sharing or other similar arrangements or agreements;
(ii) all Contracts relating to the employment, engagement, compensation or termination of, or with respect to any compensation, commissions or bonuses payable to, any directors, officers, employees, consultants or agents of the Company (other than standard at-will offer letters or employee confidentiality agreements), and any change of control agreements between the Company and any such director, officer, employee, consultant or agent of the Company;
(iii) all collective bargaining agreements, union contracts or similar agreements;
(iv) all Contracts involving total future payments by the Company of (x) any amount for REIT pad rentals or (y) in excess of $100,000 for all other commitments;
(v) all Contracts that provide for contingent payments and/or earn-outs;
(vi) all Contracts to which the counterparty thereto may be materially competitive with the Company;
(vii) all Contracts to which the Company is a party relating to the issuance, purchase or sale, or voting of any equity securities of the Company;
(viii) all Contracts involving the sale or purchase of all or substantially all of the assets or capital stock of any Person, or a merger, consolidation, business combination or similar extraordinary transaction pursuant to which the Company has any on-going liability or probable liability to the counterparty in excess of $100,000;
(ix) all Contracts granting to any Person an option or a first refusal, first-offer or similar preferential right to purchase or acquire any assets of the Company;
(x) all loans, loan commitments, promissory notes, letters of credit or other financial accommodations or arrangements or evidences of Indebtedness, including modifications or amendments thereof, extended to or for the benefit of the Company;
(xi) all Contracts under which the Company has any obligation, direct, indirect, contingent or otherwise, to assume or guarantee any Liability or to indemnify any Person;
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(xii) all Contracts relating to the licensing or use of Proprietary Rights of the Company by any other Person or the licensing or use of the Proprietary Rights of any other Person by the Company (excluding shrink-wrap licenses);
(xiii) all Contracts restricting the ability of the Company from engaging in any business or competing with any Person in any line of business;
(xiv) all Contracts that restrict the ability of the Company to retain or contract with any other Person;
(xv) all dealer, reseller, distribution, sales representative or other agreements involving the marketing or distribution of the products or services of the Company by any other Person;
(xvi) all Contracts with Material Customers;
(xvii) all Contracts with Material Suppliers;
(xviii) all Contracts with any Affiliate of the Company or the Sellers; and
(xix) all Contracts providing for the settlement or resolution of any Proceedings.
For purposes of clarification, the Material Supplier Contracts shall be deemed “Material Agreements”.
(c) Correct and complete copies of each Material Agreement have been delivered or made available to Buyer. With respect to each of the Material Agreements, the Company and each other party thereto has performed in all material respects of all of the obligations required to be performed by it up to the date of this Agreement, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any other party to a Material Agreement is in material breach or default of any of its obligations under any Material Agreement. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.3 of the Disclosure Schedule, no event has occurred that would result in a breach of or default under, require any consent or other action by any Person under, or give rise to any penalty or right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation of the Company to a loss of any benefit to which the Company is entitled under (in each case, with or without notice or lapse of time, or both), any Material Agreement. Each Material Agreement is in full force and effect and valid and enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, moratorium, insolvency, Fraudulent conveyance and similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles. No party to any Material Agreement has given the Company notice of its intention to cancel, terminate, change the scope of rights under, decrease its services or supplies to the Company or its usage of the services or products of the Company under, or fail to renew any Material Agreement, and neither the Company nor any other party to any Material Agreement has repudiated in writing any provision thereof. The Company does not anticipate any termination or change to any Material Agreement as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby.
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3.17. Proprietary Rights; Data Privacy; Software and Information Systems.
(a) Schedule 3.17(a) of the Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list as of the date hereof of (i) all registered patents, trademarks, copyrights and other rights included in the Proprietary Rights owned by the Company or SSG and all pending patent, trademark and copyright applications and applications for the registration of other Proprietary Rights owned or filed the Company or SSG (collectively, the “Registered Proprietary Rights”), and (ii) all unregistered Proprietary Rights for which no applications for registration have been filed that are material to the Business. Schedule 3.17(b) of the Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of: (i) all licenses and other rights granted by the Company or SSG to any third-party with respect to any Proprietary Rights (outside the Ordinary Course of Business); and (ii) all licenses and other rights granted by any third-party to the Company or SSG, except for licenses or other agreements relating to commercially available “off the shelf” products that have not been altered or customized by or for the Company or SSG. All of the Registered Proprietary Rights are valid, subsisting, in full force and effect (except with respect to applications), and have not expired or been cancelled or abandoned. All necessary material documents and certificates in connection with the Registered Proprietary Rights have been filed with, and all relevant fees have been paid to, the relevant patent, trademark or other authorities in the United States or foreign jurisdictions, as the case may be, for the purposes of perfecting, prosecuting and maintaining the Registered Proprietary Rights.
(b) Neither the Company nor SSG has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated, has not received written notice of any infringement or other violation of, and the operation of the Business as currently conducted does not infringe, entail the misappropriation of, or otherwise violate, any Proprietary Rights of any other Person. To the Company’s Knowledge, no third-party has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated any Proprietary Rights of the Company or SSG. No claim by any third-party alleging any such infringement, misappropriation or violation has been made against the Company or SSG, is currently outstanding against the Company or SSG, or, to the Company’s Knowledge, is threatened, and there is no basis for any such claim. No claim by any third-party is pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened in any jurisdiction challenging the use, ownership, validity, enforceability or registerability of any Registered Proprietary Rights.
(c) Each of the members of the Company Group owns and possesses all rights, titles and interests in and to, or have a valid and enforceable license to use, all Proprietary Rights that are used in or necessary for the Business.
(d) Each of the members of the Company Group has used commercially reasonable efforts to maintain and protect (i) any Proprietary Rights of the Company or SSG, including any Trade Secrets, and (ii) the confidentiality, integrity and security of any software, systems, networks and network equipment, hardware or internet sites used in the conduct of the Business and all information stored or contained therein or transmitted thereby from any unauthorized use, access, interruption or modification by third parties.
(e) Neither the Company nor SSG has used, modified, or distributed any software that is subject to an Open Source License.
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(f) All past and present employees of the Company or SSG who have made contributions to the development of any Proprietary Rights owned or alleged to be owned by the Company or SSG, including all employees who have designed, written, tested or worked on any software or software code contained in any Proprietary Rights of the Company or SSG, have executed a written assignment, transfer, proprietary information and inventions agreement or similar Contract in favor of the Company or SSG, and have validly assigned to the Company or SSG in writing all of their right, title and interest in and to the portions of such Proprietary Rights of the Company or SSG developed by them in the course of their work for the Company or SSG. All consultants and independent contractors of the Company or SSG and other third parties who have made contributions to the development of the Proprietary Rights owned or alleged to be owned by the Company or SSG, including all consultants, independent contractors and other third parties who have designed, written, tested or worked on any software or software code contained in any Proprietary Rights of the Company or SSG, have entered into a written work-made-for-hire agreement, written invention assignment agreement or have otherwise validly assigned to the Company or SSG in writing all of their right, title and interest in and to the portions of such Proprietary Rights of the Company developed by them for the Company or SSG.
(g) Neither the Company nor SSG collects, uses, discloses or otherwise processes, and has not collected, used, disclosed or otherwise processed, since January 1, 2018, any Personal Data that it has received or currently receives in connection with the operation of Business in any material manner that (i) materially violates Data Protection Laws, or (ii) is contrary to any material contractual obligations of the Company or SSG regarding the processing of Personal Data.
(h) Each member of the Company Group has appropriate technical and organizational security measures, in each case, customary for a business operating in the Company’s industry, in place to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk and to protect all Personal Data under its control from unauthorized access by any parties. To the Company’s Knowledge, neither the Company nor SSG has suffered any breach in security that has permitted any unauthorized access to the Personal Data under the Company’s or SSG’s control or possession that would have to be notified to the data subject or competent data protection supervisory authority.
3.18. Insurance. Schedule 3.18 of the Disclosure Schedule contains a true, complete and correct list of all policies and the corresponding amount of coverage provided thereunder, as well as the insurer for each such policy, of property, fire and casualty, auto, general liability, workers’ compensation, cybersecurity and other forms of insurance held by or for the benefit of the Company (the “Policies”). Complete copies of such Policies have previously been made available to Buyer. The Policies are (a) for such amounts as are sufficient for all requirements of Law and all agreements to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound, and (b) in such amounts, with such deductibles and against such risks and losses as are reasonable for the business, assets and properties of the Company. All Policies are in full force and effect, all premiums due and payable thereon have been paid, the Company is not in breach or in default under any such Policies, and the Company has not taken any action, or failed to take any action which, with notice or the lapse of time, would constitute such a material breach or default or permit termination of any Policies. There are no outstanding claims involving more than $100,000 in any individual circumstance pending under any of such Policies, and no such claim has been made under any of such Policies in the last three (3) years. The Company has not received any written notice of termination or cancellation or denial of coverage with respect to any of such Policies or any claim made pursuant to any such Policies.
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3.19. Employees. Schedule 3.19 of the Disclosure Schedule contains a true, complete and correct list setting forth (a) the names, current compensation rate and other compensation, including but not limited to commission, bonus or other incentive-based compensation, of all individuals currently employed on a salaried basis by the Company or SSG, (b) the names and current compensation rate of all individuals currently employed on an hourly, piecework or other non-salaried basis by the Company or SSG, and (c) the names and current compensation rate for all independent contractors who render services to the Company or SSG. Neither the Company nor SSG has received written notice, or to the Company’s Knowledge, other communication, that any employee including, without limitation, any management employee, or group of such employees, has any plans to terminate employment by the Company or SSG. Except as specifically identified on Schedule 3.19 of the Disclosure Schedule, all employees of the Company and SSG are employed at will. Neither the Company nor SSG has entered into any agreement, arrangement or understanding restricting its ability to terminate the employment of any or all of its employees or non-employee workers at any time, for any lawful or no reason, without penalty or liability. Each member of the Company Group is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws respecting employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours (including, but not limited to, Laws regarding breaks, eligibility for and payment of overtime compensation, immigration status, discrimination in employment, employee health and safety, collective bargaining, worker classification (including proper classification of independent contractors and consultants), equal opportunity, sexual harassment, employment eligibility, disability rights, affirmative action, leaves of absence, civil rights, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and the collection and payment of withholding of Social Security Taxes and similar Taxes). Neither the Company nor SSG has received any correspondence from the Social Security Administration, IRS or any agency with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding any employee or employee Social Security Number. Each member of the Company Group is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws currently in effect relating to the employment and utilization of labor and independent contractors with respect to service providers who primarily perform duties to such member of the Company Group. Neither the Company nor SSG has existing relationships with any union or employee representative or any labor relations problems, is not a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, and there have been no union organization efforts by any employee of the Company or SSG. To the Company’s Knowledge, none of the employees or independent contractors of the Company or SSG are subject to any non-compete, non-solicitation, non-disclosure, confidentiality, employment, consulting or similar contracts relating to, adversely affecting or in conflict with the Business and related activities thereto. Neither the Company nor SSG has received any written notice or, to the Company’s Knowledge, other communication, alleging that any violation of any such contracts has occurred with respect to an employee of the Company or SSG. With respect to each employee of the Company or SSG, (i) no employee-related dispute, grievance or arbitration proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, (ii) no action, complaint, charge, inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or on behalf of any employee, prospective employee, former employee, labor organization or other representative of the employees of the Company or SSG is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened and (iii) neither the Company nor SSG is a party to, or otherwise bound by, any consent decree with, or citation by, any Governmental Authority relating to employees or employment practices. Neither the Company nor SSG has any leased employees within the meaning of Section 414(n) of the Code.
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3.20. Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) Schedule 3.20(a) of the Disclosure Schedule lists all Benefit Plans.
(b) With respect to any Benefit Plan sponsored by the Company, the Company has made available to Buyer complete copies of (i) each written Benefit Plan, as amended to date, together with all required audited or unaudited financial statements, as applicable, Form 5500 and all schedules and attachments thereto in each of the three (3) plan years with respect to each Benefit Plan, and actuarial reports for the three (3) most recent plan years, if any; (ii) each funding vehicle with respect to each Benefit Plan; (iii) the most recent and any other material determination letter, ruling or notice issued by any Governmental Authority with respect to each Benefit Plan within the six (6) years prior to the Closing Date; and (iv) the most recent summary plan description and any summary of material modifications thereto which relates to any Benefit Plan. A description of any unwritten Benefit Plans, including a description of any material terms thereof, is set forth in Schedule 3.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedule.
(c) Each Benefit Plan sponsored by the Company (i) has been in compliance and currently complies in all material respects in form and in operation with all applicable requirements of ERISA, the Code or any other applicable Laws, and has been operated in all material respects in accordance with its terms, and (ii) is documented on an individually designed plan that received a favorable determination letter from the IRS, a volume submitter or master and prototype document whose sponsor has received an advisory or opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, nothing has occurred since the date of such opinion letter that would cause such determination letter to become unreliable.
(d) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.20(d) of the Disclosure Schedule, none the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has within the three-year period prior to the Closing Date participated in or made contributions to or had any other liability with respect to, a plan which is (i) a “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(37) or 4001 of ERISA) or (ii) subject to Section 302 or Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code. None of the Benefit Plans sponsored by the Company is (i) a “multiple employer plan” (within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code) or (ii) a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (within the meaning of Section 3(40) of ERISA).
(e) There are no Proceedings pending or threatened with respect to any Benefit Plan sponsored by the Company or the assets thereof (other than routine claims for benefits), and there are no facts which is reasonably likely to give rise to any liability, action, suit, investigation, or claim against any Benefit Plan sponsored by the Company or any fiduciary or plan administrator or other person dealing with any such Benefit Plan or the assets thereof.
(f) No Person has: (i) entered into any nonexempt “prohibited transaction,” as such term is defined in ERISA and the Code, with respect to any Benefit Plan sponsored by the Company; (ii) breached a fiduciary obligation with respect to any Benefit Plan sponsored by the Company; or (iii) otherwise has any liability for any failure to act or comply in connection with the administration or investment of the assets of any Benefit Plan sponsored by the Company.
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(g) No Benefit Plan provides medical, health, life insurance or other welfare-type benefits to retirees or former employees or individuals who terminate (or have terminated) employment with the Company or the spouses or dependents of any of the foregoing (except for limited continued medical benefit coverage for former employees, their spouses and other dependents as required to be provided under Section 4980B of the Code or Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA (“COBRA”)).
(h) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.20(h) of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Transactions could, either alone or in combination with another event, (i) entitle any employee, director, officer or independent contractor of the Company to severance pay or any material increase in severance pay, (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or materially increase the amount of compensation due to any such employee, director, officer or independent contractor, (iii) directly or indirectly cause the Company to transfer or set aside any assets to fund any material benefits under any Benefit Plan, (iv) otherwise give rise to any material liability to the Company under any Benefit Plan, or (v) limit or restrict the right to merge, materially amend, terminate or transfer the assets of any Benefit Plan sponsored by the Company on or following the Closing Date. No Benefit Plan or any other agreement, program, policy or other arrangement by or to which the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates are bound or are otherwise liable, by its terms or in effect, could be expected to require any payment or transfer of money, property or other consideration on account of or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any subsequent termination of employment which payment is of an amount that could constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code with respect to any employee, director, or officer of the Company. The Company is not under any obligation to gross-up any Person for the interest or Taxes incurred under Section 409A or 4999 of the Code to any individual.
(i) The Company and each of its ERISA Affiliates have, for purposes of each relevant Benefit Plan, correctly classified those individuals performing services for such entities as common law employees, leased employees, independent contractors or agents thereof.
(j) All contributions, premium payments and participant loan repayments (including all employer contributions and employee salary reduction contributions) that are due have been made within the time periods prescribed by ERISA and the Code to each Benefit Plan sponsored by the Company, and all contributions, premium payments and participant loan repayments for any period ending on or before the Closing Date that are not yet due have been made to each Benefit Plan or, to the extent required by GAAP, properly accrued on the Financial Statements.
(k) Each Benefit Plan that is a “non-qualified deferred compensation plan” (as such term is defined in Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code) has been and is administered in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the final regulations and other IRS guidance issued and outstanding thereunder, and has been and is in a written form that complies in all respects with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and final regulations and other IRS guidance issued and outstanding thereunder.
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(l) Neither the Company nor its ERISA Affiliates has made any voluntary correction program submission to either the IRS or the US Department of Labor with respect to any compliance failure or operational failure as it relates to any Benefit Plan.
3.21. Taxes.
(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.21(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, (i) the Company is treated as a partnership for tax purposes within the meaning of Section 761 of the Code and in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3(b)(i) and, (ii) the Company (and any entity of which the Company is the successor) was never a corporation, has never elected and has never been treated as having elected pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3(c) to be classified as an association (taxable as a corporation) for income tax purposes. Each Seller is treated as a partner of the Company for Tax purposes. Each Seller is a United States person within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.21(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, none of the Interests is a “profits interest” within the meaning of IRS Revenue Procedures 93-27 and 2001-43.
(b) The Company has timely filed all Tax Returns required to be filed by it, and all such Tax Returns were true, correct and complete in all respects, and were prepared in substantial compliance with applicable Law. There are no pending extensions of time to file any Tax Return required to be filed by or in respect of the Company. The Company has timely paid all Taxes required to be paid by it, whether or not shown or reflected on any Tax Return, including without limitation all required estimated income tax payments. No claim has ever been made by a taxing authority in a jurisdiction in which the Company does not file Tax Returns that the Company is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction. The Sellers have delivered to the Buyer correct and complete copies of all Tax Returns, examination reports, and statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by the Company. There are no Liens for Taxes on any assets of the Company, other than Liens for Taxes that are not yet due and payable.
(c) No deficiencies for any Taxes have been proposed, asserted, threatened or assessed in writing against the Company by any Governmental Authority that have not been resolved or settled, and any resulting Tax Liability paid. Neither the Company, nor any Person authorized to act on behalf of the Company, has waived, agreed to waive, or made any requests for waivers of, the statute of limitations in respect of the assessment or collection of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency. Schedule 3.21(c) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the Tax Returns of the Company that have been audited or are the subject of an audit or in respect of which the Company has received written notice indicating an intent to open an audit, in each case by the Internal Revenue Service or any state or local taxing authority and, other than as set forth thereon, the Company has never been audited or received from any Governmental Authority any written notice of a proposed audit or any request for information relating to Tax matters. The Company is not a party to any action or proceeding by any Governmental Authority for the assessment or the collection of Taxes. The Company has not been advised of any proposed assessments of Tax against the Company or proposed adjustment to any Tax Return filed pending against the Company or any proposed adjustment to the manner in which any Tax of the Company is determined. The unpaid Taxes of the Company did not, as of the period ended as of the Latest Balance Sheet date, exceed the amounts recorded as reserves for Tax Liabilities (rather than any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the latest Financial Statements for the period ended as of the Latest Balance Sheet date, the unpaid Taxes of the Company will not exceed such reserves as adjusted for the passage of time through the Closing Date in accordance with the past custom and practice of the Company in filing its Tax Returns, and nothing has occurred subsequent to the Latest Balance Sheet date to make any of such reserves inadequate. Since the date of the Latest Balance Sheet, the Company has not incurred any Liability for Taxes arising outside the Ordinary Course of Business consistent with past custom and practice.
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(d) The Company and its Affiliates have withheld and timely paid all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any employees, agents, independent contractors, non-U.S. Persons, clients, lenders, other creditors, members of the Company (including without limitation Holdings and MBC), or other Persons, and have complied with all information reporting and backup withholding provisions of applicable Law.
(e) The Company has not made a request for a private letter ruling, a request for administrative relief, a request for technical advice, a request for a change of any method of accounting, or any other request that is pending with any Governmental Authority that relates to the Taxes or Tax Returns of the Company. No power of attorney granted by or in respect of the Company is currently in force. The Company has not executed nor filed with any Governmental Authority any agreement or other document extending or having the effect of extending the statute of limitations for assessment, collection or other imposition of any Tax. The Company has not received a letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or any comparable ruling from any other taxing authority.
(f) The Company has not engaged in any “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Code Section 6707A and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.
(g) Schedule 3.21(g) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list of each jurisdiction with respect to which the Company was or is required to file any Tax Return and each jurisdiction with respect to which the Company was or is required to remit or otherwise pay any Taxes, since, in each case, the date upon which the Business commenced (whether or not formally organized as of such date).
(h) The Company is neither a party to nor bound by any Tax indemnity, Tax sharing or Tax allocation agreement.
(i) Since January 1, 2017, (i) the Company has not made, changed, or rescinded any Tax election, changed any method of accounting for Tax purposes, entered into any in respect of Taxes including the settlement or compromise of any Tax liability, Tax refund claim or action in respect of Taxes, prepared any Tax Returns in a manner inconsistent with past practices of the Company, as applicable, with respect to the treatment of items on such Tax Returns, amended any Tax Return, surrendered any right to claim a refund of Taxes, changed any tax period, or incurred any liability for any Taxes outside of the Ordinary Course of Business.
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(j) The Company has not been a member of an affiliated, combined or unitary Tax group for Tax purposes. The Company does not have any Liability for Taxes of any Person (other than the Company) under any provision of Law, as a transferee or successor, by assumption or by contract, or otherwise.
(k) There are no joint ventures, partnerships, limited liability companies, other arrangements or contracts to which the Company is a party that, in each case, is treated as a partnership for federal income Tax purposes.
(l) The Company does have any assets that may constitute unclaimed property under applicable Law. The Company has complied in all material respects with all applicable unclaimed property Laws.
(m) The Company has not made an election under Section 1101(g)(4) of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 to apply the partnership audit rules of such Act for taxable years beginning before 2018. For the taxable year of the Company beginning January 1, 2018, and for every subsequent taxable year ending on or prior to the date hereof for which the Company was eligible to do so, the Company has made the election described in Section 6221(b)(1)(A) of the Code. With respect to every other taxable year of the Company beginning after December 31, 2017 for which such election has not been made, no adjustments to any partnership-related items have been raised, proposed or made by the Internal Revenue Service that have resulted, or that may result, in an imputed underpayment (within the meaning of Section 6225 of the Code) for which the Company may be liable.
(n) The Company is not a party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or plan that could result, separately or in the aggregate, in any excess parachute payment within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code.
(o) The Company has disclosed on its federal income Tax Returns all positions taken that could give rise to a substantial understatement of income tax within the meaning of Section 6662 of the Code.
(p) The Company will not be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period or portion thereof ending after the Closing Date as a result of any of the following relating to a taxable period ending on or before the Closing date: change in accounting method, use of an improper accounting method, closing agreement, installment sale or open transaction disposition, prepaid amount, or election under Section 108(i) of the Code.
(q) The Company does not own any real property or an interest in real property in a jurisdiction in which a Tax is imposed on the transfer of an interest in an entity having an interest in real property.
(r) The Company has never been subject to the limitations on the deductibility of interest under Section 163(j) of the Code.
(s) To the Company’s Knowledge, (i) none of the Sellers has ever taken, or has ever informed the Company in writing that it plans to take, a position on their respective Tax Returns or in any audit, exam or administrative proceeding that was inconsistent with any Tax Returns prepared and filed by the Company, including without limitation the Schedules K-1 issued by the Company to the Sellers; (ii) each of the Sellers has reported on its respective Tax Returns its share of Company income, deduction, gain, loss, credit and any other Tax-related items attributable to the Company required to be reported thereon, and has paid all Taxes required to be paid with respect to such items; and (iii) neither of the Sellers has requested or received a letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or any comparable ruling from any other taxing authority regarding its interest in the Company.
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3.22. Real Property; Title and Sufficiency of Assets.
(a) The Company does not own any real property. Schedule 3.22(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the lease parties, term and address for all Leased Real Property as of the date hereof (“Real Property Leases”). With respect to each Real Property Lease: (i) such Real Property Lease is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, moratorium, insolvency, Fraudulent conveyance and similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles; (ii) the Company is not in material breach or default and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a breach or default by the Company or permit termination under such Real Property Lease; (iii) to the Company’s Knowledge, no counterparty to any Real Property Lease is in material breach or default of under any applicable Real Property Lease, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a breach or default by such counterparty or permit termination under such Real Property Lease; (iv) the Company has not assigned, transferred, conveyed, mortgaged, deeded in trust or encumbered any interest in such Real Property Lease; and (v) in the case of any sublease pursuant to which the Company is the sublessee, the sublessor pursuant to which such sublease is not in default under the prime lease and, to the Company’s Knowledge, the prime lessor is not in default under the prime lease. True, correct and complete copies of all documents listed in Section 3.22(a) of the Disclosure Schedule have been made available to Buyer. The Leased Real Property constitutes all real property and interests in real property used, held or occupied by the Company.
(b) The Company holds a valid leasehold estate (either for a term or as a holdover) in each Leased Real Property, subject only to performance of the terms of the Real Property Lease to be performed by the Company, and the Company has not encumbered any Leased Real Property.
(c) The Company has not received any written notice of (i) material violations of building codes and zoning ordinances or other governmental or regulatory Laws affecting the Leased Real Property, (ii) existing, pending or threatened condemnation proceedings affecting the Leased Real Property, or (iii) existing, pending or threatened zoning, building code or other moratorium proceedings, or similar matters that could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the ability to occupy the Leased Real Property. Neither the whole nor any material portion of any Leased Real Property is damaged by fire or other casualty.
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(d) The Company is in sole possession of the applicable Leased Real Property and no other Person has any right to the possession, use, occupancy or enjoyment of such Leased Real Property.
(e) The Company has good title to, or valid and subsisting leasehold interests in, all of the equipment and other tangible property, used by the Company, free and clear of all Liens. The property owned or leased by the Company is in good operating condition and repair, normal wear and tear excepted, has been maintained (as to Leased Real Property, to the extent of the Company’s maintenance obligations set forth in the Real Property Lease) in accordance with normal industry standards, and is usable in the Ordinary Course of Business. The Leased Real Property, and the fixtures and improvements thereon, are in good operating condition, normal wear and tear excepted. All public utilities required for the operation of the Leased Real Property and necessary for the conduct of the Business are installed and operating.
3.23. Environmental.
(a) No hazardous waste, substance or material, and no oil, petroleum, petroleum product, asbestos, toxic substance, pollutant or contaminant, all as defined by or regulated under applicable Laws (collectively, “Hazardous Material”), has been generated, transported, used, handled, processed, disposed, stored, spilled, released, discharged or treated in violation of Environmental Laws at or on Leased Real Property.
(b) To the Company’s Knowledge, no Hazardous Material is currently present in, on, at or under any Leased Real Property in violation of Environmental Laws or in quantities or concentrations that would result in Liability under Environmental Laws. To the Company’s Knowledge, no fact or circumstance exists that could involve the Company in any litigation, or impose upon the Company any Liability, arising under any Environmental Laws.
(c) The Company’s operation of the Business, including at or from Leased Real Property, for the past four (4) years has complied in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws and during the past four (4) years the Company has not received any notice of or information regarding any potential or actual noncompliance with, or Liability or potential Liability under, under Environmental Laws.
(d) Except as disclosed on the Schedule 3.23 of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company has not (nor has any other Person, to the extent the Company has assumed or otherwise become subject to such Person’s Liability) used, generated, transported, treated, stored, managed, disposed of, released, exposed any Person or property to, or owned or operated any property or facility contaminated by, any Hazardous Material such as would give rise to material Liabilities under Environmental Laws.
(e) Except as disclosed on the Schedule 3.23 of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company possesses and has complied in all material respects with all permits and approvals required under applicable Environmental Laws.
(f) The Company has made available to Buyer copies of all material reports, documents, notices, correspondence and memoranda in the Company’s possession relating to Hazardous Material or environmental, health or safety matters or conditions regarding the Business, the Company or the Leased Real Property.
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3.24. Material Customers; Material Suppliers.
(a) Schedule 3.24(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of the top twenty (20) customers (determined by the amount of total invoiced sales) (“Material Customers”) of the Company (i) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, and (ii) for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021.
(b) Schedule 3.24(b) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of the top twenty (20) suppliers (determined by the amount purchased) (“Material Suppliers”) of the Company (i) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, and (ii) for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021.
(c) Since January 1, 2021, no Material Customer or Material Supplier has, or has threatened in writing, or provided the Company with written notice that any such Material Customer or Material Supplier intends to not renew, to cancel or to otherwise terminate any contract, its business or other relationship with the Company or materially alter (including materially reducing the volume of purchases or services or materially increasing prices) any contract, business or other relationship, including the terms or conditions on which it does business with the Company or its use or provision of goods or services of or to the Company, whether as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise (it being understood and agreed that the completion of purchase orders with a customer or supplier in the Ordinary Course of Business shall not constitute a termination, stop or decrease in the rate of business done with the Company).
3.25. PPP1 Loan and Related Matters. The PPP1 Loan has been forgiven in full. In obtaining and applying for the PPP1 Loan and the PPP2 Loan, the Company satisfied all eligibility and certification requirements at the time of the application for the PPP1 Loan and the PPP2 Loan. All certifications made by the Company to M&T Bank in connection with the PPP1 Loan and the PPP2 Loan (including on the applications for the PPP1 Loan and for the PPP2 Loan) were, at the time made, true, correct and made in good faith. The Company has complied with the requirements of all loan programs that the Company participates in under the CARES Act (or any similar legislation), including any restrictions on the use of any borrowed funds.
3.26. Representations and Warranties Relating To Each Seller. As a material inducement to Buyer to enter into this Agreement and purchase the Transferred Units hereunder, each Seller alone (and none of the Company nor any Selling Member), and severally and not jointly, makes the following representations and warranties and, with respect to such Seller only, to Buyer:
(a) Organization; Authorization. Each Seller (if not an individual or a trust) is duly organized or incorporated and in good standing under the Laws of its state of organization. Seller has the requisite power and authority, or if such Seller is a natural person, legal capacity, to execute, deliver and carry out this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and all other instruments, documents and agreements contemplated or required by the provisions of this Agreement and any of the other Transaction Documents to be executed, delivered and carried out by Seller hereunder or thereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and all other instruments, documents and agreements contemplated or required by the provisions of any of the Transaction Documents to be executed and delivered by Seller have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Seller.
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(b) Ownership of Interests. Seller is the sole beneficial and record owner, of all of the outstanding Interests listed next to its name on Schedule 3.4 of the Disclosure Schedules, free and clear of all Liens, and has the full power, capacity and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to transfer good and valid title to its Transferred Units, free and clear as aforesaid. On the Closing Date, Seller will transfer to Buyer all of Seller’s right, title and interest in and to such Interests free and clear of all Liens as aforesaid.
(c) Enforceability. This Agreement constitutes the valid and binding agreement of Seller, enforceable against Seller in accordance with its terms, except as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity.
(d) No Defaults. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all other instruments, agreements, certificates and documents contemplated hereby, by Seller, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, do not and will not (i) violate any decree or judgment of any court or Governmental Authority which may be applicable to Seller; (ii) violate any Law applicable to or binding on Seller; or (iii) materially violate or conflict with, or result in breach of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any material contract, agreement or commitment to which Seller is a party or by which it or its assets may be bound.
(e) Government Approvals. No notice to, no authorization, consent or approval of, nor any filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary on the part of Seller in connection with the consummation by Seller of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(f) Brokerage. There are no claims for brokerage commissions, finders’ fees or similar compensation in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based on any arrangement or agreement binding upon Seller.
(g) Litigation. There are no Proceedings pending or threatened against or directly affecting Seller or any of its businesses or assets, before any Governmental Authority or any other Person, domestic or foreign that would prevent Seller from entering into this Agreement or prevent or materially impair or delay Seller’s ability to fulfill its obligations hereunder to consummate the Transactions. Seller is not a party to or named in or subject to any order, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority or any other Person relating to the Business. There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation by Seller currently pending or that Seller currently intends to initiate against the Company or the Seller.
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SECTION
4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
As a material inducement to the Company and the Seller to enter into this Agreement and to Seller to sell the Transferred Units hereunder, Buyer hereby makes the following representations and warranties to the Seller as of the Effective Date and the Closing Date:
4.1. Authority and Valid and Binding Effect. Buyer has the requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and carry out the Transaction Documents to which Buyer is a party (the “Buyer Transaction Documents”), as well as all other instruments, documents and agreements contemplated or required by the provisions of any of the Buyer Transaction Documents to be executed, delivered or carried out by Buyer thereunder. The Buyer Transaction Documents constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of Buyer, and all such obligations of Buyer are enforceable against Buyer in accordance with their respective terms.
4.2. Authorization, Governmental Approvals. The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the other Buyer Transaction Documents and all other instruments, documents and agreements contemplated or required by the provisions of any of the Buyer Transaction Documents to be executed, delivered or carried out by Buyer thereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Buyer. No authorization, consent, approval, license or exemption of, and no registration, qualification, designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority is necessary for (a) the valid execution and delivery of this Agreement by Buyer, (b) the valid execution and delivery by Buyer of the Buyer Transaction Documents and all other instruments, documents and agreements contemplated or required by the provisions hereof or thereof and to be executed and delivered by Buyer, or (c) the consummation by Buyer of the transactions herein and therein contemplated to be consummated by Buyer.
4.3. Conflict with Other Instruments. Neither the execution and delivery by Buyer of this Agreement, the Buyer Transaction Documents or the other instruments, documents and agreements contemplated or required hereby or thereby, nor the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated to be consummated by Buyer, nor compliance by Buyer with the terms, conditions and provisions hereof or thereof, shall conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the Governing Documents of Buyer, or any law or any regulation, order, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority or any material agreement or instrument to which Buyer is a party or by which Buyer or any of its respective properties is bound, or constitute a material default thereunder, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien.
4.4. Brokerage. There are no claims for brokerage commissions, finders’ fees or similar compensation in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, based on any arrangement or agreement binding upon Buyer.
4.5. Litigation. There are no Proceedings pending or threatened against or directly affecting Buyer or any of its businesses or assets, before any Governmental Authority, domestic or foreign that would prevent Buyer from entering into this Agreement or prevent or materially impair or delay Buyer’s ability to fulfill its obligations hereunder to consummate the Transactions. Buyer is not a party to or named in or subject to any order, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority. There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation by Buyer currently pending or that Buyer currently intends to initiate against the Company.
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4.6. No Defaults. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all other instruments, agreements, certificates and documents contemplated hereby by Buyer, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, do not and will not (a) violate any decree or judgment of any court or Governmental Authority that may be applicable to Buyer, (b) violate any Law applicable to or binding on Buyer or (c) materially violate or conflict with, or result in material breach of, or constitute a material default (or an event which, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any material Contract to which such Buyer is a party or by which it or its assets may be bound.
4.7. Investment. Buyer (a) understands that the Transferred Units have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act, or under any state securities laws, and are being offered and sold in reliance upon federal and state exemptions for transactions not involving any public offering, (b) is acquiring the Transferred Units solely for its own account for investment purposes, and not with a view to the public resale or distribution thereof, (c) is a sophisticated investor with knowledge and experience in business and financial matters, and (d) is able to bear the economic risk and lack of liquidity inherent in holding the Transferred Units. Buyer is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act.
SECTION
5
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
5.1. Fees and Expenses. Except as otherwise provided herein, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions shall be paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses.
5.2. Confidentiality; Access to Information.
(a) Each Seller acknowledges and agrees that all Confidential Information and all physical embodiments thereof are confidential and proprietary to, and are and will remain the sole and exclusive property of, the Company. At all times after the date of this Agreement, each Seller will hold such Confidential Information in trust and strictest confidence, and will not, directly or indirectly, use, reproduce, distribute, divulge, disclose or otherwise disseminate the Confidential Information or any physical embodiments thereof other than to the Company, Buyer and their representatives, and will not in any event take any action causing, or fail to take any action necessary in order to prevent, any Confidential Information to lose its character or cease to qualify as Confidential Information.
(b) As used in this Section 5.2:
(i) “Confidential Information” means all Trade Secrets (as defined below) and all other confidential and/or proprietary data and/or information relating primarily to the Company and the Business (which does not rise to the status of a Trade Secret) which is owned or used by the Company and which has value to the Business and the Company and is not known to the competitors of the Company. Such Confidential Information shall include, but not be limited to, proprietary technology, operating procedures, financial statements or other financial information, know-how, market studies and forecasts, competitive analysis, pricing policies and procedures, the substance of arrangements with customers, suppliers and others, servicing and training programs and arrangements, marketing or similar arrangements, customer or supplier lists and any other documents embodying such Confidential Information. Confidential Information does not include (a) information that is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by a Seller, or (b) information that can be demonstrated to have been in the possession of such Seller prior to its being furnished by or on behalf of the Company; provided, that the source of such information was not known by Seller after reasonable inquiry to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with, or other contractual, legal, or fiduciary obligation of confidentiality to, the Company or any other party with respect to such information.
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(ii) “Trade Secrets” means business or technical information of the Company relating primarily to the Business, including but not limited to a pattern, program, device, compilation of information, method, technique, or process that: (A) derives independent actual or potential commercial value (whether actual, potential or both) from not being generally known or readily ascertainable through independent development or reverse engineering by Persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and (B) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy. Trade Secrets shall specifically include, without limitation, information relating to the design, manufacture, patterns, compilations, programs, devices, methods, techniques, processes, applications, know-how, research and development relating to the business or the present, past or prospective products and/or proprietary computer programs of the Company.
(c) In the event of the material breach of any provisions of this Section 5.2, the Company and Buyer, in addition and supplemental to other rights and remedies existing in their favor, may apply to any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief (without the posting of bond or other security) in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions hereof.
(d) If a Seller reasonably believes (after consultation with counsel) that it is required by Law to disclose any Confidential Information, Seller will (i) provide Buyer with prompt notice before such disclosure in order that Buyer may attempt to obtain a protective order or other assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded such confidential information, and (ii) cooperate with Buyer in attempting to obtain such order or assurance.
5.3. Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation; Non-Interference.
(a) Except with respect to those specific exclusions applicable to Anthony J. DiIenno, Sr. only and set forth on Schedule 5.3(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, during the Restricted Period, none of the Restricted Sellers shall, anywhere within the Restricted Area, and acting individually or as an owner, shareholder, member, partner, employee, or independent contractor of any Person other than Buyer or one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, and the Restricted Sellers shall cause their respective Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, (i) establish, own, manage, operate, control, acquire, finance, invest in or otherwise engage or participate in any business, operation or activity that competes with or is substantially similar to the Business as such Business was being conducted on the Closing Date and is proposed to be conducted as of the date of this Agreement or in the facility services sector (a “Competing Business”), (ii) enter the employ of, or render any personal services to or for the benefit of, or act as an agent or representative of, or receive remuneration in the form of salary, commissions or otherwise from, any entity which is engaged in a Competing Business, or (iii) disclose any non-public information regarding the Business to a Competing Business, or use such information for the benefit of a Competing Business; provided, however, that the Restricted Sellers and their Affiliates may own, directly or indirectly, solely as a passive investment, securities of any business traded on any national securities exchange; provided, further, that the Restricted Sellers or any such Affiliate is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group that controls, such business, and further provided, that the Restricted Sellers or their Affiliates do not, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, own two percent (2%) or more of any class of securities of such business.
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(b) To preserve the value of the Transferred Units, the Company and its assets and the Business for Buyer, as well as the confidential information and goodwill associated therewith, each Seller agrees, severally and not jointly, that, during the Restricted Period, the Sellers shall not, directly or indirectly (other than on behalf of Buyer or the Company as an employee of, or consultant to, Buyer or the Company), and shall cause its or his Affiliates not to, other than through general advertisements not targeting employees of the Company, (i) except where such activities would not violate the terms and provisions of subparagraph (c) of this Section 5.3, hire, employ or otherwise engage the services of any current or future employee, sales agent or independent contractor of the Company who worked for or was engaged by the Company as of the Closing Date or during the six (6) months prior thereto, or (ii) induce, solicit, recruit or encourage any such Person to leave the employ of Buyer or its Subsidiaries (or any successor (including by merger) to Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries (a “Successor”), as applicable, or violate the terms of his or her contract or any other employment arrangement with such employer.
(c) During the Restricted Period, none of the Sellers shall, acting individually or as an owner, shareholder, member, partner, employee, or independent contractor of any Person other than Buyer or one of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, and the Sellers shall cause their respective Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, (i) interfere with the relationship between Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries (or any Successor) and any of the customers of the Business who were customers within the twelve (12) month period prior to the Closing, (ii) interfere with the relationship between Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries (or any Successor) and any of the waste and recycling suppliers of the Business who were suppliers within the twelve (12) month period prior to the Closing or (iii) solicit, divert or appropriate, or attempt to solicit, divert or appropriate any customers of the Business who were customers within the twelve (12) month period prior to the Closing, or any potential customers of the Business who were being actively solicited by Seller within the twelve (12) month period prior to the Closing.
(d) The parties hereto acknowledge that the covenants set forth in this Section 5.3 are an essential element of this Agreement, and that, but for these covenants, the parties hereto would not have entered into this Agreement. The parties hereto acknowledge that, except as set forth herein, this Section 5.3 constitutes an independent covenant and shall not be affected by performance or nonperformance of any other provision of this Agreement or any other document contemplated by this Agreement.
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(e) It is the intention of the parties hereto that, if any of the restrictions or covenants contained in this Section 5.3 is held to cover a geographic area or to be for a length of time which is not permitted by applicable Law, or in any way construed to be too broad or to any extent invalid, such restrictions or covenants shall not be held to be null, void and of no effect, but to the extent such restrictions or covenants would be valid or enforceable under any applicable Law, if modified, a court of competent jurisdiction shall construe and interpret or modify this Section 5.3 to provide for a covenant having the maximum enforceable geographic area, time period and scope (not greater than those contained in this Section 5.3) that would be valid and enforceable under such applicable Law.
5.4. Public Announcements. No press release or public announcement related to this Agreement and/or the Transactions shall be issued or made by any party hereto without the joint approval of Buyer and Seller; provided, that Buyer and Seller may, without the prior written consent of the other, issue such press release or make such public statement as may be required by applicable Law or by any stock exchanges having jurisdiction over Buyer or its Affiliates; provided, further, that the foregoing shall not restrict or prohibit either Seller or Buyer from, after the Closing Date, making subsequent public announcements (including in customary “tombstones”), stating solely that the Transactions have been consummated (and without any other facts, other than the names of the Buyer and the Seller, the date of the Closing, and the names of the representatives of each of the Buyer and the Seller that were involved in such transactions, but specifically excluding the form, terms and amount of any consideration, and of whatever nature, paid, foregone or remitted in connection therewith). To the extent Buyer (or any of its Affiliates or its and their respective representatives) or Seller (or any of its Affiliates or its and their respective representatives) is obligated to file this Agreement or any Transaction Document publicly with any Governmental Authority, such party shall consult with the other party with respect to the scope of any redactions and requests for confidential treatment of the terms hereof, except as may be required by Law or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with or rules of any securities exchange or association, and except any consultation that would not be reasonably practicable as a result of requirements of Law.
5.5. Tax Matters.
(a) Each party shall reasonably cooperate (and cause its Affiliates to reasonably cooperate), as and to the extent reasonably requested by another party, in connection with any Tax Return or any examination or other Proceeding with respect to Taxes or Tax Returns. Such cooperation shall include the retention and provision of records and information which are reasonably relevant to any such Tax Return, audit or other Proceeding and making employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided. Following the Closing, the Company shall (and shall cause its respective Affiliates to) retain all books and records with respect to Tax matters pertinent to the Company (including all of its predecessor constituent entities) relating to any taxable period ending on or prior to the Effective Date, until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations (and, to the extent notified by the Sellers’ Representative, any extensions thereof) of the respective taxable periods, and to abide by all record retention agreements entered into with any Tax Authority.
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(b) The Sellers’ Representative shall prepare and file, or cause to be prepared and filed, at its own cost, all necessary Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to all Transfer Taxes, and shall pay one half (1/2) of any Transfer Taxes incurred in connection with this Agreement or the Transactions, and whether or not shown on such Tax Returns, and, if required by applicable Law, Buyer will, and will cause its respective Affiliates to, reasonably cooperate and join in the execution of any such Tax Returns and other documentation. The Seller’s Representative shall submit any such Tax Returns to the Buyer for Buyer’s review and comments at least ten (10) days prior to the due date (with applicable extensions) for such Tax Returns. Buyer shall provide any written comments not later than five (5) days after receiving such Tax Return, and the Seller’s Representative shall consider in good faith all comments that are reasonable. The parties shall reasonably cooperate to establish any available exemption from (or reduction in) any Transfer Taxes.
(c) (i) Within thirty (30) days following the Closing Date, the Sellers’ Representative will prepare and deliver to Buyer, a balance sheet, as of the Effective Date, that sets out the Tax basis of the portion of the assets then owned by the Company, and the amount of the liabilities of the Company on the Effective Date, in each case that are that deemed assumed or taken subject to in accordance with the Intended Tax Treatment (the “Tax Basis Balance Sheet”), and (ii) within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Tax Basis Balance Sheet, the Buyer will prepare, and deliver to the Sellers’ Representative, an allocation statement allocating the Base Cash Consideration and any other amounts treated as consideration for U.S. federal income Tax purposes (A) among the assets of the Company treated as purchased by Buyer in accordance with the Intended Tax Treatment, in accordance with Section 1060 of the Code (and any other applicable section of the Code), the Treasury Regulations thereunder (and any similar provision of state or local Law) (the “Final Allocation”). Within twenty (20) days after the receipt of the Final Allocation, the Sellers’ Representative will propose any changes or will indicate its concurrence therewith. The Buyer shall consider any such proposed changes in good faith. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to allocate no more than seven percent (7%) of the Base Cash Consideration to the restrictive covenants contained in Section 5.3 of this Agreement in the Final Allocation.
(d) The parties acknowledge and agree that, for U.S. federal and, as applicable, state and local Tax purposes, the Transaction shall be treated as a sale of partnership interests by the Sellers, and as a taxable purchase of all the assets of the Company by the Buyer, in accordance with Situation 2 of Revenue Ruling 99-6, 1999-1 C.B. 432 (the “Intended Tax Treatment”).
(e) The parties shall, and shall cause each of their respective applicable Affiliates: (i) to prepare and file all Tax Returns (including without limitation IRS Form 8594) in a manner consistent with the Final Tax Basis Balance Sheet, the Final Allocation and the Intended Tax Treatment (collectively, the “Tax Positions”); and (ii) except as otherwise required by Law, not to take a position inconsistent therewith on any Tax Return or in connection with any proceeding regarding Taxes; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent a party from settling any proposed deficiency or adjustment by any Governmental Authority based on the Final Allocation and Intended Tax Treatment, and no party will be required to litigate any proposed adjustment by any Government Authority challenging such Final Allocation and Intended Tax Treatment; provided, further, that (A) the Buyer’s cost may differ from the total amount allocated hereunder to reflect the inclusion in the total cost of items (for example, capitalized acquisition costs) not included in the total amount so allocated and (B) the amount realized by the Sellers may differ from the total amount allocated hereunder to reflect transaction costs that reduce the amount realized for income Tax purposes. In the event that the Final Allocation is disputed by any Government Authority, the party receiving the notice of the contest shall provide the other parties with prompt written notice thereof (which in any event shall be provided within thirty (30) calendar days of receiving notice of such contest from the applicable Government Authority ). To the extent reasonably requested by any party, subject to the foregoing, the Buyer and Sellers shall reasonably cooperate in the filing of any forms with respect to such allocation, including any required amendments to such forms. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, the foregoing agreement shall survive the Closing Date, without limitation. Any adjustments to the Purchase Price shall be allocated among the assets of the Company in a manner consistent with the Final Allocation..
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(f) In the event that more than seven percent (7%) of the Base Cash Consideration is allocated to the restrictive covenants contained in Section 5.3 of this Agreement in the Final Allocation, Buyer shall pay to each Seller an amount equal to such Seller’s Extra Tax Cost, which shall be deemed an adjustment to the Purchase Price as set forth in Section 2.2 and which shall be treated as an adjustment to the Purchase Price for income Tax purposes. “Extra Tax Cost” means an amount equal to the incremental federal, state, or local income Taxes (if any) actually incurred by a Seller, calculated based on the Final Allocation, resulting from the characterization of (i) any taxable income arising from the sale of the Transferred Units by Sellers pursuant to this Agreement as ordinary income as a result of Code Section 1245 and 1250, rather than long-term capital gain, and (ii) as a result of the allocation of more than seven percent (7%) of the Base Cash Consideration to the restrictive covenants, and consistent with each Seller’s utilizing any and all applicable tax deductions and credits permissible under the Code, including but not limited to deductions permitted under Section 199A of the Code.
(g) All Tax sharing, Tax allocation and Tax indemnity agreements or arrangements involving the Company shall be terminated as of the Effective Date and, after the Effective Date, the Company shall not be bound thereby or have any rights or liabilities thereunder; provided, however, that any obligation of the Sellers to indemnify the Company for any imputed underpayment (as determined under Section 6225 of the Code) with respect to any reviewed year of the Company, shall remain in effect.
(h) The Sellers will be liable for and will pay any and all Taxes of the Company (including without limitation any Taxes imposed upon or collected from the Company pursuant to the amendments made by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015) attributable to Pre-Closing Tax Periods, and including without limitation, any Taxes imposed on the Company by reason of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as well as and any Taxes imposed on the Company for that portion of any Straddle Period ending on the Effective Date. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Sellers shall indemnify the Buyer for any and all such Taxes.
(i) No Seller shall amend any Tax Return of the Company, or claim a refund of Taxes on behalf of the Company, with respect to any Pre-Closing Period or Straddle Period, without the prior written consent of the Buyer, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
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(j) For purposes of reporting any Tax Return for Straddle Periods ending on the Closing Date, the Sellers will report the Company’s financial statements from January 1, 2021 through November 30, 2021, as well as any deductible portion of the Final Company Transaction Expenses taking into account Rev. Proc. 2011-29.
5.6. Solvency. Buyer covenants and warrants that, immediately after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby, each of Buyer and its Subsidiaries, including the Company, shall be solvent and shall (a) be able to pay its debts as they become due; and (b) have adequate capital to carry on its business. No transfer of property is being made and no obligation is being incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors of any of Buyer and its Subsidiaries, including the Company. In connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, Buyer has not incurred, nor plans to incur, debts beyond its ability to pay as they become absolute and matured.
5.7. R&W Insurance Policy. Buyer acknowledges and represents that, as of the date of this Agreement, Buyer has bound coverage under the R&W Insurance Policy, and that a true and correct copy of the R&W Insurance Policy Binder, including the R&W Insurance Policy, is attached hereto as Exhibit B. Buyer shall not amend the R&W Insurance Policy in any manner adverse to any Seller or any other Seller Released Parties without such Person’s express prior written consent. Without limiting the foregoing, Buyer has caused the Insurer under the R&W Insurance Policy to agree to a waiver of subrogation rights against all Seller Released Parties other than solely with respect to a Fraud claim against any Seller Indemnitee subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and will not amend such waiver in the R&W Insurance Policy in any manner adverse to any Seller or any other Seller Indemnitee without such person’s express prior written consent. Prior to or concurrently with the Closing, Buyer shall pay or cause to be paid, all unpaid costs and expenses related to the R&W Insurance Policy, including the total premium, underwriting costs, applicable brokerage commission, Taxes arising from obtaining such policy and any and all other fees and expenses incurred in obtaining such policy. Subsequent to the Closing, Buyer, on the one hand, and Sellers’ Representative (on behalf of the Sellers), on the other hand, shall share equally in the payment of any portion of the Retention Amount that may become payable, in connection with such R&W Insurance Policy, and with Buyer being responsible for the first fifty percent (50%) of any such amount(s).
SECTION
6
NON-SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; INDEMNIFICATION; R&W INSURANCE POLICY
6.1. Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties; Remedies. Other than as set forth in this Section 6.1, (i) the representations and warranties (except in the case of the Fundamental Representations, the R&WI Exclusions or Fraud) in this Agreement shall terminate at the Closing, and thereafter none of the parties hereto or any of their Affiliates or any of their respective representatives shall have any liability whatsoever with respect to any such representation or warranty, and no claim for breach of any such representation or warranty, detrimental reliance or other right or remedy (whether in contract, in tort or at law or in equity) may be brought after the Closing with respect thereto, (ii) the R&WI Exclusions shall survive the Closing and shall remain in full force and effect for a period of eighteen (18) months following the Closing Date, (iii) the Fundamental Representations (other than Taxes) shall survive for a period of three (3) years following the Closing Date and (iv) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.21 (Taxes) shall survive the Closing for a period of six (6) years following the Closing Date (it being understood and agreed that, for the avoidance of doubt, any claims asserted in good faith in writing prior to the expiration date of the applicable survival period shall not thereafter be barred by the expiration of such survival period and such claims shall survive until finally resolved). The provisions of this Section 6.1 will not, however, prevent or limit a cause of action under Section 7.9 to obtain an injunction to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof. All covenants and agreements contained herein shall survive the Closing for the period(s) expressly specified herein; provided, that (a) all covenants and agreements that do not contemplate that they expressly survive the Closing shall terminate as of the Closing, and (b) all covenants and agreements that expressly provide that they survive the Closing without a specified survival period shall survive the Closing indefinitely. Notwithstanding the foregoing, claims solely to the extent made under the R&W Insurance Policy, and any claims for Fraud, are not subject to the limitations in this Section 6.1.
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6.2. Seller’s Indemnification Obligations.
(a) Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 6.6 below, Sellers, jointly and severally, shall indemnify and hold each Buyer Indemnitee harmless against and from any and all Indemnifiable Losses sustained or incurred by such Buyer Indemnitees as a result of, arising out of or relating to (i) any inaccuracy in or breach of any Fundamental Representation of the Company contained in this Agreement which exceed coverage under the R&W Insurance Policy; (ii) any inaccuracy in or breach of any representations and warranties set forth in Section 3 (other than Fundamental Representations) that are excluded from coverage under the R&W Insurance Policy (the “R&WI Exclusions”); (iii) any breach or nonfulfillment by the Company or a Seller of, or the failure of the Company or a Seller to comply with, any of the covenants, obligations or agreements to be performed by the Company or a Seller under this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents to be performed by either; (iv) any interest due and payable in connection with the PPP2 Loan; or (v) any claim for Fraud.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except in the case of Fraud, the Sellers shall not be required to indemnify, defend or hold harmless Buyer against, or reimburse Buyer for, any Indemnifiable Losses under this Section 6.2 unless and until such Indemnifiable Losses exceed $50,000 in the cumulative aggregate (the “Deductible”), subject in any event to any payments received under the R&W Insurance Policy, which for the avoidance of doubt shall be the first source of recovery, and the limitations set forth in Section 6.6 below. Prior to or concurrently with the Closing, Buyer shall pay or cause to be paid, all unpaid costs and expenses related to the R&W Insurance Policy, including the total premium, underwriting costs, applicable brokerage commission, Taxes arising from obtaining such policy and any and all other fees and expenses incurred in obtaining such policy. Subsequent to the Closing, Buyer, on the one hand, and Sellers’ Representative (on behalf of the Sellers), on the other hand, shall share equally in the payment of any portion of the Retention Amount that may become payable, in connection with such R&W Insurance Policy, and with Buyer being responsible for the first fifty percent (50%) of any such amount(s). To the extent that the Sellers are responsible for any indemnification payments pursuant to this Agreement, such indemnification payments shall be satisfied first from the Indemnity Escrow Amount and then from the Sellers, jointly and severally.
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6.3. Buyer’s Indemnification Obligations. Buyer shall indemnify, defend and keep each Seller Indemnitee harmless against and from all Indemnifiable Losses sustained or incurred by such Seller Indemnitee, as a result of, arising out of, relating to, in the nature of or by virtue of:
(a) any inaccuracy in or misrepresentation or breach of any representation or warranty of Buyer stated in Section 4; and
(b) any breach or nonfulfillment by Buyer of, or failure by Buyer to comply with, any of the covenants, obligations or agreements under this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents to be performed by Buyer.
6.4. R&W Insurance Policy; Limitations on Indemnification.
(a) The R&W Insurance Policy shall be the sole and exclusive remedy for recovery in connection with any claims for any inaccuracy or breach of any representation or warranty of any Seller resulting from, relating to, or arising out of, this Agreement, and neither the Buyer nor any Affiliate of the Buyer (including, following the Closing, the Company) will be entitled to any remedy from any Seller or any of such Seller’s Affiliates for any breach of, or inaccuracy in, any representation or warranty of such Seller in this Agreement, other than for claims based on Fraud of such Seller, and except in circumstances specified in Section 6.2 of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Buyer and its Affiliates hereby waive all other statutory, equitable, or common law rights or remedies that otherwise may be asserted by such party. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any rights of the Insurer under the R&W Insurance Policy, including any rights of subrogation, do not affect, expand, or increase any liability or obligation of any party in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The provisions of this Section 6.4 will apply even if (i) the R&W Insurance Policy is revoked, cancelled, or modified in any manner after issuance, subject to the restrictions on such changes as provided in this Section 6.4, or (ii) the Buyer or any of its Affiliates makes a claim under the R&W Insurance Policy, and such claim is denied by the Insurer.
(b) Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Agreement to the contrary, except in the case of Fraud, and except in circumstances specified in Section 6.2 of this Agreement, the Buyer agrees and acknowledges, both for itself and its Affiliates, that no recourse under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement shall be had against any past, present or future direct or indirect parent, shareholder, member, director, officer, attorney, partner, third-party counsel, financial advisor, auditor, employee, Affiliate, agent or representative of the Company, the Seller or any of their respective successors or assignees, whether in their capacity as such or otherwise, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other applicable Law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that, except in the case of Fraud and except in circumstances specified in Section 6.2 of this Agreement, no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any of the foregoing, whether in their capacity as such or otherwise, for any obligation of any Seller under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.
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(c) The parties acknowledge and agree that (i) the R&W Insurance Policy constitutes a contract between Buyer and the Insurer thereunder, separate and apart from this Agreement, and therefore, (ii) notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, no provision in this Agreement shall in any way limit any claim or recovery available to Buyer (or the other Buyer Indemnitees as additional insureds) under the R&W Insurance Policy.
(d) Buyer shall and shall cause each Buyer Indemnitee to use its commercially reasonable efforts to pursue and collect on any recovery available under any insurance policies, including the R&W Insurance Policy (the “Insurance Policies”). Sellers’ obligations to indemnify each Buyer Indemnitee for Indemnifiable Losses under Section 6.2 is limited to the amount of Indemnifiable Losses not recovered from such Insurance Policies after exercising such commercially reasonable efforts.
(e) Each Indemnified Party shall, to the extent required by applicable Law, use all commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate any Indemnifiable Losses for which indemnification is sought under this Agreement. The actual out-of-pocket costs of any such mitigation activities shall be included as Indemnifiable Losses under this Agreement. Each Indemnified Party agrees that, for so long as it has any right of indemnification under this Agreement, it shall not, and it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that its Affiliates do not, intentionally accelerate the timing or increase the cost of any obligation of any Indemnifying Party under this Section 6 (and the Indemnifying parties shall not be obligated to indemnify an Indemnified Party for any Indemnifiable Losses to the extent arising from any such intentional action), except to the extent that such action is taken (i) in the Ordinary Course of Business, (ii) under any requirement of applicable Law or any Contract, or (iii) without violating the immediately preceding clause (i), in order to enforce its rights under this Agreement.
6.5. Determination of Damages. All indemnification payment(s) made pursuant to this Section 6, including any payment(s) received by the Buyer pursuant to the R&W Insurance Policy, shall be treated by the parties as adjustments to the Purchase Price for Tax purposes, unless otherwise required by Law.
6.6. Limitation on Damages. In no event shall the aggregate liability of Sellers under Section 6.2 of this Agreement exceed an amount equal to (i) fifteen percent (15%) of the Purchase Price in the case of Indemnifiable Losses resulting from, arising out of or relating to any inaccuracy in or breach of any representation or warranty of the Company contained in this Agreement (other than Fundamental Representations), or (ii) the Purchase Price in the case of Indemnifiable Losses resulting from, arising out of or relating to any inaccuracy in or breach of any Fundamental Representation. Sellers shall not be liable under this Section 6 for any Indemnifiable Losses to the extent taken into account in the calculation of the Adjusted Purchase Price, including Working Capital.
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6.7. Matters Involving Third parties.
(a) If any third party notifies any party (the “Indemnified Party”) with respect to any matter (a “Third-Party Claim”) that gives rise to a claim for indemnification against another party (the “Indemnifying Party”) under this Section 6, then the Indemnified Party shall promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after receiving notice of the Third-Party Claim) notify the Indemnifying Party thereof in writing (a “Notice”); provided, however, that failure to give such Notice shall not limit the right of an Indemnified Party to recover hereunder from any Indemnifying Party, except to the extent that such Indemnifying Party suffers any material prejudice or material harm with respect to such claim as a result of such failure, except and to the extent that the Indemnifying Party can demonstrate actual loss or actual prejudice (and in any event, solely to the extent of such loss or prejudice), as a result of such failure.
(b) As between the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, in the case of any Third-Party Claims for which indemnification is sought, the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled at its cost and expense to (i) conduct and control any proceedings or negotiations with such third party, (ii) perform and control or direct the performance of any required activities, (iii) take all other steps to settle or defend any such claim (provided, that the Indemnifying Party shall not settle any such claim without the consent of the Indemnified Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) unless the settlement includes a complete release of the Indemnified Party with respect to the claim and no additional obligation, restriction or Indemnifiable Losses shall be imposed on the Indemnified Party (other than solely the payment of money damages for which the Indemnified Party will be indemnified hereunder) and (iv) employ counsel to contest any such claim or liability; provided, that the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume control of such defense, if the claim for which the Indemnifying Party seeks to assume control: (A) seeks non-monetary relief (except where non-monetary relief is merely incidental to a primary claim or claims for monetary damages), or (B) involves a claim for which, upon petition by the Indemnified Party, the appropriate court rules that the Indemnifying Party failed or is failing to vigorously prosecute or defend. The Indemnifying Party shall, within thirty (30) days after delivery of the Notice to the Indemnifying Party (or sooner, if the nature of the Third-Party Claim so requires) (the “Dispute Period”), notify the Indemnified Party of its intention as to the conduct and control of the defense of such claim or request the Indemnified Party to conduct and control the defense; provided, that the Indemnified Party and its counsel shall cooperate with the Indemnifying Party and its counsel. Until the Indemnified Party has received notice of the Indemnifying Party’s election whether or not to defend any claim, the Indemnified Party shall take reasonable steps to defend (but may not settle) such claim. If the Indemnifying Party shall decline to assume the defense of any such claim, or the Indemnifying Party shall fail to notify the Indemnified Party within the Dispute Period of the Indemnifying Party’s election to defend such claim, the Indemnified Party shall defend against such claim (provided, that the Indemnified Party shall not settle such claim without the consent of the Indemnifying Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed)) and the Indemnifying Party will remain responsible for any Indemnifiable Losses that the Indemnified Party may suffer as a result of such Third-Party Claim, to the extent subject to indemnification under this Section 6.
6.8. Direct Claims. Any indemnification claim made by an Indemnified Party which does not result from a Third-Party Claim shall be asserted by the Indemnified Party by giving the Indemnifying Party prompt written notice thereof. Such written notice shall summarize the basis for the indemnification claim based on the information reasonably available at that time to the Indemnified Party. The failure to give written notice shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, unless, and then solely to the extent that, the rights of the parties from whom indemnity is sought are materially prejudiced as a result of such failure.
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6.9. Exclusive Remedy. The parties acknowledge and agree that, from and after the Closing, the sole and exclusive remedy of the parties with respect to any and all claims under this Agreement shall be pursuant to the provisions set forth in this Section 6; provided, that nothing in this Section 6.9 or any other provisions of this Agreement shall limit or otherwise affect any rights, claims or causes of action (a) of any party to seek specific performance, injunctive or other equitable relief to enforce the terms of any covenants contained in this Agreement, (b) of any party arising under or with respect to any Transaction Document other than this Agreement, (c) based on or arising from Fraud, or (d) arising pursuant to Section 2.2.
SECTION
7
MISCELLANEOUS
7.1. Benefit of Agreement; Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Sellers, the Company, Buyer and their respective successors and assigns, as applicable. Buyer may assign its rights under this Agreement to any parties providing debt financing to Buyer pursuant to the terms thereof for purposes of creating a security interest herein or otherwise assign as collateral in respect of such debt financing, but such assignment shall not relieve Buyer of its obligations or liabilities under this Agreement.
7.2. Remedies. The parties hereto shall have all applicable rights and remedies set forth in the Transaction Documents, all rights and remedies which the parties hereto have been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract contemplated by the Transaction Documents, and all of the rights which the parties hereto have under any Law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of the Transaction Documents shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically, to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of any of the Transaction Documents, and to exercise all other rights granted by law.
7.3. Notices. Any and all notices or other communications required or permitted to be delivered hereunder shall be deemed properly delivered if (a) delivered personally, upon receipt thereof, (b) mailed by first-class, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, on the second (2nd) Business Day following deposit with the mail carrier, (c) sent by nationally recognized next-day or overnight mail or delivery service, on the next Business Day following deposit with such carrier, or (d) sent by electronic mail as a PDF (and not by facsimile), upon receipt thereof, to the parties as set forth below:
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If to Buyer:
c/o Quest Resource Holding Corporation
3481 Plano Parkway
The Colony, TX 75056
Attention: Laurie L. Latham
Email: LaurieL@questrmg.com
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP
1325 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Elizabeth Gonzalez-Sussman and Kenneth Schlesinger
Email: egonzalez-sussman@olshanlaw.com; kschlesinger@olshanlaw.com
If to Sellers:
Rome Holdings, LLC
c/o Atar Capital
1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 2810
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Attention: Cyrus Nikou
Email: cnikou@atarcapital.com
and to:
M&A Business Consulting, Inc.
c/o Anthony DiIenno
2 Turnbridge Drive
Hilton Head, SC 29928
Email: anthony.diienno@havi.com
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Dykema Gossett LLP
333 South Grand Avenue, Suite 2100
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Attention: Thomas M. Cleary
Email: tcleary@dykema.com
Any party may change the name and address of the designee to whom notice shall be sent by giving written notice of such change to the other parties to this Agreement, and in accordance with this Section 7.3.
7.4. Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.
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7.5. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Transaction Documents embody the entire agreement and understanding among the Sellers, the Selling Members and Buyer, and is the final expression thereof and supersedes any and all prior agreements and understandings, written or oral, formal or informal, among the Sellers, the Selling Members and Buyer relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof. No extensions, changes, modifications or amendments whatsoever shall be made or claimed by any party hereto, and no notices of any extension, change, modification or amendment made or claimed by a party hereto shall have any force and effect whatsoever unless the same shall be endorsed in writing executed by an authorized representative of Buyer, the Selling Members and the Sellers.
7.6. No Implied Waivers; Cumulative Remedies; Writing Required. No delay or failure of the Sellers or Buyer in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall affect or operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right, power or remedy preclude any further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or remedy. The rights and remedies hereunder of the Sellers and Buyer are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of the Sellers or Buyer of any breach or default under this Agreement, or any such waiver of any provision or condition, must be in writing executed by each of the parties hereto and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing.
7.7. Jurisdiction.
(a) EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ALL ACTIONS TO ENFORCE THIS AGREEMENT, OTHER THAN AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 2.3 OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND ALL DISPUTES AMONG OR BETWEEN THEM ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH, RELATED TO OR INCIDENTAL TO THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED AMONG OR BETWEEN THEM IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS, WHETHER ARISING IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE, SHALL BE RESOLVED ONLY BY A FEDERAL COURT LOCATED IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, AND THE PARTIES HEREBY CONSENT AND SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURT.
(b) WAIVERS OF THE PARTIES. THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS UPON THEM AND CONSENT THAT ALL SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS BE MADE BY REGISTERED MAIL DIRECTED TO SUCH PARTY AT ITS ADDRESS SET FORTH IN SECTION 7.3 OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND SERVICE SO MADE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE COMPLETED UPON ACTUAL RECEIPT THEREOF. THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL, ANY OBJECTION BASED ON FORUM NON CONVENIENS AND ANY OBJECTION TO VENUE IN FEDERAL COURT IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE IN CONNECTION WITH ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION TO ENFORCE THIS AGREEMENT OR BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN OR THEREIN, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW OR STATUTORY CLAIMS. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT WILMINGTON, DELAWARE IS A REASONABLY CONVENIENT FORUM TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN OR AMONG THE PARTIES. EACH PARTY REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER AND KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION 7.7 SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY TO SERVE LEGAL PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.
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(c) OTHER JURISDICTIONS. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING CONTAINED HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, EACH OF THE SELLERS AND THE COMPANY AGREE THAT BUYER SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROCEED AGAINST IT OR HIM IN A COURT IN ANY LOCATION TO ENABLE BUYER TO ENFORCE A JUDGMENT OR OTHER COURT ORDER ENTERED IN FAVOR OF BUYER. EACH OF THE SELLERS, AND THE COMPANY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION THAT IT OR HE MAY HAVE TO THE LOCATION OF THE COURT IN WHICH BUYER HAS COMMENCED A PROCEEDING DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION 7.7.
7.8. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as contemplated by Section 6.2 or Section 6.3 or Section 7.13 of this Agreement, nothing herein expressed or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer upon, or give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.
7.9. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage shall occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed by the parties hereto in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached by such parties. It is accordingly agreed that each party shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, without any requirement to post or provide any bond or other security in connection therewith, to prevent breaches of this Agreement by the parties hereto and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof against such parties hereto in any court having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to with a Party is entitled at law or in equity.
7.10. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law in any jurisdiction, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating any other provision of this Agreement.
7.11. Headings. Section and subsection headings in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement for any other purpose.
7.12. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by any party hereto on separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed and delivered, shall be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. One or more counterparts may be delivered by electronic mail in .pdf form (and not by facsimile), with the intention that delivery by such means shall have the same effect as delivery of an original counterpart.
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7.13. Sellers’ Representative.
(a) Designation of Sellers’ Representative. Each Seller will be deemed to have irrevocably appointed Holdings as the Sellers’ Representative, to serve as such Seller’s true and lawful representative, agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, to act on behalf of such Seller to the extent and in the manner set forth in this Agreement, and to act on behalf of such Seller in any litigation or arbitration involving this Agreement, to do or refrain from doing all such further acts and things, and to execute all such documents as the Sellers’ Representative will deem necessary or appropriate in order to carry out the intention of the Agreement, and including the power:
(i) to act for such Seller with regard to matters pertaining to indemnification referred to in this Agreement against all Sellers (as opposed to a claim solely against such Seller), including the power to compromise any indemnity claim on behalf of such Seller; provided, that no such settlement requires such Seller to admit fault or submit such Seller to any liability in excess of the limitations set forth in Section 6.6;
(ii) to dispute, agree to, negotiate, settle and otherwise resolve all matters: (A) relating to adjustments to the Purchase Price pursuant to Section 2.3, or (B) to be resolved pursuant to Section 6;
(iii) to act for such Seller with regard to matters pertaining to any claim against all Sellers (as opposed to a claim solely against such Seller); provided, that no such settlement requires such Seller to admit fault or submits such Seller to any liability in excess of the limitations set forth in Section 6.6;
(iv) to execute and deliver all documents in connection with the Transactions or any amendments thereto that Sellers’ Representative deems necessary or appropriate;
(v) to receive funds, make payments of funds, and give receipts for funds;
(vi) to receive funds for the payment of expenses of such Seller and apply such funds in payment for such expenses; and
(vii) to receive service of process in connection with any claims under this Agreement.
(b) Irrevocable Appointment of Sellers’ Representative. The appointment of the Sellers’ Representative will be deemed coupled with an interest and will be irrevocable, and Buyer and any other Person may conclusively and absolutely rely, without inquiry, upon any action of the Sellers’ Representative in all matters referred to herein. Any action taken by the Sellers’ Representative must be in writing and signed by Sellers’ Representative acting in such capacity. All notices required to be made or delivered by Buyer to any Seller will be made to Sellers’ Representative for the benefit of such Seller and will discharge in full all notice requirements of Buyer to such Seller with respect thereto. By their appointment of Sellers’ Representative, Sellers confirm all that Sellers’ Representative will do or cause to be done by virtue of the appointment as the representative of Sellers hereunder. Sellers’ Representative will act for Sellers on all of the matters set forth in this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement in the manner Sellers’ Representative believes to be in the best interest of Sellers and consistent with the obligations of Sellers under this Agreement, but Sellers’ Representative will not be responsible to any Seller for any damages which Sellers may suffer by the performance of Sellers’ Representative’s duties under this Agreement, other than damages arising from gross negligence or bad faith in the performance of such duties under this Agreement or the Escrow Agreement. Sellers’ Representative will not have any duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties or Liabilities will be read into this Agreement or the Escrow Agreement or will otherwise exist against Sellers’ Representative.
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(c) Reliance by Sellers’ Representative. Sellers’ Representative will be entitled to rely, and will be fully protected in relying upon, any statements furnished to it by any Seller, Buyer, or any other evidence deemed by Sellers’ Representative to be reliable, and Sellers’ Representative will also be entitled to act on the advice of counsel selected by it. Sellers’ Representative will be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement or the Escrow Agreement, unless it has received such advice or concurrence of any Seller as it reasonably deems appropriate, or it has been expressly indemnified to its satisfaction by Sellers (severally as to each Seller only (in proportion to its Pro Rata Share) and not jointly as to or with any other Seller) against any and all Liability and expense that Sellers’ Representative may incur by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Sellers’ Representative will in all cases be fully protected in acting, or refraining from acting, under this Agreement or the Escrow Agreement in accordance with a request of Sellers, and such request, and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto, will be binding upon all Sellers.
(d) Reliance by Buyer. Each Seller agrees that Buyer may rely entirely on its dealings with, and notices to and from, Sellers’ Representative to satisfy any obligations it might have under this Agreement or otherwise to Sellers.
7.14. Provision Respecting Representation of the Sellers and the Selling Members.
(a) Each party hereby agrees, on its own behalf and on behalf of its Affiliates and its and their respective representatives, (i) that Dykema Gossett PLLP (“Dykema”) has been retained by, and may serve as counsel to, the Sellers and the Selling Members and their respective Affiliates and its and their respective representatives (individually and collectively, the “Dykema Clients”), in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the consummation of the Transaction, (ii) that Dykema has not acted as counsel for any other party hereto in connection with the Transaction, and that none of the other parties hereto has the status of a client of Dykema for conflict of interest or any other purposes as a result thereof, and (iii) that, following consummation of the Transaction, Dykema (or any of its successors) may serve as counsel to any of the Dykema Clients (excluding the Company) in connection with any litigation, action, suit, claim, investigation, proceeding or obligation arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Transaction. Notwithstanding such representation, each of the parties hereto (on their own behalf and on behalf of their Affiliates and its and their respective representatives) hereby consents thereto and knowingly, willingly and irrevocably waives any conflict of interest arising therefrom, and each of such parties will cause any Affiliate or representative thereof to consent to knowingly, willingly and irrevocably waive any conflict of interest arising from such representation. Buyer, and each Dykema Client each hereby agree, on its own behalf and on behalf of its Affiliates and its and their respective representatives, that, in the event that a dispute arises after the Closing between Buyer and/or the Company, on the one hand, and the Dykema Clients (other than the Company), on the other hand, Dykema may represent the Dykema Clients (other than the Company) in such dispute, even though the interests of the Dykema Clients (other than the Company) may be directly adverse to Buyer, and/or the Company, and even though Dykema may have represented the Company in a matter substantially related to such dispute, or may be handling ongoing matters for Buyer, or the Company, or the Dykema Clients. In addition, Buyer agrees that (i) all communications among any member of the Dykema Clients, the Company, or any Affiliates or any of their respective representatives thereof, on the one hand, and Dykema, on the other hand, that relate to the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and closing under, or any dispute arising in connection with, this Agreement, or otherwise relating to any potential sale of the Company or the Transaction (the “Protected Seller Communications”), will be deemed to be privileged and confidential communications, (ii) all rights to such Protected Seller Communications, the expectation of client confidentiality, and the control of the confidentiality and privilege applicable thereto, belong to and will be retained by the Dykema Clients, (iii) Dykema shall have no duty whatsoever to reveal or disclose Protected Seller Communications to Buyer or the Company by reason of any attorney-client relationship between Dykema and the Company or otherwise, (iv) no failure by the Dykema Clients or the Company prior to the Closing to segregate or excise the Protected Dykema Communications from the Company’s computer systems or files, or failure by the Dykema Clients to seek such segregation or excise and delivery to Sellers of the Protected Seller Communications post-Closing, shall be deemed a waiver of the attorney-client privilege with respect thereto, and (v) neither Buyer nor any of its Affiliates or representatives (including the Company after the Closing) may use or rely on the Protected Seller Communications in any Action against or involving Dykema Clients or Dykema. To the extent Buyer or any of its Affiliates or its and their respective representatives (including the Company after the Closing) should discover in its possession after the Closing any Protected Seller Communications, it will take reasonable steps to preserve the confidentiality thereof and promptly deliver the same to the Sellers’ Representative, keeping no copies, and will not by reason thereof assert any loss of confidentiality or privilege protection. The Protected Seller Communications may be used by the Dykema Clients in connection with any dispute that relates to this Agreement or the Transaction.
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(b) Buyer expressly acknowledges and agrees, that the agreements contained in this Section 7.14 (i) require performance after the Closing to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law and will survive the Closing, and (ii) are an integral part of this Agreement and the Transaction and that, without the agreements set forth in this Section 7.14, the Sellers and the Selling Members would not enter into this Agreement.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first written above.
SELLERS: | ||
ROME HOLDINGS, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Stanley Huang | |
Stanley Huang | ||
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | ||
M&A BUSINESS CONSULTING, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Anthony J. DiIenno, Sr. | |
Anthony J. DiIenno, Sr. | ||
SELLING MEMBERS (and for the purposes of Section 5.3(a) of this Agreement only): | |
/s/ Anthony J. DiIenno, Sr. | |
Anthony J. DiIenno, Sr. |
RWS INVESTORS, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Stanley Huang | |
Stanley Huang | ||
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | ||
ATAR RWS INVESTORS, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Stanley Huang | |
Stanley Huang | ||
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | ||
[Signature Page to the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement]
BUYER: | |||
QUEST SUSTAINABILITY SERVICES, INC. | |||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | ||
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | ||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
[Signature Page to the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement]
Execution Version
SECOND AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
This Second Amendment to Credit Agreement (this “Amendment”) is made this 1st day of December, 2021, among QUEST RESOURCE HOLDING CORPORATION, a Nevada corporation (“Holdings”); QUEST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”); each of the Affiliates of the Company that are parties hereto (together with the Company, the “Borrowers”); the Lenders party hereto and MONROE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ADVISORS, LLC, its successors and permitted assigns, as Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders (the “Administrative Agent”).
BACKGROUND
A. On October 19, 2020, Holdings, the Borrowers, the Lenders and Administrative Agent entered into that certain Credit Agreement (as amended by that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 3, 2021, and as may be further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) to reflect certain financing arrangements between the parties thereto. The Credit Agreement, as in effect immediately prior to the date hereof, and all other Loan Documents executed in connection therewith prior to the date hereof are collectively referred to as the “Existing Financing Agreements”. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings attributed thereto in the Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment.
B. Borrowers have requested that the Lenders modify certain provisions of the Credit Agreement hereafter set forth, and, subject to the terms and conditions of this Amendment, the Lenders are willing to do so.
NOW THEREFORE, with the foregoing background hereinafter deemed incorporated by reference herein and made a part hereof, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, promise and agree as follows:
1. Amendments to Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
(a) The definition of “Term B Loan Availability Period” appearing in Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated as follows:
“Term B Loan Availability Period” means the period (i) beginning on and including the day after the Closing Date and (ii) ending on and including the earlier of (A) the date the aggregate Term B Loan Commitments are reduced to zero and (B) December 15, 2021.
2. Representations and Warranties. Each Loan Party hereby:
(a) reaffirms all representations and warranties made to Administrative Agent and Lenders under the Credit Agreement and all of the other Existing Financing Agreements and represents and warrants that after giving effect to this Amendment all such representations and warranties are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof (except to the extent any such representations and warranties specifically relate to a specific earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects on and as of such specific earlier date);
(b) reaffirms all covenants contained in the Credit Agreement (as amended hereby) and all of the other Existing Financing Agreements and, unless the Required Lenders shall consent otherwise in writing, covenants to comply with all such covenants until Payment in Full; and
(c) represents and warrants that:
(i) after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Credit Agreement or any of the other Existing Financing Agreements or would result from this Amendment;
(ii) such Loan Party has all requisite organizational power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform all of its obligations under, this Amendment;
(iii) the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party of this Amendment does not and will not (i) require any consent or approval of any governmental agency or authority (other than any consent or approval that has been obtained and is in full force and effect); (ii) conflict with (A) any provision of law, (B) the organizational documents or governing documents of any Loan Party, or (C) any agreement, indenture, instrument, or other document, or any judgment, order, or decree, that is binding upon any Loan Party or any of their respective properties; or (iii) require, or result in, the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of any Loan Party (other than Liens in favor of Administrative Agent created pursuant to the Collateral Documents).
(iv) this Amendment constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, and similar laws affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity.
3. Conditions Precedent/Effectiveness Conditions. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Amendment, it is understood and agreed that this Amendment shall not become effective, and the Loan Parties shall have no rights under this Amendment, until the following conditions have been satisfied, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent:
(a) Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts of this Amendment duly executed and delivered by Holdings, each Borrower, each Lender with a Term B Loan Commitment, and Required Lenders and Administrative Agent;
(b) all representations and warranties contained in Section 2 above shall be true and correct in all respects;
(c) Administrative Agent shall have received such other documents, certificates or materials reasonably requested by Administrative Agent; and
(d) all fees and reasonable and documented costs and expenses of Administrative Agent and each Lender (including, without limitation, all Attorney Costs of the Administrative Agent and Lenders) incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Amendment and the documents provided for herein or related hereto, in each case, for which invoices have been presented to Borrowers prior to the date hereof, shall have been paid.
4. Further Assurances. Each Loan Party hereby agrees to take all such actions and to execute and/or deliver to Administrative Agent and Lenders all such documents, assignments, financing statements and other documents, as Administrative Agent and Lenders may reasonably require from time to time, to effectuate and implement the purposes of this Amendment.
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5. Payment of Expenses. Borrowers shall pay or reimburse, promptly following written demand, Administrative Agent and each Lender for its reasonable and documented costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Amendment and the documents provided for herein or related hereto. For the avoidance of doubt, the terms of Section 15.5 of the Credit Agreement are hereby incorporated herein mutatis mutandis.
6. Reaffirmation of Loan Documents; No Novation. Each Loan Party, as debtor, grantor, pledgor, guarantor, assignor, or in other any other similar capacity in which such Loan Party grants liens or security interests in its property or otherwise acts as accommodation party or guarantor, as the case may be, hereby (i) ratifies and reaffirms all of its payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, under each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party (after giving effect hereto) and (ii) to the extent such Loan Party granted liens on or security interests in any of its property pursuant to any such Loan Document as security for or otherwise guaranteed any Obligations, ratifies and reaffirms such guarantee and grant of security interests and liens and confirms and agrees that such security interests and liens hereafter secure all of the Obligations as amended hereby. Each Loan Party hereby consents to this Amendment and acknowledges that each of the Loan Documents remains in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and reaffirmed. The execution of this Amendment shall not serve to effect a novation of any of the Loans or other Obligations.
7. No Modification. Except as expressly set forth herein, nothing contained in this Amendment shall be deemed to constitute a waiver of compliance with any term or condition contained in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Documents or constitute a course of conduct or dealing among the parties. Except as expressly stated herein, Administrative Agent and Lenders reserve all rights, privileges and remedies under the Loan Documents. Except as amended or consented to hereby, the Credit Agreement and other Loan Documents remain unmodified and in full force and effect. All references in the Loan Documents to the Credit Agreement shall be deemed to be references to the Credit Agreement as modified hereby.
8. Release of Claims. In consideration of the Lenders’ and Administrative Agent’s agreements contained in this Amendment, each Loan Party hereby irrevocably releases and forever discharges the Lenders and Administrative Agent and their affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, assigns, directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants and attorneys (each, a “Released Person”) of and from any and all claims, suits, actions, investigations, proceedings or demands (including any so-called “lender liability” claims or defenses), whether based in contract, tort, implied or express warranty, strict liability, criminal or civil statute or common law of any kind or character, known or unknown, which such Loan Party ever had or now has against Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other Released Person which relates, directly or indirectly, to any acts or omissions of Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other Released Person relating to the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document on or prior to the date hereof.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Headings. The headings of any paragraph of this Amendment are for convenience only and shall not be used to interpret any provision hereof.
(b) Modifications. No modification hereof or of any agreement referred to herein shall be binding or enforceable unless in writing and signed on behalf of the party against whom enforcement is sought.
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(c) Governing Law; Loan Document. This Amendment is a contract made under and governed by the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within that state, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles. This Amendment is a Loan Document and is subject to and has the benefit of all the provisions in the Credit Agreement applicable to Loan Documents.
(d) Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number of and by different parties hereto on separate counterparts, all of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute one and the same agreement. Any signature delivered by a party by facsimile, pdf or electronic transmission shall be deemed to be an original signature hereto. Electronic records of this Amendment maintained by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders will be deemed to be originals.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Amendment to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.
MONROE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ADVISORS, LLC, | ||
as Administrative Agent | ||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Credit Agreement]
MONROE CAPITAL CORPORATION, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE CAPITAL INCOME PLUS CORPORATION, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MC INCOME PLUS FINANCING SPV LLC, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III FINANCING SPV LLC, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III LP, | |||
as Designated Manager | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III LLC, | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Credit Agreement]
MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III LLC, | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III (UNLEVERAGED) LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III LLC, | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE PRIVATE CREDIT FUND A LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE PRIVATE CREDIT FUND A LLC, | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Credit Agreement]
MONROE PRIVATE CREDIT FUND A FINANCING SPV LLC, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE PRIVATE CREDIT FUND A LP, | |||
as Designated Manager | ||||
By: | MONROE PRIVATE CREDIT FUND A LLC, | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND I LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND I LLC, | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND VT LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND VT LLC, | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Credit Agreement]
MONROE (NP) U.S. PRIVATE DEBT FUND LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE (NP) U.S. PRIVATE DEBT FUND GP LTD., | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE CAPITAL FUND MARSUPIAL (LUX) FINANCING HOLDCO LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ADVISORS LLC, | |||
as Investment Manager | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE CAPITAL FUND MARSUPIAL (LUX) FINANCING SPV LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL FUND MARSUPIAL (LUX) FINANCING GP LLC, | |||
its General Partner | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ADVISORS LLC, | |||
as Designated Manager | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Credit Agreement]
MONROE CAPITAL FUND SV S.a.r.l., acting in respect of its Fund III (Unleveraged) Compartment, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ADVISORS LLC, | |||
as Investment Manager | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III (LUX) FINANCING SPV 2020 LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III (LUX) FINANCING SPV GP LLC, | |||
its General Partner | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ADVISORS LLC, | |||
as Manager | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III (LUX) FINANCING HOLDCO LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III (LUX) FINANCING HOLDCO GP LLC, | |||
its General Partner | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ADVISORS LLC, | |||
as Manager | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Credit Agreement]
QUEST RESOURCE HOLDING CORPORATION, | ||
as Holdings | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
QUEST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC, | ||
as a Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
QUEST SUSTAINABILITY SERVICES, INC., | ||
as a Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
LANDFILL DIVERSION INNOVATIONS, L.L.C., | ||
as a Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
YOUCHANGE, INC., | ||
as a Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
QUEST VERTIGENT CORPORATION, | ||
as a Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer |
[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Credit Agreement]
QUEST VERTIGENT ONE, LLC, | ||
as a Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
GLOBAL ALERTS, LLC, | ||
as a Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer |
[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Credit Agreement]
Execution Version
THIRD AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
This Third Amendment to Credit Agreement (this “Amendment”) is made this 7th day of December, 2021, among QUEST RESOURCE HOLDING CORPORATION, a Nevada corporation (“Holdings”); QUEST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”); each of the Affiliates of the Company that are parties hereto (together with the Company, the “Borrowers”); the Lenders party hereto and MONROE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ADVISORS, LLC, its successors and permitted assigns, as Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders (the “Administrative Agent”).
BACKGROUND
A. On October 19, 2020, Holdings, the Borrowers, the Lenders and Administrative Agent entered into that certain Credit Agreement (as amended by that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 3, 2021, and as further amended by that certain Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2021, and as may be further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) to reflect certain financing arrangements between the parties thereto. The Credit Agreement, as in effect immediately prior to the date hereof, and all other Loan Documents executed in connection therewith prior to the date hereof are collectively referred to as the “Existing Financing Agreements”. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings attributed thereto in the Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment.
B. Borrowers have requested that the Lenders modify certain provisions of the Credit Agreement hereafter set forth, in accordance with the provisions of Sections 2.1.2 and 15.1 of the Credit Agreement (as amended hereby), to enable the Borrowers to incur additional term loans, and, subject to the terms and conditions of this Amendment, the Lenders are willing to do so.
NOW THEREFORE, with the foregoing background hereinafter deemed incorporated by reference herein and made a part hereof, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, promise and agree as follows:
1.
Amendments to Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement (including the Form of Note attached as Exhibit A thereto, the Form
of Compliance Certificate attached as Exhibit B thereto, the Form of Assignment and Assumption attached as Exhibit C thereto, the Form
of Notice of Borrowing attached as Exhibit D thereto and Schedules 9.8, 9.16, 9.17, 9.19, 9.21, 9.25 and 9.26 thereto) is hereby amended
to delete the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken
text) and to add the underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: underlined
text) as set forth in the Credit Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A; provided, however, that any other
Schedule, Exhibit or other attachment to the Credit Agreement shall not be amended or modified (or deemed to have been amended or modified)
pursuant to the terms of this Amendment or otherwise included as part of said Exhibit A, and shall remain in full force and effect
in the form thereof as in effect prior to the Third Amendment Effective Date.
2. Representations and Warranties. Each Loan Party hereby:
(a) reaffirms all representations and warranties made to Administrative Agent and Lenders under the Credit Agreement and all of the other Existing Financing Agreements and represents and warrants that after giving effect to this Amendment all such representations and warranties are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof (except to the extent any such representations and warranties specifically relate to a specific earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects on and as of such specific earlier date);
(b) reaffirms all covenants contained in the Credit Agreement (as amended hereby) and all of the other Existing Financing Agreements and, unless the Required Lenders shall consent otherwise in writing, covenants to comply with all such covenants until Payment in Full; and
(c) represents and warrants that:
(i) after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Credit Agreement or any of the other Existing Financing Agreements or would result from this Amendment;
(ii) such Loan Party has all requisite organizational power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform all of its obligations under, this Amendment;
(iii) the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party of this Amendment does not and will not (i) require any consent or approval of any governmental agency or authority (other than any consent or approval that has been obtained and is in full force and effect); (ii) conflict with (A) any provision of law, (B) the organizational documents or governing documents of any Loan Party, or (C) any agreement, indenture, instrument, or other document, or any judgment, order, or decree, that is binding upon any Loan Party or any of their respective properties; or (iii) require, or result in, the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of any Loan Party (other than Liens in favor of Administrative Agent created pursuant to the Collateral Documents).
(iv) this Amendment constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, and similar laws affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity.
3. Conditions Precedent/Effectiveness Conditions. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Amendment, it is understood and agreed that this Amendment shall not become effective, and the Loan Parties shall have no rights under this Amendment, until the following conditions have been satisfied, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent:
(a) Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts of:
(i) this Amendment duly executed and delivered by Holdings, each Borrower, each Lender with a Term C Loan Commitment or Term D Loan Commitment, and Required Lenders and Administrative Agent;
(ii) the Agent Fee Letter duly executed and delivered by each Borrower and Administrative Agent; and
(iii) to the extent requested by any Lender, one or more Notes made payable to that Lender with respect to such Lender’s Term C Loans and/or Term D Loan Commitments;
(b) Administrative Agent shall have received opinions of counsel for each Loan Party, including local counsel reasonably requested by Administrative Agent, each duly executed and dated as of the Third Amendment Effective Date, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent;
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(c) Administrative Agent shall have received the following, for each Loan Party, each in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent: (i) that Person’s charter (or similar formation document), certified by the appropriate governmental authority; (ii) good standing certificates in that Person’s state of incorporation (or formation) and in each other state in which that Person is qualified to do business if reasonably requested by Administrative Agent; (iii) that Person’s bylaws (or similar governing document); (iv) resolutions of its board of directors (or similar governing body) approving and authorizing that Person’s execution, delivery, and performance of the this Amendment and the other Loan Documents to which it is party and the transactions contemplated hereby; and (v) signature and incumbency certificates of that Person’s officers and/or managers executing this Amendment and any of the other Loan Documents (which certificates Administrative Agent and each Lender may conclusively rely on until formally advised by a like certificate of any changes in any such certificate), all certified by its secretary or an assistant secretary (or similar officer) as being in full force and effect as of the Third Amendment Effective Date without modification.
(d) Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing and letter of direction containing funds flow information with respect to the Term C Loans funded on the Third Amendment Effective Date;
(e) (i) the RWS Acquisition shall have been consummated in accordance in all material respects with the terms of the RWS Acquisition Agreement (without any amendment, modification or waiver of any of the provisions thereof that would be materially adverse to the Lenders in their capacities as Lenders without the consent of the Lenders, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), (ii) the RWS Acquisition Agreement and other agreements related thereto shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, and (iii) all conditions precedent to the RWS Acquisition shall have been satisfied or waived with the written consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed);
(f) Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate substantially in the form of the solvency certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent on the Closing Date, executed by a Senior Officer of Holdings and the Borrower Representative;
(g) Administrative Agent shall have received a collateral assignment of buyer-side representations and warranties insurance policy with respect to the RWS Acquisition, dated as of the Third Amendment Effective Date, by and between Quest Sustainability Services, Inc. and Administrative Agent and acknowledged by the insurer;
(h) Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, executed by a Senior Officer of Borrower Representative on behalf of the Borrowers (i) certifying the matters set forth in Sections 2.1.2 and 12.2.1 of the Credit Agreement and Section 3(i) below, (ii) certifying that the Borrowers are in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 11.12 of the Credit Agreement as of the last day of the most recently ended twelve fiscal month period for which financial statements have been delivered, (iii) certifying as to the occurrence of the closing of the RWS Acquisition in accordance with the terms of the RWS Acquisition Agreement without waiver of any material condition thereof and (iv) attaching final copies of the RWS Acquisition Agreement and all material agreements or other documents executed in connection therewith.
(i) after giving effect to the incurrence of the Term C Loans on the Third Amendment Effective Date and the consummation of the RWS Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated hereby, the Senior Net Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 4.5 to 1.00 on a pro forma basis for the most recently completed trailing twelve month period for which financial statements have been delivered under Section 10.1.2(b) of the Credit Agreement; provided, that in no event shall the proceeds of any Term C Loans be netted in calculating the foregoing Senior Net Leverage Ratio;
3
(j) Administrative Agent shall have received financial projections for Holdings and its Subsidiaries through the Termination Date (including a business plan, monthly operating and cash flow budgets, income statements, balance sheets, a capital expenditures budget and a summary of assumptions made in the build-up of such financial projections), all prepared on a basis consistent with Holdings’ and its Subsidiaries’ historical financial statements, subject to adjustments to reflect projected consolidated operations following the RWS Acquisition;
(k) Administrative Agent shall have received an updated Collateral and Diligence Questionnaire (after giving effect to the RWS Acquisition) completed and executed by each Loan Party, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent;
(l) Administrative Agent shall have received updated insurance certificates indicating that Monroe Capital Management Advisors, LLC, as Administrative Agent, together with its successors and assigns, is named as additional insured on the certificate for liability coverage and as lender’s los payee on the certificate for property or casualty insurance;
(m) the provisions of Section 10.9 of the Credit Agreement have been satisfied with respect to RWS and its Subsidiaries as of the Third Amendment Effective Date;
(n) Administrative Agent shall have received, to the extent requested at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Third Amendment Effective Date, all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities concerning Borrowers and Holdings under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act;
(o) all representations and warranties contained in Section 2 above shall be true and correct in all respects;
(p) Administrative Agent shall have received such other documents, certificates or materials reasonably requested by Administrative Agent; and
(q) all fees and reasonable and documented costs and expenses of Administrative Agent and each Lender (including, without limitation, all fees required to be paid on the Third Amendment Effective Date pursuant to the Agent Fee Letter and all Attorney Costs of the Administrative Agent and Lenders) incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Amendment and the documents provided for herein or related hereto, in each case, for which invoices have been presented to Borrowers prior to the date hereof, shall have been paid.
4. Further Assurances. Each Loan Party hereby agrees to take all such actions and to execute and/or deliver to Administrative Agent and Lenders all such documents, assignments, financing statements and other documents, as Administrative Agent and Lenders may reasonably require from time to time, to effectuate and implement the purposes of this Amendment.
5. Payment of Expenses. Borrowers shall pay or reimburse, promptly following written demand, Administrative Agent and each Lender for its reasonable and documented costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Amendment and the documents provided for herein or related hereto. For the avoidance of doubt, the terms of Section 15.5 of the Credit Agreement are hereby incorporated herein mutatis mutandis.
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6. Reaffirmation of Loan Documents; No Novation. Each Loan Party, as debtor, grantor, pledgor, guarantor, assignor, or in other any other similar capacity in which such Loan Party grants liens or security interests in its property or otherwise acts as accommodation party or guarantor, as the case may be, hereby (i) ratifies and reaffirms all of its payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, under each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party (after giving effect hereto) and (ii) to the extent such Loan Party granted liens on or security interests in any of its property pursuant to any such Loan Document as security for or otherwise guaranteed any Obligations, ratifies and reaffirms such guarantee and grant of security interests and liens and confirms and agrees that such security interests and liens hereafter secure all of the Obligations as amended hereby. Each Loan Party hereby consents to this Amendment and acknowledges that each of the Loan Documents remains in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and reaffirmed. The execution of this Amendment shall not serve to effect a novation of any of the Loans or other Obligations.
7. No Modification. Except as expressly set forth herein, nothing contained in this Amendment shall be deemed to constitute a waiver of compliance with any term or condition contained in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Documents or constitute a course of conduct or dealing among the parties. Except as expressly stated herein, Administrative Agent and Lenders reserve all rights, privileges and remedies under the Loan Documents. Except as amended or consented to hereby, the Credit Agreement and other Loan Documents remain unmodified and in full force and effect. All references in the Loan Documents to the Credit Agreement shall be deemed to be references to the Credit Agreement as modified hereby.
8. Release of Claims. In consideration of the Lenders’ and Administrative Agent’s agreements contained in this Amendment, each Loan Party hereby irrevocably releases and forever discharges the Lenders and Administrative Agent and their affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, assigns, directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants and attorneys (each, a “Released Person”) of and from any and all claims, suits, actions, investigations, proceedings or demands (including any so-called “lender liability” claims or defenses), whether based in contract, tort, implied or express warranty, strict liability, criminal or civil statute or common law of any kind or character, known or unknown, which such Loan Party ever had or now has against Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other Released Person which relates, directly or indirectly, to any acts or omissions of Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other Released Person relating to the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document on or prior to the date hereof.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Headings. The headings of any paragraph of this Amendment are for convenience only and shall not be used to interpret any provision hereof.
(b) Modifications. No modification hereof or of any agreement referred to herein shall be binding or enforceable unless in writing and signed on behalf of the party against whom enforcement is sought.
(c) Governing Law; Loan Document. This Amendment is a contract made under and governed by the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within that state, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles. This Amendment is a Loan Document and is subject to and has the benefit of all the provisions in the Credit Agreement applicable to Loan Documents.
(d) Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number of and by different parties hereto on separate counterparts, all of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute one and the same agreement. Any signature delivered by a party by facsimile, pdf or electronic transmission shall be deemed to be an original signature hereto. Electronic records of this Amendment maintained by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders will be deemed to be originals.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
5
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Amendment to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.
MONROE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ADVISORS, LLC, | ||
as Administrative Agent | ||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Third Amendment to Credit Agreement]
MONROE CAPITAL CORPORATION, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE CAPITAL INCOME PLUS CORPORATION, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MC INCOME PLUS FINANCING SPV LLC, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III FINANCING SPV LLC, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III LP, | |||
as Designated Manager | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III LLC, | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Third Amendment to Credit Agreement]
MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III LLC, | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III (UNLEVERAGED) LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III LLC, | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE PRIVATE CREDIT FUND A LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE PRIVATE CREDIT FUND A LLC, | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Third Amendment to Credit Agreement]
MONROE PRIVATE CREDIT FUND A FINANCING SPV LLC, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE PRIVATE CREDIT FUND A LP, | |||
as Designated Manager | ||||
By: | MONROE PRIVATE CREDIT FUND A LLC, | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND I LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND I LLC, | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND VT LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND VT LLC, | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Third Amendment to Credit Agreement]
MONROE (NP) U.S. PRIVATE DEBT FUND LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE (NP) U.S. PRIVATE DEBT FUND GP LTD., | |||
its general partner | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE CAPITAL FUND MARSUPIAL (LUX) FINANCING HOLDCO LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ADVISORS LLC, | |||
as Investment Manager | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE CAPITAL FUND MARSUPIAL (LUX) FINANCING SPV LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL FUND MARSUPIAL (LUX) FINANCING GP LLC, | |||
its General Partner | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ADVISORS LLC, | |||
as Designated Manager | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Third Amendment to Credit Agreement]
MONROE CAPITAL FUND SV S.a.r.l., acting in respect of its Fund III (Unleveraged) Compartment, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ADVISORS LLC, | |||
as Investment Manager | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III (LUX) FINANCING SPV 2020 LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III (LUX) FINANCING SPV GP LLC, | |||
its General Partner | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ADVISORS LLC, | |||
as Manager | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director | |||
MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III (LUX) FINANCING HOLDCO LP, | ||||
in its capacity as a Lender | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL PRIVATE CREDIT FUND III (LUX) FINANCING HOLDCO GP LLC, | |||
its General Partner | ||||
By: | MONROE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ADVISORS LLC, | |||
as Manager | ||||
By: | /s/ Alex Parmacek | |||
Name: | Alex Parmacek | |||
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Third Amendment to Credit Agreement]
QUEST RESOURCE HOLDING CORPORATION, | ||
as Holdings | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer | |
QUEST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC, | ||
as a Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
QUEST SUSTAINABILITY SERVICES, INC., | ||
as a Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
LANDFILL DIVERSION INNOVATIONS, L.L.C., | ||
as a Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
YOUCHANGE, INC., | ||
as a Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
QUEST VERTIGENT CORPORATION, | ||
as a Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer |
[Signature Page to Third Amendment to Credit Agreement]
QUEST VERTIGENT ONE, LLC, | ||
as a Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
GLOBAL ALERTS, LLC, | ||
as a Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
RWS FACILITY SERVICES, LLC, | ||
as a Guarantor | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS GROUP, LLC, | ||
as a Guarantor | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer |
[Signature Page to Third Amendment to Credit Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
Amended Credit Agreement
EXHIBIT A to THIRD AMENDMENT
CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of October 19, 2020
among
QUEST RESOURCE HOLDING CORPORATION,
as Holdings
QUEST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC,
as a Borrower,
EACH OF ITS AFFILIATES PARTY HERETO,
as Borrowers,
THE VARIOUS FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PARTY HERETO,
as Lenders,
MONROE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ADVISORS, LLC,
as Administrative Agent and Lead Arranger
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
SECTION 1 | DEFINITIONS |
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1.1 | Definitions |
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1.2 | Certain Interpretive Provisions |
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1.3 | Accounting and Other Terms |
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1.4 | Treatment of LLC Division |
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SECTION 2 | COMMITMENTS OF THE LENDERS; BORROWING AND CONVERSION PROCEDURES |
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2.1 | Commitments |
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2.1.1 | Term Loan Commitments |
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2.1.2 | Incremental Facilities |
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2.2 | Loan Procedures |
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2.2.1 | Various Types of Loans |
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2.2.2 | Borrowing Procedures |
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2.2.3 | [Reserved] |
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2.3 | Commitments Several |
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2.4 | Certain Conditions |
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2.5 | Defaulting Lenders |
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SECTION 3 | EVIDENCING OF LOANS. |
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3.1 | Notes |
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3.2 | Recordkeeping |
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SECTION 4 | INTEREST |
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4.1 | Interest Rates |
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4.1.1 | Interest on Loans |
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4.1.2 | Default Rate |
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4.1.3 | Interest Payment Dates |
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4.2 | Setting and Notice of LIBOR Rates |
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4.3 | Computation of Interest |
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SECTION 5 | FEES |
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5.1 | Unused Fee |
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5.1.1 | Term B Loans | 44 | |
5.1.2 | Term D Loans | 45 | |
5.2 | Additional Fees |
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5.3 | Applicable Premium and Exit Fee |
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5.4 | Warrants |
|
|
5.4.1 | Warrant Original Issue Discount. |
|
|
SECTION 6 | REDUCTION OR TERMINATION OF COMMITMENTS; PREPAYMENTS; REPAYMENTS. |
|
|
6.1 | Reduction or Termination of Commitments |
|
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
6.1.1 | Voluntary Reduction or Termination of the Term B Loan Commitments and/or Term D Loan Commitments |
|
|
6.1.2 | All Reductions of Commitments |
|
|
6.2 | Prepayments |
|
|
6.2.1 | Voluntary Prepayments |
|
|
6.2.2 | Mandatory Prepayments |
|
|
6.3 | Manner of Prepayments |
|
|
6.3.1 | All Prepayments |
|
|
6.4 | Repayments |
|
|
6.4.1 | [Reserved] |
|
|
6.4.2 | Term A Loans |
|
|
6.4.3 | Term B Loans |
|
|
6.4.4 | Term C Loans | 49 | |
6.4.5 | Term D Loans | 49 | |
SECTION 7 | MAKING AND PRORATION OF PAYMENTS; SETOFF; TAXES. |
|
|
7.1 | Making of Payments |
|
|
7.2 | Application of Certain Payments |
|
|
7.3 | Due Date Extension |
|
|
7.4 | Setoff |
|
|
7.5 | Proration of Payments |
|
|
7.6 | Taxes |
|
|
SECTION 8 | INCREASED COSTS; SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR LIBOR LOANS. |
|
|
8.1 | Increased Costs |
|
|
8.2 | Basis for Determining Interest Rate Inadequate or Unfair |
|
|
8.3 | Changes in Law Rendering LIBOR Loans Unlawful |
|
|
8.4 | Right of Lenders to Fund through Other Offices |
|
|
8.5 | Mitigation of Circumstances; Replacement of Lenders |
|
|
8.6 | Conclusiveness of Statements; Survival of Provisions |
|
|
SECTION 9 | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. |
|
|
9.1 | Organization |
|
|
9.2 | Authorization; No Conflict |
|
|
9.3 | Validity and Binding Nature |
|
|
9.4 | Financial Condition |
|
|
9.5 | No Material Adverse Change |
|
|
9.6 | Litigation and Contingent Liabilities |
|
|
9.7 | Ownership of Properties; Liens |
|
|
9.8 | Equity Ownership |
|
|
9.9 | Pension Plans. |
|
|
9.10 | Investment Company Act |
|
|
9.11 | Compliance with Laws |
|
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
9.12 | Regulation U |
|
|
9.13 | Taxes |
|
|
9.14 | Solvency, etc |
|
|
9.15 | Environmental Matters |
|
|
9.16 | Insurance |
|
|
9.17 | Real Property |
|
|
9.18 | Information |
|
|
9.19 | Location of Bank Accounts |
|
|
9.20 | Burdensome Obligations |
|
|
9.21 | Intellectual Property |
|
|
9.22 | Material Contracts |
|
|
9.23 | Employee and Labor Matters |
|
|
9.24 | No Bankruptcy Filing |
|
|
9.25 | Name; Jurisdiction of Organization; Organizational ID Number; Chief Place of Business; Chief Executive Office; FEIN |
|
|
9.26 | Locations of Collateral |
|
|
9.27 | Security Interests |
|
|
9.28 | No Default |
|
|
9.29 | Hedging Agreements |
|
|
9.30 | OFAC |
|
|
9.31 | Patriot Act |
|
|
9.32 | Related Agreements |
|
|
9.33 | Holdings |
|
|
9.34 | Customers and Suppliers |
|
|
9.35 | ABL Loan Documents |
|
|
SECTION 10 | AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS. |
|
|
10.1 | Reports, Certificates and Other Information |
|
|
10.1.1 | Annual Report |
|
|
10.1.2 | Interim Reports |
|
|
10.1.3 | Compliance Certificates |
|
|
10.1.4 | Reports to the SEC and to Shareholders |
|
|
10.1.5 | ABL Reports and Notices |
|
|
10.1.6 | Notice of Default, Litigation, and ERISA Matters |
|
|
10.1.7 | Real Estate |
|
|
10.1.8 | Management Reports |
|
|
10.1.9 | Projections |
|
|
10.1.10 | Related Transaction Notices |
|
|
10.1.11 | Material Contract Notices |
|
|
10.1.12 | Information Systems |
|
|
10.1.13 | Key Performance Indicators |
|
|
10.1.14 | Other Information |
|
|
10.2 | Books, Records, and Inspections |
|
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
10.3 | Maintenance of Property; Insurance |
|
|
10.4 | Compliance with Laws; Payment of Taxes and Liabilities |
|
|
10.5 | Maintenance of Existence, etc |
|
|
10.6 | Use of Proceeds |
|
|
10.7 | Employee Benefit Plans |
|
|
10.8 | Environmental Matters |
|
|
10.9 | Further Assurances |
|
|
10.10 | Lender Meetings |
|
|
10.11 | Deposit Accounts |
|
|
10.12 | SBA PPP Loans |
|
|
10.13 | Post-Closing Items |
|
|
SECTION 11 | NEGATIVE COVENANTS |
|
|
11.1 | Debt |
|
|
11.2 | Liens |
|
|
11.3 | Restricted Payments |
|
|
11.4 | Mergers, Consolidations, Sales |
|
|
11.5 | Modification of Certain Documents; Organizational Form |
|
|
11.6 | Transactions with Affiliates |
|
|
11.7 | Inconsistent Agreements |
|
|
11.8 | Business Activities |
|
|
11.9 | Investments |
|
|
11.10 | Restriction of Amendments to Certain Documents |
|
|
11.11 | Fiscal Year |
|
|
11.12 | Financial Covenants |
|
|
11.12.1 | Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio |
|
|
11.12.2 | Senior Net Leverage Ratio |
|
|
11.13 | Compliance with Laws |
|
|
11.14 | Equity Interests of Subsidiaries |
|
|
11.15 | Tax Consolidation |
|
|
11.16 | Bill-and-Hold Sales, Etc |
|
|
11.17 | ABL Obligations |
|
|
11.18 | Optional Prepayments of ABL Term Loan | 87 | |
11.19 | Fiscal Year End | 87 | |
11.20 | OFAC | 87 | |
SECTION 12 | EFFECTIVENESS; CONDITIONS OF LENDING, ETC. |
|
|
12.1 | Conditions to Effectiveness |
|
|
12.1.1 | Agreement, Notes, and other Loan Documents |
|
|
12.1.2 | Authorization Documents |
|
|
12.1.3 | Consents, etc |
|
|
12.1.4 | Letter of Direction |
|
|
12.1.5 | Collateral and Diligence Questionnaire |
|
|
12.1.6 | Opinions of Counsel |
|
|
12.1.7 | Insurance |
|
|
12.1.8 | Related Transaction |
|
|
12.1.9 | Payment of Fees |
|
|
12.1.10 | Debt to be Repaid |
|
|
12.1.11 | Solvency Certificate |
|
|
12.1.12 | Search Results; Lien Terminations |
|
|
12.1.13 | Filings, Registrations, and Recordings |
|
|
12.1.14 | Closing Certificate |
|
|
12.1.15 | Financial Statements |
|
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
12.1.16 | No Material Adverse Effect |
|
|
12.1.17 | Minimum Consolidated EBITDA |
|
|
12.1.18 | Closing Leverage |
|
|
12.1.19 | Diligence |
|
|
12.1.20 | Subordination and Intercreditor Agreements |
|
|
12.1.21 | Key Management |
|
|
12.1.22 | Know-Your-Customer and Anti-Money Laundering |
|
|
12.2 | Conditions Precedent to all Loans |
|
|
12.2.1 | Compliance with Warranties, No Default, etc |
|
|
12.2.2 | Confirmatory Certificate |
|
|
12.3 | Conditions Precedent to each Term B Loan and Term D Loan |
|
|
12.3.1 | Use of Proceeds |
|
|
12.3.2 | Financial Tests |
|
|
12.3.3 | Minimum Amount |
|
|
12.3.4 | Order of Funding | 92 | |
SECTION 13 | EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND THEIR EFFECT |
|
|
13.1 | Events of Default |
|
|
13.1.1 | Non-Payment of the Loans, etc |
|
|
13.1.2 | Non-Payment of Other Debt |
|
|
13.1.3 |
|
|
|
13.1.4 | Bankruptcy, Insolvency, etc |
|
|
13.1.5 | Non-Compliance with Loan Documents |
|
|
13.1.6 | Representations; Warranties |
|
|
13.1.7 | Pension Plans |
|
|
13.1.8 | Judgments |
|
|
13.1.9 | Invalidity of Loan Documents, etc |
|
|
13.1.10 | Change of Control |
|
|
13.1.11 | Uninsured Losses |
|
|
13.1.12 | Business Disruption; Condemnation |
|
|
13.1.13 | Repudiation of or Default under Guaranty and Collateral Agreement |
|
|
13.1.14 | Criminal Forfeiture |
|
v
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
13.1.15 | Intercreditor and Subordination Agreements |
|
|
13.1.16 | Material Adverse Effect |
|
|
13.2 | Effect of Event of Default |
|
|
13.3 | Credit Bidding |
|
|
13.4 | Curative Equity |
|
|
SECTION 14 | AGENCY |
|
|
14.1 | Appointment and Authorization |
|
|
14.2 | [Reserved] |
|
|
14.3 | Delegation of Duties |
|
|
14.4 | Exculpation |
|
|
14.5 | Reliance |
|
|
14.6 | Notice of Default |
|
|
14.7 | Credit Decision |
|
|
14.8 | Indemnification |
|
|
14.9 | Administrative Agent in Individual Capacities |
|
|
14.10 | Successor Administrative Agent |
|
|
14.11 | Collateral Matters |
|
|
14.12 | Restriction on Actions by Lenders |
|
|
14.13 | Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim |
|
|
14.14 | Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers |
|
|
14.15 | Protective Advances |
|
|
14.16 | Erroneous Payments | 103 | |
SECTION 15 | GENERAL |
|
|
15.1 | Waiver; Amendments |
|
|
15.2 | Confirmations |
|
|
15.3 | Notices |
|
|
15.3.1 | Generally |
|
|
15.3.2 | Electronic Communications |
|
|
15.4 | Computations |
|
|
15.5 | Costs, Expenses and Taxes |
|
|
15.6 | Assignments; Participations |
|
|
15.6.1 | Assignments |
|
|
15.6.2 | Participations |
|
|
15.7 | Register |
|
|
15.8 | GOVERNING LAW |
|
|
15.9 | Confidentiality |
|
|
15.10 | Severability |
|
|
15.11 | Nature of Remedies |
|
|
15.12 | Entire Agreement |
|
|
15.13 | Counterparts |
|
|
15.14 | Successors and Assigns |
|
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
15.15 | Captions |
|
|
15.16 | Customer Identification—USA Patriot Act Notice |
|
|
15.17 | INDEMNIFICATION BY LOAN PARTIES |
|
|
15.18 | Non-Liability of Lenders |
|
|
15.19 | FORUM SELECTION AND CONSENT TO JURISDICTION |
|
|
15.20 | WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
|
|
15.21 | Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions |
|
|
15.22 | Acknowledgement Regarding any Supported QFCs |
|
|
15.23 | Certain ERISA Matters |
|
|
15.24 | ABL Intercreditor Agreement | 117 | |
SECTION 16 | JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY |
|
|
16.1 | Applicability of Terms |
|
|
16.2 | Joint and Several Liability |
|
|
16.3 | Benefits and Best Interests |
|
|
16.4 | Accommodations |
|
|
16.5 | Maximum Amount |
|
|
16.6 | Joint Liability Payments |
|
|
16.7 | Financial Condition |
|
|
16.8 | Administrative Agent Authorizations |
|
|
16.9 | Unconditional Obligations |
|
|
16.10 | Notices |
|
|
16.11 | No Impairment of Obligations or Limitation of Liability |
|
|
16.12 | Rights of Contribution and Indemnification |
|
|
16.13 | Subrogation |
|
|
SECTION 17 | APPOINTMENT OF BORROWER REPRESENTATIVE. |
|
|
17.1 | Appointment |
|
|
17.2 | Additional Appointments |
|
|
17.3 | Reliance |
|
|
17.4 | Termination or Change of Borrower Representative |
|
vii
ANNEXES
ANNEX A | Lenders and Pro Rata Shares |
ANNEX B | Addresses for Notices |
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1.1 | EBITDA |
SCHEDULE 1.1(b) | RWS EBITDA |
SCHEDULE 1.2 | Ineligible Lenders |
SCHEDULE 9.6 | Litigation and Contingent Liabilities |
SCHEDULE 9.8 | Equity Ownership |
SCHEDULE 9.16 | Insurance |
SCHEDULE 9.17 | Real Property |
SCHEDULE 9.19 | Deposit and Securities Accounts |
SCHEDULE 9.21 | Intellectual Property |
SCHEDULE 9.22 | Material Contracts |
SCHEDULE 9.25 | Loan Party Information |
SCHEDULE 9.26 | Locations of Collateral |
SCHEDULE 11.1 | Existing Debt |
SCHEDULE 11.2 | Existing Liens |
SCHEDULE 11.9 | Investments |
SCHEDULE 12.1 | Debt to be Repaid |
EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT A | Form of Note (Section 3.1) |
EXHIBIT B | Form of Compliance Certificate (Section 10.1.3) |
EXHIBIT C | Form of Assignment Agreement (Section 15.6.1) |
EXHIBIT D | Form of Notice of Borrowing (Section 2.2.2) |
viii
Credit Agreement
THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of October 19, 2020 (this “Agreement”) is entered into among QUEST RESOURCE HOLDING CORPORATION, a Nevada corporation (“Holdings”); QUEST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”); each of the Affiliates of the Company that are or may from time to time become parties hereto (together with the Company, the “Borrowers”); the financial institutions that are or may from time to time become parties hereto (together with their respective successors and assigns, the “Lenders”); and MONROE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ADVISORS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Monroe Capital”), as administrative agent for the Lenders.
The Company is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Holdings. The Company will acquire substantially all of the assets of Green Remedies Waste and Recycling, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (“Green Remedies”), pursuant to the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement (that acquisition, the “Related Transaction”) and contribute such assets to the Company and its Subsidiaries.
The
Company has requested thatOn the Closing Date, the Lenders make
Loansextended credit to the Borrowers to provide the funds required to finance
a portion of the Related Transaction, to repay the Debt to be Repaid, and to provide for the ongoing general corporate purposes and working
capital needs of Borrowers as further provided in this Agreement, up to an aggregate principal amount of $24,000,000 in the form of (a)
Term A Loans to Borrowers on the Closing Date in an aggregate principal amount notequal
to exceed $11,500,000 and (cb)
Term B Loans to Borrowers during the Term B Loan Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $12,500,000.
The Company has requested that the Lenders make Loans to the Borrowers, in the form of (a) Term C Loans to Borrowers on the Third Amendment Effective Date in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $34,700,000, to provide the funds required to finance a portion of the RWS Acquisition, to repay existing indebtedness of RWS, and to pay fees and expenses in connection with the RWS Acquisition and the transactions consummated in connection therewith on the Third Amendment Effective Date, and (b) Term D Loans to Borrowers during the Term D Loan Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $16,000,000, to finance Permitted Acquisitions, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
To secure the Loans and other Obligations, Borrowers and the other Loan Parties are granting to Administrative Agent, for the benefit of Administrative Agent and Lenders, a security interest in and lien upon substantially all of Borrowers’ and the other Loan Parties’ real and personal property.
In consideration of the mutual agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1 | DEFINITIONS. |
1.1 Definitions. When used in this Agreement the following terms have the following meanings:
“ABL Agent” means BBVA USA, or in the case of any replacement or refinancing of the ABL Loan Agreement permitted under the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the person identified as the “ABL Agent” or comparable term pursuant to the such replacement or refinancing documentation.
“ABL Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the ABL Agent and the Administrative Agent, as amended, modified, supplemented, restated, refinanced, refunded or replaced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with the terms therein.
“ABL Lenders” means the lender or group of lenders party to the ABL Loan Documents.
“ABL Loan Agreement” means that certain Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement, dated August 5, 2020 (as amended by that certain Joinder and First Amendment to Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement (the “ABL Loan Agreement Amendment”) and as further amended, restated, supplemented or modified as permitted by the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) by and among the Company and Landfill Diversion Innovations, L.L.C., as borrowers, and BBVA USA, as a lender and as administrative agent and collateral agent for any other lenders party thereto from time to time.
“ABL Loan Agreement Amendment” is defined in the definition of ABL Loan Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented or modified as permitted by the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.
“ABL Loan Documents” means the “Loan Documents” as defined in the ABL Loan Agreement or any comparable term.
“ABL Obligations” means the “Obligations” as defined in the ABL Loan Agreement or any comparable term, not to exceed the amount of any Debt permitted pursuant to Section 11.1(k).
“ABL Priority Collateral” is defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.
“Acquisition” means any transaction or series of related transactions for the purpose of or resulting, directly or indirectly, in (a) the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person, or of all or substantially all of any business or division of a Person, (b) the acquisition of in excess of 50% of the Equity Interests of any Person, or otherwise causing any Person to become a Subsidiary, or (c) a merger or consolidation or any other combination with another Person (other than a Person that is already a Subsidiary).
“Administrative Agent” means Monroe Capital in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders under this Agreement and any successor thereto in that capacity. “Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.
“Affected Loan” is defined in Section 8.3.
2
“Affiliate” of any Person means (a) any other Person which, directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with that Person, (b) any officer or director of that Person and (c) with respect to any Lender, any entity administered or managed by that Lender or an Affiliate or investment advisor thereof and which is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans. A Person will be deemed to be “controlled by” any other Person if that other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power to vote 10% or more of the securities (on a fully diluted basis) having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or managers or power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that Person whether by contract or otherwise. Unless expressly stated otherwise in this Agreement, none of the following Persons will be deemed an Affiliate of any Loan Party: (i) Administrative Agent; (ii) any Lender or (iii) the Warrant Holder or any of its affiliates.
“Affiliated Funds” means, with respect to any Person, a fund that is an Affiliate of that Person, that invests in portfolio companies and that is managed by that Person or by the same management company that manages that Person.
“Agent Fee Letter”
means the amended and restated fee letter dated as of the date
of this AgreementThird Amendment Effective Date between Borrowers and Administrative
Agent.
“Agreement” is defined in the introductory clause of this Agreement.
“Allocable Amount” is defined in Section 16.6.
“Applicable Margin”
means, as of any date of determination, the applicable rate per annum set forth in the following table that corresponds to the Senior
Debt to EBITDA Ratio calculation as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate delivered to Administrative Agent pursuant to
Section 10.1.3. For the period from the Closing Date through the date that Administrative Agent receives the Compliance Certificate
for the Computation Period ending December 31, 20202021,
the Applicable Margin will be the rate per annum in the row styled “Level II”. In addition, at any time that an Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, the Applicable Margin will be the rate per annum in the row styled “Level VIV”:
Level | Senior Debt to EBITDA Ratio | Applicable Margin for LIBOR Loans | Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans | |
I |
< |
|
5.50% | 3.50% |
II |
≥ |
|
6.50% | 4.50% |
III |
≥ |
|
7.00% | 5.00% |
IV |
|
|
7.50% | 5.50% |
|
|
|
|
3
Except as otherwise set forth
in this definition, the Applicable Margin will be based upon the most recent Compliance Certificate. Except as otherwise set forth in
this definition, the Applicable Margin will be re-determined quarterly on the first day of the month following the date of delivery to
Administrative Agent of the applicable Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 10.1.3. If Borrowers fail to furnish or cause
Borrower Representative to furnish any Compliance Certificate when that Compliance Certificate is due, then the Applicable Margin will
be the rate per annum in the row styled “Level VIV”
as of the first day of the month following the date on which that Compliance Certificate was required to be delivered until the date
on which that Compliance Certificate is delivered, on which date (but not retroactively), without constituting a waiver of any Default
or Event of Default occasioned by the failure to timely deliver that Compliance Certificate, the Applicable Margin will be set at the
rate per annum based upon the calculations disclosed by that Compliance Certificate. If any information contained in any Compliance Certificate
delivered pursuant to Section 10.1.3 is shown to be inaccurate, and that inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application
of a higher Applicable Margin for any period than the Applicable Margin actually applied for that period, then (i) Borrowers shall promptly
deliver or cause to be delivered to Administrative Agent and each Lender a correct Compliance Certificate for that period; (ii) the Applicable
Margin will be determined as if the correct Applicable Margin (as set forth in the table above) were applicable for that period (irrespective
of whether a correct Compliance Certificate is delivered); and (iii) Borrowers shall promptly (but in any event within two Business Days
after delivery of that corrected Compliance Certificate or after demand by Administrative Agent) deliver to Administrative Agent full
payment in respect of the accrued additional interest as a result of the increased Applicable Margin for that period, which payment Administrative
Agent shall promptly apply to the affected Obligations.
“Applicable Premium” is defined in the Agent Fee Letter.
“Approved Fund” means (a) any Person (other than a natural person) engaged in making, purchasing, holding, or investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit and that is advised, administered, or managed by a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender (or an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers, advises or manages a Lender); (b) with respect to any Lender that is an investment fund, any other investment fund that invests in loans and that is advised, administered or managed by the same investment advisor as that Lender or by an Affiliate of that investment advisor; and (c) any third party that provides “warehouse financing” to a Person described in clause (a) or (b) (and any Person described in clause (a) or (b) will also be deemed an Approved Fund with respect to any such third party providing warehouse financing).
“Asset Disposition” means the sale, sale leaseback, lease, assignment, disposition, division, or other transfer for value by any Loan Party to any Person of any asset of that Loan Party (including, the loss, destruction or damage of any thereof or any actual or threatened (in writing to any Loan Party) condemnation, confiscation, requisition, seizure or taking thereof) other than as permitted by clauses (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii) and (viii) of Section 11.4.
“Assignee” is defined in Section 15.6.1.
“Assignment Agreement” is defined in Section 15.6.1.
“Attorney Costs” means, with respect to any Person, all reasonable out-of-pocket invoiced fees and charges of any counsel to that Person and all court costs and similar legal expenses.
“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.
4
“Bail-In Legislation” means (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).
“Bankruptcy Code” means the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 (11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.), as amended and in effect from time to time and the regulations issued from time to time thereunder.
“Base Rate”
means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the sum of one-half of one percent (0.50%) per annum
and the Federal Funds Rate, (c) the sum of (x) LIBOR calculated for each such day determined two (2) Business Days prior to such day
(but for the avoidance of doubt, not less than one and one quarter percent (1.251.0%)
per annum), plus (y) the excess of the Applicable Margin for LIBOR Rate Loans over the Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans,
in each instance, as of such day and (d) three and one quarter percent (3.253.0%)
per annum. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in any of the foregoing shall be effective on the effective date of such change
in the “bank prime loan” rate, the Federal Funds Rate or LIBOR for an interest period of one (1) month.
“Base Rate Loan” means any Loan which bears interest at or by reference to the Base Rate.
“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.
“Borrower” is defined in the introductory clause of this Agreement.
“Borrower Representative” means the Company or any other Person appointed as “Borrower Representative” under and in accordance with Section 17.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the laws of, or are in fact closed in, New York and, in the case of a Business Day that relates to a LIBOR Loan, on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank eurodollar market.
“Capital Expenditures” means all expenditures that, in accordance with GAAP, would be required to be capitalized and shown on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including expenditures in respect of Capital Leases, but excluding any such expenditures made in connection with the replacement, substitution, or restoration of assets to the extent financed (i) from insurance proceeds (or other similar recoveries) paid on account of the loss of or damage to the assets being replaced or restored, (ii) with awards of compensation arising from the taking by eminent domain or condemnation of the assets being replaced, (iii) with assets traded or exchanged for that replacement, substitution, or restoration of assets, or (iv) with Net Cash Proceeds from a sale, lease, assignment, disposition, or other transfer for value of the type specifically described in clause (a) of the definition of “Asset Disposition.”
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“Capital Lease” means, with respect to any Person, any lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) any real or personal property by that Person that, in conformity with GAAP, is accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person and specifically excludes the effects of Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842).
“CARES Act” means the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or the CARES Act and applicable rules and regulations, as amended from time to time.
“CARES Forgivable Uses” means uses of proceeds of SBA PPP Loans that are eligible for forgiveness under Section 1106 of the CARES Act.
“CARES Payroll Costs” means “payroll costs” as defined in 15 U.S.C. 636(a)(36)(A)(viii) (as added to the Small Business Act by Section 1102 of the CARES Act).
“Cash Equivalent Investment” means, at any time, (a) any evidence of Debt, maturing not more than one year after that time, issued or guaranteed by the United States Government or any agency thereof; (b) commercial paper, maturing not more than one year from the date of issue, or corporate demand notes, in each case (unless issued by a Lender or its holding company) rated at least A-l by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. or P-l by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.; (c) any certificate of deposit, time deposit, or banker’s acceptance, maturing not more than one year after that time, or any overnight Federal Funds transaction that is issued or sold by any Lender or its holding company (or by a commercial banking institution that is a member of the Federal Reserve System and has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000); (d) any repurchase agreement entered into with any Lender (or commercial banking institution of the nature referred to in clause (c)) which (i) is secured by a fully perfected security interest in any obligation of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (c) above and (ii) has a market value at the time that repurchase agreement is entered into of not less than 100% of the repurchase obligation of that Lender (or other commercial banking institution) thereunder; (e) money market accounts or mutual funds which invest exclusively in assets satisfying the foregoing requirements; and (f) other short-term liquid investments approved in writing by Administrative Agent.
“Change in Law” means the adoption or phase-in of, or any change in, in each case after the date of this Agreement, any applicable law, rule, or regulation, or any change in the interpretation or administration of any applicable law, rule, or regulation by any governmental authority, central bank, or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank, or comparable agency. For purposes of this Agreement, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith, and 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 regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, will, in each case, be deemed to have been adopted and gone into effect after the date of this Agreement.
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“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events: (a) any Person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) (other than the Warrant Holders or any of its affiliates) (i) shall, directly or indirectly, have acquired beneficial ownership or control of (x) 35% or more on a fully diluted basis of (1) the voting interests in the Equity Interests in Holdings and/or (2) the economic interests in the Equity Interests in Holdings, or (ii) shall, directly or indirectly, have obtained the power (whether or not exercised) to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of Holdings (b) except to the extent a merger or consolidation transaction is expressly permitted by Section 11.4 or a liquidation or dissolution of a domestic Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of a Borrower is expressly permitted by Section 11.4, Holdings ceases to, directly or indirectly, own and control 100% of each class of the outstanding Equity Interests of each Subsidiary of Holdings; (c) a "Change of Control" or comparable term as that term is defined in the ABL Loan Agreement occurs; (d) a change in the majority of the directors of Holdings during any 24 month period, unless approved by the majority of directors serving at the beginning of such period; (e) the sale or transfer of all or substantially all assets of any Borrower (other than as a result of a transaction permitted by Section 11.4); (f) Daniel Friedberg is no longer the chairman of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of Holdings performing the same or similar role that he is performing on the Closing Date; provided, that, to the extent Daniel Friedberg dies or becomes incapacitated and is no longer able serve in such capacity, the Borrowers shall have ninety (90) days to select a replacement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; (g) Daniel Friedberg sells or otherwise transfers, directly or indirectly, any Equity Interests in Holdings (other than any transfer into an investment vehicle that is 100% owned and controlled Daniel Friedberg solely for estate planning purposes) to the extent that immediately after giving effect to such sale or transfer Daniel Friedberg would own and control, directly or indirectly, less than $2,000,000 of Equity Interests of Holdings (measured at the fair market value at the time of such sale or transfer); provided, however, that this clause (g) shall no longer apply upon the transfer or assignment of more than 50% of (x) (1) the Term A Loans funded on the Closing Date and (2) the Term B Loan Commitment as of the Closing Date (or, if the Term B Loan Commitment is terminated or no longer available after the Closing Date, the outstanding principal amount of the Term B Loan), in each case, to Persons that were not Lenders on the Closing Date (other than transfers to any of Monroe Capital’s Affiliates and investment vehicles), and (y) (1) the Term C Loans funded on the Third Amendment Effective Date and (2) the Term D Loan Commitment as of the Third Amendment Effective Date (or, if the Term D Loan Commitment is terminated or no longer available after the Third Amendment Effective Date, the outstanding principal amount of the Term D Loan), in each case, to Persons that were not Lenders on the Third Amendment Effective Date (other than transfers to any of Monroe Capital’s Affiliates and investment vehicles); or (h) any Person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) (other than the Warrant Holders or any of its affiliates) other than Daniel Friedberg has the power, directly or indirectly, to appoint more than one (1) director to the board of directors of Holdings.
“Closing Date” is defined in Section 12.1.
“Closing Date Acquisition” means that acquisition by Holdings or its Subsidiaries of assets of Green Remedies pursuant to the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement.
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“Closing Date Acquisition Agreement” means that certain Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2020 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified as permitted hereunder), by and among the Company, Holdings, Green Remedies and Alan Allred.
“Closing Date Seller Note” that certain Unsecured Subordinated Promissory Note executed by Holdings in favor of Green Remedies.
“Closing Date Seller Note Subordination Agreement” means that certain Subordination Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, between Green Remedies, the ABL Agent and the Administrative Agent and acknowledged by Holdings.
“Closing Date Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by Borrowers and the other Loan Parties of this Agreement, the ABL Loan Agreement Amendment, the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement and all other documents and agreements executed in connection with the execution of the foregoing, and all other transactions related to any of the foregoing and contemplated to have occurred on or as of the Closing Date, including the Closing Date Acquisition and the payment of premiums, fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing
“Closing Date Warrant” is defined in the definition of Warrants.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“Collateral” means “Collateral” (as defined in the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement) and any and all other property now or hereafter securing Obligations.
“Collateral Access Agreement” means an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent pursuant to which a mortgagee or lessor of real property on which collateral or books or records are stored or otherwise located, or a warehouseman, processor, or other bailee of inventory or other property owned by any Loan Party, acknowledges the Liens of Administrative Agent, waives or subordinates any Liens held by that Person on that property, and, in the case of any such agreement with a mortgagee or lessor, permits Administrative Agent reasonable access to and use of the applicable real property following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default to assemble, complete, and sell any Collateral stored or otherwise located on that real property.
“Collateral and Diligence Questionnaire” means a collateral and diligence questionnaire executed and delivered to Administrative Agent by a Loan Party.
“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement, each Mortgage, each Mortgage-Related Document, each Collateral Access Agreement, each Control Agreement, each Intellectual Property Security Agreement, and any other agreement or instrument pursuant to which any Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Person grants or purports to grant collateral to Administrative Agent for the benefit of Administrative Agent and the Lenders or otherwise relates to any such collateral.
“Commitment” means, as to any Lender, that Lender’s commitment to make Loans under this Agreement. The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Annex A.
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“Company” is defined in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Competitor” means any Person that is a bona fide direct operating company competitor or vendor of, and in the same industry (or an industry offering a substitute product or service) and market as, the Borrowers and its Subsidiaries.
“Compliance Certificate” means a Compliance Certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit B.
“Computation Period” means each period of 4 consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on the last day of a Fiscal Quarter.
“Consolidated EBITDA”
means, for any period, the sum of (a) EBITDA for such period, plus, (b) to the extent a Permitted Acquisition or permitted Asset
Disposition has been consummated during such period (each, a “Subject Transaction”), Consolidated EBITDA shall be
calculated with respect to such period on a pro forma basis (which pro forma adjustments shall be certified by a Chief Financial Officer
of the Company and may only be included in determining such compliance to the extent approved by Administrative Agent in its reasonable
discretion) using the historical financial statements of any business so acquired or to be acquired or sold or to be sold and the consolidated
financial statements of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, which shall be reformulated as if such Subject Transaction, and any Debt incurred
or repaid in connection therewith, had been consummated or incurred or repaid at the beginning of such period (and assuming that such
Debt bears interest during any portion of the applicable measurement period prior to the relevant acquisition at the weighted average
of the interest rates applicable to outstanding Loans incurred during such period); provided, that, notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in this Agreement, any adjustments specified in this clause (b) shall be subject to the approval of Administrative Agent
in its reasonable discretion for all purposes of this Agreement or shall be supported by a quality of earnings report from a reputable
third party reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (the foregoing calculation of Consolidated EBITDA in this clause (b), “Pro
Forma EBITDA”); provided, that, in no event shall the aggregate amount of addbacks and adjustments set forth in clauses
(a)(xv), (a)(xvi), (a)(xix) and (a)(xx) of the definition of EBITDA when combined with adjustments taken in calculating Pro Forma EBITDA
exceed twenty-five percent (2025%)
of Consolidated EBITDA in any period (calculated after giving effect to any such addbacks and adjustments).
“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to Holdings and its Subsidiaries for any period, in each case as determined in accordance with GAAP, the consolidated net income (or loss) of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for that period, excluding (a) any gains from Asset Dispositions; (b) any extraordinary gains; (c) the income (or loss) of any Loan Party during that period in which any other Person has a joint interest, except to the extent of the amount of cash dividends or other distributions actually paid in cash to that Loan Party during that period; (d) the income (or loss) of any Person during that period and accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of Holdings or is merged into or consolidated with a Loan Party or that Person’s assets are acquired by a Loan Party; (e) the income of any Loan Party to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Loan Party of that income is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its organizational documents, its governing documents, or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule; or governmental regulation applicable to that Loan Party; and (f) any gains from discontinued operations.
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“Contingent Liability” means, with respect to any Person, each obligation and liability of that Person and all such obligations and liabilities of that Person incurred pursuant to any agreement, undertaking or arrangement by which that Person: (a) guarantees, endorses or otherwise becomes or is contingently liable upon (by direct or indirect agreement, contingent or otherwise, to provide funds for payment, to supply funds to, or otherwise to invest in, a debtor, or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss) the indebtedness, dividend, obligation or other liability of any other Person in any manner (other than by endorsement of instruments in the course of collection), including any indebtedness, dividend or other obligation which may be issued or incurred at some future time; (b) guarantees the payment of dividends or other distributions upon the Equity Interests of any other Person; (c) undertakes or agrees (whether contingently or otherwise): (i) to purchase, repurchase, or otherwise acquire any indebtedness, obligation or liability of any other Person or any property or assets constituting security therefor, (ii) to advance or provide funds for the payment or discharge of any indebtedness, obligation or liability of any other Person (whether in the form of loans, advances, stock purchases, capital contributions, or otherwise), or to maintain solvency, assets, level of income, working capital, or other financial condition of any other Person, or (iii) to make payment to any other Person other than for value received; (d) agrees to lease property or to purchase securities, property, or services from any other Person with the purpose or intent of assuring the owner of that indebtedness or obligation of the ability of that other Person to make payment of the indebtedness or obligation; (e) to induce the issuance of, or in connection with the issuance of, any letter of credit for the benefit of any other Person; or (f) undertakes or agrees otherwise to assure a creditor against loss. The amount of any Contingent Liability will (subject to any limitation set forth in this Agreement) be deemed to be the outstanding principal amount (or maximum permitted principal amount, if larger) of the indebtedness, obligation or other liability guaranteed or supported thereby.
“Control Agreement” means each deposit account control agreement or securities account control agreement, as applicable, entered into by a Loan Party, each depository institution or securities intermediary party thereto and Administrative Agent in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent.
“Controlled Group” means all members of a controlled group of corporations, all members of a controlled group of trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control and all members of an affiliated service group which, together with any Borrower or any Subsidiary of a Borrower, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.
“Covered Entity” means 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).
“Covered Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.22.
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“Credit Facilities” means the credit facilities provided under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
“Curative Equity” means the making of capital contributions to Holdings or the issuance of common Equity Interests by Holdings (other than Disqualified Equity Interests), in each case that are concurrently contributed to one or more Borrowers, for the purposes of, and in accordance with, Section 13.4.
“Debt” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of that Person for borrowed money; (b) all indebtedness evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments; (c) all obligations of that Person as lessee under Capital Leases which have been or should be recorded as liabilities on a balance sheet of that Person in accordance with GAAP; (d) all obligations of that Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business); (e) all indebtedness secured by a Lien on the property of that Person, whether or not that indebtedness has been assumed by that Person, but if that Person has not assumed or otherwise become liable for that indebtedness, then that indebtedness will be measured at the fair market value of the property securing that indebtedness at the time of determination; (f) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, with respect to the face amount of all letters of credit (whether or not drawn), bankers’ acceptances, and similar obligations issued for the account of that Person; (g) all Hedging Obligations of that Person; (h) all Contingent Liabilities of that Person; (i) all Debt of any partnership of which that Person is a general partner; (j) all earn-outs and similar obligations; (k) all monetary obligations under any receivables factoring, receivable sale, or similar transactions and all monetary obligations under any synthetic lease, tax ownership/operating lease, off-balance sheet financing, or similar financing; and (l) any Disqualified Equity Interests of that Person or other equity instrument of that Person, whether or not mandatorily redeemable, that under GAAP is characterized as debt, whether pursuant to financial accounting standards board issuance No. 150 or otherwise.
“Debt to be Repaid” means the Debt listed on Schedule 12.1.
“Default” means any event that, if it continues uncured, will, with lapse of applicable cure or grace periods or notice or both, constitute an Event of Default.
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § § 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1 as applicable.
“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Loans required to be funded by it under this Agreement within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it under this Agreement; (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it under this Agreement within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute; (c) has, or has a parent company that has, (i) been deemed insolvent or become the subject of an Insolvency Proceeding, or (ii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; (d) has notified any Borrower, Administrative Agent, or any Lender that it does not intend to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement or has made a public statement to the effect that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations under this Agreement or under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit; or (e) has failed to confirm within three Business Days of a request by Administrative Agent that it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its obligations to fund Loans.
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“Disqualified Equity Interest” means any Equity Interest (other than the Warrants) that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interest into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition, in each case before the date that is 180 days after the later of the Termination Date or the Revolving Credit Maturity Date (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement), (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking-fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event are subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments); (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), in whole or in part; (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash or (d) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Debt or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests.
“Dollar” and the sign “$” mean lawful money of the United States of America.
“EBITDA” means, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus, to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income for such period (other than in the case of clauses (a)(xvi) and (a)(xviii)) and without duplication, the sum of:
(a)
(i) Interest Expense, net of interest income, plus
(ii) income, profits or franchise tax expense, plus
(iii) depreciation and amortization (including amortization of intangible assets and amortization of deferred financing fees or costs), plus
(iv) transaction expenses not capitalized and incurred on or before (x) the Closing Date or within one hundred eighty (180) days after the Closing Date in connection with the Closing Date Transactions and the Loans in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,400,000, (y) the Third Amendment Effective Date or within one hundred eighty (180) days after the Third Amendment Effective Date in connection with the RWS Acquisition and the Loans in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,500,000, plus
(v) non-recurring transaction fees, expenses and costs (including, without limitation, any of their respective advisors, legal counsels, agents or representatives) incurred in connection with the administration of, any amendment to or any consent or waiver under, the Loan Documents in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 in any Fiscal Year, plus
(vi) non-cash charges related to the impairment of goodwill, plus
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(vii) fees and expenses of Holdings payable in cash during such period to reimburse the costs and expenses of the board of directors (or other similar governing bodies) of Holdings; provided the aggregate amount of this clause (vii) shall not exceed $50,000 in any Fiscal Year, plus
(viii) non-cash expenses related to compensation arrangements pursuant to the grant of stock or other equity interest-based compensation and any option plan, plus
(ix) non-cash charges and expenses related to purchase accounting adjustments, plus
(x) other non-cash charges, expenses and losses (other than with respect to accounts receivable and/or inventory), plus
(xi)
non-recurring fees and transaction expenses not capitalized and incurred in connection with any consummated Permitted Acquisition
(whether on or prior to the closing date of such Permitted Acquisition or within one hundred eighty (180) days after such closing date)
in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 per Fiscal Year, plus
(xii)
non-recurring fees and transaction expenses not capitalized and incurred in connection with any unconsummated Permitted Acquisition
in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 per Fiscal Year600,000
in any trailing twelve month period, plus
(xiii) indemnification expenses that are actually reimbursed in cash by a third party and documented with notification to the Administrative Agent, plus
(xiv) expenses incurred to replace or repair tangible assets of the Holdings and its Subsidiaries to the extent actually reimbursed or with respect to which Borrowers have determined that a reasonable basis exists for reimbursement (and for which the applicable insurer has not rejected the claim), in each case in cash by third party insurance and only to the extent that such amount is in fact reimbursed within one hundred eighty (180) days of such expenses being incurred (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within such one hundred eighty (180) days), plus
(xv)
reasonable and documented integration costs in connection with Permitted Acquisitions in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000
per Fiscal Year1,000,000 in any trailing twelve month period, plus
(xvi)
general non-recurring and pro forma synergies, operating improvements, run-rate adjustments,
cost savings or restructurings (collectively, “Cost Savings”) of the business of Borrowers resulting from actions
of Borrowers already taken and to the extent satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and Borrowers determine in good faith that such
Cost Savings are reasonable and are factually supportable, as set forth in a certificate signed by the Senior Officer of the Borrowers
or Holdings certifying that (1) such Cost Savings are expected to have a continuing impact and are reasonably identifiable and quantifiable
(without duplication of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such action) and (2) such Cost Savings are reasonably
anticipated to be realized within 612 months;
plus
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(xvii) all non-cash charges of the Borrowers and Holdings relating to earn-outs and contingent acquisition consideration or changes in the valuation thereof to the extent related to Permitted Acquisitions; plus
(xviii) cash proceeds from any business interruption insurance covering lost profits to the extent not already included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, plus
(xix) non-recurring expenses or losses (other than with respect to lost profit, lost revenue or similar losses) attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic or a related epidemiological event in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 during the term of this Agreement, plus
(xx)
other extraordinary, unusual, or non-recurring expenses (including but not limited to consulting
fees) or losses not to exceed (1) $250,000850,000
in any Fiscal Yeartrailing twelve month period
ending on or prior to December 31, 2022 (or such greater amount to the extent approved in writing by Administrative Agent), and (2) $500,000
in any trailing twelve month period ending after December 31, 2022 (or such greater amount to the extent approved in writing
by Administrative Agent), plus
(xxi) non-recurring transaction fees, expenses and costs (including, without limitation, any of their respective advisors, legal counsels, agents or representatives) incurred in connection with any transactions in the public markets in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 in any Fiscal Year; plus
(xxii) non-recurring reasonable, documented charges and expenses related to recruiting expenses (including relocation and moving expenses), signing bonuses, severance expenses, restructuring, business separation expenses, office relocation, moving, lease termination and other, related expenses, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 per fiscal year, plus
(xxiii) costs and expenses for non-recurring IT related projects and upgrades not to exceed $750,000 (subject to the proviso at the end of this definition) in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement;
minus
(b) to the extent included in determining the Consolidated Net Income of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, all non-cash gains;
provided, that, notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein (1) in no event shall the aggregate amount of addbacks and adjustments set forth in clauses
(a)(xv), (a)(xvi), (a)(xix), (a)(xx), (a)(xxii) and (a)(xxiii) (but, solely with respect to clause (a)(xxiii), the only amounts included
in such aggregate cap shall be amounts above $250,000) and in calculating Pro Forma EBITDA exceed 2025%
of Consolidated EBITDA in any period (calculated after giving effect to any such addbacks and adjustments) and (2) in any event, EBITDA
shall not include (x) any addback resulting from any lost revenue, earnings, margins or associated costs and expenses due to the COVID-19
pandemic or other similar epidemiological event (other than those expressly set forth in clause (a)(xix) above), (y) any addback with
respect to any write-down or write-off of inventory or accounts receivable or (z) any income or reduction in expense attributable to
Debt funded under the CARES Act attributed to IAS whether acknowledged as grant income pursuant to IAS 20, or a contribution pursuant
to ASC 958-605 or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) for each calendar month set forth
in Schedule 1.1, EBITDA for all purposes shall be deemed to be the amount set forth in Schedule 1.1 opposed
such month and (y) for each calendar month set forth in Schedule 1.1(b), EBITDA attributable to RWS shall be deemed to be the amount
set forth in Schedule 1.1(b) opposed such month.
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“ECF Percentage”
means, with respect to the Excess Cash Flow for any Fiscal Year, the following percentages, as applicable: (a) if the Senior Debt to
EBITDA Ratio as of the last day of such Fiscal Year is less than 2.003.50
to 1.00 and Consolidated EBITDA is at least $5,000,000, 25%; and (b) otherwise, 50%.
“EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority; (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition; or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent;
“EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
“EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
“Eligible Assignee” means any commercial bank, any finance company, any investment fund or other fund that invests in loans, or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing, other than those institutions identified as Ineligible Lenders.
“Environmental Agreement” means each agreement of the Loan Parties with respect to any real estate subject to a Mortgage, pursuant to which Loan Parties agree to indemnify and hold harmless Administrative Agent and Lenders from liability under any Environmental Laws.
“Environmental Claims” means all claims, however asserted, by any governmental, regulatory or judicial authority or other Person alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law, or for release of Hazardous Substances or injury to the environment.
“Environmental Laws” means all present or future federal, state or local laws, statutes, common law duties, rules, regulations, ordinances and codes, together with all administrative or judicial orders, consent agreements, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any governmental authority, in each case relating to any matter arising out of or relating to public health and safety, or pollution or protection of the environment or workplace, including any of the foregoing relating to the presence, use, production, generation, handling, transport, treatment, storage, disposal, distribution, discharge, emission, release, threatened release, control or cleanup of any Hazardous Substance.
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“Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated, whether voting or non-voting) of that Person’s equity capital, whether now outstanding or issued or acquired after the Closing Date, including common shares, preferred shares, membership interests in a limited liability company, limited or general partnership interests in a partnership, interests in a trust, interests in other unincorporated organizations, or any other equivalent of any such ownership interest.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“Erroneous Payment” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 14.16(a).
“Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 14.16(d).
“Erroneous Payment Impacted Class” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 14.16(d).
“Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 14.16(d).
“Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 14.16(d).
“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.
“Event of Default” means any of the events described in Section 13.1.
“Excess Availability” means “Excess Availability” as such term is defined under the ABL Loan Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.
“Excess Cash Flow” means, for any period, the remainder of (a) the sum of (i) EBITDA for such period, plus (ii) any net decrease in net working capital during such period, minus (b) the sum, without duplication, of the following amounts to the extent such payments are permitted under the Loan Documents and are made using Internally Generated Cash:
(i) scheduled repayments of principal of all funded debt for borrowed money (other than (x) payments of revolving Debt that do not include a dollar-for-dollar commitment reduction and (y) payments of principal on the Closing Date Seller Note and any other unsecured subordinated promissory note issued in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or other Acquisition permitted hereunder) made during such period, plus
(ii) unfinanced Capital Expenditures, plus
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(iii) to the extent added back to Consolidated Net Income in the determination of EBITDA, all income, profits and franchise taxes paid in cash, during such period, net of tax refunds, plus
(iv) to the extent added back to Consolidated Net Income in the determination of EBITDA, all Interest Expense (including losses on hedging obligations) paid in cash by the Holdings and its Subsidiaries during such period net of interest income, plus
(v) to the extent added back to Consolidated Net Income in the determination of EBITDA, non-recurring transaction fees, expenses and costs paid in cash during such period to Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with any amendment to or consent or waiver under this Agreement, plus
(vi) to the extent added back to Consolidated Net Income in the determination of EBITDA, transaction expenses paid in cash not capitalized and incurred on or prior to the Closing Date or within one hundred eighty (180) days after the Closing Date in connection with this Agreement or the Closing Date Transactions, plus
(vii) any net increase in net working capital during such period, plus
(viii) the unfinanced portion of the purchase price (including, the unfinanced portion of any earn-out or other similar deferred purchase price obligation as and when made) paid in cash of any Permitted Acquisition, plus
(ix) non-cash addbacks to EBITDA for prior periods to the extent paid in cash during such period, plus
(x) any other expenses to the extent paid in cash and added back to Consolidated Net Income in the determination of EBITDA, plus
(xi) to the extent added back to Consolidated Net Income in the determination of EBITDA, non-recurring transaction fees, expenses and costs (including, without limitation, any of their respective advisors, legal counsels, agents or representatives) incurred in connection with any transactions in the public markets, plus
(xii) unrealized Cost Savings to the extent added back to Consolidated Net Income in the determination of EBITDA.
For the avoidance of doubt, Excess Cash Flow shall exclude the portion of EBITDA that is attributable to any Person or line of business acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition and that accrues prior to the closing date of such Permitted Acquisition.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Excluded Collateral” is defined in the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement.
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“Excluded Deposit Accounts” means (i) deposit accounts the balance of which consists exclusively of (A) withheld income taxes and federal, state or local employment taxes required to be paid to the Internal Revenue Service or state or local government agencies with respect to employees of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries and (B) 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 any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries; (ii) all segregated deposit accounts constituting (and the balance of which consists solely of funds set aside in connection with) payroll accounts, trust accounts, and accounts dedicated to the payment of accrued employee benefits, medical, dental and employee benefits claims to employees of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries and (iii) solely for the first 30 days following the Closing Date, the deposit account owned by Landfill Diversion Innovations, L.L.C. and held at Capital One with account number 00005732385225 so long as the cash balance in such account does not exceed $50,000 at any time.
“Excluded Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is prohibited by requirements of applicable law, any contractual obligation or any organizational document (to the extent such contractual restriction exists on the Closing Date or on the date such Subsidiary becomes a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Holdings and not entered into in contemplation thereof or for the purposes of circumventing the requirements of the Loan Documents) from guaranteeing the Obligations or which would require approval, consent, license or authorization from a Governmental Authority (unless such approval, consent, license or authorization is received).
“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to any payment made to Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any other Person pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the following: (a) Taxes based upon, or measured by, the recipient’s overall net income, overall net receipts, or overall net profits (including franchise Taxes imposed in lieu of any such Taxes and branch profits Taxes), in each case, that are (i) Other Connection Taxes, (ii) imposed in a jurisdiction in which the relevant recipient is organized, (iii) imposed in a jurisdiction in which the relevant recipient’s principal office is located, or (iv) imposed in a jurisdiction in which the relevant recipient’s lending office (or branch) in respect of which payments under this Agreement are made is located; and (b) any United States federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.
“Exit Fee” is defined in the Agent Fee Letter.
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of the Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), and any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code.
“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, a fluctuating interest rate equal for each day during the applicable period to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published for that day (or, if that day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if that rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for that day on those transactions received by Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by Administrative Agent. Administrative Agent’s determination of the Federal Funds Rate will be binding and conclusive absent manifest error.
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“Financial Statements” means, collectively, (i) the audited financial statements of Holdings and its Subsidiaries and of Green Remedies for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 and (ii) the unaudited balance sheets and related statements of income and cash flows of Holdings and its Subsidiaries and Green Remedies for the Fiscal Quarter ended June 30, 2020 and the fiscal month ended August 30, 2020.
“Fiscal Quarter” means a fiscal quarter of a Fiscal Year, which period is the 3-month period ending on the last day of each of March, June, September, and December of each year.
“Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of Holdings, which period will be the 12-month period ending on the last day of December of each year.
“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, for any period, the ratio for such period of (a) (1) EBITDA, minus (2) the sum of (A) income taxes paid or payable in cash by Holdings and its Subsidiaries and (B) all Capital Expenditures paid for with Internally Generated Cash, to (b) the sum for such period of (i) cash Interest Expense, plus (ii) scheduled principal payments of Debt (excluding earn-out payments) plus (iii) Restricted Payments, other than earn-out payments, paid in cash. For the purposes of determining the applicable amount described in clauses (a)(2)(A) and (b) above, for any period ending prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, such amount shall be equal to the applicable amount paid (or, in the case of taxes, taxes payable or accrued) from the Closing Date through the date of determination multiplied by a fraction, the denominator of which is the number of days from the Closing Date through the date of determination and the numerator of which is 365 days (i.e., such amounts shall be annualized). For the purposes of determining the applicable amount described in clause (b)(i) above, for any period ending prior to the first anniversary of the Third Amendment Effective Date, such amount shall be equal to the applicable amount paid from the Third Amendment Effective Date through the date of determination multiplied by a fraction, the denominator of which is the number of days from the Third Amendment Effective Date through the date of determination and the numerator of which is 365 days (i.e., such amounts shall be annualized). For the purposes of determining the applicable amount described in clause (b)(ii) above, for any monthly period ending prior to the first anniversary of the Third Amendment Effective Date, such amount attributable to scheduled principal payments of the Term C Loans shall be deemed to be $28,333.33.
“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any successor thereto.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth from time to time in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or agencies with similar functions of comparable stature and authority within the U.S. accounting profession) and the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination.
“Green Remedies” is defined in the recitals of this Agreement.
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“Guarantor” means Holdings and each other Person that guarantees the Obligation of the Borrowers.
“Guaranty” means each guaranty executed and delivered by any Guarantor, together with any joinders thereto and any other guaranty agreement executed by a Guarantor, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent. The Guaranty and Collateral Agreement is a Guaranty.
“Guaranty and Collateral Agreement” means the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement dated as of the date of this Agreement executed and delivered by each Loan Party, together with any joinders thereto and any other guaranty and collateral agreement executed by a Loan Party, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent.
“Hazardous Substances” means hazardous waste, hazardous substance, pollutant, contaminant, toxic substance, oil, hazardous material, chemical, or other substance regulated by any Environmental Law.
“Hedging Agreement” means any interest rate, currency or commodity swap agreement, cap agreement, collar agreement, spot foreign exchange, forward foreign exchange, foreign exchange option (or series of options) and any other agreement or arrangement designed to protect a Person against fluctuations in interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices.
“Hedging Obligation” means, with respect to any Person, any liability of that Person under any Hedging Agreement determined (a) for any date on or after the date that Hedging Agreement has been closed out and termination value determined in accordance therewith, using that termination value; and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), using the amount determined as the mark-to-market value for that Hedging Agreement, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in that Hedging Agreement.
“Holdings” is defined in the introductory clause of this Agreement.
“Incremental Cap” is defined in Section 2.1.2.
“Incremental Commitment” is defined in Section 2.1.2.
“Incremental Effective Date” is defined in Section 2.1.2.
“Incremental Facility” is defined in Section 2.1.2.
“Incremental Loan” is defined in Section 2.1.2.
“Indemnified Liabilities” is defined in Section 15.17.
“Indemnified Taxes” means all Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
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“Ineligible Lenders” means (a) those Persons set forth on Schedule 1.2, (b) any Competitor designated by the Borrower Representative (specifying such Competitor’s exact legal name) as an “Ineligible Lender” in a written notice (including an update to Schedule 1.2) that has been approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion after the effectiveness of this Agreement and not less than five (5) Business Days prior to such date of determination, but which shall not apply retroactively to disqualify any Persons that have previously acquired an assignment or participation interest in the Loans and/or Commitments as permitted herein and (c) any Affiliate of an Ineligible Lender described in clauses (a) and (b) of this definition that, without independent verification, investigation, or inquiry, is easily and obviously identifiable as an affiliate of such Person on the basis of its name; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this definition, any bank or other financial institution, any Person that is a bona fide debt, equity, or asset investment entity, any other Person that makes, purchases, holds, manages, advises, or trades any debt, equity, or asset investments in the ordinary course of business, Administrative Agent and its Affiliates and/or Related Funds, any Person that merely has an economic interest in any “Ineligible Lender” but has not been designated as an “Ineligible Lender” hereunder, and any Person that Company has removed from its status as an “Ineligible Lender” in any written notice approved by Administrative Agent and delivered to Lenders from time to time, are, in each case, hereby excluded from this definition; provide, that, no Person shall be an Ineligible Lender to the extent a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
“Insolvency Proceeding” means any case or proceeding commenced by or against a Person under any state, federal or foreign law for, or any agreement of a Person to, (a) the entry of an order for relief under the Bankruptcy Code, or any other insolvency, debtor relief, or debt adjustment law; (b) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, liquidator, administrator, conservator or other custodian for that Person or any part of its Property; or (c) an assignment or trust mortgage for the benefit of creditors.
“Intellectual Property Security Agreement” is used as defined in the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement.
“Interest Expense” means, for any period, as determined in accordance with GAAP, the consolidated interest expense of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for that period (including all imputed interest on Capital Leases).
“Internally Generated Cash” means, with respect to any period, any cash of Holdings or any Subsidiary generated during such period as a result of such Person’s operations, excluding Net Cash Proceeds, Other Receipts, any cash generated from any issuance of Equity Interests (or cash generated from cash contributions to Holdings or any Subsidiary) and any cash proceeds received from an incurrence of Debt (other than cash proceeds of revolving loans under the ABL Loan Agreement) or any other liability.
“Investment” means, with respect to any Person, any investment in another Person, whether by acquisition of any debt or Equity Interest, by making any loan or advance, by becoming obligated with respect to a Contingent Liability in respect of obligations of that other Person (other than travel and similar advances to employees in the ordinary course of business) or by making an Acquisition.
“Joint Liability Payment” is defined in Section 16.6.
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“Lender” is defined in the introductory clause of this Agreement.
“Lender Party” is defined in Section 15.17.
“LIBOR”
means the higher of (a) the offered rate for deposits in U.S. dollars in the London interbank market for a one-month interest period
publicly quoted from time to time by The Wall Street Journal (the “LIBOR Screen Rate”), as of 11:00 a.m. (London time)
on the day which is two (2) business days prior to the first day of such month (which shall not be less than 0% per annum) and (b) one
and one-quarter percent (1.251.00%)
per annum. If the Service shall no longer report LIBOR interest rates, or such interest rates cease to exist, such rate will be the rate
of interest per annum, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent at which deposits of Dollars in immediately available
funds are offered at 11:00 A.M. (London, England time) two (2) Business Days prior to the first day in such one-month period by major
financial institutions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in the London interbank market for such interest period for
the applicable principal amount on such date of determination.
“LIBOR Determination Date” means, with respect to each LIBOR Loan, the date that is two Business Days before the date of initial advance of that LIBOR Loan; and (b) each subsequent date that is two Business Days before the last Business Day of each month occurring while that LIBOR Loan is outstanding.
“LIBOR Loan” means any Loan which bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the LIBOR Rate.
“LIBOR Office” means, with respect to any Lender, the office or offices of that Lender which will be making or maintaining the LIBOR Loans of that Lender under this Agreement. A LIBOR Office of any Lender may be, at the option of that Lender, either a domestic or foreign office.
“LIBOR Rate” means the rate per annum equal to (i) LIBOR on each LIBOR Determination Date divided by (ii) a number determined by subtracting from 1.00 the then-stated maximum reserve percentage for determining reserves to be maintained by member banks of the Federal Reserve System for Eurocurrency funding or liabilities as defined in Regulation D (or any successor category of liabilities under Regulation D), or as LIBOR is otherwise determined by Administrative Agent in its sole and absolute discretion (including by way of substituting an alternative interest rate benchmark in the event that the LIBOR Rate is no longer available).
“LIBOR Screen Rate” is defined in the definition of LIBOR.
“LIBOR Successor Rate” is defined in Section 8.2.
“LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate, any conforming changes to the definitions of Base Rate, Business Day, LIBOR Determination Date, LIBOR Rate and LIBOR Screen Rate, the timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other related defined terms and provisions and administrative matters as may be necessary and appropriate, in the reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent, to reflect the adoption of such LIBOR Successor Rate and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such LIBOR Successor Rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent determines in consultation with the Borrower Representative).
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“Lien” means, with respect to any Person, any interest granted by that Person in any real or personal property, asset, or other right owned or being purchased or acquired by that Person (including an interest in respect of a Capital Lease) that secures payment or performance of any obligation and includes any mortgage, lien, encumbrance, title retention lien, charge, or other security interest of any kind, whether arising by contract, as a matter of law, by judicial process, or otherwise.
“Loan Account” means an account maintained under this Agreement by Administrative Agent on its books of account, and with respect to Borrowers, in which Borrowers will be charged with all Loans made to, and all other Obligations incurred by, any of the Borrowers.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the Notes, the Agent Fee Letter, each Collateral and Diligence Questionnaire, the Collateral Documents, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, and all documents, instruments, and agreements delivered in connection with the foregoing, as any of the foregoing are amended or modified in accordance with their respective terms, excluding the Warrants, the Warrant Letter Agreement and any other documents related solely thereto.
“Loan Party” means each Borrower and each Guarantor.
“Loan” or “Loans” means, as the context may require, any of the Term Loans.
“Margin Stock” means any “margin stock” as defined in Regulation U.
“Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the financial condition, operations, assets, business, profitability, or properties of the Loan Parties taken as a whole, (b) a material impairment of the ability of any Loan Party to perform any of the Obligations under any Loan Document, (c) a material adverse effect upon any substantial portion of the Collateral under the Collateral Documents or upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Loan Party of any Loan Document or the ability of Administrative Agent to enforce or collect any Obligations or to realize upon any material portion of the Collateral, or (d) cancellation or termination of the agreements referenced in clauses (a) and (b) of the definition of “Voting Agreements”, other than by their terms.
“Material Contract” means, with respect to any Person, (a) the Related Agreements; (b) each contract or agreement to which that Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a party involving a customer of such Person that generates 15% or more of consolidated gross profit for such Person or its Subsidiaries in any Fiscal Year; (c) the Voting Agreements and (d) all other contracts or agreements as to which the breach, nonperformance, cancellation, or failure to renew by any party could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
“Monroe Capital” is defined in the introductory clause of this Agreement.
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“Mortgage” means a mortgage, deed of trust, leasehold mortgage or similar instrument granting Administrative Agent a Lien on real property of any Loan Party.
“Mortgage-Related Documents” means with respect to any real property subject to a Mortgage, the following, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent: (a) a mortgagee title policy (or binder therefor) covering Administrative Agent’s interest under the Mortgage, in a form and amount and by an insurer acceptable to Administrative Agent, which must be fully paid on that effective date; (b) all assignments of leases, estoppel letters, attornment agreements, consents, waivers, and releases as Administrative Agent reasonably requires with respect to other Persons having an interest in the real estate; (c) a current, as-built survey of the real estate, containing a metes-and-bounds property description and certified by a licensed surveyor acceptable to Administrative Agent; (d) a life-of-loan flood hazard determination and, if the real estate is located in a flood plain, an acknowledged notice to borrower and flood insurance in an amount, with endorsements and by an insurer acceptable to Administrative Agent; (e) a current appraisal of the real estate, prepared by an appraiser acceptable to Administrative Agent, and in form and substance satisfactory to Required Lenders; (f) an environmental assessment, prepared by environmental engineers acceptable to Administrative Agent, and accompanied by all reports, certificates, studies, or data as Administrative Agent reasonably requires, which must all be in form and substance satisfactory to Required Lenders; and (g) an Environmental Agreement and all other documents, instruments, or agreements as Administrative Agent reasonably requires with respect to any environmental risks regarding the real estate.
“Multiemployer Pension Plan” means a multiemployer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any Borrower or any other member of the Controlled Group may have any liability.
“Net Cash Proceeds” means:
(a) with respect to any Asset Disposition, the aggregate cash proceeds (including cash proceeds received pursuant to policies of insurance or by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note, installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received) received by any Loan Party pursuant to that Asset Disposition net of (i) the direct costs relating to that sale, transfer or other disposition (including sales commissions and legal, accounting and investment banking fees); (ii) taxes paid or reasonably estimated by Borrowers to be payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements); and (iii) amounts required to be applied to the repayment of any Debt secured by a Lien on the asset subject to that Asset Disposition (other than the Loans);
(b) with respect to any issuance of Equity Interests, the aggregate cash proceeds received by any Loan Party pursuant to that issuance, net of the direct costs relating to that issuance (including sales and underwriters’ commissions); and
(c) with respect to any issuance of Debt, the aggregate cash proceeds received by any Loan Party pursuant to that issuance, net of the direct costs of that issuance (including up-front, underwriters’ and placement fees).
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“Non-Consenting Lender” is defined in Section 15.1(j).
“Non-U.S. Lender” is defined in Section 7.6.4(a).
“Note” means a promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit A.
“Notice of Borrowing” is defined in Section 2.2.2(a).
“Obligations” means all obligations (monetary (including post-petition interest, allowed or not) or otherwise) of any Loan Party under this Agreement and any other Loan Document, including Attorney Costs, all in each case howsoever created, arising or evidenced, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, now or hereafter existing, or due or to become due.
“OFAC” is defined in Section 9.30.
“Operating Lease” means any lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) any real or personal property by any Loan Party, as lessee, other than any Capital Lease.
“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any recipient of any payment under the Loan Documents, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Taxes (other than a connection arising from such recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to, or enforced, any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or any Loan Document).
“Other Receipts” means any cash received by or paid to or for the account of any Loan Party consisting of (a) representation and warranty insurance in connection with an acquisition, (b) escrow amounts released in connection with an acquisition, and (c) any purchase price adjustment received in connection with any purchase.
“Other Taxes” means 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 under this Agreement or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, but excluding Excluded Taxes.
“Participant” is defined in Section 15.6.2.
“Participant Register” is defined in Section 15.6.2.
“Patriot Act” is defined in Section 15.16.
“Payment in Full” means (a) the payment in full in cash of all Loans and other Obligations, other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no claims have been asserted; (b) the termination of all Commitments; and (c) the release of any claims of the Loan Parties against Administrative Agent and Lenders arising on or before the payment date.
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“Payment Conditions”
means, with respect to any applicable transaction, (i) no Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately after giving effect to
such transaction, (ii) the average of the Excess Availability amounts (calculated on a pro forma basis to include the making of any Loans
in connection with such transaction or any credit extensions under the ABL Loan Agreement) for each Business Day in the thirty (30) day
period prior to such transaction shall be greater than or equal to the greater of (x) $3,000,000 and (y) 20% of the Line Cap (as defined
under the ABL Loan Agreement), (iii) Excess Availability (calculated as set forth above) on the date of such proposed transaction shall
be greater than or equal to the greater of (x) $3,000,000 and (y) 20% of the Line Cap (as defined under the ABL Loan Agreement), (iv)
the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such transaction) for the most recently ended
trailing twelve calendar month period shall not be less than 1.10 to 1.00 (but, solely for purposes of determining whether payments on
the Closing Date Seller Note are permitted, the minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio required under such Section shall be 1.25 to 1.00),
(v) before and after giving effect to such transaction, the Loan Parties are in compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth
in Section 11.12 as of the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to
Section 10.1.2(b) and (vi) so long as the ABL Obligations have not been paid in full and the ABL Loan Agreement and the commitments
hereunder haverhave terminated, the “Payment
Conditions” as defined in the ABL Loan Agreement have been satisfied.
“Payment Recipient” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 14.16(a).
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any entity succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.
“Pension Plan” means a “pension plan,” as that term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, which is subject to Title IV of ERISA or the minimum funding standards of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Pension Plan), and as to which any Borrower or any Subsidiary (including any contingent liability of any member of Borrowers’ Controlled Group) may have any liability, including any liability by reason of having been a substantial employer within the meaning of Section 4063 of ERISA at any time during the preceding five years, or by reason of being deemed to be a contributing sponsor under Section 4069 of ERISA.
“Permitted Acquisition” means any Acquisition by any Borrower where:
(a)(d)
the business, division or assets acquired are for use, or the Person acquired is engaged, in the same or a related, adjacent or
vertically integrated line of business engaged in by the Loan Parties on the Closing Date;
(b)(e)
immediately before and after giving effect to that Acquisition, no Default or Event of Default exists;
(c)(f)
the aggregate consideration (cash and non-cash) to be paid by the Loan Parties (including any Debt assumed or issued in connection
therewith, the maximum amount payable in connection with any deferred purchase price obligation (including any earn-out obligation) and
the value of any Equity Interests of any Loan Party issued to the seller in connection with that Acquisition) in connection with (i)
that Acquisition (or any series of related Acquisitions) is less than $15,000,000, and (ii) all Acquisitions is less than $52,500,000;
provided, that the consideration paid in connection with the RWS Acquisition shall be excluded for purposes
of the foregoing clauses (c)(i) and (c)(ii);
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(d)(g)
the Senior Net Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis immediately after giving effect to that Acquisition does not exceed (A) the
maximum Senior Net Leverage Ratio permitted under Section 11.12 for the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter immediately prior to
that Acquisition minus (B) 0.25; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (x)
with respect to the Permitted Acquisition to be funded with the proceeds of the Term B Loan, the Term B Loan Leverage Condition
shall apply rather than this clause (gd), and (y) with
respect to the Permitted Acquisition to be funded with the proceeds of the Term D Loan, the Term D Loan Leverage Condition shall apply
rather than this clause (d);
(e)(h)
in the case of the Acquisition of any Person, that Acquisition is non-hostile and the board of directors or similar governing
body of that Person has approved that Acquisition;
(f)(i)
not less than 15 Business Days prior to that Acquisition (or any later date approved by Administrative Agent in its sole discretion),
Administrative Agent has received an acquisition summary with respect to the Person and/or business, division or assets to be acquired,
which summary must include a reasonably detailed description thereof (including financial information) and operating results (including
financial statements for the most recent 12-month period for which they are available and as otherwise available), the terms and conditions,
including economic terms, of the proposed Acquisition, and Borrowers’ calculation of pro forma Consolidated EBITDA relating thereto;
(g)(j)
not less than five Business Days prior to that Acquisition (or any later date approved by Administrative Agent in its sole discretion),
Administrative Agent has received complete executed or conformed copies of each material document, instrument and agreement to be executed
in connection with that Acquisition together with all lien search reports and lien release letters and other documents as Administrative
Agent reasonably requires to evidence the termination of Liens on the assets, business, or division to be acquired;
(h)(k)
Borrowers’ computation of pro forma Consolidated EBITDA is reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent;
(i)(l)
the business, division, assets or Person acquired generated positive EBITDA (calculated in a manner acceptable to Administrative
Agent) for each of the twelve calendar months immediately preceding that Acquisition;
(j)(m)
the Loan Parties shall have satisfied the Payment Conditions after giving effect to that Acquisition;
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(k)(n)
Borrower Representative has provided Administrative Agent with pro forma forecasted balance sheets, profit and loss statements,
and cash flow statements of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, all prepared on a basis consistent with Holdings’ and its Subsidiaries’
historical financial statements, subject to adjustments to reflect projected consolidated operations following the Acquisition;
(l)(o)
Borrower Representative has provided Administrative Agent with reasonable calculations evidencing that on a pro forma basis created
by adding the historical combined financial statements of Holdings and its Subsidiaries (including the combined financial statements
of any other Person or assets that were the subject of a prior Permitted Acquisition during the relevant period) to the historical consolidated
financial statements of the entity to be acquired (or the historical financial statements related to the division, business or assets
to be acquired) pursuant to the Acquisition, subject to adjustments to reflect projected consolidated operations following the Acquisition,
Holdings and its Subsidiaries are projected to be in compliance with the financial covenants for each of the twelve months ended one
year after the proposed date of consummation of that Acquisition;
(m)(p)
the provisions of Section 10.9 have been satisfied, including, without limitation, simultaneously with the closing of that
Acquisition, the target company (if that Acquisition is structured as a purchase of equity) or a Borrower (if that Acquisition is structured
as a purchase of assets or a merger and a Borrower is the surviving entity) executes and delivers to Administrative Agent (i) all documents
necessary to grant to Administrative Agent a first-priority Lien (subject to the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) in all of
the assets of each of the target company or surviving company and its Subsidiaries, subject to the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement,
each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, and (ii) an unlimited Guaranty of the Obligations, or at
the option of Administrative Agent in Administrative Agent’s absolute discretion, a joinder agreement satisfactory to Administrative
Agent in which each of the target company or surviving company and its Subsidiaries becomes a borrower under this Agreement and assumes
primary joint and several liability for the Obligations;
(n)(q)
if the Acquisition is structured as a merger, a Borrower will be the surviving entity;
(o)(r)
Administrative Agent has received a copy of the proposed capital structure after giving pro forma effect to such Acquisition;
(p)(s)
to the extent readily available to Borrowers, Borrower Representative has provided Administrative Agent with all other information
with respect to that Acquisition as reasonably requested by Administrative Agent (including, without limitation, all third-party due-diligence
reports and quality-of-earnings reports); and
(q)(t)
concurrently with the consummation of that Acquisition, a Senior Officer of the Borrower Representative shall have delivered to
the Administrative Agent a certificate stating that the foregoing conditions in this definition have been satisfied.
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“Permitted Lien” means a Lien expressly permitted under this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.2.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, association, governmental authority or unit, or any other entity, whether acting in an individual, fiduciary or other capacity.
“Prime Rate” means, for any day, the rate of interest in effect for that day equal to the prime rate in the United States as reported from time to time in The Wall Street Journal (or other authoritative source selected by Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), or as Prime Rate is otherwise determined by Administrative Agent in its sole and absolute discretion. Administrative Agent’s determination of the Prime Rate will be conclusive, absent manifest error. Any change in the Prime Rate will take effect at the opening of business on the day of that change. In the event The Wall Street Journal (or any other authoritative source) publishes a range of “prime rates,” the Prime Rate will be the highest of the “prime rates.”
“Proceeding” means any investigation, inquiry, litigation, review, hearing, suit, claim, audit, arbitration, proceeding or action (in each case, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or informal) commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any governmental authority or arbitrator.
“Pro Rata Share” means:
(a) with respect to a Lender’s obligation to make a Term A Loan and receive payments of interest, fees, and principal with respect thereto, (i) prior to the Term A Loan Commitment being terminated or reduced to zero, the percentage obtained by dividing (A) that Lender’s Term A Loan Commitment plus the unpaid principal amount of that Lender’s Term A Loans, by (B) the aggregate Term A Loan Commitment of all Lenders plus the unpaid principal amount of all Term A Loans of all Lenders; and (ii) from and after the time the Term A Loan Commitment has been terminated or reduced to zero, the percentage obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of that Lender’s Term A Loans by (B) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Term A Loans;
(b) with respect to a Lender’s obligation to make Term B Loans and receive payments of interest, fees, and principal with respect thereto, (i) prior to the Term B Loan Commitment being terminated or reduced to zero, the percentage obtained by dividing (A) that Lender’s Term B Loan Commitment plus the unpaid principal amount of that Lender’s Term B Loans, by (B) the aggregate Term B Loan Commitment of all Lenders plus the unpaid principal amount of all Term B Loans of all Lenders; and (ii) from and after the time the Term B Loan Commitment has been terminated or reduced to zero, the percentage obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of that Lender’s Term B Loans by (B) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Term B Loans;
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(c) with respect to a Lender’s obligation to make a Term C Loan and receive payments of interest, fees, and principal with respect thereto, (i) prior to the Term C Loan Commitment being terminated or reduced to zero, the percentage obtained by dividing (A) that Lender’s Term C Loan Commitment plus the unpaid principal amount of that Lender’s Term C Loans, by (B) the aggregate Term C Loan Commitment of all Lenders plus the unpaid principal amount of all Term C Loans of all Lenders; and (ii) from and after the time the Term C Loan Commitment has been terminated or reduced to zero, the percentage obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of that Lender’s Term C Loans by (B) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Term C Loans;
(d) with respect to a Lender’s obligation to make Term D Loans and receive payments of interest, fees, and principal with respect thereto, (i) prior to the Term D Loan Commitment being terminated or reduced to zero, the percentage obtained by dividing (A) that Lender’s Term D Loan Commitment plus the unpaid principal amount of that Lender’s Term D Loans, by (B) the aggregate Term D Loan Commitment of all Lenders plus the unpaid principal amount of all Term D Loans of all Lenders; and (ii) from and after the time the Term D Loan Commitment has been terminated or reduced to zero, the percentage obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of that Lender’s Term D Loans by (B) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Term D Loans;
(e) with respect to a Lender’s obligation to make Incremental Loans and receive payments of interest, fees, and principal with respect thereto, the percentage obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of that Lender’s Incremental Loans by (B) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Incremental Loans; and
(df) with
respect to all other matters as to a particular Lender, (i) prior to the time that the Commitments have been terminated or reduced to
zero, the percentage obtained by dividing (A) that Lender’s Term A Loan Commitment plus the aggregate unpaid principal amount
of that Lender’s Term A Loans plus that Lender’s Term B Loan Commitment plus the aggregate unpaid principal
amount of that Lender’s Term B Loans plus that Lender’s Term C Loan Commitment plus the aggregate
unpaid principal amount of that Lender’s Term C Loans plus that Lender’s Term D Loan Commitment plus the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of that Lender’s Term D Loans, by (B) the Term A Loan Commitment of all Lenders plus the aggregate
unpaid principal amount all Term A Loans of all Lenders plus the aggregate Term B Loan Commitment of all Lenders plus the
aggregate unpaid principal amount all Term B Loans of all Lenders plus the Term C Loan Commitment of all
Lenders plus the aggregate unpaid principal amount all Term C Loans of all Lenders plus the aggregate Term D Loan Commitment of all Lenders
plus the aggregate unpaid principal amount all Term D Loans of all Lenders; and (ii) if the Commitments have been terminated
or reduced to zero, the percentage obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of that Lender’s Term A Loans
plus the aggregate unpaid principal amount of that Lender’s Term B Loans plus the aggregate
unpaid principal amount of that Lender’s Term C Loans plus the aggregate unpaid principal amount of that Lender’s Term D
Loans plus the aggregate unpaid principal amount of that Lender’s Incremental Loans by (B) the aggregate unpaid principal
amount of all Term A Loans of all Lenders plus the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Term B Loans of all Lenders plus
the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Term C Loans of all Lenders plus the aggregate unpaid principal
amount of all Term D Loans of all Lenders plus the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Incremental Loans of all Lenders.
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“Protective Advances” is defined in Section 14.15.
“PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
“QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).
“QFC Credit Support” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.22.
“Qualified Equity Interest” means any Equity Interest issued by Holdings (and not by one or more of its Subsidiaries) that is not a Disqualified Equity Interest.
“Regulation D” means Regulation D of the FRB.
“Regulation U” means Regulation U of the FRB.
“Related Agreements” means the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement and all agreements, instruments, and documents executed or delivered in connection with the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement and the Related Transaction.
“Related Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities, that is managed, advised, or administered by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender, or (c) an entity or affiliate of an entity that manages, administers, or advises a Lender.
“Related Transaction” is defined in the recitals of this Agreement.
“Reportable Event” means a reportable event as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder as to which the PBGC has not waived the notification requirement of Section 4043(a), or the failure of a Pension Plan to meet the minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code (without regard to whether the Pension Plan is a plan described in Section 4021(a)(2) of ERISA) or under Section 302 of ERISA.
“Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders whose Pro Rata Shares exceed 50% as determined pursuant to clause (d) of the definition of “Pro Rata Share”; provided that the Pro Rata Shares held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender will be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.
“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
“Restricted Payment” is defined in Section 11.3.
“RWS” means RWS Facility Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and each of its Subsidiaries.
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“RWS Acquisition” means that acquisition by Holdings or its Subsidiaries of all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of RWS pursuant to the RWS Acquisition Agreement.
“RWS Acquisition Agreement” means that certain Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of the Third Amendment Effective Date (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified as permitted hereunder), by and among Rome Holdings, LLC, M&A Business Consulting, Inc., the other sellers party thereto and Quest Sustainability Services, Inc.
“RWS Acquisition Documents” means the RWS Acquisition Agreement and all agreements, instruments, and documents executed or delivered in connection with the RWS Acquisition.
“SBA PPP Loans” means all the one-time loans (and any potential future loans under such similar program) obtained by any of the Borrowers incurred under 15 U.S.C. 636(a)(36) (as added to the Small Business Act by Section 1102 of the CARES Act) under the Small Business Act, as amended.
“SEC”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental authority succeeding to any of the principal functions thereof.
“Scheduled Unavailability Date” means the specific date the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate or a governmental authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which LIBOR Screen Rate shall no longer be made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental authority succeeding to any of the principal functions thereof.
“Senior Officer” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any of the president, chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, or the treasurer of that Loan Party.
“Senior Net Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Total Senior Debt as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended twelve month period, and if such date is not the last day of a Fiscal Quarter, for the most recently ended twelve month period for which financials have been delivered.
“Specified Event of Default” means any Event of Default pursuant to Sections 13.1.1, 13.1.4 or 13.1.5 (but in the case of Section 13.1.5, solely with respect to a failure to comply with the provisions of Sections 10.1.1, 10.1.2, 10.1.3 and 11.12).
“Specified Financial Covenant” is defined in Section 13.4(a).
“Specified Financial Covenant Default” is defined in Section 13.4(a).
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other entity of which that Person owns, directly or indirectly, outstanding Equity Interests having more than 50% of the ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other managers of that corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other entity. Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference to Subsidiaries in this Agreement refers to Subsidiaries of Holdings.
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“Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.22.
“Taxes” means any and all present and future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, charges, similar fees or withholdings imposed under applicable law and/or by any governmental authority that are in the nature of a tax, and any and all liabilities (including interest and penalties and other additions to taxes) with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Term A Loan” is defined in Section 2.1.1(a).
“Term A Loan Commitment”
means, as to any Lender, that Lender’s commitment to make Term A Loans under this Agreement. The amount of each Lender’s
Term A Loan Commitment as of the Closing Date is set forth on Annex A. The initialAs
of the Closing Date, the aggregate amount of the Term A Loan Commitments of all Lenders iswas
$11,500,000.
“Term B Loan” is defined in Section 2.1.1(b).
“Term B Loan Availability Period” means the period (i) beginning on and including the day after the Closing Date and (ii) ending on and including the earlier of (A) the date the aggregate Term B Loan Commitments are reduced to zero and (B) December 15, 2021.
“Term B Loan Commitment” means, as to any Lender, that Lender’s commitment to make Term B Loans under this Agreement. The amount of each Lender’s Term B Loan Commitment as of the Closing Date is set forth on Annex A. The initial aggregate amount of the Term B Loan Commitments of all Lenders is $12,500,000.
“Term B Loan Leverage Condition” means, upon the incurrence of any Term B Loans, after giving effect to such incurrence on a pro forma basis for the most recently completed trailing twelve month period for which financial statements have been delivered under Section 10.1.2(b) (1) the Senior Net Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 3.60 to 1.00 and (2) the Borrowers shall be in compliance with the other financial covenants set forth in Section 11.12; provided, that (x) in no event shall the proceeds of any Term B Loans be netted in calculating the foregoing Senior Net Leverage Ratio and (y) solely for the purposes of calculating the Term B Loan Leverage Condition, the Senior Net Leverage Ratio will be measured without giving effect to any leverage incremental to the stated level for the applicable test period.
“Term B Loan Unused Fee” is defined in Section 5.1.1.
“Term C Loan” is defined in Section 2.1.1(c).
“Term C Loan Commitment” means, as to any Lender, that Lender’s commitment to make Term C Loans under this Agreement. The amount of each Lender’s Term C Loan Commitment as of the Third Amendment Effective Date is set forth on Annex A. The initial aggregate amount of the Term C Loan Commitments of all Lenders is $34,700,000.
“Term D Loan” is defined in Section 2.1.1(d).
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“Term D Loan Availability Period” means the period (i) beginning on and including the first Business Day after the Third Amendment Effective Date and (ii) ending on and including the earlier of (A) the date the aggregate Term D Loan Commitments are reduced to zero and (B) the date that is six (6) months after the Third Amendment Effective Date.
“Term D Loan Commitment” means, as to any Lender, that Lender’s commitment to make Term D Loans under this Agreement. The amount of each Lender’s Term D Loan Commitment as of the Third Amendment Effective Date is set forth on Annex A. The initial aggregate amount of the Term D Loan Commitments of all Lenders is $16,000,000.
“Term D Loan Leverage Condition” means, upon the incurrence of any Term D Loans, after giving effect to such incurrence on a pro forma basis for the most recently completed trailing twelve month period for which financial statements have been delivered under Section 10.1.2(b) (1) the Senior Net Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 4.10 to 1.00 and (2) the Borrowers shall be in compliance with the other financial covenants set forth in Section 11.12; provided, that (x) in no event shall the proceeds of any Term D Loans be netted in calculating the foregoing Senior Net Leverage Ratio and (y) solely for the purposes of calculating the Term D Loan Leverage Condition, the Senior Net Leverage Ratio will be measured without giving effect to any leverage incremental to the stated level for the applicable test period.
“Term D Loan Unused Fee” is defined in Section 5.1.2.
“Term Loan”
means, as the context may require, any Term A LoansLoan,
any Term B Loan, any Term C Loan, any Term D Loan and/or any Incremental Loan.
“Term Loan Priority Collateral” is defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.
“Termination Date” means the earlier to occur of (a) October 19, 2025, or (b) any other date on which the Commitments terminate pursuant to Section 6 or Section 13.
“Termination Event” means, with respect to a Pension Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, the following: (a) a Reportable Event; (b) the withdrawal of any Borrower or any other member of the Controlled Group from that Pension Plan during a plan year in which that Borrower or other member of the Controlled Group was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or was deemed such under Section 4068(f) of ERISA; (c) the termination of that Pension Plan, the filing of a notice of intent to terminate the Pension Plan or the treatment of an amendment of that Pension Plan as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA; (d) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate that Pension Plan; or (e) any event or condition that might reasonably constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or appointment of a trustee to administer, that Pension Plan.
“Third Amendment Effective Date” means December 7, 2021.
“Total Plan Liability” means, at any time, the present value of all vested and unvested accrued benefits under all Pension Plans, determined as of the then most recent valuation date for each Pension Plan, using PBGC actuarial assumptions for single employer plan terminations.
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“Total Senior Debt”
means all (a) Debt of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (excluding (u) contingent
obligations in respect of Contingent Liabilities (except to the extent constituting (1) Contingent Liabilities in respect of Debt of
a Person other than any Loan Party, or (2) Contingent Liabilities in respect of undrawn letters of credit), (v) Debt of any Borrower
to any other Loan Party and Debt of any Subsidiary to any Borrower or to any other Subsidiary, (w) any Debt that is unsecured or contractually
subordinated to the Obligations in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (x) obligations with respect
to earn-out payments for Permitted Acquisitions until due and payable, and (y) obligations for any leased real property to the extent
unsecured and not constituting debt for borrowed money) minus (b) unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of Holdings and
its Subsidiaries in deposit accounts subject to Control Agreements in favor of the ABL Agent and the Administrative Agent not to exceed
$1,000,000 (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the cash proceeds of any Term B Loans, Term D
Loans or any Incremental Facilities) as of any applicable date of determination; provided, that for all purposes of calculating
the Senior Net Leverage Ratio under the Loan Documents (other than (x) for the avoidance of doubt, calculation of the leverage ratio
set forth in Section 12.1.1912.1.18 and
(y) any calculation of the Term B Loan Leverage Condition or Term D Loan Leverage Condition solely
to the extent the Borrowers are in compliance with the financial
covenant set forth in Section 11.12.2 as of the last day of the most recently ended twelve fiscal month period for which financial
statements have been delivered on a pro forma basis and after giving full effect to the Revolver Averaging Mechanic (as defined below)),
the amount of outstanding revolving loans under the ABL Loan Agreement for purposes of clause (a) above shall be calculated by taking
the average of such outstanding revolving loans at the end of each business day for the trailing ninety (90) day period (or, if prior
to the date that is ninety (90) days following the Closing Date, the period from the Closing Date to the date the Senior Net Leverage
Ratio is being tested) (the averaging of such outstanding revolving loans, the “Revolver Averaging Mechanic”).
“Type” is defined in Section 2.2.1.
“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York.
“UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.
“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.
“Unfunded Liability” means the amount (if any) by which the present value of all vested and unvested accrued benefits under all Pension Plans exceeds the fair market value of all assets allocable to those benefits, all determined as of the then most recent valuation date for each Pension Plan, using PBGC actuarial assumptions for single employer plan terminations.
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“Unused
Fee” is defined in Section 5.1.
“Unused Fee Rate” means 0.50% per annum.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regimes” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 15.22.
“Voting Agreements” means (a) that certain Voting Agreement, dated as of April 11, 2019, by and among (i) Mitchell A. Saltz, Jeffery D. Forte, Brian Dick and each of their respective affiliates, (ii) Hampstead Park Capital Management, LLC and (iii) Holdings, (b) that certain Stock Grant Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among Holdings and Green Remedies, in each case, as the same may be amended or otherwise modified as permitted hereunder and (c) any similar agreements or arrangements relating to voting matters and/or affecting the constitution of the board of directors of Holdings.
“Warrant Holder” means Monroe Capital or any of its affiliates or controlled investment vehicles.
“Warrant Letter Agreement” means that certain Letter Agreement, dated as of the date here, by and among Holdings and the Warrant Holder, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time as permitted thereunder.
“Warrants” means, collectively (a) that certain Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, dated as of the Closing Date (the “Closing Date Warrant”), issued by Holdings to the Warrant Holder and (b) any further warrant issued by Holdings to the Warrant Holder.
“Withholding Certificate” is defined in Section 7.6.4(a).
“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” means, as to any Person, a Subsidiary all of the Equity Interests of which (except directors’ qualifying Equity Interests) are at the time directly or indirectly owned by that Person and/or another Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of that Person. Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference to Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries refers to Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of Holdings.
“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.
1.2 Certain Interpretive Provisions.
(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.
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(b) Section, Annex, Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.
(c) The term “including” is not limiting and means “including without limitation.”
(d) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”, and the word “through” means “to and including.”
(e) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, (i) references to agreements (including this Agreement and the other Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments include all subsequent amendments, restatements, supplements, and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that those amendments, restatements, supplements, and other modifications are not prohibited by the terms of any Loan Document, and (ii) references to any statute or regulation are to be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions amending, replacing, supplementing, or interpreting that statute or regulation.
(f) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents may use several different limitations, tests, or measurements to regulate the same or similar matters. All such limitations, tests, and measurements are cumulative and each is to be performed in accordance with its terms.
(g) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents are the result of negotiations among and have been reviewed by counsel to Administrative Agent, Borrowers, the Lenders, and the other parties thereto and are the products of all parties. Accordingly, they are not to be construed against Administrative Agent or the Lenders merely because of Administrative Agent’s or Lenders’ involvement in their preparation.
(h) If any delivery due date specified in Section 10.1 for the delivery of reports, certificates, and other information required to be delivered pursuant to Section 10.1 falls on a day which is not a Business Day, then that due date will be extended to the immediately following Business Day.
(i) A Default or Event of Default will be deemed to exist at all times during the period commencing on the date that Default or Event of Default occurs to the date on which that Default or Event of Default is waived in writing pursuant to this Agreement or, in the case of a Default, is cured within any period of cure expressly provided for in this Agreement, and an Event of Default will “continue” or be “continuing” until that Event of Default has been waived in writing by the Required Lenders.
1.3 Accounting and Other Terms.
(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, each accounting term used in this Agreement has the meaning given it under GAAP applied on a basis consistent with those used in preparing the Financial Statements and using the same inventory valuation method as used in the Financial Statements, except for any change required or permitted by GAAP if Borrowers’ certified public accountants concur in that change, the change is disclosed to Administrative Agent, and Section 11.12 is amended in a manner satisfactory to Administrative Agent to take into account the effects of the change.
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(b) All terms used in this Agreement which are defined in Article 8 or Article 9 of the UCC and which are not otherwise defined in this Agreement have the same meanings in this Agreement as set forth therein, except that terms used in this Agreement which are defined in the UCC as in effect in the State of New York on the date of this Agreement will continue to have the same meaning notwithstanding any replacement or amendment of that statute except as Administrative Agent may otherwise determine.
1.4 Treatment of LLC Division. Any restriction, condition or prohibition applicable to a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale or transfer, or similar term set forth in the Loan Documents shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability companies, including any “Division” or other process or action permitted under Section 18-217 of Title 6 of the Delaware Code, as if it were a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale or transfer, or similar term, as applicable. Any reference in any Loan Document to a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability companies (or the unwinding of such a division or allocation), as if it were a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale or transfer, or similar term, as applicable, to, of or with a separate Person. Any division of a limited liability company shall constitute a separate Person under the Loan Documents (and each division of any limited liability company that is a Subsidiary, joint venture or any other like term shall also constitute such a Person or entity). For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.
Section 2 | COMMITMENTS OF THE LENDERS; BORROWING AND CONVERSION PROCEDURES. |
2.1 Commitments. On and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of the Lenders, severally and for itself alone, agrees to make loans to Borrowers as follows:
2.1.1 Term Loan Commitments.
(a) Each Lender with a Term A Loan Commitment agrees to make a loan to Borrowers (each such loan, a “Term A Loan”) on the Closing Date in that Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the aggregate Term A Loan Commitments of all Lenders. The Commitments of the Lenders to make Term A Loans will expire concurrently with the making of Term A Loans on the Closing Date. As of the Closing Date, Monroe Capital (or its Affiliates and/or Related Funds) will be the sole Lender of the Term A Loan (it being understood that this sentence shall not affect the rights of Monroe Capital to transfer or assign any of its Loans after the Closing Date as otherwise not prohibited hereunder).
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(b) Each Lender with a Term B Loan Commitment agrees to make one or more loans (each such loan, a “Term B Loan”) during the Term B Loan Availability Period in that Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the aggregate amounts that Borrower Representative requests from the Administrative Agent. The aggregate amount of all Term B Loans made will not exceed the aggregate Term B Loan Commitments of all Lenders. The Commitments of the Lenders to make Term B Loans will decrease concurrently with the making of Term B Loans on each applicable borrowing date by an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the Term B Loans made on that borrowing date. The Commitments of the Lenders to make Term B Loans will expire at the end of the Term B Loan Availability Period. As of the Closing Date, Monroe Capital (or its Affiliates and/or Related Funds) will hold all of the Term B Loan (it being understood that this sentence shall not affect the rights of Monroe Capital to transfer or assign any of its Loans after the Closing Date as otherwise not prohibited hereunder).
(c) Each Lender with a Term C Loan Commitment agrees to make a loan to Borrowers (each such loan, a “Term C Loan”) on the Third Amendment Effective Date in that Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the aggregate Term C Loan Commitments of all Lenders. The Commitments of the Lenders to make Term C Loans will expire concurrently with the making of Term C Loans on the Third Amendment Effective Date. As of the Third Amendment Effective Date, Monroe Capital (or its Affiliates and/or Related Funds) will be the sole Lender of the Term C Loan (it being understood that this sentence shall not affect the rights of Monroe Capital to transfer or assign any of its Loans after the Third Amendment Effective Date as otherwise not prohibited hereunder).
(d) Each Lender with a Term D Loan Commitment agrees to make one or more loans (each such loan, a “Term D Loan”) during the Term D Loan Availability Period in that Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the aggregate amounts that Borrower Representative requests from the Administrative Agent. The aggregate amount of all Term D Loans made will not exceed the aggregate Term D Loan Commitments of all Lenders. The Commitments of the Lenders to make Term D Loans will decrease concurrently with the making of Term D Loans on each applicable borrowing date by an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the Term D Loans made on that borrowing date. The Commitments of the Lenders to make Term D Loans will expire at the end of the Term D Loan Availability Period. As of the Third Amendment Effective Date, Monroe Capital (or its Affiliates and/or Related Funds) will hold all of the Term D Loan Commitments (it being understood that this sentence shall not affect the rights of Monroe Capital to transfer or assign any of its Loans after the Third Amendment Effective Date as otherwise not prohibited hereunder).
2.1.2 Incremental Facilities.
(a) Incremental Requests. The Borrowers may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent, request increases in the Term Loans (each, an “Incremental Commitment” and the term loans thereunder, an “Incremental Loan”; each Incremental Commitment are sometimes referred to herein individually as an “Incremental Facility” and collectively the “Incremental Facilities”) in Dollars; provided that no commitment of any Lender shall be increased without the consent of such Lender. Such notice shall set forth (x) the amount of the Incremental Commitment being requested (which shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 and multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof) and which shall not exceed $40,000,000, minus the aggregate amount of the Term C Loans funded on the Third Amendment Effective Date, in the aggregate (the “Incremental Cap”) and (y) the date (an “Incremental Effective Date”) on which such Incremental Facility is requested to become effective (which, unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, shall not be less than ten (10) Business Days from the date that the Administrative Agent received the request from the Borrower Representative).
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(b) Conditions. No Incremental Facility shall become effective under this Section 2.1.2 unless, after giving effect to such Incremental Facility, the Loans to be made thereunder, and the application of the proceeds therefrom (but without giving effect to any netting of the proceeds thereof):
(i) after giving pro forma effect to such Incremental Facility and the use of proceeds thereof (and assuming, in the case of an Incremental Facility, that the entire amount of such increase is funded) on the effective date thereof and other pro forma adjustments (including any related acquisitions, dispositions, incurrence and repayment of indebtedness and other transactions to be agreed), (1) no Default or Event of Default shall exist at the time of incurrence of such Incremental Facility, (2) the representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects if such representation or warranty contains any materiality qualifier, including references to “material,” “Material Adverse Effect” or dollar thresholds) after giving effect to such Incremental Facility (unless such representation or warranty is expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects if such representation or warranty contains any materiality qualifier, including references to “material,” “Material Adverse Effect” or dollar thresholds) as of such earlier date) and (3) the Borrowers are in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 11.12 as of the last day of the most recently ended twelve fiscal month period for which financial statements have been delivered;
(ii) the aggregate amount of all Incremental Facilities shall not exceed the Incremental Cap;
(iii) the proceeds of any Incremental Facility shall be used solely for Permitted Acquisitions as expressly permitted by the existing Lenders;
(iv) each Incremental Facility shall be on the same terms as those applicable to the existing Term Loans; and
(v) the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying as to the foregoing.
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(c) Required Amendments. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that, upon the effectiveness of any Incremental Facility, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence of such Incremental Facility and the Loans evidenced thereby, and any joinder agreement or amendment may without the consent of the other Lenders effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers, to effectuate the provisions of this Section 2.1.2. The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Loan Parties as may be necessary in order to establish any Incremental Facility and such technical amendments as may be necessary or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers in connection with the establishment of any Incremental Facility, in each case, on terms consistent with this Section. From and after each Incremental Effective Date, the Loans and Commitments established pursuant to this Section 2.1.2 shall constitute Loans and Commitments under, and shall be entitled to all the benefits afforded by, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and shall, without limiting the foregoing, benefit equally and ratably from the guarantees and security interests created by the applicable Collateral Documents to the extent such Loans and Commitments are incurred on a pari passu basis in payment and security with the existing Term Loans. The Loan Parties shall take any actions reasonably required by the Administrative Agent to ensure and/or demonstrate that the Liens and security interests granted by the applicable Collateral Documents continue to be perfected under the UCC or otherwise after giving effect to the establishment of any such new Loans and Commitments, including, without limitation, compliance with Section 10.9. In addition, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to receive such customary legal opinions and/or “know your customer” information as it (on behalf of itself or any Lender) shall reasonably require. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that the Administrative Agent may, in consultation with the Borrower Representative, take any and all action as may be reasonably necessary to ensure that all Incremental Loans are included in each Borrowing of outstanding Term Loans on a pro rata basis. This may be accomplished by allocating a portion of each such Incremental Loan to each outstanding Borrowing of Term Loans that are LIBOR Loans on a pro rata basis. In addition, the scheduled amortization payments under Section 6.4 required to be made after the making of any Incremental Loans shall be ratably increased by the aggregate principal amount of such Incremental Loans for all Lenders on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary to avoid any reduction in the amortization payments to which the Term Lenders were entitled before such recalculation.
(d) Incremental Lenders. Each Incremental Facility will be made available only upon receiving credit commitments from existing Lenders and/or any additional banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders or investors that will become Lenders in connection therewith that are arranged by and acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion. The terms and conditions for any Incremental Facility will be subject to approval by the existing Lenders in their sole discretion and will be subject to, but not limited to, the ongoing compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 11.12. For the avoidance of doubt, Incremental Lenders shall not include Ineligible Lenders.
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2.2 Loan Procedures.
2.2.1 Various Types of Loans. Each Loan may be divided into tranches which are, either a LIBOR Loan or, solely to the extent contemplated in Section 8.2(a) or Section 8.3, Base Rate Loan (each, a “Type” of Loan), as Borrower Representative specifies in the related Notice of Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.2.2. Base Rate Loans and LIBOR Loans may not be outstanding at the same time. All borrowings, conversions, and repayments of Loans will be effected so that each Lender will have a ratable share (according to its Pro Rata Share) of all Types of Loans.
2.2.2 Borrowing Procedures.
(a) Borrower Representative shall give written notice (each such written notice, a “Notice of Borrowing”) substantially in the form of Exhibit D to Administrative Agent and each Lender with an applicable Commitment of each proposed borrowing not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York city time) three Business Days prior to the proposed date of that borrowing. Each such notice will be effective upon receipt by Administrative Agent, will be irrevocable, and must specify the date, amount, and Type of borrowing (which shall be a LIBOR Loan unless the provision of LIBOR Loans becomes unlawful or is not otherwise available as described in Section 8.2(a) and Section 8.3). On the requested borrowing date, each Lender with an applicable Commitment shall provide Administrative Agent with immediately available funds, to Administrative Agent’s Account, covering that Lender’s Pro Rata Share of that borrowing so long as the applicable Lender has not received written notice that the conditions precedent set forth in Section 12 with respect to that borrowing have not been satisfied. After Administrative Agent’s receipt of the proceeds of the applicable Loans from Lenders with applicable Commitments, Administrative Agent shall make the proceeds of those Loans available to Borrowers on the applicable borrowing date by transferring to Borrowers immediately available funds equal to the proceeds received by Administrative Agent. Each borrowing must be on a Business Day. Each borrowing must be in an aggregate amount of at least $2,000,000 and an integral multiple of $500,000. Each Lender shall, upon request of Administrative Agent, deliver to Administrative Agent a list of all Loans made by that Lender, together with all information related thereto as Administrative Agent reasonably requests. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, Borrower Representative may not request, and Lenders will not be required to fund, any borrowing of any Loan that is not a LIBOR borrowing unless, subject to and as more particularly described in Section 8, LIBOR is unavailable or unlawful.
(b) Unless payment is otherwise timely made by Borrowers, Administrative Agent may, at its option, charge when due any Obligations against any operating, investment or other account of any Borrower maintained with Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates.
2.2.3 [Reserved].
2.3 Commitments Several. The failure of any Lender to make a requested Loan on any date will not relieve any other Lender of its obligation (if any) to make a Loan on that date, but no Lender will be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make any Loan to be made by that other Lender.
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2.4 Certain Conditions. No Lender will have an obligation to make any Loan if an Event of Default or Default exists.
2.5 Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions will apply for so long as that Lender is a Defaulting Lender:
2.5.1 Fees will cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Term B Loan Commitment and Term D Loan Commitment of the Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 5.1.
2.5.2 Any amount payable to a Defaulting Lender under this Agreement (whether on account of principal, interest, fees, or otherwise and including any amount that would otherwise be payable to that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 7.5 but excluding Section 8) will, in lieu of being distributed to that Defaulting Lender, be retained by Administrative Agent and, subject to any applicable requirements of law, be applied as follows at such time or times as Administrative Agent determines: (i) first, to the payment of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to Administrative Agent under this Agreement; (ii) second, to the funding of any Loan in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by Administrative Agent; (iii) third, if so determined by Administrative Agent and Borrowers, held as cash collateral for future funding obligations of the Defaulting Lender under this Agreement; (iv) fourth, pro rata, to the payment of any amounts owing to Borrowers or the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Borrower or any Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and (v) fifth, to that Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction. If any such payment is a prepayment of the principal amount of any Loans and made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 12.2 are satisfied, then that payment will be applied solely to prepay the Loans of all Lenders that are not Defaulting Lenders pro rata prior to being applied to the prepayment of any Loans of any Defaulting Lender.
2.5.3 No Defaulting Lender will have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver, consent, or any other action the Lenders or the Required Lenders have taken or may take under this Agreement (including any consent to any amendment or waiver pursuant to Section 15.1), but any waiver, amendment, or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each directly affected Lender that affects a Defaulting Lender differently than other affected Lenders will require the consent of that Defaulting Lender.
Section 3 | EVIDENCING OF LOANS. |
3.1 Notes. At a Lender’s request the Term Loans of that Lender may be evidenced by a Note, with appropriate insertions, payable to that Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) in a face principal amount equal to the principal amount of that Lender’s Term Loans plus, in the case of Term B Loans and Term D Loans, the unfunded principal amount of that Lender’s Term B Loan Commitment and Term D Loan Commitment, respectively.
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3.2 Recordkeeping. Administrative Agent, on behalf of each Lender, shall record in its records, the date and amount of each Loan made by each Lender and each repayment or conversion thereof. The aggregate unpaid principal amount so recorded will be rebuttably presumptive evidence of the principal amount of the Loans owing and unpaid. The failure to so record any such amount or any error in so recording any such amount will not, however, limit or otherwise affect the Obligations of Borrowers under this Agreement or under any Note to repay the principal amount of the Loans under this Agreement, together with all interest accruing thereon.
Section 4 | INTEREST. |
4.1 Interest Rates.
4.1.1 Interest on Loans. Borrowers agree to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan for the period commencing on the date that Loan is made until that Loan is paid in full at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the LIBOR Rate from time to time in effect plus the Applicable Margin for LIBOR Loans; provided, that if the provision of LIBOR Loans becomes unlawful or unavailable as described in Section 8.2(a) or 8.3, then interest will be payable at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate from time to time in effect plus the Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans.
4.1.2 Default Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time an Event of Default exists, upon written notice of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, the interest rate applicable to each Loan will be increased by 2.00% during the existence of an Event of Default (and, in the case of Obligations not bearing interest, those Obligations will, during the existence of an Event of Default, bear interest at the highest interest rate applicable to the Loans plus 2.00%), but any such increase may be rescinded by Required Lenders, notwithstanding Section 15.1. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under Sections 13.1.1 or 13.1.4, the increase provided for in this Section 4.1.2 will occur automatically. In no event will interest payable by Borrowers to any Lender under this Agreement exceed the maximum rate permitted under applicable law, and if any such provision of this Agreement is in contravention of any such law, then that provision will be deemed modified to limit that interest to the maximum rate permitted under that law.
4.1.3 Interest Payment Dates. Accrued interest on each Loan is payable in arrears on the first Business Day of each month, upon a prepayment of that Loan, and at maturity. After maturity, and at any time an Event of Default exists, accrued interest on all Loans will be payable on demand. Each Borrower hereby authorizes Administrative Agent to, and Administrative Agent may, from time to time, charge the Loan Account with the amount of any interest payment due under this Agreement.
4.2 Setting and Notice of LIBOR Rates. The LIBOR Rate will be determined by Administrative Agent. Each determination of the applicable LIBOR Rate by Administrative Agent will be conclusive and binding upon the parties to this Agreement, absent manifest error.
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4.3 Computation of Interest. Interest will be computed for the actual number of days elapsed on the basis of a year of (a) 360 days for interest calculated at the LIBOR Rate and (b) 365/366 days for interest calculated at the Base Rate. The applicable interest rate for each Base Rate Loan will change simultaneously with each change in the Base Rate and the applicable interest rate for each LIBOR Loan will change simultaneously with each change in the LIBOR Rate.
Section 5 | FEES. |
5.1 Unused Fee.
5.1.1 Term B Loans. Borrowers shall pay to Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender with a Term B Loan Commitment (except as provided in Section 2.5) an unused fee (the “Term B Loan Unused Fee”), for the period from the Closing Date to the earlier of (i) the Termination Date or (ii) the last day of the Term B Loan Availability Period, at the Unused Fee Rate in effect from time to time of that Lender’s Pro Rata Share (as adjusted from time to time) of the average daily unused amount of the Term B Loan Commitments. For purposes of calculating usage under this Section 5.1.1, the Term B Loan Commitments will be deemed used when initially drawn. That Term B Loan Unused Fee will be payable in arrears on the first Business Day of each month and on the earlier of the Termination Date or the last day of the Term B Loan Availability Period for any period then ending for which that Term B Loan Unused Fee has not have previously been paid. The Term B Loan Unused Fee will be computed for the actual number of days elapsed on the basis of a year of 360 days.
5.1.2 Term D Loans. Borrowers shall pay to Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender with a Term D Loan Commitment (except as provided in Section 2.5) an unused fee (the “Term D Loan Unused Fee”), for the period from the Third Amendment Effective Date to the earlier of (i) the Termination Date or (ii) the last day of the Term D Loan Availability Period, at the Unused Fee Rate in effect from time to time of that Lender’s Pro Rata Share (as adjusted from time to time) of the average daily unused amount of the Term D Loan Commitments. For purposes of calculating usage under this Section 5.1.2, the Term D Loan Commitments will be deemed used when initially drawn. That Term D Loan Unused Fee will be payable in arrears on the first Business Day of each month and on the earlier of the Termination Date or the last day of the Term D Loan Availability Period for any period then ending for which that Term D Loan Unused Fee has not have previously been paid. The Term D Loan Unused Fee will be computed for the actual number of days elapsed on the basis of a year of 360 days.
5.2 Additional Fees. Borrowers shall pay to Administrative Agent all fees as are mutually agreed to from time to time by Borrowers and Administrative Agent, including the fees set forth in the Agent Fee Letter.
5.3 Applicable Premium and Exit Fee. Without limiting the generality of Section 5.2, Borrowers shall pay to Administrative Agent, for the sole and separate account of Administrative Agent, each Applicable Premium and Exit Fee in accordance with the Agent Fee Letter.
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5.4 Warrants.
5.4.1 Warrant Original Issue Discount. The Loan Parties, their Subsidiaries and Administrative Agent acknowledge and agree that the Loans and the Warrants are part of an “investment unit” within the meaning of Section 1273(c)(2) of the Code. The Loan Parties, their Subsidiaries and Administrative Agent agree that for purposes of allocating a portion of the issue price of the investment unit to the Warrants in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.1273-2(h)(1), the fair market value of the Closing Date Warrant is $765,678. The Loan Parties, their Subsidiaries and Administrative Agent agree that any other Warrant issued after the Closing Date to the Warrant Holder shall be valued using the same methodology as the methodology used to value the Closing Date Warrant and such valuation shall be mutually agreeable to the Holdings and the Warrant Holder. The Loan Parties, their Subsidiaries and Administrative Agent agree to file all tax returns consistently with this Section 5.4 and not take any position inconsistent therewith.
Section 6 | REDUCTION OR TERMINATION OF COMMITMENTS; PREPAYMENTS; REPAYMENTS. |
6.1 Reduction or Termination of Commitments.
6.1.1 Voluntary Reduction or Termination of the Term B Loan Commitments and/or Term D Loan Commitments. Borrowers may from time to time on at least five Business Days’ prior written notice from Borrower Representative to Administrative Agent (which shall promptly advise each applicable Lender thereof) permanently reduce the Term B Loan Commitments and/or Term D Loan Commitments. Any such reduction must be in an amount not less than $500,000 or a higher integral multiple of $100,000.
6.1.2 All Reductions of Commitments. All reductions of the Term B Loan Commitments will reduce the Term B Loan Commitments ratably among the Lenders according to their respective Pro Rata Shares. All reductions of the Term D Loan Commitments will reduce the Term D Loan Commitments ratably among the Lenders according to their respective Pro Rata Shares.
6.2 Prepayments.
6.2.1 Voluntary Prepayments. Borrowers may from time to time prepay the Loans in whole or in part. Borrower Representative shall give Administrative Agent (which shall promptly advise each applicable Lender) notice of any such prepayment not later than (x) 11:00 a.m. (New York city time) on the day of that prepayment (which must be a Business Day) in respect of any Base Rate Loan and (y) 11:00 a.m. (New York city time) on the day three (3) Business Days prior to the date of that prepayment (which must be a Business Day) in respect of any LIBOR Loan, in each case, specifying the Loans to be prepaid and the date and amount of prepayment. Any such partial prepayment must be in an amount equal to $500,000 or a higher integral multiple of $100,000 (or such lesser amount equal to the total outstanding Loan).
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6.2.2 Mandatory Prepayments.
(a) Term Loans. Borrowers shall make a prepayment of the Term Loans until paid in full upon the occurrence of any of the following at the following times and in the following amounts:
(i) concurrently with the receipt by any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries of any Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset Disposition, in an amount equal to 100% of those Net Cash Proceeds; provided that, at the option of Borrower Representative (as elected by Borrower Representative in writing to Administrative Agent on or prior to the fifth Business Day after the date of receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds), and so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Borrowers may reinvest all or any portion of such Net Cash Proceeds in long-term assets used or useful in their business (such assets, “Additional Assets”) so long as such reinvestment is made within 180 days after the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds (as certified by Borrower Representative in writing to Administrative Agent); provided further, that any Net Cash Proceeds not so reinvested shall be immediately applied to the prepayment of the Term Loans as set forth in this Section 6.2.2(a)(i) upon the expiration of such applicable period; provided, further, that to the extent that (1) the assets that were subject to the Asset Disposition constituted ABL Priority Collateral or Term Loan Priority Collateral, such Additional Assets shall also constitute ABL Priority Collateral or Term Loan Priority Collateral, respectively (and Borrowers or their Subsidiaries, as the case may be, shall promptly take such action (if any) as may be required to cause that portion of such reinvestment constituting ABL Priority Collateral or Term Loan Priority Collateral, as applicable, to be added to the ABL Priority Collateral or Term Loan Priority Collateral securing the ABL Obligations or the Obligations, as applicable), (2) any such Asset Disposition that consisted of or constituted any portion of Term Loan Priority Collateral, such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied to the Obligations and (3) any such Asset Disposition is of assets solely constituting ABL Priority Collateral that are required to be applied to the ABL Obligations pursuant to the terms of the ABL Loan Agreement, then the Net Cash Proceeds of such Asset Disposition shall first be applied to the ABL Obligations as required under the ABL Loan Documents and then to the Obligations as required hereunder. To the extent the Net Cash Proceeds of any Asset Disposition are required to be applied to the ABL Obligations under the ABL Loan Agreement or the Intercreditor Agreement, upon the Payment in Full of the ABL Priority Debt (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement), such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied to the Obligations as set forth in this Section 6.2.2(a)(i). Prior to entering into any Asset Disposition of assets which constitute Term Loan Priority Collateral, Borrowers shall provide not less than three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice thereof and the proceeds of such Assets Sale shall be deposited a deposit account subject to a Control Agreements whereby Administrative Agent has a first-priority security interest therein. If Administrative Agent does not receive prior written notice that Term Loan Priority Collateral is the subject of an Asset Disposition, then the Loan Parties shall be deemed to have represented and warranted to Administrative Agent on the date such Asset Disposition is consummated that none of the assets subject to such Asset Disposition constitute Term Loan Priority Collateral.
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(ii) concurrently with the receipt by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any Net Cash Proceeds from any issuance of Equity Interests of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, whether in connection with the issuance of any Curative Equity or otherwise (excluding any issuance of Equity Interests (A) pursuant to any employee or director option program, benefit plan or compensation program or agreement, (B) by a Subsidiary to any Borrower or another Subsidiary and (C) the Net Cash Proceeds of which are used substantially concurrently to fund a Permitted Acquisition), in an amount equal to 50% (or, in the case of Net Cash Proceeds in the form of Curative Equity, 100%) of those Net Cash Proceeds; provided, however that if the Senior Net Leverage Ratio is below 3.50 to 1.00, then no prepayment pursuant to this subclause (ii) of the Term Loan shall be required.
(iii) concurrently with the receipt by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any Net Cash Proceeds from any issuance of any Debt of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries (excluding Debt permitted by Section 11.1), in an amount equal to 100% of those Net Cash Proceeds;
(iv) concurrently with the receipt by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any Other Receipts, in an amount equal to 100% of those Other Receipts; provided that, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Borrowers may reinvest the first $500,000 of such Other Receipts and up to 50% of any additional Other Receipts in the aggregate over the term of the Agreement in the applicable acquired business so long as such reinvestment is made within 180 days after the receipt of such Other Receipts (as certified by Borrower Representative in writing to Administrative Agent); provided further, that any Other Receipts not so reinvested shall be immediately applied to the prepayment of the Term Loans as set forth in this Section 6.2.2(a)(iv) upon the expiration of such applicable period; and
(v) within five Business Days after the earlier of (A) the date that Fiscal Year-end financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 10.1.1, and (B) the date of Borrowers’ actual delivery of Fiscal Year-end financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 10.1.1 (commencing with the Fiscal Year ending on December 31, 2021), in an amount equal to the result of (A) the ECF Percentage of Excess Cash Flow for that Fiscal Year minus (B) the aggregate amount of all voluntary prepayments in respect of the outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan (including any Incremental Loans) made by Borrowers during such Fiscal Year.
6.3 Manner of Prepayments.
6.3.1 All Prepayments. Any prepayment of Term Loans is subject to Section 5.3. Other than as specified in the last proviso of Section 6.2.2(a)(i), all prepayments of the Term Loans will be applied ratably to the Term Loans in the inverse order of maturity to the remaining installments thereof (including, without limitation, the final installment thereof). Except as otherwise provided by this Agreement, all principal payments in respect of the Loans will be applied first to repay outstanding Base Rate Loans and then to repay outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans.
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6.4 Repayments.
6.4.1 [Reserved].
6.4.2 Term A Loans. Borrowers shall pay the principal amount of each Term A Loan of each Lender as follows: (a) in arrears in quarterly installments equal to 0.25% of the original principal amount of the Term A Loans on the Closing Date, each payable on the first Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter commencing on the first Business Day after the Fiscal Quarter ending December 31, 2020 and (b) a final installment equal to the remaining outstanding principal balance of the Term A Loans, payable on the Termination Date. Unless sooner paid in full, the outstanding principal balance of the Term A Loans must be paid in full on the Termination Date.
6.4.3 Term B Loans. Borrowers shall pay the principal amount of each Term B Loan of each Lender as follows: (a) in arrears in quarterly installments equal to 0.25% of the original principal amount of the Term B Loans that have been funded since the Closing Date, each payable on the first Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter, commencing on the first Business Day of the Fiscal Quarter immediately following the Fiscal Quarter in which that Term B Loan is made to any Borrower and (b) a final installment equal to the remaining outstanding principal balance of the Term B Loans, payable on the Termination Date. Unless sooner paid in full, the outstanding principal balance of the Term B Loans must be paid in full on the Termination Date.
6.4.4 Term C Loans. Borrowers shall pay the principal amount of each Term C Loan of each Lender as follows: (a) in arrears in quarterly installments equal to 0.25% of the original principal amount of the Term C Loans on the Third Amendment Effective Date, each payable on the first Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter commencing on the first Business Day after the Fiscal Quarter ending March 31, 2022 and (b) a final installment equal to the remaining outstanding principal balance of the Term C Loans, payable on the Termination Date. Unless sooner paid in full, the outstanding principal balance of the Term C Loans must be paid in full on the Termination Date.
6.4.5 Term D Loans. Borrowers shall pay the principal amount of each Term D Loan of each Lender as follows: (a) in arrears in quarterly installments equal to 0.25% of the original principal amount of the Term D Loans that have been funded since the Third Amendment Effective Date, each payable on the first Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter, commencing on the first Business Day of the Fiscal Quarter immediately following the Fiscal Quarter in which that Term D Loan is made to any Borrower and (b) a final installment equal to the remaining outstanding principal balance of the Term D Loans, payable on the Termination Date. Unless sooner paid in full, the outstanding principal balance of the Term D Loans must be paid in full on the Termination Date.
Section 7 | MAKING AND PRORATION OF PAYMENTS; SETOFF; TAXES. |
7.1 Making of Payments.
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7.1.1 Borrowers shall make all payments of principal or interest on the Loans, and of all fees, to Administrative Agent in immediately available funds to Administrative Agent’s Account not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York city time) on the date due, and funds received after that time will be deemed to have been received by Administrative Agent on the following Business Day. Borrower shall make all payments to Administrative Agent and the Lenders without set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, deduction, or other defense. Subject to Section 2.5, Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to each Lender its share of all such payments received in collected funds by Administrative Agent for the account of that Lender. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Borrowers shall make all payments under Section 8.1 directly to the Lender entitled thereto.
7.2 Application of Certain Payments.
7.2.1 So long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (a) payments matching specific scheduled payments then due will be applied to those scheduled payments and (b) voluntary and mandatory prepayments will be applied as set forth in Sections 6.2 and 6.3.
7.2.2 Subject to any written agreement among Administrative Agent and the Lenders:
(a) All payments of principal and interest in respect of outstanding Loans, all payments of fees, and all other payments in respect of any other Obligations, will be allocated by Administrative Agent among Administrative Agent and the Lenders, as applicable, in proportion to their respective Pro Rata Shares or otherwise as provided in this Agreement or, in respect of payments not made on account of Loans, as designated by the Person making payment when the payment is made.
(b) After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Administrative Agent may, and upon the direction of the Required Lenders shall, apply all payments in respect of any Obligations and all proceeds of the Collateral, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, as follows: (i) first, ratably to pay the Obligations in respect of any fees, expense reimbursements, indemnities, all amounts owed pursuant to Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights, and other amounts then due and payable to Administrative Agent until paid in full; (ii) second, ratably to pay the Obligations in respect of any fees (other than any Applicable Premium or Exit Fee) and indemnities then due and payable to the Lenders until paid in full; (iii) third, ratably (to Administrative Agent in accordance with Administrative Agent’s outstanding Protective Advances) to pay interest then due and payable in respect of Protective Advances until paid in full; (iv) fourth, ratably (to Administrative Agent in accordance with Administrative Agent’s outstanding Protective Advances) to pay principal of the Protective Advances until paid in full; (v) fifth, ratably to pay the Obligations in respect of any Applicable Premium or Exit Fee then due and payable until paid in full; and (vi) sixth, to the ratable payment of all other Obligations then due and payable.
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(c) For purposes of Section 7.2.2(b), “paid in full” means payment in cash of all amounts owing under the Loan Documents (or, to the extent those Obligations are contingent, to provide cash collateral in respect of those Obligations in a manner and amount reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) according to the terms thereof, including loan fees, service fees, professional fees, interest (and specifically including interest accrued after, or that would have accrued but for, the commencement of any Insolvency Proceeding), default interest, interest on interest, and expense reimbursements, whether or not same would be or is allowed or disallowed in whole or in part in any Insolvency Proceeding.
(d) In the event of a direct conflict between the priority provisions of this Section 7.2.2 and other provisions contained in any other Loan Document, it is the intention of the parties to this Agreement that all such priority provisions be read together and construed, to the fullest extent possible, to be in concert with each other. In the event of any actual, irreconcilable conflict that cannot be resolved as aforesaid, the terms and provisions of this Section 7.2.2 will control and govern.
7.3 Due Date Extension. If any payment of principal or interest with respect to any of the Loans, or of any fees, falls due on a day which is not a Business Day, then that due date will be extended to the immediately following Business Day (unless, in the case of a LIBOR Loan, that immediately preceding Business Day is the first Business Day of a month, in which case that due date will be the immediately preceding Business Day), and, in the case of principal, additional interest will accrue and be payable for the period of any such extension.
7.4 Setoff. Each Borrower, for itself and each other Loan Party, agrees that Administrative Agent and each Lender have all rights of set-off and bankers’ lien provided by applicable law, and in addition thereto, each Borrower, for itself and each other Loan Party, agrees that at any time any Event of Default exists, Administrative Agent and each Lender may apply to the payment of any Obligations of each Borrower and each other Loan Party under this Agreement, whether or not then due, any and all balances, credits, deposits, accounts, or moneys of each Borrower and each other Loan Party then or thereafter with Administrative Agent or that Lender.
7.5 Proration of Payments. Except as provided in Section 2.5, if any Lender obtains any payment or other recovery (whether voluntary, involuntary, by application of offset, or otherwise), on account of principal of or interest on any Loan (but excluding (i) any payment pursuant to Section 8 or 15.6 and (ii) payments of interest on any Affected Loan) in excess of its applicable Pro Rata Share of payments and other recoveries obtained by all Lenders on account of principal of and interest on the Loans, then held by them, then that Lender shall purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans held by them as are necessary to cause that purchasing Lender to share the excess payment or other recovery ratably with each of them, but if all or any portion of the excess payment or other recovery is thereafter recovered from that purchasing Lender, then that purchase will be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of that recovery.
7.6 Taxes.
7.6.1 All payments under this Agreement or under the Loan Documents (including any payment of principal, interest, or fees) to, or for the benefit, of any Person will be made by Borrowers free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for, or account of, any Taxes now or hereafter imposed by any taxing authority, except as required by applicable law.
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7.6.2 If Borrowers make any payment under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document in respect of which any Borrower is required by applicable law to deduct or withhold any Indemnified Taxes, then Borrowers shall increase the payment under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document such that after the reduction for the amount of Indemnified Taxes withheld (and any Indemnified Taxes withheld or imposed with respect to the additional payments required under this Section 7.6.2), the amount paid equals the amount that was payable under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document without regard to this Section 7.6.2. To the extent Borrowers withhold any Taxes on payments under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document, Borrowers shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxing authority within the time allowed for payment under applicable law and shall deliver to Administrative Agent within 30 days after Borrowers have made payment to that taxing authority a receipt issued by that taxing authority (or other evidence satisfactory to Administrative Agent) evidencing the payment of all amounts so required to be deducted or withheld from that payment.
7.6.3 If any Lender or Administrative Agent or other recipient is required by law to make any payments of any Indemnified Taxes on or in relation to any amounts received or receivable under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document, or any Indemnified Tax is assessed against a Lender or Administrative Agent or other recipient with respect to amounts received or receivable under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document, Borrowers will indemnify that Person against (i) that Indemnified Tax and (ii) any Taxes imposed as a result of the receipt of the payment under this Section 7.6.3. A certificate prepared in good faith as to the amount of any such payment by that Lender or Administrative Agent or other recipient will, absent manifest error, be final, conclusive, and binding on all parties.
7.6.4 (a) To the extent permitted by applicable law, each Lender that is not a United States person within the meaning of Code Section 7701(a)(30) (a “Non-U.S. Lender”) shall deliver to Borrower Representative and Administrative Agent on or prior to the Closing Date (or in the case of a Lender that is an Assignee, on the date of the assignment to that Lender) two accurate and complete original signed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, W-8ECI, or W-8IMY (or any successor or other applicable form prescribed by the IRS) certifying to that Lender’s entitlement to a complete exemption from, or a reduced rate in, United States withholding tax on interest payments to be made under this Agreement or with respect to any Loan. If a Lender that is a Non-U.S. Lender is claiming a complete exemption from withholding on interest pursuant to Code Sections 871(h) or 881(c), then that Lender shall deliver (along with two accurate and complete original signed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E) a certificate in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent (any such certificate, a “Withholding Certificate”). In addition, each Lender that is a Non-U.S. Lender shall, from time to time after the Closing Date (or in the case of a Lender that is an Assignee, after the date of the assignment to that Lender) when a lapse in time (or change in circumstances occurs) renders the prior certificates delivered under this Agreement obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect, to the extent permitted under applicable law, deliver to Borrower Representative and Administrative Agent two new and accurate and complete original signed copies of an IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, W-8ECI, or W-8IMY (or any successor or other applicable forms prescribed by the IRS), and if applicable, a new Withholding Certificate, to confirm or establish the entitlement of that Lender or Administrative Agent to an exemption from, or reduction in, United States withholding tax on interest payments to be made under this Agreement or with respect to any Loan.
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(b) Each Lender that is not a Non-U.S. Lender (other than any such Lender that is taxed as corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) shall provide two properly completed and duly executed copies of IRS Form W-9 (or any successor or other applicable form) to Borrower Representative and Administrative Agent certifying that that Lender is exempt from United States backup withholding Tax. To the extent that a form provided pursuant to this Section 7.6.4(b) is rendered obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect as result of change in circumstances with respect to the status of a Lender or Administrative Agent, then that Lender or Administrative Agent shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, deliver to Borrower Representative and, as applicable, Administrative Agent revised forms necessary to confirm or establish the entitlement to that Lender’s exemption from United States backup withholding Tax.
(c) No Borrower will be required to pay additional amounts to any Lender, or indemnify any Lender, under this Section 7.6 to the extent that any Borrower’s obligations would not have arisen but for the failure of that Lender to comply with Section 7.6.4(a) and/or in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender, the inability of such Lender to claim a complete exemption from U.S. withholding tax on interest under the Code (including, but not limited to, as a result of such Lender’s status under Code Section 881(c)(3)) or an applicable income tax treaty, except to the extent such inability results from a Change in Law occurring after the date such Lender acquired an interest in a Loan.
(d) Each Lender shall indemnify Administrative Agent and hold Administrative Agent harmless for the full amount of any and all present or future Taxes and related liabilities (including penalties, interest, additions to Tax and expenses, and any Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable to Administrative Agent under this Section 7.6) which are imposed on or with respect to principal, interest, or fees payable to that Lender under this Agreement and which are not paid by Borrowers pursuant to this Section 7.6, whether or not those Taxes or related liabilities were correctly or legally asserted. This indemnification must be made within 30 days from the date Administrative Agent makes written demand therefor.
7.6.5 (a) If Administrative Agent or a Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Indemnified Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrowers or with respect to which the Borrowers have paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 7.6, then Administrative Agent or that Lender, as applicable, shall pay over that refund to the Borrowers (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrowers under this Section 7.6 with respect to the Indemnified Taxes giving rise to that refund), net of any Taxes imposed by reason of receipt of that refund and all out-of-pocket expenses of Administrative Agent or that Lender, as applicable, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant governmental authority with respect to that refund, which interest must be paid to the Borrowers). Upon the request of Administrative Agent or any such Lender, Borrowers shall repay any amount paid to the Borrowers (plus any penalties, interest, or other charges imposed by the relevant governmental authority) to Administrative Agent or that Lender in the event Administrative Agent or that Lender is required to repay any such refund to any such governmental authority. Nothing in this Section 7.6.5 is to be construed to require Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information which it deems confidential) to any Borrower or any other Person.
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(b) At the request of any Borrower and at the expense of the Borrowers, a Lender shall use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrowers to obtain any available refund of any Indemnified Taxes as to which the Lender has been indemnified by the Borrowers or with respect to which the Borrowers have paid additional amounts, so long as such efforts would not, in the sole discretion of such Lender exercised in good faith, result in any additional costs or expenses or be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.
7.6.6 If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal income withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if that 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), then that Lender shall deliver to Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a Participant, to the Lender granting the participation only) at the time or times prescribed by law and at any other time or times reasonably requested by Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a Participant, the Lender granting the participation) all documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and all additional documentation reasonably requested by Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a Participant, the Lender granting the participation) as is necessary for Administrative Agent or Borrowers to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that that Lender has complied with that Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from that payment. Solely for purposes of this Section 7.6.6, “FATCA” is deemed to include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
Section 8 | INCREASED COSTS; SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR LIBOR LOANS. |
8.1 Increased Costs.
(a) If any Change in Law (i) imposes, modifies, or deems applicable any reserve (including any reserve imposed by the FRB, but excluding any reserve included in the determination of the LIBOR Rate pursuant to Section 4), special deposit, or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with, or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender; or (ii) imposes on any Lender any other condition affecting its LIBOR Loans, its Note(s), or its obligation to make LIBOR Loans, and the result of anything described in clauses (i) and (ii) above is to increase the cost to (or to impose a cost on) that Lender (or any LIBOR Office of that Lender) of making or maintaining any Loan, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by that Lender (or its LIBOR Office) under this Agreement or under its Note(s) with respect thereto, then upon demand by that Lender (which demand must be accompanied by a statement setting forth the basis for that demand and a calculation of the amount thereof in reasonable detail, a copy of which must be furnished to Administrative Agent), Borrowers shall pay directly to that Lender such additional amount as will compensate that Lender for that increased cost or that reduction, so long as the applicable amounts have accrued on or after the day that is 180 days prior to the date on which that Lender first made demand therefor.
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(b) If any Lender reasonably determines that any change in, or the adoption or phase-in of, any applicable law, rule, or regulation regarding capital adequacy, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority, central bank, or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or the compliance by any Lender or any Person controlling any Lender with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy (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 that Lender’s or that controlling Person’s capital as a consequence of that Lender’s obligations under this Agreement to a level below that which that Lender or that controlling Person could have achieved but for that change, adoption, phase-in, or compliance (taking into consideration that Lender’s or that controlling Person’s policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by that Lender or that controlling Person to be material, then from time to time, upon demand by that Lender (which demand must be accompanied by a statement setting forth the basis for that demand and a calculation of the amount thereof in reasonable detail, a copy of which must be furnished to Administrative Agent), Borrowers shall pay to that Lender such additional amount as will compensate that Lender or that controlling Person for that reduction, so long as the applicable amounts have accrued on or after the day that is 180 days prior to the date on which that Lender first made demand therefor.
8.2 Basis for Determining Interest Rate Inadequate or Unfair.
(a) Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the other parties of the following:
(i) Administrative Agent reasonably determines (which determination will be binding and conclusive on Borrowers) that by reason of circumstances affecting the interbank LIBOR market adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable LIBOR Rate; or
(ii) the Required Lenders advise Administrative Agent that the LIBOR Rate as determined by Administrative Agent will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to those Lenders of maintaining or funding LIBOR Loans (taking into account any amount to which those Lenders may be entitled under Section 8.1) or that the making or funding of LIBOR Loans has become impracticable as a result of an event occurring after the date of this Agreement which in the opinion of those Lenders materially affects those Loans.
(b) So long as any circumstances described in a notice delivered pursuant to Section 8.2(a) continue, (i) no Lender will be required to make any LIBOR Loans or convert any Base Rate Loans into LIBOR Loans, and (ii) each such Loan will, unless then repaid in full, automatically convert to a Base Rate Loan.
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(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent determine in good faith (which determination shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto, absent manifest error), or the Borrower Representative or Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to the Borrower Representative) that the Borrower Representative or Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined in good faith, that:
(i) the circumstances described in Section 8.2(a)(i) are unlikely to be temporary,
(ii) the administrator of the LIBOR Screen Rate or a governmental authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which LIBOR Screen Rate shall no longer be made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans (such specific date, the “Scheduled Unavailability Date”), or
(iii) syndicated loans currently being executed, or that include language similar to that contained in this Section 8.2, are being executed or amended (as applicable) to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace LIBOR Screen Rate,
then, reasonably promptly after such determination by the Administrative Agent or receipt by the Administrative Agent of such notice, as applicable, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative may amend this Agreement to replace the LIBOR Screen Rate with an alternate benchmark rate that is generally accepted as the then prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest for syndicated leveraged loans of this type in the United States at such time (including any mathematical or other adjustments to the benchmark (if any) incorporated therein or this Agreement to preserve pricing in effect at the time of selection of such alternate benchmark rate and other changes necessary to reflect the available interest periods for such alternate benchmark rate) (any such proposed rate, a “LIBOR Successor Rate”), together with any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes and any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. (New York city time) on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders do not accept such amendment.
If no LIBOR Successor Rate has been determined and the circumstances under clause (c)(i) above exist or the Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred (as applicable), the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower Representative and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain LIBOR Loans shall be suspended, (to the extent of the affected LIBOR Loans), and (y) the LIBOR Rate component shall no longer be utilized in determining the Base Rate. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower Representative may revoke any pending request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Loans (to the extent of the affected LIBOR Loans) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a borrowing of Base Rate Loans (subject to the foregoing clause (y)) in the amount specified therein.
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Notwithstanding anything
else herein, any definition of LIBOR Successor Rate shall provide that in no event shall such LIBOR Successor Rate be less than 1.251.00%
per annum for purposes of this Agreement.
8.3 Changes in Law Rendering LIBOR Loans Unlawful. If, after the date of this Agreement, any change in, or the adoption of any new, law or regulation, or any change in the interpretation of any applicable law or regulation by any governmental authority or other regulatory body charged with the administration thereof, makes it (or in the good faith judgment of any Lender causes a substantial question as to whether it is) unlawful for any Lender to make, maintain, or fund LIBOR Loans, then that Lender shall promptly notify each of the other parties to this Agreement and, so long as those circumstances continue, (a) that Lender will not be required to make any LIBOR Loan or convert any Base Rate Loan into a LIBOR Loan (but that Lender shall, subject to the other terms of this Agreement, make Base Rate Loans concurrently with the making of or conversion of Base Rate Loans into LIBOR Loans by the Lenders which are not so affected, in each case in an amount equal to the amount of LIBOR Loans which would be made or converted into by that Lender at that time in the absence of those circumstances), and (b) each such LIBOR Loan will, unless then repaid in full, automatically convert to a Base Rate Loan. Each Base Rate Loan made by a Lender which, but for the circumstances described in the foregoing sentence, would be a LIBOR Loan (an “Affected Loan”) will remain outstanding for the period corresponding to the LIBOR Loans of which that Affected Loan would be a part absent those circumstances.
8.4 Right of Lenders to Fund through Other Offices. Each Lender may, if it so elects, fulfill its commitment as to any LIBOR Loan by causing a foreign branch or Affiliate of that Lender to make that Loan, but each such Loan will be deemed to have been made by that Lender and the obligation of Borrowers to repay that Loan will be to that Lender and will be deemed held by the Lender, to the extent of that Loan, for the account of that branch or Affiliate.
8.5 Mitigation of Circumstances; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) Each Lender shall promptly notify Borrower Representative and Administrative Agent of any event of which it has knowledge that will result in, and will use reasonable commercial efforts available to it (and not, in that Lender’s sole judgment, otherwise disadvantageous to that Lender) to mitigate or avoid, (i) any obligation by Borrowers to pay any amount pursuant to Sections 7.6 or 8.1 or (ii) the occurrence of any circumstances described in Sections 8.2 or 8.3 (and, if any Lender has given notice of any such event described in clause (i) or (ii) and thereafter that event ceases to exist, that Lender shall promptly so notify Borrower Representative and Administrative Agent). Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender shall designate a different funding office if that designation will avoid (or reduce the cost to Borrowers of) any event described in clause (i) or (ii) and that designation will not, in that Lender’s sole judgment, be otherwise disadvantageous to that Lender.
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(b) If Borrowers become obligated to pay additional amounts to any Lender pursuant to Sections 7.6 or 8.1, or any Lender gives notice of the occurrence of any circumstances described in Sections 8.2 or 8.3, or any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender (any such affected Lender, an “Affected Lender”), then Borrower Representative may designate another financial institution that is acceptable to Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion (a “Replacement Lender”) to purchase the Loans of that Lender and that Lender’s rights under this Agreement, without recourse to or warranty by, or expense to, that Lender, for a purchase price equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Loans payable to that Lender plus any accrued but unpaid interest on those Loans and all accrued but unpaid fees owed to that Lender and any other amounts owed to that Lender under this Agreement and any other Loan Document, and to assume all the obligations of that Lender under this Agreement. Upon any such purchase and assumption (pursuant to an Assignment Agreement), the applicable Lender will no longer be a party to this Agreement or have any rights under this Agreement (other than rights with respect to indemnities and similar rights applicable to that Lender prior to the date of that purchase and assumption) and will be relieved from all obligations to Borrowers under this Agreement, and the Replacement Lender will succeed to the rights and obligations of that Lender under this Agreement. In the event that an Affected Lender does not execute an Assignment Agreement pursuant to Section 15.6.1 within five (5) Business Days after receipt by such Affected Lender of notice of replacement pursuant to this Section 8.5(b) and presentation to such Affected Lender of an Assignment Agreement evidencing an assignment pursuant to this Section 8.5(b), the Administrative Agent shall be entitled (but not obligated) to execute such an Assignment Agreement on behalf of such Affected Lender, and any such Assignment Agreement so executed by the Borrower Representative, the Replacement Lender and Administrative Agent, shall be effective for purposes of this Section 8.5(b) and Section 15.6.1. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to a Lender that is a Defaulting Lender, Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, obtain a Replacement Lender and execute an Assignment Agreement on behalf of such Defaulting Lender at any time with three (3) Business Days’ prior notice to such Lender (unless notice is not practicable under the circumstances) and cause such Lender’s Loans and Commitments to be sold and assigned, in whole or in part, at par. Upon any such assignment and payment and compliance with the other provisions of Section 15.6.1, such replaced Lender shall no longer constitute a “Lender” for purposes hereof; provided, any rights of such Affected Lender to indemnification hereunder shall survive.
8.6 Conclusiveness of Statements; Survival of Provisions. Determinations and statements of any Lender pursuant to Sections 8.1, 8.2, or 8.3 will be conclusive absent demonstrable error. Lenders may use reasonable averaging and attribution methods in determining compensation under Section 8.1, and the provisions of Section 8.1 will survive repayment of the Obligations, cancellation of any Note(s), and termination of this Agreement.
Section 9 | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. |
To induce Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make Loans under this Agreement, Holdings and each Borrower represents and warrants to Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:
9.1 Organization. Each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, and each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where, because of the nature of its activities or properties, that qualification is required, except for any jurisdiction where the failure to so qualify could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
9.2 Authorization; No Conflict.
(a) Each Loan Party is duly authorized to execute and deliver each Loan Document to which it is a party, each Borrower is duly authorized to borrow monies under this Agreement, and each Loan Party is duly authorized to perform its Obligations under each Loan Document to which it is a party.
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(b) The execution, delivery, and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which it is a party, and the borrowings by each Borrower under this Agreement, do not and will not (i) require any consent or approval of any governmental agency or authority (other than any consent or approval that has been obtained and is in full force and effect); (ii) conflict with (A) any provision of law, (B) the organizational documents or governing documents of any Loan Party, or (C) any agreement, indenture, instrument, or other document, or any judgment, order, or decree, that is binding upon any Loan Party or any of their respective properties; or (iii) require, or result in, the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of any Loan Party (other than Liens in favor of Administrative Agent created pursuant to the Collateral Documents).
9.3 Validity and Binding Nature. Each of this Agreement and each other Loan Document to which any Loan Party is a party is the legal, valid, and binding obligation of that Person, enforceable against that Person in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, and similar laws affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity.
9.4 Financial Condition. The Financial Statements, copies of each of which have been delivered to each Lender, were prepared in accordance with GAAP (subject, in the case of any such unaudited statements, to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end adjustments) and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of Holdings and its Subsidiaries and Green Remedies, as applicable, as at the dates covered in the Financial Statements and the results of their operations for the periods then ended.
9.5 No Material Adverse Change. Since December 31, 2019, there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition, operations, assets, business, prospects, or properties of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
9.6 Litigation and Contingent Liabilities. No litigation (including derivative actions), arbitration proceeding or governmental investigation or proceeding is pending or, to the Loan Parties’ knowledge, threatened against any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in Schedule 9.6. Other than liability incident to any such litigation or proceedings, none of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries has any material contingent liabilities that are not listed in Schedule 9.6 or permitted by Section 11.1.
9.7 Ownership of Properties; Liens. Each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries owns good title to and, in the case of owned real property, marketable title to, and in the case of leased real property, a valid leasehold interest in, all of its properties and assets, real and personal, tangible and intangible, of any nature whatsoever (including patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks and copyrights), free and clear of all Liens, charges, and claims (including infringement claims with respect to any registered or issued patents, trademarks, service marks, and copyrights owned by that Loan Party and/or that Subsidiary), except as permitted by Section 11.2. No financing statement or other public notice with respect to all or any part of the Collateral is on file or of record in any public office, except filings evidencing Permitted Liens and filings for which copies of recorded termination statements have been delivered to Administrative Agent.
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9.8
Equity Ownership. All issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries
are duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable, and free and clear of all Liens other than those in favor of Administrative
Agent, second-priority Liens in favor of the ABL Agent and non-consensual Permitted Liens arising by operation of law, and all such Equity
Interests were issued in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws concerning the issuance of securities. Schedule 9.8
sets forth the authorized Equity Interests of each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries as of the ClosingThird
Amendment Effective Date. All of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Borrowers are owned as set forth on Schedule
9.8 as of the ClosingThird Amendment Effective
Date, and all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each Wholly-Owned Subsidiary is, directly or indirectly, owned by Holdings.
As of the ClosingThird Amendment Effective Date,
except as set forth on Schedule 9.8, there are no pre-emptive or other outstanding rights, options, warrants, conversion rights,
or other similar agreements or understandings for the purchase or acquisition of any Equity Interests of any of the Loan Parties and
their Subsidiaries.
9.9 Pension Plans.
(a) The Unfunded Liability of all Pension Plans does not in the aggregate exceed 20% of the Total Plan Liability for all such Pension Plans. Except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Pension Plan complies with all applicable requirements of law and regulations. No contribution failure under Section 430 of the Code, Section 303 of ERISA, or the terms of any Pension Plan has occurred with respect to any Pension Plan sufficient to give rise to a Lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA or otherwise to have a Material Adverse Effect. There are no pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened claims, actions, investigations, or lawsuits against any Pension Plan, any fiduciary of any Pension Plan, or any Borrower or other any member of the Controlled Group with respect to a Pension Plan or a Multiemployer Pension Plan which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Borrower nor any other member of the Controlled Group has engaged in any prohibited transaction (as defined in Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) in connection with any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Pension Plan which would subject that Person to any material liability. Within the past five years, neither any Borrower nor any other member of the Controlled Group has engaged in a transaction that resulted in a Pension Plan with an Unfunded Liability being transferred out of the Controlled Group, except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Termination Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Pension Plan, except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) (i) All contributions (if any) have been made to any Multiemployer Pension Plan that are required to be made by any Borrower or any other member of the Controlled Group under the terms of the plan or of any collective bargaining agreement or by applicable law; (ii) neither any Borrower nor any other member of the Controlled Group has withdrawn or partially withdrawn from any Multiemployer Pension Plan, incurred any withdrawal liability with respect to any such plan, or received notice of any claim or demand for withdrawal liability or partial withdrawal liability from any such plan, and no condition has occurred which, if continued, could reasonably be expected to result in a withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any such plan; and (iii) neither any Borrower nor any other member of the Controlled Group has received any notice that any Multiemployer Pension Plan is in reorganization, that increased contributions may be required to avoid a reduction in plan benefits or the imposition of any excise tax, that any such plan is or has been funded at a rate less than that required under Section 412 of the Code, that any such plan is or may be terminated, or that any such plan is or may become insolvent.
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9.10 Investment Company Act. No Loan Party is an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” or a “subsidiary” of an “investment company,” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
9.11 Compliance with Laws. Each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries is in compliance in all respects with the requirements of all laws and all orders, writs, injunctions, and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except where (a) that requirement of law or order, writ, injunction, or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
9.12 Regulation U. No Borrower 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.
9.13 Taxes. Each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries has timely filed all material tax returns and reports required by law to have been filed by it and has paid all material Taxes and governmental charges due and payable with respect to each such return, except any such Taxes or charges that (a) are not delinquent, (b) remain payable without penalty or interest, or (c) are being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP have been set aside on that Loan Party’s or that Subsidiary’s books. The Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have made adequate reserves on their books and records in accordance with GAAP for all Taxes that have accrued but which are not yet due and payable. None of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have participated in any transaction that relates to a year of the taxpayer (which is still open under the applicable statute of limitations) which is a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2) (irrespective of the date when the transaction was entered into).
9.14 Solvency, etc. On the Closing Date, and immediately prior to and after giving effect to each borrowing under this Agreement and the use of the proceeds thereof and giving effect to the contribution rights set forth in Section 16, with respect to Holdings and each Borrower, individually, and the Loan Parties taken as a whole, (a) the fair value of its or their assets is greater than the amount of its or their liabilities (including disputed, contingent and unliquidated liabilities) as that value is established and liabilities evaluated in accordance with GAAP; (b) the present fair saleable value of its or their assets is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability on its or their debts as they become absolute and matured; (c) it is, and they are, able to realize upon its or their assets and pay its or their debts and other liabilities (including disputed, contingent and unliquidated liabilities) as they mature in the normal course of business; (d) it does not, and they do not, intend to, and it does not, and they do not, believe that it or they will, incur debts or liabilities beyond its or their ability to pay as those debts and liabilities mature; and (e) it is not, and they are not, engaged in or about to engage in business or a transaction for which its or their property would constitute unreasonably small capital.
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9.15 Environmental Matters. The on-going operations of each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries comply in all respects with all Environmental Laws, except for non-compliance that could not (if enforced in accordance with applicable law) reasonably be expected to result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries has obtained, and maintained in good standing, all licenses, permits, authorizations, registrations, and other approvals required under any Environmental Law and required for their respective ordinary course operations, and for their reasonably anticipated future operations, and each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries is in compliance with all terms and conditions thereof, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in material liability to any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries and could not reasonably be expected to result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, and none of the properties or operations of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, is subject to, and none of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries reasonably anticipates the issuance of, (a) any written order from or agreement with any federal, state, or local governmental authority, or (b) any judicial or docketed administrative or other proceeding respecting any Environmental Law, Environmental Claim, or Hazardous Substance that could reasonably be expected to result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect. There are no Hazardous Substances or other conditions or circumstances existing with respect to any property, arising from operations prior to the Closing Date, or relating to any waste disposal of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof that could reasonably be expected to result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries has any underground storage tanks that are not properly registered or permitted under applicable Environmental Laws or that at any time have released, leaked, disposed of or otherwise discharged Hazardous Substances that could reasonably be expected to result in material liability to any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries.
9.16
Insurance. Set forth on Schedule 9.16 is a complete and accurate summary of the property and casualty insurance
program of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries as of the ClosingThird
Amendment Effective Date (including the names of all insurers, policy numbers, expiration dates, amounts and types of coverage,
annual premiums, exclusions, deductibles, self-insured retention, and a description in reasonable detail of any self-insurance program,
retrospective rating plan, fronting arrangement, or other risk assumption arrangement involving any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries).
Each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries and their respective properties are insured with what are reasonably believed by Borrowers
to be financially sound and reputable insurance companies that are not Affiliates of the Loan Parties, in such amounts, with such deductibles,
and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies of similar size, engaged in similar businesses, and owning similar properties
in localities where the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries operate.
9.17
Real Property. Set forth on Schedule 9.17 is a complete and accurate list, as of the ClosingThird
Amendment Effective Date, of the address of all real property owned or leased by any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries,
together with, in the case of leased property, the name and mailing address of the lessor of that property.
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9.18 Information. All information (other than the projections and forecasts referred to below and information of a general economic or general industry nature) heretofore or contemporaneously with this Agreement furnished in writing by any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is, and all written information (other than the projections and forecasts referred to below and information of a general economic or general industry nature) hereafter furnished by or on behalf of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement will be, when furnished, taken as a whole, true and accurate in all material respects and does not or will not, when furnished, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements are made (after giving effect to all supplements and updates thereto that are made in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents). All projections and forecasts provided by Borrowers are based on good faith estimates and assumptions believed by Borrowers to be reasonable as of the date of the applicable projections or forecasts; provided that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections and forecasts may differ materially from projected or forecasted results.
9.19
Location of Bank Accounts. Schedule 9.19 sets forth a complete and accurate list as of the ClosingThird
Amendment Effective Date of all deposit, checking, and other bank accounts, all securities and other accounts maintained with
any broker dealer or other securities intermediary, and all other similar accounts maintained by each Loan Party, together with a description
thereof (including the bank, broker dealer, or securities intermediary at which each such account is maintained and the account number
and the purpose thereof and whether such account is an Excluded Deposit Account or not).
9.20 Burdensome Obligations. None of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement or contract or subject to any restriction contained in its organizational documents or its governing documents that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
9.21
Intellectual Property. Except as set forth on Schedule 9.21, each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries
owns or licenses or otherwise has the right to use all licenses, permits, patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications,
service marks, trade names, copyrights, copyright applications, franchises, authorizations, non-governmental licenses and permits, and
other intellectual property rights that are necessary for the operation of its business, without infringement upon or conflict with the
rights of any other Person with respect thereto, except for any infringements and conflicts that, individually or in the aggregate, could
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Set forth on Schedule 9.21 is a complete and accurate list as of
the ClosingThird Amendment Effective Date of
all such material licenses, permits, patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, trade names, copyrights,
copyright applications, franchises, authorizations, non-governmental licenses and permits, and other intellectual property rights of
each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries. No slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part, or
other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries infringes upon or
conflicts with any rights owned by any other Person, and no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or threatened,
except for any infringements and conflicts that could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect. To each Loan Party’s knowledge, no patent, invention, device, application, principle, or any statute, law, rule,
regulation, standard, or code is pending or proposed, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
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9.22 Material Contracts. Set forth on Schedule 9.22 is a complete and accurate list as of the Closing Date of all Material Contracts of each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, showing the parties and subject matter thereof and amendments and modifications thereto. Each such Material Contract (a) is in full force and effect and is binding upon and enforceable against each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries that is a party thereto and, to each Loan Party’s knowledge, all other parties thereto in accordance with its terms; (b) has not been otherwise amended or modified; and (c) is not in default due to the action of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any other party thereto.
9.23 Employee and Labor Matters. There is (a) no unfair labor practice complaint pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof before any governmental authority and no grievance or arbitration proceeding pending or threatened against any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries that arises out of or under any collective bargaining agreement; (b) no strike, labor dispute, slowdown, stoppage or similar action or grievance pending or threatened against any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries; or (c) to the knowledge of each Loan Party, no union representation question existing with respect to the employees of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries and no union organizing activity taking place with respect to any of the employees of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries. None of the Loan Parties and their ERISA Affiliates has incurred any liability or obligation under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN”) or similar state law that remains unpaid or unsatisfied. The hours worked and payments made to employees of each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable legal requirements, except to the extent any such violations could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. All material payments due from any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of that Loan Party or that Subsidiary, except where the failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
9.24 No Bankruptcy Filing. None of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries is contemplating either an Insolvency Proceeding or the liquidation of all or a major portion of that Loan Party’s or that Subsidiary’s assets or property, and no Loan Party has any knowledge of any Person contemplating an Insolvency Proceeding against any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries.
9.25
Name; Jurisdiction of Organization; Organizational ID Number; Chief Place of Business; Chief Executive Office; FEIN.
Schedule 9.25 sets forth a complete and accurate list as of the ClosingThird
Amendment Effective Date of (a) the exact legal name of each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries; (b) the jurisdiction
of organization of each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries; (c) the organizational identification number of each Loan Party (or
indicates that that Loan Party has no organizational identification number); (d) each place of business of each of the Loan Parties and
their Subsidiaries; (e) the chief executive office of each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries; and (f) the federal employer identification
number of each Loan Party.
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9.26
Locations of Collateral. There is no location at which any Loan Party has any Collateral (except for inventory or
equipment in transit in the ordinary course of business) other than those locations listed on Schedule 9.26. Schedule 9.26
contains a true, correct, and complete list, as of the ClosingThird
Amendment Effective Date, of the names and addresses of (i) each warehouse at which Collateral of each Loan Party is stored
and (ii) each other location at which Collateral is stored having a fair market of at least $50,000 individually or $250,000 in the aggregate
for all such locations (excluding Collateral in the form of immaterial cleaning equipment kept at customer locations in the ordinary
course of business). None of the receipts received by any Loan Party from any warehouse states that the goods covered thereby are to
be delivered to bearer or to the order of a named Person or to a named Person and that named Person’s assigns.
9.27 Security Interests. The Guaranty and Collateral Agreement creates in favor of Administrative Agent, for the benefit of Administrative Agent and the Lenders, a legal, valid, and enforceable security interest in the Collateral. Upon the filing of the UCC-1 financing statements described in Section 12.1.13 and the recording of the collateral assignments referred to in the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, the security interests in and Liens on the Collateral granted under the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement will be perfected, first-priority (subject to Permitted Liens) (subject to the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) security interests, and no further recordings or filings are or will be required in connection with the creation, perfection, or enforcement of those security interests and Liens, other than (a) the filing of continuation statements in accordance with applicable law; (b) the recording of the collateral assignments referred to in the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, with respect to after-acquired U.S. patent and trademark applications and registrations and U.S. copyrights; and (c) the recordation of appropriate evidence of the security interest in the appropriate foreign registry with respect to all foreign intellectual property.
9.28 No Default. No Default or Event of Default exists or would result from the incurrence by any Loan Party of any Debt under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document.
9.29 Hedging Agreements. None of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries is a party to, nor will it be a party to, any Hedging Agreement other than Hedging Agreements with the ABL Agent to the extent permitted by Section 11.1(k).
9.30 OFAC. Each of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries is and will remain in compliance in all material respects with all U.S. economic sanctions laws, Executive Orders and implementing regulations as promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), and all applicable anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act and all regulations issued pursuant to it. None of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries and Affiliates is (a) a Person designated by the U.S. government on the list of the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (the “SDN List”) with which a U.S. Person cannot deal with or otherwise engage in business transactions; (b) a Person who is otherwise the target of U.S. economic sanctions laws such that a U.S. Person cannot deal or otherwise engage in business transactions with that Person; or (c) controlled by (including, without limitation, by virtue of that Person being a director or owning voting shares or interests), or acts, directly or indirectly, for or on behalf of, any Person on the SDN List or a foreign government that is the target of U.S. economic sanctions prohibitions such that the entry into, or performance under, this Agreement or any other Loan Document would be prohibited under U.S. law.
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9.31 Patriot Act. Each of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries and Affiliates are in compliance with (a) the Trading with the Enemy Act, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto; (b) the Patriot Act; and (c) other federal or state laws relating to “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used directly or indirectly for any payments to any government official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977.
9.32 Related Agreements.
(a) The Loan Parties have furnished Administrative Agent true and correct copies of the Related Agreements and the RWS Acquisition Documents.
(b) The Loan Parties have duly taken all necessary company action to authorize the execution, delivery, and performance of (x) the Related Agreements and the consummation of transactions contemplated by the Related Agreements and (y) the RWS Acquisition Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the RWS Acquisition Documents.
(c) The Related Transaction will comply with all applicable legal requirements, and all necessary governmental, regulatory, creditor, shareholder, partner, and other material consents, approvals, and exemptions required to be obtained by the Loan Parties and, to each Loan Party’s knowledge, each other party to the Related Agreements in connection with the Related Transaction will be, prior to consummation of the Related Transaction, duly obtained and will be in full force and effect. As of the date of the Related Agreements, all applicable waiting periods with respect to the Related Transaction will have expired without any action being taken by any competent governmental authority which restrains, prevents or imposes material adverse conditions upon the consummation of the Related Transaction. The RWS Acquisition will comply with all applicable legal requirements, and all necessary governmental, regulatory, creditor, shareholder, partner, and other material consents, approvals, and exemptions required to be obtained by the Loan Parties and, to each Loan Party’s knowledge, each other party to the RWS Acquisition Documents in connection with the RWS Acquisition will be, prior to consummation of the RWS Acquisition, duly obtained and will be in full force and effect. As of the date of the RWS Acquisition Documents, all applicable waiting periods with respect to the RWS Acquisition will have expired without any action being taken by any competent governmental authority which restrains, prevents or imposes material adverse conditions upon the consummation of the RWS Acquisition.
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(d) The execution and delivery of the Related Agreements did not, and the consummation of the Related Transaction will not, violate any statute or regulation of the United States (including any securities law) or of any state or other applicable jurisdiction, or any order, judgment, or decree of any court or governmental body binding on any Loan Party or, to any Borrower’s knowledge, any other party to the Related Agreements, or result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement, indenture, instrument, or other document, or any judgment, order, or decree, to which any Loan Party is a party or by which any Loan Party is bound or, to any Borrower’s knowledge, to which any other party to the Related Agreements is a party or by which any such party is bound. The execution and delivery of the RWS Acquisition Documents did not, and the consummation of the RWS Acquisition will not, violate any statute or regulation of the United States (including any securities law) or of any state or other applicable jurisdiction, or any order, judgment, or decree of any court or governmental body binding on any Loan Party or, to any Borrower’s knowledge, any other party to the RWS Acquisition Documents, or result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement, indenture, instrument, or other document, or any judgment, order, or decree, to which any Loan Party is a party or by which any Loan Party is bound or, to any Borrower’s knowledge, to which any other party to the RWS Acquisition Documents is a party or by which any such party is bound.
(e) As of the Closing Date, no statement or representation made in the Related Agreements by any Loan Party or, to any Borrower’s knowledge, any other Person, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading in any material respect. As of the Third Amendment Effective Date, no statement or representation made in the RWS Acquisition Documents by any Loan Party or, to any Borrower’s knowledge, any other Person, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading in any material respect.
9.33 Holdings. Holdings is not and has not, directly or indirectly, engaged in any business activities, does not hold and has not held any material assets, has not granted any Lien, and has not incurred any Debt, other than (a) acting as a holding company and transactions incidental thereto; (b) entering into the Loan Documents, the ABL Loan Documents and the transactions required in this Agreement or permitted in this Agreement to be performed by Holdings; (c) receiving and distributing the dividends, distributions, and payments permitted to be made to Holdings pursuant to Section 11.3; (d) entering into engagement letters and similar agreements with attorneys, accountants, and other professionals; and (e) issuing Equity Interests and performing its obligations under its organizational documents, its governing documents, and agreements with the holders of its Equity Interests.
9.34 Customers and Suppliers. There exists no actual or threatened termination, cancellation, or limitation of, or modification to or change in, the business relationship between (a) any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any customer or any group thereof, on the other hand, whose agreements with any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries are individually or in the aggregate material to the business or operations of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries; or (b) of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any supplier or any group thereof, on the other hand, whose agreements with any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries are individually or in the aggregate material to the business or operations of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries. To the Loan Parties’ knowledge there exists no present state of facts or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to give rise to or result in any such termination, cancellation, limitation, modification or change.
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9.35 ABL Loan Documents. As of the Closing Date, the Borrowers have delivered to the Administrative Agent true and correct copies of the ABL Loan Documents. The ABL Loan Documents are in full force and effect as of the Closing Date and have not been terminated, rescinded or withdrawn as of such date. The execution, delivery and performance of the ABL Loan Agreement on the Closing Date does not and will not require any registration with, consent, or approval of, or notice to, or other action with or by, any governmental authority, other than consents or approvals that have been obtained and that are still in full force and effect. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the Obligations incurred hereunder and thereunder are permitted to be incurred by the ABL Loan Documents. Each Person that is a guarantor or a borrower under the ABL Loan Documents is a Loan Party hereunder.
Section 10 | AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS. |
Until Payment in Full, Holdings and each Borrower shall, unless at any time the Required Lenders otherwise expressly consent in writing, do the following:
10.1 Reports, Certificates and Other Information. Furnish or cause Borrower Representative to furnish to Administrative Agent and each Lender:
10.1.1 Annual Report. Promptly when available and in any event within 120 days after the close of each Fiscal Year (commencing with the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2020): (a) a copy of the annual audit report of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for that Fiscal Year, including consolidated balance sheets and statements of earnings and cash flows of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as at the end of that Fiscal Year, certified without adverse reference to going concern value and without qualification by independent auditors of recognized standing selected by Holdings and reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent, together with a balance sheet of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as of the end of that Fiscal Year and statement of earnings and cash flows for Holdings and its Subsidiaries for that Fiscal Year, certified by a Senior Officer of Holdings.
10.1.2 Interim Reports. Promptly when available (a) and in any event within 30 days after the end of each month, consolidated balance sheets of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as of the end of that month, together with consolidated statements of earnings and a consolidated statement of cash flows for that month and for the period beginning with the first day of that Fiscal Year and ending on the last day of that month, together with a comparison with the corresponding period of the previous Fiscal Year and a comparison with the budget for that period of the current Fiscal Year, all certified by a Senior Officer of Holdings and (b) and in any event within 45 days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter, consolidated balance sheets of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as of the end of that Fiscal Quarter, together with consolidated statements of earnings and a consolidated statement of cash flows for that Fiscal Quarter and for the period beginning with the first day of that Fiscal Year and ending on the last day of that Fiscal Quarter, together with a comparison with the corresponding period of the previous Fiscal Year and a comparison with the budget for that period of the current Fiscal Year, together with a management discussion and analysis, all certified by a Senior Officer of Holdings.
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10.1.3 Compliance Certificates. Contemporaneously with the furnishing of a copy of each annual audit report pursuant to Section 10.1.1 and each set of quarterly statements pursuant to Section 10.1.2(b), a duly completed compliance certificate in the form of Exhibit B, with appropriate insertions, dated the date of that annual report or those statements and signed by a Senior Officer of Holdings, containing (a) a computation of each of the financial ratios and restrictions set forth in Section 11.12; (b) a certification to the effect that that Senior Officer has not become aware of any Default or Event of Default that has occurred and is continuing or, if there is any such event, describing it and the steps, if any, being taken to cure it; and (c) a written statement of Holdings’ management setting forth a discussion of Holdings’ and its Subsidiaries’ financial condition, changes in financial condition, and results of operations.
10.1.4 Reports to the SEC and to Shareholders. Promptly upon the filing or sending thereof, copies of all regular, periodic, or special reports of any Loan Party filed with the SEC; copies of all registration statements of any Loan Party filed with the SEC (other than on Form S-8); and copies of all proxy statements or other communications made to security holders generally.
10.1.5 ABL Reports and Notices. When provided to the ABL Agent or as required under the ABL Loan Documents and otherwise upon request of the Administrative Agent, any financial reporting (including borrowing base certificates and statements of accounts), notice, financial information, data or other information given to the ABL Agent pursuant to the ABL Loan Documents (unless already provided to the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents).
10.1.6 Notice of Default, Litigation, and ERISA Matters. Promptly upon becoming aware of any of the following, written notice describing the same and the steps being taken by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries affected thereby with respect thereto:
(a) the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default;
(b) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries or their respective property (i) in which the amount of damages claimed is $500,000 (or its equivalent in another currency or currencies) or more in the aggregate for all such litigations or proceedings; (ii) in which the relief sought is an injunction or other stay of the performance of this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or (iii) which, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
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(c) (i) the institution of any steps by any member of the Controlled Group or any other Person to terminate any Pension Plan; (ii) the failure of any member of the Controlled Group to make a required contribution to any Pension Plan (if that failure is sufficient to give rise to a Lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA) or to any Multiemployer Pension Plan; (iii) the taking of any action with respect to a Pension Plan that could result in the requirement that any Loan Party furnish a bond or other security to the PBGC or that Pension Plan; (iv) the occurrence of any event with respect to any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Pension Plan that could result in the incurrence by any member of the Controlled Group of any material liability, fine, or penalty (including any claim or demand for withdrawal liability or partial withdrawal from any Multiemployer Pension Plan); (v) any material increase in the contingent liability of any Loan Party with respect to any post-retirement welfare benefit plan or other employee benefit plan of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries; or (vi) any notice that any Multiemployer Pension Plan is in reorganization, that increased contributions may be required to avoid a reduction in plan benefits or the imposition of an excise tax, that any such plan is or has been funded at a rate less than that required under Section 412 of the Code, that any such plan is or may be terminated, or that any such plan is or may become insolvent;
(d) any cancellation or material change in any insurance maintained by any Loan Party;
(e) any violation of, or non-compliance with, any material requirement of law by any Loan Party;
(f) any notices of default under the ABL Loan Documents or any notice of any Enforcement Action (as defined int eh ABL Intercreditor Agreement); or
(g) any other event (including (i) any violation of any Environmental Law or the assertion of any Environmental Claim, or (ii) the enactment or effectiveness of any law, rule, or regulation) that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
10.1.7 Real Estate. Promptly upon any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries acquiring or leasing any real property after the Closing Date, an updated version of Schedule 9.17 showing information as of the date of delivery.
10.1.8 Management Reports. Promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of all detailed financial and management reports submitted to Holdings or any Borrower by independent auditors in connection with each annual or interim audit made by those auditors of the books of Holdings or any Borrower.
10.1.9 Projections. As soon as practicable, and in any event not later than (x) 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year, preliminary financial projections for Holdings and its Subsidiaries for the then current Fiscal Year (including a business plan, monthly operating and cash flow budgets, income statements, balance sheets, a capital expenditures budget and a summary of assumptions made in the build-up of such financial projections), which remain subject to approval of the board of directors of Holdings, and (y) 60 days after the end of each Fiscal Year, final financial projections for Holdings and its Subsidiaries for the then current Fiscal Year (including a business plan, monthly operating and cash flow budgets, income statements, balance sheets, a capital expenditures budget and a summary of assumptions made in the build-up of such financial projections), which projections have been confirmed and approved of the board of directors of Holdings, in each case, prepared in a manner consistent with the projections delivered by Borrower Representative to Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date or otherwise in a manner reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, accompanied by a certificate of a Senior Officer of Borrower Representative to the effect that (a) the projections were prepared by Holdings in good faith; (b) Holdings has a reasonable basis for the assumptions contained in the projections, as of the date of delivery; and (c) the projections have been prepared in accordance with those assumptions (it being recognized by Administrative Agent and the Lenders that any projections and forecasts provided by the Company are based on good-faith estimates and assumptions believed by the Company to be reasonable as of the date of the applicable projections or assumptions and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections and forecasts may differ materially from projected or forecasted results).
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10.1.10 Related Transaction Notices. Promptly following receipt, copies of any material notices (including notices of default or acceleration) received in connection with the Related Transaction or the RWS Acquisition.
10.1.11 Material Contract Notices. Promptly following receipt, copies of any material notices (including notices of default) received in connection with any Material Contract.
10.1.12 Information Systems. Not less than three (3) months prior to the commencement of any program or process to implement a material change, consolidation or modification of a Loan Party’s information technology and/or enterprise resource planning software system, such Loan Party shall provide notice of such proposed change, consolidation or modification to Administrative Agent. From the commencement of such program or process through the completion of such change, consolidation or modification, the Borrowers shall provide Administrative Agent an update on the progress of such change, consolidation or modification concurrently with the delivery of the written statement required to be delivered pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 10.1.3 relating to the Borrowers’ financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations.
10.1.13 Key Performance Indicators. Contemporaneously with the furnishing of a copy of each set of monthly financial statements pursuant to Section 10.1.2(a), a report summarizing key performance indicators of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for the period then ending in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (and in any event shall include (without limitation) (1) any new material customers added or customers lost during the applicable month being measured along with the gross profit impact of such change on an annual basis and (2) the top 5 customers of Holdings and its Subsidiaries measured by trailing twelve month gross profit).
10.1.14 Other Information. Promptly from time to time, all other information (including, without limitation, business or financial data, reports, appraisals and projections) concerning any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries or their respective properties or business as any Lender or Administrative Agent reasonably requests.
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10.2 Books, Records, and Inspections. Keep, and cause each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to keep, its books and records in accordance with sound business practices sufficient to allow the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP; permit, and cause each other Loan Party and each Subsidiary of each Loan Party to permit, any Lender or Administrative Agent or any representative, agent, or advisor thereof to inspect the properties and operations of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries during normal business hours; and permit, and cause each other Loan Party and each Subsidiary of each Loan Party to permit, at any reasonable time and with reasonable notice (or at any time without notice if an Event of Default exists), any Lender or Administrative Agent or any representative, agent, or advisor thereof to visit any or all of its offices, to discuss its financial matters with its officers and its independent auditors (and Holdings and each Borrower hereby authorizes all such independent auditors to discuss those financial matters with any Lender or Administrative Agent or any representative, agent, or advisor thereof), and to examine (and photocopy extracts from) any of its books or other records; and permit, and cause each other Loan Party and each Subsidiary of each Loan Party to permit, Administrative Agent and its representatives, agents, and advisors to inspect the inventory and other tangible assets of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, to perform appraisals of the equipment of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, to have access at all times to a virtual data room containing all contracts of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, and to inspect, audit, conduct physical counts and perform valuations thereof, and to audit, check and make copies of and extracts from the books, records, computer data, computer programs, journals, orders, receipts, correspondence and other data relating to inventory, accounts, and any other Collateral. All such visits, inspections, appraisals or audits by Administrative Agent and its representatives, agents, and advisors will be at Borrowers’ expense, except that so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, Borrowers will not be required to reimburse Administrative Agent in any Fiscal Year for more than two (2) such visits, inspections, appraisals, or audits.
10.3 Maintenance of Property; Insurance.
(a) Keep, and cause each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to keep, all property useful and necessary in the business of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.
(b) Maintain, and cause each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to maintain, with responsible insurance companies, all insurance coverage as may be required by any law or governmental regulation or court decree or order applicable to it, general liability insurance and business interruption insurance in such amounts and duration, and with such deductibles, as are acceptable to Administrative Agent in its reasonable determination, and all other insurance, to such extent and against such hazards and liabilities, as is customarily maintained by companies similarly situated, but which must insure against all risks and liabilities of the type identified on Schedule 9.16 and must have insured amounts no less than, and deductibles no higher than, those set forth on that schedule; and, upon request of Administrative Agent or any Lender, furnish to Administrative Agent or that Lender original or electronic copies of policies evidencing that insurance and a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the nature and extent of all insurance maintained by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries. Borrowers shall cause each issuer of an insurance policy in respect of any Loan Party to provide Administrative Agent with an endorsement (i) showing Administrative Agent as lender’s loss payee with respect to each policy of property or casualty insurance and naming Administrative Agent as an additional insured with respect to each policy of liability insurance; (ii) providing that at least 10 days’ notice will be given the Administrative Agent prior to cancellation of the policy for non-payment of premium and 30 days’ notice will be given to Administrative Agent prior to any cancellation of, material reduction or change in coverage provided by or other material modification to that policy for any other reason; and (iii) reasonably acceptable in all other respects to Administrative Agent.
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(c) Unless Borrowers provide Administrative Agent with evidence of the insurance coverage required by this Agreement, Administrative Agent may purchase insurance at Borrowers’ expense, after notice to Borrower Representative, to protect Administrative Agent’s and the Lenders’ interests in the Collateral. This insurance may, but need not, protect any Loan Party’s interests. The coverage that Administrative Agent purchases might not pay any claim that is made against any Loan Party in connection with the Collateral. Borrowers may later cancel any insurance purchased by Administrative Agent, but only after providing Administrative Agent with evidence that Borrowers have obtained insurance as required by this Agreement. If Administrative Agent purchases insurance for the Collateral, Borrowers will be responsible for the costs of that insurance, including interest and any other charges that might be imposed with the placement of the insurance, until the effective date of the cancellation or expiration of the insurance. The costs of the insurance may be added to the principal amount of the Loans owing under this Agreement. The costs of the insurance may be more than the cost of the insurance the Loan Parties might be able to obtain on their own.
(d) All Collateral (other than (i) mobile goods and goods that are in transit in the ordinary course of business, (ii) equipment that is located at customer locations in the ordinary course of business to the extent the fair market value of such equipment does not exceed $50,000 individually and $250,000 in the aggregate for all such equipment (excluding immaterial cleaning equipment kept at customer locations in the ordinary course of business)), will at all times be kept by the Loan Parties at one or more of the business locations set forth in Schedule 9.26 hereto, as updated by the Loan Parties providing written notice to Administrative Agent of any new location on a quarterly basis together with the delivery of Compliance Certificates pursuant to Section 10.1.2(b).
10.4 Compliance with Laws; Payment of Taxes and Liabilities.
(a) Comply, and cause each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to comply, in all respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, decrees, orders, judgments, licenses, and permits, except where failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(b) Without limiting Section 10.4(a), ensure, and cause each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to ensure, that no Person who owns a controlling interest in or otherwise controls any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries is (i) listed on the SDN List maintained by OFAC and/or any other similar lists maintained by OFAC pursuant to any authorizing statute, Executive Order, or regulation; or (ii) a Person designated under Section 1(b), (c), or (d) of Executive Order No. 13224 (September 23, 2001), any related enabling legislation, or any other similar Executive Orders.
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(c) Without limiting Section 10.4(a), comply, and cause each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to comply, with all applicable Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering laws and regulations.
(d) Pay, and cause each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes and other governmental charges against it or any of its property, as well as claims of any kind which, if unpaid, could become a Lien on any of its property, but none of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries will be required under this Section 10.4(d) to pay any such tax or charge so long as that Loan Party or that Subsidiary is contesting the validity thereof in good faith by appropriate proceedings and has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP, and, in the case of a claim that could become a Lien on any Collateral, those contest proceedings stay the foreclosure of that Lien or the sale of any portion of the Collateral to satisfy that claim.
10.5 Maintenance of Existence, etc. Maintain and preserve, and (subject to Section 11.4) cause each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, (a) its existence and good standing in the jurisdiction of its organization and (b) its qualification to do business and good standing in each jurisdiction where the nature of its business makes that qualification necessary (other than any such jurisdictions in which the failure to be qualified or in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect).
10.6
Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of (a) the Term A Loans solely (i) to repay the Debt to be Repaid, and, thereafter,
(ii) to finance a portion of the Related Transaction (including funding of permitted earn-out payments and deferred purchase price in
connection therewith), and (iii) to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Related Transaction, this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents,; (b) the Term B Loans
and Term D Loans solely (i) to repay all amounts owing under a proposed target’s existing indebtedness for borrowed
money in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, and, thereafter, (ii) to finance a portion of the consideration in connection with
such Permitted Acquisition (including funding of permitted earn-out payments and deferred purchase price in connection therewith), and
(iii) to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with such Permitted Acquisition; and
(c) the Term C Loans solely (i) to repay all existing indebtedness for borrowed money of RWS, (ii) to finance
a portion of the consideration in connection with the RWS Acquisition (including funding of permitted earn-out payments and deferred
purchase price in connection therewith), and (iii) to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the RWS Acquisition; and (d)
Incremental Loans solely for Permitted Acquisitions as permitted by the existing Lenders; and, in each case, not use or permit
any proceeds of any Loan to be used, either directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of “purchasing
or carrying” any Margin Stock.
10.7 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) Maintain, and cause each other member of the Controlled Group to maintain, each Pension Plan in compliance with all applicable requirements of law and regulations.
(b) Make, and cause each other member of the Controlled Group to make, on a timely basis, all required contributions to any Multiemployer Pension Plan.
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(c) Not, and not permit any other member of the Controlled Group to, (i) seek a waiver of the minimum funding standards of ERISA, (ii) terminate or withdraw from any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Pension Plan or (iii) take any other action with respect to any Pension Plan that could reasonably be expected to entitle the PBGC to terminate, impose liability in respect of, or cause a trustee to be appointed to administer, any Pension Plan, unless the actions or events described in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) individually or in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
10.8 Environmental Matters. If any release or threatened release or other disposal of Hazardous Substances occurs or has occurred on any real property or any other assets of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, then Borrowers shall, or shall cause the applicable Loan Party or the applicable Subsidiary of a Loan Party to, cause the prompt containment and removal of those Hazardous Substances and the remediation of that real property or other assets as necessary to comply with all applicable Environmental Laws and to preserve in all material respects the value of that real property or other assets. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Borrowers shall, and shall cause the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to, comply with any applicable federal or state judicial or administrative order requiring the performance at any real property of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries of activities in response to the release or threatened release of a Hazardous Substance. To the extent that the transportation of Hazardous Substances is permitted by this Agreement, Holdings and Borrowers shall, and shall cause their Subsidiaries to, dispose of all Hazardous Substances, or of any other wastes, only at licensed disposal facilities operating in compliance with Environmental Laws.
10.9 Further Assurances. Take, and cause each other Loan Party to take, all actions as are necessary or as Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders reasonably request from time to time to ensure that the Obligations of each Loan Party under the Loan Documents are secured by a first-priority perfected Lien (subject to the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) in favor of Administrative Agent (subject to Permitted Liens) on all of the assets (other than Excluded Collateral) of each Loan Party (as well as all Equity Interests of each Borrower, each Subsidiary (other than Excluded Subsidiaries)) and guaranteed by each Loan Party (including, immediately upon the acquisition or creation thereof (or any longer period Administrative Agent agrees to in its sole discretion), any Subsidiary acquired or created after the Closing Date, but excluding Excluded Subsidiaries), in each case to the extent determined by Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, not to be prohibited by applicable law and as Administrative Agent reasonably determines, including (i) the execution and delivery of guaranties, security agreements, pledge agreements, mortgages (including, without limitation, leasehold mortgages), deeds of trust (including, without limitation, leasehold deeds of trust), financing statements, opinions of counsel, and other documents, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, and the filing or recording of any of the foregoing; (ii) the delivery of certificated securities and other Collateral with respect to which perfection is obtained by possession; and (iii) with respect to any real property acquired by any Loan Party after the Closing Date, the delivery (to the extent requested by Administrative Agent) within 60 days after the date that real property was acquired (or any longer period Administrative Agent agrees to in its sole discretion) of a duly executed Mortgage with respect to that real property providing for a fully perfected Lien, in favor of Administrative Agent, in all right, title and interest of the applicable Loan Party in that real property, together with all Mortgage-Related Documents and a legal opinion of special counsel for the applicable Loan Party for the state in which that real property is located in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent. The Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries shall ensure that no Person is included (or added) as a guarantor or borrower under the ABL Loan Documents and no assets are included (or added) as collateral under the ABL Loan Documents unless such Person or assets, as applicable, are also included (or added substantially concurrently with such addition under the ABL Loan Documents) as a Loan Party or Collateral, as applicable, under the Loan Documents in accordance with this Section 10.9.
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10.10 Lender Meetings. Holdings and the Borrowers will, upon the request of Administrative Agent or Required Lenders, participate in a meeting of Administrative Agent and Lenders once during each Fiscal Year to be held via a conference call or other teleconference at such time as may be agreed to by Borrower Representative and Administrative Agent (such consents not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
10.11 Deposit Accounts. Unless Administrative Agent otherwise consents in writing, maintain, and cause each other Loan Party to maintain, all of their deposit accounts and securities accounts, other than Excluded Deposit Accounts, with an institution that has entered into one or more Control Agreements with Administrative Agent and the applicable Loan Party granting “control” (as defined in the UCC) of each applicable account to Administrative Agent. The Loan Parties shall not enter into any control agreement (or similar arrangement) with any secured party unless such agreement is a Control Agreement to which the Administrative Agent is party.
10.12 SBA PPP Loans.
(a) Use of Proceeds. The Loan Parties will (i) use all of the proceeds of any SBA PPP Loan exclusively for CARES Forgivable Uses in the manner required under the CARES Act, as amended, to obtain forgiveness of the largest possible amount of such SBA PPP Loan and (ii) take all commercially reasonable steps to have the SBA PPP Loans forgiven pursuant to the CARES Act and use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct their business in a manner that maximizes the amount of the SBA PPP Loans that is forgiven. The Loan Parties acknowledge that as of the Closing Date, in order to obtain forgiveness of the largest possible amount of the SBA PPP Loans, the Loan Parties would not be allowed to use less than 60% of each SBA PPP Loan proceeds for CARES Payroll Costs, subject to amendment.
(b) CARES Act. The Loan Parties and their use of the SBA PPP Loans will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the CARES Act.
(c) Notice. The Loan Parties will provide Administrative Agent with (i) prompt written notice (but in any event within two Business Days) of the failure of any SBA PPP Loan incurred by any of the Borrowers to qualify for contingent forgiveness under the CARES Act and (ii) if requested by Administrative Agent, copies of all correspondence sent to, and received from, the SBA or SBA 7(a) lender bank.
10.13 Post-Closing Items. Within the time periods specified below after the Closing Date (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), the Loan Parties shall complete, or cause the applicable Person to complete, the following undertakings and deliveries in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
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(a) Insurance. No later than (x) 2 Business Days after the Closing Date, the Loan Parties shall have delivered updated insurance certificates indicating that Monroe Capital Management Advisors, LLC, as Administrative Agent, together with its successors and assigns, is named as additional insured on the certificate for liability coverage and as lender’s loss payee on the certificate for property or casualty insurance and (y) 10 Business Days after the Closing Date, the Borrowers shall cause each issuer of an insurance policy in respect of any Loan Party to provide Administrative Agent with an endorsement (i) showing Administrative Agent as lender’s loss payee with respect to each policy of property or casualty insurance and business interruption insurance and naming Administrative Agent as an additional insured with respect to each policy of liability insurance; and (ii) providing that 30 days’ notice will be given to Administrative Agent prior to any cancellation of, material reduction or change in coverage provided by or other material modification to that policy.
(b) Stock Certificate. No later than 5 Business Days after the Closing Date, the Loan Parties shall have caused the original stock certificate of Quest Sustainability Services, Inc. to be delivered to Administrative Agent.
(c)
Control Agreements. No later than 30 days after the Closing Date, the Loan Parties shall deliver to the Administrative
Agent the Control Agreements required pursuant to Section 10.11; and
(d) Collateral Access Agreements. No later than 30 days after the Closing Date, the Loan Parties shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, a Collateral Access Agreement with respect to the leased locations at (x) 3481 Plano Parkway, The Colony, Texas 75056 and (y) 147 MacArthur Lane, Burlington, North Carolina 27217; provided, that, solely with respect to the leased location set forth in clause (y) above and only to the extent a collateral access agreement (or similar agreement) is not delivered to the ABL Agent, the Loan Parties shall only be required to use commercially reasonable to deliver such Collateral Access Agreement.
(e) Insurance. No later than 10 Business Days after the Third Amendment Effective Date, the Loan Parties shall have delivered updated insurance certificates indicating that Monroe Capital Management Advisors, LLC, as Administrative Agent, together with its successors and assigns, is named as additional insured on the certificate for liability coverage and as lender’s loss payee on the certificate for property or casualty insurance.
(f) Control Agreements. No later than 60 days after the Third Amendment Effective Date, the Loan Parties shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the Control Agreements required pursuant to Section 10.11 with respect to the deposit accounts and securities accounts of RSW and its Subsidiaries.
(g) Collateral Access Agreements. No later than 60 days after the Third Amendment Effective Date, the Loan Parties shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the Collateral Access Agreements required pursuant to Section 5.9(a) of the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement.
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Section 11 | NEGATIVE COVENANTS |
Until Payment in Full, Holdings and each Borrower shall, unless at any time the Required Lenders otherwise expressly consent in writing, do the following:
11.1 Debt. Not, and not permit any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume, or suffer to exist any Debt, except the following:
(a) Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(b) Debt of any of the Loan Parties (other than Holdings) and their Subsidiaries secured by Liens permitted by Section 11.2(d), and extensions, renewals, replacements, and refinancings thereof, so long as the aggregate amount of all such Debt at any time outstanding does not exceed $500,000;
(c) Debt of any Loan Party to any other Loan Party, so long as (i) that Debt is evidenced by a demand note in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent and pledged and delivered to Administrative Agent pursuant to the Collateral Documents as additional collateral security for the Obligations, and (ii) the obligations under that demand note are subordinated to the obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents (including the Obligations of Borrowers under this Agreement) in a manner reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent;
(d) Debt arising in connection with endorsement of instruments for deposit in the ordinary course of business;
(e) Debt of any Loan Party to any employee, officer, or director or any such Person’s spouse, estate, or estate-planning vehicle to repurchase Equity Interests from that Person upon the death, disability, or termination of employment of that employee, officer of director, so long as the aggregate amount of all such Debt at any time outstanding does not exceed $250,000;
(f) unsecured Hedging Obligations consisting of commodity swap agreements of the Loan Parties (other than Holdings) and their Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 incurred for bona fide hedging purposes and not for speculation with respect to risks arising in the ordinary course of Borrowers’ business;
(g) Debt described on Schedule 11.1 and any extension, renewal, replacement or refinancing thereof so long as the principal amount thereof is not increased;
(h) the Debt to be Repaid (so long as that Debt is repaid on the Closing Date with the proceeds of the initial Loans under this Agreement);
(i) Contingent Liabilities arising with respect to (i) customary indemnification obligations by any of the Loan Parties (other than Holdings) and their Subsidiaries in favor of purchasers in connection with dispositions permitted under Section 11.4, and (ii) the guaranty by any of the Loan Parties (other than Holdings) and their Subsidiaries of a lease, sublease, license, or sublicense entered into in the ordinary course of business by another Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof;
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(j) unsecured Debt incurred in respect of netting services, overdraft protection, and other like services, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(k) so long as the ABL Debt (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) is subject to the terms and conditions of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the ABL Debt (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) in an aggregate principal amount outstanding under this clause (k) at any time not to exceed the ABL Cap (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) at any time outstanding and any permitted Refinancing (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) thereof; provided, that, any ABL Debt that exceeds the ABL Cap shall still be permitted hereunder to the extent it constitutes Excess ABL Debt (as defined in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement) under the ABL Intercreditor Agreement; and
(l) Debt owed to any person or entity providing property, casualty or liability insurance to any Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Borrower in connection with the financing of insurance premiums in the ordinary course of business to the extent not due and payable;
(m) unsecured Debt of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries owing to banks or other financial institutions under corporate credit cards issued to officers and employees for business related expenses in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount not to exceed $375,000 at any time outstanding;
(n) [reserved];
(o) Debt in the form of Capital Lease obligations or purchase money obligations of any entity that becomes a Loan Party after the date hereof pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition; provided, that (x) such Debt exists at the time such entity becomes such a Subsidiary and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such entity becoming such a Subsidiary, (y) such Debt is not guaranteed in any respect by any Borrower or Guarantor (other than by any such entity that guaranteed such Debt at the time such entity became a Subsidiary) and (z) such Debt in the aggregate does not exceed $750,000 at any time outstanding and any renewals, extensions, or refinancings thereof so long as the principal amount thereof is not increased;
(p) Debt in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 at any time outstanding in connection with surety or similar bonds, letters of credit and performance bonds obtained in the ordinary course of business of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries;
(q) deposits supporting the performance of operating leases in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 at any time outstanding;
(r) unsecured Debt arising from agreements providing for customary adjustments of purchase price or similar obligations, or from guarantees securing the performance of any Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Borrower pursuant to such agreements, in connection with any Permitted Acquisitions;
(s) unsecured cash obligations under incentive, non-compete, consulting, deferred compensation, or other similar arrangements, other than sales commissions, incurred by it in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding;
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(t) (A) the Closing Date Seller Note to the extent subject to the Closing Date Seller Note Subordination Agreement, (B) other unsecured seller notes issued by Holdings of up to 150% of the EBITDA of the target for the most recently ended twelve month period for which financial statements have been delivered to Administrative Agent, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $12,000,000 at any time outstanding to the extent subject to a subordination agreement or other subordination arrangement in favor of the Obligations reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent and subject to documentation and structure reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (C) other unsecured earn-outs owing by Holdings of up to 150% of the EBITDA of the target for the most recently ended twelve month period for which financial statements have been delivered to Administrative Agent, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $12,000,000 at any time outstanding the extent subject to a subordination agreement or other subordination arrangement in favor of the Obligations reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent and subject to documentation and structure reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;
(u) Debt consisting of SBA PPP Loans in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,408,000 at any time outstanding; and
(v) other unsecured Debt of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries not otherwise provided for herein in an aggregate amount not at any time exceeding $750,000 at any time outstanding; provided, to the extent any such indebtedness is in the form of seller notes, earn-out or similar obligations, such Debt shall only be issued by Holdings and shall be subject to a subordination agreement or other subordination arrangement in favor of the Obligations reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent.
11.2 Liens. Not, and not permit any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to, create or permit to exist any Lien on any of its real or personal properties, assets, or rights of whatsoever nature (whether now owned or hereafter acquired), except the following:
(a) Liens for taxes or other governmental charges (excluding any Lien imposed pursuant to any provisions of ERISA) not at the time delinquent or thereafter payable without penalty or being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings so long as such Lien would not reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the Administrative Agent’s rights or the priority of the Administrative Agent’s Lien on any Collateral and, in each case, for which it maintains adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP and the execution or other enforcement of which is effectively stayed;
(b) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business any of the Loan Parties (other than Holdings) and their Subsidiaries (such as (i) Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics and materialmen and other similar Liens imposed by law and (ii) Liens in the form of deposits or pledges incurred in connection with worker’s compensation, unemployment compensation and other types of social security (excluding Liens arising under ERISA) or in connection with surety bonds, bids, performance bonds, and similar obligations) for sums not overdue or being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently prosecuted and not involving any advances or borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of property or services and, in each case (1) for which it maintains adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP and the execution or other enforcement of which is effectively stayed and (2) only so long as payment in respect of any such Lien is not at the time required and such Liens do not, in the aggregate, materially detract from the value of the assets of such Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of the business of such Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries;
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(c) Liens described on Schedule 11.2 as of the Closing Date and renewals and extensions thereof on the assets currently subject to those Liens;
(d) subject to the limitation set forth in Section 11.1(b), the following: (i) Liens arising in connection with Capital Leases (and attaching only to the property being leased); (ii) Liens existing on property at the time of the acquisition thereof by any of the Loan Parties (other than Holdings) and their Subsidiaries (and not created in contemplation of that acquisition); and (iii) Liens that constitute purchase money security interests on any property securing debt incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring that property, so long as any such Lien attaches to the applicable property within 20 days of the acquisition thereof and attaches solely to the property so acquired;
(e) easements, rights of way, restrictions (including zoning restrictions), covenants, encroachments, and other similar real estate charges or encumbrances, minor defects or irregularities in title, and other similar real estate Liens granted in the ordinary course of business not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof;
(f) leases, subleases, licenses, or sublicenses of the assets or properties of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any material respect with the business of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries;
(g) customary set-off rights against depository accounts permitted under this Agreement in favor of banks at which any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries maintains any such depository accounts, so long as those set-off rights secure only the obligations of that Loan Party or that Subsidiary to pay ordinary course fees and bank charges;
(h) Liens consisting of precautionary filings of UCC financing statements filed with respect to Operating Leases permitted under this Agreement and any interest of title of a lessor under any Operating Lease permitted under this Agreement;
(i) Liens arising under the Loan Documents;
(j) Liens arising from judgments in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default;
(k) Liens securing the ABL Obligations permitted by Section 11.1(k) so long as such Liens are subject to the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement; and
(l) other Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries with respect to obligations that do not in the aggregate exceed $500,000 at any time outstanding.
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11.3 Restricted Payments. Not, and not permit any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to, (a) make any dividend or distribution to any holders of its Equity Interests (other than the Warrant Holders); (b) purchase or redeem any of its Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests held by the Warrant Holders); (c) pay any management fees, transaction-based fees, or similar fees to any of its equity holders or any Affiliate thereof; (d) make any payment on account of Debt that has been contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations if that payment is not permitted at that time under the applicable subordination terms and conditions; (e) make any prepayment of any unsecured Debt or any Debt secured by a Lien that is junior or subordinated to the Liens securing the Obligations; or (f) set aside funds for any of the foregoing (any of the foregoing described in clauses (a) through (f), each a “Restricted Payment”), except that:
(i) any Subsidiary may pay dividends or make other distributions to a Loan Party and any Loan Party may pay dividends or make other distributions to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party;
(ii) in the event the Borrowers file a consolidated, combined, unitary or similar type income Tax return with Holdings, the Borrowers shall be permitted to make distributions to Holdings to permit Holdings to pay federal and state income Taxes when due and payable to the extent such Taxes are attributable to the income of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries;
(iii) the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries may make payments for earn-outs and deferred purchase price payments in connection with Permitted Acquisitions in an aggregate amount not to exceed of up to 150% of the EBITDA of the target for the most recently ended twelve month period for which financial statements have been delivered to Administrative Agent, provided that immediately before and after giving effect to such payments the Payment Conditions are satisfied;
(iv) in each case to the extent due and payable on a nonaccelerated basis, each Borrower may make regularly scheduled payments of interest in respect of subordinated Debt in the form of seller notes or earn-outs, provided, that (a) the Payment Conditions are satisfied and (b) and such payments are permitted under the applicable subordination agreement related thereto;
(v) each Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries may make dividends or distributions payable solely in its Equity Interests;
(vi) the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries may make payments in the form of Qualified Equity Interests of Holdings as required by the Consideration Agreement (as defined in the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) as in effect on the date hereof.
11.4 Mergers, Consolidations, Sales. Not, and not permit any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to, (a) be a party to any merger or consolidation; (b) change its state of incorporation or organization, its organization type or organization identification number or change its legal name; (c) sell, transfer, dispose of, convey, or lease any of its assets or Equity Interests (including the sale of Equity Interests of any Subsidiary); (d) sell or assign with or without recourse any receivables; (e) acquire all or any substantial part of the properties of any Person; or (f) purchase or otherwise acquire all or substantially all of the assets or any Equity Interests, or any partnership or joint venture interest in, any other Person or make any Acquisition, except the following:
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(i) any merger or consolidation of a Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party with another Loan Party or another Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of a Loan Party; provided, that a Loan Party shall be the surviving entity in any merger or consolidation involving a Loan Party, a Borrower shall be the surviving entity in any merger or consolidation involving a Borrower and Holdings shall be the surviving entity in any merger or consolidation involving Holdings;
(ii) Permitted Acquisitions;
(iii) dispositions of equipment that is substantially worn, damaged, or obsolete; provided, that, in the case of any disposition of equipment financed under the ABL Loan Agreement, the outstanding advance amount and all interest payable with respect thereto under the ABL Loan Agreement shall be paid to the Administrative Agent to be applied to the Term Loan (as defined in the ABL Loan Agreement) as set forth in the ABL Loan Agreement;
(iv) the licensing, on a non-exclusive basis, of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business;
(v) the lapse of registered patents, trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries to the extent not economically desirable and useful in the conduct of its business;
(vi) transfers of assets (a) to a Loan Party by (x) a Loan Party (other than Holdings, provided that the foregoing shall not limit Restricted Payments permitted by Section 11.3) or (y) a Subsidiary of a Loan Party (other than by a Borrower to such Subsidiary, provided that the foregoing shall not limit Restricted Payments permitted by Section 11.3 hereof) or (b) to a Borrower by a Borrower;
(vii) sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business;
(viii) dispositions of Cash Equivalent Investments;
(ix) transfers of cash permitted by Section 11.9(m); and
(x) so long as no Default or Event of Default exists and is continuing, other dispositions, not provided for in any other clause of this Section 11.4 in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 during any consecutive twelve-month period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any disposition or transfer be made to Quest Vertigent One, LLC other than pursuant to clause (ix) of this Section 11.4.
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11.5 Modification of Certain Documents; Organizational Form.
(a) Not permit the organizational documents or governing documents of any Loan Party to be amended or modified in any way that could reasonably be expected to be adverse to the interests of the Lenders (it being agreed that any change to the organizational or governing documents of Holdings related to the board of directors or voting rights of equityholders shall be deemed adverse to the interests of the Lenders) without the consent of the Lenders, which consent (other than with respect to any changes to the voting rights of equityholders) shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(b) Not change, or allow any Loan Party to change, its state of formation or its organizational form without providing the Administrative Agent at least ten (10) Business Days prior written notice.
(c) Not amend, restate, supplement, waive, refinance, replace or otherwise modify any provision of any of the ABL Loan Documents except to the extent permitted by the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.
(d) Not amend, restate, supplement, waive, refinance, replace or otherwise modify any provision of the Closing Date Seller Note unless permitted by the Closing Date Seller Note Subordination Agreement.
(e) Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, not amend, waive or otherwise modify any provision of the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement, the RWS Acquisition Agreement or the documents and instruments delivered in connection therewith if such amendment, waiver or modification would be material or adverse to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders.
11.6 Transactions with Affiliates. Not, and not permit any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to, enter into, or cause, suffer, or permit to exist any transaction, arrangement, or contract with any of its other Affiliates (other than the Loan Parties) which is on terms which are less favorable than are obtainable from any Person which is not one of its Affiliates (except to the extent expressly permitted by Sections 11.3 and 11.4(i)).
11.7 Inconsistent Agreements. Not, and not permit any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to, enter into any agreement containing any provision that would (a) be violated or breached by any borrowing by Borrowers under this Agreement or by the performance by any Loan Party of any of its Obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; (b) prohibit any Loan Party from granting to Administrative Agent and the Lenders a Lien on any of its assets; or (c) create or permit to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary to (i) pay dividends or make other distributions to Holdings, any Borrower, or any other Subsidiary, or incur or pay any Debt (or modify, extend or renew any agreement evidencing Debt) owed to Holdings, any Borrower, or any other Subsidiary or to repay any intercompany Debt, (ii) make loans or advances to any Loan Party, or (iii) transfer any of its assets or properties to any Loan Party, other than (A) customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of all or a substantial part of the assets of any Subsidiary pending any such sale, so long as those restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary to be sold and that sale is permitted under this Agreement (but those); (B) restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to purchase money Debt, Capital Leases, and other secured Debt permitted by this Agreement, so long as those restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing that Debt; (C) customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof; and (D) restrictions and conditions set forth in the Loan Documents and the ABL Loan Documents.
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11.8 Business Activities; Holdings. (w) Not, and not permit any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to, engage in any line of business other than the businesses engaged in on the Closing Date and businesses reasonably related or reasonably complementary thereto, (x) not permit Holdings to engage in any trade or business other than acting as a holding company for the Equity Interests of the Loan Parties and any activities reasonably incidental thereto and (y) not permit Holdings to hold any cash or Cash Equivalent Investment that is not subject to a Control Agreement.
11.9 Investments. Not, and not permit any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to, make or permit to exist any Investment in any other Person, except the following:
(a) contributions by Holdings, Borrowers, or any Subsidiary to the capital of any Borrower;
(b) Investments constituting Debt permitted by Section 11.1;
(c) Contingent Liabilities constituting Debt permitted by Section 11.1 or Liens permitted by Section 11.2;
(d) Cash Equivalent Investments;
(e) subject to Section 10.11, bank deposits in the ordinary course of business;
(f) Permitted Acquisitions;
(g) non-cash consideration received pursuant to the consummation of asset dispositions and Permitted Acquisitions, in each case permitted under this Agreement;
(h) bank deposits established in the ordinary course of business in accordance with the Loan Documents;
(i) Investments listed on Schedule 11.9 as of the Closing Date;
(j) advances to officers, directors and employees of Holdings and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000 at any time outstanding, for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes in the ordinary course of business;
(k) Investments by Holdings and its Subsidiaries in the Loan Parties (other than Holdings);
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(l) prepaid expenses and extensions of trade credit, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;
(m) Investments of cash into Quest Vertigent One, LLC to be used solely for the purpose of paying consultant fees and general corporate expenses of Quest Vertigent One, LLC in an amount not to exceed $50,000 in any Fiscal Year; and
(n) other Investments not provided for in any other clause of this Section 11.9 in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 so long as the Payment Conditions are satisfied immediately before and after giving effect to such Investment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Investment be made in Quest Vertigent One, LLC other than pursuant to clause (m) of this Section 11.09.
11.10 Restriction of Amendments to Certain Documents. Not amend or otherwise modify, or waive any rights under any Related Agreement or Material Contract, other than immaterial amendments, modifications, and waivers not adverse to the interests of Lenders.
11.11 Fiscal Year; Accounting Policies. Not, and not permit any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to (a) change its Fiscal Year or its method of determining Fiscal Quarters or fiscal months or (b) make any change in its accounting policies that is not required under GAAP.
11.12 Financial Covenants.
11.12.1 Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for any Computation Period (commencing with the Computation Period ending March 31, 2022) to be less than 1.10 to 1.00 for that Computation Period.
11.12.2 Senior Net Leverage Ratio. Not permit the Senior Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of any Computation Period to exceed the applicable ratio set forth below for that Computation Period:
Computation
Period Ending |
Senior Net Leverage Ratio |
December 31, 2020 | 3.25 to 1.00 |
March 31, 2021, June 30, 2021 and
|
3.00 to 1.00 |
September 30, 2021, December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022 |
|
June 30, 2022 |
|
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Computation Period Ending |
Senior Net Leverage Ratio |
December 31, 2022 | 5.25 to 1.00 |
March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023 | 5.00 to 1.00 |
December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024 | 4.75 to 1.00 |
June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024 | 4.50 to 1.00 |
December 31, 2024, March 31, 2025 and June 30, 2025 | 4.00 to 1.00 |
|
|
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary (x) with respect to any provision of the Loan Documents that references compliance or satisfaction with the Senior Net Leverage Ratio required by this Section 11.12.2 prior to December 31, 2020, such provision shall be deemed to refer to the Senior Net Leverage Ratio required as of December 31, 2020 and (y) the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent shall negotiate in good faith to reset the maximum Senior Net Leverage Ratios permitted under this Section 11.12.2 to reflect the impact of any Debt incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition as permitted hereunder.
11.13 Compliance with Laws. Not, and shall not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, fail to comply with the laws, regulations and executive orders referred to in Sections 9.30 and 9.31.
11.14 Equity Interests of Subsidiaries. Not permit any Loan Parties (excluding Holdings) or any of their Subsidiaries to issue any additional Equity Interests, except to a Loan Party or other Subsidiary of a Loan Party and except for director’s qualifying Equity Interests to the extent required under applicable law. Not permit Holdings to issue any Disqualified Equity Interests.
11.15 Tax Consolidation. Not permit any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party to file or consent to the filing of any consolidated income tax return with any Person other than Holdings (or a present or future direct or indirect parent of Holdings), any other present or future Loan Party and/or any present or future Subsidiary of any Loan Party.
11.16 Bill-and-Hold Sales, Etc. Not permit any Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries to make a sale to any customer on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale and return, sale on approval, repurchase or return or consignment basis.
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11.17 ABL Obligations. Not permit any Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries to purchase or hold any of the ABL Obligations.
11.18 Optional Prepayments of ABL Term Loan. Not permit any Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries to make any voluntary prepayment of Term Loans (as defined in the ABL Loan Agreement) unless the following conditions have been satisfied: (a) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would immediately result therefrom (b) after giving effect to any such voluntary prepayment, Excess Availability is not less than $3,000,000 and (b) Borrower Representative has delivered a certificate to Administrative Agent certifying the satisfaction of the foregoing conditions.
11.19 Fiscal Year End. Not change, or permit any Subsidiary of any Loan Party to change, its fiscal year end.
11.20 OFAC. Not (i) Become a Person whose property or interests in property are blocked or subject to blocking pursuant to Section 1 of Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001 Blocking Party and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079(2001)), (ii) engage in any dealings or transactions prohibited by Section 2 of such executive order, or be otherwise associated with any such Person in any manner violative of such Section 2, or (iii) become a Person on the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons or subject to the limitations or prohibitions under any other U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control regulation or executive order.
Section 12 | EFFECTIVENESS; CONDITIONS OF LENDING, ETC. |
The effectiveness of this Agreement and the obligation of each Lender to make its Loans are subject to the following conditions precedent:
12.1 Conditions to Effectiveness. The effectiveness of this Agreement, and the obligation of the Lenders to make the Loans, are, in addition to the conditions precedent specified in Section 12.2 and Section 12.3, subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent (and the date on which all such conditions precedent have been satisfied or waived in writing by Administrative Agent and the Lenders is called the “Closing Date”), it being agreed that the request by Borrower Representative for the making of any initial Loan on the Closing Date will be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by Borrowers that the conditions precedent set forth in this Section 12.1 will be satisfied at the time of the making of that Loan unless waived in writing by Administrative Agent:
12.1.1 Agreement, Notes, and other Loan Documents. Administrative Agent has received the following, each duly executed and dated as of the Closing Date (or any earlier date satisfactory to Administrative Agent), in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent: (a) this Agreement; (b) to the extent requested by any Lender, one or more Notes made payable to that Lender; (c) the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement, together with all instruments, transfer powers, and other items required to be delivered in connection with the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement; (d) all other Loan Documents, (e) the ABL Loan Agreement Amendment, (f) the Closing Date Warrant and the Warrant Letter Agreement duly executed and delivered by the parties thereto and (g) the Closing Date Seller Note Subordination Agreement.
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12.1.2 Authorization Documents. For each Loan Party, Administrative Agent has received the following, each in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent: (a) that Person’s charter (or similar formation document), certified by the appropriate governmental authority; (b) good standing certificates in that Person’s state of incorporation (or formation) and in each other state in which that Person is qualified to do business if reasonably requested by Administrative Agent; (c) that Person’s bylaws (or similar governing document); (d) resolutions of its board of directors (or similar governing body) approving and authorizing that Person’s execution, delivery, and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is party and the transactions contemplated thereby; and (e) signature and incumbency certificates of that Person’s officers and/or managers executing any of the Loan Documents (which certificates Administrative Agent and each Lender may conclusively rely on until formally advised by a like certificate of any changes in any such certificate), all certified by its secretary or an assistant secretary (or similar officer) as being in full force and effect without modification.
12.1.3 Consents, etc. Administrative Agent has received certified copies of all documents evidencing any necessary company action, consents and governmental approvals (if any) required for the execution, delivery, and performance by the Loan Parties of the documents referred to in this Section 12.
12.1.4 Letter of Direction. Administrative Agent has received a letter of direction containing funds flow information with respect to the proceeds of the Loans on the Closing Date, duly executed and dated as of the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent.
12.1.5 Collateral and Diligence Questionnaire. Administrative Agent has received a Collateral and Diligence Questionnaire completed and executed by each Loan Party, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent.
12.1.6 Opinions of Counsel. Administrative Agent has received opinions of counsel for each Loan Party, including local counsel reasonably requested by Administrative Agent, each duly executed and dated as of the Closing Date (or any earlier date satisfactory to Administrative Agent), in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent.
12.1.7 Insurance. Administrative Agent has received evidence of the existence of insurance required to be maintained pursuant to Section 10.3(b), together with evidence that Administrative Agent has been named as a lender’s loss payee and an additional insured on all related insurance policies.
12.1.8 Related Transaction. The Closing Date Acquisition shall have been consummated in accordance in all material respects with the terms of the Closing Date Acquisition Agreement (without any amendment, modification or waiver of any of the provisions thereof that would be materially adverse to the Lenders in their capacities as Lenders without the consent of the Lenders, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). The Closing Date Acquisition Agreement, stock grant agreement, Closing Date Seller Note and other agreements related thereto shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent. All conditions precedent to the Closing Date Acquisition shall have been satisfied or waived with the written consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
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12.1.9 Payment of Fees. The Borrowers shall have paid of all fees and expenses required to be paid on the Closing Date pursuant to this Agreement and the Agent Fee Letter from the proceeds of the initial funding under the Term A Loans, but with respect to legal fees, to the extent invoiced at least one day prior to the Closing Date.
12.1.10 Debt to be Repaid. Substantially concurrent with the funding of the Term A Loans on the Closing Date, Holdings shall have caused the Debt to be Repaid to have repaid in full (or have caused to be repaid) and provided to the Administrative Agent evidence of such repayment and the release of any guarantees and/or liens granted in connection therewith.
12.1.11 Solvency Certificate. Administrative Agent has received a solvency certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, executed by a Senior Officer of Holdings and the Borrower Representative.
12.1.12 Search Results; Lien Terminations. Administrative Agent has received certified copies of Uniform Commercial Code search reports dated a date reasonably near to the Closing Date, listing all effective financing statements which name any Loan Party (under their present names and any previous names) as debtors, together with (a) copies of all such financing statements; (b) Uniform Commercial Code termination statements pertaining to previously terminated financing, lease, and/or consignment relationships for which financing statements remain of record, in each case as Administrative Agent reasonably requests; and (c) all other Uniform Commercial Code termination statements as Administrative Agent reasonably requests.
12.1.13 Filings, Registrations, and Recordings. Administrative Agent has received each document (including Uniform Commercial Code financing statements) required by the Collateral Documents or under law or reasonably requested by Administrative Agent to be filed, registered, or recorded in order to create in favor of Administrative Agent, for the benefit of Administrative Agent and the Lenders, a perfected Lien on the collateral described therein (but only to the extent that perfection may be achieved by such a filing, registration, or recording), prior to any other Liens (subject only to Permitted Liens), in proper form for filing, registration, or recording.
12.1.14 Closing Certificate. Administrative Agent has received (a) a certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, executed by a Senior Officer of Borrower Representative on behalf of Borrowers (i) certifying the matters set forth in Section 12.2.1 as of the Closing Date, (ii) certifying as to the occurrence of the closing of the Related Transaction and that the closing has been consummated in accordance with the terms of the Related Agreements without waiver of any material condition thereof and (iii) attaching final copies of the ABL Loan Agreement, the ABL Loan Agreement Amendment and the Closing Date Seller Note.
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12.1.15 Financial Statements. The Borrowers shall have delivered the Financial Statements to the Administrative Agent. The Borrowers shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a pro forma consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, as of the most recently ended fiscal month for which financial statements are available for Holdings and its Subsidiaries, prepared after giving effect to the Closing Date Transactions as if the Closing Date Transactions has occurred as of such date; provided that such pro forma financial statements shall be prepared in good faith by Holdings.
12.1.16 No Material Adverse Effect. Since December 31, 2019, there shall not have occurred any change, effect, event, occurrence, state of facts, circumstance or development that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
12.1.17 Minimum Consolidated EBITDA. Holdings and its Subsidiaries shall have Consolidated EBITDA of $5,500,000 for the twelve months ended June 30, 2020 on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Closing Date Transactions as if the Closing Date Transactions has occurred as of such date.
12.1.18 Closing Leverage. The aggregate outstanding balance of the ABL Obligations and the Term A Loans funded on the Closing Date, minus unrestricted cash in which the ABL Agent and the Administrative Agent have perfected security interests (in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000), shall not be greater than 3.00 multiplied by Consolidated EBITDA.
12.1.19 Diligence. The Administrative Agent shall conduct a satisfactory due diligence call with key management of Green Remedies and shall be satisfied with the background checks of key management of Green Remedies.
12.1.20 Subordination and Intercreditor Agreements. The execution and delivery by the applicable parties thereto of (x) Closing Date Seller Note Subordination Agreement and any other subordination agreements with respect to other indebtedness remaining on the balance sheet of Holdings and its Subsidiaries on the Closing Date other than the ABL Obligations and (y) the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.
12.1.21 Key Management. Key management of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries (including the Initial Acquired Business) will have entered into customary agreements containing terms and conditions acceptable to Lender including among other things, non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality provisions.
12.1.22 Know-Your-Customer and Anti-Money Laundering. So long as requested at least five Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received, at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities concerning Borrowers and Holdings under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act.
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12.2 Conditions Precedent to all Loans. The obligation of each Lender to make each Loan is subject to the following further conditions precedent that:
12.2.1 Compliance with Warranties, No Default, etc. Both before and after giving effect to any borrowing, the following statements are true and correct:
(a) the representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (unless any such representation or warranty is by its terms qualified by concepts of materiality, in which case that representation or warranty is true and correct in all respects) with the same effect as if then made (except to the extent stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case that representation or warranty is true and correct in all material respects or in all respects, as applicable, as of that earlier date);
(b) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and
(c) with respect to the borrowing of any Incremental Loans, all other conditions for such borrowing set forth in Section 2.1.2 are satisfied.
12.2.2 Confirmatory Certificate. If requested by Administrative Agent or any Lender, Administrative Agent has received (in sufficient counterparts to provide one to Administrative Agent and each Lender) a certificate dated the date of the requested Loan and signed by a duly authorized representative of Borrower Representative as to the matters set out in Section 12.2.1 (it being understood that each request by Borrower Representative for the making of a Loan will be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by Borrowers that the conditions precedent set forth in Section 12.2.1 will be satisfied at the time of the making of that Loan), together with such other documents as Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request in support thereof.
12.3 Conditions Precedent to each Term B Loan and Term D Loan. The obligation of each Lender to make each Term B Loan and Term D Loan is subject to the following further conditions precedent that:
12.3.1 Use of Proceeds. Administrative Agent is satisfied in its sole discretion that Borrowers will use the proceeds of that Term B Loan or Term D Loan, as applicable, on or about the requested borrowing date in accordance with Section 10.6.
12.3.2 Financial Tests. Administrative Agent has received a certificate from a Senior Officer of the Borrower Representative certifying (with reasonably detailed calculations) that (a) on any drawing date of the Term B Loans the Term B Loan Leverage Condition is satisfied, (b) on any drawing date of the Term D Loans the Term D Loan Leverage Condition is satisfied.
12.3.3
Minimum Amount. The requested borrowing of the Term AB
Loans or Term D Loans, as applicable, is in an amount equal to at least $2,000,000.
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12.3.4 Order of Funding. The aggregate Term B Loan Commitments of all Lenders shall have been reduced to zero before any borrowing of Term D Loans under this Agreement.
Section 13 | EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND THEIR EFFECT. |
13.1 Events of Default. Each of the following will constitute an Event of Default under this Agreement:
13.1.1 Non-Payment of the Loans, etc. Default in the payment when due of the principal of any Loan; or default, and continuance thereof for five or more days, in the payment when due of any interest, fee, or other amount payable by Borrowers under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document.
13.1.2 Non-Payment of Other Debt. Any (a) “Event of Default” (as defined in the ABL Loan Agreement) or comparable event has occurred or the revolving commitments under the ABL Loan Documents are terminated for any reason or (b) default occurs under the terms applicable to any Debt of any Loan Party in an aggregate amount (for all such Debt so affected and including undrawn committed or available amounts and amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) exceeding $750,000 and that default (i) consists of the failure to pay that Debt when due, whether by acceleration or otherwise, or (ii) accelerates the maturity of that Debt or permits the holder or holders thereof, or any trustee or agent for any such holder or holders, to cause that Debt to become due and payable (or require any Loan Party to purchase or redeem that Debt or post cash collateral in respect thereof) prior to its expressed maturity.
13.1.3
Other Material ObligationsReserved..
Default in the payment when due, or in the performance or observance of, any Material Contract.
13.1.4 Bankruptcy, Insolvency, etc. Any of the following occurs: (a) any Loan Party becomes insolvent or generally fails to pay, or admits in writing its inability or refusal to pay, debts as they become due; (b) any Loan Party applies for, consents to, or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver, or other custodian for that Loan Party or any property thereof, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (c) in the absence of any such application, consent, or acquiescence, a trustee, receiver, or other custodian is appointed for any Loan Party or for a substantial part of the property of any thereof and is not discharged within 45 days; (d) any Insolvency Proceeding, or any dissolution or liquidation proceeding, is commenced in respect of any Loan Party, and that Insolvency Proceeding or proceeding (i) is not commenced by that Loan Party, (ii) is consented to or acquiesced in by that Loan Party, or (iii) remains for 45 days undismissed; or (e) any Loan Party takes any action to authorize, or in furtherance of, any of the foregoing.
13.1.5 Non-Compliance with Loan Documents.
(a) Failure by any Loan Party to comply with or to perform any covenant set forth in (x) Sections 10.1.6, 10.2, 10.3(b), 10.3(d), 10.5 (solely with respect to the Company and Holdings), 10.6, 10.9, 10.10, 10.11, 10.12, 10.13 or Section 11 (subject, in the case of Section 11.12, to Section 13.4) and (y) Sections 10.1.1, 10.1.2, 10.1.3 and 10.1.8 and, with respect to this subclause (y), continuance of that failure described in this Section 13.1.5(a) for 2 or more Business Days.
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(b) Failure by any Loan Party to comply with or to perform any other provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (and not constituting an Event of Default under any other provision of this Section 13) and continuance of that failure described in this Section 13.1.5(b) for 30 or more days.
13.1.6 Representations; Warranties. Any representation or warranty made by any Loan Party in this Agreement or any other Loan Document is breached or is false or misleading in any material respect, or any schedule, certificate, financial statement, report, notice or other writing furnished by any Loan Party to Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with this Agreement is false or misleading in any material respect on the date as of which the facts therein set forth are stated or certified.
13.1.7 Pension Plans. Any of the following occurs: (a) any Person institutes steps to terminate a Pension Plan if as a result of that termination Holdings, any Borrower, or any Subsidiary could be required to make a contribution to that Pension Plan, or could incur a liability or obligation to that Pension Plan, in excess of $750,000; (b) a contribution failure occurs with respect to any Pension Plan sufficient to give rise to a Lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA with respect to Holdings, any Borrower, or any Subsidiary; (c) the Unfunded Liability of all Pension Plans sponsored and maintained by any Borrower or any Subsidiary exceeds 20% of the Total Plan Liability for those plans, or (d) there occurs any withdrawal or partial withdrawal from a Multiemployer Pension Plan and the withdrawal liability (without unaccrued interest) to Multiemployer Pension Plans as a result of that withdrawal (including any outstanding withdrawal liability that Holdings, any Borrower, or any member of the Controlled Group have incurred on the date of that withdrawal) to which Holdings, any Borrower, or any Subsidiary is reasonably expected to incur exceeds $750,000.
13.1.8 Judgments. One or more final judgments which exceed an aggregate of $750,000 are rendered against any Loan Party (not covered by insurance as to which the insurance company has acknowledged coverage in writing, so long as that insurance is paid to Borrowers within 30 days of the rendering of those judgments) and have not been paid, discharged or vacated or had execution thereof stayed pending appeal within 60 days after entry or filing of those judgments.
13.1.9 Invalidity of Loan Documents, etc. Any Loan Document ceases to be in full force and effect, or any Loan Party (or any Person by, through, or on behalf of any Loan Party) contests or challenges in any manner the validity, binding nature, or enforceability of any Loan Document.
13.1.10 Change of Control. A Change of Control occurs.
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13.1.11 Uninsured Losses. Any material loss, theft, damage or destruction of any portion of the Collateral having a fair market value of $750,000, in the aggregate, if not fully covered (subject to such deductibles and self-insurance retentions as Administrative Agent shall have permitted) by insurance.
13.1.12 Business Disruption; Condemnation. There shall occur a cessation of a substantial part of the business of Loan Party which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or any Loan Party shall suffer the loss or revocation of any material license or permit now held or hereafter acquired by any Loan Party which loss could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or any Loan Party shall be enjoined, restrained or in any way prevented by court, governmental or administrative order from conducting all or any material part of its business affairs which injunction, restraint or other prevention could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or any material lease or agreement pursuant to which any Loan Party leases, uses or occupies any property shall be canceled or terminated prior to the expiration of its stated term, the cancellation or termination of which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or any portion of the Collateral shall be taken through condemnation or the value of such Property shall be impaired through condemnation which condemnation or impairment could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
13.1.13 Repudiation of or Default under Guaranty and Collateral Agreement. Any Loan Party shall revoke or attempt to revoke the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement signed by such Loan Party or shall repudiate such Loan Party’s liability thereunder or shall be in default under the terms thereof.
13.1.14 Criminal Forfeiture. Any Loan Party shall be criminally indicted or convicted under any law that could lead to a forfeiture of any property of any Loan Party.
13.1.15 Intercreditor and Subordination Agreements. The provisions of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the Closing Date Seller Note Subordination Agreement or any other intercreditor or subordination agreement in favor of the Administrative Agent in respect of the Obligations shall for any reason be revoked or invalidated, or otherwise cease to be in full force and effect, or the ABL Agent, any lender under the ABL Loan Agreement or any other person party to such agreements shall contest in any manner the validity or enforceability thereof or deny that it has any further obligation thereunder, or the Obligations for any reason shall not have the priority contemplated by this Agreement, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, the Closing Date Seller Note Subordination Agreement or any other intercreditor or subordination described in this Section 13.1.14, respectively.
13.1.16 Material Adverse Effect. A Material Adverse Effect occurs.
13.2 Effect of Event of Default. If any Event of Default described in Section 13.1.4 occurs in respect of any Loan Party, then the Commitments will immediately terminate and the Loans and all other Obligations under this Agreement will become immediately due and payable, all without presentment, demand, protest, or notice of any kind. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then Administrative Agent may (and, upon the written request of the Required Lenders shall) declare, in a written notice to Borrower Representative, the Commitments to be terminated in whole or in part and/or declare all or any part of the Loans and all other Obligations under this Agreement to be due and payable, whereupon the Commitments will immediately terminate (or be reduced, as applicable) and/or the Loans and other Obligations under this Agreement will become immediately due and payable (in whole or in part, as applicable), all without presentment, demand, protest, or notice of any kind (other than as expressly provided for above in this sentence). Administrative Agent shall promptly advise Borrower Representative of any such declaration, but failure to do so will not impair the effect of any such declaration. If Administrative Agent has received a Cure Notice from the Borrower Representative, then Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders may not exercise any the foregoing remedies in this Section 13.2 with respect to that Specified Financial Covenant Default until the earlier of (i) the Cure Period has expired, and (ii) the date that Administrative Agent receives notice Borrowers will not cure that Specified Financial Covenant Default in accordance with Section 13.4; provided, that, during such period, such Specified Financial Covenant Default shall be deemed an Event of Default for all other purposes under this Agreement.
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13.3 Credit Bidding. The Loan Parties and the Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize Administrative Agent, based upon the instruction of the Required Lenders, to Credit Bid and purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral at any sale thereof conducted by Administrative Agent in accordance with applicable law, based upon the instruction of the Required Lenders, under any provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, as part of any sale or investor solicitation process conducted by any Loan Party, any interim receiver, receiver, receiver and manager, administrative receiver, trustee, agent, or other Person pursuant or under any insolvency laws, in each case subject to the following limitations: (i) the Required Lenders may not direct Administrative Agent in any manner that does not treat each of the Lenders equally, without preference or discrimination, in respect of consideration received as a result of any Credit Bid; (ii) the acquisition documents must be commercially reasonable and contain customary protections for minority holders, such as, among other things, anti-dilution and tag-along rights; (iii) the exchanged debt or equity securities must be freely transferable, without restriction (subject to applicable securities laws); and (iv) reasonable efforts must be made to structure the acquisition in a manner that causes the governance documents pertaining thereto to not impose any obligations or liabilities upon the Lenders individually (such as indemnification obligations). For purposes of this Section 13.3, the term “Credit Bid” means an offer submitted by Administrative Agent (on behalf of the Lenders), based upon the instruction of the Required Lenders, to acquire the property of any Loan Party or any portion thereof in exchange for and in full and final satisfaction of all or a portion (as determined by Administrative Agent, based upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) of the claims and Obligations under this Agreement and other Loan Documents.
13.4 Curative Equity.
(a) Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 13.4(d), Borrowers may cure (and will be deemed to have cured) an Event of Default arising out of a breach of any of the financial covenants set forth in Section 11.12 (each such financial covenant, a “Specified Financial Covenant”; each such Event of Default, a “Specified Financial Covenant Default”) if Borrowers receive the cash proceeds of Curative Equity within 10 Business Days after the earliest date on which each applicable Specified Financial Covenant is required to be tested for the applicable Computation Period pursuant to this Agreement (the “Cure Period”).
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(b) Borrowers shall provide Administrative Agent with irrevocable written notice during the Cure Period of their intent to cure the Specified Financial Covenant(s) with Curative Equity (the “Cure Notice”) and shall promptly notify Administrative Agent of their receipt of any proceeds of Curative Equity and shall make a prepayment of the Term Loans in accordance with Sections 6.2 and 6.3.
(c) Upon receipt by the Borrowers of the Curative Equity (and application of the proceeds of such Curative Equity in accordance with Sections 6.2 and 6.3) and delivery of a certificate by Borrower Representative to Administrative Agent certifying as to the amount of the proceeds of any Curative Equity and that those proceeds have been applied in accordance with Section 13.4(b) in an amount equal to the amount which if applied to increase EBITDA for the Computation Period would result in the Borrowers being in pro forma compliance with the applicable Specified Financial Covenant(s) (which certificate shall also set forth the calculation of the applicable Specified Financial Covenant being cured in reasonable detail), then each applicable Specified Financial Covenant Default will be deemed cured with no further action required by the Required Lenders. Before the date of the delivery of that certificate, any Specified Financial Covenant Default that has occurred and is continuing will be deemed to be continuing, and, as a result, the Lenders will have no obligation to make additional loans or otherwise extend additional credit under this Agreement. If Borrowers do not cure a Specified Financial Covenant Default as provided in this Section 13.4, then that Specified Financial Covenant Default will continue unless waived in writing by the Required Lenders in accordance with this Agreement.
(d) To the extent that proceeds of Curative Equity are received with respect to any Fiscal Quarter, those proceeds will be deemed to be EBITDA for purposes of determining compliance with the Specified Financial Covenant(s) for that Fiscal Quarter and subsequent periods that include that Fiscal Quarter. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, (i) Borrowers’ rights under this Section 13.4 (A) may be exercised no more than four times during the term of this Agreement; (B) may be exercised no more than twice in any period of four Fiscal Quarters; (C) may not be exercised in two consecutive Fiscal Quarters and (D) may not be exercised if the amount of proceeds of the Curative Equity, together with the aggregate amount of proceeds of all prior Curative Equity, exceeds 20% of Consolidated EBITDA (calculated prior to giving effect to such Curative Equity) in any trailing twelve month period; (ii) the amount of proceeds of any Curative Equity may not be greater than or less than the amount required to cause Borrowers to be in compliance with each applicable Specified Financial Covenant(s) as at the end of the applicable Computation Period (without giving effect to any prepayment of Debt); and (iii) the proceeds of Curative Equity will be disregarded for purposes of determining EBITDA for any pricing, financial covenant-based conditions, or baskets with respect to the covenants contained in this Agreement and there will be no pro forma reduction in Debt with the proceeds of any Curative Equity for determining compliance with the Specified Financial Covenants or for determining any pricing, financial covenant-based conditions, or baskets with respect to the covenants contained in this Agreement, in each case in the Fiscal Quarter in which that Curative Equity is used and each Computation Period ending on the last day of the following three Fiscal Quarters.
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Section 14 | AGENCY. |
14.1 Appointment and Authorization. Each Lender hereby irrevocably (subject to Section 14.10) appoints, designates, and authorizes Administrative Agent to take any action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise any powers and perform any duties as are expressly delegated to it, as applicable, by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with all powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, Administrative Agent will not have any duty or responsibility except those expressly set forth in this Agreement, nor will Administrative Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender or participant, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations, or liabilities are to be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against Administrative Agent, as applicable. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” in this Agreement and in other Loan Documents with reference to Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, that term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.
14.2 [Reserved].
14.3 Delegation of Duties. Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document by or through agents, employees, or attorneys-in-fact and is entitled to advice of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to those duties. Administrative Agent will not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
14.4 Exculpation. None of Administrative Agent and its directors, officers, employees, and agents (a) will be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (except to the extent resulting from its own gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with its duties expressly set forth in this Agreement as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction), or (b) will be responsible in any manner to any Lender or participant for any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Borrower, or any officer thereof, contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement, or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability, or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (or the creation, perfection, or priority of any Lien or security interest therein), or for any failure of any Borrower or any other party to any Loan Document to perform its Obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Documents. Administrative Agent is not and will not be under any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or to inspect the properties, books, or records of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries and Affiliates.
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14.5 Reliance. Administrative Agent may rely, and will be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, communication, signature, resolution, representation, notice, consent, certificate, electronic mail message, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message, statement, or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to Borrowers), independent accountants, and other experts selected by Administrative Agent. Administrative Agent will be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement or any other Loan Document unless Administrative Agent first receives all advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, confirmation from the Lenders of their obligation to indemnify Administrative Agent against any and all liability and expense which might be incurred by Administrative Agent by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Administrative Agent will in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Required Lenders and each such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto will be binding upon each Lender. For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 12, each Lender that has signed this Agreement will 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 unless Administrative Agent has received written notice from that Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
14.6 Notice of Default. Administrative Agent will not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Event of Default or Default except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required to be paid to Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, unless Administrative Agent has received written notice from a Lender or a Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing that Event of Default or Default and stating that that notice is a “notice of default.” Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice. Administrative Agent shall take all such actions with respect to each such Event of Default or Default as requested by the Required Lenders in accordance with Section 13, but unless and until Administrative Agent has received any such request, Administrative Agent may (but will not be required to) take any action, or refrain from taking any action, with respect to any Event of Default or Default as Administrative Agent deems advisable or in the best interest of the Lenders.
14.7 Credit Decision. Each Lender acknowledges that Administrative Agent has not made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by Administrative Agent hereafter taken, including any consent and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of the Loan Parties, will be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by Administrative Agent to any Lender as to any matter, including whether Administrative Agent has disclosed material information in its possession. Each Lender represents to Administrative Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon Administrative Agent and based on documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of, and investigation into, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition, and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to Borrowers under this Agreement. Each Lender also represents to Administrative Agent that it will, independently and without reliance upon Administrative Agent and based on documents and information as it deems appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals, and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make all investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition, and creditworthiness of Borrowers. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required in this Agreement to be furnished to the Lenders by Administrative Agent, Administrative Agent will not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial or other condition or creditworthiness of any Borrower which may come into the possession of Administrative Agent.
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14.8 Indemnification. Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated, each Lender shall indemnify upon demand Administrative Agent and its directors, officers, employees and agents (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of Borrowers and without limiting the obligation of Borrowers to do so), according to its applicable Pro Rata Share, from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities, except that no Lender will be liable for any payment to any such Person of any portion of the Indemnified Liabilities to the extent determined by a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the applicable Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct. No action taken in accordance with the directions of the Required Lenders will be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section 14.8. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse Administrative Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs and Taxes) incurred by Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to in this Agreement, to the extent that Administrative Agent is not reimbursed for any such expenses by or on behalf of Borrowers. The undertaking in this Section 14.8 will survive repayment of the Loans, cancellation of the Notes, any foreclosure under, or modification, release or discharge of, any or all of the Collateral Documents, termination of this Agreement and the resignation or replacement of Administrative Agent.
14.9 Administrative Agent in Individual Capacities. Monroe Capital and its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire equity interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with the Loan Parties and Affiliates as though Monroe Capital were not Administrative Agent under this Agreement and without notice to or consent of any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that, pursuant to those activities, Monroe Capital or its Affiliates might receive information regarding Borrowers or their Affiliates (including information that is subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of any Borrower or any such Affiliate) and acknowledges that Administrative Agent will be under no obligation to provide any such information to them. With respect to their Loans (if any), Monroe Capital and its Affiliates have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though Monroe Capital were not Administrative Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” include Monroe Capital and its Affiliates, to the extent applicable, in their individual capacities.
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14.10 Successor Administrative Agent. Administrative Agent may resign as Administrative Agent upon 30 days’ notice to the Lenders. If Administrative Agent resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall, with (so long as no Event of Default exists) the consent of Borrower Representative (which may not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), appoint from among the Lenders a successor Administrative Agent for the Lenders. If no successor agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of Administrative Agent, Administrative Agent may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and Borrower Representative, a successor agent from among the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor agent under this Agreement, that successor agent will succeed to all the rights, powers, and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent and the term “Administrative Agent” will mean that successor agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as Administrative Agent will be terminated. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation under this Agreement as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Section 14 and Sections 15.5 and 15.17 will inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as Administrative Agent by the date which is 30 days following a retiring Administrative Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation will nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Required Lenders shall perform all of the duties of Administrative Agent under this Agreement until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above.
14.11 Collateral Matters. Each Lender authorizes and directs Administrative Agent to enter into the other Loan Documents for the benefit of Lenders. Each Lender hereby agrees that, except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, any action taken by Administrative Agent or Required Lenders in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, and the exercise by Administrative Agent or Required Lenders of the powers set forth in this Agreement or therein, together with all other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, will be authorized by, and binding upon, all Lenders. Administrative Agent is hereby authorized on behalf of all Lenders, without the necessity of any notice to or further consent from any Lender to take any action with respect to any Collateral or Loan Documents which may be necessary to perfect and maintain perfected the Liens upon the Collateral granted pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The Lenders irrevocably authorize Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to do any and all of the following: (a) to release any Lien granted to or held by Administrative Agent under any Collateral Document (i) upon Payment in Full; (ii) upon property sold or to be sold or disposed of as part of or in connection with any disposition permitted under this Agreement (including the release of any Guarantor in connection with any such disposition); or (iii) subject to Section 15.1, if approved in writing by the Required Lenders; or (b) to subordinate its interest in any Collateral to any holder of a Lien on that Collateral which is permitted by Section 11.2(d)(i), 11.2(d)(iii) or 11.2(k) (it being understood that Administrative Agent may conclusively rely on a certificate from Borrower Representative in determining whether the Debt secured by any such Lien is permitted by Section 11.1(b)). Upon request by Administrative Agent at any time, the Lenders will confirm in writing Administrative Agent’s authority to release, or subordinate its interest in, particular types or items of Collateral pursuant to this Section 14.11.
14.12 Restriction on Actions by Lenders. Each Lender shall not, without the express written consent of Administrative Agent, and shall, upon the written request of Administrative Agent (to the extent it is lawfully entitled to do so), set-off against the Obligations, any amounts owing by that Lender to a Loan Party or any deposit accounts of any Loan Party now or hereafter maintained with that Lender. Each Lender shall not, unless specifically requested to do so in writing by Administrative Agent, take or cause to be taken any action, including the commencement of any legal or equitable proceedings, to foreclose any loan or otherwise enforce any security interest in any of the Collateral or to enforce all or any part of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents. All enforcement actions under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any third party with respect to the Obligations or the Collateral may be taken by only Administrative Agent (at the direction of the Required Lenders or as otherwise permitted in this Agreement) or by its agents at the direction of Administrative Agent.
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14.13 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.
14.13.1 In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition, or other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party (including any Insolvency Proceeding), Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan is then due and payable as expressed in this Agreement or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether Administrative Agent has made any demand on Borrowers) may, by intervention in any such proceeding or otherwise, do any and all of the following:
(a) file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file any other documents as are necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and Administrative Agent under Sections 5, 15.5, and 15.17) allowed in any such proceedings; and
(b) collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same.
14.13.2 Any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator, or other similar official in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make all payments to Administrative Agent and, in the event that Administrative Agent consents to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due Administrative Agent under Sections 5, 15.5, and 15.17.
14.13.3 Nothing contained in this Agreement will be deemed to authorize Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
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14.14 Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers. None of the Lenders or other Persons identified on the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement as a “syndication agent,” “documentation agent,” “co-agent,” “book manager,” “lead manager,” “arranger,” “lead arranger” or “co-arranger,” if any, has any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility, or duty under this Agreement other than, in the case of any Lender, those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or other Persons so identified has or is deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders or other Persons so identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action under this Agreement.
14.15 Protective Advances. Administrative Agent may, from time to time at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, make all disbursements and advances (“Protective Advances”) that Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or desirable to preserve, protect, prepare for sale or lease or dispose of the Collateral or any portion thereof, to enhance the likelihood or maximize the amount of repayment by the Loan Parties of the Loans and other Obligations or to pay any other amount chargeable to the Loan Parties pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including, without limitation, costs, fees and expenses as described in Section 15.5. Protective Advances are repayable on demand and will be secured by the Collateral and bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate then applicable to Base Rate Loans. Protective Advances constitute Obligations under this Agreement and may be charged to the Loan Account. No Protective Advance made by Administrative Agent and charged to the Loan Account will be deemed to constitute a Loan and no Lender will have any obligation to fund any amount to Administrative Agent as a result thereof. The Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender and the Borrower Representative in writing of each Protective Advance made by Administrative Agent, which notice must include a description of the purpose of that Protective Advance.
14.16 Erroneous Payments.
(a) If Administrative Agent notifies a Lender or Secured Party (as defined in the Guaranty and Collateral Agreement), or any Person who has received funds on behalf of a Lender or Secured Party such Lender or Secured Party (any such Lender, Secured Party 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 immediately succeeding clause (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, Secured Party 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 or Secured Party 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 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 clause (a) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
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(b) Without limiting the immediately preceding clause (a), each Lender or Secured Party, or any Person who has received funds on behalf of a Lender or Secured Party such Lender or Secured Party, hereby further agrees that if it receives a payment, prepayment or repayment (whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, 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, Secured Party, 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 the 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 or Secured Party 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 14.16(b).
(c) Each Lender or Secured Party hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off, net and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender or Secured Party under any Loan Document, or otherwise payable or distributable by the Administrative Agent to such Lender or Secured Party from any source, against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under immediately preceding clause (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 the immediately preceding clause (a), from any Lender 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 Agent’s notice to such Lender or Secured Party at any time, (i) such Lender 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 Borrowers) deemed to execute and deliver an Assignment Agreement (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment Agreement by reference pursuant to an approved electronic platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants) with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, and such Lender shall deliver any Notes evidencing such Loans to the Borrower Representative 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 hereunder with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment and the assigning Lender shall cease to be a Lender 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 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 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 (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 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 or Secured Party under the Loan Documents with respect to each Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency (the “Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights”).
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(e) The parties hereto agree that an Erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by the Borrowers 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 Borrowers 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 party’s obligations, agreements and waivers under this Section 14.16 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, 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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Section 15 | GENERAL. |
15.1 Waiver; Amendments.
(a) No amendment, modification, or waiver of, or consent with respect to, any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents will be effective unless it is in writing and acknowledged by Lenders having an aggregate Pro Rata Shares of not less than the aggregate Pro Rata Shares expressly designated in this Agreement with respect thereto or, in the absence of any such designation as to any provision of this Agreement, by the Required Lenders. Any amendment, modification, waiver, or consent will be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.
(b) The Agent Fee Letter may be amended, waived, consented to, or modified by the parties thereto.
(c) No amendment, modification, waiver, or consent may extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of that Lender.
(d) No amendment, modification, waiver, or consent may extend the date scheduled for payment of any principal (excluding mandatory prepayments) of or interest on the Loans or any fees payable under this Agreement without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby.
(e) No amendment, modification, waiver, or consent may reduce the principal amount of any Loan, the rate of interest thereon, or any fees payable under this Agreement without the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby (except (i) for periodic adjustments of interest rates and fees resulting from a change in the LIBOR Rate and the Base Rate as provided for in this Agreement, and (ii) that Required Lenders may rescind any increase in the interest rate under and in accordance with Section 4.1.2).
(f) No amendment, modification, waiver, or consent may do any of the following without the written consent of each Lender: (i) release any Borrower or any Guarantor from its obligations, other than as part of or in connection with any disposition permitted under this Agreement; (ii) release all or any substantial part of the Collateral granted under the Collateral Documents (except as permitted by Section 14.11); (iii) change the definitions of Pro Rata Share or Required Lenders, any provision of this Section 15.1, any provision of Section 13.3, or reduce the aggregate Pro Rata Share required to effect an amendment, modification, waiver, or consent.
(g) No provision of Sections 6.2.2, 6.3, or 7.2.2(b) with respect to the timing or application of mandatory prepayments of the Loans may be amended, modified, or waived without the consent of Lenders having a majority of the aggregate Pro Rata Shares of the Term A Loans affected thereby, the Term B Loans affected thereby, the Term C Loans affected thereby, the Term D Loans affected thereby and the Incremental Loans affected thereby.
(h) No provision of Section 14 or other provision of this Agreement affecting Administrative Agent in its capacity as such may be amended, modified, or waived without the consent of Administrative Agent.
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(i) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, Administrative Agent, Holdings, and Borrowers to do any of the following: (i) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Term A Loans, the Term B Loans, the Term C Loans, the Term D Loans, the Term B Loan Commitments, the Term D Loan Commitments and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (ii) to include appropriately the Lenders holding any such additional credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders.
(j) If, in connection with any proposed amendment, modification, waiver or termination requiring the consent of all Lenders, the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained but the consent of other Lenders whose consent is required is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is not obtained is referred to as a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then, so long as Administrative Agent or such other Person is not a Non-Consenting Lender, Administrative Agent and/or one or more Persons reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent may (but will not be required to) purchase from that Non-Consenting Lender, and that Non-Consenting Lenders shall, upon Administrative Agent’s request, sell and assign to Administrative Agent and/or any such Person, all of the Loans and Commitments of that Non-Consenting Lender for an amount equal to the principal balance of all such Loans and Commitments held by that Non-Consenting Lender and all accrued interest, fees, expenses, and other amounts then due with respect thereto through the date of sale, which purchase and sale will be consummated pursuant to an executed Assignment Agreement. In the event that Non-Consenting Lender does not execute an Assignment Agreement pursuant to Section 15.6.1 within five (5) Business Days after receipt by such Non-Consenting Lender of notice of replacement pursuant to this Section 15.1(j) and presentation to such Non-Consenting Lender of an Assignment Agreement evidencing an assignment pursuant to this Section 15.1(j), the Administrative Agent shall be entitled (but not obligated) to execute such an Assignment Agreement on behalf of such Non-Consenting Lender, and any such Assignment Agreement so executed by the Borrower Representative, Administrative Agent and, to the extent applicable, any other Person purchasing such Loans and Commitments of the Non-Consenting Lender, shall be effective for purposes of this Section 15.1(j) and Section 15.6.1. Upon any such assignment and payment and compliance with the other provisions of Section 15.6.1, such replaced Lender shall no longer constitute a “Lender” for purposes hereof; provided, any rights of such Non-Consenting Lender to indemnification hereunder shall survive.
15.2 Confirmations. Each Borrower and each holder of a Note agree from time to time, upon written request received by it from the other, to confirm to the other in writing (with a copy of each such confirmation to Administrative Agent) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans then outstanding under that Note.
15.3 Notices.
15.3.1 Generally. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 2.2.2, all notices under this Agreement must be in writing (including facsimile transmission) and must be sent to the applicable party at its address shown on Annex B or at any other address as the receiving party designates, by written notice received by the other parties, as its address for that purpose. Notices sent by facsimile transmission will be deemed to have been given when sent; notices sent by mail will be deemed to have been given three Business Days after the date when sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid; and notices sent by hand delivery or overnight courier service will be deemed to have been given when received. For purposes of Sections 2.2.2, Administrative Agent will be entitled to rely on telephonic instructions from any person that Administrative Agent in good faith believes is an authorized officer or employee of Borrower Representative, and Borrowers shall hold harmless Administrative Agent and each other Lender from any loss, cost, or expense resulting from any such reliance.
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15.3.2 Electronic Communications.
(a) Notices and other communications to any Lender under this Agreement may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by Administrative Agent, but the foregoing does not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Section 2.2 if that Lender has notified Administrative Agent and Borrower Representative that it is incapable of receiving notices under Section 2.2 by electronic communication. Administrative Agent or any of Holdings and Borrowers may, in its respective sole discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it under this Agreement by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, and approval of any such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
(b) Unless otherwise agreed by the sender and the intended recipient, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address will be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail, or other written acknowledgement); (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website will be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient, at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i), of notification that the notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; and (iii) for both clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 15.3.2(b), any notice, e-mail or other communication that is not sent during the normal business hours of the intended recipient will be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the intended recipient.
15.4 Computations. Where the character or amount of any asset or liability or item of income or expense is required to be determined, or any consolidation or other accounting computation is required to be made, for the purpose of this Agreement, that determination or calculation will, to the extent applicable and except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, be made in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, but if Borrower Representative notifies Administrative Agent that Borrowers wish to amend any covenant in Section 10 or 11.12 (or any related definition) to eliminate or to take into account the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of that covenant (or if Administrative Agent notifies Borrower Representative that the Required Lenders wish to amend Section 10 or 11.12 (or any related definition) for that purpose), then Borrowers’ compliance with that covenant will be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either the applicable notice under this Section 15.4 is withdrawn or the applicable covenant (or related definition) is amended in a manner satisfactory to Borrowers and the Required Lenders.
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15.5 Costs, Expenses and Taxes. Each Borrower, jointly and severally, shall pay on demand all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of Administrative Agent (including, without limitation, Attorney Costs, Taxes and Other Taxes) in connection with the preparation, execution, syndication, delivery and administration (including perfection and protection of any Collateral and the costs of IntraLinks (or other similar service), if applicable) of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and all other documents provided for in this Agreement or delivered or to be delivered under or in connection with this Agreement (including any amendment, supplement, or waiver to any Loan Document), whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby are consummated, including, without limitation, all out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred pursuant to Section 10.2, and all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, Attorney Costs, Taxes, and any Other Taxes) incurred by Administrative Agent and each Lender after an Event of Default in connection with the collection of the Obligations or the enforcement of this Agreement the other Loan Documents or any such other documents or during any workout, restructuring, or negotiations in respect thereof. In addition, each Loan Party shall pay, and shall save and hold harmless Administrative Agent and the Lenders from all liability for, any fees of Borrowers’ auditors in connection with any reasonable exercise by Administrative Agent and the Lenders of their rights pursuant to Section 10.2. All Obligations provided for in this Section 15.5 will survive repayment of the Loans, cancellation of the Notes, and termination of this Agreement.
15.6 Assignments; Participations.
15.6.1 Assignments.
(a) Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Persons (any such Person, an “Assignee”) all or any portion of that Lender’s Loans and Commitments, with the prior written consent of Administrative Agent, and, so long as no Event of Default exists, Borrower Representative (which consent of Borrower Representative may not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), but (i) no such consent of any kind is required for an assignment (A) by a Lender to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, (B) to an Eligible Assignee, or (C) prior to the completion of the primary syndication of the Commitments as determined by Monroe Capital, and (ii) no assignment may be made to a Loan Party or an Affiliate of a Loan Party. Except as Administrative Agent otherwise agrees, any such assignment must be in a minimum aggregate amount equal to $1,000,000 (which minimum will be $250,000 if the assignment is to an Affiliate of the assigning Lender) or, if less, the remaining Commitment and Loans held by the assigning Lender. Borrowers and Administrative Agent will be entitled to continue to deal solely and directly with the assigning Lender in connection with the interests so assigned to an Assignee until Administrative Agent has received and accepted an effective assignment agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit C (an “Assignment Agreement”) executed, delivered, and fully completed by the applicable parties thereto and a processing fee of $3,500. No assignment may be made to any Person if at the time of that assignment Borrowers would be obligated to pay any greater amount under Section 7.6 or Section 8 to the Assignee than Borrowers are then obligated to pay to the assigning Lender under that section (and if any assignment is made in violation of the foregoing, Borrowers will not be required to pay any such greater amounts). Any attempted assignment not made in accordance with this Section 15.6.1 will be treated as the sale of a participation under Section 15.6.2. Borrower Representative will be deemed to have granted its consent to any assignment requiring its consent under this Agreement unless Borrower Representative has expressly objected to that assignment within five Business Days after notice thereof.
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(b) From and after the date on which the conditions described above have been met, (i) the Assignee will be deemed automatically to have become a party to this Agreement and, to the extent that rights and obligations under this Agreement have been assigned to that Assignee pursuant to the Assignment Agreement, will have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and (ii) the assigning Lender, to the extent that rights and obligations under this Agreement have been assigned by it pursuant to that Assignment Agreement, will be released from its rights (other than its indemnification rights) and obligations under this Agreement. Upon the request of the Assignee (and, as applicable, the assigning Lender) pursuant to an effective Assignment Agreement, Borrowers shall execute and deliver to Administrative Agent for delivery to the Assignee (and, as applicable, the assigning Lender) one or more Notes in accordance with Section 3.1 to reflect the amounts assigned to that Assignee and the amounts, if any, retained by the assigning Lender. Each such Note will be dated the effective date of the applicable assignment. Upon receipt by Administrative Agent of any such Note, the assigning Lender shall return to Borrower Representative any applicable prior Note held by it.
(c) 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 that Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section 15.6.1 will not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest. No such pledge or assignment of a security interest will release a Lender from any of its obligations under this Agreement or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for that Lender as a party to this Agreement.
15.6.2 Participations. Any Lender may at any time sell to one or more Persons participating interests in its Loans, Commitments or other interests under this Agreement (any such Person, a “Participant”). In the event of a sale by a Lender of a participating interest to a Participant, (a) that Lender’s obligations under this Agreement will remain unchanged for all purposes; (b) Borrowers and Administrative Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with that Lender in connection with that Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement; and (c) all amounts payable by Borrowers will be determined as if that Lender had not sold that participation and will be paid directly to that Lender. No Participant will have any direct or indirect voting rights under this Agreement except with respect to any event described in Section 15.1 expressly requiring the unanimous vote of all Lenders or, as applicable, all affected Lenders. Each Lender agrees to incorporate the requirements of the preceding sentence into each participation agreement which that Lender enters into with any Participant. Borrowers agree that if amounts outstanding under this Agreement are due and payable (as a result of acceleration or otherwise), each Participant will be deemed to have the right of set-off in respect of its participating interest in amounts owing under this Agreement to the same extent as if the amount of its participating interest were owing directly to it as a Lender under this Agreement, but that right of set-off is subject to the obligation of each Participant to share with the Lenders, and the Lenders shall share with each Participant, as provided in Section 7.5. Participant will be entitled to the benefits of Section 7.6 and Section 8 as if it were a Lender (but on the date of the participation no Participant will be entitled to any greater compensation pursuant to Section 7.6 or Section 8 than would have been paid to the participating Lender on that date if no participation had been sold, and each Participant must comply with Section 7.6.4(a) as if it were an Assignee). Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”), which Participant Register shall be made available to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
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15.7 Register. Administrative Agent shall maintain, and deliver a copy to Borrower Representative upon written request, a copy of each Assignment Agreement delivered and accepted by it and register (the “Register”) for the recordation of names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitment of each Lender from time to time and whether that Lender is the original Lender or the Assignee. No assignment will be effective unless and until the Assignment Agreement is accepted and registered in the Register. All records of transfer of a Lender’s interest in the Register will be conclusive, absent manifest error, as to the ownership of the interests in the Loans. Administrative Agent will not incur any liability of any kind with respect to any Lender with respect to the maintenance of the Register. It is the intention that the Loans and Commitments be treated as registered obligations and in “registered form” within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Code, and that the right, title, and interest of the Lenders in and to those Loans and Commitments be transferable only in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
15.8 Governing Law. This Agreement and each Note is a contract made under and governed by the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within that state, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles.
15.9 Confidentiality. As required by federal law and Administrative Agent’s policies and practices, Administrative Agent may need to obtain, verify, and record certain customer identification information and documentation in connection with opening or maintaining accounts, or establishing or continuing to provide services. Administrative Agent and each Lender shall use commercially reasonable efforts (equivalent to the efforts Administrative Agent or that Lender applies to maintain the confidentiality of its own confidential information) to maintain as confidential all information provided to them by any Loan Party and designated as confidential, except that Administrative Agent and each Lender may disclose any information as follows: (a) to Persons employed or engaged by Administrative Agent or that Lender or that Lender’s Affiliates or Approved Funds in evaluating, approving, structuring, or administering the Loans and the Commitments; (b) to any assignee or participant or potential assignee or participant that has agreed to comply with the covenant contained in this Section 15.9 (and any such assignee or participant or potential assignee or participant may disclose any such information to Persons employed or engaged by them as described in clause (a) of this Section 15.9); (c) as required or requested by any federal or state regulatory authority or examiner, or any insurance industry association, or as reasonably believed by Administrative Agent or that Lender to be compelled by any court decree, subpoena, or legal or administrative order or process, but Administrative Agent or that Lender, as applicable, shall (i) use reasonable efforts to give the applicable Loan Party written notice prior to disclosing the information to the extent permitted by that requirement, request, court decree, subpoena, or legal or administrative order or process, and (ii) disclose only that portion of the confidential information as Administrative Agent or that Lender reasonably believes, or as counsel for Administrative Agent or that Lender, as applicable, advises Administrative Agent or that Lender, that it must disclose pursuant to that requirement; (d) as Administrative Agent or that Lender reasonably believes, or on the advice of Administrative Agent’s or that Lender’s counsel, is required by law; (e) in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy under the Loan Documents or in connection with any litigation to which Administrative Agent or that Lender is a party; (f) to any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about a Lender’s investment portfolio in connection with ratings issued with respect to that Lender; (g) to that Lender’s independent auditors and other professional advisors as to which that information has been identified as confidential; or (h) if that information ceases to be confidential through no fault of Administrative Agent or any Lender. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Borrowers consent to the publication by Administrative Agent or any Lender of a tombstone or similar advertising material relating to the financing transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and Administrative Agent reserves the right to provide to industry trade organizations information necessary and customary for inclusion in league table measurements. If any provision of any confidentiality agreement, non-disclosure agreement, or other similar agreement between any Borrower and any Lender conflicts with or contradicts this Section 15.9 with respect to the treatment of confidential information, then this Section 15.9 will supersede all such prior or contemporaneous agreements and understandings between the parties.
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15.10 Severability. Whenever possible each provision of this Agreement is to be interpreted so as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, that provision will be ineffective to the extent of that prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of that provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement.
15.11 Nature of Remedies. All Obligations of the Loan Parties and rights of Administrative Agent and the Lenders expressed in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document are in addition to and not in limitation of those provided by applicable law. No failure to exercise, and no delay in exercising, on the part of Administrative Agent or any Lender, any right, remedy, power, or privilege under this Agreement will operate as a waiver thereof, and no single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power, or privilege under this Agreement will preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power, or privilege.
15.12 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, embodies the entire agreement and understanding among the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements and understandings of all such Persons, verbal or written, relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof (except as relates to the fees described in Section 5.2) and any prior arrangements made with respect to the payment by the Loan Parties of (or any indemnification for) any fees, costs, or expenses payable to or incurred (or to be incurred) by or on behalf of Administrative Agent or the Lenders.
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15.13 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties on separate counterparts. Each such counterpart will be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts will together constitute but one and the same Agreement. Receipt of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission will constitute effective delivery thereof. Electronic records of executed Loan Documents maintained by the Lenders will be deemed to be originals.
15.14 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement binds Borrowers, the Lenders, Administrative Agent, and their respective successors and assigns and will inure to the benefit of Borrowers, the Lenders, and Administrative Agent and the successors and assigns of the Lenders and Administrative Agent. No other Person is or is intended to be a direct or indirect legal beneficiary of, or have any direct or indirect cause of action or claim in connection with, this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents. No Loan Party may assign or transfer any of its rights or Obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of Administrative Agent and each Lender.
15.15 Captions. Section captions used in this Agreement are for convenience only and do not affect the construction of this Agreement.
15.16 Customer Identification—USA Patriot Act Notice. Each Lender and Monroe Capital (each for itself and not on behalf of any other party) hereby notifies the Loan Parties that, pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, Title III of Pub. L. 107-56, signed into law October 26, 2001 (the “Patriot Act”), it is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies the Loan Parties, which information includes the name and address of the Loan Parties and other information that will allow that Lender or Monroe Capital, as applicable, to identify the Loan Parties in accordance with the Patriot Act.
15.17 Indemnification by Loan Parties. In consideration of the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Administrative Agent and the Lenders and the agreement to extend the Commitments provided under this Agreement, each of Holdings and each Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify, exonerate, and hold harmless Administrative Agent, each Lender and each of the officers, directors, employees, Affiliates, agents, and Approved Funds of Administrative Agent and each Lender (each, a “Lender Party”) from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits, losses, liabilities, damages, and expenses, including Attorney Costs (collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”), incurred by the Lender Parties or any of them as a result of, or arising out of, or relating to (a) any tender offer, merger, purchase of capital securities, purchase of assets (including the Related Transaction and the RWS Acquisition) or other similar transaction financed or proposed to be financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, with the proceeds of any of the Loans; (b) the use, handling, release, emission, discharge, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Substance at any property owned or leased by any Loan Party; (c) any violation of any Environmental Laws with respect to conditions at any property owned or leased by any Loan Party or the operations conducted thereon; (d) the investigation, cleanup or remediation of offsite locations at which any Loan Party or their respective predecessors are alleged to have directly or indirectly disposed of Hazardous Substances; or (e) the execution, delivery, performance, or enforcement of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by any of the Lender Parties, in each case except for any such Indemnified Liabilities arising on account of the applicable Lender Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. If and to the extent that the foregoing undertaking is unenforceable for any reason, each of Holdings and each Borrower hereby agrees to make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law. All obligations provided for in this Section 15.17 will survive repayment of the Loans, cancellation of the Notes, any foreclosure under, or any modification, release, or discharge of, any or all of the Collateral Documents and termination of this Agreement.
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15.18 Non-Liability of Lenders.
(a) The relationship between Borrowers on the one hand and the Lenders and Administrative Agent on the other hand is solely that of borrower and lender. Neither Administrative Agent nor any Lender has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to any Loan Party arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and the relationship between the Loan Parties, on the one hand, and Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, in connection herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor. Neither Administrative Agent nor any Lender undertakes any responsibility to any Loan Party to review or inform any Loan Party of any matter in connection with any phase of any Loan Party’s business or operations. Each of Holdings and each Borrower agrees, on behalf of itself and each other Loan Party, that neither Administrative Agent nor any Lender has any liability to any Loan Party (whether sounding in tort, contract or otherwise) for losses suffered by any Loan Party in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to the transactions contemplated and the relationship established by the Loan Documents, or any act, omission, or event occurring in connection therewith, unless it is determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that those losses resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party from which recovery is sought.
(b) No Lender Party will be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any information or other materials obtained through IntraLinks or other similar information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement. No Lender Party will have any liability with respect to, and each of Holdings and each Borrower, on behalf of itself and each other Loan Party, hereby waives, releases, and agrees not to sue for, any special, punitive, exemplary, indirect, or consequential damages relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Closing Date).
(c) Each Loan Party acknowledges that it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party. No joint venture is created hereby or by the other Loan Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Lenders or among the Loan Parties and the Lenders.
15.19 Forum Selection and Consent to Jurisdiction. Any litigation based hereon, or arising out of, under, or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, will be brought and maintained exclusively in the courts of the State of New York or in any federal court sitting in the borough of Manhattan, but nothing in this Agreement will be deemed or operate to preclude Administrative Agent from bringing suit or taking other legal action in any other jurisdiction. Each of Holdings and each Borrower hereby expressly and irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and of the federal courts sitting in the borough of Manhattan for the purpose of any such litigation as set forth above. Each of Holdings and each Borrower further irrevocably consents to the service of process by registered mail, postage prepaid, or by personal service within or without the State of New York. Each of Holdings and each Borrower hereby expressly and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it now has or hereafter might have to the laying of venue of any such litigation brought in any such court referred to above and any claim that any such litigation has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
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15.20 Waiver of Jury Trial. Each Borrower, Holdings, Administrative Agent, and each Lender hereby waives any right to a trial by jury in any action or proceeding to enforce or defend any rights under this Agreement, any Note, any other Loan Document, and any amendment, instrument, document, or agreement delivered or which might in the future be delivered in connection with this Agreement or therewith or arising from any lending relationship existing in connection with any of the foregoing, and agrees that any such action or proceeding will be tried before a court and not before a jury.
15.21 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 that 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.
15.22 Acknowledgement Regarding any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Hedge Agreements or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States): In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.
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15.23 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 Borrowers 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 Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement,
(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement,
(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement, or
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(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 ahereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrowers or any other Loan Party, that the Administrative Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).
15.24 ABL Intercreditor Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, (a) the Liens granted to the Administrative Agent in favor of the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the exercise of any right related to any Collateral shall be subject, in each case, to the terms of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, and (b) in the event of any conflict between the terms and provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, on the one hand, and the terms and provisions of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, on the other hand, the terms and provisions of the ABL Intercreditor Agreement shall continue.
Section | 16 JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY |
16.1 Applicability of Terms. Each Borrower and each Person comprising a Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that all of the representations, warranties, covenants, obligations, conditions, agreements, and other terms contained in this Agreement are applicable to and binding upon each Person comprising a Borrower unless expressly otherwise stated in this Agreement.
16.2 Joint and Several Liability. Each Borrower is jointly and severally liable for all of the Obligations of each other Borrower, regardless of which Borrower actually receives the proceeds or other benefits of the Loans or other extensions of credit under this Agreement or the manner in which Borrowers, Administrative Agent, or any Lender accounts therefor in their respective books and records.
16.3 Benefits and Best Interests. Each Borrower acknowledges that it will enjoy significant benefits from the business conducted by each other Borrower because of, inter alia, their combined ability to bargain with other Persons including without limitation their ability to receive the Loans and other credit extensions under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents which would not have been available to any Borrower acting alone. Each Borrower has determined that it is in its best interest to procure the credit facilities contemplated under this Agreement, with the credit support of each other Borrower as contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
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16.4 Accommodations. Each of Administrative Agent and the Lenders have advised each Borrower that it is unwilling to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and make available the credit facilities extended hereby or thereby to any Borrower unless each Borrower agrees, among other things, to be jointly and severally liable for the due and proper payment of the Obligations of each other Borrower. Each Borrower has determined that it is in its best interest and in pursuit of its purposes that it so induce the Lenders to extend credit pursuant to this Agreement and the other documents executed in connection with this Agreement (a) because of the desirability to each Borrower of the credit facilities under this Agreement and the interest rates and the modes of borrowing available under this Agreement and under those other documents; (b) because each Borrower might engage in transactions jointly with other Borrowers; and (c) because each Borrower might require, from time to time, access to funds under this Agreement for the purposes set forth in this Agreement. Each Borrower, individually, expressly understands, agrees, and acknowledges that the credit facilities contemplated under this Agreement would not be made available on the terms of this Agreement in the absence of the collective credit of all the Borrowers, and the joint and several liability of all the Borrowers. Accordingly, each Borrower acknowledges that the benefit of the accommodations made under this Agreement to the Borrowers, as a whole, constitutes reasonably equivalent value, regardless of the amount of the indebtedness actually borrowed by, advanced to, or the amount of credit provided to, or the amount of collateral provided by, any one Borrower.
16.5 Maximum Amount. To the extent that applicable law otherwise would render the full amount of the joint and several obligations of any Borrower under this Agreement and under the other Loan Documents invalid or unenforceable, that Person’s obligations under this Agreement and under the other Loan Documents will be limited to the maximum amount that does not result in any such invalidity or unenforceability, but each Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement and under the other Loan Documents will be presumptively valid and enforceable to their fullest extent in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof, as if this Section 16 were not a part of this Agreement.
16.6 Joint Liability Payments. To the extent that any Borrower makes a payment under this Section 16 of all or any of the Obligations (a “Joint Liability Payment”) that, taking into account all other Joint Liability Payments then previously or concurrently made by any other Borrower, exceeds the amount that Borrower would otherwise have paid if each Borrower had paid the aggregate Obligations satisfied by those Joint Liability Payments in the same proportion that that Person’s Allocable Amount (as determined immediately prior to those Joint Liability Payments) bore to the aggregate Allocable Amounts of each Borrower as determined immediately prior to the making of those Joint Liability Payments, then, following payment in full in cash of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification Obligations not then asserted) and the termination of the Commitments, that Borrower will be entitled to receive contribution and indemnification payments from, and be reimbursed by, each other Borrower for the amount of that excess, pro rata based upon their respective Allocable Amounts in effect immediately prior to the applicable Joint Liability Payments. As of any date of determination, the “Allocable Amount” of any Borrower is equal to the maximum amount of the claim that could then be recovered from that Borrower under this Section 16 without rendering that claim voidable or avoidable under § 548 of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, or similar statute or common law.
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16.7 Financial Condition. Each Borrower assumes responsibility for keeping itself informed of the financial condition of each other Borrower, and any and all endorsers and/or guarantors of any instrument or document evidencing all or any part of each other Borrower’s Obligations, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment by each other Borrower of its Obligations, and each Borrower agrees that neither Administrative Agent nor any Lender has or will have any duty to advise that Borrower of information known to Administrative Agent or any Lender regarding any such condition or any such circumstances or to undertake any investigation not a part of its regular business routine. If Administrative Agent or any Lender, in its sole discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any such information to a Borrower, neither Administrative Agent nor any Lender will be under any obligation to update any such information or to provide any such information to that Borrower or any other Person on any subsequent occasion.
16.8 Administrative Agent Authorizations. Subject to Section 15.1, Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to, at any time and from time to time, to do any and all of the following: (a) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, renew, extend, accelerate, or otherwise change the time for payment of, or other terms relating to, Obligations incurred by any Borrower or any other Loan Party, otherwise modify, amend or change the terms of any promissory note or other agreement, document or instrument now or hereafter executed by any Borrower or any other Loan Party and delivered to Administrative Agent or any Lender; (b) accept partial payments on an Obligation incurred by any Borrower; (c) take and hold security or collateral for the payment of an Obligation incurred by any Borrower under this Agreement or for the payment of any guaranties of an Obligation incurred by any Borrower or other liabilities of any Borrower and exchange, enforce, waive, and release any such security or collateral; (d) apply any such security or collateral and direct the order or manner of sale thereof as Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, determines; and (e) settle, release, compromise, collect, or otherwise liquidate an Obligation incurred by any Borrower and any security or collateral therefor in any manner, without affecting or impairing the obligations of any other Borrower. In accordance with the terms of this Agreement, Administrative Agent has the exclusive right to determine the time and manner of application of any payments or credits, whether received from a Borrower or any other source, and any such determination will be binding on each Borrower. In accordance with the terms of this Agreement, all such payments and credits may be applied, reversed and reapplied, in whole or in part, to any of an Obligation incurred by any Borrower as Administrative Agent determines in its sole discretion without affecting the validity or enforceability of the Obligations of any other Borrower. Nothing in this Section 16 modifies any right of any Borrower or any Lender to consent to any amendment or modification of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof.
16.9 Unconditional Obligations. Each Borrower hereby agrees that, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, its obligations under this Agreement are and will be unconditional, irrespective of (a) the absence of any attempt to collect an Obligation incurred by any Borrower from any Borrower or any guarantor or other action to enforce the same; (b) failure by Administrative Agent to take any steps to perfect and maintain its security interest in, or to preserve its rights to, any security or collateral for an Obligation incurred by any Borrower; (c) any Insolvency Proceeding by or against any Borrower or any other Loan Party, or Administrative Agent’s or any Lender’s election in any such proceeding of the application of § 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code; (d) any borrowing or grant of a security interest by any Borrower as debtor-in-possession under § 364 of the Bankruptcy Code; (e) the disallowance, under § 502 of the Bankruptcy Code, of all or any portion of Administrative Agent’s or any Lender’s claim(s) for repayment of any of an Obligation incurred by any Borrower; or (f) any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor unless that legal or equitable discharge or defense is that of a Borrower in its capacity as a Borrower.
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16.10 Notices. Any notice given by Borrower Representative under this Agreement will constitute and be deemed to be notice given by all Borrowers, jointly and severally. Notice given by Administrative Agent or any Lender to Borrower Representative under this Agreement or pursuant to any other Loan Documents in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or of any applicable other Loan Document will constitute notice to each Borrower. The knowledge of any Borrower will be imputed to all Borrowers and any consent by Borrower Representative or any Borrower will constitute the consent of, and will bind, all Borrowers.
16.11 No Impairment of Obligations or Limitation of Liability. This Section 16 is intended only to define the relative rights of Borrowers and nothing set forth in this Section 16 is intended to or will impair the obligations of Borrowers, jointly and severally, to pay any amounts as and when the same become due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Documents. Nothing contained in this Section 16 limits the liability of any Borrower to pay the credit facilities made directly or indirectly to that Borrower and accrued interest, fees, and expenses with respect thereto for which that Borrower is primarily liable.
16.12 Rights of Contribution and Indemnification. The parties to this Agreement acknowledge that the rights of contribution and indemnification under this Section 16 constitute assets of each Borrower to which any such contribution and indemnification is owing. The rights of any indemnifying Borrower against the other Borrowers under this Section 16 will be exercisable upon the full and payment of the Obligations and the termination of the Commitments.
16.13 Subrogation. No payment made by or for the account of a Borrower, including, without limitation, (a) a payment made by that Borrower on behalf of an Obligation of another Borrower or (b) a payment made by any other Person under any guaranty, will entitle that Borrower, by subrogation or otherwise, to any payment from that other Borrower or from or out of property of that other Borrower and that Borrower shall not exercise any right or remedy against that other Borrower or any property of that other Borrower by reason of any performance of that Borrower of its joint and several obligations under this Agreement, until, in each case, the termination of the Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification Obligations not then asserted).
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Section 17 | APPOINTMENT OF BORROWER REPRESENTATIVE. |
17.1 Appointment. Each Borrower hereby irrevocably (until Payment in Full or a change pursuant to Section 17.4) appoints and constitutes Borrower Representative as its agent to request and receive the proceeds of advances in respect of the Loans (and to otherwise act on behalf of that Borrower pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents) from the Lenders in the name or on behalf of that Borrower. Administrative Agent may disburse those proceeds to the bank account of Borrower Representative (or any other Borrower) without notice to any other Borrower or any other Loan Party.
17.2 Additional Appointments. Each Borrower hereby irrevocably (until Payment in Full or a change pursuant to Section 17.4) appoints and constitutes the Borrower Representative as its agent to (a) receive statements of account and all other notices from Administrative Agent with respect to the Obligations or otherwise under or in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (b) execute and deliver Compliance Certificates and all other notices, certificates and documents to be executed and/or delivered by any Borrower under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; and (c) otherwise act on behalf of that Borrower pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
17.3 Reliance. The authorizations contained in this Section 17 are coupled with an interest and are irrevocable until Payment in Full or a change pursuant to Section 17.4, and Administrative Agent may rely on any notice, request, information supplied by the Borrower Representative, every document executed by the Borrower Representative, every agreement made by the Borrower Representative or other action taken by the Borrower Representative in respect of any Borrower or other Loan Party as if the same were supplied, made or taken by that Borrower or Loan Party. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the failure of one or more Borrowers or other Loan Parties to join in the execution of any writing in connection with this Agreement will not relieve any Borrower or other Loan Party from obligations in respect of that writing.
17.4 Termination or Change of Borrower Representative. No purported termination of or change in the appointment of Borrower Representative as agent will be effective without the prior written consent of Administrative Agent.
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JOINDER AND SECOND AMENDMENT TO
LOAN, SECURITY AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
THIS JOINDER AND SECOND AMENDMENT TO LOAN, SECURITY AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is made and entered into as of December 7, 2021 (the “Second Amendment Effective Date”), by and among PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, successor to BBVA USA (“PNC”), individually as a Lender, as administrative agent (in such capacity, “Administrative Agent”) for itself and any other financial institution which is or becomes a party hereto as a lender (each such financial institution, including PNC, a “Lender” and collectively the “Lenders”), and as collateral agent (in such capacity, “Collateral Agent”) for the Lenders, Quest Resource Management Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Quest”), Landfill Diversion Innovations, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“Landfill”, together with Quest “Existing Borrowers”), RWS Facility Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“RWS”), Sustainable Solutions Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SSG”, together with RWS, “New Borrowers”, and together with Quest and Landfill, jointly and severally, each as a “Borrower” and collectively the “Borrowers”), Quest Resource Holding Corporation, a Nevada corporation (“Holdings”), Quest Sustainability Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (F/K/A Earth911, Inc.) (“Parent”), Youchange, Inc., an Arizona corporation (“Youchange”), Quest Vertigent Corporation, a Nevada corporation (“Vertigent”), Quest Vertigent One, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Vertigent One”), and Global Alerts, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Global Alerts” together with Holdings, Parent, Youchange, Vertigent and Vertigent One, jointly and severally, each a “Guarantor” and collectively, the “Guarantors”).
RECITALS
A. Borrower, Guarantors, Lenders, Collateral Agent, and Administrative Agent are parties to (i) that certain Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of August 5, 2020 (as amended hereby and as may be further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Loan Agreement”) and (ii) the other Loan Documents (as defined in the Loan Agreement, and in each case as amended hereby and as may be further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time).
B. Quest is acquiring substantially all of the Equity Interests of New Borrowers pursuant to that certain Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among Quest, New Borrower and certain other sellers (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “RFS Acquisition Agreement” and the transactions contemplated thereby, the “RFS Acquisition”).
C. Existing Borrowers and Guarantors have requested that each New Borrower be joined as a “Borrower” under the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents and that Administrative Agent and the Lenders amend the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents in order to permit the RFS Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated thereby as more particularly set forth herein.
D. Administrative Agent and the Lenders have agreed to make certain amendments to the Loan Agreement subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
ARTICLE
I
Definitions
1.01 Capitalized terms used in this Amendment are defined in the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby, unless otherwise stated.
ARTICLE
II
Amendments
2.01
Amendments to the Loan Agreement. The Loan Agreement is hereby amended (a) to delete the red or green
stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following examples: stricken text
and stricken text) and (b) to add the blue or green double-underlined text (indicated
textually in the same manner as the following examples: double-underlined
text and double-underlined text), in each case, as
set forth in the marked copy of the Loan Agreement attached hereto as Annex A and incorporated herein and made a part hereof for
all purposes.
2.02 Amendments to the Schedules to the Loan Agreement. The Schedules to the Loan Agreement are hereby amended by supplementing the existing Schedules with the Schedules attached hereto as Exhibit A. By acknowledging and agreeing to this Amendment, the undersigned hereby agrees that the Schedules may be attached to the Loan Agreement and made a part thereof for all purposes.
2.03 Amendment to Exhibit 9.1.3 Form of Compliance Certificate to the Loan Agreement. Exhibit 9.1.3 of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety with the amended and restated Form of Compliance Certificate attached hereto as Exhibit B. By acknowledging and agreeing to this Amendment, the undersigned hereby agrees that the amended and restated Compliance Certificate attached as Exhibit B may be attached to the Loan Agreement and made a part thereof for all purposes.
ARTICLE
III
Joinder of New Borrowers to Loan Documents
3.01 In consideration of each New Borrower becoming a “Borrower” under the terms of the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents and in consideration of the value of the synergistic benefits received by each New Borrower as a result of the interdependence of the businesses of Existing Borrowers and New Borrowers, each such New Borrower hereby agrees that effective as of the date hereof, it hereby joins in, and is and shall be deemed to be, a “Borrower” under the Loan Agreement and each of the other applicable Loan Documents. New Borrower has assumed the obligations of a “Borrower” under the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and New Borrower shall perform, comply with and be subject to and bound by each of the terms, agreements, covenants and conditions of: (a) the Loan Agreement, on a joint and several basis with the Existing Borrowers, and (b) each of the other Loan Documents which are stated to apply to or are made by a “Borrower,” on a joint and several basis with Existing Borrowers, in each case of clauses (a) through (b), as such Loan Document is in effect as of the date hereof, with the same force and effect as if New Borrower were an original signatory to the Loan Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents to which a “Borrower” is a party or by which a “Borrower” is bound. To secure the prompt and complete payment, performance and observance when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of all Obligations, and New Borrower hereby grants to Administrative Agent, for the benefit of itself and each Lender, a continuing Lien upon all of New Borrower’s Collateral, whether now owned or existing or hereafter created, acquired or arising and wheresoever located.
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3.02 Further, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, New Borrower hereby represents and warrants that: (i) each of the representations and warranties with respect to a Loan Party set forth in the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including but not limited to Article VIII of the Loan Agreement) are true and correct as to New Borrower on and as of the date hereof as if made on and as of the date hereof by New Borrower (except representations and warranties which relate solely to an earlier date or time, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the specific date or times referred to in said representations and warranties), and (ii) New Borrower has heretofore received a true and correct copy of the Loan Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents (including any modifications thereof or supplements or waivers thereto) as in effect on the date hereof.
3.03 In furtherance of the foregoing, each reference to a “Borrower” in the Loan Agreement and each other Loan Document shall be deemed to include the undersigned New Borrower.
3.04 New Borrower is simultaneously delivering to Administrative Agent and the Lenders the other documents required under the Loan Agreement.
ARTICLE
IV
Conditions Precedent
4.01 Conditions to Effectiveness. The effectiveness of this Amendment is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent in a manner satisfactory to Administrative Agent and the Lenders:
(a) Administrative Agent shall have received (i) this Amendment duly executed by each party hereto, and (ii) fully executed copies of each of the additional documents, instruments and agreements listed on the Closing Checklist attached hereto as Exhibit C (other than those items, if any, designated therein as “Post-Closing”), each in form and substance acceptable to Administrative Agent.
(b) Administrative Agent and each lender shall have received all expenses (including, without limitation, the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for Administrative Agent and each Lender) as set forth in Section 3.7 of the Loan Agreement which are due and payable as of the Second Amendment Effective Date.
(c) Administrative Agent shall have received an amendment and waiver fee in the amount of $37,500, which amount shall be deemed fully earned on the Second Amendment Effective Date and nonrefundable.
(d) The representations and warranties of the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents, as each is amended hereby, shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, as to any representations and warranties which are subject to a materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifier, true and correct in all respects) as of the Second Amendment Effective Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to an earlier date or for such changes as provided in Section 8.2 of the Loan Agreement).
(e) No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from this Amendment.
(f) No event shall have occurred and no condition shall exist which has had or could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(g) (i) the RWS Acquisition shall have been consummated in accordance in all material respects with the terms of the RWS Acquisition Agreement (without any amendment, modification or waiver of any of the provisions thereof that would be materially adverse to the Lenders in their capacities as Lenders without the consent of the Lenders, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), (ii) the RWS Acquisition Agreement and other agreements related thereto shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, and (iii) all conditions precedent to the RWB Acquisition shall have been satisfied or waived with the written consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
ARTICLE
V
Consent and Limited Waiver, Ratifications, Representations and Warranties
5.01 Ratifications. The terms and provisions set forth in this Amendment shall modify and supersede all inconsistent terms and provisions set forth in the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and, except as expressly modified and superseded by this Amendment, the terms and provisions of the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents are ratified and confirmed and shall continue in full force and effect. The Loan Parties, Administrative Agent and each Lender agree that the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as amended hereby, shall continue to be legal, valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their respective terms.
5.02 Representations and Warranties. Each Loan Party hereby represents and warrants to Administrative Agent and the Lenders that (a) the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment and any and all other Loan Documents executed and/or delivered in connection herewith have been authorized by all requisite organizational action on the part of such Person and will not violate the organizational or governing documents of such Person; (b) the representations and warranties of the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents, as each is amended hereby, are true and correct in all material respects as of the Second Amendment Effective Date (except that any representation or warranty which by its terms is made as of a specified date is true and correct in all material respects only as of such specified date, and that any representation or warranty which is subject to any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifier is true and correct in all respects); (c) no Default or Event of Default under the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby, has occurred and is continuing; and (d) Each Loan Party is in material compliance with all covenants and agreements contained in the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as amended hereby.
ARTICLE
VI
Miscellaneous Provisions
6.01 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made in the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document, including, without limitation, any document furnished in connection with this Amendment, shall survive the execution and delivery of this Amendment and the other Loan Documents, and no investigation by Administrative Agent or any Lender or any closing shall affect the representations and warranties or the right of Administrative Agent or any Lender to rely upon them.
6.02 Reference to Loan Agreement. Each of the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any and all other Loan Documents, documents or instruments now or hereafter executed and delivered pursuant to the terms hereof or pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby, are hereby amended so that any reference in the Loan Agreement and such other Loan Documents to the Loan Agreement shall mean a reference to the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby, and any reference in the Loan Agreement and such other Loan Documents to any other Loan Document amended by the provisions of this Amendment shall mean a reference to such other Loan Documents, as amended hereby.
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6.03 Expenses of Administrative Agent and Lenders. The provisions of Section 3.7 and Section 13.2 of the Loan Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference herein, mutatis mutandis.
6.04 Severability. Any provision of this Amendment held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable shall not impair or invalidate the remainder of this Amendment and the effect thereof shall be confined to the provision so held to be invalid or unenforceable.
6.05 Successors and Assigns. This Amendment is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Loan Party and their respective successors and assigns, except that each Loan Party may not assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Administrative Agent.
6.06 Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Amendment may be executed by facsimile transmission or other electronic means, which facsimile or other electronic signatures shall be considered original executed counterparts, and each party to this Amendment agrees that it will be bound by its own facsimile or other electronic signature and that it accepts the facsimile or other electronic signature of each other party to this Amendment.
6.07 Effect of Waiver. No consent or waiver, express or implied, by Administrative Agent or any Lender to or for any breach of or deviation from any covenant or condition by any Loan Party shall be deemed a consent to or waiver of any other breach of the same or any other covenant, condition or duty.
6.08 Headings. The headings, captions, and arrangements used in this Amendment are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Amendment.
6.09 Applicable Law. This Agreement and all other Loan Documents executed pursuant hereto shall be deemed to have been made and to be performable in and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas.
6.10 Final Agreement. THE LOAN AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, EACH AS AMENDED HEREBY, REPRESENT THE ENTIRE EXPRESSION OF THE PARTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF ON THE DATE THIS AMENDMENT IS EXECUTED. THE LOAN AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AS AMENDED HEREBY, MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES. NO MODIFICATION, RESCISSION, WAIVER, RELEASE OR AMENDMENT OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE MADE, EXCEPT BY A WRITTEN AGREEMENT SIGNED BY THE LOAN PARTIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT.
[Signature pages follow.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been executed on the date first written above, to be effective as the respective date set forth above.
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | |||
successor to BBVA USA, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and as a Lender | |||
By: | /s/ Brad Miller | ||
Name: | Brad Miller | ||
Title: | Vice President | ||
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, successor to BBVA USA, as Issuing Bank |
|||
By: | /s/ Brad Miller | ||
Name: | Brad Miller | ||
Title: | Vice President |
[Signature Page to Joinder and Second Amendment to Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement]
BORROWERS: | QUEST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC | |
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
LANDFILL DIVERSION INNOVATIONS, L.L.C. | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
NEW BORROWERS: | RWS FACILITY SERVICES, LLC | |
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS GROUP, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
GUARANTORS: | QUEST RESOURCE HOLDING CORPORATION | |
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer |
[Signature Page to Joinder and Second Amendment to Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement]
QUEST SUSTAINABILITY SERVICES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION (F/K/A EARTH911, INC.) | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
GUARANTORS (CONTINUED): | YOUCHANGE, INC. | |
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
QUEST VERTIGENT CORPORATION | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
QUEST VERTIGENT ONE, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
GLOBAL ALERTS, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Laurie L. Latham | |
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer |
[Signature Page to Joinder and Second Amendment to Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement]
Annex A
Loan Agreement
__________________________________________________
QUEST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC
LANDFILL DIVERSION INNOVATIONS, L.L.C.
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
LOAN, SECURITY AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
Dated: August 5, 2020
$17,000,000
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
PNC
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(successor to BBVA USA),
Individually and as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent
for any Lender which is or becomes a party hereto
__________________________________________________
PNC
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (successor to BBVA USA),
as Sole Arranger and Sole Bookrunner
Table of Contents
Page
ARTICLE I. DEFINED TERMS | ||
1.1 | Definitions | |
1.2 | Other Terms | |
1.3 | Certain Matters of Construction | |
1.4 | Changes in GAAP | |
1.5 | Divisions | |
1.6 | Notification and Limitation of Liability – LIBOR and Related Matters | |
ARTICLE II. CREDIT FACILITY | ||
2.1 | Revolving Credit Loans. | |
2.2 | Letters of Credit. | |
2.3 | Term Loan | |
2.4 | Accordion | |
ARTICLE III. INTEREST, FEES AND CHARGES | ||
3.1 | Interest. | |
3.2 | Computation of Interest and Fees | |
3.3 | Fee Letter | |
3.4 | Letter of Credit Fees | |
3.5 | Unused Line Fees | |
3.6 | [Reserved] | |
3.7 | Reimbursement of Expenses | |
3.8 | Bank Charges | |
3.9 | Appraisals; Field Examinations | |
3.10 | Payment of Charges | |
3.11 | Taxes | |
3.12 | Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions | |
ARTICLE IV. LOAN ADMINISTRATION | ||
4.1 | Procedures for Borrowing and LIBOR Option | |
4.2 | Payments | |
4.3 | Mandatory and Optional Prepayments. | |
4.4 | Application of Payments and Collections. | |
4.5 | All Loans to Constitute One Obligation | |
4.6 | Loan Account | |
4.7 | Statements of Account | |
4.8 | Increased Costs. | |
4.9 | Ineffective Interest Rate; Benchmark Replacement. | |
4.10 | Sharing of Payments, Etc | |
4.11 | Defaulting Lender | |
ARTICLE V. TERM AND TERMINATION | ||
5.1 | Term of Agreement | |
5.2 | Termination. | |
ARTICLE VI. SECURITY INTERESTS | ||
6.1 | Security Interest in Collateral. | |
6.2 | Other Collateral. | |
6.3 | Lien Perfection; Further Assurances | |
6.4 | Lien on Realty |
i
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page
ii
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page
iii
LIST OF EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES
Exhibit 2.1 | Form of Revolving Credit Note |
Exhibit 2.3 | Form of Term Loan Note |
Exhibit 3.11 | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate |
Exhibit 9.1.3 | Form of Compliance Certificate |
Exhibit 9.1.4 | Form of Borrowing Base Certificate |
Exhibit 13.5 | Form of Assignment and Acceptance |
Schedule 1 | Commitment Schedule |
Schedule 1.1 | Deemed EBITDA |
Schedule 1.1(b) | Deemed EBITDA (RWS) |
Schedule 1.2 | Ineligible Lenders |
Schedule 6.1 | Commercial Tort Claims |
Schedule 7.1.1 | Business Locations |
Schedule 8.1.1 | Jurisdictions in which any Borrower is Authorized to do Business |
Schedule 8.1.4 | Capital Structure |
Schedule 8.1.5 | Names; Organization |
Schedule 8.1.13 | Brokers’ Fees |
Schedule 8.1.14 | Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and Licenses |
Schedule 8.1.16 | Environmental |
Schedule 8.1.17 | Contracts Restricting Right to Incur Debts |
Schedule 8.1.18 | Litigation |
Schedule 8.1.20 | Pension Plans |
Schedule 8.1.22 | Labor Relations |
Schedule 8.1.23 | Leases |
Schedule 9.2.2 | Existing Debt |
Schedule 9.2.4 | Existing Liens |
Schedule 9.2.10 | Existing Investments |
Schedule 9.2.14 | Existing Restrictive Agreements |
iv
LOAN, SECURITY AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
THIS LOAN, SECURITY AND
GUARANTY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of August 5, 2020, by and among PNC
Bank, National Association (successor to BBVA USA, an Alabama banking corporation)
(“BBVAPNC”),
individually as a Lender, as administrative agent (in such capacity, “Administrative Agent”) for itself and any other
financial institution which is or becomes a party hereto as a lender (each such financial institution, including BBVAPNC,
is referred to hereinafter individually as a “Lender” and collectively as the “Lenders”), and as
collateral agent (in such capacity, “Collateral Agent”) for the Lenders, Quest Resource Management Group, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (“Quest”), Landfill Diversion Innovations, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“Landfill”),
Sustainable Solutions Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SSG”), RWS Facility Services, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (“RWS”, and together with Quest, Landfill,
RWS, SSG and each hereafter arising Subsidiary of any Borrower and each other Person joined hereto as a “Borrower”,
individually a “Borrower” and collectively “Borrowers”), and each of Quest Resource Holding Corporation,
a Nevada corporation (“Holdings”), Quest Sustainability Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (F/K/A Earth911, Inc.)
(“Parent”), Youchange, Inc., an Arizona corporation (“Youchange”), Quest Vertigent Corporation,
a Nevada corporation (“Vertigent”), Quest Vertigent One, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Vertigent
One”), and Global Alerts, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Global Alerts”, and together with Holdings,
Parent, Youchange, Vertigent and Vertigent One, individually a “Guarantor” and collectively, “Guarantors”).
Article I. DEFINED TERMS
1.1 Definitions. When and if used herein: (a) the terms Account, Certificated Security, Chattel Paper, Commercial Tort Claims, Deposit Account, Document, Electronic Chattel Paper, Equipment, Financial Asset, Fixture, General Intangibles, Goods, Instruments, Inventory, Investment Property, Letter of Credit Rights, Payment Intangibles, Proceeds, Security, Security Entitlement, Software, Supporting Obligations, Tangible Chattel Paper and Uncertificated Security have the respective meanings assigned thereto under the UCC; (b) all terms reflecting Collateral having the meanings assigned thereto under the UCC shall be deemed to mean such Property, whether now owned or hereafter created or acquired by any Loan Party or in which such Loan Party now has or hereafter acquires any interest; and (c) the following terms shall have the following meanings (terms defined in the singular to have the same meaning when used in the plural and vice versa):
“ABL Priority Collateral” – as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.
“Account Debtor” – any Person who is or may become obligated under or on account of any Account, Contract Right, Chattel Paper or General Intangible.
“Accounts Side Letter” – that certain Accounts Side Letter, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.
“Acquisition” – any transaction or series of related transactions for the purpose of or resulting, directly or indirectly, in (a) the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person, or of all or substantially all of any business or division of a Person, (b) the acquisition of in excess of 50% of the Equity Interests of any Person, or otherwise causing any Person to become a Subsidiary, or (c) a merger or consolidation or any other combination with another Person (other than a Person that is already a Subsidiary).
“Acquisition Term Agent” – Monroe Capital Management Advisors, LLC, in its capacity as agent under the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement for the Acquisition Term Lenders, including its successors and assigns in such capacity from time to time.
“Acquisition Term Debt” – the Term Loan Debt (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).
“Acquisition Term Lenders” – the lender or group of lenders identified in the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement.
“Acquisition Term Loan Agreement” – that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of the First Amendment Effective Date, by and among the Acquisition Term Agent, the Acquisition Term Lenders, the borrowers and the other loan parties party thereto (as such agreement may be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement).
“Acquisition Term Loan Documents” – the “Loan Documents” as defined in the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement, and in each case together with any other instrument or agreement entered into, now or in the future, by any Loan Party evidencing or in connection with the Acquisition Term Debt, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement or other similar intercreditor agreement.
“Acquisition Term Loan Priority Collateral” – has the meaning given to Term Loan Priority Collateral in the Intercreditor Agreement.
“Administrative Agent” – as defined in the preamble to this Agreement and any successor in that capacity appointed pursuant to Section 12.8.
“Affiliate” of any Person means (a) any other Person which, directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with that Person, (b) any officer or director of that Person and (c) with respect to any Lender, any entity administered or managed by that Lender or an Affiliate or investment advisor thereof and which is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans. A Person will be deemed to be “controlled by” any other Person if that other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power to vote 10% or more of the securities (on a fully diluted basis) having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or managers or power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that Person whether by contract or otherwise. Unless expressly stated otherwise in this Agreement, none of the following Persons will be deemed an Affiliate of any Loan Party: (i) Administrative Agent; (ii) any Lender or (iii) the Warrant Holder or any of its affiliates.
“Agent” – each of Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, both individually and collectively.
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“Aggregate Loan Commitment” – with respect to any Lender, the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment plus such Lender’s Term Loan Commitment.
“Aggregate Payments” – as defined in Section 15.2.
“Aggregate Percentage” – with respect to each Lender, the percentage equal to the quotient of (i) such Lender’s Aggregate Loan Commitment divided by (ii) the total of all Aggregate Loan Commitments.
“Aggregate Revolving Extensions” – at any time, the sum of (i) the outstanding principal balance of all Revolving Credit Loans plus (ii) the LC Amount.
“Agreement” – as defined in the preamble to this Agreement, including all Exhibits and Schedules thereto, as each of the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Anti-Terrorism Laws” – any laws relating to terrorism or money laundering, including the Patriot Act.
“Applicable Law” – all laws, rules, regulations and governmental guidelines applicable to the Person, conduct, transaction, agreement or matter in question, including all applicable statutory law, common law and equitable principles, and all provisions of constitutions, treaties, statutes, rules, regulations, orders and decrees of Governmental Authorities.
“Applicable Margin” – (i) as to Revolving Credit Loans, from the Closing Date to, but not including, the first Adjustment Date (as hereinafter defined) the percentages set forth below as Level II and thereafter as hereinafter specified, and (ii) as to the Term Loan, 2.75% as to LIBOR Term Loans and 1.75% as to Base Rate Term Loans.
The Applicable Margin as to Revolving Credit Loans will be adjusted on the first day of each fiscal quarter, commencing on October 1, 2020 (each such date an “Adjustment Date”), effective prospectively, by reference to the applicable “Financial Measurement” (as defined below) for the quarter most recently ending in accordance with the following:
Level | Financial Measurement |
LIBOR Revolving Credit Loans |
Base Rate Revolving Credit Loans |
I | greater than 66.7% | 1.75% | .75% |
II | equal to or less than 66.7% and greater than 33.3% | 2.00% | 1.00% |
III | equal to or less than 33.3% | 2.25% | 1.25% |
For purposes hereof, “Financial Measurement” shall mean the Quarterly Average Excess Availability for Applicable Margin Percentage.
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“Asset Disposition” – the sale, sale leaseback, lease, assignment, disposition, division, or other transfer for value by any Loan Party to any Person of any asset of that Loan Party (including, the loss, destruction or damage of any thereof or any actual or threatened (in writing to any Loan Party) condemnation, confiscation, requisition, seizure or taking thereof) other than as permitted by clauses (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii) and (viii) of Section 9.2.4.
“Assignment and Acceptance Agreement” – an assignment and acceptance agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit 13.5 hereto pursuant to which a Lender assigns to another Lender all or any portion of any of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment or Term Loan Commitment, as permitted pursuant to the terms hereof.
“Bail-In Action” – the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.
“Bail-In Legislation” – with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.
“Bank”
– BBVA USA, an Alabama banking corporationPNC
Bank, National Association.
“Bankruptcy Code” – Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended from time to time.
“Base Rate” – for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (b) the Prime Rate, and (c) the sum of (i) LIBOR calculated for such day based on an Interest Period of one (1) month determined two (2) Business Days prior to such day, plus (ii) 1.00%; provided, that in no event shall the Base Rate be less than zero percent. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or LIBOR shall be effective as of the opening of business on the effective day of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or LIBOR, respectively.
“Base Rate Loans” – the Base Rate Revolving Credit Loan and/or the Base Rate Term Loan.
“Base Rate Revolving Credit Loan” – any Revolving Credit Loan for the periods when the rate of interest applicable to such Revolving Credit Loan is calculated by reference to the Base Rate.
“Base Rate Term Loan” – that portion of the Term Loan for the periods when the rate of interest applicable to such portion of the Term Loan is calculated by reference to the Base Rate.
“BBVA”
– as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Borrower(s)” – as defined in the preamble to this Agreement and each other Person who is joined as a “Borrower” hereto.
“Borrower Representative” – Quest.
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“Borrowing Base” – as at any date of determination thereof, an amount equal to the sum of:
(i) 90% of the net amount of Eligible Accounts; plus
(ii) 90% of the net amount of Eligible Unbilled Accounts; provided that the amount included in the Borrowing Base pursuant to this clause (ii) shall not at any time constitute more than 33.33% of the aggregate total Revolving Credit Commitment; minus
(iii) Reserves.
For purposes hereof, the net amount of Eligible Accounts or Eligible Unbilled Accounts at any time shall be the face amount of such Eligible Accounts or Eligible Unbilled Accounts less any and all returns, rebates, discounts (which may, at Collateral Agent’s option, be calculated on shortest terms), credits, allowances or excise taxes of any nature at any time issued, owing, claimed by Account Debtors, granted, outstanding or payable in connection with such Accounts at such time.
The Collateral Agent may, in its discretion, reduce the advance rate set forth above, including, without limitation, by one percentage point for every percentage point that Dilution exceeds three percent (3%) by reference to the most recent field examination or reduce one or more of the other elements used in computing the Borrowing Base.
“Borrowing Base Certificate” – a certificate by a responsible officer of Borrower Representative, on its own behalf and on behalf of all other Loan Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit 9.1.4 setting forth the calculation of the Borrowing Base, including a calculation of each component thereof, all in such detail as shall be reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent. All calculations of the Borrowing Base in connection with the preparation of any Borrowing Base Certificate shall originally be made by the Loan Parties and certified to Collateral Agent; provided that Collateral Agent shall have the right to review and adjust, in the exercise of its reasonable credit judgment, any such calculation after giving notice thereof to the Loan Parties, (1) to reflect its reasonable estimate of declines in value of any of the Collateral described therein, and (2) to the extent that Collateral Agent determines that such calculation is not in accordance with this Agreement.
“Business Day” – any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any day which the Administrative Agent is closed for business and, when used in connection with LIBOR Loans, shall also exclude any day on which commercial banks are closed for dealings in U.S. dollar deposits in the London interbank market.
“Capital Expenditures” – all expenditures that, in accordance with GAAP, would be required to be capitalized and shown on the consolidated balance sheet of Quest and its Subsidiaries, including expenditures in respect of Capital Leases, but excluding any such expenditures made in connection with the replacement, substitution, or restoration of assets to the extent financed (i) from insurance proceeds (or other similar recoveries) paid on account of the loss of or damage to the assets being replaced or restored, (ii) with awards of compensation arising from the taking by eminent domain or condemnation of the assets being replaced, (iii) with assets traded or exchanged for that replacement, substitution, or restoration of assets, or (iv) with Net Cash Proceeds from a sale, lease, assignment, disposition, or other transfer for value of the type specifically described in clause (a) of the definition of “Asset Disposition.”
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“Capital Lease” – with respect to any Person, any lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) any real or personal property by that Person that, in conformity with GAAP, is accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person and specifically excludes the effects of Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842).
“CARES Act” – the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or the CARES Act and applicable rules and regulations, as amended from time to time.
“CARES Forgivable Uses” – uses of proceeds of SBA PPP Loans that are eligible for forgiveness under Section 1106 of the CARES Act.
“CARES Payroll Costs” – “payroll costs” as defined in 15 U.S.C. 636(a)(36)(A)(viii) (as added to the Small Business Act by Section 1102 of the CARES Act).
“Cash Dominion” – as defined in subsection 7.2.4.
“Cash Equivalent Investments” – at any time, (a) any evidence of Debt, maturing not more than one year after that time, issued or guaranteed by the United States Government or any agency thereof; (b) commercial paper, maturing not more than one year from the date of issue, or corporate demand notes, in each case (unless issued by a Lender or its holding company) rated at least A-l by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. or P-l by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.; (c) any certificate of deposit, time deposit, or banker’s acceptance, maturing not more than one year after that time, or any overnight Federal Funds transaction that is issued or sold by any Lender or its holding company (or by a commercial banking institution that is a member of the Federal Reserve System and has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000); (d) any repurchase agreement entered into with any Lender (or commercial banking institution of the nature referred to in clause (c)) which (i) is secured by a fully perfected security interest in any obligation of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (c) above and (ii) has a market value at the time that repurchase agreement is entered into of not less than 100% of the repurchase obligation of that Lender (or other commercial banking institution) thereunder; (e) money market accounts or mutual funds which invest exclusively in assets satisfying the foregoing requirements; and (f) other short-term liquid investments approved in writing by Administrative Agent.
“CERCLA” – the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq.).
“Change in Law” – the adoption of any Applicable Law (whether or not having the force of law), or any change therein, or any change 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 Administrative Agent or any Lender with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable agency. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith 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.
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“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events: (a) any Person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) (other than the Warrant Holders or any of its affiliates) (i) shall, directly or indirectly, have acquired beneficial ownership or control of (x) 35% or more on a fully diluted basis of (1) the voting interests in the Equity Interests in Holdings and/or (2) the economic interests in the Equity Interests in Holdings, or (ii) shall, directly or indirectly, have obtained the power (whether or not exercised) to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of Holdings (b) except to the extent a merger or consolidation transaction is expressly permitted by Section 9.2.4 or a liquidation or dissolution of a domestic Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of a Borrower is expressly permitted by Section 9.2.4, Holdings ceases to, directly or indirectly, own and control 100% of each class of the outstanding Equity Interests of each Subsidiary of each other Loan Party; (c) a "Change of Control" or comparable term as that term is defined in the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement occurs; (d) a change in the majority of the directors of Holdings during any 24 month period, unless approved by the majority of directors serving at the beginning of such period; (e) the sale or transfer of all or substantially all assets of any Borrower (other than as a result of a transaction permitted by Section 9.2.4); (f) Daniel Friedberg is no longer the chairman of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of Holdings performing the same or similar role that he is performing on the First Amendment Effective Date; provided, that, to the extent Daniel Friedberg dies or becomes incapacitated and is no longer able serve in such capacity, the Borrowers shall have ninety (90) days to select a replacement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; (g) Daniel Friedberg sells or otherwise transfers, directly or indirectly, any Equity Interests in Holdings (other than any transfer into an investment vehicle that is 100% owned and controlled Daniel Friedberg solely for estate planning purposes) to the extent that immediately after giving effect to such sale or transfer Daniel Friedberg would own and control, directly or indirectly, less than $2,000,000 of Equity Interests of Holdings (measured at the fair market value at the time of such sale or transfer); provided, however, that this clause (g) shall only apply so long as it applies in the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement; or (h) any Person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) (other than the Warrant Holders or any of its affiliates) other than Daniel Friedberg has the power, directly or indirectly, to appoint more than one (1) director to the board of directors of Holdings.
“Charges” – as defined in subsection 3.1.3.
“Closing Date” – the date on which all of the conditions precedent in Section 10 are satisfied or waived and the initial Loan is made or the initial Letter of Credit is issued under this Agreement.
“Code” – the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“Collateral” – all of the Property and interests in Property described in Section 6, and all other Property and interests in Property that now or hereafter secure the payment and performance of any of the Obligations.
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“Collateral Agent” – as defined in the preamble to this Agreement and any successor in that capacity appointed pursuant to Section 12.8.
“Commodity Exchange Act” – the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. §1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
“Competitor” means any Person that is a bona fide direct operating company competitor or vendor of, and in the same industry (or an industry offering a substitute product or service) and market as, the Borrowers and its Subsidiaries.
“Compliance Certificate” – a Compliance Certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit A to the First Amendment.
“Computation Period” – each period of four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on the last day of a Fiscal Quarter.
“Computer Hardware and Software” – all of any Borrower’s rights (including rights as licensee and lessee) with respect to (i) computer and other electronic data processing hardware, including all integrated computer systems, central processing units, memory units, display terminals, printers, computer elements, card readers, tape drives, hard and soft disk drives, cables, electrical supply hardware, generators, power equalizers, accessories, peripheral devices and other related computer hardware; (ii) all Software and all software programs designed for use on the computers and electronic data processing hardware described in clause (i) above, including all operating system software, utilities and application programs in any form (source code and object code in magnetic tape, disk or hard copy format or any other listings whatsoever); (iii) any firmware associated with any of the foregoing; and (iv) any documentation for hardware, Software and firmware described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, including flow charts, logic diagrams, manuals, specifications, training materials, charts and pseudo codes.
“Connection Income Taxes” – Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.
“Consolidated” – the consolidation in accordance with GAAP of the accounts or other items as to which such term applies.
“Consolidated EBITDA”
– for any period, the sum of (a) EBITDA for such period, plus, (b) to the extent a Permitted Acquisition or permitted Asset
Disposition has been consummated during such period (each, a “Subject Transaction”), Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated
with respect to such period on a pro forma basis (which pro forma adjustments shall be certified by a Chief Financial Officer of Quest
and may only be included in determining such compliance to the extent approved by Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) using
the historical financial statements of any business so acquired or to be acquired or sold or to be sold and the consolidated financial
statements of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, which shall be reformulated as if such Subject Transaction, and any Debt incurred or repaid
in connection therewith, had been consummated or incurred or repaid at the beginning of such period (and assuming that such Debt bears
interest during any portion of the applicable measurement period prior to the relevant acquisition at the weighted average of the interest
rates applicable to outstanding Loans incurred during such period); provided, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
this Agreement, any adjustments specified in this clause (b) shall be subject to the approval of Administrative Agent in its reasonable
discretion for all purposes of this Agreement or shall be supported by a quality of earnings report from a reputable third party reasonably
acceptable to the Administrative Agent (the foregoing calculation of Consolidated EBITDA in this clause (b), “Pro Forma EBITDA”);
provided, that, in no event shall the aggregate amount of addbacks and adjustments set forth in clauses (a)(xv), (a)(xvi), (a)(xix)
and (a)(xx) of the definition of EBITDA when combined with adjustments taken in calculating Pro Forma EBITDA exceed twenty-five
percent (2025%)
of Consolidated EBITDA in any period (calculated after giving effect to any such addbacks and adjustments).
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“Consolidated Net Income” – with respect to Holdings and its Subsidiaries for any period, in each case as determined in accordance with GAAP, the consolidated net income (or loss) of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for that period, excluding (a) any gains from Asset Dispositions; (b) any extraordinary gains; (c) the income (or loss) of any Loan Party during that period in which any other Person has a joint interest, except to the extent of the amount of cash dividends or other distributions actually paid in cash to that Loan Party during that period; (d) the income (or loss) of any Person during that period and accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of Holdings or is merged into or consolidated with a Loan Party or that Person’s assets are acquired by a Loan Party; (e) the income of any Loan Party to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Loan Party of that income is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its organizational documents, its governing documents, or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule; or governmental regulation applicable to that Loan Party; and (f) any gains from discontinued operations.
“Contingent Liability” – with respect to any Person, each obligation and liability of that Person and all such obligations and liabilities of that Person incurred pursuant to any agreement, undertaking or arrangement by which that Person: (a) guarantees, endorses or otherwise becomes or is contingently liable upon (by direct or indirect agreement, contingent or otherwise, to provide funds for payment, to supply funds to, or otherwise to invest in, a debtor, or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss) the indebtedness, dividend, obligation or other liability of any other Person in any manner (other than by endorsement of instruments in the course of collection), including any indebtedness, dividend or other obligation which may be issued or incurred at some future time; (b) guarantees the payment of dividends or other distributions upon the Equity Interests of any other Person; (c) undertakes or agrees (whether contingently or otherwise): (i) to purchase, repurchase, or otherwise acquire any indebtedness, obligation or liability of any other Person or any property or assets constituting security therefor, (ii) to advance or provide funds for the payment or discharge of any indebtedness, obligation or liability of any other Person (whether in the form of loans, advances, stock purchases, capital contributions, or otherwise), or to maintain solvency, assets, level of income, working capital, or other financial condition of any other Person, or (iii) to make payment to any other Person other than for value received; (d) agrees to lease property or to purchase securities, property, or services from any other Person with the purpose or intent of assuring the owner of that indebtedness or obligation of the ability of that other Person to make payment of the indebtedness or obligation; (e) to induce the issuance of, or in connection with the issuance of, any letter of credit for the benefit of any other Person; or (f) undertakes or agrees otherwise to assure a creditor against loss. The amount of any Contingent Liability will (subject to any limitation set forth in this Agreement) be deemed to be the outstanding principal amount (or maximum permitted principal amount, if larger) of the indebtedness, obligation or other liability guaranteed or supported thereby.
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“Contract Right” – any right of any Borrower to payment under a contract for the sale or lease of goods or the rendering of services, which right is at the time not yet earned by performance.
“Contributing Guarantor” – as defined in Section 15.2.
“Control Agreement” – each deposit account control agreement or securities account control agreement, as applicable, entered into by a Loan Party, each depository institution or securities intermediary party thereto and Administrative Agent in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent.
“Controlled Group” – all members of a controlled group of corporations, all members of a controlled group of trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control and all members of an affiliated service group which, together with any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.
“Curative Equity” – the making of capital contributions to Holdings or the issuance of common Equity Interests by Holdings (other than Disqualified Equity Interests), in each case that are concurrently contributed to one or more Borrowers, for the purposes of, and in accordance with, Section 11.6.
“Cure Date” – if an Excess Availability Triggering Event has occurred, the date on which another Excess Availability Triggering Event has not occurred for ninety (90) consecutive calendar days.
“Debt” – of any Person, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of that Person for borrowed money; (b) all indebtedness evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments; (c) all obligations of that Person as lessee under Capital Leases which have been or should be recorded as liabilities on a balance sheet of that Person in accordance with GAAP; (d) all obligations of that Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business); (e) all indebtedness secured by a Lien on the property of that Person, whether or not that indebtedness has been assumed by that Person, but if that Person has not assumed or otherwise become liable for that indebtedness, then that indebtedness will be measured at the fair market value of the property securing that indebtedness at the time of determination; (f) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, with respect to the face amount of all letters of credit (whether or not drawn), bankers’ acceptances, and similar obligations issued for the account of that Person; (g) [reserved]; (h) all Contingent Liabilities of that Person; (i) all Debt of any partnership of which that Person is a general partner; (j) all earn-outs and similar obligations; (k) all monetary obligations under any receivables factoring, receivable sale, or similar transactions and all monetary obligations under any synthetic lease, tax ownership/operating lease, off-balance sheet financing, or similar financing; (l) any Disqualified Equity Interests of that Person or other equity instrument of that Person, whether or not mandatorily redeemable, that under GAAP is characterized as debt, whether pursuant to financial accounting standards board issuance No. 150 or otherwise; and (m) Derivative Obligations.
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“Debt to be Repaid” – the Debt listed on Schedule 9.2.1.
“Default” – an event or condition the occurrence of which would, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, become an Event of Default.
“Default Rate” – as defined in subsection 3.1.2.
“Defaulting Lender” – subject to Section 4.11, any Lender that (i) has failed to (a) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two (2) Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder, or (b) pay to Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit) within two (2) Business Days of the date when due, (ii) has notified the Loan Parties, Administrative Agent or Issuing Bank in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable Default or Event of Default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (iii) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after written request by Administrative Agent or the Loan Parties, to confirm in writing to Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder; provided, that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (iii) upon receipt of such written confirmation by Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, or (iv) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (a) become the subject of a proceeding under any Insolvency Law or (b) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other Governmental Authority acting in such a capacity or (c) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided, that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States of America or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (i) through (iv) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 4.11) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Loan Parties, Issuing Bank and each Lender.
“Derivative Obligations” – every obligation of a Person under any forward contract, futures contract, exchange contract, swap, option or other financing agreement or arrangement (including, without limitation, caps, floors, collars and similar agreement), the value of which is dependent upon interest rates, currency exchange rates, commodities or other indices.
“Derivative Obligations Provider” – Administrative Agent, Bank, any Lender or any Affiliate of Administrative Agent, Bank or any Lender to whom a Derivative Obligation is owed from any Loan Party.
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“Derivative Obligations Reserve” – the aggregate amount of Reserves established by Collateral Agent from time to time in respect of Derivative Obligations.
“Dilution” – as of any date of determination, a percentage, which is the result of dividing (a) actual bad debt write-downs, discounts, advertising allowances, credits, and any other items with respect to the accounts determined to be dilutive by the Collateral Agent in its discretion during the applicable period by (b) the Borrowers’ gross sales during such period (excluding extraordinary items) plus the amount of clause (a).
“Disqualified Equity Interest” – any Equity Interest (other than the Warrants) that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interest into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition, in each case before the date that is 180 days after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking-fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event are subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments); (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), in whole or in part; (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash or (d) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Debt or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests.
“Distribution” – in respect of any Person means and includes: (i) the payment of any dividends or other distributions on Equity Interests and (ii) the redemption or acquisition of Equity Interests of such Person, as the case may be, unless made contemporaneously from the net proceeds of the sale of Equity Interests.
“EBITDA” – for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus, to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income for such period (other than in the case of clauses (a)(xvi) and (a)(xviii)) and without duplication, the sum of:
(a)
(i) Interest Expense, net of interest income, plus
(ii) income, profits or franchise tax expense, plus
(iii) depreciation and amortization (including amortization of intangible assets and amortization of deferred financing fees or costs), plus
(iv) transaction expenses not capitalized and incurred on or before (x) the First Amendment Effective Date or within one hundred eighty (180) days after the First Amendment Effective Date in connection with the Green Remedies Transactions in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,400,000, (y) the Second Amendment Effective Date or within one hundred eighty (180) days after the Second Amendment Effective Date in connection with the RWS Acquisition and the Loans in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,500,000, plus
(v) non-recurring transaction fees, expenses and costs (including, without limitation, any of their respective advisors, legal counsels, agents or representatives) incurred in connection with the administration of, any amendment to or any consent or waiver under, the Loan Documents in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 in any Fiscal Year, plus
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(vi) non-cash charges related to the impairment of goodwill, plus
(vii) fees and expenses of Holdings payable in cash during such period to reimburse the costs and expenses of the board of directors (or other similar governing bodies) of Holdings; provided the aggregate amount of this clause (vii) shall not exceed $50,000 in any Fiscal Year, plus
(viii) non-cash expenses related to compensation arrangements pursuant to the grant of stock or other equity interest-based compensation and any option plan, plus
(ix) non-cash charges and expenses related to purchase accounting adjustments, plus
(x) other non-cash charges, expenses and losses (other than with respect to accounts receivable and/or inventory), plus
(xi)
non-recurring fees and transaction expenses not capitalized and incurred
in connection with any consummated Permitted Acquisition (whether on or prior to the closing date of such Permitted Acquisition or within
one hundred eighty (180) days after such closing date) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000
per Fiscal Year, plus
(xii)
non-recurring fees and transaction expenses not capitalized and incurred
in connection with any unconsummated Permitted Acquisition in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000
per Fiscal Year600,000 in any trailing twelve month period,
plus
(xiii) indemnification expenses that are actually reimbursed in cash by a third party and documented with notification to the Administrative Agent, plus
(xiv) expenses incurred to replace or repair tangible assets of the Holdings and its Subsidiaries to the extent actually reimbursed or with respect to which Borrowers have determined that a reasonable basis exists for reimbursement (and for which the applicable insurer has not rejected the claim), in each case in cash by third party insurance and only to the extent that such amount is in fact reimbursed within one hundred eighty (180) days of such expenses being incurred (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within such one hundred eighty (180) days), plus
(xv)
reasonable and documented integration costs in connection with Permitted
Acquisitions in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 per Fiscal Year1,000,000
in any twelve month period, plus
(xvi)
general non-recurring and pro forma synergies, operating improvements,
run-rate adjustments, cost savings or restructurings (collectively,
“Cost Savings”) of the business of Borrowers resulting from actions of Borrowers already taken and to the extent satisfactory
to the Administrative Agent and Borrowers determine in good faith that such Cost Savings are reasonable and are factually supportable,
as set forth in a certificate signed by the Senior Officer of the Borrowers or Holdings certifying that (1) such Cost Savings are expected
to have a continuing impact and are reasonably identifiable and quantifiable (without duplication of the amount of actual benefits realized
during such period from such action) and (2) such Cost Savings are reasonably anticipated to be realized within 612
months; plus
(xvii) all non-cash charges of the Borrowers and Holdings relating to earn-outs and contingent acquisition consideration or changes in the valuation thereof to the extent related to Permitted Acquisitions; plus
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(xviii) cash proceeds from any business interruption insurance covering lost profits to the extent not already included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, plus
(xix) non-recurring expenses or losses (other than with respect to lost profit, lost revenue or similar losses) attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic or a related epidemiological event in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 during the term of this Agreement, plus
(xx)
other extraordinary, unusual, or non-recurring expenses (including
but not limited to consulting fees) or losses not to exceed (1)
$250,000850,000
in any Fiscal Yeartrailing
twelve month period ending on or prior to December 31, 2022 (or such greater amount to the extent approved in writing by Administrative
Agent), and (2) $500,000 in any trailing twelve month period ending after December 31, 2022 (or such greater amount to the
extent approved in writing by Administrative Agent), plus
(xxi) non-recurring transaction fees, expenses and costs (including, without limitation, any of their respective advisors, legal counsels, agents or representatives) incurred in connection with any transactions in the public markets in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 in any Fiscal Year; plus
(xxii) non-recurring reasonable, documented charges and expenses related to recruiting expenses (including relocation and moving expenses), signing bonuses, severance expenses, restructuring, business separation expenses, office relocation, moving, lease termination and other, related expenses, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 per fiscal year, plus
(xxiii) costs and expenses for non-recurring IT related projects and upgrades not to exceed $750,000 (subject to the proviso at the end of this definition) in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement;
minus
(b) to the extent included in determining the Consolidated Net Income of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, all non-cash gains;
provided, that, notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein (1) in no event shall the aggregate amount of addbacks and adjustments set forth in clauses
(a)(xv), (a)(xvi), (a)(xix), (a)(xx), (a)(xxii) and (a)(xxiii) (but, solely with respect to clause (a)(xxiii), the only amounts included
in such aggregate cap shall be amounts above $250,000) and in calculating Pro Forma EBITDA exceed 2025%
of Consolidated EBITDA in any period (calculated after giving effect to any such addbacks and adjustments) and (2) in any event, EBITDA
shall not include (x) any addback resulting from any lost revenue, earnings, margins or associated costs and expenses due to the COVID-19
pandemic or other similar epidemiological event (other than those expressly set forth in clause (a)(xix) above), (y) any addback with
respect to any write-down or write-off of inventory or accounts receivable or (z) any income or reduction in expense attributable to Debt
funded under the CARES Act attributed to IAS whether acknowledged as grant income pursuant to IAS 20, or a contribution pursuant to ASC
958-605 or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) for each
calendar month set forth in Schedule 1.1 to the FirstSecond
Amendment, EBITDA for all purposes shall be deemed to be the amount set forth in Schedule 1.1 to the FirstSecond
Amendment opposed such month and (y) for each calendar month set forth in Schedule
1.1(b), EBITDA attributable to RWS shall be deemed to be the amount set forth in Schedule 1.1(b) opposed such month.
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“EEA Financial Institution” – (i) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (ii) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (i) of this definition, or (iii) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (i) or (ii) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.
“EEA Member Country” – any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
“EEA Resolution Authority” – 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.
“Eligible Account” – an Account arising in the ordinary course of the business of any of the Borrowers from the sale of goods or rendition of services which Collateral Agent, in its reasonable credit judgment, deems to be an Eligible Account. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Account shall be an Eligible Account if:
(i) it arises out of a sale made or services rendered by a Borrower to a Subsidiary of a Loan Party or an Affiliate of a Loan Party or to a Person controlled by an Affiliate of a Loan Party; or
(ii) it remains unpaid more than ninety (90) days after the original invoice date shown on the invoice; or
(iii) the total unpaid Accounts of (a) any Account Debtor which has a rating of “BBB” or better from S&P exceeds 40% of the total value of total Accounts, but only to the extent of such excess or (b) any other Account Debtor exceeds 25% of the total value of total Accounts, but only to the extent of such excess; or
(iv) any covenant, representation or warranty contained in this Agreement with respect to such Account has been breached; or
(v) the Account Debtor is also a creditor or supplier of a Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party, or the Account Debtor has disputed liability with respect to such Account, or the Account Debtor has made any claim with respect to any other Account due from such Account Debtor to a Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party, or the Account otherwise is or may become subject to right of setoff by the Account Debtor; provided that any such Account shall be eligible to the extent such amount thereof exceeds such contract, dispute, claim, setoff or similar right; or
(vi) the Account Debtor has commenced a voluntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or made an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or a decree or order for relief has been entered by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of the Account Debtor in an involuntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other petition or other application for relief under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now constituted or hereafter amended, has been filed against the Account Debtor, or if the Account Debtor has failed, suspended business, ceased to be Solvent, or consented to or suffered a receiver, trustee, liquidator or custodian to be appointed for it or for all or a significant portion of its assets or affairs; or
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(vii) it arises from a sale made or services rendered to an Account Debtor outside the United States, unless the sale is either (a) to an Account Debtor located in Ontario or any other province of Canada in which the Personal Property Security Act has been adopted in substantially the same form as currently in effect in Ontario so long as the aggregate amount does not exceed $500,000 or (b) backed by a letter of credit from an issuer acceptable to Collateral Agent; or
(viii) (a) it arises from a sale to the Account Debtor on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale-or-return, sale-on-approval, consignment, or any other repurchase or return basis; or (b) it is subject to a reserve established by a Borrower for potential returns or refunds, to the extent of such reserve or (c) it arises from a sale to an Account Debtor that is subject to cash-on-delivery terms; or
(ix) the Account Debtor is the United States of America or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof, unless the applicable Borrower assigns its right to payment of such Account to Collateral Agent, in a manner satisfactory to Collateral Agent, in its reasonable credit judgment, so as to comply with the Assignment of Claims Act of 1940 (31 U.S.C. §203 et seq., as amended); or
(x) it is not at all times subject to Administrative Agent’s duly perfected, first-priority security interest or is subject to a Lien that is not a Permitted Lien; or
(xi) the goods giving rise to such Account have not been delivered to and accepted by the Account Debtor or the services giving rise to such Account have not been performed by the applicable Borrower and accepted by the Account Debtor or the Account otherwise does not represent a final sale; or
(xii) the applicable Borrower has not sent a bill or invoice for the goods or services giving rise to such Account to the applicable Account Debtor; or
(xiii) the Account is evidenced by chattel paper or an instrument of any kind, or has been reduced to judgment; or
(xiv) the applicable Borrower has made any agreement with the Account Debtor for any extension, compromise, settlement or modification of the Account or deduction therefrom, except for discounts or allowances which are made in the ordinary course of business for prompt payment and which discounts or allowances are reflected in the calculation of the face value of each invoice related to such Account; or
(xv) 50% or more of the Accounts owing from the Account Debtor are not Eligible Accounts hereunder; or
(xvi) the applicable Borrower has made an agreement with the Account Debtor to extend the time of payment thereof; or
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(xvii) it represents service charges, late fees or similar charges; or
(xviii) the relevant underlying documentation relating to such Account and payment of such Account provides or otherwise specifies that all or any portion of the payment regarding such Account is to be made by a Borrower to or is for the benefit of any vendor of or contractor for such Borrower creates an express trust on such Borrower for the benefit of any vendor of or contractor for such Borrower or any express obligation on such Borrower to pay all or any portion of the payment of the Account to any vendor of or contractor for such Borrower; provided that any such Account shall be eligible to the extent of any such amount thereof which exceeds such express trust or express obligation; or
(xix) it is an Account owing from an Account Debtor located in a state where the applicable Borrower is not qualified to do business so long as such failure to so qualify prevents such Borrower from bringing an action in such state to seek judicial recovery of such Account; or
(xxi) it arises from the sale or lease of Equipment until such time as such sale and lease agreement has been reviewed by Administrative Agent and confirmation that such any such Account that arises from such sale or lease of Equipment constitutes ABL Priority Collateral under the Intercreditor Agreement; or
(xx) it is not otherwise acceptable to Collateral Agent in its reasonable credit judgment.
The amount of Eligible Accounts owed by an account debtor to such Borrower shall be reduced by the amount of all “contra accounts” and other obligations owed by any Borrower to such account debtor and by the aggregate amount of all cash received in respect of such account but not yet applied by Borrowers to reduce the amount of such Eligible Accounts. Accounts which are at any time Eligible Accounts, but which subsequently fail to meet any of the foregoing requirements shall, at such time, cease to be Eligible Accounts.
“Eligible Machinery and Equipment” – as of any date of determination, all Equipment that:
(i) is owned by a Borrower free and clear of all Liens other than (a) Liens in favor of Administrative Agent securing the Obligations and (b) Permitted Liens;
(ii) is installed in a facility owned or leased by the applicable Borrower in the United States and, if installed at a leased location, either (a) a satisfactory landlord waiver has been delivered to Administrative Agent (except if such Equipment is leased or rented or will be leased or rented to a customer of a Borrower and located at such customer’s location so long as if and when such lease or rental occurs Borrower has provided to Administrative Agent the address where such Equipment is located) or (b) Reserves reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent have been established with respect thereto;
(iii) is in good operating condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted);
(iv) is not obsolete or surplus Equipment;
(v) is covered by casualty and liability insurance required by this Agreement;
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(vi) is subject to a first-priority perfected Lien in favor of Administrative Agent;
(vii) does not consist of automobiles or other Equipment subject to a certificate of title statute;
(viii) has an estimated remaining useful life of at least five years;
(ix) as to which an appraisal has been completed (which may be a desktop or other similar, short-form appraisal, to the extent determined by Collateral Agent) on such Equipment, prepared by an appraiser retained by Collateral Agent; and
(x) either (i) consists of compactors or revenue-producing Equipment or (ii) such other Equipment Administrative Agent approves in its reasonable discretion.
“Eligible Unbilled Accounts” – an Account of any Borrower (i) for which the applicable Borrower intends to send a bill or invoice for the goods or services giving rise to such Account within thirty (30) days of the date of the applicable Borrowing Base Certificate, (ii) which would otherwise constitute an Eligible Account but for the fact that such Account does not comply with clause (ii), (iii), (xii) or (xv) of the definition thereof, and (iii) the eligibility of which to be billed within such period of thirty (30) days is not subject to completion of any further performance by the applicable Borrower.
“Environmental Agreement” – each agreement of the Loan Parties with respect to any real estate subject to a Mortgage, pursuant to which Loan Parties agree to indemnify and hold harmless Administrative Agent and Lenders from liability under any Environmental Laws.
“Environmental Claims” – all claims, however asserted, by any governmental, regulatory or judicial authority or other Person alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law, or for release of Hazardous Substances or injury to the environment.
“Environmental Laws” – all present or future federal, state or local laws, statutes, common law duties, rules, regulations, ordinances and codes, together with all administrative or judicial orders, consent agreements, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any governmental authority, in each case relating to any matter arising out of or relating to public health and safety, or pollution or protection of the environment or workplace, including any of the foregoing relating to the presence, use, production, generation, handling, transport, treatment, storage, disposal, distribution, discharge, emission, release, threatened release, control or cleanup of any Hazardous Substance.
“Environmental Notice” – a notice (whether written or oral) from any Governmental Authority or other Person with credible knowledge of any possible noncompliance with, investigation of a possible violation of, litigation relating to, or potential fine or liability under any Environmental Law, or with respect to any Environmental Release, environmental pollution or hazardous materials, including any complaint, summons, citation, order, claim, demand or request for correction, remediation or otherwise.
“Environmental Release” – a release as defined in CERCLA or under any other Environmental Law.
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“Equity Interests” – with respect to any Person, all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated, whether voting or non-voting) of that Person’s equity capital, whether now outstanding or issued or acquired after the Closing Date, including common shares, preferred shares, membership interests in a limited liability company, limited or general partnership interests in a partnership, interests in a trust, interests in other unincorporated organizations, or any other equivalent of any such ownership interest.
“ERISA” – the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any successor statute, and all rules and regulations from time to time promulgated thereunder.
“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” – 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” – means any of the events described in Section 11.1.
“Excess Availability” – on any specific date, an amount equal to (a) the Line Cap, minus (b) the Aggregate Revolving Extensions, plus (c) unrestricted cash in accounts of any Borrower maintained with Administrative Agent or any Affiliate of Administrative Agent in which Administrative Agent has a first-priority perfected Lien pursuant to an executed Control Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, in its reasonable discretion, provided that for the purpose of this definition, the amount in this clause (c) shall be equal to PEG Balance (but in any event not to exceed $1,000,000, as such amount may be increased by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion); provided, however, trade payables greater than 60 days old shall only be included as a Reserve for the purposes of reducing the Borrowing Base in determining the amount of the Line Cap for this definition on the Closing Date only.
“Excess Availability for Applicable Margin” – on any specific date, an amount equal to (a) the Line Cap, minus (b) the Aggregate Revolving Extensions.
“Excess Availability Triggering Event” – at any time in which Excess Availability is less than the greater of (i) twenty percent (20%) of the Revolving Credit Commitment and (ii) twenty percent (20%) of the Borrowing Base for five consecutive Business Days.
“Excess Derivative Obligations” – Derivative Obligations in excess of the Derivative Obligations Reserve.
“Exchange Act” – the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Excluded Deposit Accounts” means (i) deposit accounts the balance of which consists exclusively of (A) withheld income taxes and federal, state or local employment taxes required to be paid to the Internal Revenue Service or state or local government agencies with respect to employees of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries and (B) 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 any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries; (ii) all segregated deposit accounts constituting (and the balance of which consists solely of funds set aside in connection with) payroll accounts, trust accounts, and accounts dedicated to the payment of accrued employee benefits, medical, dental and employee benefits claims to employees of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries and (iii) solely for the first 30 days following the Closing Date, the deposit account owned by Landfill and held at Capital One with account number 00005732385225 so long as the cash balance in such account does not exceed $50,000 at any time.
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“Excluded Property” – (i) any rights or interest in any contract, lease, permit, license, or license agreement covering real or personal property of any Loan Party if (A) under the terms of that contract, lease, permit, license, or license agreement or applicable law with respect thereto, the grant of a security interest or lien therein is prohibited as a matter of law or under the terms of that contract, lease, permit, license, or license agreement (other than to the extent any such contract, lease, permit, license or license agreement has been entered into in contemplation hereof or as a means of circumventing the requirements under this Agreement or under the other Loan Documents) and (B) that prohibition or restriction has not been waived or the consent of the other party to that contract, lease, permit, license, or license agreement has not been obtained; (ii) any asset with respect to which the costs of obtaining, perfecting, or maintaining a security interest in that asset exceeds the fair market value thereof or the benefit to the Lenders and the Issuing Bank afforded thereby (as determined by Administrative Agent in consultation with Borrower Representative), (iii) any United States intent-to-use trademark application, but only to the extent that, and solely during the period in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of that intent-to-use trademark application under applicable federal law; and (iv) pledges or deposits permitted to be made in connection with Permitted Liens; provided, however, if any Excluded Property does not constitute Excluded Collateral (as defined in the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement), it shall not constitute Excluded Property hereunder.
The exclusions of clauses (i) and (ii) of this definition do not (and are not to be construed to) apply to the extent that (i) any described prohibition or restriction is ineffective under the applicable anti-assignment provisions (including Section 9 406, 9 407, 9 408, or 9 409) of the UCC or other applicable law, or (ii) any consent or waiver has been obtained that would permit Administrative Agent’s security interest or lien to attach notwithstanding the prohibition or restriction on the pledge of the applicable contract, lease, permit, license, or license agreement
The exclusions of clauses (i) and (ii) of this definition do not (and are not to be construed to) limit, impair, or otherwise affect any of Administrative Agent’s or any Lenders continuing security interests in and liens upon any rights or interests of any Loan Party in or to (x) monies due or to become due under or in connection with any described contract, lease, permit, license or license agreement (including any accounts or Equity Interests), or (y) any proceeds from the sale, license, lease, or other dispositions of any such contract, lease, permit, license or license agreement.
With respect to any intent-to-use trademark application excluded from the Collateral in accordance with clause (iii) of this definition, upon submission to and acceptance by the United States Patent and Trademark Office of a statement of use or an amendment to allege use pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1060(a) or any successor provision, that intent-to-use trademark application will be considered Collateral.]
“Excluded Subsidiary” – any Subsidiary that is prohibited by requirements of applicable law, any contractual obligation or any organizational document (to the extent such contractual restriction exists on the Closing Date or on the date such Subsidiary becomes a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Holdings and not entered into in contemplation thereof or for the purposes of circumventing the requirements of the Loan Documents) from guaranteeing the Obligations or which would require approval, consent, license or authorization from a Governmental Authority (unless such approval, consent, license or authorization is received).
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“Excluded Swap Obligation” – with respect to any Loan Party, any guarantee of any Swap Obligations if, and only to the extent that and for so long as, all or a portion of the guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act at the time the guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.
“Excluded Taxes” – (i) taxes imposed on the income of Administrative Agent or any Lender by the jurisdiction of Administrative Agent’s or such Lender’s applicable lending office or any political subdivision thereof, (ii) franchise taxes imposed by the jurisdiction under the laws of which Administrative Agent or any Lender is organized or doing business or any political subdivision thereof, (iii) any withholding taxes attributable to a Lender’s failure to comply with subsection 3.11.3 and (iv) any United States federal withholding taxes imposed under FATCA.
“Fair Share” – as defined in Section 15.2.
“Fair Share Contribution Amount” – as defined in Section 15.2.
“FATCA” – Sections 1471, 1472, 1473 and 1474 of the Code, or any regulations promulgated thereunder or published administrative guidance implementing such sections.
“Federal Funds Rate”
– for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members
of the Federal Reserve System on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such
day; provided that (a) 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 (b) 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 (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole
multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to BBVA USAPNC
on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.
“Fee Letter” – as defined in Section 3.3.
“Fee Payment Date” – the first Business Day of each month.
“Fee Period” – (a) initially, the period from the Closing Date up to but not including the first Fee Payment Date, and (b) thereafter, each period from a Fee Payment Date up to but not including the next subsequent Fee Payment Date.
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“First Amendment” – that certain First Amendment to Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of the First Amendment Effective Date, by and among the Borrowers, the Guarantors, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders party thereto from time to time.
“First Amendment
Effective Date” – October [__]19,
2020.
“Fiscal Quarter” – a fiscal quarter of a Fiscal Year, which period is the 3-month period ending on the last day of each of March, June, September, and December of each year.
“Fiscal Year” – the fiscal year of Holdings, which period will be the 12-month period ending on the last day of December of each year.
“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” – for any period, the ratio for such period of (a) (1) EBITDA, minus (2) the sum of (A) income taxes paid or payable in cash by Holdings and its Subsidiaries and (B) all Capital Expenditures paid for with Internally Generated Cash, to (b) the sum for such period of (i) cash Interest Expense, plus (ii) scheduled principal payments of Debt (excluding earn-out payments) plus (iii) Restricted Payments, other than earn-out payments, paid in cash. For the purposes of determining the applicable amount described in clauses (a)(2)(A) and (b) above, for any period ending prior to the first anniversary of the First Amendment Effective Date, such amount shall be equal to the applicable amount paid (or, in the case of taxes, taxes payable or accrued) from the First Amendment Effective Date through the date of determination multiplied by a fraction, the denominator of which is the number of days from the First Amendment Effective Date through the date of determination and the numerator of which is 365 days (i.e., such amounts shall be annualized). For the purposes of determining the applicable amount described in clause (b)(i) above, for any period ending prior to the first anniversary of the Second Amendment Effective Date, such amount shall be equal to the applicable amount paid from the Second Amendment Effective Date through the date of determination multiplied by a fraction, the denominator of which is the number of days from the Second Amendment Effective Date through the date of determination and the numerator of which is 365 days (i.e., such amounts shall be annualized). For the purposes of determining the applicable amount described in clause (b)(ii) above, for any monthly period ending prior to the first anniversary of the Second Amendment Effective Date, such amount attributable to scheduled principal payments of the Term C Loans (as defined in the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement) shall be deemed to be $28,333.33.
“Foreign Lender” – any Lender that is not a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
“Fronting Exposure” – at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, with respect to the Issuing Bank, such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of the outstanding LC Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank other than LC Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Revolving Credit Lenders or cash collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Funding Guarantor” – as defined in Section 15.2.
“GAAP” – generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America in effect from time to time.
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“Governmental Authority” – the government of the United States of America or any other nation, or of 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).
“Green Remedies” – Green Remedies Waste and Recycling, Inc., a North Carolina corporation.
“Green Remedies Acquisition” – the acquisition by Quest or Holdings of assets of Green Remedies pursuant to the Green Remedies Acquisition Agreement.
“Green Remedies Acquisition
Agreement” – that certain Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of October [___]19,
2020 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified as permitted hereunder), by and among Quest, Holdings, Green Remedies and
Alan Allred.
“Green Remedies Seller
Note” – that certain Unsecured Subordinated Promissory Note, dated as of the First Amendment Effective Date, executed
by Holdings in favor of Green Remedies, in an original principal amount equal to $[______]2,684,250.00.
“Green Remedies Seller Note Subordination Agreement” – that certain Subordination Agreement, dated as of the First Amendment Effective Date, between Green Remedies, the Agent and the Acquisition Term Agent and acknowledged by Holdings.
“Green Remedies Transactions” – the execution, delivery and performance by Borrowers and the other Loan Parties of the First Amendment, the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement, the Green Remedies Acquisition Agreement and all other documents and agreements executed in connection with the execution of the foregoing, and all other transactions related to any of the foregoing and contemplated to have occurred on or as of the First Amendment Effective Date, including the Green Remedies Acquisition and the payment of premiums, fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing.
“Guaranteed Obligations” – as defined in Section 15.1.
“Guarantors” – Holdings, Parent, Global Alerts, Vertigent, Vertigent One, Youchange, and each other Person who now or hereafter guarantees payment or performance of the whole or any part of the Obligations.
“Guaranty Agreements” – each guaranty agreement (including this Agreement) executed by a Guarantor in favor of Administrative Agent guaranteeing payment or performance of the whole or any part of the Obligations, in each case as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Hazardous Substances” – hazardous waste, hazardous substance, pollutant, contaminant, toxic substance, oil, hazardous material, chemical, or other substance regulated by any Environmental Law.
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“Hedging Agreement” – any interest rate, currency or commodity swap agreement, cap agreement, collar agreement, spot foreign exchange, forward foreign exchange, foreign exchange option (or series of options) and any other agreement or arrangement designed to protect a Person against fluctuations in interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices.
“Hedging Obligation” means, with respect to any Person, any liability of that Person under any Hedging Agreement determined (a) for any date on or after the date that Hedging Agreement has been closed out and termination value determined in accordance therewith, using that termination value; and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), using the amount determined as the mark-to-market value for that Hedging Agreement, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in that Hedging Agreement.
“Holdings” – as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“IBA” – as defined in Section 1.6.
“Indemnified Person” – as defined in Section 13.2.
“Indemnified Taxes” – as defined in subsection 3.11.1.
“Ineligible Lenders” means (a) those Persons set forth on Schedule 1.2, (b) any Competitor designated by the Borrower Representative (specifying such Competitor’s exact legal name) as an “Ineligible Lender” in a written notice (including an update to Schedule 1.2) that has been approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion after the effectiveness of this Agreement and not less than five (5) Business Days prior to such date of determination, but which shall not apply retroactively to disqualify any Persons that have previously acquired an assignment or participation interest in the Loans and/or Commitments as permitted herein and (c) any Affiliate of an Ineligible Lender described in clauses (a) and (b) of this definition that, without independent verification, investigation, or inquiry, is easily and obviously identifiable as an affiliate of such Person on the basis of its name; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this definition, any bank or other financial institution, any Person that is a bona fide debt, equity, or asset investment entity, any other Person that makes, purchases, holds, manages, advises, or trades any debt, equity, or asset investments in the ordinary course of business, Administrative Agent and its Affiliates and/or Related Funds, any Person that merely has an economic interest in any “Ineligible Lender” but has not been designated as an “Ineligible Lender” hereunder, and any Person that Company has removed from its status as an “Ineligible Lender” in any written notice approved by Administrative Agent and delivered to Lenders from time to time, are, in each case, hereby excluded from this definition; provide, that, no Person shall be an Ineligible Lender to the extent a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
“Initial Closing Date Transactions” – the initial incurrence of the Loans and other Obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.
“Insolvency Law” – collectively, the Bankruptcy Code, and any other insolvency, debtor relief or debt adjustment or similar law (whether state, provincial, territorial, federal or foreign).
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“Insolvency Proceeding” – any case or proceeding commenced by or against a Person under any state, federal or foreign law for, or any agreement of such Person to, (a) the entry of an order for relief under the Bankruptcy Code, or any other insolvency, debtor relief, or debt adjustment law; (b) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, liquidator, administrator, conservator or other custodian for such Person or any part of its Property; or (c) an assignment or trust mortgage for the benefit of creditors.
“Intellectual Property” – all past, present and future: trade secrets, know-how and other proprietary information; trademarks, internet domain names, service marks, trade dress, trade names, business names, designs, logos, slogans (and all translations, adaptations, derivations and combinations of the foregoing) indicia and other source and/or business identifiers, and the goodwill of the business relating thereto and all registrations or applications for registrations which have heretofore been or may hereafter be issued thereon throughout the world; copyrights (including copyrights for computer programs) and copyright registrations or applications for registrations which have heretofore been or may hereafter be issued throughout the world and all tangible property embodying the copyrights, unpatented inventions (whether or not patentable); patent applications and patents; industrial design applications and registered industrial designs; license agreements related to any of the foregoing and income therefrom; books, records, writings, computer tapes or disks, flow diagrams, specification sheets, computer software, source codes, object codes, executable code, data, databases and other physical manifestations, embodiments or incorporations of any of the foregoing; the right to sue for all past, present and future infringements of any of the foregoing; all other intellectual property; and all common law and other rights throughout the world in and to all of the foregoing.
“Intellectual Property Security Agreement” – any intellectual property collateral assignment pursuant to which any Loan Party grants to Administrative Agent, for the benefit of Lenders, a Lien on such Loan Party’s interest in its Intellectual Property as security for the Obligations, in each case as may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Intercreditor Agreement” – that certain Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the First Amendment Effective Date, by and among the Acquisition Term Agent, the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties party thereto, as amended, modified, supplemented, restated, refinanced, refunded or replaced in whole or in part from time to time in accordance with the terms therein.
“Interest Expense” – for any period, as determined in accordance with GAAP, the consolidated interest expense of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for that period (including all imputed interest on Capital Leases).
“Interest Payment Date” – (a) (i) as to any Base Rate Revolving Credit Loan, the first Business Day of each month, and (ii) as to any Base Rate Term Loan, the first Business Day of each month, and (b) as to any LIBOR Loan, the last day of each Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan, and in addition, where the applicable Interest Period exceeds three months, the date every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period. If an Interest Payment Date falls on a date that is not a Business Day, such Interest Payment Date shall be deemed to be the immediately succeeding Business Day.
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“Interest Period” – relative to any LIBOR Loans: (a) initially, the period beginning on (and including) the date on which such LIBOR Loan is made or continued as, or converted into, a LIBOR Loan and ending on (but excluding) the day which numerically corresponds to such date one, two, three or six months thereafter (or, if such month has no numerically corresponding day, on the last Business Day of such month), in each case as Borrower Representative may select in its notice pursuant to Section 4.1; and (b) thereafter, each period commencing on the last day of the next preceding Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Loan and ending one, two, or three months thereafter, as selected by Borrower Representative in accordance with Section 4.1; provided, however, that (i) all Interest Periods of the same duration which commence on the same date shall end on the same date; (ii) Interest Periods commencing on the same date for LIBOR Loans comprising part of the same advance under this Agreement shall be of the same duration; (iii) Interest Periods for LIBOR Loans in connection with which Borrowers have or may incur Derivative Obligations with Administrative Agent shall be of the same duration as the relevant periods set under the applicable underlying agreements; (iv) if such Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall end on the next following Business Day unless such day falls in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the first preceding Business Day; and (v) no Interest Period may end later than the termination of this Agreement.
“Internally Generated Cash” – with respect to any period, any cash of Holdings or any Subsidiary generated during such period as a result of such Person’s operations, excluding Net Cash Proceeds, Other Receipts, any cash generated from any issuance of Equity Interests (or cash generated from cash contributions to Holdings or any Subsidiary) and any cash proceeds received from an incurrence of Debt or any other liability.
“Investment” – with respect to any Person, any investment in another Person, whether by acquisition of any debt or Equity Interest, by making any loan or advance, by becoming obligated with respect to a Contingent Liability in respect of obligations of that other Person (other than travel and similar advances to employees in the ordinary course of business) or by making an Acquisition.
“Issuer Documents” – with respect to any Letter of Credit, the LC Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the Issuing Bank and any Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of the Issuing Bank and relating to such Letter of Credit.
“Issuing Bank” – Administrative Agent, Bank or any other Affiliate of Administrative Agent or a Lender that issues a Letter of Credit hereunder.
“Judgments” – as defined in subsection 11.1.14.
“Landfill” – as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“LC Amount” – at any time, the aggregate undrawn available amount of all Letters of Credit then outstanding plus the amount of LC Obligations that have not been reimbursed by Borrowers or funded with a Revolving Credit Loan.
“LC Application” – an application, in such form as the Issuing Bank may specify from time to time, requesting the Issuing Bank to issue or amend a Letter of Credit.
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“LC Fee Payment Date” – the last day of each March, June, September and December and the Revolving Termination Date.
“LC Obligations” – any Obligations that arise from any draw against any Letter of Credit.
“LC Participants” – the collective reference to all the Revolving Credit Lenders other than the Issuing Bank.
“LC Reimbursement Obligation” – the obligation of the Borrowers to reimburse the Issuing Bank pursuant to subsection 2.2.4 for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit.
“LC Sublimit” – an amount not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the Revolving Credit Maximum Amount.
“Lender(s)” – as defined in the preamble to this Agreement and each other Person who becomes a “Lender” hereunder, whether by assignment or otherwise.
“Letter of Credit” – any standby letter of credit issued by Issuing Bank for the account of any Loan Party.
“LIBOR” – relative to any Interest Period for LIBOR Loans, a rate per annum obtained by dividing (a) the London Interbank Offered Rate, as determined by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any successor or substitute therefor acceptable to Administrative Agent) for U.S. Dollar deposits with a term equivalent to such Interest Period as obtained by the Administrative Agent from Reuter’s, Bloomberg or another commercially available source as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time (the “Screen Rate”), two (2) Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period, by (b) a number equal to 1.00 minus the LIBOR Reserve Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, LIBOR shall not in any event be less than zero percent (0.00%).
“LIBOR Loan Prepayment Fee” – as defined in subsection 4.1.9.
“LIBOR Loans” – the LIBOR Revolving Credit Loans and/or the LIBOR Term Loans.
“LIBOR Option” – the option granted pursuant to Section 4.1 to have the interest on all or any portion of the principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans or any Term Loan Advance based on LIBOR.
“LIBOR Reserve Percentage” – for any day, the percentage, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, which is in effect on such day as prescribed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) representing the maximum reserve requirement (including, without limitation, supplemental, marginal and emergency reserve requirements) with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”) of a member bank in such System.
“LIBOR Revolving Credit Loan” – any Revolving Credit Loan for the periods when the rate of interest applicable to such Revolving Credit Loan is calculated by reference to LIBOR.
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“LIBOR Term Loan” – any portion of the Term Loan for the periods when the rate of interest applicable to such portion of the Term Loan is calculated by reference to LIBOR.
“Lien” – with respect to any Person, any interest granted by that Person in any real or personal property, asset, or other right owned or being purchased or acquired by that Person (including an interest in respect of a Capital Lease) that secures payment or performance of any obligation and includes any mortgage, lien, encumbrance, title retention lien, charge, or other security interest of any kind, whether arising by contract, as a matter of law, by judicial process, or otherwise.
“Line Cap” – at any time, the lesser of (i) the Revolving Credit Maximum Amount and (ii) the Borrowing Base.
“Loan Account” – as defined in Section 4.6.
“Loan Documents” – this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Security Documents, in each case as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Loan Parties” – means collectively, Borrowers and Guarantors and Loan Party means any one of them.
“Loan Party Materials” – as defined in subsection 13.8.2.
“Loans” – all loans and advances of any kind made by Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any Affiliate of Administrative Agent or any Lender, pursuant to this Agreement.
“Majority Lenders” – as of any date, Lenders holding more than 50% of the Term Loan and Revolving Credit Commitments determined on a combined basis and following the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, Lenders holding more than 50% of the outstanding Loans and LC Obligations; provided that (i) if there are two or more Lenders which are not Affiliates, then at least two Lenders which are not Affiliates shall be required to constitute Majority Lenders and (ii) the Loans, Revolving Credit Commitments and LC Obligations held by any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of determining Majority Lenders.
“Margin Stock” – as defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors.
“Material Adverse Effect” – (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the financial condition, operations, assets, business, profitability, or properties of the Loan Parties taken as a whole, (b) a material impairment of the ability of any Loan Party to perform any of the Obligations under any Loan Document, (c) a material adverse effect upon any substantial portion of the Collateral under the Collateral Documents or upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Loan Party of any Loan Document or the ability of Administrative Agent to enforce or collect any Obligations or to realize upon any material portion of the Collateral, or (d) cancellation or termination of the agreements referenced in clauses (a) and (b) of the definition of “Voting Agreements”, other than by their terms.
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“Material Contract” – with respect to any Person, (a) the Related Agreements; (b) each contract or agreement to which that Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a party involving a customer of such Person that generates 15% or more of consolidated gross profit for such Person or its Subsidiaries in any Fiscal Year; (c) the Voting Agreements and (d) all other contracts or agreements as to which the breach, nonperformance, cancellation, or failure to renew by any party could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
“Maximum Rate” – as defined in subsection 3.1.3.
“Moody’s” – Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and its successors.
“Mortgages” – each mortgage, security deed or deed of trust executed by a Borrower in favor of Administrative Agent, for the benefit of itself and Lenders, by which such Borrower grants to Administrative Agent, as security for the Obligations, a Lien upon the real Property of such Borrower described therein.
“Mortgage-Related Documents” – with respect to any real property subject to a Mortgage, the following, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent: (a) a mortgagee title policy (or binder therefor) covering Administrative Agent’s interest under the Mortgage, in a form and amount and by an insurer acceptable to Administrative Agent, which must be fully paid on that effective date; (b) all assignments of leases, estoppel letters, attornment agreements, consents, waivers, and releases as Administrative Agent reasonably requires with respect to other Persons having an interest in the real estate; (c) a current, as-built survey of the real estate, containing a metes-and-bounds property description and certified by a licensed surveyor acceptable to Administrative Agent; (d) a life-of-loan flood hazard determination and, if the real estate is located in a flood plain, an acknowledged notice to borrower and flood insurance in an amount, with endorsements and by an insurer acceptable to Administrative Agent; (e) a current appraisal of the real estate, prepared by an appraiser acceptable to Administrative Agent, and in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent; (f) an environmental assessment, prepared by environmental engineers acceptable to Administrative Agent, and accompanied by all reports, certificates, studies, or data as Administrative Agent reasonably requires, which must all be in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent; and (g) an Environmental Agreement and all other documents, instruments, or agreements as Administrative Agent reasonably requires with respect to any environmental risks regarding the real estate.
“Multiemployer Plan” – a multiemployer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any Borrower or any other member of the Controlled Group may have any liability.
“Net Cash Proceeds”:
(a) with respect to any Asset Disposition, the aggregate cash proceeds (including cash proceeds received pursuant to policies of insurance or by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note, installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received) received by any Loan Party pursuant to that Asset Disposition net of (i) the direct costs relating to that sale, transfer or other disposition (including sales commissions and legal, accounting and investment banking fees); (ii) taxes paid or reasonably estimated by Borrowers to be payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements); and (iii) amounts required to be applied to the repayment of any Debt secured by a Lien on the asset subject to that Asset Disposition (other than the Loans);
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(b) with respect to any issuance of Equity Interests, the aggregate cash proceeds received by any Loan Party pursuant to that issuance, net of the direct costs relating to that issuance (including sales and underwriters’ commissions); and
(c) with respect to any issuance of Debt, the aggregate cash proceeds received by any Loan Party pursuant to that issuance, net of the direct costs of that issuance (including up-front, underwriters’ and placement fees).
“NOLV” – the net orderly liquidation value of Equipment, expressed as a dollar value for Equipment, to be realized at an orderly, negotiated sale held within a reasonable period of time, net of all liquidation expenses, as determined from the most recent appraisal of Borrower’s Equipment performed by an appraiser and on terms satisfactory to Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion.
“Notes” – the Revolving Credit Notes and the Term Loan Notes.
“Obligations” – all Loans, LC Obligations, reimbursement and other obligations with respect to Letters of Credit and all other advances, debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties, together with all interest, fees and other charges thereon (including all interest, fees and other charges accruing after the commencement of any Insolvency Proceeding), of any kind or nature, present or future, owing, arising, due or payable from any Borrower or any other Loan Party to Administrative Agent, any Lender, Issuing Bank, Bank or any of their respective Affiliates, arising under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assignment), absolute or contingent, primary or secondary, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and however acquired, including without limitation all Product Obligations; provided, that Obligations of any Loan Party shall not include any Excluded Swap Obligations solely of such Loan Party.
“Obligee Guarantor” – as defined in Section 15.7.
“Operating Lease” – any lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) any real or personal property by any Loan Party, as lessee, other than any Capital Lease.
“Organizational I.D. Number” – with respect to any Person, the organizational identification number assigned to such Person by the applicable governmental unit or agency of the jurisdiction of organization of such Person.
“Other Agreements” – each Borrowing Base Certificate, each Compliance Certificate, and any and all agreements, instruments and documents (other than this Agreement and the Security Documents), heretofore, now or hereafter executed by any Loan Party, any Subsidiary of a Loan Party or any other third party and delivered to Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Affiliate of any Agent or any Lender in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, all agreements, instruments and documents relating to Product Obligations.
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“Other Connection Taxes” – with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
“Other Receipts” – any cash received by or paid to or for the account of any Loan Party consisting of (a) representation and warranty insurance in connection with an acquisition, (b) escrow amounts released in connection with an acquisition, and (c) any purchase price adjustment received in connection with any purchase.
“Overadvance” – as defined in subsection 2.1.2.
“Paid in Full” – as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.
“Parent” – as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Participant” – as defined in subsection 13.5.2.
“Participation Register” – as defined in subsection 13.5.2.
“Patriot Act” – the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Pub. L. No. 107-56, 115 Stat. 272 (2001).
“Payment Conditions” – with respect to any applicable transaction, (i) no Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately after giving effect to such transaction, (ii) the average of the Excess Availability amounts (calculated on a pro forma basis to include the making of any Loans or the issuance of any Letters of Credit in connection with such transaction) for each Business Day in the thirty (30) day period prior to such transaction shall be greater than or equal to the greater of (x) $3,000,000 and (y) 20% of the Line Cap, (iii) Excess Availability (calculated as set forth above) on the date of such proposed transaction shall be greater than or equal to the greater of (x) $3,000,000 and (y) 20% of the Line Cap, (iv) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such transaction) for the most recently ended trailing twelve calendar month period shall not be less than 1.10 to 1.00 (but, solely for purposes of determining whether payments on the Closing Date Seller Note are permitted, the minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio required under such Section shall be 1.25 to 1.00), (v) before and after giving effect to such transaction, the Loan Parties are in compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth in Section 9.2.12 as of the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 9.1.3, and (vi) so long as the Acquisition Term Debt has not received Payment in Full (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), the payment conditions set forth in the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement have been satisfied.
“PBGC” – the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any entity succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.
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“PEG Balance” – with respect to any particular date, the amount held in the Borrowers’ main operating account held with the Administrative Agent.
“Pension Plan” – a “pension plan,” as that term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, which is subject to Title IV of ERISA or the minimum funding standards of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Pension Plan), and as to which any Borrower or any Subsidiary (including any contingent liability of any member of Borrowers’ Controlled Group) may have any liability, including any liability by reason of having been a substantial employer within the meaning of Section 4063 of ERISA at any time during the preceding five years, or by reason of being deemed to be a contributing sponsor under Section 4069 of ERISA.
“Permitted Acquisition” means any Acquisition by any Loan Party (other than Holdings) where:
(a) the business, division or assets acquired are for use, or the Person acquired is engaged, in the same or a related, adjacent or vertically integrated line of business engaged in by the Loan Parties on the First Amendment Effective Date;
(b) immediately before and after giving effect to that Acquisition, no Default or Event of Default exists;
(c) the aggregate consideration (cash and non-cash) to be paid by the Loan Parties (including any Debt assumed or issued in connection therewith, the maximum amount payable in connection with any deferred purchase price obligation (including any earn-out obligation) and the value of any Equity Interests of any Loan Party issued to the seller in connection with that Acquisition) in connection with (i) that Acquisition (or any series of related Acquisitions) is less than $15,000,000, and (ii) all Acquisitions is less than $52,500,000; provided, that the consideration paid in connection with the RWS Acquisition shall be excluded for purposes of the foregoing clauses (c)(i) and (c)(ii);
(d) in the case of the Acquisition of any Person, that Acquisition is non-hostile and the board of directors or similar governing body of that Person has approved that Acquisition;
(e) not less than 15 Business Days prior to that Acquisition (or any later date approved by Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), Administrative Agent has received an acquisition summary with respect to the Person and/or business, division or assets to be acquired, which summary must include a reasonably detailed description thereof (including financial information) and operating results (including financial statements for the most recent 12-month period for which they are available and as otherwise available), the terms and conditions, including economic terms, of the proposed Acquisition, and Borrowers’ calculation of pro forma Consolidated EBITDA relating thereto;
(f) not less than five Business Days prior to that Acquisition (or any later date approved by Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), Administrative Agent has received complete executed or conformed copies of each material document, instrument and agreement to be executed in connection with that Acquisition together with all lien search reports and lien release letters and other documents as Administrative Agent reasonably requires to evidence the termination of Liens on the assets, business, or division to be acquired;
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(g) the Senior Net Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis immediately after giving effect to that Acquisition does not exceed (A) the maximum Senior Net Leverage Ratio permitted under Section 9.2.12(ii) for the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter immediately prior to that Acquisition minus (B) 0.25; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) with respect to the Permitted Acquisition to be funded with the proceeds of the Term B Loan (as defined under the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement), the Term B Loan Leverage Condition (as defined under the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement) shall apply rather than this clause (g), and (y) with respect to the Permitted Acquisition to be funded with the proceeds of the Term D Loan (as defined under the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement), the Term D Loan Leverage Condition (as defined under the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement) shall apply rather than this clause (g);
(h) Borrowers’ computation of pro forma Consolidated EBITDA is reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent;
(i) the business, division, assets or Person acquired generated positive EBITDA (calculated in a manner acceptable to Administrative Agent) for each of the twelve calendar months immediately preceding that Acquisition;
(j) the Loan Parties shall have satisfied the Payment Conditions after giving effect to that Acquisition;
(k) [Reserved]
(l) Borrower Representative has provided Administrative Agent with pro forma forecasted balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and cash flow statements of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, all prepared on a basis consistent with Holdings’ and its Subsidiaries’ historical financial statements, subject to adjustments to reflect projected consolidated operations following the Acquisition;
(m) Borrower Representative has provided Administrative Agent with reasonable calculations evidencing that on a pro forma basis created by adding the historical combined financial statements of Holdings and its Subsidiaries (including the combined financial statements of any other Person or assets that were the subject of a prior Permitted Acquisition during the relevant period) to the historical consolidated financial statements of the entity to be acquired (or the historical financial statements related to the division, business or assets to be acquired) pursuant to the Acquisition, subject to adjustments to reflect projected consolidated operations following the Acquisition, Holdings and its Subsidiaries are projected to be in compliance with the financial covenants for each of the twelve months ended one year after the proposed date of consummation of that Acquisition;
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(n) the provisions of Section 9.1.8 have been satisfied, including, without limitation, simultaneously with the closing of that Acquisition, the target company (if that Acquisition is structured as a purchase of equity) or a Loan Party (other than Holdings) (if that Acquisition is structured as a purchase of assets or a merger and a Loan Party (other than Holdings) is the surviving entity) executes and delivers to Administrative Agent (i) all documents necessary to grant to Administrative Agent a first-priority Lien (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement) in all of the assets of each of the target company or surviving company and its Subsidiaries, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, and (ii) an unlimited guaranty of the Obligations, or at the option of Administrative Agent in Administrative Agent’s absolute discretion, a joinder agreement satisfactory to Administrative Agent in which each of the target company or surviving company and its Subsidiaries becomes a borrower under this Agreement and assumes primary joint and several liability for the Obligations;
(o) if the Acquisition is structured as a merger, a Loan Party (other than Holdings) will be the surviving entity;
(p) Administrative Agent has received a copy of the proposed capital structure after giving pro forma effect to such Acquisition;
(q) to the extent readily available to Borrowers, Borrower Representative has provided Administrative Agent with all other information with respect to that Acquisition as reasonably requested by Administrative Agent (including, without limitation, all third-party due-diligence reports and quality-of-earnings reports);
(r) solely for the purposes of determining whether any assets acquired in connection with such Acquisition shall be included in the Borrowing Base, Administrative Agent shall be satisfied with the results of a field exam, conducted at the Loan Parties’ expense, prior to the inclusion of any Accounts of the target company in the Borrowing Base; and
(s) concurrently with the consummation of that Acquisition, a Senior Officer of the Borrower Representative shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate stating that the foregoing conditions in this definition have been satisfied.
“Permitted Liens” – a Lien expressly permitted under this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.2.2.
“Person” – an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, joint stock company, land trust, business trust, or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Plan” – an employee benefit plan now or hereafter maintained for employees of any Loan Party or any of their Subsidiaries that is covered by Title IV of ERISA.
“Platform” – as defined in subsection 13.8.2.
“Pledge Agreements” – each pledge agreement executed by the Loan Parties or any one of them, as applicable, granting in favor of Administrative Agent, for the benefit of itself and Lenders, a Lien on the Equity Interests of the Subsidiaries of such Loan Party or Loan Parties, in each case as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
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“PNC” – as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Prime Rate” – the rate of interest quoted in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, Money Rates Section as the Prime Rate (currently defined as the base rate on corporate loans posted by at least 75% of the nation’s thirty (30) largest banks), as in effect from time to time. If multiple Prime Rates are quoted in the Money Rates Section of The Wall Street Journal, then the highest Prime Rate will be the Prime Rate hereunder. In the event that the Prime Rate is no longer published by The Wall Street Journal in the “Money Rates” or similar table, then the Administrative Agent may select an alternative published index based upon comparable information as a substitute Prime Rate. The Prime Rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer. The Administrative Agent or any other Lender may make commercial loans or other loans at rates of interest at, above or below the Prime Rate.
“Pro Rata Percentage” – (i) with respect to each Revolving Credit Lender, the percentage equal to its Revolving Credit Commitment divided by the aggregate of all Revolving Credit Commitments and (ii) with respect to each Term Loan Lender, the percentage equal to its Term Loan Commitment divided by the aggregate of all Term Loan Commitments.
“Proceeding” – any investigation, inquiry, litigation, review, hearing, suit, claim, audit, arbitration, proceeding or action (in each case, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or informal) commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any governmental authority or arbitrator.
“Product Obligations” – every obligation of any Borrower or any other Loan Party under and in respect of any one or more of the following types of services or facilities extended to such Borrower or any other Loan Party by Bank, Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates: (i) credit cards, (ii) cash management or related services including the automatic clearing house transfer of funds for the account of such Borrower or any other Loan Party pursuant to agreement or overdraft, (iii) treasury management, including controlled disbursement services, (iv) Derivative Obligations, (v) commercial cards (including so-called “procurement cards” or “P-cards”), and (vi) supply chain financing and supply chain finance services (including, without limitation, trade payable services and supplier accounts receivable purchases).
“Projections” – for Holdings and its Subsidiaries forecasted Consolidated (i) balance sheets, (ii) profit and loss statements, (iii) cash flow statements, and (iv) capitalization statements, prepared on a consistent basis with the historical financial statements of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, together with appropriate supporting details and a statement of underlying assumptions.
“Property” – any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible.
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“Qualified ECP Guarantor” – in respect of any Swap Obligations, 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 person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act 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.
“Qualified Equity Interest” – any Equity Interest issued by Holdings (and not by one or more of its Subsidiaries) that is not a Disqualified Equity Interest.
“Quarterly Average Excess Availability for Applicable Margin” – for any fiscal quarter, the average of the Excess Availability for Applicable Margin amounts for each Business Day during such fiscal quarter.
“Quarterly Average Excess Availability for Applicable Margin Percentage” – for any fiscal quarter, Quarterly Average Excess Availability for Applicable Margin for such fiscal quarter divided by the Revolving Credit Maximum Amount as at the end of such fiscal quarter.
“Quest” – as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Recipient” – (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) the Issuing Bank, as applicable.
“Register” – as defined in subsection 13.5.5.
“Regulation U” – Regulation U of the FRB.
“Related Agreements” – the Green Remedies Acquisition Agreement and all agreements, instruments, and documents executed or delivered in connection with the Green Remedies Agreement and the Green Remedies Acquisition.
“Related Parties” – with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, trustees, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.
“Report” – as defined in Section 12.9.
“Reportable Event” – a reportable event as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder as to which the PBGC has not waived the notification requirement of Section 4043(a), or the failure of a Pension Plan to meet the minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code (without regard to whether the Pension Plan is a plan described in Section 4021(a)(2) of ERISA) or under Section 302 of ERISA.
“Requested Increase Amount” – as defined in subsection 2.4.1.
“Requested Increase Effective Date” – as defined in subsection 2.4.1.
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“Reserves” – reserves in such amounts, and with respect to such matters, as Collateral Agent shall deem necessary or appropriate in its reasonable credit judgment exercised in good faith, against the Borrowing Base or Excess Availability, including without limitation with respect to (i) price adjustments, damages, unearned discounts, returned products or other matters for which credit memoranda are issued in the ordinary course of any Loan Party’s business; (ii) other sums chargeable against Borrowers’ Loan Account as Revolving Credit Loans under any section of this Agreement and any sales tax accruals as of the Closing Date until paid in full and evidence of the payment of such sales tax owing has been delivered to the Administrative Agent; (iii) amounts owing by any Loan Party to any Person to the extent secured by a Lien on, or trust over, any Property of any Loan Party which constitutes Collateral; (iv) amounts owing by any Loan Party in connection with Product Obligations (provided, on the Closing Date, Administrative Agent is not including a reserve for commercial cards, but reserves the right to add at any time in its reasonable discretion), including, without limitation, the Derivative Obligations Reserve; (v) rent for locations at which books, records, or Equipment is stored and as to which Administrative Agent has not received a satisfactory landlord’s agreement or bailee letter, as applicable; and (vi) such other specific events, conditions or contingencies as to which Collateral Agent, in its reasonable credit judgment exercised in good faith, determines reserves should be established from time to time hereunder; provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, Collateral Agent shall not establish any Reserves in respect of any matters relating to any items of Collateral that have been taken into account in determining Eligible Accounts or Eligible Unbilled Accounts, as applicable.
“Restricted Payment” – as defined in Section 9.2.3.
“Restrictive Agreement” – an agreement (other than a Loan Document) that conditions or restricts the right of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party to incur or repay Debt, to grant Liens on any assets, to declare or make Distributions, to modify, extend or renew any agreement evidencing Debt, or to repay any intercompany Debt.
“Revolving Commitment Period” – the period after (and not including) the Closing Date to, but not including, the Revolving Termination Date.
“Revolving Credit Commitment” – with respect to any Lender, the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant to subsection 2.1.1, as set forth next to such Lender’s name on Schedule 1 hereto, or any Assignment and Acceptance Agreement executed by such Lender.
“Revolving Credit Commitments” – the aggregate amount of such commitments of all Lenders.
“Revolving Credit Lender” – a Lender with a Revolving Credit Commitment.
“Revolving Credit Loan” – a Loan made by any Revolving Credit Lender pursuant to Section 2.1, including (unless the context otherwise requires) Overadvances.
“Revolving Credit Maturity Date” – April 19, 2025.
“Revolving Credit Maximum Amount” – $15,000,000, as such amount may be increased or reduced from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof.
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“Revolving Credit Notes” – any promissory notes executed by Borrowers in favor of each Revolving Credit Lender that requests a Revolving Credit Note to evidence its Revolving Credit Loans, which shall be in the form of Exhibit 2.1 to this Agreement, together with any replacement or successor notes therefor.
“Revolving Daily Unused Fee Amount” – for any day, (a) the Revolving Daily Unused Fee Rate for such day, multiplied by (b) the actual amount of such day by which the Revolving Credit Commitment exceeds the Aggregate Revolving Extensions.
“Revolving Daily Unused Fee Rate” – for any day, (a) an annual fixed rate of 0.25%, if on such day the quotient of the Aggregate Revolving Extensions divided by the Revolving Credit Commitment is greater than or equal to 50% or (b) an annual fixed rate of 0.375%, if on such day the quotient of the Aggregate Revolving Extensions divided by the Revolving Credit Commitment is less than 50%.
“Revolving Termination Date” – the Revolving Credit Maturity Date or such earlier date on which the Revolving Credit Commitments shall terminate or be terminated in full as provided herein.
“RWS” means RWS Facility Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and each of its Subsidiaries.
“RWS Acquisition” means that acquisition by Holdings or its Subsidiaries of all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of RWS pursuant to the RWS Acquisition Agreement.
“RWS Acquisition Agreement” means that certain Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of the Second Amendment Effective Date (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified as permitted hereunder), by and among Rome Holdings, LLC, M&A Business Consulting, Inc., the other sellers party thereto and Quest Sustainability Services, Inc., RWS and Sustainable Solutions Group, LLC.
“RWS Acquisition Documents” means the RWS Acquisition Agreement and all agreements, instruments, and documents executed or delivered in connection with the RWS Acquisition.
“S&P” – Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.
“SBA PPP Loans” – all the one-time loans (and any potential future loans under such similar program) obtained by any of the Borrowers incurred under 15 U.S.C. 636(a)(36) (as added to the Small Business Act by Section 1102 of the CARES Act) under the Small Business Act, as amended.
“Schedule of Accounts” – as defined in subsection 7.2.1.
“Screen Rate” – has the meaning set forth in the definition of “LIBOR” herein.
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“SEC” – the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental authority succeeding to any of the principal functions thereof.
“Second Amendment Effective Date” means December 7, 2021.
“Security Documents” – the Control Agreements, the Guaranty Agreements, the Pledge Agreements, the Mortgages, the Intellectual Property Security Agreement and all other instruments and agreements now or at any time hereafter securing the whole or any part of the Obligations, in each case as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Senior Net Leverage Ratio” – as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Total Senior Debt as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended twelve month period, and if such date is not the last day of a Fiscal Quarter, for the most recently ended twelve month period for which financials have been delivered.
“Senior Officer” – with respect to any Loan Party, any of the president, chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, or the treasurer of that Loan Party.
“Side Letter” – that certain Side Letter, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.
“Solvent” – as to any Person, that such Person (i) owns Property whose fair saleable value is greater than the amount required to pay all of such Person’s Debt (including contingent debts), (ii) is able to pay all of its Debt as such Debt matures and (iii) has capital sufficient to carry on its business and transactions and all business and transactions in which it is about to engage.
“Specified Event of Default” means any Event of Default pursuant to Sections 11.1.1, 11.1.3 or 11.1.9 (but in the case of Section 11.1.3, solely with respect to a failure to comply with the provisions of Sections 9.1.3, 9.1.4 and 9.2.12).
“Specified Financial Covenant” – as defined in Section 11.6(a).
“Specified Financial Covenant Default” – as defined in Section 11.6(a).
“Subordinated Debt” – Debt of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party that is subordinated to the Obligations in a manner satisfactory to Administrative Agent, and contains terms, including without limitation, payment terms, satisfactory to Administrative Agent.
“Subsidiary” – with respect to any Person, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other entity of which that Person owns, directly or indirectly, outstanding Equity Interests having more than 50% of the ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other managers of that corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other entity. Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference to Subsidiaries in this Agreement refers to Subsidiaries of Holdings. Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference to Subsidiaries in this Agreement refers to Subsidiaries of Holdings.
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“Swap Obligation” – with respect to any Loan Party, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
“Taxes” – any and all present and future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, charges, similar fees or withholdings imposed under applicable law and/or by any governmental authority that are in the nature of a tax, and any and all liabilities (including interest and penalties and other additions to taxes) with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Term” – as defined in Section 5.1.
“Term Loan” – the Loan described in subsection 2.3.
“Term Loan Advances”
– as defined in subsection 2.3.1.
“Term Loan Commitment” – with respect to any Lender, the amount of such Lender’s Term Loan Commitment pursuant to subsection 2.3, as set forth next to such Lender’s name on Schedule 1 hereto or any Assignment and Acceptance Agreement executed by such Lender, minus all Term Loan payments paid to such Lender.
“Term Loan Daily Unused Fee Amount” – for any day during the Term Loan Draw Period, (a) (i) the Term Loan Daily Unused Fee Rate for such day, multiplied by (ii) the actual amount of such day by which the Term Loan Commitment exceeds the Term Loans made hereunder, or (b) $0 for any day after the Term Loan Draw Period.
“Term Loan Daily Unused Fee Rate” – for any day, (a) an annual fixed rate of 0.25%, if on such day the quotient of Term Loans made hereunder divided by the Term Loan Commitment is greater than or equal to 50%, or (b) an annual fixed rate of 0.375%, if on such day the quotient of Term Loans made hereunder divided by the Term Loan Commitment is less than 50%.
“Term Loan Draw Period” – the period from the Closing Date up to an including the third anniversary of the Closing Date.
“Term Loan Lender” – a Lender with a Term Loan Commitment.
“Term Loan Maturity Date” – April 19, 2025.
“Term Loan Notes” – any promissory notes executed by Borrowers in favor of each Term Loan Lender that requests a Term Loan Note to evidence its Term Loans, which shall be in the form of Exhibit 2.3 to this Agreement, together with any replacement or successor notes therefor.
“Termination Event” – with respect to a Pension Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, the following: (a) a Reportable Event; (b) the withdrawal of any Borrower or any other member of the Controlled Group from that Pension Plan during a plan year in which that Borrower or other member of the Controlled Group was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or was deemed such under Section 4068(f) of ERISA; (c) the termination of that Pension Plan, the filing of a notice of intent to terminate the Pension Plan or the treatment of an amendment of that Pension Plan as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA; (d) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate that Pension Plan; or (e) any event or condition that might reasonably constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or appointment of a trustee to administer, that Pension Plan.
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“Total Credit Facility” – prior to the expiration of the Term Loan Draw Period, $17,000,000 and thereafter, the sum of the Revolving Credit Maximum Amount and the Term Loan Advances outstanding, as increased or reduced from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof.
“Total Plan Liability” – at any time, the present value of all vested and unvested accrued benefits under all Pension Plans, determined as of the then most recent valuation date for each Pension Plan, using PBGC actuarial assumptions for single employer plan terminations.
“Total Senior Debt”
– all (a) Debt of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (excluding (u) contingent
obligations in respect of Contingent Liabilities (except to the extent constituting (1) Contingent Liabilities in respect of Debt of a
Person other than any Loan Party, or (2) Contingent Liabilities in respect of undrawn letters of credit), (v) Debt of any Borrower to
any other Loan Party and Debt of any Subsidiary to any Borrower or to any other Subsidiary, (w) any Debt that is unsecured or contractually
subordinated to the Obligations in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (x) obligations with respect
to earn-out payments for Permitted Acquisitions until due and payable, and (y) obligations for any leased real property to the extent
unsecured and not constituting debt for borrowed money) minus (b) unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalent Investments of Holdings
and its Subsidiaries in deposit accounts subject to Control Agreements in favor of the Acquisition Term Agent and the Administrative Agent
not to exceed $1,000,000 (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the cash proceeds of any Term B Loans (as
defined in the Acquisition, Term D
Loan Agreement) or any Incremental Facilities (as each
term is defined in the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement)) as of any applicable date of determination; provided, that
for all purposes of calculating the Senior Net Leverage Ratio under the Loan Documents, the amount of outstanding Revolving Credit Loans
for purposes of clause (a) above shall be calculated by taking the average of such outstanding Revolving Credit Loans at the end of each
business day for the trailing ninety (90) day period (or, if prior to the date that is ninety (90) days following the Closing Date, the
period from the First Amendment Effective Date to the date the Senior Net Leverage Ratio is being tested) (the averaging of such outstanding
revolving loans, the “Revolver Averaging Mechanic”).
“Type of Organization” – with respect to any Person, the kind or type of entity by which such Person is organized, such as a corporation or limited liability company.
“UCC” – the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Texas on the date hereof, as it may be amended or otherwise modified.
“Unfunded Liability” – the amount (if any) by which the present value of all vested and unvested accrued benefits under all Pension Plans exceeds the fair market value of all assets allocable to those benefits, all determined as of the then most recent valuation date for each Pension Plan, using PBGC actuarial assumptions for single employer plan terminations.
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“Unused Line Fee” – as defined in Section 3.5.
“U.S. Lender” – any Lender that is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
“U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” – as defined in subsection 3.11.3.
“Voting Agreements” – (a) that certain Voting Agreement, dated as of April 11, 2019, by and among (i) Mitchell A. Saltz, Jeffery D. Forte, Brian Dick and each of their respective affiliates, (ii) Hampstead Park Capital Management, LLC and (iii) Holdings, (b) that certain Stock Grant Agreement, dated as of the First Amendment Effective Date, by and among Holdings and Green Remedies, in each case, as the same may be amended or otherwise modified as permitted hereunder and (c) any similar agreements or arrangements relating to voting matters and/or affecting the constitution of the board of directors of Holdings.
“Warrant Holder” – Monroe Capital or any of its affiliates or controlled investment vehicles.
“Warrant Letter Agreement” means that certain Letter Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among Holdings and the Warrant Holder, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time as permitted thereunder.
“Warrants” – collectively (a) that certain Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, dated as of the First Amendment Effective Date, issued by Holdings to the Warrant Holder and (b) any further warrant issued by Holdings to the Warrant Holder.
“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” – as to any Person, a Subsidiary all of the Equity Interests of which (except directors’ qualifying Equity Interests) are at the time directly or indirectly owned by that Person and/or another Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of that Person. Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference to Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries refers to Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of Holdings.
“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” – 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.
1.2 Other Terms. All other terms contained in this Agreement shall have, when the context so indicates, the meanings provided for by the UCC to the extent the same are used or defined therein. Accounting terms not otherwise specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.
1.3 Certain Matters of Construction. The terms “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section, paragraph or subdivision. Any pronoun used shall be deemed to cover all genders. The section titles, table of contents and list of exhibits and schedules appear as a matter of convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement. All references to statutes and related regulations shall include any amendments of same and any successor statutes and regulations. All references to any of the Loan Documents shall include any and all modifications thereto and any and all extensions or renewals thereof.
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1.4 Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio, requirement or covenant in this Agreement or any related definition, and either the Loan Parties or Majority Lenders shall so request, Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Loan Parties shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio, requirement, covenant or definition to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of Majority Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio, requirement, covenant or definition shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Loan Parties shall provide to Administrative Agent and Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio, requirement, covenant or definition made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.
1.5 Divisions. Any restriction, condition or prohibition applicable to a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale or transfer, or similar term set forth in the Loan Documents shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability companies, including any “Division” or other process or action permitted under Section 18-217 of Title 6 of the Delaware Code, as if it were a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale or transfer, or similar term, as applicable. Any reference in any Loan Document to a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability companies (or the unwinding of such a division or allocation), as if it were a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale or transfer, or similar term, as applicable, to, of or with a separate Person. Any division of a limited liability company shall constitute a separate Person under the Loan Documents (and each division of any limited liability company that is a Subsidiary, joint venture or any other like term shall also constitute such a Person or entity). For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.
1.6
Notification and Limitation of Liability – LIBOR and Related Matters. The interest rate on LIBOR Loans is determined
by reference to LIBOR, which is derived from the London Interbank Offered Rate, and the London Interbank Offered Rate is currently administered
by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (“IBA”). The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced in July 2017 that,
after December 31, 2021, it would no longer persuade or compel contributing banks to make rate submissions to IBA. As a result, it is
possible that the London Interbank Offered Rate may no longer be available after such date or may no longer be deemed an appropriate reference
rate upon which to determine the interest rate on LIBOR Loans. Section 4.9 provides a mechanism for (a) determining an alternative
rate of interest in the event that LIBOR (or any then-current Benchmark, as defined in Section 4.9) or any component thereof is
no longer available or in the other circumstances set forth in that Section and (b) modifying this Agreement to give effect to such alternative
rate of interest. Neither the Administrative Agent nor BBVA USAPNC
individually, nor any Affiliate of BBVA USAPNC,
warrants or accepts any responsibility for, or shall have any liability with respect to, (i) the administration or submission of, or any
other matter related to, the London Interbank Offered Rate, LIBOR (or any component thereof) or any such other Benchmark (or any component
thereof) or, in each case, with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto or replacement rate thereof, including, without limitation,
whether any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate, as it may or may not be adjusted pursuant to this Agreement, will
have the same value as, or be economically equivalent to, LIBOR or any such other Benchmark that is replaced, or (ii) the effect, implementation
or composition of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, as defined in Section 4.9. References herein to a component of,
or a published component used in the calculation of, LIBOR are deemed to include the Screen Rate.
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Article II. CREDIT FACILITY
Subject to the terms and conditions of, and in reliance upon the representations and warranties made in, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, Lenders agree to make a Total Credit Facility of up to $17,000,000 as increased or decreased from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof, available upon Borrowers’ request therefor, as follows:
2.1 Revolving Credit Loans.
2.1.1 Revolving Credit Commitments. Each Revolving Credit Lender agrees, severally and not jointly, to make Revolving Credit Loans to Borrowers from time to time during the Revolving Commitment Period, as requested by Borrower Representative, on its own behalf and on behalf of all other Borrowers in the manner set forth in subsection 4.1.1 hereof, up to a maximum principal amount at any time outstanding equal to the lesser of (i) such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and (ii) the product of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage and the amount of the Line Cap at such time, minus, in each case, the product of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage and an amount equal to the sum of the LC Amount. Within the foregoing limits, Borrowers may borrow, repay and reborrow Revolving Credit Loans. The Revolving Credit Loans shall be secured by all of the Collateral.
2.1.2 Overadvances. Insofar as (i) Borrower Representative, on its own behalf and on behalf of all other Borrowers, may request and Administrative Agent (as provided below) may be willing in its sole and absolute discretion to make Revolving Credit Loans to Borrowers or (ii) Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, makes Revolving Credit Loans on behalf of Lenders, if Administrative Agent, in its reasonable credit judgment, deems that such Revolving Credit Loans are necessary or desirable (a) to protect all or any portion of the Collateral, (b) to enhance the likelihood, or maximize the amount of, repayment of the Loans and the other Obligations, or (c) to pay any other amount chargeable to Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement, including without limitation costs, fees and expenses as described in Sections 3.7 and 3.8, in each case, at a time when the unpaid balance of Revolving Credit Loans plus the LC Amount exceeds, or would exceed with the making of any such Revolving Credit Loan, the Borrowing Base (such Loan or Loans being herein referred to individually as an “Overadvance” and collectively, as “Overadvances”), Administrative Agent shall enter such Overadvances as debits in the Loan Account. All Overadvances shall be repaid on demand, shall be secured by the Collateral and shall bear interest as provided in this Agreement for Revolving Credit Loans generally. Any Overadvance made pursuant to the terms hereof shall be made by all Revolving Credit Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Percentages. The foregoing notwithstanding, (i) unless otherwise consented to by Majority Lenders, Overadvances shall not be outstanding for more than sixty (60) consecutive days, and (ii) unless otherwise consented to by all Lenders, no Overadvances shall be permitted to the extent that such Overadvances would cause the Aggregate Revolving Extensions to exceed the Revolving Credit Maximum Amount.
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2.2 Letters of Credit.
2.2.1 Letters of Credit Commitment.
(i) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Issuing Bank, in reliance on the agreements of the other Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in subsection 2.2.3(i), agrees to issue Letters of Credit for the account of any Borrower on any Business Day during the Revolving Commitment Period in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Issuing Bank; provided that the Issuing Bank shall have no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, (A) the LC Amount shall exceed the LC Sublimit, or (B) the principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans then outstanding plus the LC Amount, shall not exceed the Line Cap.
(ii) Each Letter of Credit shall (A) be denominated in U.S. Dollars, (B) have a face amount of at least $50,000 (unless otherwise agreed by the Issuing Bank), and (C) expire no later than the earlier of (1) the first anniversary of its date of issuance and (2) the date that is ten (10) Business Days prior to the Revolving Termination Date, provided that any Letter of Credit with a one-year term may provide for the renewal thereof for additional one-year periods (which shall in no event extend beyond the date referred to in clause (2) above).
(iii) The Issuing Bank shall not at any time be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit if:
(a) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would conflict with, or cause the Issuing Bank or any Revolving Credit Lender to exceed any limits imposed by, any Applicable Law;
(b) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the Issuing Bank from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Applicable Law applicable to the Issuing Bank or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the Issuing Bank shall prohibit or request that the Issuing Bank refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the Issuing Bank with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the Issuing Bank any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the Issuing Bank in good faith deems material to it;
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(c) any Revolving Credit Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless the Issuing Bank has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of cash collateral for Letters of Credit, satisfactory to the Issuing Bank (in its sole discretion) with the Borrowers or such Lender to eliminate the Issuing Bank’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to subsection 4.11.2) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other LC Obligations as to which the Issuing Bank has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion; or
(d) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the Issuing Bank.
(iv) The Issuing Bank shall act on behalf of the Revolving Credit Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the Issuing Bank shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Administrative Agent in Section 12 with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the Issuing Bank in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and the documents associated therewith as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Section 12 included the Issuing Bank with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to the Issuing Bank.
(v) References herein to “issue” and derivations thereof with respect to Letters of Credit shall also include extensions or modifications of any outstanding Letters of Credit, unless the content otherwise requires.
2.2.2 Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit. Borrower Representative may from time to time request that the Issuing Bank issue a Letter of Credit by delivering to the Issuing Bank at its address for notices specified herein an LC Application therefor, completed to the satisfaction of the Issuing Bank, and such other certificates, documents and other Issuer Documents and information as the Issuing Bank may request. Upon receipt of any LC Application, the Issuing Bank will process such LC Application and the certificates, documents and other papers and information delivered to it in connection therewith in accordance with its customary procedures and shall promptly issue the Letter of Credit requested thereby (but in no event shall the Issuing Bank be required to issue any Letter of Credit earlier than three (3) Business Days after its receipt of the LC Application therefor and all such other certificates, documents and other papers and information relating thereto) by issuing the original of such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof or as otherwise may be agreed to by the Issuing Bank and any Borrower. The Issuing Bank shall furnish a copy of such Letter of Credit to the applicable Borrower promptly following the issuance thereof. The Issuing Bank shall promptly furnish to the Administrative Agent, which shall in turn promptly furnish to the Lenders, notice of the issuance of each Letter of Credit (including the amount thereof).
2.2.3 LC Participations.
(i) The Issuing Bank irrevocably agrees to grant and hereby grants to each LC Participant, and, to induce the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder, each LC Participant irrevocably agrees to accept and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from the Issuing Bank, on the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, for such LC Participant’s own account and risk an undivided interest equal to such LC Participant’s Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage in the Issuing Bank’s obligations and rights under and in respect of each Letter of Credit issued hereunder and the amount of each draft paid by the Issuing Bank thereunder. Each LC Participant unconditionally and irrevocably agrees with the Issuing Bank that, if a draft is paid under any Letter of Credit for which the Issuing Bank is not reimbursed in full by the Borrowers in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such LC Participant shall pay to the Issuing Bank upon demand at the Issuing Bank’s address for notices specified herein an amount equal to such LC Participant’s Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of the amount of such draft, or any part thereof, that is not so reimbursed.
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(ii) If any amount required to be paid by any LC Participant to the Issuing Bank pursuant to subsection 2.2.3(i) in respect of any unreimbursed portion of any payment made by the Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit is paid to the Issuing Bank within three (3) Business Days after the date such payment is due, such LC Participant shall pay to the Issuing Bank on demand an amount equal to the product of (A) such amount, times, (B) the daily average Federal Funds Rate during the period from and including the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Issuing Bank, times, (C) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse during such period and the denominator of which is 360. If any such amount required to be paid by any LC Participant pursuant to subsection 2.2.3(i) is not made available to the Issuing Bank by such LC Participant within three (3) Business Days after the date such payment is due, the Issuing Bank shall be entitled to recover from such LC Participant, on demand, such amount with interest thereon calculated from such due date at the rate per annum applicable to Base Rate Revolving Credit Loans. A certificate of the Issuing Bank submitted to any LC Participant with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.2 shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.
(iii) Whenever, at any time after the Issuing Bank has made payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any LC Participant its pro rata share of such payment in accordance with subsection 2.2.3(i), the Issuing Bank receives any payment related to such Letter of Credit (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of collateral applied thereto by the Issuing Bank), or any payment of interest on account thereof, the Issuing Bank will distribute to such LC Participant its pro rata share thereof; provided, however, that in the event that any such payment received by the Issuing Bank shall be required to be returned by the Issuing Bank, such LC Participant shall return to the Issuing Bank the portion thereof previously distributed by the Issuing Bank to it.
(iv) Each LC Participant’s obligation to purchase participating interests pursuant to subsection 2.2.3(i) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such LC Participant or any Borrower may have against the Issuing Bank, any Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or an Event of Default or the failure to satisfy any of the other conditions specified in Section 10; (C) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of any Loan Party; (D) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by any Borrower, any other Loan Party or any other Lender; or (E) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.
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2.2.4 Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower. If any draft is paid under any Letter of Credit, the Borrowers shall reimburse the Issuing Bank for the amount of (i) the draft so paid and (ii) any taxes, fees, charges or other out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred by the Issuing Bank in connection with such payment, not later than 12:00 Noon (Central time), on (A) the Business Day that the Borrower Representative receives notice of such draft, if such notice is received on such day prior to 10:00 A.M (Central time), or (B) if clause (A) above does not apply, the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower Representative receives such notice. Each such payment shall be made to the Issuing Bank at its address for notices referred to herein in U.S. Dollars and in immediately available funds. Interest shall be payable on any such amounts from the date on which the relevant draft is paid until payment in full at (x) until the Business Day next succeeding the date of the relevant notice, the interest rate for Base Rate Revolving Credit Loans and (y) thereafter, the Default Rate.
2.2.5 Obligations Absolute. The Borrowers’ obligations under this Section 2.2 shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and irrespective of any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or defense to payment that any Borrower may have or have had against the Issuing Bank, any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit or any other Person. The Borrowers also agree with the Issuing Bank that the Issuing Bank shall not be responsible for, and the Borrowers’ LC Reimbursement Obligations under subsection 2.2.4 shall not be affected by, among other things, the validity or genuineness of documents or of any endorsements thereon, even though such documents shall in fact prove to be invalid, fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between or among any Borrower and any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other party to which such Letter of Credit may be transferred or any claims whatsoever of any Borrower against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit or any such transferee. THE ISSUING BANK SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY ERROR, OMISSION, INTERRUPTION OR DELAY IN TRANSMISSION, DISPATCH OR DELIVERY OF ANY MESSAGE OR ADVICE, HOWEVER TRANSMITTED, IN CONNECTION WITH ANY LETTER OF CREDIT, EXCEPT FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS FOUND BY A FINAL AND NONAPPEALABLE DECISION OF A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO HAVE RESULTED FROM THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF THE ISSUING BANK. THE BORROWERS AGREE THAT ANY ACTION TAKEN OR OMITTED BY THE ISSUING BANK UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY LETTER OF CREDIT OR THE RELATED DRAFTS OR ISSUER DOCUMENTS, IF DONE IN THE ABSENCE OF GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, SHALL BE BINDING ON THE BORROWERS AND SHALL NOT RESULT IN ANY LIABILITY OF THE ISSUING BANK TO ANY BORROWER.
2.2.6 Letter of Credit Payments. If any draft shall be presented for payment under any Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Borrower Representative of the date and amount thereof. The responsibility of the Issuing Bank to the Borrowers in connection with any draft presented for payment under any Letter of Credit shall, in addition to any payment obligation expressly provided for in such Letter of Credit, be limited to determining that the documents (including each draft) delivered under such Letter of Credit in connection with such presentment are substantially in conformity with such Letter of Credit.
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2.2.7 Issuer Documents. In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.
2.3 Term Loan.
2.3.1 Term Loan Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, each Term Lender agrees, severally and not jointly, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to make one or more advances to Borrower from time to time during the Term Loan Draw Period (each a “Term Loan Advance”, and all such Term Loan Advances the “Term Loan”) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed eighty percent (80%) of the hard cost (excluding taxes, shipping, delivery, handling, installation and other so-called “soft” costs) evidenced by an invoice not more than six (6) months prior to the date of the proposed advance of Eligible Machinery and Equipment of Borrower specifically identified by Borrower as constituting the basis for the requested Term Loan Advance, which Equipment must constitute Eligible Machinery and Equipment and which Equipment must not have been specifically identified by Borrower with an earlier existing Term Loan Advance; provided, however, that the aggregate amount advanced for all such Term Loan Advances shall not exceed $2,000,000. Amounts repaid with respect to the Term Loan may not be reborrowed.
2.3.2 Procedures. Borrower shall comply with the following procedures in requesting a Term Loan Advance:
(i) All requests for a Term Loan Advance must be in writing to Administrative Agent and must include a description of the relevant Equipment, the amount of the requested Term Loan Advance, and all other documents, agreements and information as reasonably required by Administrative Agent.
(ii) Each Term Loan Advance must be in a minimum amount of at least $250,000.
(iii) All requests for a Term Loan Advance must be made in advance of and provide sufficient time for the Administrative Agent to receive an appraisal satisfactory to it in its reasonable discretion prior to the requested date of such Term Loan Advance.
(iv) All requests for a Term Loan Advance must be made during the Term Loan Draw Period.
2.4 Accordion. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 2.4, from and after the Closing Date, the Revolving Credit Maximum Amount may be increased at any time (but on no more than two occasions) until the Revolving Credit Maturity Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000 and in increments of $5,000,000 (or in such lesser amount as required to draw the full remaining amount):
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2.4.1 Not more than ninety (90) days and not less than thirty (30) days prior to the proposed effective date of such increase in the Revolving Credit Maximum Amount, the Borrowers may make a written request for such increase to the Administrative Agent, who shall notify each Revolving Credit Lender. Each request by the Borrowers pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence shall specify a proposed effective date of such increase (the “Requested Increase Effective Date”), the aggregate amount of such requested increase (the “Requested Increase Amount”), and shall constitute an invitation to each Revolving Credit Lender to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment by its Pro Rata Percentage of such Requested Increase Amount.
2.4.2 Each Revolving Credit Lender, acting in its sole discretion and with no obligations to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant to this Section 2.4, shall, within ten (10) days after the Borrowers’ request, provide a preliminary indication to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with respect to such proposed Revolving Credit Commitment increase, and within thirty (30) days after the Borrowers’ request, provide written notice to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent of its final decision. Any such Revolving Credit Lender may accept all of its Pro Rata Percentage of such increase, a portion of such increase, or decline to accept any of such increase in the Revolving Credit Commitment. If any Revolving Credit Lender shall not have responded affirmatively within such ten (10) day period, such Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to have rejected the Borrowers’ request for an increase in the Revolving Credit Commitment in full. Promptly following the conclusion of such ten (10) day period, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrowers of the results of such request to the Revolving Credit Lenders to so increase the Revolving Credit Commitment by the Requested Increase Amount.
2.4.3 If the aggregate amount of the increase in the Revolving Credit Commitments which the Revolving Credit Lenders have accepted in accordance with subsection 2.4.2 is less than the Requested Increase Amount, the Administrative Agent shall provide notice to the other Revolving Credit Lenders, and the other Revolving Credit Lenders shall have a five (5) day period in which to provide the Administrative Agent written notice to provide the remaining Requested Increase Amount. If two or more Revolving Credit Lenders offer to provide the remaining Requested Increase Amount, such Revolving Credit Lenders shall divide such amount in accordance with their Pro Rata Percentage prior to giving effect to the increase to the Revolving Credit Maximum Amount.
2.4.4 The effectiveness of all such increases in the Revolving Credit Maximum Amount are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(i) the Administrative Agent shall have approved the Requested Increase Amount;
(ii) the Borrowers shall have delivered a Revolving Credit Note including the Requested Increase Amount to any Revolving Credit Lender providing such increase;
(iii) the Borrowers shall have paid the fees set forth in the Fee Letter and any other fees and other amounts under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
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(iv) the representations and warranties of each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, as to any representations and warranties which are subject to a materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifier, true and correct in all respects) on the date hereof, and upon giving effect to, any funding of the Requested Increase Amount (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to an earlier date);
(v) no Default or Event of Default exists or would result after giving effect to the funding of such Requested Increase Amount;
(vi) since the Closing Date, there has not been any material adverse change in the business, assets, financial condition, income, performance or operations of any Loan Party and no event or condition exists which would be reasonably likely to result in any Material Adverse Effect;
(vii) the Borrowers shall have delivered a certificate of a responsible officer of the Borrowers as to the matters set forth in clauses (iv)-(vi) of this subsection 2.4.4.
2.4.5 Schedule 1 shall be updated to reflect any increase of the Revolving Credit Maximum Amount as set forth in this Section 2.4.
2.4.6 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Ineligible Lender shall provide any Requested Increase Amount.
Article III. INTEREST, FEES AND CHARGES
3.1 Interest.
3.1.1 Rates of Interest. Interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Base Rate Loans outstanding at the end of each day at a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin then in effect plus the Base Rate; provided that in no event shall the Applicable Margin then in effect plus the Base Rate at any time be less than the Applicable Margin plus two percent (2%) per annum. Such rate of interest shall increase or decrease by an amount equal to any increase or decrease in the Base Rate, effective as of the opening of business on the day that any such change in the Base Rate occurs. If Borrower Representative, on its own behalf and on behalf of all other Borrowers, exercises the LIBOR Option as provided in Section 4.1, interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the LIBOR Loans outstanding at the end of each day at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin then in effect plus LIBOR applicable to each LIBOR Loan for the corresponding Interest Period; provided that in no event shall the Applicable Margin then in effect plus LIBOR applicable to such LIBOR Loan at any time be less than the Applicable Margin then in effect plus one percent (1%) per annum.
3.1.2 Default Rate of Interest. At the option of Administrative Agent, upon and after the occurrence of an Event of Default, and during the continuation thereof, all Obligations shall bear interest or earn fees at a rate per annum equal to 2.0% plus the rate otherwise applicable thereto (the “Default Rate”).
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3.1.3 Maximum Interest. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan or any extension of credit under the Loan Documents, together with all fees, charges and other amounts that are treated as interest on such Loan or extension of credit under Applicable Law (collectively, “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) that may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by any Lender, Agent or Issuing Bank in accordance with Applicable Law, the rate of interest payable hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate. To the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been paid in respect of such Loan or extension of credit but were not paid as a result of the operation of this subsection shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender, Agent or Issuing Bank shall be increased (but not above the amount collectible at the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Rate for each day to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender, Agent or Issuing Bank. Any amount collected by such Lender, Agent or Issuing Bank that exceeds the maximum amount collectible at the Maximum Rate shall be applied to the reduction of the principal balance of such Loan or extension of credit or refunded to Borrowers so that at no time shall the interest and Charges paid or payable in respect of such Loan or extension of credit exceed the maximum amount collectible at the Maximum Rate. To the extent Chapter 303 of the Texas Finance Code is relevant to such Lender, Agent or Issuing Bank for purposes of determining the Maximum Rate, such Lender, Agent or Issuing Bank may elect to determine the Maximum Rate under the Texas Finance Code pursuant to the “weekly ceiling” from time to time in effect, as referred to in Chapter 303 of the Texas Finance Code; subject, however, to any right such Lender, Agent or Issuing Bank subsequently may have under Applicable Law to change the method of determining the Maximum Rate.
3.2 Computation of Interest and Fees. Interest with respect to Base Rate Loans, LIBOR Loans, Letter of Credit fees and Unused Line Fees hereunder shall be calculated daily and shall be computed on the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days and a 30-day month (unless computation would result in an interest rate in excess of the Maximum Rate, in which event the computation is made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be).
3.3 Fee Letter. Borrowers shall pay to Administrative Agent certain fees and other amounts in accordance with the terms of the fee letter between Borrowers and Administrative Agent (the “Fee Letter”).
3.4 Letter of Credit Fees. Borrowers shall pay to Administrative Agent (i) for the ratable benefit of Revolving Credit Lenders, a per annum fee equal to the Applicable Margin then in effect for LIBOR Revolving Credit Loans multiplied by the aggregate undrawn available amount of such Letters of Credit outstanding from time to time during the term of this Agreement, (ii) for the benefit of Issuing Bank, all normal and customary charges associated with the issuance, processing and administration thereof, which fees and charges shall be deemed fully earned upon issuance of each such Letter of Credit or as advised by Administrative Agent or Issuing Bank, and (iii) for the benefit of Issuing Bank, a per annum fronting fee equal to 0.125% of the aggregate face amount of such Letters of Credit outstanding from time to time during the term of this Agreement. Such fees and charges shall be payable in arrears on each LC Fee Payment Date or as advised by Administrative Agent or Issuing Bank and shall not be subject to rebate or proration upon the termination of this Agreement for any reason.
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3.5 Unused Line Fees.
3.5.1 On each Fee Payment Date, Borrowers shall pay to Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of Lenders, a commitment fee equal to the sum of the Revolving Daily Unused Fee Amounts for each day of the Fee Period immediately preceding such Fee Payment Date. On the Revolving Termination Date, Borrowers shall pay to Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of Lenders, a commitment fee equal to the sum of the Revolving Daily Unused Fee Amounts for each day of the period from the immediately preceding Fee Payment Date up to but not including the Revolving Termination Date.
3.5.2 On each Fee Payment Date, Borrowers shall pay to Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of Lenders, a commitment fee equal to the sum of the Term Loan Daily Unused Fee Amounts for each day of the Fee Period immediately preceding such Fee Payment Date. On the Term Loan Termination Date, Borrowers shall pay to Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of Lenders, a commitment fee equal to the sum of the Term Loan Daily Unused Fee Amounts for each day of the period from the immediately preceding Fee Payment Date up to but not including the Term Loan Termination Date.
3.5.3 The fees in this Section shall be due and payable in arrears on each Fee Payment Date, the Revolving Termination Date, and the Term Loan Termination Date.
3.6 [Reserved].
3.7 Reimbursement of Expenses. If, at any time or times regardless of whether or not an Event of Default then exists, (i) any Agent incurs legal or accounting expenses or any other costs or out-of-pocket expenses in connection with (a) the negotiation and preparation of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, any amendment of or modification of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, or any syndication or attempted syndication of the Obligations (including, without limitation, printing and distribution of materials to prospective Lenders and all costs associated with bank meetings, but excluding any closing fees paid to Lenders in connection therewith) or (b) the administration of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, or (ii) any Agent or any Lender incurs legal or accounting expenses or any other costs or out-of-pocket expenses in connection with (a) any litigation, contest, dispute, suit, proceeding or action (whether instituted by any Agent, any Lender, any Borrower or any other Person) relating to the Collateral, this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or any Borrower’s, any of its Subsidiaries’ or any Guarantor’s affairs, (b) any attempt to enforce any rights of Administrative Agent or any Lender against any Borrower or any other Person which may be obligated to Administrative Agent or any Lender by virtue of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or (c) any attempt to inspect, verify, protect, preserve, restore, collect, sell, liquidate or otherwise dispose of or realize upon the Collateral, including, without limitation, any excise, property, sales, and use taxes imposed by any state, federal, or local authority on any of the Collateral or in respect of the sale thereof; then all such legal and accounting expenses, other costs and out-of-pocket expenses of Administrative Agent or any Lender, as applicable, shall be charged to Borrowers; provided, that, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), any such legal expenses shall be limited to one counsel for Administrative Agent and one local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction, if necessary, and, in the case of clause (ii), one additional counsel for all Lenders other than Administrative Agent. All amounts chargeable to Borrowers under this Section 3.7 shall be Obligations secured by all of the Collateral, shall be payable on demand to Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and shall bear interest from the date such demand is made until paid in full at the rate applicable to Base Rate Revolving Credit Loans from time to time. Borrowers shall also reimburse Administrative Agent for expenses incurred by any Agent to the extent and in the manner provided in Sections 3.8 and 3.9 hereof.
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3.8 Bank Charges. Borrowers shall pay to Administrative Agent, on demand, any and all fees, costs or expenses which Administrative Agent or any Lender pays to a bank or other similar institution arising out of or in connection with (i) the forwarding to any Borrower or any other Person on behalf of any Borrower, by Administrative Agent or any Lender, of proceeds of Loans made to Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) the depositing for collection by Administrative Agent or any Lender of any check or item of payment received or delivered to Administrative Agent or any Lender on account of the Obligations.
3.9 Appraisals; Field Examinations. Each Loan Party will permit, and will cause each Subsidiary to permit, each Agent and its representatives to (i) conduct field examinations with respect to the Collateral and (iii) after the outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan exceeds $500,000, obtain full or desktop appraisals (or updates of existing appraisals) of all Equipment of each Loan Party or Subsidiary in form and substance satisfactory to Collateral Agent from an appraiser selected and engaged by Collateral Agent, provided that, no more than one appraisal and two field examinations during any calendar year will be at Borrowers’ cost and expense, unless (i) an Excess Availability Triggering Event has occurred and until such Cure Date, or (ii) a Default or an Event of Default exists, in which case one additional appraisal (for the avoidance of doubt, permitted regardless of the then outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan) and one additional field examination per calendar year will be at Borrowers’ cost and expense. Administrative Agent may, in its discretion upon prior notice to Borrowers, provide for the payment of such amounts by making appropriate Revolving Credit Loans to Borrowers and charging Borrowers’ Loan Account therefor.
3.10 Payment of Charges. All amounts chargeable to Borrowers under this Agreement shall be Obligations secured by all of the Collateral, shall be, unless specifically otherwise provided, payable on demand and shall bear interest from the date demand was made or such amount is due, as applicable, until paid in full at the rate applicable to Base Rate Revolving Credit Loans from time to time.
3.11 Taxes.
3.11.1 No Deductions. Any and all payments or reimbursements made hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, other than Excluded Taxes (collectively, “Indemnified Taxes”). If Applicable Law requires a deduction for any such Indemnified Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank or any Lender, then the sum payable hereunder shall be increased as may be necessary so that, after all required deductions are made, Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank or such Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made.
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3.11.2 Indemnification for Taxes. The Loan Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank and each Lender, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes payable or paid by Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank or such Lender or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank or such Lender and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability prepared in good faith and delivered to the Loan Parties by Issuing Bank or a Lender (with a copy to Administrative Agent), or by Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of Issuing Bank or a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement, the obligation of the Loan Parties under this Section 3.11 shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
3.11.3 Status of Lenders. Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to any payments made hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to Borrowers and Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Loan Parties or Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Loan Parties or Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Loan Parties or Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Loan Parties or Administrative Agent as will the Loan Parties, Borrowers or Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
(i) each U.S. Lender shall deliver to the Loan Parties and Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such U.S. Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Loan Parties or Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding;
(ii) each Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Loan Parties and Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Loan Parties or Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
(a) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN (or any successor forms) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding, and such other documentation as required by the Code;
(b) executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI (or any successor forms);
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(c) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 871(h) or Section 881I of the Code, (x) certificates substantially in the form of Exhibit 3.11 (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN (or any successor form); or
(d) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY (or any successor form), accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents (or successor forms) from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided, that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership (and not a participating lender) and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate may be provided by such Foreign Lender on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(iii) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally eligible to do so, deliver to the Loan Parties and Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Loan Parties or Administrative Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Loan Parties or Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and
(iv) 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 Loan Parties and Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Loan Parties or Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Loan Parties or Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Loan Parties and Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA, to determine whether such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA and/or to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment.
Each Lender agrees that if any documentation it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall promptly update such documentation or promptly notify the Loan Parties and Administrative Agent in writing of its inability to do so. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this subsection 3.11.3, a Lender shall not be required to deliver any documentation that such Lender is not legally eligible to deliver.
3.12 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Documents, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
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(i) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and
(ii) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(a) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(b) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA 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
(c) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.
Article IV. LOAN ADMINISTRATION
4.1 Procedures for Borrowing and LIBOR Option. Borrowings under the credit facility established pursuant to Section 2 hereof shall be as follows:
4.1.1 Loan Requests. Requests for a Revolving Credit Loan shall be made, or shall be deemed to be made, in the following manner:
(i) Borrower Representative, on its own behalf and on behalf of all other Borrowers, may give Administrative Agent notice of its intention to borrow, in which notice Borrower Representative shall specify the amount of the proposed borrowing of a Revolving Credit Loan (which shall be no less than $500,000 or an integral multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof in the case of Base Rate Revolving Credit Loans) and the proposed borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day, no later than 11:00 a.m. (Central time) on the proposed borrowing date (or in accordance with subsection 4.1.7 or 4.1.8, as applicable, in the case of a request for a LIBOR Loan). There shall be no minimum borrowing amount for Base Rate Revolving Credit Loans during the period of time Cash Dominion is in effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a notice of its intention to borrow shall not be required to be delivered if the Borrowers and Administrative Agent have implemented automatic sweep to line functionality such that Revolving Credit Loans are automatically funded to the Borrowers’ operating account to fund the payments of disbursements from such operating account.
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(ii) On the date on which any amount required to be paid under this Agreement, whether as interest, repayment of LC Obligations pursuant to Section 2.2, or for any other Obligation, becomes due and payable, Borrower Representative, on its own behalf and on behalf of all other Borrowers, shall be deemed irrevocably to have made a request for a Revolving Credit Loan on such due date in the amount required to pay such interest or other Obligation.
4.1.2 Disbursement. The proceeds of each Revolving Credit Loan requested pursuant to subsection 4.1.1(i) shall be disbursed by Administrative Agent in lawful money of the United States of America in immediately available funds, in the case of the initial requested borrowing, in accordance with the terms of the written disbursement letter from Borrower Representative, on its own behalf and on behalf of all other Borrowers, and in the case of each subsequent requested borrowing, by wire transfer to such bank account as may be agreed upon by Borrowers and Administrative Agent from time to time or elsewhere if pursuant to a written direction from Borrower Representative. The proceeds of each Revolving Credit Loan that is deemed requested pursuant to subsection 4.1.1(ii) shall be disbursed by Administrative Agent in lawful money of the United States of America in immediately available funds by way of direct payment of the relevant interest or other Obligation. If at any time any Loan is funded by Administrative Agent or Lenders in excess of the amount requested or deemed requested by Borrowers, Borrowers agree to repay the excess to Administrative Agent immediately upon the earlier to occur of (a) any Borrower’s discovery of the error and (b) notice thereof to Borrowers from Administrative Agent or any Lender.
4.1.3 Payment by Lenders. Administrative Agent shall give to each Lender prompt written notice by facsimile, e-mail or otherwise of the receipt by Administrative Agent from Borrower Representative of any request for a Revolving Credit Loan. Each such notice shall specify the requested date and amount of such Revolving Credit Loan, whether such Revolving Credit Loan shall be subject to the LIBOR Option, and the amount of each Lender’s advance thereunder (in accordance with its applicable Pro Rata Percentage). Each Lender shall, not later than 12:00 p.m. (Central time) on such requested date, wire to a bank designated by Administrative Agent the amount of that Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of the requested Revolving Credit Loan. The failure of any Lender to make the Revolving Credit Loans to be made by it shall not release any other Lender of its obligations hereunder to make its Revolving Credit Loan. Neither Administrative Agent nor any other Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Revolving Credit Loan to be made by such other Lender. The foregoing notwithstanding, Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, may from its own funds make a Revolving Credit Loan on behalf of any Lender. In such event, the Lender on behalf of whom Administrative Agent made the Revolving Credit Loan shall reimburse Administrative Agent for the amount of such Revolving Credit Loan made on its behalf, on a weekly (or more frequent, as determined by Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) basis. On each such settlement date, Administrative Agent will pay to each Lender the net amount owing to such Lender in connection with such settlement, including without limitation amounts relating to Loans, fees, interest and other amounts payable hereunder. The entire amount of interest attributable to such Revolving Credit Loan for the period from the date on which such Revolving Credit Loan was made by Administrative Agent on such Lender’s behalf until Administrative Agent is reimbursed by such Lender, shall be paid to Administrative Agent for its own account.
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4.1.4 Authorization. Borrowers hereby irrevocably authorize Administrative Agent, in Administrative Agent’s sole discretion, to advance to Borrowers, and to charge to Borrowers’ Loan Account hereunder as a Revolving Credit Loan (which shall be a Base Rate Revolving Credit Loan), a sum sufficient to pay all interest accrued on the Obligations during the immediately preceding month or quarter, as the case may be, and to pay all fees, costs and expenses and other Obligations at any time owed by any Borrower to Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder.
4.1.5 [Reserved].
4.1.6 Method of Making Requests. As an accommodation to Borrowers, unless a Default or an Event of Default is then in existence, (i) Administrative Agent shall permit telephonic or electronic requests for Revolving Credit Loans to Administrative Agent, (ii) Administrative Agent and Issuing Bank may, in their discretion, permit electronic transmittal of requests for Letters of Credit to them, and (iii) Administrative Agent may, in Administrative Agent’s discretion, permit electronic transmittal of instructions, authorizations, agreements or reports to Administrative Agent. Unless Borrower Representative, on its own behalf and on behalf of all other Borrowers specifically directs Administrative Agent or Issuing Bank in writing not to accept or act upon telephonic or electronic communications from any Borrower, neither Administrative Agent nor Issuing Bank shall have any liability to Borrowers for any loss or damage suffered by any Borrower as a result of Administrative Agent’s or Issuing Bank’s honoring of any requests, execution of any instructions, authorizations or agreements or reliance on any reports communicated to it telephonically or electronically and purporting to have been sent to Administrative Agent or Issuing Bank by any Borrower, and neither Administrative Agent nor Issuing Bank shall have any duty to verify the origin of any such communication or the authority of the Person sending it. Each telephonic request for a Revolving Credit Loan or Letter of Credit accepted by Administrative Agent and Issuing Bank, if applicable, hereunder shall be promptly followed by a written confirmation of such request from Borrower Representative to Administrative Agent and Issuing Bank, if applicable.
4.1.7 LIBOR Loan Request. By delivering a borrowing request to Administrative Agent on or before 10:00 a.m., Central time, on a Business Day, Borrower Representative, on its own behalf and on behalf of each other Borrower, may from time to time irrevocably request, on not less than three nor more than five Business Days’ notice, that a LIBOR Loan be made in a minimum amount of $500,000 and integral multiples of $100,000, with an Interest Period of one, two, three or six months. On the terms and subject to the conditions of this agreement, each LIBOR Loan shall be made available to Borrowers no later than 11:00 a.m. Central time on the first day of the applicable Interest Period by deposit to the account of the applicable Borrower as shall have been specified in its borrowing request. In no event shall Borrowers be permitted to have outstanding at any one time LIBOR Loans with more than six different Interest Periods.
4.1.8 Continuation and Conversion Elections. By delivering a continuation/conversion notice to Administrative Agent on or before 10:00 a.m., Central time, on a Business Day, Borrower Representative, on its own behalf and on behalf of each other Borrower, may from time to time irrevocably elect, on not less than three nor more than five Business Days’ notice, that all, or any portion in an aggregate minimum amount of $500,000 and integral multiples of $100,000, of any LIBOR Loan be converted on the last day of an Interest Period into a LIBOR Loan with a different Interest Period, or continued on the last day of an Interest Period as a LIBOR Loan with a similar Interest Period, provided, however, that no portion of the outstanding principal amount of any LIBOR Loans may be converted to, or continued as, LIBOR Loans when any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and no portion of the outstanding principal amount of any LIBOR Loans may be converted to LIBOR Loans of a different duration if such LIBOR Loans relate to any Derivative Obligations. If any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or in the absence of delivery of a continuation/conversion notice with respect to any LIBOR Loan at least three Business Days before the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto, each maturing LIBOR Loan shall automatically be continued as a Base Rate Loan.
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4.1.9 Voluntary Prepayment of LIBOR Loans. LIBOR Loans may be prepaid upon the terms and conditions set forth herein. For LIBOR Loans in connection with which Borrowers have or may incur Derivative Obligations, additional obligations may be associated with prepayment, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable underlying agreements relating to such Derivative Obligations. Borrower Representative, on its own behalf and on behalf of each other Borrower, shall give Administrative Agent, no later than 10:00 a.m., Central time, at least four (4) Business Days’ notice of any proposed prepayment of any LIBOR Loan, specifying the proposed date of payment of such LIBOR Loan, and the principal amount to be paid. Each partial prepayment of the principal amount of any such LIBOR Loan shall be in a minimum amount of $500,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 and accompanied by the payment of all charges outstanding on such LIBOR Loans and of all accrued interest on the principal repaid to the date of payment. Borrowers acknowledge that prepayment or acceleration of a LIBOR Loan during an Interest Period applicable thereto shall result in Lenders incurring additional costs, expenses and/or liabilities and that it is extremely difficult and impractical to ascertain the extent of such costs, expenses and/or liabilities. Therefore, all full or partial prepayments of LIBOR Loans shall be accompanied by, and Borrowers hereby promise to pay, on each date a LIBOR Loan is prepaid or the date all sums payable hereunder become due and payable, by acceleration or otherwise, in addition to all other sums then owing, an amount equal to the loss, cost and expense incurred by each Lender attributable to such event (including any loss, expense or liability incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds required by such Lender to fund its LIBOR Loans and any loss, expense or liability relating to any currency swap entered into by such Lender to fund such LIBOR Loan, but excluding loss of anticipated profits) (“LIBOR Loan Prepayment Fee”). A certificate of any Lender setting forth in reasonable detail any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this subsection 4.1.9 shall be delivered to Borrower Representative (with a copy to Administrative Agent) and shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error.
4.2 Payments. The Obligations shall be payable as follows:
4.2.1 Principal.
(i) Revolving Credit Loans. Principal on account of Revolving Credit Loans shall be payable by Borrowers to Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of Lenders immediately upon the earliest of (i) the occurrence of an Event of Default in consequence of which Administrative Agent or Majority Lenders elect to accelerate the maturity and payment of the Obligations, or (ii) termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 5 hereof; provided, however, that, if an Overadvance shall exist at any time, Borrowers shall, on demand, repay the Overadvance. Each payment by Borrowers on account of principal of the Revolving Credit Loans shall be applied first to Base Rate Revolving Credit Loans and then to LIBOR Revolving Credit Loans.
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(ii) Term Loan. Beginning on the first day of the second full month following each Term Loan Advance, and on the first day of each month thereafter, principal payable on account of such Term Loan Advance shall be paid in equal monthly installments equal to an amount sufficient to fully amortize the aggregate outstanding principal balance of such Term Loan Advance over an assumed term ending on the date which is sixty (60) months after the first payment on such Term Loan Advance. The entire remaining principal amount then outstanding, together with any and all other amounts due in respect of the Term Loan, shall be due and payable on the Term Loan Maturity Date.
4.2.2 Interest Provisions. Interest on the outstanding principal amount of any Loan shall be payable on each applicable Interest Payment Date.
4.2.3 Costs, Fees and Charges. Costs, fees and charges payable pursuant to this Agreement shall be payable by Borrowers to Administrative Agent, as and when provided to Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank or a Lender, as applicable, or to any other Person designated by Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank or such Lender in writing.
4.2.4 Other Obligations. The balance of the Obligations requiring the payment of money, if any, shall be payable by Borrowers to Administrative Agent for distribution to Issuing Bank and Lenders, as applicable, as and when provided in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.
4.2.5 LIBOR Loans. If the application of any payment made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement would result in the prepayment, in whole or in part, of a LIBOR Loan prior to the last day of the Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan, Borrowers shall pay to each Lender on the date of each such prepayment any applicable LIBOR Loan Prepayment Fees of such Lender; provided, that, if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time such payment is to be applied, the amount of such prepayment shall not be applied to such LIBOR Loan, but will, at Borrowers’ option, be held by Administrative Agent in a non-interest-bearing account at Bank, which account is in the name of Administrative Agent and from which account only Administrative Agent can make any withdrawal, in each case to be applied as such amount would otherwise have been applied hereunder at the earlier to occur of (i) the last day of the relevant Interest Period or (ii) the occurrence of an Event of Default, in which case, the LIBOR Loan Prepayment Fees shall be payable upon the occurrence of such Event of Default.
4.3 Mandatory and Optional Prepayments.
4.3.1 Proceeds of Sale, Loss, Destruction or Condemnation of Collateral. Concurrently with the receipt by any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries of any Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset Disposition, in an amount equal to 100% of those Net Cash Proceeds; provided that, at the option of Borrower Representative (as elected by Borrower Representative in writing to Administrative Agent on or prior to the fifth Business Day after the date of receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds), and so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Borrowers may reinvest all or any portion of such Net Cash Proceeds in long-term assets used or useful in their business (such assets, “Additional Assets”) so long as such reinvestment is made within 180 days after the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds (as certified by Borrower Representative in writing to Administrative Agent); provided further, that any Net Cash Proceeds not so reinvested shall be immediately applied to the prepayment of the Loans as set forth in this Section 4.3.1 upon the expiration of such applicable period; provided, further, to the extent that (1) the assets that were subject to the Asset Disposition constituted ABL Priority Collateral or Acquisition Term Loan Priority Collateral, such Additional Assets shall also constitute ABL Priority Collateral or Acquisition Term Loan Priority Collateral, respectively (and Borrowers or their Subsidiaries, as the case may be, shall promptly take such action (if any) as may be required to cause that portion of such reinvestment constituting ABL Priority Collateral or Acquisition Term Loan Priority Collateral, as applicable, to be added to the ABL Priority Collateral or Acquisition Term Loan Priority Collateral securing the Obligations or the Acquisition Term Debt, as applicable), (2) any such Asset Disposition that consisted of or constituted any portion of ABL Priority Collateral, such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied to the Obligations, and (3) any such Asset Disposition is of assets solely constituting Acquisition Term Loan Priority Collateral that are required to be applied to the Acquisition Term Debt pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement, then the Net Cash Proceeds of such Asset Disposition shall first be applied to the Acquisition Term Debt as required under the Acquisition Term Loan Documents until the Acquisition Term Debt is Paid in Full and then to the Obligations as required hereunder. To the extent the Net Cash proceeds of any Asset Disposition are required to be applied to the Acquisition Term Debt under this Section 4.3.1 or the Intercreditor Agreement, upon the payment in full of the Acquisition Term Debt, such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied to the Obligations as set forth in this Section 4.3.1. To the extent that the Collateral sold, lost, destroyed or condemned consists of ABL Priority Collateral other than Accounts, the applicable prepayment shall be applied first, to the installments of principal due under the Term Loan ratably, to be applied to future installment payments in inverse order of maturity until paid in full, and second to repay outstanding principal of Revolving Credit Loans without a reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments. To the extent that the Collateral sold, lost, destroyed or condemned consists of Accounts, the applicable prepayment shall be applied to reduce the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Credit Loans, without a reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments. Prior to entering into any Asset Disposition of assets which constitute Acquisition Term Loan Priority Collateral, Borrowers shall provide not less than three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice thereof and identify if any such proceeds are being delivered to the deposit accounts subject to Control Agreements whereby Administrative Agent has a first-priority security interest therein. If Administrative Agent does not receive prior written notice that proceeds of Acquisition Term Loan Priority Collateral is being sent to such deposit accounts, Administrative Agent may presumptively rely that all cash received into the deposit account is subject to a first priority security interest, is ABL Priority Collateral, and can be applied to the Revolving Credit Loans as set forth herein.
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4.3.2 Term Loan. If at any time the amount of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loan exceeds 85% of NOLV of the Borrowers’ Eligible Machinery and Equipment, the Borrowers shall pay to Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Term Loan Lenders, as a mandatory prepayment of the Term Loan, the amount by which the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loan exceeds 85% of NOLV of the Borrowers’ Eligible Machinery and Equipment.
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4.3.3 Proceeds from Additional Debt. Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, if any Borrower receives proceeds of any additional Debt incurred by such Borrower (other than Debt permitted pursuant to subsection 9.2.2), Borrowers shall pay to Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of Lenders, when and as received by such Borrower and as a mandatory prepayment of the Obligations, a sum equal to 100% of the net proceeds to such Borrower of the incurrence of such Debt. Any such prepayment shall be applied to repay outstanding principal of Revolving Credit Loans without a reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments.
4.3.4 Excess Revolving Credit Extensions. If at any time the Aggregate Revolving Extensions exceed the Line Cap at such time (except as a result of Overadvances permitted under subsection 2.1.2), Borrowers shall immediately repay the Revolving Credit Loans and/or cash collateralize the Letters of Credit in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.
4.3.5 Optional Reductions of Revolving Credit Commitments. Borrowers may, at their option from time to time but not more than once in any 12-month period upon not less than three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice to Administrative Agent, permanently reduce ratably in part, the unused portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments, provided, however, that (i) each such optional reduction shall be in an amount of $2,000,000 or integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (ii) the aggregate of all optional reductions to the Revolving Credit Commitments may not exceed $5,000,000 during the Term. Except for charges under subsection 4.1.9, such prepayments shall be without premium or penalty.
4.3.6 Optional Prepayments. Borrowers may, at their option from time to time upon not less than three (3) days prior written notice to Administrative Agent, prepay installments of the Term Loan. Each such prepayment shall be applied to the installments of principal due under the Term Loan in the order of application designated by Borrower; provided, that, Borrower shall only be required to make such prepayments to the extent that, after giving effect thereto, Excess Availability would be at least $3,000,000. Except for charges under subsection 4.1.9, such prepayments shall be without premium or penalty.
4.3.7 Proceeds from Equity Interests. Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, if any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries receives any Net Cash Proceeds from any issuance of Equity Interests of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, whether in connection with the issuance of any Curative Equity or otherwise (excluding any issuance of Equity Interests (A) pursuant to any employee or director option program, benefit plan or compensation program or agreement, (B) by a Subsidiary to any Borrower or another Subsidiary and (C) the Net Cash Proceeds of which are used substantially to fund a Permitted Acquisition), concurrently with such receipt in an amount equal to 50% (or, in the case of Net Cash Proceeds in the form of Curative Equity, 100%) of those Net Cash Proceeds.
4.3.8 Other Receipts. Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, if any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries receives any Other Receipts, concurrently with such receipt in an amount equal to 100% of those Other Receipts; provided that, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Borrowers may reinvest the first $500,000 of such Other Receipts and up to 50% of any additional Other Receipts in the aggregate over the term of this Agreement in the applicable acquired business so long as such reinvestment is made within 180 days after the receipt of such Other Receipts (as certified by Borrower Representative in writing to Administrative Agent); provided further, that any Other Receipts not so reinvested shall be immediately applied to the prepayment of the Term Loans upon the expiration of such applicable period.
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4.3.9 Mandatory Prepayments under Acquisition Term Loan Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in Sections 4.3.3, 4.3.7 and 4.3.8 to the contrary, until the Payment in Full (as defined in the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement), no mandatory prepayment under Sections 4.3.3, 4.3.7 and 4.3.8 shall be required to be made, except with respect to any portion (if any) of any proceeds that are declined by the holders of the Acquisition Term Loans in accordance with the terms thereof.
4.4 Application of Payments and Collections.
4.4.1 Collections. All items of payment received by Administrative Agent by 12:00 noon, Central time, on any Business Day shall be deemed received on that Business Day. All items of payment received after 12:00 noon, Central time, on any Business Day, in Administrative Agent’s discretion, shall be deemed received on the following Business Day. If as the result of collections of Accounts as authorized by subsection 7.2.4 hereof or otherwise, a credit balance exists in the Loan Account, such credit balance shall not accrue interest in favor of Borrowers, but shall be disbursed to Borrowers or otherwise at Borrower Representative’s direction in the manner set forth in subsection 4.1.2, upon Borrower Representative’s request at any time, so long as no Default or Event of Default then exists. Administrative Agent may at its option, offset such credit balance against any of the Obligations upon and during the continuance of an Event of Default.
4.4.2 Apportionment, Application and Reversal of Payments. Principal and interest payments shall be apportioned ratably among Lenders (according to the unpaid principal balance of the Loans to which such payments relate held by each Lender). Prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default, all proceeds of Collateral shall be applied by Administrative Agent against the outstanding Obligations as otherwise provided in this Agreement. Anything contained herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding but subject in all respects to the Intercreditor Agreement, all payments and collections received in respect of the Obligations and all proceeds of the Collateral received, in each instance, by Administrative Agent or any Lender after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and the resultant declaration that all Obligations are immediately due and payable shall be remitted to Administrative Agent and distributed as follows:
(i) first, to the payment of any outstanding costs and expenses incurred by any Agent in monitoring, verifying, protecting, preserving or enforcing the Liens on the Collateral, and in protecting, preserving or enforcing rights under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and payable by Borrowers under this Agreement, including, without limitation, under Sections 3.7, 3.9 and 13.2 hereof (such funds to be retained by the applicable Agent for its own account unless it has previously been reimbursed for such costs and expenses by Lenders, in which event such amounts shall be remitted to Lenders to reimburse them for payments theretofore made to such Agent);
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(ii) second, to the payment of any outstanding interest or fees due under the Loan Documents to be allocated pro rata in accordance with the aggregate unpaid amounts owing to each holder thereof;
(iii) third, (a) to payment of all Product Obligations and (b) to the payment of principal on the Revolving Credit Loans, the Term Loan, unpaid reimbursement obligations in respect of Letters of Credit, together with amounts to be held by Administrative Agent as collateral security for any outstanding Letters of Credit pursuant to subsection 11.3.5 hereof, amounts owing with respect to Derivative Obligations (other than Excess Derivative Obligations), the aggregate amount paid to, or held as collateral security for, Lenders (and their Affiliates, as applicable in the case of Derivative Obligations) to be allocated pro rata in accordance with the aggregate unpaid amounts owing to each holder thereof;
(iv) fourth, to the payment of all other unpaid Obligations and all other indebtedness, obligations, and liabilities of the Loan Parties to be allocated pro rata in accordance with the aggregate unpaid amounts owing to each holder thereof; and
(v) finally, to Borrowers or otherwise as required by law or court order.
Except as otherwise specifically provided for herein, Borrowers hereby irrevocably waive the right to direct the application of payments and collections at any time received by Administrative Agent or any Lender from or on behalf of Borrowers or any Guarantor, and Borrowers hereby irrevocably agree that Administrative Agent shall have the continuing exclusive right to apply and reapply any and all such payments and collections received at any time by Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Obligations in the manner described above. In the event that the amount of any Derivative Obligation is not fixed and determined at the time proceeds of Collateral are received which are to be allocated thereto, the proceeds of Collateral so allocated shall be held by Administrative Agent as collateral security (in a non-interest bearing account) until such Derivative Obligation is fixed and determined and then the same shall (if and when, and to the extent that, payment of such liability is required by the terms of the relevant contractual arrangements) be applied to such liability.
4.5 All Loans to Constitute One Obligation. The Loans and LC Obligations shall constitute one general Obligation of Borrowers and shall be secured by Administrative Agent’s Lien upon all of the Collateral.
4.6 Loan Account. Administrative Agent shall enter all Loans as debits to a loan account (the “Loan Account”) and shall also record in the Loan Account all payments made by Borrowers on any Obligations and all proceeds of Collateral which are finally paid to Administrative Agent, and may record therein, in accordance with customary accounting practice, other debits and credits, including interest and all charges and expenses properly chargeable to Borrowers.
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4.7 Statements of Account. Administrative Agent will account to Borrower Representative monthly with a statement of Loans, charges and payments made pursuant to this Agreement during the immediately preceding month, and such account rendered by Administrative Agent shall be deemed final, binding and conclusive upon Borrowers absent demonstrable error unless Administrative Agent is notified by Borrowers in writing to the contrary within thirty (30) days of the date each accounting is received by Borrowers. Such notice shall be deemed an objection only to those items specifically objected to therein.
4.8 Increased Costs.
4.8.1 Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except, to the extent applicable, any reserve requirement reflected in LIBOR) or the Issuing Bank;
(ii) subject any Lender or the Issuing Bank to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (ii) through (iv) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or
(iii) impose on any Lender or the Issuing Bank or, to the extent applicable, the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan, or to increase the cost to such Lender, the Issuing Bank or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, the Issuing Bank or other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender, the Issuing Bank or other Recipient, the Borrowers will pay to such Lender, the Issuing Bank or other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, the Issuing Bank or other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
4.8.2 Capital Requirements. If any Lender or the Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or Issuing Bank or any lending office of such Lender or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrowers will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.
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4.8.3 Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender or the Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection 4.8.1 or 4.8.2 and delivered to the Borrowers, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.
4.8.4 Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine (9) months prior to the date that such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrowers of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions, and of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine (9) month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
4.9 Ineffective Interest Rate; Benchmark Replacement.
4.9.1 If the Administrative Agent shall have determined with respect to LIBOR or any other then-current Benchmark that (i) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining such Benchmark, (ii) such Benchmark does not adequately and fairly reflect the effective cost to the Lenders of making or maintaining a Loan based on such Benchmark, or (iii) the making, maintenance or funding of a Loan based on such Benchmark has been made impractical or unlawful, then, and in any such event (unless such event constitutes a Benchmark Transition Event), Administrative Agent may so notify Borrower and as of the date of such notification (y) any request hereunder for the conversion of any Loan to, or continuation of any Loan as, a Loan based on such Benchmark shall be ineffective and any such Loan shall be continued as or converted to, as the case may be, a Base Rate Loan and (z) if any request is made hereunder for a Loan based on such Benchmark, such Loan shall be made as a Base Rate Loan, in each case unless and until Administrative Agent shall have determined that such circumstances shall no longer exist and shall have revoked such notice.
4.9.2 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, if, with respect to LIBOR or any other then-current Benchmark, the Administrative Agent shall have determined that:
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(i) the circumstances set forth in subsection 4.9.1(iii) have arisen and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or
(ii) the administrator for such Benchmark (or for a published component used in the calculation thereof) (the “Administrator”) has discontinued its administration and publication of such Benchmark (or such component), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such discontinuation, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide such Benchmark (or such component); or
(iii) a public statement or publication of information has been made by or on behalf of the Administrator announcing that the Administrator has ceased or will cease to provide such Benchmark (or a published component used in the calculation thereof), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide such Benchmark (or such component); or
(iv) a public statement or publication of information has been made by or on behalf of the regulatory supervisor for the Administrator, the U.S. Federal Reserve System, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the Administrator, a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the Administrator or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the Administrator, which states that the Administrator has ceased or will cease to provide such Benchmark (or a published component used in the calculation thereof), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark (or such component); or
(v) a public statement or publication of information has been made by or on behalf of the regulatory supervisor for the Administrator announcing that such Benchmark (or a published component used in the calculation thereof) is no longer representative; or
(vi) syndicated credit facilities similar to the credit facility or facilities under this Agreement being executed at such time, or that include language similar to that contained in this subsection 4.9.2, are being executed or amended, as the case may be, to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace such Benchmark (or a published component used in the calculation thereof) and (in the case of this clause (vi)) the Administrative Agent has elected to treat such circumstance as a Benchmark Transition Event hereunder,
(each of clauses (i) through (vi) above being referred to herein as a “Benchmark Transition Event”) then the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement to replace LIBOR or such other then-current Benchmark, as applicable, with a Benchmark Replacement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 13.3, any such amendment with respect to a Benchmark Transition Event (A) pursuant to any of clauses (i) through (v) above will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement at 5:00 p.m. Central time on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the Administrative Agent has posted or otherwise made available such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrower so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such amendment from Lenders comprising the Majority Lenders or (B) pursuant to clause (vi) above will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement on the date that Lenders comprising the Majority Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Majority Lenders accept such amendment. No replacement of a Benchmark with a Benchmark Replacement pursuant to this subsection 4.9.2 will occur prior to the applicable Benchmark Transition Start Date.
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In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement.
The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date and Benchmark Transition Start Date, (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes and (iv) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or Lenders pursuant to this Section 4.9, 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, 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 hereto, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 4.9.
Upon notice to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 13.8 of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period and until a Benchmark Replacement shall be determined in accordance with this subsection 4.9.2, (y) any request hereunder for the conversion of any Loan to, or continuation of any Loan as, a Loan based on the then-current Benchmark shall be ineffective and any such Loan shall be continued as or converted to, as the case may be, a Base Rate Loan, and (z) if any request is made hereunder for a Loan based on the then-current Benchmark, such Loan shall be made as a Base Rate Loan. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period, any component of the Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark will not be used in any determination of the Base Rate.
4.9.3 For purposes of this Section 4.9:
“Administrator” has the meaning specified in subsection 4.9.2.
“Benchmark” means LIBOR or a Benchmark Replacement that is in effect hereunder, as applicable.
“Benchmark Replacement” means the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body and/or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest as a replacement to the then-current Benchmark (or any applicable component thereof) for syndicated credit facilities similar to the credit facility or facilities hereunder denominated in U.S. Dollars and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment (which, in each case, may include a rate that is published on an information service as selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time, and may be updated periodically); provided that the Benchmark Replacement shall incorporate or be subject to any floor corresponding to any floor on or related to the Benchmark that is being replaced; provided, further, that any Benchmark Replacement must be administratively feasible as determined by Administrative Agent.
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“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement under this Agreement of the then-current Benchmark with an alternative benchmark rate for each applicable Interest Period, 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 the then-current Benchmark (or any applicable component thereof) with an alternative benchmark rate, as applicable, 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 the then-current Benchmark (or any applicable component thereof) with an alternative benchmark rate, as applicable, at such time for U.S. syndicated credit facilities denominated in U.S. Dollars (which, in each case, may include an adjustment or method for calculating or determining such an adjustment that is published on an information service as selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time, and may be updated periodically).
“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Base Rate”, the definition of “Interest Period,” the definition of “LIBOR Reserve Percentage” (it being understood that such a factor may be applied in respect of a Benchmark Replacement), or the timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other administrative matters) that the Administrative Agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of the Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement).
“Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earlier to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark (or any applicable component thereof):
(a) in the case of clause (i) of subsection 4.9.2, the date selected by the Administrative Agent; or
(b) in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv) of subsection 4.9.2, the later of:
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A. the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein (if applicable) and
B. the date on which the Administrator permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide such Benchmark (or component); or
(c) in the case of clause (v) of subsection 4.9.2, the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein; or
(d) in the case of clause (vi) of subsection 4.9.2, the date specified by the Administrative Agent by notice to the Borrower and the Lenders.
“Benchmark Transition Event” has the meaning specified in subsection 4.9.2.
“Benchmark Transition Start Date” means (a) in the case of a Benchmark Transition Event pursuant to any of clauses (i) through (v) of subsection 4.9.2, the earlier of (i) the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and (ii) if such Benchmark Transition Event is a public statement or publication of information of a prospective event, the 90th day prior to the expected date of such event as of such public statement or publication of information (or if the expected date of such prospective event is fewer than 90 days after such statement or publication, the date of such statement or publication) and (b) in the case of a Benchmark Transition Event pursuant to any clause (vi) of subsection 4.9.2, the date specified by the Administrative Agent by notice to the Borrower and the Lenders.
“Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to any then-current Benchmark and solely to the extent that such Benchmark has not been replaced with a Benchmark Replacement, the period (y) beginning at the time that such Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents in accordance with subsection 4.9.2 and (z) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such Benchmark for all purposes under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents pursuant to subsection 4.9.2.
“Relevant Governmental Body” means 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.
4.10 Sharing of Payments, Etc. If any Lender shall obtain any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of setoff, or otherwise) on account of any Loan made by it in excess of its ratable share of payments on account of Loans made by all Lenders, such Lender shall forthwith purchase from each other Lender such participation in such Loan as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment ratably with each other Lender; provided that, if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, such purchase from each Lender shall be rescinded and such Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lenders the purchase price to the extent of such recovery, together with an amount equal to such Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered. Borrowers agree that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section 4.10 may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of setoff) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of Borrowers in the amount of such participation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, all purchases and repayments to be made under this Section 4.10 shall be made through Administrative Agent.
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4.11 Defaulting Lender. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:
4.11.1 The Unused Line Fee shall cease to accrue on the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender so long as it is a Defaulting Lender (except to the extent it is payable to an Issuing Bank pursuant to subsection 4.11.2(v) below);
4.11.2 If any Letters of Credit are outstanding at the time a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:
(i) (A) the exposure under all or any part of any Letters of Credit shall be reallocated among the applicable non-Defaulting Lenders that are Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Percentages but only to the extent the sum of all such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Credit Loans outstanding, plus the LC Amount, does not exceed the total of all such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments; and (B) with respect to any such exposure so reallocated, each applicable non-Defaulting Lender shall be deemed to have irrevocably and unconditionally purchased from the Issuing Bank an undivided interest and participation in the portion of each Letter of Credit so reallocated, in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 2.2. Subject to Section 3.12, no reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation;
(ii) if the reallocations described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, Borrowers shall within one (1) Business Day following notice by Administrative Agent (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) cash collateralize Letters of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage times the total LC Amount;
(iii) if any portion of the Letters of Credit is cash collateralized pursuant to clause (ii) above, Borrowers shall not be required to pay the Letter of Credit fee described in clause (i) of Section 3.4 with respect to such portion so long as it is cash collateralized;
(iv) if any portion of the exposure under Letters of Credit of such Defaulting Lender is reallocated to the non-Defaulting Lenders pursuant to clause (i) above, then the Letter of Credit fee described in clause (i) of Section 3.4 with respect to such portion so reallocated to each such non-Defaulting Lender shall be paid to such non-Defaulting Lender; and
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(v) if any portion of the exposure under Letters of Credit of such Defaulting Lender is neither cash collateralized nor reallocated pursuant to this subsection 4.11.2, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of Issuing Bank or any Lender hereunder, the Unused Line Fee that otherwise would have been payable to such Defaulting Lender (with respect to the portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment that was utilized by such Letters of Credit) and the Letter of Credit fee described in clause (i) of Section 3.4 payable with respect to such Letters of Credit shall be payable to Issuing Bank until such Letters of Credit are fully cash collateralized and/or reallocated.
4.11.3 So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure will be 100% covered by the Revolving Credit Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateralized in accordance with subsection 4.11.2, and participations in any such newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Percentages (and Defaulting Lenders shall not participate therein).
4.11.4 Any amount payable to a Defaulting Lender hereunder (whether on account of principal, interest, fees or otherwise but excluding subsection 13.5.6) may, in lieu of being distributed to such Defaulting Lender, be retained by Administrative Agent in a segregated non-interest bearing account and, subject to any Applicable Law, be applied at such time or times as may be determined by Administrative Agent (i) first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to Administrative Agent hereunder, (ii) second, pro rata, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to Issuing Bank hereunder, (iii) third, to the funding of any Loan or the funding or cash collateralization of any participation in any Letter of Credit in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by Administrative Agent, (iv) fourth, if so determined by Administrative Agent and Borrowers, held in such account as cash collateral for future funding obligations of the Defaulting Lender under this Agreement, (v) fifth, pro rata, to the payment of any amounts owing to Borrowers or the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Borrower or any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement and (vi) sixth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided, that if such payment is a prepayment of the principal amount of any Loans or LC Obligations in respect of which a Defaulting Lender has funded its participation obligations, such payment shall be applied solely to prepay the Loans of, and LC Obligations owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders pro rata prior to being applied to the prepayment of any Loans of, or LC Obligations owed to, any Defaulting Lender.
4.11.5 In the event that Administrative Agent, Borrowers and Issuing Bank agree that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the exposure of the Lenders under the Letters of Credit shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Revolving Credit Loans of the other Lenders as Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Revolving Credit Loans in accordance with its Pro Rata Percentage. The rights and remedies against a Defaulting Lender under this Section 4.11 are in addition to other rights and remedies that Borrowers, Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank and the non-Defaulting Lenders may have against such Defaulting Lender. The arrangements permitted or required by this Section 4.11 shall be permitted under this Agreement, notwithstanding any limitation on Liens or the pro rata sharing provisions or otherwise.
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Article V. TERM AND TERMINATION
5.1
Term of Agreement. Subject to the right of Lenders to cease making Loans to Borrowers during the continuance of any Default
or Event of Default, this Agreement shall be in effect through and including [______]April
19, 2025 (the “Term”), unless terminated as provided herein.
5.2 Termination.
5.2.1 Termination by Lenders. Administrative Agent may, and at the direction of Majority Lenders shall, terminate this Agreement without notice after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default.
5.2.2 Termination by Borrowers. Upon at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice to Administrative Agent and Lenders, Borrowers may, at their option, terminate this Agreement; provided, however, that no such termination shall be effective until Borrowers have paid or collateralized to Administrative Agent’s reasonable satisfaction all of the Obligations (including any obligations in connection with Derivative Obligations of any Loan Party but excluding indemnity Obligations for which no claim has been made) in immediately available funds, all Letters of Credit have expired, terminated or have been cash collateralized or supported by a backstop letter of credit, in the case of any such cash collateralization or backstop letter of credit, at 103% of the face amount thereof to Administrative Agent’s reasonable satisfaction and Borrowers have complied with subsection 4.1.9. Any notice of termination given by Borrowers shall be irrevocable unless all Lenders otherwise agree in writing and no Lender shall have any obligation to make any Loans or issue or procure any Letters of Credit on or after the termination date stated in such notice; provided, that a notice of termination may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by Borrowers (by notice to Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied.
5.2.3 Effect of Termination. All of the Obligations shall be immediately due and payable upon the termination date stated in any notice of termination of this Agreement, or, if later, upon the expiration of the Term. All undertakings, agreements, covenants, warranties and representations of Borrowers contained in the Loan Documents shall survive any such termination and Administrative Agent shall retain its Liens in the Collateral and Administrative Agent and each Lender shall retain all of its rights and remedies under the Loan Documents notwithstanding such termination until all Obligations (other than indemnity Obligations for which no claim has been made) have been discharged or paid, in full, in immediately available funds, including, without limitation, all Obligations under subsection 4.1.9 resulting from such termination and all Letters of Credit have expired, terminated or have been cash collateralized or supported by a backstop letter of credit, in the case of any such cash collateralization or backstop letter of credit, at 103% of the face amount thereof to Administrative Agent’s reasonable satisfaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing or the payment in full of the Obligations, Administrative Agent shall not be required to terminate its Liens in the Collateral unless, with respect to any loss or damage Administrative Agent may incur as a result of dishonored checks or other items of payment received by Administrative Agent from any Borrower or any Account Debtor and applied to the Obligations, Administrative Agent shall, at its option, (i) have received a written agreement satisfactory to Administrative Agent, executed by any Borrower and by any Person whose loans or other advances to Borrowers are used in whole or in part to satisfy the Obligations, indemnifying Administrative Agent and each Lender from any such loss or damage or (ii) have retained cash Collateral or other Collateral for such period of time as Administrative Agent, in its reasonable discretion, may deem necessary to protect Administrative Agent and each Lender from any such loss or damage.
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Article VI. SECURITY INTERESTS
6.1 Security Interest in Collateral.
6.1.1 Grant of Security Interest by Borrowers. To secure the prompt payment and performance to Administrative Agent and each Lender of the Obligations, each Borrower hereby grants to Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself and each Lender a continuing Lien upon all of such Borrower’s assets, including all of the following Property and interests in Property of such Borrower (other than Excluded Property), whether now owned or existing or hereafter created, acquired or arising and wheresoever located:
(i) Accounts;
(ii) Certificated Securities;
(iii) Chattel Paper;
(iv) Commercial Tort Claims, including, without limitation, any Commercial Tort Claims set forth on Schedule 6.1 hereto;
(v) Computer Hardware and Software and all rights with respect thereto, including any and all licenses, options, warranties, service contracts, program services, test rights, maintenance rights, support rights, improvement rights, renewal rights and indemnifications, and any substitutions, replacements, additions or model conversions of any of the foregoing;
(vi) Contract Rights;
(vii) Deposit Accounts;
(viii) Documents;
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(ix) Equipment;
(x) Financial Assets;
(xi) Fixtures;
(xii) General Intangibles, including Payment Intangibles;
(xiii) Goods (including all of its Equipment, Fixtures and Inventory), and all accessions, additions, attachments, improvements, substitutions and replacements thereto and therefor;
(xiv) Instruments;
(xv) Intellectual Property;
(xvi) Inventory;
(xvii) Investment Property;
(xviii) money (of every jurisdiction whatsoever);
(xix) Letter of Credit Rights;
(xx) Payment Intangibles;
(xxi) Security Entitlements;
(xxii) Supporting Obligations;
(xxiii) Uncertificated Securities; and
(xxiv) to the extent not included in the foregoing, all other personal property of any kind or description;
together with all books, records, writings, databases, information and other property relating to, used or useful in connection with, or evidencing, embodying, incorporating or referring to any of the foregoing, and all Proceeds, products, offspring, rents, issues, profits and returns of and from any of the foregoing.
6.1.2 Grant of Security Interest by Holdings. To secure prompt payment and performance to Administrative Agent and each Lender of the Obligations, Holdings hereby grants to Administrative Agent, for the benefit of itself and each Lender, a continuing Lien upon all Equity Interests, whether certificated or uncertificated, in Parent and in each other immediate Subsidiary of Holdings which becomes a Loan Party hereunder, whether now owned or existing or hereafter created, together with all books, records, evidence of ownership and other property relating to, used or useful in connection with or evidencing the foregoing, and all Proceeds of the foregoing. Reference is hereby made to that certain Pledge Agreement, dated on or about the date hereof, executed by Holdings, in favor of Administrative Agent, for further provisions of this grant by Holdings of a security interest in such Equity Interests and Administrative Agent’s rights and remedies in connection therewith.
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6.1.3 Grant of Security Interest by Parent. To secure prompt payment and performance to Administrative Agent and each Lender of the Obligations, Parent hereby grants to Administrative Agent, for the benefit of itself and each Lender, a continuing Lien upon all Equity Interests, whether certificated or uncertificated, in Quest, whether now owned or existing or hereafter created, together with all books, records, evidence of ownership and other property relating to, used or useful in connection with or evidencing the foregoing, and all Proceeds of the foregoing. Reference is hereby made to that certain Pledge Agreement, dated on or about the date hereof, executed by Parent, in favor of Administrative Agent, for further provisions of this grant by Parent of a security interest in such Equity Interests and Administrative Agent’s rights and remedies in connection therewith.
6.2 Other Collateral.
6.2.1 Commercial Tort Claims. The Borrowers shall promptly notify Administrative Agent in writing upon any Borrower incurring or otherwise obtaining a Commercial Tort Claim after the Closing Date against any third party and, upon request of Administrative Agent, promptly enter into an amendment to this Agreement and do such other acts or things deemed appropriate by Administrative Agent to give Administrative Agent a security interest in any such Commercial Tort Claim. The Borrowers represent and warrant that as of the date of this Agreement, except as set forth on Schedule 6.1 hereto, to their knowledge, no Borrower possesses any Commercial Tort Claims.
6.2.2 Other Collateral. The Borrowers shall promptly notify Administrative Agent in writing upon acquiring or otherwise obtaining any Collateral after the date hereof consisting of Deposit Accounts, Investment Property, Letter of Credit Rights or Electronic Chattel Paper and, upon the request of Administrative Agent, promptly execute such other documents, and do such other acts or things deemed appropriate by Administrative Agent to deliver to Administrative Agent control with respect to such Collateral; promptly notify Administrative Agent in writing upon acquiring or otherwise obtaining any Collateral after the date hereof consisting of Documents or Instruments and, upon the request of Administrative Agent, will promptly execute such other documents, and do such other acts or things deemed appropriate by Administrative Agent to deliver to Administrative Agent possession of such Documents which are negotiable and Instruments, and, with respect to nonnegotiable Documents, to have such nonnegotiable Documents issued in the name of Administrative Agent; and with respect to Collateral in the possession of a third party, other than Certificated Securities and Goods covered by a Document, obtain an acknowledgment from the third party that it is holding the Collateral for the benefit of Administrative Agent.
6.3 Lien Perfection; Further Assurances. The Loan Parties authorize the filing of such UCC-1 financing statements as are required by the UCC and shall execute such other instruments, assignments or documents as are necessary to perfect Administrative Agent’s Lien upon any of the Collateral and shall take such other action as may be required to perfect or to continue the perfection of Administrative Agent’s Lien upon the Collateral, including, without limitation, as to the Borrowers, the filing of UCC-1 financing statements that indicate the Collateral (i) as all assets of such Borrower or words of similar effect, or (ii) as being of an equal or lesser scope, or with greater or lesser detail, than as set forth in Section 6.1, on such Borrower’s behalf. Each Loan Party also hereby ratifies its authorization for Administrative Agent to have filed in any jurisdiction any such UCC-1 financing statements or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof. At Administrative Agent’s request, each Loan Party shall also promptly execute or cause to be executed and shall deliver to Administrative Agent any and all documents, instruments and agreements deemed necessary by Administrative Agent, to give effect to or carry out the terms or intent of the Loan Documents.
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6.4 Lien on Realty. The due and punctual payment and performance of the Obligations shall also be secured by the Lien created by the Mortgages upon all real Property of the Borrowers described therein. If any Borrower shall acquire at any time or times hereafter any interest in other real Property (other than Excluded Property), such Borrower agrees promptly to execute and deliver to Administrative Agent, for its benefit and the benefit of Lenders, as additional security and Collateral for the Obligations, a Mortgage covering such real Property, which Mortgage shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Administrative Agent. Each Mortgage shall be duly recorded (at the Loan Parties’ expense) in each office where such recording is required to constitute a valid Lien on the real Property covered thereby. In respect of any real Property subject to a Mortgage, the Borrowers shall deliver to Administrative Agent, at the Borrowers’ expense, each of the other Mortgage-Related Documents.
Article VII. COLLATERAL ADMINISTRATION
7.1 General.
7.1.1
Location of Collateral. SetAs
of the Second Amendment Effective Date, set forth on Schedule 7.1.1 hereto are (i) each Loan Party’s chief executive
office, (ii) the locations at which each Borrower maintains its books and records relating to Accounts and General Intangibles, (iii)
each other business location of the Loan Parties and (iv) each location (including bailees, warehouses, consignees and similar parties)
at which Collateral, other than Inventory in transit and motor vehicles are located. All Collateral, other than Inventory in transit and
motor vehicles, will at all times be kept by the Loan Parties at one or more of the business locations set forth in Schedule 7.1.1
hereto, as updated by the Loan Parties providing prior written notice to Administrative Agent of any new location.
7.1.2 Insurance of Collateral. The Borrowers shall at all times maintain and pay for insurance upon all Collateral wherever located and with respect to the business of the Borrowers, covering casualty, hazard, public liability, workers’ compensation and such other risks in such amounts and with such insurance companies as are reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent. The Borrowers shall provide that such policies shall include satisfactory endorsements, naming Administrative Agent as a lender loss payable or additional insured, as appropriate, as its interest may appear. Each policy of insurance or endorsement shall contain a clause requiring the insurer to give not less than ten (10) days’ prior written notice to Administrative Agent in the event of cancellation of the policy for nonpayment of premium and not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Administrative Agent in the event of cancellation of the policy for any other reason whatsoever and a clause specifying that the interest of Administrative Agent shall not be impaired or invalidated by any act or neglect of any Borrower, any of their Subsidiaries or the owner of the Property or by the occupation of the premises for purposes more hazardous than are permitted by such policy. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, all proceeds of business interruption insurance (if any) of the Borrowers shall be remitted to Administrative Agent for application to the outstanding balance of the Revolving Credit Loans. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Administrative Agent shall, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, have the sole right to file claims under any property and general liability insurance policies in respect of the Collateral, to receive, receipt and give acquittance for any payments that may be payable 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.
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Unless the Borrowers provide Administrative Agent with evidence of the insurance coverage required by this Agreement, Administrative Agent may purchase insurance at the Borrowers’ expense to protect Administrative Agent’s interests in the Properties of the Borrowers. This insurance may, but need not, protect the interests of the Borrowers. The coverage that Administrative Agent purchases may not pay any claim that any Borrower makes or any claim that is made against any Borrower in connection with such Property. The Borrowers may later cancel any insurance purchased by Administrative Agent, but only after providing Administrative Agent with evidence that the Borrowers have obtained insurance as required by this Agreement. If Administrative Agent purchases insurance, the Borrowers will be responsible for the costs of that insurance, including interest and any other charges Administrative Agent may impose in connection with the placement of insurance, until the effective date of the cancellation or expiration of the insurance. The costs of the insurance may be added to the Obligations. The costs of the insurance may be more than the cost of insurance that the Borrowers may be able to obtain on their own.
7.1.3 Protection of Collateral. Neither Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall be liable or responsible in any way for the safekeeping of any of the Collateral or for any loss or damage thereto (except for reasonable care in the custody thereof while any Collateral is in Administrative Agent’s or any Lender’s actual possession) or for any diminution in the value thereof, or for any act or default of any warehouseman, carrier, forwarding agency or other person whomsoever, but the same shall be at the Loan Parties’ sole risk.
7.2 Administration of Accounts.
7.2.1 Records, Schedules and Assignments of Accounts. The Borrowers shall keep records that are accurate and complete, in all material respects, of their Accounts and all payments and collections thereon and shall submit to Collateral Agent on such periodic basis as Collateral Agent shall request, in its reasonable credit judgment, a sales and collections report for the preceding period, in form acceptable to Collateral Agent, in its reasonable credit judgment, and consistent with the reports currently prepared by the Borrowers with respect to such information/acceptable to Collateral Agent. Concurrently with the delivery of each Borrowing Base Certificate described in subsection 9.1.4, or more frequently as requested by Collateral Agent or during the existence of an Event of Default, from and after the date hereof, the Borrowers shall deliver to Collateral Agent a detailed aged trial balance of all of their Accounts and a detailed description with respect to any unbilled Accounts, specifying the names, addresses (updated on an annual basis), face values, dates of invoices and due dates for each Account Debtor obligated on an Account so listed in a form consistent with reports currently prepared by the Borrowers with respect to such information (“Schedule of Accounts”), and upon Collateral Agent’s written request therefor, copies of proof of delivery and the original copy of all documents, including, without limitation, repayment histories and present status reports relating to the Accounts so scheduled and such other matters and information relating to the status of then existing Accounts as Collateral Agent shall request, in its reasonable credit judgment. If requested by Collateral Agent in writing, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Borrowers shall execute and deliver to Collateral Agent formal written assignments of all of their Accounts weekly or daily, which shall include all Accounts that have been created since the date of the last assignment, together with copies of invoices or invoice registers related thereto and a detailed description with respect to any unbilled Accounts.
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7.2.2 Discounts; Allowances; Disputes. If any Borrower grants any discounts, allowances or credits that are not shown on the face of the invoice for the Account involved, the Borrowers shall report such discounts, allowances or credits, as the case may be, to Collateral Agent as part of the next required Schedule of Accounts.
7.2.3 Account Verification. Any of Collateral Agent’s officers, employees or agents shall have the right, at any time or times if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in the name of Collateral Agent, any designee of Collateral Agent or any Borrower, to verify the validity, amount or any other matter relating to any Accounts by mail, telephone, electronic communication or otherwise. The Borrowers shall cooperate fully with Collateral Agent in an effort to facilitate and promptly conclude any such verification process.
7.2.4 Maintenance of Blocked Accounts. Within ninety (90) days of the Closing Date, or such later date as shall be agreed to by Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion (provided, that, with respect to the deposit accounts designated as Payables Accounts in the Accounts Side Letter, each located at Citizens Bank, Quest and the other Loan Parties shall have 90 days following the date at which the Administrative Agent establishes an integrated payables arrangement for such accounts to move such accounts to the Administrative Agent), Quest and the other Loan Parties will maintain their primary depository, blocked account and cash management relationship with Administrative Agent or its affiliate. The Administrative Agent shall have control of all deposit and securities accounts of all Borrowers pursuant to executed Control Agreements and other executed documentation as shall be required by Administrative Agent, in its reasonable discretion, such documentation to be in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent and delivered to Administrative Agent, it being understood and agreed that, other than with respect to any Excluded Deposit Account, the Term Loan Collateral Account (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) and deposit accounts designated as Springing Accounts in the Accounts Side Letter, Quest and the other Borrowers will cause or direct all cash to be transferred daily to Administrative Agent, and maintained in, accounts subject to Control Agreements whereby Administrative Agent has a first-priority security interest (except the Term Loan Collateral Account (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement)) in such accounts and all amounts held therein. If an Excess Availability Triggering Event occurs or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Administrative Agent shall at all times require (a)(i) that all such cash and proceeds of the Collateral (other than Acquisition Term Loan Priority Collateral) be swept on a daily basis to an account of Administrative Agent to be applied by Administrative Agent to (ii) repay outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, LC Obligations, other amounts then due and payable and solely to the extent such proceeds are derived from ABL Priority Collateral consisting of equipment, to repay the Acquisition Term Debt, and (iii) if a Default or Event of Default exists, to cash collateralize outstanding Letters of Credit in an amount equal to 103% of the face amount thereof and (b) send notices as required under the Control Agreements to trigger full dominion of all such deposit accounts (“Cash Dominion”) which shall continue until the Default or Event of Default has been waived or Cure Date. Unless an Excess Availability Triggering Event or a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Administrative Agent waives Cash Dominion except for the Collection Accounts designated in the Accounts Side Letter. Prior to entering into any Term Loan Collateral Account (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), Borrowers shall provide at least ten (10) Business Days’ prior written notice thereof and shall deliver a form of Control Agreement whereby the Administrative Agent has a second-priority security interest in such deposit account and the cash held therein. With respect to any deposit accounts not maintained with Administrative Agent or its affiliate, Borrowers shall maintain Control Agreements whereby Administrative Agent has a first-priority security interest in such deposit accounts, and all amounts held therein reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent with such banks as may be selected by the Borrowers and be reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent; provided, that Administrative Agent hereby agrees that it shall not institute or otherwise require a Control Agreement and/or springing or blocked account agreement with regard to any Excluded Deposit Account or the Term Loan Collateral Account (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) maintained by any Borrower. Administrative Agent shall have control over and a Lien on all funds deposited in any springing or blocked account (other than Excluded Deposit Accounts), for the ratable benefit of Lenders, and, with respect to deposit accounts not maintained with Administrative Agent or its affiliate, the Borrowers shall obtain the agreement by such banks in favor of Administrative Agent to waive any recoupment, setoff rights, and any security interest in, or against, the funds so deposited (except to the extent of any such bank’s customary fees). Such lockbox and blocked account arrangements shall include irrevocable instructions directing such banks to remit all payments or other remittances received in the blocked accounts on a daily basis to an account of Administrative Agent for application on account of the Obligations to the extent provided for herein. At any time Cash Dominion is in existence, Administrative Agent shall have the right to issue to any such banks irrevocable instructions directing such banks to remit all payments or other remittances received in the blocked accounts to an account of Administrative Agent for application on account of the Obligations as provided herein. Administrative Agent assumes no responsibility for such lockbox and blocked account arrangements, including, without limitation, any claim of accord and satisfaction or release with respect to deposits accepted by any bank thereunder.
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7.2.5 Collection of Accounts; Proceeds of Collateral. Each Borrower agrees that all invoices rendered and other requests made by any Borrower for payment in respect of Accounts shall contain a written statement directing payment in respect of such Accounts to be paid to a lockbox or blocked account established pursuant to subsection 7.2.4. To expedite collection, each Borrower shall endeavor in the first instance to make collection of its Accounts for Administrative Agent. All remittances received by any Borrower in respect of Accounts, together with the proceeds of any other ABL Priority Collateral (and after the Acquisition Term Debt has been Paid in Full, any Collateral), shall be held as Administrative Agent’s property, for its benefit and the benefit of Lenders, by such Borrower as trustee of an express trust for Administrative Agent’s benefit and such Borrower shall immediately deposit the same in a blocked account established pursuant to subsection 7.2.4. Administrative Agent retains the right at all times after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default or an Event of Default to notify Account Debtors that the Borrowers’ Accounts have been assigned to Administrative Agent and to collect the Borrowers’ Accounts directly in its own name, or in the name of Administrative Agent’s agent, and to charge the collection costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, to the Borrowers.
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7.2.6 Taxes. If an Account includes a charge for any tax payable to any Governmental Authority, Administrative Agent is authorized, in its sole discretion, to pay the amount thereof to the proper Governmental Authority for the account of the Borrowers and to charge the Borrowers therefor, except for taxes that (i) are being actively contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which the Borrowers maintain reasonable reserves on its books therefor and (ii) would not reasonably be expected to result in any Lien other than a Permitted Lien. In no event shall Administrative Agent or any Lender be liable for any taxes to any Governmental Authority that may be due by any Borrower.
7.3 [Reserved].
7.4 Administration of Eligible Machinery and Equipment. The Borrowers shall keep records of their Eligible Machinery and Equipment which shall be complete and accurate in all material respects itemizing and describing the kind, type, quality, quantity and book value of its Eligible Machinery and Equipment, and the Borrowers shall, and shall cause each of their Subsidiaries to, furnish Administrative Agent with a current schedule containing the foregoing information on at least an annual basis and more often if reasonably requested by Administrative Agent. Promptly after the request therefor by Administrative Agent, the Borrowers shall deliver to Administrative Agent any and all evidence of ownership, if any, of any of their Eligible Machinery and Equipment.
7.5 Payment of Charges. All amounts chargeable to the Loan Parties under Section 7 hereof shall be Obligations secured by all of the Collateral, shall be payable on demand and shall bear interest from the date such advance was made until paid in full at the rate applicable to Base Rate Revolving Credit Loans from time to time.
Article VIII. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
8.1 General Representations and Warranties. To induce Administrative Agent and each Lender to enter into this Agreement and to make advances hereunder, the Loan Parties represent and warrant to Administrative Agent and each Lender, on a joint and several basis, that:
8.1.1 Qualification. Each Loan Party and each of their Subsidiaries is a corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization. Each Loan Party and each of their Subsidiaries is duly qualified and is authorized to do business and is in good standing as a foreign limited liability company, limited partnership or corporation, as applicable, in each state or jurisdiction listed on Schedule 8.1.1 hereto and in all other states and jurisdictions in which the failure of any Borrower to be so qualified could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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8.1.2 Power and Authority. Each Loan Party and each of their Subsidiaries is duly authorized and empowered to enter into, execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other relevant action and do not and will not: (i) require any consent or approval of the shareholders, partners or members, as the case may be, of any Loan Party or any of the shareholders, partners or members, as the case may be, of any Subsidiary of any Loan Party; (ii) contravene any Loan Party’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ charter, articles or certificate of incorporation, partnership agreement, articles or certificate of formation, by-laws, limited liability agreement, operating agreement or other organizational documents (as the case may be); (iii) violate, or cause any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries to be in default under, any provision of any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award in effect having applicability to such Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, the violation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iv) result in a breach of or constitute a default under any indenture or loan or credit agreement or any other agreement, lease or instrument to which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or its Properties may be bound or affected, the breach of or default under which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (v) result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon or with respect to any of the Properties now owned or hereafter acquired by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries.
8.1.3 Legally Enforceable Agreement. This Agreement is, and each of the other Loan Documents when delivered under this Agreement will be, a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries party thereto, enforceable against it in accordance with its respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally.
8.1.4
Capital Structure. Schedule 8.1.4 hereto states, as of the date hereof, (i) the number, nature and holder of all
outstanding Equity Interests of each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of any Loan Party, and (ii) the name of each Loan Party’s and
each of its Subsidiaries’ joint venture relationships and the nature of the relationship. Each Loan Party has good title to all
of the Equity Interests it purports to own of each of such Subsidiaries, free and clear in each case of any Lien other than Permitted
Liens. All such Equity Interests have been duly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. As of the date
hereofSecond Amendment Effective Date, there are
no outstanding options to purchase, or any rights or warrants to subscribe for, or any commitments or agreements to issue or sell any
Equity Interests or obligations convertible into, or any powers of attorney relating to any Equity Interests of any Loan Party or any
of its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth on Schedule 8.1.4, as of the date hereof, there are no outstanding agreements or instruments
binding upon any of any Loan Party’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ partners, members or shareholders, as the case may be, relating
to the ownership of its Equity Interests.
8.1.5
Names; Organization. Within the five (5) years prior to the Closing Date, neither any Loan Party nor any of their respective
Subsidiaries has been known as or has used any legal, fictitious or trade names except those listed on Schedule 8.1.5 hereto. Within
the five (5) years prior to the Closing Date, except as set forth on Schedule 8.1.5, neither any Loan Party nor any of their respective
Subsidiaries has been the surviving entity of a merger or consolidation or has acquired all or substantially all of the assets of any
Person. TheAs of the Second
Amendment Effective Date, the exact legal name, jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, Type of Organization and Organizational
I.D. Number of each Loan Party and each of their respective Subsidiaries is set forth on Schedule 8.1.5.
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8.1.6 Title to Properties; Priority of Liens. Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has good, indefeasible and marketable title to and fee simple ownership of, or valid and subsisting leasehold interests in, all of its real Property, and good title to all of the Collateral and all of its other Property, in each case, free and clear of all Liens except Permitted Liens. Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has paid or discharged all lawful claims which, if unpaid, might become a Lien against any of such Loan Party’s or such Subsidiary’s Properties that is not a Permitted Lien. The Liens granted to Administrative Agent under Section 6 hereof in the Collateral are first-priority (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement) Liens, subject only to Permitted Liens.
8.1.7 Accounts. Administrative Agent may rely, in determining which Accounts are Eligible Accounts or Eligible Unbilled Accounts, on all statements and representations made by the with respect to any Account or Accounts. With respect to each of the Borrower’s Accounts, whether or not such Account is an Eligible Account or an Eligible Unbilled Account, unless otherwise disclosed to Administrative Agent in writing:
(i) It is genuine and in all respects what it purports to be, and it is not evidenced by a judgment;
(ii) It arises out of a completed, bona fide sale and delivery of goods or rendition of services by a Borrower, in the ordinary course of its business and in accordance with the terms and conditions of all purchase orders, contracts or other documents relating thereto and forming a part of the contract between such Borrower and the Account Debtor;
(iii) It is for a liquidated amount maturing as stated in the duplicate invoice covering such sale or rendition of services, a copy of which (other than in the case of an Eligible Unbilled Account) has been furnished or is available to Administrative Agent;
(iv) There are no facts, events or occurrences which in any way impair the validity or enforceability of any Accounts or tend to reduce the amount payable thereunder from the face amount of the invoice and statements delivered or made available to Administrative Agent with respect thereto;
(v) To the best of such Borrower’s knowledge, the Account Debtor thereunder (a) had the capacity to contract at the time any contract or other document giving rise to the Account was executed and (b) such Account Debtor is Solvent; and
(vi) To the best of such Borrower’s knowledge, there are no proceedings or actions which are threatened or pending against the Account Debtor thereunder which might result in any material adverse change in such Account Debtor’s financial condition or the collectability of such Account.
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8.1.8 Equipment. The Equipment of each Borrower is in good operating condition and repair, and all necessary replacements of and repairs thereto shall be made so that the operating efficiency thereof shall be maintained and preserved, reasonable wear and tear expected. No Borrower will permit any Equipment to become affixed to any real Property leased to any Borrower so that an interest arises therein under the real estate laws of the applicable jurisdiction unless the landlord of such real Property has executed a landlord waiver or leasehold mortgage in favor of and in form reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent, and the Borrowers will not permit any of the Equipment of any Borrower to become an accession to any personal Property other than Equipment that is subject to first-priority Liens (subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement) in favor of Administrative Agent, subject to Permitted Liens.
8.1.9 Financial Statements; Fiscal Year. The Financial Statements, copies of which have been delivered to each Lender, were prepared in accordance with GAAP (subject, in the case of any such unaudited statements, to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end adjustments) and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of Holdings and its Subsidiaries and Green Remedies, as applicable, as at the dates covered in the Financial Statements and the results of their operations for the periods then ended. As of the First Amendment Effective Date, since December 31, 2019, there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition, operations, assets, business, prospects, or properties of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. As of the date hereof, the fiscal year of Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries ends on December 31 of each year.
8.1.10 Full Disclosure. The financial statements referred to in subsection 8.1.9 hereof do not, nor does this Agreement or any other written statement of the Loan Parties to Administrative Agent or any Lender, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein or herein not misleading. There is no fact which the Loan Parties have failed to disclose to Administrative Agent or any Lender in writing which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
8.1.11 Solvent Financial Condition. On the First Amendment Effective Date, and immediately prior to and after giving effect to each borrowing under this Agreement and the use of the proceeds thereof, with respect to Holdings, individually, and the Loan Parties taken as a whole, (a) the fair value of its or their assets is greater than the amount of its or their liabilities (including disputed, contingent and unliquidated liabilities) as that value is established and liabilities evaluated in accordance with GAAP; (b) the present fair saleable value of its or their assets is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability on its or their debts as they become absolute and matured; (c) it is, and they are, able to realize upon its or their assets and pay its or their debts and other liabilities (including disputed, contingent and unliquidated liabilities) as they mature in the normal course of business; (d) it does not, and they do not, intend to, and it does not, and they do not, believe that it or they will, incur debts or liabilities beyond its or their ability to pay as those debts and liabilities mature; and (e) it is not, and they are not, engaged in or about to engage in business or a transaction for which its or their property would constitute unreasonably small capital.
8.1.12 Taxes. Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has filed all federal, state and local tax returns and other reports relating to taxes it is required by law to file, and has paid, or made provision for the payment of, all taxes, assessments, fees, levies and other governmental charges upon it, its income and Properties as and when such taxes, assessments, fees, levies and charges are due and payable, unless and to the extent any thereof are being actively contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, and each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries maintains reasonable reserves on its books therefor. The provision for taxes on the books of each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries is adequate for all years not closed by applicable statutes, and for the current fiscal year.
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8.1.13 Brokers. Except as shown on Schedule 8.1.13 hereto, there are no claims for brokerage commissions, finder’s fees or investment banking fees in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Initial Closing Date Transactions.
8.1.14 Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and Licenses. Each Borrower owns, possesses or licenses or has the right to use all the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses and other Intellectual Property necessary for the present and planned future conduct of its business without any known conflict with the rights of others, except for such conflicts as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All such patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses and other similar rights are listed on Schedule 8.1.14 hereto. No claim has been asserted to any Borrower which is currently pending that their use of their Intellectual Property or the conduct of their business does or may infringe upon the Intellectual Property rights of any third party. To the knowledge of the Borrowers and except as set forth on Schedule 8.1.14 hereto, as of the date hereof, no Person is engaging in any activity that infringes in any material respect upon any Borrower’s material Intellectual Property. Except as set forth on Schedule 8.1.14, each Borrower’s (i) material patents, trademarks, service marks and copyrights are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or in the U.S. Copyright Office, as applicable and (ii) material license agreements and similar arrangements relating to its Inventory (a) permit, and do not restrict, the assignment by any Borrower to Administrative Agent, or any other Person designated by Administrative Agent, of all of such Borrower’s rights, title and interest pertaining to such license agreement or such similar arrangement and (b) would permit the continued use by such Borrower, or Administrative Agent or its assignee, of such license agreement or such similar arrangement and the right to sell Inventory subject to such license agreement for a period of no less than 6 months after a default or breach of such agreement or arrangement. The consummation and performance of the transactions and actions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including, without limitation, the exercise by Administrative Agent of any of its rights or remedies under Section 11, will not result in the termination or impairment of any of such Borrower’s ownership or rights relating to its Intellectual Property, except for such Intellectual Property rights the loss or impairment of which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as listed on Schedule 8.1.14 and except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) no Borrower is in breach of, or default under, any term of any license or sublicense with respect to any of its Intellectual Property and (ii) to the knowledge of the Borrowers, no other party to such license or sublicense is in breach thereof or default thereunder, and such license is valid and enforceable.
8.1.15 Governmental Consents. Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has, and is in good standing with respect to, all governmental consents, approvals, licenses, authorizations, permits, certificates, inspections and franchises necessary to continue to conduct its business as heretofore or proposed to be conducted by it and to own or lease and operate its Properties as now owned or leased by it, except where the failure to possess or so maintain such rights could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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8.1.16 Compliance with Laws; Environmental.
(i) Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has duly complied, and its Properties, business operations and leaseholds are in compliance with, the provisions of all federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules and regulations applicable to such Loan Party or such Subsidiary, as applicable, its Properties or the conduct of its business, except for such non-compliance as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there have been no citations, notices or orders of non-compliance issued to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries under any such law, rule or regulation, except where such non-compliance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has established and maintains an adequate monitoring system to insure that it remains in compliance in all material respects with all federal, state, local and foreign rules, laws and regulations applicable to it. No Inventory has been produced in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (29 U.S.C. §201 et seq.), as amended.
(ii) The on-going operations of each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries comply in all respects with all Environmental Laws, except for non-compliance that could not (if enforced in accordance with applicable law) reasonably be expected to result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries has obtained, and maintained in good standing, all licenses, permits, authorizations, registrations, and other approvals required under any Environmental Law and required for their respective ordinary course operations, and for their reasonably anticipated future operations, and each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries is in compliance with all terms and conditions thereof, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in material liability to any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries and could not reasonably be expected to result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, and none of the properties or operations of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, is subject to, and none of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries reasonably anticipates the issuance of, (a) any written order from or agreement with any federal, state, or local governmental authority, or (b) any judicial or docketed administrative or other proceeding respecting any Environmental Law, Environmental Claim, or Hazardous Substance that could reasonably be expected to result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect. There are no Hazardous Substances or other conditions or circumstances existing with respect to any property, arising from operations prior to the First Amendment Effective Date, or relating to any waste disposal of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof that could reasonably be expected to result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries has any underground storage tanks that are not properly registered or permitted under applicable Environmental Laws or that at any time have released, leaked, disposed of or otherwise discharged Hazardous Substances that could reasonably be expected to result in material liability to any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries.
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8.1.17 Restrictions. Neither any Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party or subject to any contract or agreement which restricts its right or ability to incur Debt, other than as set forth on Schedule 8.1.17 hereto, none of which prohibits the execution of or compliance with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable.
8.1.18 Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 8.1.18 hereto, there are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending, or to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, threatened, against or affecting any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or the business, operations, Properties, prospects, profits or condition of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries which, singly or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default with respect to any order, writ, injunction, judgment, decree or rule of any Governmental Authority, which, singly or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
8.1.19 No Defaults. No event has occurred and no condition exists which would, upon or after the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Loan Party’s performance hereunder, constitute a Default or an Event of Default.
8.1.20 Pension Plans.
(i) The Unfunded Liability of all Pension Plans does not in the aggregate exceed 20% of the Total Plan Liability for all such Pension Plans. Except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Pension Plan complies with all applicable requirements of law and regulations. No contribution failure under Section 430 of the Code, Section 303 of ERISA, or the terms of any Pension Plan has occurred with respect to any Pension Plan sufficient to give rise to a Lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA or otherwise to have a Material Adverse Effect. There are no pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened claims, actions, investigations, or lawsuits against any Pension Plan, any fiduciary of any Pension Plan, or any Borrower or other any member of the Controlled Group with respect to a Pension Plan or a Multiemployer Pension Plan which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Borrower nor any other member of the Controlled Group has engaged in any prohibited transaction (as defined in Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) in connection with any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Pension Plan which would subject that Person to any material liability. Within the past five years, neither any Borrower nor any other member of the Controlled Group has engaged in a transaction that resulted in a Pension Plan with an Unfunded Liability being transferred out of the Controlled Group, except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Termination Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Pension Plan, except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) (a) All contributions (if any) have been made to any Multiemployer Pension Plan that are required to be made by any Borrower or any other member of the Controlled Group under the terms of the plan or of any collective bargaining agreement or by applicable law; (b) neither any Borrower nor any other member of the Controlled Group has withdrawn or partially withdrawn from any Multiemployer Pension Plan, incurred any withdrawal liability with respect to any such plan, or received notice of any claim or demand for withdrawal liability or partial withdrawal liability from any such plan, and no condition has occurred which, if continued, could reasonably be expected to result in a withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any such plan; and (c) neither any Borrower nor any other member of the Controlled Group has received any notice that any Multiemployer Pension Plan is in reorganization, that increased contributions may be required to avoid a reduction in plan benefits or the imposition of any excise tax, that any such plan is or has been funded at a rate less than that required under Section 412 of the Code, that any such plan is or may be terminated, or that any such plan is or may become insolvent.
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8.1.21 Trade Relations. There exists no actual or, to the Loan Parties’ knowledge, threatened termination, cancellation or limitation of, or any modification or change in, the business relationship between any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries and any customer or any group of customers whose purchases individually or in the aggregate are material to the business of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, or with any material supplier, except in each case, where the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there exists no present condition or state of facts or circumstances which would prevent any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries from conducting such business after the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in substantially the same manner in which it has heretofore been conducted.
8.1.22 Labor Relations. Except as described on Schedule 8.1.22 hereto, as of the date hereof, neither any Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement. There are no material grievances, disputes or controversies with any union or any other organization of any Loan Party’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ employees, or threats of strikes, work stoppages or any asserted pending demands for collective bargaining by any union or organization, except those that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
8.1.23 Leases. Schedule 8.1.23 hereto is a complete listing of all capitalized leases of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries and all real property leases of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries. Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries is in full compliance with all of the terms of each of its respective capitalized and operating leases, except where the failure to so comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
8.1.24 Material Contracts. Set forth on Schedule 8.1.24 to the First Amendment is a complete and accurate list as of the First Amendment Effective Date of all Material Contracts of each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, showing the parties and subject matter thereof and amendments and modifications thereto. Each such Material Contract (a) is in full force and effect and is binding upon and enforceable against each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries that is a party thereto and, to each Loan Party’s knowledge, all other parties thereto in accordance with its terms; (b) has not been otherwise amended or modified; and (c) is not in default due to the action of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any other party thereto.
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8.1.25 Related Businesses. As of the Closing Date, the Loan Parties are engaged in the business of providing businesses with one-step management programs to reuse, recycle and dispose of a wide variety of waste streams and recyclables generated by their business. These operations require financing on a basis such that the credit supplied can be made available from time to time to the Loan Parties, as required for the continued successful operation of the Loan Parties taken as a whole. Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of each Loan Party expects to derive benefit (and the board of directors or equivalent governing body of each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of each Loan Party has determined that such Loan Party or Subsidiary may reasonably be expected to derive benefit), directly or indirectly, from a portion of the credit extended by Lenders hereunder, both in its separate capacity and as a member of the group of companies, since the successful operation and condition of each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of each Loan Party is dependent on the continued successful performance of the functions of the group as a whole. Each Loan Party acknowledges that, but for the agreement of each of the other Loan Parties to execute and deliver this Agreement, Administrative Agent and Lenders would not have made available the credit facilities established hereby on the terms set forth herein.
8.1.26 Not a Regulated Entity. No Loan Party is an “investment company” or a “person directly or indirectly controlled by or acting on behalf of an investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
8.1.27 Margin Stock. No Loan Party or any of their Subsidiaries is engaged, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock. No Loan proceeds or Letters of Credit will be used by the Loan Parties to purchase or carry, or to reduce or refinance any Debt incurred to purchase or carry, any Margin Stock or for any related purpose governed by Regulations T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
8.1.28 Foreign Assets Control Regulations and Anti-Money Laundering.
(i) No Loan Party nor any Subsidiary is (i) a Person whose property or interest in property is blocked or subject to blocking pursuant to Section 1 of Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001 Blocking Party and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)), (ii) a Person who engages in any dealings or transactions prohibited by Section 2 of such executive order, or is otherwise associated with any such Person in any manner violative of such Section 2, or (iii) a Person on the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons or subject to the limitations or prohibitions under any other U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control regulation or executive order.
(ii) Each of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries are in compliance, in all material respects, with the Patriot Act. No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
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8.1.29 EEA Financial Institution. No Borrower is an EEA Financial Institution.
8.1.30 Hedging Agreements. None of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries is a party to, nor will it be a party to, any Hedging Agreement, except as permitted under Section 9.2.1(vi).
8.1.31 OFAC. Each of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries is and will remain in compliance in all material respects with all U.S. economic sanctions laws, Executive Orders and implementing regulations as promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), and all applicable anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act and all regulations issued pursuant to it. None of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries and Affiliates is (a) a Person designated by the U.S. government on the list of the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (the “SDN List”) with which a U.S. Person cannot deal with or otherwise engage in business transactions; (b) a Person who is otherwise the target of U.S. economic sanctions laws such that a U.S. Person cannot deal or otherwise engage in business transactions with that Person; or (c) controlled by (including, without limitation, by virtue of that Person being a director or owning voting shares or interests), or acts, directly or indirectly, for or on behalf of, any Person on the SDN List or a foreign government that is the target of U.S. economic sanctions prohibitions such that the entry into, or performance under, this Agreement or any other Loan Document would be prohibited under U.S. law.
8.1.32 Patriot Act. Each of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries and Affiliates are in compliance with (a) the Trading with the Enemy Act, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto; (b) the Patriot Act; and (c) other federal or state laws relating to “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used directly or indirectly for any payments to any government official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977.
8.1.33 Related Agreements.
(i) The Loan Parties have furnished Administrative Agent true and correct copies of the Related Agreements and the RWS Acquisition Documents.
(ii) The Loan Parties have duly taken all necessary company action to authorize the execution, delivery, and performance (x) of the Related Agreements and the consummation of transactions contemplated by the Related Agreements and (y) the RWS Acquisition Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the RWS Acquisition Documents.
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(iii) The Related Transaction will comply with all applicable legal requirements, and all necessary governmental, regulatory, creditor, shareholder, partner, and other material consents, approvals, and exemptions required to be obtained by the Loan Parties and, to each Loan Party’s knowledge, each other party to the Related Agreements in connection with the Related Transaction will be, prior to consummation of the Related Transaction, duly obtained and will be in full force and effect. As of the date of the Related Agreements, all applicable waiting periods with respect to the Related Transaction will have expired without any action being taken by any competent governmental authority which restrains, prevents or imposes material adverse conditions upon the consummation of the Related Transaction. The RWS Acquisition will comply with all applicable legal requirements, and all necessary governmental, regulatory, creditor, shareholder, partner, and other material consents, approvals, and exemptions required to be obtained by the Loan Parties and, to each Loan Party’s knowledge, each other party to the RWS Acquisition Documents in connection with the RWS Acquisition will be, prior to consummation of the RWS Acquisition, duly obtained and will be in full force and effect. As of the date of the RWS Acquisition Documents, all applicable waiting periods with respect to the RWS Acquisition will have expired without any action being taken by any competent governmental authority which restrains, prevents or imposes material adverse conditions upon the consummation of the RWS Acquisition.
(iv) The execution and delivery of the Related Agreements did not, and the consummation of the Related Transaction will not, violate any statute or regulation of the United States (including any securities law) or of any state or other applicable jurisdiction, or any order, judgment, or decree of any court or governmental body binding on any Loan Party or, to any Borrower’s knowledge, any other party to the Related Agreements, or result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement, indenture, instrument, or other document, or any judgment, order, or decree, to which any Loan Party is a party or by which any Loan Party is bound or, to any Borrower’s knowledge, to which any other party to the Related Agreements is a party or by which any such party is bound. The execution and delivery of the RWS Acquisition Documents did not, and the consummation of the RWS Acquisition will not, violate any statute or regulation of the United States (including any securities law) or of any state or other applicable jurisdiction, or any order, judgment, or decree of any court or governmental body binding on any Loan Party or, to any Borrower’s knowledge, any other party to the RWS Acquisition Documents, or result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement, indenture, instrument, or other document, or any judgment, order, or decree, to which any Loan Party is a party or by which any Loan Party is bound or, to any Borrower’s knowledge, to which any other party to the RWS Acquisition Documents is a party or by which any such party is bound.
(v) As of the Closing Date, no statement or representation made in the Related Agreements by any Loan Party or, to any Borrower’s knowledge, any other Person, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading in any material respect. As of the Second Amendment Effective Date, no statement or representation made in the RWS Acquisition Documents by any Loan Party or, to any Borrower’s knowledge, any other Person, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading in any material respect.
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8.1.34 Holdings. Holdings is not and has not, directly or indirectly, engaged in any business activities, does not hold and has not held any material assets, has not granted any Lien, and has not incurred any Debt, other than (a) acting as a holding company and transactions incidental thereto; (b) entering into the Loan Documents and the transactions required in this Agreement or permitted in this Agreement to be performed by Holdings; (c) receiving and distributing the dividends, distributions, and payments permitted to be made to Holdings pursuant to Section 9.2.3; (d) entering into engagement letters and similar agreements with attorneys, accountants, and other professionals; and (e) issuing Equity Interests and performing its obligations under its organizational documents, its governing documents, and agreements with the holders of its Equity Interests.
8.1.35 Customers and Suppliers. There exists no actual or threatened termination, cancellation, or limitation of, or modification to or change in, the business relationship between (a) any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any customer or any group thereof, on the other hand, whose agreements with any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries are individually or in the aggregate material to the business or operations of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries; or (b) of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any supplier or any group thereof, on the other hand, whose agreements with any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries are individually or in the aggregate material to the business or operations of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries. To the Loan Parties’ knowledge there exists no present state of facts or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to give rise to or result in any such termination, cancellation, limitation, modification or change.
8.1.36 Acquisition Term Loan Documents. As of the First Amendment Effective Date, the Borrowers have delivered to the Administrative Agent true and correct copies of the Acquisition Term Loan Documents. The Acquisition Term Loan Documents are in full force and effect as of the First Amendment Effective Date and have not been terminated, rescinded or withdrawn as of such date. The execution, delivery and performance of the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement on the First Amendment Effective Date does not and will not require any registration with, consent, or approval of, or notice to, or other action with or by, any governmental authority, other than consents or approvals that have been obtained and that are still in full force and effect. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the Obligations incurred hereunder and thereunder are permitted to be incurred by the Acquisition Term Loan Documents. Each Person that is a guarantor or a borrower under the Acquisition Term Loan Documents is a Loan Party hereunder.
8.2 Continuous Nature of Representations and Warranties. Each representation and warranty contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be continuous in nature and shall remain accurate, complete and not misleading at all times during the term of this Agreement, except for changes in the nature of any Loan Party’s or one of any Loan Party’s Subsidiary’s business or operations that would render the information in any Schedule attached hereto or to any other Loan Document either inaccurate, incomplete or misleading, so long as Majority Lenders have consented to such changes, such changes are expressly permitted by this Agreement or such changes do not have or evidence a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Loan request made or deemed made pursuant to subsection 4.1.1 hereof shall constitute a reaffirmation, as of the date of each such Loan request, of each representation or warranty made or furnished to Administrative Agent or any Lender by or on behalf of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party in this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents, or any instrument, certificate or financial statement furnished in compliance with or in reference thereto.
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8.3 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties of the Loan Parties contained in this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents shall survive the execution, delivery and acceptance thereof by Administrative Agent and each Lender and the parties thereto and the closing of the transactions described therein or related thereto.
Article IX. COVENANTS AND CONTINUING AGREEMENTS
9.1 Affirmative Covenants. During the Term, and thereafter for so long as there are any Obligations outstanding (other than indemnity Obligations for which no claim has been made), the Loan Parties covenant that they shall:
9.1.1 Visits and Inspections; Lender Meeting. Permit (i) representatives of each Agent, and during the continuation of any Default or Event of Default any Lender, from time to time, as often as may be reasonably requested, but only during normal business hours, to visit and inspect the Properties of each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries, inspect, audit and make extracts from its books and records, and discuss with its officers, its employees and its independent accountants, each Loan Party’s and each of its Subsidiaries’ business, assets, liabilities, financial condition, business prospects and results of operations and (ii) auditors engaged pursuant to Section 3.9 (whether or not personnel of any Agent), from time to time, as often as may be reasonably requested, but only during normal business hours, to visit and inspect the Properties of each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries, for the purpose of completing audits pursuant to Section 3.9. Each Agent, if no Default or Event of Default then exists, shall give the Loan Parties reasonable prior notice of any such inspection or audit. Without limiting the foregoing, the Loan Parties will participate and will cause their key management personnel to participate in a meeting with Administrative Agent and Lenders periodically during each year (except that during the continuation of an Event of Default such meetings may be held more frequently as requested by Administrative Agent or Majority Lenders), which meeting(s) shall be held at such times and such places as may be reasonably requested by Administrative Agent. The Collateral Agent may, at Borrowers’ expense, conduct up to two visits per year; provided, that, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or if an Excess Availability Triggering Event has occurred and prior to the Cure Date, the Collateral Agent may perform an additional visit at Borrowers’ expense.
9.1.2 Notices.
(i) Notify Administrative Agent, for itself and on behalf of Lenders, in writing, promptly after a Loan Party’s obtaining knowledge thereof, of any of the following that affects a Loan Party: (a) the threat or commencement of any proceeding or investigation, whether or not covered by insurance, if an adverse determination could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (b) any pending or threatened labor dispute, strike or walkout, or the expiration of any material labor contract; (c) the existence of any Default or Event of Default; (d) any judgment in an amount exceeding $500,000; (e) the assertion of any claim in respect of material Intellectual Property, if an adverse resolution could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (f) any violation or asserted violation of any (1) Anti-Terrorism Law or (2) any other Applicable Law if an adverse resolution could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (g) any Environmental Release by a Loan Party or on any Property owned, leased or occupied by a Loan Party; or receipt of any Environmental Notice; (h) the discharge of or any withdrawal or resignation by Loan Parties’ independent accountants; (i) any material change in accounting or financial reporting practices; (j) the filing of any documentation with the IRS or any other Governmental Authority outside the ordinary course of business, or (k) actual termination, cancellation or material limitation of or any actual material negative modification in or material change in the business relationship or agreements with any Account Debtor whose business with Borrowers constitutes more than 20% of Borrowers’ total revenue.
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(ii) Promptly notify Administrative Agent in writing of the occurrence of any event or the existence of any fact which renders any representation or warranty in this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents inaccurate, incomplete or misleading in any material respect as of the date made or remade. In addition, the Loan Parties agree to provide Administrative Agent with prompt written notice of any change in the information disclosed in any Schedule hereto, as required under this Agreement, in each case after giving effect to the materiality limits and Material Adverse Effect qualifications contained therein.
(iii) No later than five (5) Business Days prior to the earlier of the execution date or the effective date thereof, copies of substantially final drafts of any proposed amendment, supplement, waiver or other modification under or pursuant to the Acquisition Term Loan Documents or any other documentation evidencing Debt from any other lender.
(iv) Promptly upon delivery of or receipt of the same, any notices of default under the Acquisition Term Loan Documents or any notices of any Enforcement Action (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).
(v) On the First Amendment Effective Date, fully executed and assembled Acquisition Term Loan Documents.
9.1.3 Financial Statements. Keep, and cause each of their Subsidiaries to keep, adequate records and books of account with respect to its business activities in which proper entries are made in accordance with customary accounting practices reflecting all its financial transactions; and cause to be prepared and furnished to Administrative Agent and each Lender, the following, all to be prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis:
(i) not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the close of each fiscal year of Holdings, unqualified (except for a qualification for a change in accounting principles with which the accountant concurs) audited financial statements of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such year, on a Consolidated basis, certified by a firm of independent certified public accountants of recognized standing reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent (it being acknowledged by Administrative Agent that Semple, Marchal & Cooper, LLP is acceptable) and, within a reasonable time thereafter a copy of any management letter issued in connection therewith;
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(ii) [Reserved];
(iii) not later than forty-five (45) days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter, consolidated balance sheets of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as of the end of that Fiscal Quarter, together with consolidated statements of earnings and a consolidated statement of cash flows for that Fiscal Quarter and for the period beginning with the first day of that Fiscal Year and ending on the last day of that Fiscal Quarter, together with a comparison with the corresponding period of the previous Fiscal Year and a comparison with the budget for that period of the current Fiscal Year, together with a management discussion and analysis, all certified by a Senior Officer of Holdings;
(iv) not later than thirty (30) days after the end of each month hereafter, unaudited interim financial statements of Holdings and its Subsidiaries (balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement without notes) as of the end of such month and of the portion of the fiscal year then elapsed, on a Consolidated and consolidating basis, presenting the financial position and results of operations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for such month and period subject to changes from audit and year-end, quarterly or monthly adjustments;
(v) together with each delivery of financial statements pursuant to clause (i) of this subsection 9.1.3, and on a quarterly basis excluding the fourth fiscal quarter (within forty-five (45) days of the end of each fiscal quarter), a management report (a) setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding periods of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding figures from the most recent Projections for the current fiscal year delivered pursuant to subsection 9.1.7 and (b) identifying the reasons for any significant variations;
(vi) together with each delivery of financial statements pursuant to clauses (i) and (iii) of this subsection 9.1.3, or more frequently if reasonably requested by Administrative Agent, Holdings shall cause to be prepared and furnished to Administrative Agent a Compliance Certificate in the form of Exhibit 9.1.3 hereto (a “Compliance Certificate”). The Compliance Certificate shall include (a) a certification to the effect that that Senior Officer has not become aware of any Default or Event of Default that has occurred and is continuing or, if there is any such event, describing it and the steps, if any, being taken to cure it, and (b) a written statement of Holdings’ management setting forth a discussion of Holdings’ and its Subsidiaries’ financial condition, changes in financial condition, and results of operations;
(vii) together with each delivery of financial statements pursuant to clause (i) of this subsection 9.1.3, and on a quarterly basis excluding the fourth fiscal quarter (within forty-five (45) days of the end of each fiscal quarter), a management report setting forth the individual consolidating amounts for Holdings and its Subsidiaries and eliminations that reconcile to the financial statements pursuant to clause (i) of this subsection 9.1.3;
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(viii) promptly after the sending or filing thereof, as the case may be, copies of any proxy statements, financial statements or reports which any Loan Party has made available to holders of its public Equity Interests and copies of any regular, periodic and special reports or registration statements which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries files with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any Governmental Authority which may be substituted therefor or any national securities exchange;
(ix) upon request of Administrative Agent, copies of any annual report to be filed with ERISA in connection with each Plan;
(x) any other data or information required to be provided to the Acquisition Term Agent or any Acquisition Term Lenders of any Loan Party, at the same time such data or information is provided to the Acquisition Term Agent or Acquisition Term Lenders, as applicable;
(xi) on a quarterly basis (within forty-five (45) days of the end of each fiscal quarter), a detailed list of Eligible Machinery and Equipment and an address for such Eligible Machinery and Equipment (if such Eligible Machinery and Equipment is not located at a Borrower’s location for which the Borrowers have delivered the Administrative Agent a collateral access agreement in favor of the Administrative Agent in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent); and
(xii) such other data and information (financial and otherwise) as Administrative Agent or any Lender, from time to time, may reasonably request, bearing upon or related to the Collateral or the Loan Parties’ or any of their Subsidiaries’ financial condition or results of operations.
9.1.4 Borrowing Base Certificates.
(i) On or before the last day of each month from and after the date hereof, the Borrowers shall deliver to Collateral Agent, in form acceptable to Collateral Agent, a Borrowing Base Certificate as of the last day of the immediately preceding month, with such supporting materials as Collateral Agent shall reasonably request. If Collateral Agent shall request at any time (i) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (ii) following an Excess Availability Triggering Event and continuing until the Cure Date or following the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default and so long as it is continuing, the Borrowers shall execute and deliver to Collateral Agent Borrowing Base Certificates on or before the third (3rd) Business Day of each week, provided that any referenced amounts with respect to unbilled Accounts will continue to be updated monthly.
(ii) Together with each delivery of a Borrowing Base Certificate, the Borrower Representative shall deliver to Collateral Agent, in the form reasonably acceptable to Collateral Agent, a detailed accounts receivable and accounts payable aging of the Borrowers' accounts aged by invoice date, account roll- forward with supporting details supplied from sales journals, collection journals, credit registers and any other records, unbilled accrued receivables report, unapplied deposits report, unbilled accrued payables reports, deferred revenue report, detailed list of Eligible Accounts and Eligible Unbilled Accounts, access to review new major contracts (MSAs and scope of work arrangements), sales tax accruals and a reconciliation to Borrower's general ledger and the Borrowing Base Certificate delivered by the Borrower as of such date and to such Borrower's most recent financial statements and all with supporting information and materials as Collateral Agent shall reasonably request.
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9.1.5 Landlord, Processor and Storage Agreements. Provide Administrative Agent with access to review all agreements between any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries and any landlord which owns or is the lessee of any premises at which any books and records and may, from time to time, be kept. In the event the Borrowers do not provide Administrative Agent with a landlord waiver with respect to any such leased location, the Borrowers acknowledge that Collateral Agent may, in Collateral Agent’s reasonable credit judgment, establish a Reserve in the amount of three months’ rent for such location. In the event the Term Lender receives a collateral access agreement from Borrowers, Borrowers shall promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent a collateral access agreement in favor of the Administrative Agent in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
9.1.6 Guarantor Financial Statements. Deliver or cause to be delivered to Administrative Agent financial statements, if any, for each Guarantor (to the extent not consolidated with the financial statements delivered to Administrative Agent under subsection 9.1.3) in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent at such intervals and covering such time periods as Administrative Agent may request.
9.1.7 Projections. No later than thirty (30) days after the end of each fiscal year of Holdings, deliver to Administrative Agent (i) the Projections of each of Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries for the forthcoming fiscal year, month by month and (ii) any such other projections as required to be delivered under the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement.
9.1.8 Subsidiaries. Cause each Subsidiary of each Loan Party (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) hereafter acquired or created, to execute and deliver to Administrative Agent a joinder agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent whereby such Subsidiary would become either an additional Borrower or Guarantor hereunder, the determination as to whether such Subsidiary shall be a Borrower or a Guarantor to be made by Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion. A Subsidiary which becomes a Borrower hereunder shall by such joinder become a party to this Agreement as a “Borrower” and subject to the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement, which shall include, without limitation, a grant to Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection 6.1.1 hereof of a first-priority (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement) Lien the Collateral (subject only to Permitted Liens) on all of its Properties of the types described in subsection 6.1.1; provided, however, prior to the inclusion of any Accounts of such Borrower in the Borrowing Base, Administrative Agent shall be satisfied with the results of a field exam, conducted at the Loan Parties’ expense, as to such Accounts. A Subsidiary which becomes a Guarantor hereunder shall by such joinder become a party to this Agreement as a “Guarantor” and subject to the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement, and in addition to but not in limitation of the foregoing, shall grant to Administrative Agent, for the benefit of itself and each Lender, a continuing Lien upon all Equity Interests, whether certificated or uncertificated, in each of its Subsidiaries which are Loan Parties, and comply with the provisions of subsection 6.1.3 hereof as if it were an original party to this Agreement, except that the reference to “Parent” shall be construed to be a reference to such Guarantor and the reference to “Quest” shall be construed to be a reference to such Subsidiary and the reference to “Pledge Agreement” shall be construed to be a reference to the Pledge Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, Guarantor shall be required to execute in connection with becoming a Guarantor hereunder.
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9.1.9 Deposit and Brokerage Accounts. For each deposit account or brokerage account that any Borrower at any time opens after the Closing Date, the Borrowers shall cause the depository bank or securities intermediary, as applicable, to enter into a Control Agreement and/or blocked account agreement in accordance with subsection 7.2.4, except to the extent any such agreement is not required thereunder.
9.1.10 Use of Proceeds. The Revolving Credit Loans and Term Loans shall be used solely for (i) the satisfaction of existing Debt of the Borrowers to Citizens Bank, National Association, (ii) the Loan Parties’ general operating capital needs and general corporate purposes in a manner consistent with the provisions of this Agreement and all Applicable Law, (iii) other purposes permitted under this Agreement, and (iv) to pay costs and fees in connection with the Closing Date Transactions.
9.1.11 Compliance with Laws. Comply with all (i) Anti-Terrorism Laws and (ii) other Applicable Laws if the failure to comply with such other Applicable Laws could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if any Environmental Release occurs at or on any Properties of any Loan Party or Subsidiary, it shall act promptly and diligently to investigate and report to Administrative Agent and all appropriate Governmental Authorities the extent of, and to make appropriate remedial action to eliminate, such Environmental Release, whether or not directed to do so by any Governmental Authority.
9.1.12 Payment of Obligations. Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy as the same shall become due and payable (i) all material Tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, which, if unpaid, could reasonably be expected to result in the creation of a Lien upon its Property, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained and (ii) all material lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property, unless such claims would not become a Lien on the Collateral and the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained.
9.1.13 Preservation of Existence. Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence under the Applicable Law of the jurisdiction of its organization, other than as a result of a transaction expressly permitted hereunder.
9.1.14 Maintenance of Properties, Permits, Etc. (i) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition, ordinary wear and tear and casualty or condemnation excepted, and make all necessary renewals, replacements, modifications, improvements, upgrades, extensions and additions thereof or thereto in accordance with prudent industry practice, (ii) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (iii) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, service marks and copyrights, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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9.1.15 SBA PPP Loans.
(i) Use of Proceeds. The Borrowers will (i) use all of the proceeds of any SBA PPP Loan exclusively for CARES Forgivable Uses in the manner required under the CARES Act, as amended, to obtain forgiveness of the largest possible amount of such SBA PPP Loan and (ii) take all commercially reasonable steps to have the SBA PPP Loans forgiven pursuant to the CARES Act and use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct their business in a manner that maximizes the amount of the SBA PPP Loans that is forgiven. The Borrowers acknowledge that as of the Closing Date, in order to obtain forgiveness of the largest possible amount of the SBA PPP Loans, the Borrowers would not be allowed to use less than 60% of each SBA PPP Loan proceeds for CARES Payroll Costs, subject to amendment.
(ii) CARES Act. The Borrowers and their use of the SBA PPP Loans will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the CARES Act.
(iii) Notice. The Borrowers will provide the Bank with (i) prompt written notice (but in any event within two Business Days) of the failure of any SBA PPP Loan incurred by any of the Borrowers to qualify for contingent forgiveness under the CARES Act and (ii) if requested by the Bank, copies all correspondence sent to, and received from, the SBA or SBA 7(a) lender bank.
9.1.16 Equipment Rental/Lease Agreements. To the extent that any Equipment constitutes Eligible Machinery and Equipment that is rented or leased to a Borrower’s customer and is located at such customer’s location and with respect to all master service agreements or other contracts relating to any Eligible Account, use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that any such rental lease or master service agreement is assignable to Borrower’s financing sources.
9.1.17 Subcontractor Liens. (i) use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent any contractor or subcontractor from obtaining or enforcing a lien with respect to any contract to which any Loan Party is a party and (ii) promptly notify the Administrative Agent if (x) any Loan Party fails to pay any uncontested amounts to a subcontractor under any contract when due after any applicable cure period or (y) any subcontractor obtains a lien with respect to any contract to which any Loan Party is a party.
9.1.18 Related Transaction Notices. Promptly following receipt, copies of any material notices (including notices of default or acceleration) received in connection with the Related Transaction or the RWS Acquisition.
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9.1.19
9.1.18 Information Systems. Not less than three (3) months prior
to the commencement of any program or process to implement a material change, consolidation or modification of a Loan Party’s information
technology and/or enterprise resource planning software system, such Loan Party shall provide notice of such proposed change, consolidation
or modification to Administrative Agent. From the commencement of such program or process through the completion of such change, consolidation
or modification, the Borrowers shall provide Administrative Agent an update on the progress of such change, consolidation or modification
concurrently with the delivery of the written statement required to be delivered pursuant to clause (b) of Section 9.1.3(vi) relating
to the Borrowers’ financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations.
9.1.20
9.1.19 Key Performance Indicators. Contemporaneously with the furnishing
of a copy of each set of monthly financial statements pursuant to Section 9.1.3(iv), a report summarizing key performance indicators
of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for the period then ending in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (and in any event
shall include (without limitation) (1) any new material customers added or customers lost during the applicable month being measured
along with the gross profit impact of such change on an annual basis and (2) the top 5 customers of Holdings and its Subsidiaries measured
by trailing twelve month gross profit).
9.2 Negative Covenants. Until payment in full of the Obligations, Holdings and each Borrower shall, unless at any time the Administrative Agent otherwise expressly consents in writing, do the following:
9.2.1 Debt. Not, and not permit any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume, or suffer to exist any Debt, except the following:
(i) Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(ii) Debt of any of the Loan Parties (other than Holdings) and their Subsidiaries secured by Liens permitted by Section 9.2.2, and extensions, renewals, replacements, and refinancings thereof, so long as the aggregate amount of all such Debt at any time outstanding does not exceed $500,000;
(iii) Debt of any Loan Party to any other Loan Party, so long as (i) that Debt is evidenced by a demand note in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent and pledged and delivered to Administrative Agent pursuant to the Security Documents as additional collateral security for the Obligations, and (ii) the obligations under that demand note are subordinated to the obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents (including the Obligations of Borrowers under this Agreement) in a manner reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent;
(iv) Debt arising in connection with endorsement of instruments for deposit in the ordinary course of business;
(v) Debt of any Loan Party to any employee, officer, or director or any such Person’s spouse, estate, or estate-planning vehicle to repurchase Equity Interests from that Person upon the death, disability, or termination of employment of that employee, officer of director, so long as the aggregate amount of all such Debt at any time outstanding does not exceed $250,000;
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(vi) unsecured Hedging Obligations consisting of commodity swap agreements of the Loan Parties (other than Holdings) and their Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 incurred for bona fide hedging purposes and not for speculation with respect to risks arising in the ordinary course of Borrowers’ business;
(vii) Debt described on Schedule 9.2.1 and any extension, renewal, replacement or refinancing thereof so long as the principal amount thereof is not increased;
(viii) the Debt to be Repaid (so long as that Debt is repaid on the First Amendment Effective Date with the proceeds of the Acquisition Term Debt);
(ix) Contingent Liabilities arising with respect to (i) customary indemnification obligations by any of the Loan Parties (other than Holdings) and their Subsidiaries in favor of purchasers in connection with dispositions permitted under Section 9.2.9, and (ii) the guaranty by any of the Loan Parties (other than Holdings) and their Subsidiaries of a lease, sublease, license, or sublicense entered into in the ordinary course of business by another Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof;
(x) unsecured Debt incurred in respect of netting services, overdraft protection, and other like services, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(xi) so long as the Acquisition Term Debt is subject to the terms and conditions of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Acquisition Term Debt in an aggregate principal amount outstanding under this clause (xi) at any time not to exceed the Term Loan Cap (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) at any time outstanding and any permitted Refinancing (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) thereof; provided, that, any Acquisition Term Debt that exceeds the Term Loan Cap shall still be permitted hereunder to the extent it constitutes Excess Term Loan Debt (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) under the Intercreditor Agreement;
(xii) Debt owed to any person or entity providing property, casualty or liability insurance to any Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Borrower in connection with the financing of insurance premiums in the ordinary course of business to the extent not due and payable;
(xiii) unsecured Debt of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries owing to banks or other financial institutions under corporate credit cards issued to officers and employees for business related expenses in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount not to exceed $375,000 at any time outstanding;
(xiv) [Reserved];
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(xv) Debt in the form of Capital Lease obligations or purchase money obligations of any entity that becomes a Loan Party after the date hereof pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition; provided, that (x) such Debt exists at the time such entity becomes such a Subsidiary and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such entity becoming such a Subsidiary, (y) such Debt is not guaranteed in any respect by any Borrower or Guarantor (other than by any such entity that guaranteed such Debt at the time such entity became a Subsidiary) and (z) such Debt in the aggregate does not exceed $750,000 at any time outstanding and any renewals, extensions, or refinancings thereof so long as the principal amount thereof is not increased;
(xvi) Debt in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 at any time outstanding in connection with surety or similar bonds, letters of credit and performance bonds obtained in the ordinary course of business of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries;
(xvii) deposits supporting the performance of operating leases in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 at any time outstanding;
(xviii) unsecured Debt arising from agreements providing for customary adjustments of purchase price or similar obligations, or from guarantees securing the performance of any Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Borrower pursuant to such agreements, in connection with any Permitted Acquisitions;
(xix) cash obligations under incentive, non-compete, consulting, deferred compensation, or other similar arrangements, other than sales commissions, incurred by it in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(xx) (A) the Green Remedies Seller Note to the extent subject to the Green Remedies Seller Note Subordination Agreement, (B) other unsecured seller notes issued by Holdings of up to 150% of the EBITDA of the target for the most recently ended twelve month period for which financial statements have been delivered to Administrative Agent, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $12,000,000 at any time outstanding to the extent subject to a subordination agreement or other subordination arrangement in favor of the Obligations reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent and subject to documentation and structure reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (C) other unsecured earn-outs owing by Holdings of up to 150% of the EBITDA of the target for the most recently ended twelve month period for which financial statements have been delivered to Administrative Agent, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $12,000,000 at any time outstanding the extent subject to a subordination agreement or other subordination arrangement in favor of the Obligations reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent and subject to documentation and structure reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;
(xxi) Debt consisting of SBA PPP Loans in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,408,000 at any time outstanding; and
(xxii) other unsecured Debt of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries not otherwise provided for herein in an aggregate amount not at any time exceeding $750,000 at any time outstanding; provided, to the extent any such Debt is in the form of seller notes, earn-out or similar obligations, such Debt shall only be issued by Holdings and shall be subject to a subordination agreement or other subordination arrangement in favor of the Obligations reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent.
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9.2.2 Liens. Not, and not permit any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to, create or permit to exist any Lien on any of its real or personal properties, assets, or rights of whatsoever nature (whether now owned or hereafter acquired), except the following:
(i) Liens for taxes or other governmental charges (excluding any Lien imposed pursuant to any provisions of ERISA) not at the time delinquent or thereafter payable without penalty or being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings so long as such Lien would not reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the Administrative Agent’s rights or the priority of the Administrative Agent’s Lien on any Collateral and, in each case, for which it maintains adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP and the execution or other enforcement of which is effectively stayed;
(ii) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business any of the Loan Parties (other than Holdings) and their Subsidiaries (such as (i) Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics and materialmen and other similar Liens imposed by law and (ii) Liens in the form of deposits or pledges incurred in connection with worker’s compensation, unemployment compensation and other types of social security (excluding Liens arising under ERISA) or in connection with surety bonds, bids, performance bonds, and similar obligations) for sums not overdue or being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently prosecuted and not involving any advances or borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of property or services and, in each case (1) for which it maintains adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP and the execution or other enforcement of which is effectively stayed and (2) only so long as payment in respect of any such Lien is not at the time required and such Liens do not, in the aggregate, materially detract from the value of the assets of such Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of the business of such Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries;
(iii) Liens described on Schedule 9.2.2 as of the First Amendment Effective Date and renewals and extensions thereof on the assets currently subject to those Liens;
(iv) subject to the limitation set forth in Section 9.2.1(ii), the following: (i) Liens arising in connection with Capital Leases (and attaching only to the property being leased); (ii) Liens existing on property at the time of the acquisition thereof by any of the Loan Parties (other than Holdings) and their Subsidiaries (and not created in contemplation of that acquisition); and (iii) Liens that constitute purchase money security interests on any property securing debt incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring that property, so long as any such Lien attaches to the applicable property within twenty (20) days of the acquisition thereof and attaches solely to the property so acquired;
(v) easements, rights of way, restrictions (including zoning restrictions), covenants, encroachments, and other similar real estate charges or encumbrances, minor defects or irregularities in title, and other similar real estate Liens granted in the ordinary course of business not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof;
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(vi) leases, subleases, licenses, or sublicenses of the assets or properties of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any material respect with the business of any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries;
(vii) customary set-off rights against depository accounts permitted under this Agreement in favor of banks at which any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries maintains any such depository accounts, so long as those set-off rights secure only the obligations of that Loan Party or that Subsidiary to pay ordinary course fees and bank charges;
(viii) Liens consisting of precautionary filings of UCC financing statements filed with respect to Operating Leases permitted under this Agreement and any interest of title of a lessor under any Operating Lease permitted under this Agreement;
(ix) Liens arising under the Loan Documents;
(x) Liens arising from judgments in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default;
(xi) Liens securing the Acquisition Term Debt to the extent permitted by Section 9.2.1(xi) so long as such Liens are subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement; and
(xii) other Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries with respect to obligations that do not in the aggregate exceed $500,000 at any time outstanding.
9.2.3 Restricted Payments. Not, and not permit any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to, (a) make any dividend or distribution to any holders of its Equity Interests; (b) purchase or redeem any of its Equity Interests; (c) pay any management fees, transaction-based fees, or similar fees to any of its equity holders or any Affiliate thereof; (d) make any payment on account of Debt that has been contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations if that payment is not permitted at that time under the applicable subordination terms and conditions; (e) make any prepayment of any unsecured Debt or any Debt secured by a Lien that is junior or subordinated to the Liens securing the Obligations; or (f) set aside funds for any of the foregoing (any of the foregoing described in clauses (a) through (f), each a “Restricted Payment”), except that:
(i) any Subsidiary may pay dividends or make other distributions to a Loan Party and any Loan Party may pay dividends or make other distributions to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party;
(ii) in the event the Borrowers file a consolidated, combined, unitary or similar type income Tax return with Holdings, the Borrowers shall be permitted to make distributions to Holdings to permit Holdings to pay federal and state income Taxes when due and payable to the extent such Taxes are attributable to the income of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries;
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(iii) the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries may make payments for earn-outs and deferred purchase price payments in connection with Permitted Acquisitions in an aggregate amount not to exceed of up to 150% of the EBITDA of the target for the most recently ended twelve month period for which financial statements have been delivered to Administrative Agent, provided that immediately before and after giving effect to such payments the Payment Conditions are satisfied;
(iv) in each case to the extent due and payable on a nonaccelerated basis, each Borrower may make regularly scheduled payments of interest in respect of subordinated Debt in the form of seller notes or earn-outs, provided, that (a) the Payment Conditions are satisfied, and (b) such payments are permitted under the applicable subordination agreement related thereto, and
(v) each Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries may make dividends or distributions payable solely in its Equity Interests;
(vi) each Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries may make cash payments under the Warrant solely to the extent such payments are permitted under the Intercreditor Agreement; and
(vii) the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries may make payments in the form of Equity Interests of Holdings as required by the Consideration Agreement (as defined in the Green Remedies Acquisition Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) as in effect on the date hereof.
9.2.4 Mergers, Consolidations, Sales. Not, and not permit any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to, (a) be a party to any merger or consolidation; (b) change its state of incorporation or organization, its organization type or organization identification number or change its legal name; (c) sell, transfer, dispose of, convey, or lease any of its assets or Equity Interests (including the sale of Equity Interests of any Subsidiary); (d) sell or assign with or without recourse any receivables; (e) acquire all or any substantial part of the properties of any Person; or (f) purchase or otherwise acquire all or substantially all of the assets or any Equity Interests, or any partnership or joint venture interest in, any other Person or make any Acquisition, except the following:
(i) any merger or consolidation of a Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party with another Loan Party or another Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of a Loan Party; provided, that a Loan Party shall be the surviving entity in any merger or consolidation involving a Loan Party, a Borrower shall be the surviving entity in any merger or consolidation involving a Borrower and Holdings shall be the surviving entity in any merger or consolidation involving Holdings;
(ii) Permitted Acquisitions;
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(iii) dispositions of equipment that is substantially worn, damaged, or obsolete; provided that in the case of any disposition of equipment financed hereunder, the outstanding advance amount and all interest payable with respect thereto shall be paid to the Administrative Agent to be applied to the Term Loan as set forth herein;
(iv) the licensing, on a non-exclusive basis, of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business;
(v) the lapse of registered patents, trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries to the extent not economically desirable and useful in the conduct of its business;
(vi) transfers of assets (a) to a Loan Party by (x) a Loan Party (other than Holdings, provided that the foregoing shall not limit Restricted Payments permitted by Section 9.2.3) or (y) a Subsidiary of a Loan Party (other than by a Borrower to such Subsidiary, provided that the foregoing shall not limit Restricted Payments permitted by Section 9.2.3 hereof) or (b) to a Borrower by a Borrower;
(vii) sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business;
(viii) dispositions of Cash Equivalent Investments;
(ix) transfers of cash permitted by Section 9.2.9(xiii); and
(x) so long as no Default or Event of Default exists and is continuing, other dispositions, not provided for in any other clause of this Section 9.2.4 in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 during any consecutive twelve-month period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any disposition or transfer be made to Quest Vertigent One, LLC other than pursuant to clause (ix) of this Section 9.2.4.
9.2.5 Modification of Certain Documents; Organizational Form.
(i) Not permit the organizational documents or governing documents of any Loan Party to be amended or modified in any way that could reasonably be expected to be adverse to the interests of the Lenders (it being agreed that any change to the organizational or governing documents of Holdings related to the board of directors or voting rights of equityholders shall be deemed adverse to the interests of the Lenders).
(ii) Not change, or allow any Loan Party to change, its state of formation or its organizational form without providing the Administrative Agent at least ten (10) Business Days’ prior written notice.
(iii) Not amend, restate, supplement, waive, refinance, replace or otherwise modify any provision of any of the Acquisition Term Loan Documents except to the extent permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement.
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(iv) Not amend, restate, supplement, waive, refinance, replace or otherwise modify any provision of the Green Remedies Seller Note unless permitted by the Green Remedies Seller Note Subordination Agreement.
(v)
Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, not amend, waive or otherwise modify any provision of the Green
RemediesClosing Date Acquisition Agreement, the RWS
Acquisition Agreement or the documents and instruments delivered in connection therewith if such amendment, waiver or modification would
be material or adverse to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders.
9.2.6 Transactions with Affiliates. Not, and not permit any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to, enter into, or cause, suffer, or permit to exist any transaction, arrangement, or contract with any of its other Affiliates (other than the Loan Parties) which is on terms which are less favorable than are obtainable from any Person which is not one of its Affiliates (except to the extent expressly permitted by Sections 9.2.3 and 9.2.4(i)).
9.2.7 Inconsistent Agreements. Not, and not permit any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to, enter into any agreement containing any provision that would (a) be violated or breached by any borrowing by Borrowers under this Agreement or by the performance by any Loan Party of any of its Obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; (b) prohibit any Loan Party from granting to Administrative Agent and the Lenders a Lien on any of its assets; or (c) create or permit to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary to (i) pay dividends or make other distributions to Holdings, any Borrower, or any other Subsidiary, or incur or pay any Debt (or modify, extend or renew any agreement evidencing Debt) owed to Holdings, any Borrower, or any other Subsidiary or to repay any intercompany Debt, (ii) make loans or advances to any Loan Party, or (iii) transfer any of its assets or properties to any Loan Party, other than (A) customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of all or a substantial part of the assets of any Subsidiary pending any such sale, so long as those restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary to be sold and that sale is permitted under this Agreement (but those); (B) restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to purchase money Debt, Capital Leases, and other secured Debt permitted by this Agreement, so long as those restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing that Debt; (C) customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof; and (D) restrictions and conditions set forth in the Loan Documents and the ABL Loan Documents.
9.2.8 Business Activities; Holdings. (x) Not, and not permit any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to, engage in any line of business other than the businesses engaged in on the First Amendment Effective Date and businesses reasonably related or reasonably complementary thereto, and (y) not permit Holdings to engage in any trade or business other than acting as a holding company for the Equity Interests of the Loan Parties and any activities reasonably incidental thereto. Holdings shall not hold any cash or Cash Equivalent Investment that is not subject to a Control Agreement.
9.2.9 Investments. Not, and not permit any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to, make or permit to exist any Investment in any other Person, except the following:
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(i) contributions by Holdings, Borrowers, or any Subsidiary to the capital of any Borrower;
(ii) Investments constituting Debt permitted by Section 9.2.1;
(iii) Contingent Liabilities constituting Debt permitted by Section 9.2.1 or Liens permitted by Section 9.2.2;
(iv) Cash Equivalent Investments;
(v) subject to Section 9.1.11, bank deposits in the ordinary course of business;
(vi) Permitted Acquisitions;
(vii) non-cash consideration received pursuant to the consummation of asset dispositions and Permitted Acquisitions, in each case permitted under this Agreement;
(viii) bank deposits established in the ordinary course of business in accordance with the Loan Documents;
(ix) Investments listed on Schedule 9.2.9 as of the First Amendment Effective Date;
(x) advances to officers, directors and employees of Holdings and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000 at any time outstanding, for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes in the ordinary course of business;
(xi) Investments by Holdings and its Subsidiaries in the Loan Parties (other than Holdings);
(xii) prepaid expenses and extensions of trade credit, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;
(xiii) Investments of cash into Quest Vertigent One, LLC to be used solely for the purpose of paying consultant fees and general corporate expenses of Quest Vertigent One, LLC in an amount not to exceed $50,000 in any Fiscal Year; and
(xiv) other Investments not provided for in any other clause of this Section 11.9 in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 so long as the Payment Conditions are satisfied immediately before and after giving effect to such Investment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Investment be made in Quest Verging One, LLC other than pursuant to clause (xiii) of this Section 9.2.9.
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9.2.10 Restriction of Amendments to Certain Documents. Not amend or otherwise modify, or waive any rights under any Warrants, Related Agreement or Material Contract, other than immaterial amendments, modifications, and waivers not adverse to the interests of Administrative Agent or Lenders.
9.2.11 Fiscal Year; Accounting Policies. Not, and not permit any of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries to (a) change its Fiscal Year or its method of determining Fiscal Quarters or fiscal months or (b) make any change in its accounting policies that is not required under GAAP.
9.2.12 Financial Covenants.
(i) Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for any Computation Period (commencing with the Computation Period ending March 31, 2022) to be less than 1.10 to 1.00 for that Computation Period.
(ii) Senior Net Leverage Ratio. Not permit the Senior Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of any Computation Period to exceed the applicable ratio set forth below for that Computation Period:
Computation
Period Ending |
Senior Net Leverage Ratio |
December 31, 2020 | 3.25 to 1.00 |
March 31, 2021, June 30, 2021 |
3.00 to 1.00 |
September 30, 2021, December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022 |
|
June 30, 2022
December 31, 2022
|
5.50 to 1.00
5.25 to 1.00
|
March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023 | 5.00 to 1.00 |
December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024 | 4.75 to 1.00 |
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Computation Period Ending |
Senior Net Leverage Ratio |
June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024 | 4.50 to 1.00 |
December 31, 2024, March 31, 2025 and June 30, 2025 | 4.00 to 1.00 |
|
|
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary (x) with respect to any provision of the Loan Documents that references compliance or satisfaction with the Senior Net Leverage Ratio required by this Section 9.2.12(ii) prior to December 31, 2020, such provision shall be deemed to refer to the Senior Net Leverage Ratio required as of December 31, 2020 and (y) the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent shall negotiate in good faith to reset the maximum Senior Net Leverage Ratios permitted under this Section 9.2.12(ii) to reflect the impact of any Debt incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition as permitted hereunder.
9.2.13 Compliance with Laws. Not, and shall not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, fail to comply with the laws, regulations and executive orders referred to in Sections 8.1.31 and 8.1.32.
9.2.14 Equity Interests of Subsidiaries. Not permit any Loan Parties (excluding Holdings) or any of their Subsidiaries to issue any additional Equity Interests, except to a Loan Party or other Subsidiary of a Loan Party and except for director’s qualifying Equity Interests to the extent required under applicable law. Not permit Holdings to issue any Disqualified Equity Interests.
9.2.15 Tax Consolidation. Not permit any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party to file or consent to the filing of any consolidated income tax return with any Person other than Holdings (or a present or future direct or indirect parent of Holdings), any other present or future Loan Party and/or any present or future Subsidiary of any Loan Party.
9.2.16 Bill-and-Hold Sales, Etc. Not permit any Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries to make a sale to any customer on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale and return, sale on approval, repurchase or return or consignment basis.
9.2.17 Acquisition Term Debt. Not permit any Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries to purchase or hold any of the Acquisition Term Debt.
9.2.18 Fiscal Year End. Not change, or permit any Subsidiary of any Loan Party to change, its fiscal year end.
9.2.19 OFAC. Not (i) Become a Person whose property or interests in property are blocked or subject to blocking pursuant to Section 1 of Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001 Blocking Party and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079(2001)), (ii) engage in any dealings or transactions prohibited by Section 2 of such executive order, or be otherwise associated with any such Person in any manner violative of such Section 2, or (iii) become a Person on the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons or subject to the limitations or prohibitions under any other U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control regulation or executive order.
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9.2.20 Prepayments.
(i) Voluntary Prepayments. Not make any voluntary prepayment on the Acquisition Term Debt unless the following conditions have been satisfied: (a) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would immediately result therefrom, (b) after giving effect to any such voluntary prepayment, Excess Availability (as defined under the Intercreditor Agreement) is not less than $3,000,000, and (c) Borrower Representative has delivered a certificate to Administrative Agent certifying the satisfaction of the foregoing conditions.
(ii) Mandatory Prepayments. Not make any mandatory prepayment in respect of Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement) on the Acquisition Term Debt unless the following conditions have been satisfied: (a) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would immediately result therefrom, (b) after giving effect to any such voluntary prepayment, Excess Availability (as defined under the Intercreditor Agreement) is not less than $750,000, and (c) Borrower Representative has delivered a certificate to Administrative Agent certifying the satisfaction of the foregoing conditions; provided, however, provided, that, to the extent the Loan Parties were not permitted to make such mandatory prepayment described above because such conditions were not met, then the Loan Parties shall be permitted to make such payments on the next Business Day that such conditions are satisfied so long as for the 30 day period ending on the date of such prepayment, Excess Availability (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) has exceeded the sum of $750,000.
9.2.21 Post-Closing.
(i) Insurance. No later than 10 Business Days after the Second Amendment Effective Date, the Loan Parties shall have delivered updated insurance certificates indicating that PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, together with its successors and assigns, is named as additional insured on the certificate for liability coverage and as lender’s loss payee on the certificate for property or casualty insurance.
(ii) Control Agreements. No later than 60 days after the Second Amendment Effective Date, the Loan Parties shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the Control Agreements required pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the deposit accounts and securities accounts of RSW and its Subsidiaries.
(iii) Collateral Access Agreements. No later than 60 days after the Second Amendment Effective Date, the Loan Parties shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the landlord waivers required pursuant to this Agreement.
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Article X. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
10.1 Initial Loans. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and without affecting in any manner the rights of Agents or any Lender under the other sections of this Agreement, no Lender shall be required to make the Loans, nor shall Issuing Bank be required to issue any Letter of Credit to be made or issued on the Closing Date unless and until each of the following conditions has been and continues to be satisfied or waived by Majority Lenders:
10.1.1 Documentation. Administrative Agent shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent and its counsel, a duly executed copy of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with such additional documents, instruments, opinions and certificates as Administrative Agent and its counsel shall require in connection therewith from time to time, all in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent and its counsel.
10.1.2 [Reserved].
10.1.3 No Litigation. No action, proceeding, investigation, regulation or legislation shall have been instituted, threatened or proposed before any Governmental Authority to enjoin, restrain or prohibit, or to obtain damages in respect of, or which is related to or arises out of, this Agreement or the consummation of the Initial Closing Date Transactions.
10.1.4 Closing Date – Minimum Excess Availability and Consolidated EBITDA. Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that the Borrowers have (i) Excess Availability of not less than $3,000,000 and (ii) Consolidated EBITDA of at least $2,000,000 for the trailing twelve month period calculated on a consolidated basis for Holdings and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2020.
10.1.5 Repayment of Existing Debt. (i) Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that all Debt (including any commitments therefor) not permitted under subsection 9.2.2 shall have been terminated and all outstanding amounts therefor shall have been paid in full pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent and (ii) satisfactory arrangements shall have been made for the termination of all Liens granted in connection therewith.
10.1.6 Material Adverse Effect. As of the Closing Date, since December 31, 2019, there has not been any material adverse change in the business, assets, financial condition, income, performance or operations of any Loan Party and no event or condition exists which would be reasonably likely to result in any Material Adverse Effect.
10.1.7 UCC Filings and Lien Perfection. Administrative Agent shall have received acknowledgments of all filings, notifications or recordations necessary to perfect its Liens in the Collateral, as well as UCC, intellectual property and other Lien searches and other evidence satisfactory to Administrative Agent that such Liens are the only Liens upon the Collateral, except Permitted Liens. Administrative Agent shall have received all possessory collateral required to be delivered to Administrative Agent pursuant to the Loan Documents, duly endorsed in a manner satisfactory to Administrative Agent indicating Administrative Agent’s security interest therein.
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10.1.8 Officer’s Certificate. Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to it, from a duly authorized officer of the Loan Parties certifying that (a) each Loan Party is now and, after giving effect to the initial Loans to be made and the initial Letters of Credit to be issued hereunder and the consummation of each other Closing Date Transaction, will be, Solvent; (b) no Default or Event of Default exists or would result after giving effect to the Initial Closing Date Transactions; (c) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 8 are true and correct; and (d) the Loan Parties have complied with all agreements and conditions to be satisfied by them under the Loan Documents.
10.1.9 Resolutions, Organizational Documents, Incumbency Certificate. Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a duly authorized officer of each Loan Party, certifying (a) that attached copies of such Loan Party’s Organizational Documents are true and complete, and in full force and effect, without amendment except as shown, (b) that an attached copy of resolutions authorizing execution and delivery of the Loan Documents is true and complete, and that such resolutions are in full force and effect, were duly adopted, have not been amended, modified or revoked, and constitute all resolutions adopted with respect to this credit facility, and (c) to the title, name and signature of each Person authorized to sign the Loan Documents. Administrative Agent may conclusively rely on this certificate until it is otherwise notified by the applicable Loan Party in writing.
10.1.10 Legal Opinion. Administrative Agent shall have received a written opinion of Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties, each in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent.
10.1.11 Good Standing Certificates. Administrative Agent shall have received copies of the charter documents of each Loan Party, certified as appropriate by the Secretary of State or another official of such Loan Party’s jurisdiction of organization. Administrative Agent shall have received good standing certificates for each Loan Party, issued by the Secretary of State or other appropriate official of (a) such Loan Party’s jurisdiction of organization and (b) each jurisdiction where such Loan Party’s conduct of business or ownership of Property necessitates qualification, except where failure to maintain such qualification could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
10.1.12 Insurance. Administrative Agent shall have received evidence of the insurance and additional insured, lender loss payable and other endorsements required hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and certificates of such insurance policies and/or endorsements naming Administrative Agent, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent as of the Second Amendment Effective Date.
10.1.13 Due Diligence Financial Statements and Projections. Administrative Agent shall have completed its business, financial and legal due diligence of Loan Parties, including:
(i) Administrative Agent or its Affiliates shall have conducted a field examination of the Borrowers’ assets, liabilities, cash management systems, books and records, and the results of such field examination shall be reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent in all respects;
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(ii) Administrative Agent shall have received copies of (a) the internally prepared monthly financial statements of Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis for the calendar month ending May 31, 2020, (b) the audited Consolidated financial statements of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, (c) the Projections of Holdings and its Subsidiaries (1) on a monthly basis for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020, and (2) on an annual basis for the fiscal years ending December 31, 2021 through December 31, 2024, and (d) evidence and materials satisfactory to Administrative Agent demonstrating after giving effect to the Initial Closing Date Transactions, pro forma compliance with all covenants of this Agreement; and
(iii) Administrative Agent shall have received its internal credit committee approval.
10.1.14 Payment of Fees. The Loan Parties shall have paid all fees and expenses, including the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of legal counsel, to be paid to Administrative Agent and Lenders on the Closing Date.
10.1.15 Borrowing Base Certificate. Collateral Agent shall have received a Borrowing Base Certificate prepared as of the Closing Date or as of such other date as Collateral Agent may elect.
10.1.16 Third Party Waivers and Consents. Administrative Agent shall have received, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, all consents, waivers, acknowledgments and other agreements from third persons (including, without limitation, customs brokers) and Governmental Authorities which Administrative Agent may deem necessary in order to permit, protect and perfect its Lien upon the Collateral or to effectuate the provisions or purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
10.1.17 USA PATRIOT Act. The Lenders shall have received all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.
10.1.18
Deposit and Lockbox Accounts. The Loan Parties shall have (i) opened their main depository account with BBVAPNC
and (ii) opened lockbox and blocked account agreements reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, including a springing deposit
account Control Agreement with the Administrative Agent in favor of the Administrative Agent.
10.1.19 Perfection Certificate. Administrative Agent shall have received a Questionnaire and Perfection Certificate duly executed by the Loan Parties, in form and substance acceptable to the Agent.
10.2 Conditions Precedent to All Loans and Credit Accommodations. No Lender shall be required to make any Loan, nor shall Issuing Bank be required to issue any Letter of Credit unless and until the following conditions are satisfied:
10.2.1 No Default or Event of Default. No Default or Event of Default shall exist at the time of, or result from, such funding, issuance or grant; and
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10.2.2 Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, as to any representations and warranties which are subject to a materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifier, true and correct in all respects) on the date of, and upon giving effect to, such funding, issuance or grant (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to an earlier date or for such changes as provided in Section 8.2).
Article XI. EVENTS OF DEFAULT; RIGHTS AND REMEDIES ON DEFAULT
11.1 Events of Default. The occurrence of one or more of the following events shall constitute an “Event of Default”:
11.1.1 Payment of Obligations. The Loan Parties shall fail to pay any of the Obligations hereunder or under any Note (i) consisting of principal on the due date thereof or (ii) consisting of interest, fees or any other amount, within five (5) days after the due date thereof (in each instance, whether due at stated maturity, on demand, upon acceleration or otherwise).
11.1.2 Misrepresentations. Any representation, warranty or other statement made or furnished to Administrative Agent or any Lender by or on behalf of any Loan Party in this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any instrument, certificate or financial statement furnished in compliance with or in reference thereto proves to have been false or misleading in any material respect when made, furnished or reaffirmed pursuant to Section 8.2 hereof.
11.1.3 Breach of Specific Covenants. Any Loan Party shall fail or neglect to perform, keep or observe any covenant contained in any of the following Sections or subsections: 6.2 (Other Collateral), 6.3 (Lien Perfection; Further Assurances), 7.1.1 (Location of Collateral), 7.1.2 (Insurance of Collateral), 7.2.4 (Maintenance of Blocked Accounts), 7.2.5 (Collection of Accounts; Proceeds of Collateral), 9.1.1 (Visits and Inspections; Lender Meeting), 9.1.3 (Financial Statements), 9.1.4 (Borrowing Base Certificates), 9.1.5 (Landlord, Processor and Storage Agreements), 9.1.7 (Projections), 9.1.8 (Subsidiaries), 9.1.9 (Deposit and Brokerage Accounts), 9.1.10 (Use of Proceeds), 9.1.13 (Preservation of Existence), 9.1.14 (Maintenance of Properties, Permits, Etc.), 9.1.15 (SBA PPP Loans), 9.1.16 (Acquisition Term Debt), or 9.2 (Negative Covenants) hereof on the date that the Loan Parties are required to perform, keep or observe such covenant.
11.1.4 Breach of Other Covenants. The Loan Parties shall fail or neglect to perform, keep or observe any covenant contained in this Agreement (other than a covenant which is dealt with specifically elsewhere in Section 11.1 hereof) or any other Loan Document and the breach of such other covenant is not cured to Administrative Agent’s satisfaction within thirty (30) days after the sooner to occur of any Loan Party’s receipt of notice of such breach from Administrative Agent or the date on which such failure or neglect first becomes known to any officer of any Loan Party.
11.1.5 Acquisition Term Loan Documents. After giving effect to any applicable cure periods, any event of default shall have occurred under any of the Acquisition Term Loan Documents.
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11.1.6
Other Material Obligations. There shall occur any default in the payment
when due, or in the performance or observance of, any Material Contract.[Reserved].
11.1.7 Other Defaults. There shall occur any default or event of default on the part of any Loan Party under any agreement, document or instrument to which such Loan Party is a party or by which such Loan Party or any of its Property is bound, evidencing or relating to any Debt (other than the Obligations) with an outstanding principal balance in excess of $750,000, if the payment or maturity of such Debt is or could be accelerated in consequence of such event of default or demand for payment of such Debt is made or could be made in accordance with the terms thereof.
11.1.8 Uninsured Losses. Any material loss, theft, damage or destruction of any portion of the Collateral having a fair market value of $750,000, in the aggregate, if not fully covered (subject to such deductibles and self-insurance retentions as Administrative Agent shall have permitted) by insurance.
11.1.9 Insolvency and Related Proceedings. An Insolvency Proceeding is commenced by a Loan Party; a Loan Party makes an offer of settlement, extension or composition to its unsecured creditors generally; a trustee is appointed to take possession of any substantial Property of or to operate any of the business of a Loan Party; or an Insolvency Proceeding is commenced against a Loan Party and such Loan Party consents to institution of the proceeding, the petition commencing the proceeding is not timely contested by such Loan Party, the petition is not dismissed within forty-five (45) days after filing, or an order for relief is entered in the proceeding.
11.1.10 Business Disruption; Condemnation. There shall occur a cessation of a substantial part of the business of Loan Party which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or any Loan Party shall suffer the loss or revocation of any material license or permit now held or hereafter acquired by any Loan Party which loss could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or any Loan Party shall be enjoined, restrained or in any way prevented by court, governmental or administrative order from conducting all or any material part of its business affairs which injunction, restraint or other prevention could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or any material lease or agreement pursuant to which any Loan Party leases, uses or occupies any Property shall be canceled or terminated prior to the expiration of its stated term, the cancellation or termination of which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or any portion of the Collateral shall be taken through condemnation or the value of such Property shall be impaired through condemnation which condemnation or impairment could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
11.1.11 Change of Control. A Change of Control shall occur.
11.1.12 Uninsured Losses. Any material loss, theft, damage or destruction of any portion of the Collateral having a fair market value of $750,000 in the aggregate, if not fully covered (subject to such deductibles and self-insurance retentions as Administrative Agent shall have permitted) by insurance.
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11.1.13 ERISA. A Reportable Event shall occur which, in Administrative Agent’s determination, constitutes grounds for the termination by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation of any Plan or for the appointment by the appropriate United States district court of a trustee for any Plan, or any Plan shall be terminated or any such trustee shall be requested or appointed, or if any Loan Party is in “default” (as defined in Section 4219I(5) of ERISA) with respect to payments to a Multiemployer Plan resulting from such Loan Party’s complete or partial withdrawal from such Plan and any such event could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
11.1.14 Challenge to Agreement. Any Loan Party shall challenge or contest in any action, suit or proceeding the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, the legality or enforceability of any of the Obligations or the perfection or priority of any Lien granted to Administrative Agent or this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, Obligations or perfection or priority of any Lien granted to Administrative Agent shall cease to actually be legal and enforceable (other than as a result of any action or inaction by Administrative Agent or any Lender).
11.1.15 Repudiation of or Default under Guaranty Agreement. Any Guarantor shall revoke or attempt to revoke the Guaranty Agreement signed by such Guarantor or shall repudiate such Guarantor’s liability thereunder or shall be in default under the terms thereof.
11.1.16 Criminal Forfeiture. Any Loan Party shall be criminally indicted or convicted under any law that could lead to a forfeiture of any Property of any Loan Party.
11.1.17 Judgments. Any money judgment, writ of attachment or similar process (collectively, “Judgments”) is issued or rendered against any Loan Party, or any of their respective Property (i) in the case of money judgments, in an amount of $750,000 or more for all such judgments, attachments or processes in the aggregate, in each case in excess of any applicable insurance with respect to which the insurer has admitted liability, and (ii) in the case of non-monetary Judgments, such Judgment or Judgments (in the aggregate) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, in each case which Judgment is not stayed, released or discharged within thirty (30) days.
11.1.18 Material Adverse Effect. Any event occurs which reasonably could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
11.1.19 Intercreditor Agreement. The provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Green Remedies Seller Note Subordination Agreement or any other intercreditor or subordination agreement in favor of the Administrative Agent in respect of the Obligations shall for any reason be revoked or invalidated, or otherwise cease to be in full force and effect, or the Acquisition Term Agent, any lender under the Acquisition Term Loan Agreement or any other person party to such agreements shall contest in any manner the validity or enforceability thereof or deny that it has any further obligation thereunder, or the Obligations for any reason shall not have the priority contemplated by this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Green Remedies Seller Note Subordination Agreement or any other intercreditor or subordination described in this Section 11.1.19, respectively.
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11.2 Acceleration of the Obligations. Upon or at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, (i) the Revolving Credit Commitments shall, at the option of Administrative Agent or Majority Lenders, be terminated and/or (ii) Administrative Agent or Majority Lenders may declare all or any portion of the Obligations at once due and payable without presentment, demand protest or further notice by Administrative Agent or any Lender, and the Loan Parties shall forthwith pay to Administrative Agent the full amount of such Obligations, provided that, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in subsection 11.1.7 hereof, the Revolving Credit Commitments shall automatically be terminated and all of the Obligations shall become automatically due and payable, in each case without declaration, notice or demand by Administrative Agent or any Lender.
11.3 Other Remedies. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise from time to time the following other rights and remedies:
11.3.1 All of the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC or under other Applicable Law, and all other legal and equitable rights to which Administrative Agent or Lenders may be entitled, all of which rights and remedies shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to any other rights or remedies contained in this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and none of which shall be exclusive.
11.3.2 The right to take immediate possession of the Collateral, and to (i) require each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries to assemble the Collateral, at the Loan Parties’ expense, and make it available to Administrative Agent at a place designated by Administrative Agent which is reasonably convenient to both parties, and (ii) enter any premises where any of the Collateral shall be located and to keep and store the Collateral on such premises until sold (and if such premises are owned by any Loan Party or Subsidiary of a Loan Party, the Loan Parties shall not, and shall not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, charge Administrative Agent for such entry and storage).
11.3.3 The right to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any Collateral in its then current condition, or after any further manufacturing or processing thereof, at public or private sale or sales, with such notice as may be required by law, in lots or in bulk, for cash or on credit, all as Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, may deem advisable. Administrative Agent may, at Administrative Agent’s option, disclaim any and all warranties regarding the Collateral in connection with any such sale. The Loan Parties agree that ten (10) days’ prior written notice of any public or private sale or other disposition of Collateral shall be reasonable notice thereof, and such sale shall be at such locations as Administrative Agent may designate in such notice. Administrative Agent shall have the right to conduct such sales on any Loan Party’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ premises, without charge therefor, and such sales may be adjourned from time to time in accordance with Applicable Law. Administrative Agent shall have the right to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of the Collateral, or any part thereof, for cash, credit or any combination thereof, and Administrative Agent, on behalf of Lenders, may purchase all or any part of the Collateral at public or, if permitted by law, private sale and, in lieu of actual payment of such purchase price, may set off the amount of such price against the Obligations. The proceeds realized from the sale of any Collateral shall be applied in accordance with subsection 4.4.2. If any deficiency shall arise, the Loan Parties shall remain jointly and severally liable to Administrative Agent and Lenders therefor.
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11.3.4 Administrative Agent is hereby granted a license or other right to use, without charge, each Loan Party’s and each of its Subsidiaries’ labels, patents, copyrights, licenses, rights of use of any name, trade secrets, trade names, trademarks and advertising matter, or any Property of a similar nature, as it pertains to the Collateral, in completing, advertising for sale and selling any Collateral and each Loan Party’s and each of its Subsidiaries’ rights under all licenses and all franchise agreements shall inure to Administrative Agent’s benefit.
11.3.5 Administrative Agent may, at its option, require the Loan Parties to deposit with Administrative Agent funds equal to 103% of the LC Amount and, if the Loan Parties fail to promptly make such deposit, Administrative Agent may advance such amount as a Revolving Credit Loan (whether or not an Overadvance is created thereby). Each such Revolving Credit Loan shall be secured by all of the Collateral and shall constitute a Base Rate Revolving Credit Loan. Any such deposit or advance shall be held by Administrative Agent as a reserve to fund future drawings against such Letters of Credit. At such time as all Letters of Credit have been drawn upon or expired, any amounts remaining in such reserve shall be applied against any outstanding Obligations, or, if all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, returned to the Loan Parties.
11.4 Setoff and Sharing of Payments. In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under Applicable Law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender is hereby authorized by the Loan Parties at any time or from time to time, with prior written consent of Administrative Agent and with reasonably prompt subsequent notice to the Loan Parties (any prior or contemporaneous notice to the Loan Parties being hereby expressly waived) to setoff and to appropriate and to apply any and all (i) balances held by such Lender at any of its offices for the account of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries (regardless of whether such balances are then due to a Loan Party or its Subsidiaries), and (ii) other property at any time held or owing by such Lender to or for the credit or for the account of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, against and on account of any of the Obligations. Except with respect to setoff amounts applied to Product Obligations, any Lender exercising a right to setoff shall, to the extent the amount of any such setoff exceeds its Pro Rata Percentage of the amount set off, purchase for cash (and the other Lenders shall sell) interests in each such other Lender’s pro rata share of the Obligations as would be necessary to cause such Lender to share such excess with each other Lender in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Percentages. Each Loan Party agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that any Lender may exercise its right to setoff with respect to amounts in excess of its pro rata share of the Obligations and upon doing so shall deliver such excess to Administrative Agent for the benefit of all Lenders in accordance with the Pro Rata Percentages.
11.5 Remedies Cumulative; No Waiver. All covenants, conditions, provisions, warranties, guaranties, indemnities, and other undertakings of the Loan Parties contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, or in any document referred to herein or contained in any agreement supplementary hereto or in any schedule or in any Guaranty Agreement or Pledge Agreement given to Administrative Agent or any Lender or contained in any other agreement between any Lender and the Loan Parties or between Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties heretofore, concurrently, or hereafter entered into, shall be deemed cumulative to and not in derogation or substitution of any of the terms, covenants, conditions, or agreements of the Loan Parties herein contained. The failure or delay of Administrative Agent or any Lender to require strict performance by the Loan Parties of any provision of this Agreement or to exercise or enforce any rights, Liens, powers, or remedies hereunder or under any of the aforesaid agreements or other documents or security or Collateral shall not operate as a waiver of such performance, Liens, rights, powers and remedies, but all such requirements, Liens, rights, powers, and remedies shall continue in full force and effect until all Loans and other Obligations owing or to become owing from the Loan Parties to Administrative Agent and each Lender have been fully satisfied. None of the undertakings, agreements, warranties, covenants and representations of the Loan Parties contained in this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents and no Default or Event of Default by the Loan Parties under this Agreement or any other Loan Documents shall be deemed to have been suspended or waived by Lenders, unless such suspension or waiver is by an instrument in writing specifying such suspension or waiver and is signed by a duly authorized representative of Administrative Agent and directed to the Loan Parties.
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11.6 Curative Equity.
(a) Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 11.6(d), Borrowers may cure (and will be deemed to have cured) an Event of Default arising out of a breach of any of the financial covenants set forth in Section 9.2.12 (each such financial covenant, a “Specified Financial Covenant”; each such Event of Default, a “Specified Financial Covenant Default”) if Borrowers receive the cash proceeds of Curative Equity within ten (10) Business Days after the earliest date on which each applicable Specified Financial Covenant is required to be tested for the applicable Computation Period pursuant to this Agreement (the “Cure Period”).
(b) Borrowers shall provide Administrative Agent with irrevocable written notice during the Cure Period of their intent to cure the Specified Financial Covenant(s) with Curative Equity (the “Cure Notice”) and shall promptly notify Administrative Agent of their receipt of any proceeds of Curative Equity and application of the proceeds of such Curative Equity in accordance with Section 4.3 so long as any payments on the Acquisition Term Debt result in a permanent reduction in Acquisition Term Debt.
(c) Upon receipt by the Borrowers of the Curative Equity (and application of the proceeds of such Curative Equity in accordance with Section 4.3) and delivery of a certificate by Borrower Representative to Administrative Agent certifying as to the amount of the proceeds of any Curative Equity and that those proceeds have been applied in accordance with Section 11.6(b) in an amount equal to the amount which if applied to increase EBITDA for the Computation Period would result in the Borrowers being in pro forma compliance with the applicable Specified Financial Covenant(s) (which certificate shall also set forth the calculation of the applicable Specified Financial Covenant being cured in reasonable detail), then each applicable Specified Financial Covenant Default will be deemed cured with no further action required by the Administrative Agent. Before the date of the delivery of that certificate, any Specified Financial Covenant Default that has occurred and is continuing will be deemed to be continuing, and, as a result, the Lenders will have no obligation to make additional loans or otherwise extend additional credit under this Agreement. If Borrowers do not cure a Specified Financial Covenant Default as provided in this Section 11.6, then that Specified Financial Covenant Default will continue unless waived in writing by the Administrative Agent in accordance with this Agreement.
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(d) To the extent that proceeds of Curative Equity are received with respect to any Fiscal Quarter, those proceeds will be deemed to be EBITDA for purposes of determining compliance with the Specified Financial Covenant(s) for that Fiscal Quarter and subsequent periods that include that Fiscal Quarter. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, (i) Borrowers’ rights under this Section 11.6 (A) may be exercised no more than four times during the term of this Agreement; (B) may be exercised no more than twice in any period of four Fiscal Quarters; (C) may not be exercised in two consecutive Fiscal Quarters and (D) may not be exercised if the amount of proceeds of the Curative Equity, together with the aggregate amount of proceeds of all prior Curative Equity, exceeds 20% of Consolidated EBITDA (calculated prior to giving effect to such Curative Equity) in any trailing twelve month period; (ii) the amount of proceeds of any Curative Equity may not be greater than or less than the amount required to cause Borrowers to be in compliance with each applicable Specified Financial Covenant(s) as at the end of the applicable Computation Period (without giving effect to any prepayment of Debt); and (iii) the proceeds of Curative Equity will be disregarded for purposes of determining EBITDA for any pricing, financial covenant-based conditions, or baskets with respect to the covenants contained in this Agreement and there will be no pro forma reduction in Debt with the proceeds of any Curative Equity for determining compliance with the Specified Financial Covenants or for determining any pricing, financial covenant-based conditions, or baskets with respect to the covenants contained in this Agreement, in each case in the Fiscal Quarter in which that Curative Equity is used and each Computation Period ending on the last day of the following three Fiscal Quarters.
Article XII. AGENTS
12.1 Authorization and Action. Each Lender hereby appoints and authorizes Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to such Agent by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Each Lender hereby acknowledges that Agents shall not have by reason of this Agreement assumed a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Lender. In performing its functions and duties under this Agreement, each Agent shall act solely as agent of Lenders and shall not assume, or be deemed to have assumed, any obligation toward, or relationship of agency or trust with or for, the Loan Parties. As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including without limitation enforcement and collection of the Notes), each Agent may, but shall not be required to, exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of Majority Lenders (or a greater or lesser number of Lenders as required in this Agreement), whenever such instruction shall be requested by such Agent or required hereunder, or a greater or lesser number of Lenders if so required hereunder, and such instructions shall be binding upon all Lenders; provided that each Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action which exposes such Agent to any liability or which is contrary to this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or Applicable Law, unless such Agent is indemnified to its satisfaction by the other Lenders against any and all liability and expense which it may incur by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. If any Agent seeks the consent or approval of Majority Lenders (or a greater or lesser number of Lenders as required in this Agreement), with respect to any action hereunder, such Agent shall send notice thereof to each Lender and shall notify each Lender at any time that Majority Lenders (or such greater or lesser number of Lenders) have instructed such Agent to act or refrain from acting pursuant hereto.
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12.2 Agents’ Reliance, Etc. Neither Agent nor any of its respective Related Parties shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, each Agent and its Related Parties: (i) may treat each Lender party hereto as the holder of Obligations until such Agent receives written notice of the assignment or transfer of such Lender’s portion of the Obligations signed by such Lender and in form reasonably satisfactory to Agent; (ii) may consult with legal counsel, independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts; (iii) makes no warranties or representations to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any recitals, statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Documents; (iv) shall not have any duty beyond such Agent’s customary practices in respect of loans in which such Agent is the only lender, to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents on the part of the Loan Parties, to inspect the property (including the books and records) of the Loan Parties, to monitor the financial condition of the Loan Parties or to ascertain the existence or possible existence or continuation of any Default or Event of Default; (v) shall not be responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto; (vi) shall not be liable to any Lender for any action taken, or inaction, by such Agent upon the instructions of Majority Lenders (or a greater or lesser number of Lenders as required in this Agreement) pursuant to Section 12.1 hereof or refraining to take any action pending such instructions; (vii) shall not be liable for any apportionment or distributions of payments made by it in good faith pursuant to Section 4 hereof; (viii) shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate, message or other instrument or writing (which may be by telephone, facsimile, telegram, cable, e-mail transmission or telex) believed in good faith by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties; and (ix) may assume that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, unless such Agent has actual knowledge of the Event of Default, has received notice from the Loan Parties or the Loan Parties’ independent certified public accountants stating the nature of the Event of Default, or has received notice from a Lender stating the nature of the Event of Default and that such Lender considers the Event of Default to have occurred and to be continuing. In the event any apportionment or distribution described in clause (vii) above is determined to have been made in error, the sole recourse of any Person to whom payment was due but not made shall be to recover from the recipients of such payments any payment in excess of the amount to which they are determined to have been entitled.
12.3
BBVAPNC
and Affiliates. With respect to its commitment hereunder to make Loans, BBVAPNC
shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as any other Lender and may exercise the same
as though it were not an Agent; and the terms “Lender,” “Lenders” or “Majority Lenders” shall, unless
otherwise expressly indicated, include BBVAPNC
in its individual capacity as a Lender. BBVAPNC
and its Affiliates may lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of business with, the Loan Parties, and any Person who may do business
with or own Equity Interests of any Loan Party, all as if BBVAPNC
were not an Agent and without any duty to account therefor to any other Lender.
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12.4 Lender Credit Decision. Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender and based on the financial statements referred to herein and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent 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 this Agreement. No Agent shall have any duty or responsibility, either initially or on an ongoing basis, to provide any Lender with any credit or other similar information regarding the Loan Parties.
12.5 Indemnification. Lenders agree to indemnify Agents (to the extent not reimbursed by the Loan Parties), in accordance with their respective Aggregate Percentages, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against such Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any action taken or omitted by such Agent under this Agreement; provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from such Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse each Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share, as set forth above, of any out-of-pocket expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by such Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiation, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement and each other Loan Document, to the extent that such Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by the Loan Parties. If after payment and distribution of any amount by any Agent to Lenders, any Lender or any other Person, including the Loan Parties, any creditor of any Loan Party, a liquidator, administrator or trustee in bankruptcy, recovers from such Agent any amount found to have been wrongfully paid to such Agent or disbursed by such Agent to Lenders, then Lenders, in accordance with their respective Aggregate Percentages, shall reimburse such Agent for all such amounts. The obligations of Lenders under this Section 12.5 shall survive the payment in full of all Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
12.6 Rights and Remedies to Be Exercised by Administrative Agent Only. Each Lender agrees that, except as set forth in Section 11.4, no Lender shall have any right individually (i) to realize upon the security created by this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) to enforce any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or (iii) to make demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
12.7 Agency Provisions Relating to Collateral. Each Lender authorizes and ratifies each Agent’s entry into this Agreement and the Security Documents for the benefit of Lenders. Each Lender agrees that any action taken by any Agent with respect to the Collateral in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or the Security Documents, and the exercise by any Agent of the powers set forth herein or therein, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, shall be authorized and binding upon all Lenders. Administrative Agent is hereby authorized on behalf of all Lenders, without the necessity of any notice to or further consent from any Lender to take any action with respect to any Collateral or the Loan Documents which may be necessary to perfect and maintain perfected Administrative Agent’s Liens upon the Collateral, for its benefit and the ratable benefit of Lenders. Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to release any Lien granted to or held by Administrative Agent upon any Collateral (i) upon termination of this Agreement and payment and satisfaction of all Obligations; or (ii) constituting property being sold or disposed of if the Loan Parties certify to Administrative Agent that the sale or disposition is made in compliance with subsection 9.2.8 hereof (and Administrative Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate, without further inquiry); or (iii) constituting property in which no Loan Party owned any interest at the time the Lien was granted or at any time thereafter; or (iv) in connection with any foreclosure sale or other disposition of Collateral after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default; or (v) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by Administrative Agent at the direction of all Lenders. Upon request by Administrative Agent at any time, Lenders will confirm in writing Administrative Agent’s authority to release particular types or items of Collateral pursuant hereto. No Agent shall have any obligation whatsoever to any Lender or to any other Person to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by any Loan Party or is cared for, protected or insured or has been encumbered or that the Liens granted to Administrative Agent herein or pursuant to the Security Documents have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of its rights, authorities and powers granted or available to each Agent in this Section 12.7 or in any of the Loan Documents, it being understood and agreed that in respect of the Collateral, or any act, omission or event related thereto, each Agent may act in any manner it may deem appropriate, in its sole discretion, but consistent with the provisions of this Agreement, including given each Agent’s own interest in the Collateral as a Lender and that no Agent shall have any duty or liability whatsoever to any Lender.
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12.8 Resignation of Agent; Appointment of Successor. Each Agent may resign as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent by giving not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Lenders and the Loan Parties. If Administrative Agent shall resign under this Agreement, then, (i) subject to the consent of the Loan Parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld and which consent shall not be required during any period in which a Default or an Event of Default exists), Majority Lenders shall appoint from among Lenders a successor Administrative Agent for Lenders or (ii) if a successor Administrative Agent shall not be so appointed and approved within the thirty (30) day period following Administrative Agent’s notice to Lenders and the Loan Parties of its resignation, then Administrative Agent shall appoint a successor agent who shall serve as Administrative Agent until such time as Majority Lenders appoint a successor agent, subject to the Loan Parties’ consent as set forth above. Upon its appointment, such successor agent shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of Administrative Agent and the term “Administrative Agent” shall mean such successor effective upon its appointment, and the former Administrative Agent’s rights, powers and duties as Administrative Agent shall be terminated without any other or further act or deed on the part of such former Administrative Agent or any of the parties to this Agreement. If Collateral Agent shall resign under this Agreement, then Administrative Agent shall assume the rights, powers and duties of Collateral Agent hereunder; provided, that, Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, appoint another Lender as the successor Collateral Agent, in which case such successor Collateral Agent shall assume the rights, powers and duties of Collateral Agent hereunder. After the resignation of any Agent hereunder, the provisions of this Section 12 shall inure to the benefit of such former Agent and such former Agent shall not by reason of such resignation be deemed to be released from liability for any actions taken or not taken by it while it was an Agent under this Agreement.
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12.9 Audit and Examination Reports; Disclaimer by Lenders. By signing this Agreement, each Lender:
(i) is deemed to have requested that each Agent furnish such Lender, promptly after it becomes available, a copy of each audit or examination report (each a “Report” and collectively, “Reports”) prepared by or on behalf of such Agent;
(ii) expressly agrees and acknowledges that Agents (i) do not make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy of any Report and (ii) shall not be liable for any information contained in any Report;
(iii) expressly agrees and acknowledges that the Reports are not comprehensive audits or examinations, that any Agent or other party performing any audit or examination will inspect only specific information regarding the Loan Parties and will rely significantly upon the Loan Parties’ books and records as well as on representations of the Loan Parties’ personnel;
(iv) agrees to keep all Reports confidential and strictly for its internal use, and not to distribute except to its participants, or use any Report in any other manner, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.14; and
(v) without limiting the generality of any other indemnification provision contained in this Agreement, agrees: (a) to hold each Agent and any such other Lender preparing a Report harmless from any action the indemnifying Lender may take or conclusion the indemnifying Lender may reach or draw from any Report in connection with any loans or other credit accommodations that the indemnifying Lender has made or may make to the Loan Parties, or the indemnifying Lender’s participation in, or the indemnifying Lender’s purchase of, any loan or other obligation of the Loan Parties; and (b) to pay and protect, and indemnify, defend and hold each Agent and any such other Lender preparing a Report harmless from and against, the claims, actions, proceedings, damages, costs, expenses and other amounts (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by such Agent and any such other Lender preparing a Report as the direct or indirect result of any third parties who might obtain all or part of any Report through the indemnifying Lender.
12.10 Administrative Agent’s Right to Purchase Commitments. Administrative Agent shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, at any time upon written notice to any Lender and with the consent of such Lender, which may be granted or withheld in such Lender’s sole discretion, to purchase for Administrative Agent’s own account all of such Lender’s interests in this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the Obligations, for the face amount of the outstanding Obligations owed to such Lender, including without limitation all accrued and unpaid interest and fees.
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12.11 Intercreditor Agreement. Each Lender hereby authorizes and directs the Administrative Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement on its behalf, perform the Intercreditor Agreement on its behalf and take any actions thereunder as determined by the Administrative Agent to be necessary or advisable to protect the interest of the Lenders, and each Lender agrees to be bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.
Article XIII. MISCELLANEOUS
13.1 Power of Attorney. Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably designates, makes, constitutes and appoints Administrative Agent (and all Persons designated by Administrative Agent) as such Loan Party’s true and lawful attorney (and agent-in-fact), solely with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 13.1, and Administrative Agent, or Administrative Agent’s agent, may, without notice to any Loan Party and in any Loan Party’s or Administrative Agent’s name, but at the cost and expense of the Loan Parties:
13.1.1 At such time or times as Administrative Agent or such agent, in its sole discretion, may determine, endorse any Loan Party’s name on any checks, notes, acceptances, drafts, money orders or any other evidence of payment or proceeds of the Collateral which come into the possession of Administrative Agent or under Administrative Agent’s control.
13.1.2 At such time or times upon or after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, as Administrative Agent or its agent in its sole discretion may determine: (i) demand payment of the Accounts from the Account Debtors, enforce payment of the Accounts by legal proceedings or otherwise, and generally exercise all of any Loan Party’s rights and remedies with respect to the collection of the Accounts; (ii) settle, adjust, compromise, discharge or release any of the Accounts or other Collateral or any legal proceedings brought to collect any of the Accounts or other Collateral; (iii) sell or assign any of the Accounts and other Collateral upon such terms, for such amounts and at such time or times as Administrative Agent deems advisable, and at Administrative Agent’s option, with all warranties regarding the Collateral disclaimed; (iv) take control, in any manner, of any item of payment or proceeds relating to any Collateral; (v) prepare, file and sign any Loan Party’s name to a proof of claim in bankruptcy or similar document against any Account Debtor or to any notice of lien, assignment or satisfaction of lien or similar document in connection with any of the Collateral; (vi) receive, open and dispose of all mail addressed to any Loan Party and notify postal authorities to change the address for delivery thereof to such address as Administrative Agent may designate; (vii) endorse the name of any Loan Party upon any of the items of payment or proceeds relating to any Collateral and deposit the same to the account of Administrative Agent on account of the Obligations; (viii) endorse the name of any Loan Party upon any chattel paper, document, instrument, invoice, freight bill, bill of lading or similar document or agreement relating to the Accounts, Inventory and any other Collateral; (ix) use any Loan Party’s stationery and sign the name of any Loan Party to verifications of the Accounts and notices thereof to Account Debtors; (x) use the information recorded on or contained in any data processing equipment and Computer Hardware and Software relating to the Accounts, Inventory, Equipment and any other Collateral; (xi) make and adjust claims under policies of insurance; and (xii) do all other acts and things necessary, in Administrative Agent’s determination, to fulfill any Loan Party’s obligations under this Agreement.
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The power of attorney granted hereby shall constitute a power coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable.
13.2 INDEMNITY. EACH LOAN PARTY SHALL INDEMNIFY EACH ARRANGER, EACH AGENT (AND ANY SUB-AGENT THEREOF), EACH LENDER AND THE ISSUING BANK, AND EACH RELATED PARTY OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING PERSONS (EACH SUCH PERSON BEING CALLED AN “INDEMNIFIED PERSON”) AGAINST, AND HOLD EACH INDEMNIFIED PERSON HARMLESS FROM, ANY AND ALL LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES, PENALTIES, ACTIONS, JUDGMENTS, SUITS, COSTS, EXPENSES, AND DISBURSEMENTS (INCLUDING THE REASONABLE FEES, CHARGES AND DISBURSEMENTS OF ANY COUNSEL FOR ANY INDEMNIFIED PERSON), INCURRED BY ANY INDEMNIFIED PERSON OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY INDEMNIFIED PERSON BY ANY THIRD PARTY OR BY ANY 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 THE ISSUING BANK TO HONOR A DEMAND FOR PAYMENT UNDER A LETTER OF CREDIT IF THE DOCUMENTS PRESENTED IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH DEMAND DO NOT STRICTLY COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF SUCH LETTER OF CREDIT), (III) ANY ACTUAL OR ALLEGED PRESENCE OR RELEASE OF MATERIALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN ON OR FROM ANY PROPERTY OWNED OR OPERATED BY ANY LOAN PARTY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, OR ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY RELATED IN ANY WAY TO ANY LOAN PARTY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, OR (IV) 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 ANY LOAN PARTY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES OR ANY LOAN PARTY’S OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES’ DIRECTORS, MANAGERS, EQUITY OWNERS OR CREDITORS, AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ANY INDEMNIFIED PERSON IS A PARTY THERETO, AND SUCH INDEMNITY SHALL EXTEND TO EACH INDEMNIFIED PERSON NOTWITHSTANDING THE SOLE OR CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE OF EVERY KIND OR CHARACTER WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING ITS OWN ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE, WHETHER ACTIVE OR PASSIVE, WHETHER AN AFFIRMATIVE ACT OR AN OMISSION, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL TYPES OF NEGLIGENT CONDUCT IDENTIFIED IN THE RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS OF ONE OR MORE OF THE INDEMNIFIED PERSONS OR BY REASON OF STRICT LIABILITY IMPOSED WITHOUT FAULT ON ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE INDEMNIFIED PERSONS; PROVIDED THAT SUCH INDEMNITY SHALL NOT, AS TO ANY INDEMNIFIED PERSON, BE AVAILABLE TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES, PENALTIES, ACTIONS, JUDGMENTS, SUITS, COSTS, EXPENSES OR DISBURSEMENTS (X) ARE DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY FINAL AND NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT TO HAVE RESULTED FROM THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE, BAD FAITH OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF SUCH INDEMNIFIED PERSON. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, THESE INDEMNITIES SHALL EXTEND TO ANY CLAIMS ASSERTED AGAINST ANY INDEMNIFIED PERSON BY ANY PERSON UNDER ANY ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS BY REASON OF ANY LOAN PARTY’S OR ANY OTHER PERSON’S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH LAWS APPLICABLE TO SOLID OR HAZARDOUS WASTE MATERIALS OR OTHER TOXIC SUBSTANCES. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY CONTRARY PROVISION IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE OBLIGATION OF THE LOAN PARTIES UNDER THIS SECTION 13.2 SHALL SURVIVE THE PAYMENT IN FULL OF THE OBLIGATIONS AND THE TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.
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13.3 Amendment and Waivers.
13.3.1 No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including without limitation any Note), nor consent to any departure by the Loan Parties therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Majority Lenders and the Loan Parties, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that this Section shall not apply to amendments to this Agreement that have been made pursuant to Section 4.9; provided further that no amendment, waiver or consent shall be effective to:
(i) (a) increase any Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment or Term Loan Commitment; (b) reduce the principal of, interest on, or fees due in respect to any amount payable hereunder to any Lender; or (c) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, any amounts payable hereunder to any Lender, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
(ii) (a) amend the number of Lenders that shall be required for Lenders or any of them to take any action hereunder; (b) except as otherwise expressly permitted herein or in any other Loan Document, release or discharge any Person liable for the performance of any obligations of any Loan Party hereunder or under any of the Loan Documents; (c) amend the definition of the term Majority Lenders; (d) amend this Section 13.3; (e) amend subsection 4.4.2; or (f) except as otherwise expressly permitted herein or in any other Loan Document, release any substantial portion of the Collateral except to the extent expressly permitted by this Agreement or the Intercreditor Agreement, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender;
(iii) change any definitions or any other provision in a manner that would alter the nature of the secured position of any Derivative Obligation Provider or its entitlement to a pro rata allocation among Lenders of assets upon termination or acceleration of Obligations, without the written consent of each Lender and Derivative Obligation Provider directly affected thereby; or
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(iv) affect the rights or duties of any Agent or Issuing Bank (as applicable) under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, without the written consent of such Agent or Issuing Bank (as applicable).
13.3.2 Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 13.3:
(i) no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except to the extent the consent of such Lender would be required under clause (i) of subsection 13.3.1;
(ii) technical and conforming modifications to the Loan Documents may be made with the consent of the Loan Parties and Administrative Agent to the extent necessary to integrate any Requested Increase Amount in accordance with Section 2.4; and
(iii) Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties may amend any Loan Document to correct an obvious, immaterial or administrative error or omission, or to effect administrative changes that are not adverse to any Lender, and such amendment shall become effective without any further consent of any other party to such Loan Document if the same is not objected to in writing by Majority Lenders within five (5) Business Days following receipt of notice thereof.
13.3.3 If a fee is to be paid by the Loan Parties in connection with any waiver or amendment hereunder, the agreement evidencing such amendment or waiver may, at the discretion of Administrative Agent (but shall not be required to), provide that only Lenders executing such agreement by a specified date may share in such fee (and in such case, such fee shall be divided among the applicable Lenders on a pro rata basis without including the interests of any Lenders who have not timely executed such agreement).
13.4 Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under Applicable Law, but if any provision of this Agreement shall be prohibited by or invalid under Applicable Law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement.
13.5 Right of Sale; Assignment; Participations. This Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Security Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of each Loan Party, Administrative Agent and each Lender; provided, however, that, no Loan Party may sell, assign or transfer any interest in this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents, or any of the Obligations, or any portion thereof, including, without limitation, such Loan Party’s rights, title, interests, remedies, powers and duties hereunder or thereunder. The Loan Parties hereby consent to any Lender’s participation, sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition, at any time or times hereafter, of this Agreement and any of the other Loan Documents, or of any portion hereof or thereof, including, without limitation, such Lender’s rights, title, interests, remedies, powers and duties hereunder or thereunder subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 13.5; provided, that no such participation, sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition shall be made to (i) a Defaulting Lender, (ii) any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party, (iii) an Affiliate of a Loan Party or (iv) any direct competitor of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party.
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13.5.1 Sales; Assignments. Each Lender hereby agrees that, with respect to any sale or assignment (i) no such sale or assignment shall be for an amount of less than $5,000,000, (ii) each such sale or assignment shall be made on terms and conditions which are customary in the industry at the time of the transaction, (iii) each such sale or assignment shall include an equal percentage of the Revolving Credit Commitments and Term Loan Commitments of the assigning Lender, (iv) with respect to each such assignment to a Person that is not a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, (a) Administrative Agent, (b) in the case of assignments of Revolving Credit Commitments and Issuing Bank, and (c) in the absence of a Default or Event of Default, Borrower Representative shall have consented thereto, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, (v) the assigning Lender shall pay to Administrative Agent a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; provided, that, Administrative Agent may waive such fee in its discretion, (vi) no sale or assignment shall be made to any Ineligible Lender and (vii) Administrative Agent, the assigning Lender and the assignee Lender shall each have executed and delivered an Assignment and Acceptance Agreement. After such sale or assignment has been consummated (x) the assignee Lender thereupon shall become a “Lender” for all purposes of this Agreement and (y) the assigning Lender shall have no further liability for funding the portion of Revolving Credit Commitments assumed by such other Lender.
13.5.2 Participations. Any Lender may grant participations in its extensions of credit hereunder to any other Lender or other lending institution (a “Participant”), provided that (i) no such participation shall be for an amount of less than $5,000,000, (ii) no Participant shall thereby acquire any direct rights under this Agreement, except that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.11 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements of subsection 3.11.3 (it being understood that the documentation required under subsection 3.11.3 shall be delivered to the originating Lender)), subsection 4.1.9 and Section 4.8 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment; provided however that such Participant (a) shall be subject to the provisions of subsection 13.5.6 as if it were an assignee and (b) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.11, subsection 4.1.9 or Section 4.8, with respect to any participation, than its originating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation, (iii) no Participant shall be granted any right to consent to any amendment, except to the extent any of the same pertain to (a) reducing the aggregate principal amount of, or interest rate on, or fees applicable to, its participation interest or (b) extending the final stated maturity of its participation interest or the stated maturity of any portion of any payment of principal of, or interest or fees applicable to, any of its participation interest; provided that the rights described in this subclause (b) shall not be deemed to include the right to consent to any amendment with respect to or which has the effect of requiring any mandatory prepayment of any portion of any Loan or any amendment or waiver of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) no sale of a participation in extensions of credit shall in any manner relieve the originating Lender of its obligations hereunder, (v) the originating Lender shall remain solely responsible for the performance of such obligations, (vi) the Loan Parties and Administrative Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with the originating Lender in connection with the originating Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and (vii) all amounts payable by the Loan Parties hereunder shall be determined as if the originating Lender had not sold any such participation. Each Lender, acting for this purpose as an agent of Borrowers, shall maintain at its offices a record of each agreement or instrument effecting any participation and a register (each a “Participation Register”) meeting the requirements of 26 C.F.R. §5f.103-1(c) for the recordation in book entry form of the names and addresses of its Participants and their rights with respect to principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans from time to time. The entries in each Participation Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
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13.5.3 Certain Agreements of the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties agree that (i) they will use their best efforts to assist and cooperate with each Lender in any manner reasonably requested by such Lender to effect the sale of participation in or assignments of any of the Loan Documents or any portion thereof or interest therein, including, without limitation, assisting in the preparation of appropriate disclosure documents and making members of management available at reasonable times to meet with and answer questions of potential assignees and Participants; and (ii) subject to the provisions of Section 13.14 hereof, such Lender may disclose credit information regarding the Loan Parties to any potential Participant or assignee.
13.5.4 Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including 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.
13.5.5 Register. Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of Borrowers, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register (the “Register”) for the recordation in book entry form of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Register shall be available for inspection by Borrowers, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Loans are registered obligations for tax purposes and the right, title and interest of the Lenders in and to such Loans shall be transferable only in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. This subsection 13.5.5 shall be construed so that the Loans are at all times maintained in “registered form” within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Code.
13.5.6 Replacement of Lenders. If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 4.8, or (ii) a Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.11, or (iii) any Lender, whose consent is required in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver, or consent hereunder that requires the consent of all Lenders or all affected Lenders and as to which the consent of Majority Lenders is obtained, does not consent to such proposed amendment, waiver, or consent, or (iv) any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, then the Loan Parties may, at their sole expense and effort (including any processing and recordation fee required to be paid in accordance with this Section 13.5), upon notice to such Lender and Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in this Section 13.5), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee selected by the Loan Parties that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (a) the Loan Parties shall have received the prior written consents of Administrative Agent and, in the event of an assignment of Revolving Credit Commitments and Issuing Bank, which consents shall not unreasonably be withheld, (b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal, accrued interest and fees) or the Loan Parties (in the case of all other amounts), (c) in the case of any such assignment resulting pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, such assignment will result in a material reduction in such compensation or payments, (d) in the case of any such assignment resulting pursuant to clause (iii) above, all such non-consenting Lenders shall be replaced and, at the time of such replacement, each such new Lender consents to the proposed amendment, waiver, or consent and (e) the assignor under an assignment pursuant to this subsection 13.5.6 need not execute an Assignment and Acceptance Agreement. 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 Loan Parties to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
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13.6 Cumulative Effect; Conflict of Terms. The provisions of the Other Agreements and the Security Documents are hereby made cumulative with the provisions of this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided in any of the other Loan Documents by specific reference to the applicable provision of this Agreement, if any provision contained in this Agreement is in direct conflict with, or inconsistent with, any provision in any of the other Loan Documents, the provision contained in this Agreement shall govern and control.
13.7 Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Any executed counterpart of this Agreement delivered by fax or as a PDF file contained in an e-mail transmission to the other parties hereto shall constitute an original counterpart of this Agreement.
13.8 Notices and Communications.
13.8.1 Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests and demands to or upon a party hereto, to be effective, shall be in writing, and shall be sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, by personal delivery against receipt, by overnight courier or by facsimile and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, shall be deemed to have been validly served, given, delivered or received immediately when delivered against receipt, three (3) Business Days after deposit in the mail, postage prepaid, one (1) Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier or, in the case of facsimile notice, when sent with respect to machine confirmed, addressed as follows:
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or to such other address as each party may designate for itself by notice given in accordance with this Section 13.8; provided, however, that any notice, request or demand to or upon Administrative Agent or a Lender pursuant to subsection 4.1.1 or 5.2.2 hereof shall not be effective until received by Administrative Agent or such Lender.
13.8.2 The Platform. Each Loan Party hereby acknowledges that Administrative Agent will make available to the Lenders and Issuing Bank materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Loan Parties hereunder (collectively, “Loan Party Materials”) by posting Loan Party Materials on Debt Domain, SyndTrak, IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”). THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND ITS RELATED PARTIES DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE LOAN PARTY MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE LOAN PARTY MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE LOAN PARTY MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall any Agent or any of its Related Parties have any liability to any Loan Party, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of a Loan Party’s or Agent’s transmission of the Loan Party Materials through the internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent or any of its Related Parties; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent or any of its Related Parties have any liability to any Loan Party, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).
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13.9 Consent. Whenever Administrative Agent’s, Collateral Agent’s, Majority Lenders’ or all Lenders’ consent is required to be obtained under this Agreement, any of the Other Agreements or any of the Security Documents as a condition to any action, inaction, condition or event, except as otherwise specifically provided herein, Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Majority Lenders or all Lenders, as applicable, shall be authorized to give or withhold such consent in its or their sole and absolute discretion and to condition its or their consent upon the giving of additional Collateral security for the Obligations, the payment of money or any other matter.
13.10 Credit Inquiries. The Loan Parties hereby authorize and permit Administrative Agent and each Lender to respond to usual and customary credit inquiries from third parties concerning any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries.
13.11 Time of Essence. Time is of the essence of this Agreement, the Other Agreements and the Security Documents.
13.12 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with all other instruments, agreements and certificates executed by the parties in connection therewith or with reference thereto, embody the entire understanding and agreement between the parties hereto and thereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements, understandings and inducements, whether express or implied, oral or written.
13.13 Interpretation. No provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents shall be construed against or interpreted to the disadvantage of any party hereto by any Governmental Authority by reason of such party having or being deemed to have structured or dictated such provision.
13.14 Confidentiality. Each Agent and each Lender shall hold all nonpublic information obtained pursuant to the requirements of this Agreement in accordance with such Agent’s and such Lender’s customary procedures for handling confidential information of this nature and in accordance with safe and sound banking practices and in any event may make disclosure reasonably required by a prospective participant or assignee in connection with the contemplated participation or assignment or as required or requested by any Governmental Authority or representative thereof or pursuant to legal process and shall require any such participant or assignee to agree to comply with this Section 13.14.
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13.15 GOVERNING LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION, FORUM AND SERVICE OF PROCESS.
13.15.1 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY APPLICABLE LAW THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.
13.15.2 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION, FORUM AND SERVICE OF PROCESS. AS PART OF THE CONSIDERATION FOR NEW VALUE RECEIVED, AND REGARDLESS OF ANY PRESENT OR FUTURE DOMICILE OR PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS OF ANY LOAN PARTY, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER, EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY CONSENTS AND AGREES THAT ANY STATE COURT SITTING IN DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS, OR, AT ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S OPTION, THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS SHALL HAVE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION TO HEAR AND DETERMINE ANY CLAIMS OR DISPUTES BETWEEN THE LOAN PARTIES ON THE ONE HAND AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER ON THE OTHER HAND PERTAINING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR TO ANY MATTER ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT. EACH LOAN PARTY EXPRESSLY SUBMITS AND CONSENTS IN ADVANCE TO SUCH JURISDICTION IN ANY ACTION OR SUIT COMMENCED IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION WHICH ANY LOAN PARTY MAY HAVE BASED UPON LACK OF PERSONAL JURISDICTION, IMPROPER VENUE OR FORUM NON CONVENIENS AND HEREBY CONSENTS TO THE GRANTING OF SUCH LEGAL OR EQUITABLE RELIEF AS IS DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY SUCH COURT. EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF THE SUMMONS, COMPLAINT AND OTHER PROCESS ISSUED IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR SUIT AND AGREES THAT SERVICE OF SUCH SUMMONS, COMPLAINT AND OTHER PROCESS MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL ADDRESSED TO THE LOAN PARTIES AT THE ADDRESS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT AND THAT SERVICE SO MADE SHALL BE DEEMED COMPLETED UPON THE EARLIER OF ACTUAL RECEIPT THEREOF BY A LOAN PARTY OR THREE (3) DAYS AFTER DEPOSIT IN THE U.S. MAILS, PROPER POSTAGE PREPAID. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED OR OPERATE TO AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT TO SERVE LEGAL PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW, OR TO PRECLUDE THE ENFORCEMENT BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OF ANY JUDGMENT OR ORDER OBTAINED IN SUCH FORUM OR THE TAKING OF ANY ACTION UNDER THIS AGREEMENT TO ENFORCE SAME IN ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE FORUM OR JURISDICTION.
13.16 WAIVERS BY THE LOAN PARTIES. EACH LOAN PARTY WAIVES (i) THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY (WHICH ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER HEREBY ALSO WAIVES) IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM OF ANY KIND ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO ANY OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, THE OBLIGATIONS OR THE COLLATERAL; (ii) PRESENTMENT, DEMAND AND PROTEST AND NOTICE OF PRESENTMENT, PROTEST, DEFAULT, NON PAYMENT, MATURITY, RELEASE, COMPROMISE, SETTLEMENT, EXTENSION OR RENEWAL OF ANY OR ALL COMMERCIAL PAPER, ACCOUNTS, CONTRACT RIGHTS, DOCUMENTS, INSTRUMENTS, CHATTEL PAPER AND GUARANTIES AT ANY TIME HELD BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER ON WHICH THE LOAN PARTIES MAY IN ANY WAY BE LIABLE AND HEREBY RATIFIES AND CONFIRMS WHATEVER ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY DO IN THIS REGARD; (iii) NOTICE PRIOR TO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TAKING POSSESSION OR CONTROL OF THE COLLATERAL OR ANY BOND OR SECURITY WHICH MIGHT BE REQUIRED BY ANY COURT PRIOR TO ALLOWING ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT TO EXERCISE ANY OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S REMEDIES; (iv) THE BENEFIT OF ALL VALUATION, APPRAISEMENT AND EXEMPTION LAWS; (v) NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE HEREOF; AND (vi) EXCEPT AS PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT TO CLAIM OR RECOVER ANY SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES OTHER THAN, OR IN ADDITION TO, ACTUAL DAMAGES. EACH LOAN PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE FOREGOING WAIVERS ARE A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S AND EACH LENDER’S ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THAT ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER IS RELYING UPON THE FOREGOING WAIVERS IN ITS FUTURE DEALINGS WITH THE LOAN PARTIES. EACH LOAN PARTY WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THE FOREGOING WAIVERS WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND HAS KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVED ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.
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13.17 Advertisement. The Loan Parties hereby authorize Administrative Agent to publish the name and logo of any Loan Party and the amount and transaction details of the credit facility provided hereunder in any “tombstone” or comparable advertisement or other marketing materials which Administrative Agent elects to publish.
13.18 Patriot Act Notice. Administrative Agent and Lenders hereby notify the Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, Administrative Agent and Lenders are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, including its legal name, address, tax ID number and other information that will allow Administrative Agent and Lenders to identify it in accordance with the Patriot Act. Administrative Agent and Lenders will also require information regarding each personal guarantor, if any, and may require information regarding any Loan Party’s management and owners, such as legal name, address, social security number and date of birth.
13.19 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.
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13.20 Intercreditor Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, (a) the Liens granted to the Administrative Agent in favor of the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the exercise of any right related to any Collateral shall be subject, in each case, to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, and (b) in the event of any conflict between the terms and provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, on the one hand, and the terms and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, on the other hand, the terms and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall continue.
Article XIV. CROSS-GUARANTY BY BORROWERS.
14.1 Cross-Guaranty. Each Borrower hereby agrees that such Borrower is jointly and severally liable for, and hereby absolutely and unconditionally guarantees to Administrative Agent and Lenders and their respective successors and assigns, the full and prompt payment (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) and performance of, all Obligations owed or hereafter owing to Administrative Agent and Lenders by each other Borrower. Each Borrower agrees that its guaranty obligation hereunder is a continuing guaranty of payment and performance and not of collection, that its obligations under this Section 14 shall not be discharged until payment and performance, in full, of the Obligations has occurred, and that its obligations under this Section 14 shall be absolute and unconditional, irrespective of, and unaffected by, (i) the genuineness, validity, regularity, enforceability or any future amendment of, or change in, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, document or instrument to which any Borrower is or may become a party; (ii) the absence of any action to enforce this Agreement (including this Section 14) or any other Loan Document or the waiver or consent by Administrative Agent and Lenders with respect to any of the provisions thereof; (iii) the existence, value or condition of, or failure to perfect its Lien against, any security for the Obligations or any action, or the absence of any action, by Administrative Agent and Lenders in respect thereof (including the release of any such security); (iv) the insolvency of any Loan Party; or (v) any other action or circumstances that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor. Each Borrower shall be regarded, and shall be in the same position, as principal debtor with respect to the Obligations guaranteed hereunder.
14.2 Waivers by Borrowers. Each Borrower expressly waives all rights it may have now or in the future under any statute, or at common law, or at law or in equity, or otherwise, to compel Administrative Agent or Lenders to marshal assets or to proceed in respect of the Obligations guaranteed hereunder against any other Loan Party, any other party or against any security for the payment and performance of the Obligations before proceeding against, or as a condition to proceeding against, such Borrower. It is agreed among each Borrower, Administrative Agent and Lenders that the foregoing waivers are of the essence of the transaction contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and that, but for the provisions of this Section 14 and such waivers, Administrative Agent and Lenders would decline to enter into this Agreement.
14.3 Benefit of Guaranty. Each Borrower agrees that the provisions of this Section 14 are for the benefit of Administrative Agent and Lenders and their respective successors, transferees, endorsees and assigns, and nothing herein contained shall impair, as between any other Borrower and Administrative Agent or Lenders, the obligations of such other Borrower under the Loan Documents.
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14.4 Waiver of Subrogation, Etc. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, and except as set forth in Section 14.7, each Borrower hereby expressly and irrevocably waives any and all rights at law or in equity to subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, indemnification or set off and any and all defenses available to a surety, guarantor or accommodation co-obligor. Each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that this waiver is intended to benefit Administrative Agent and Lenders and shall not limit or otherwise affect such Borrower’s liability hereunder or the enforceability of this Section 14, and that Administrative Agent, Lenders and their respective successors and assigns are intended third party beneficiaries of the waivers and agreements set forth in this Section 14.4.
14.5 Election of Remedies. If Administrative Agent or any Lender may, under Applicable Law, proceed to realize its benefits under any of the Loan Documents giving Administrative Agent or such Lender a Lien upon any Collateral, whether owned by any Borrower or by any other Person, either by judicial foreclosure or by non-judicial sale or enforcement, Administrative Agent or any Lender may, at its sole option, determine which of its remedies or rights it may pursue without affecting any of its rights and remedies under this Section 14. If, in the exercise of any of its rights and remedies, Administrative Agent or any Lender shall forfeit any of its rights or remedies, including its right to enter a deficiency judgment against any Borrower or any other Person, whether because of any Applicable Laws pertaining to “election of remedies” or the like, each Borrower hereby consents to such action by Administrative Agent or such Lender and waives any claim based upon such action, even if such action by Administrative Agent or such Lender shall result in a full or partial loss of any rights of subrogation that each Borrower might otherwise have had but for such action by Administrative Agent or such Lender. Any election of remedies that results in the denial or impairment of the right of Administrative Agent or any Lender to seek a deficiency judgment against any Borrower shall not impair any other Borrower’s obligation to pay the full amount of the Obligations. In the event Administrative Agent or any Lender shall bid at any foreclosure or trustee’s sale or at any private sale permitted by law or the Loan Documents, Administrative Agent or such Lender may bid all or less than the amount of the Obligations and the amount of such bid need not be paid by Administrative Agent or such Lender but shall be credited against the Obligations. The amount of the successful bid at any such sale, whether Administrative Agent, Lender or any other party is the successful bidder, shall be conclusively deemed to be the fair market value of the Collateral and the difference between such bid amount and the remaining balance of the Obligations shall be conclusively deemed to be the amount of the Obligations guaranteed under this Section 14, notwithstanding that any present or future law or court decision or ruling may have the effect of reducing the amount of any deficiency claim to which Administrative Agent or any Lender might otherwise be entitled but for such bidding at any such sale.
14.6 Limitation. Notwithstanding any provision herein contained to the contrary, each Borrower’s liability under this Section 14 (which liability is in any event in addition to amounts for which such Borrower is primarily liable under any other provision of this Agreement) shall be limited to an amount not to exceed as of any date of determination the greater of: (i) the net amount of all Loans advanced to any other Borrower under this Agreement and then re-loaned or otherwise transferred to, or for the benefit of, such Borrower; and (ii) the amount that could be claimed by Administrative Agent and Lenders from such Borrower under this Section 14 without rendering such claim voidable or avoidable under Section 548 of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar statute or common law after taking into account, among other things, such Borrower’s right of contribution and indemnification from each other Borrower under Section 14.7.
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14.7 Contribution with Respect to Guaranty Obligations.
14.7.1 To the extent that any Borrower shall make a payment under this Section 14 of all or any of the Obligations (other than Loans made to that Borrower for which it is primarily liable) (a “Guarantor Payment”) that, taking into account all other Guarantor Payments then previously or concurrently made by any other Borrower, exceeds the amount that such Borrower would otherwise have paid if each Borrower had paid the aggregate Obligations satisfied by such Guarantor Payment in the same proportion that such Borrower’s “Allocable Amount” (as defined below) (as determined immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment) bore to the aggregate Allocable Amounts of each Borrower as determined immediately prior to the making of such Guarantor Payment, then, following indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations and termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, such Borrower shall be entitled to receive contribution and indemnification payments from, and be reimbursed by, each other Borrower for the amount of such excess, pro rata based upon their respective Allocable Amounts in effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment.
14.7.2 As of any date of determination, the “Allocable Amount” of any Borrower shall be equal to the maximum amount of the claim that could then be recovered from such Borrower under this Section 14 without rendering such claim voidable or avoidable under Section 548 of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar statute or common law.
14.7.3 This Section 14.7 is intended only to define the relative rights of Borrowers and nothing set forth in this Section 14.7 is intended to or shall impair the obligations of Borrowers, jointly and severally, to pay any amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, including Section 14.1. Nothing contained in this Section 14.7 shall limit the liability of any Borrower to pay the Loans made directly or indirectly to that Borrower and accrued interest, fees and expenses with respect thereto for which such Borrower shall be primarily liable.
14.7.4 The parties hereto acknowledge that the rights of contribution and indemnification hereunder shall constitute assets of Borrowers to which such contribution and indemnification is owing.
14.7.5 The rights of the indemnifying Borrowers against other Loan Parties under this Section 14.7 shall be exercisable upon the full and indefeasible payment of the Obligations and the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments.
14.8 Liability Cumulative. The liability of Borrowers under this Section 14 is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all liabilities of each Borrower to Administrative Agent and Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Borrower is a party or in respect of any Obligations or obligation of the other Borrowers, without any limitation as to amount, unless the instrument or agreement evidencing or creating such other liability specifically provides to the contrary.
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14.9 Keepwell. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Loan Party to honor all of its obligations hereunder or under the Security Documents in respect of Swap Obligations; provided, that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 14.9 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 14.9, or otherwise hereunder or under the Security Documents, voidable under applicable requirements of law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount. The obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 14.9 shall remain in full force and effect until the guarantees in respect of Swap Obligations have been discharged, or otherwise released or terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section 14.9 constitute, and this Section 14.9 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Loan Party for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
Article XV. GUARANTY
15.1 Guaranty of the Obligations. Subject to the provisions of Section 15.2, Guarantors jointly and severally hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guaranty to Administrative Agent and Lenders the due and punctual payment in full of all Obligations (other than Excluded Swap Obligations) when the same shall become due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, acceleration, demand or otherwise (including amounts that would become due but for the operation of the automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code) (collectively, the “Guaranteed Obligations”).
15.2 Contribution by Guarantors. All Guarantors desire to allocate among themselves (collectively, the “Contributing Guarantors”), in a fair and equitable manner, their obligations arising under this Guaranty. Accordingly, in the event any payment or distribution is made on any date by a Guarantor (a “Funding Guarantor”) under this Guaranty such that its Aggregate Payments exceeds its Fair Share as of such date, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from each of the other Contributing Guarantors in an amount sufficient to cause each Contributing Guarantor’s Aggregate Payments to equal its Fair Share as of such date. “Fair Share” means, with respect to a Contributing Guarantor as of any date of determination, an amount equal to (a) the ratio of (i) the Fair Share Contribution Amount with respect to such Contributing Guarantor, to (ii) the aggregate of the Fair Share Contribution Amounts with respect to all Contributing Guarantors multiplied by, (b) the aggregate amount paid or distributed on or before such date by all Funding Guarantors under this Guaranty in respect of the obligations Guaranteed. “Fair Share Contribution Amount” means, with respect to a Contributing Guarantor as of any date of determination, the maximum aggregate amount of the obligations of such Contributing Guarantor under this Guaranty that would not render its obligations hereunder subject to avoidance as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance under Section 548 of Title 11 of the United States Code or any comparable applicable provisions of state law; provided, solely for purposes of calculating the “Fair Share Contribution Amount” with respect to any Contributing Guarantor for purposes of this Section 15.2, any assets or liabilities of such Contributing Guarantor arising by virtue of any rights to subrogation, reimbursement or indemnification or any rights to or obligations of contribution hereunder shall not be considered as assets or liabilities of such Contributing Guarantor. “Aggregate Payments” means, with respect to a Contributing Guarantor as of any date of determination, an amount equal to (1) the aggregate amount of all payments and distributions made on or before such date by such Contributing Guarantor in respect of this Guaranty (including, without limitation, in respect of this Section 15.2), minus (2) the aggregate amount of all payments received on or before such date by such Contributing Guarantor from the other Contributing Guarantors as contributions under this Section 15.2. The amounts payable as contributions hereunder shall be determined as of the date on which the related payment or distribution is made by the applicable Funding Guarantor. The allocation among Contributing Guarantors of their obligations as set forth in this Section 15.2 shall not be construed in any way to limit the liability of any Contributing Guarantor hereunder. Each Guarantor is a third-party beneficiary to the contribution agreement set forth in this Section 15.2.
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15.3 Payment by Guarantors. Subject to Section 15.2, Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree, in furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which Administrative Agent or any Lender may have at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, that upon the failure of any Borrower to pay any of the Guaranteed Obligations when and as the same shall become due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, acceleration, demand or otherwise (including amounts that would become due but for the operation of the automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code), Guarantors will upon demand pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to Administrative Agent, for the benefit of itself and the Lenders, an amount equal to the sum of the unpaid principal amount of all Guaranteed Obligations then due as aforesaid, accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations (including interest which, but for any Borrower’s becoming the subject of a case under the Bankruptcy Code, would have accrued on such Guaranteed Obligations, whether or not a claim is allowed against such Borrower for such interest in the related bankruptcy case) and all other Guaranteed Obligations then owed to Agent and Lenders as aforesaid.
15.4 Liability of Guarantors Absolute. Each Guarantor agrees that its obligations hereunder are irrevocable, absolute, independent and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance which constitutes a legal or equitable discharge of a guarantor or surety other than payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, each Guarantor agrees as follows:
15.4.1 this Guaranty is a guaranty of payment when due and not of collectability. This Guaranty is a primary obligation of each Guarantor and not merely a contract of surety;
15.4.2 Administrative Agent may enforce this Guaranty upon the occurrence of an Event of Default notwithstanding the existence of any dispute between any Borrower and Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to the existence of such Event of Default;
15.4.3 the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are independent of the obligations of Borrowers and the obligations of any other guarantor (including any other Guarantor) of the obligations of Borrowers, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against such Guarantor whether or not any action is brought against any Borrower or any of such other guarantors and whether or not any Borrower is joined in any such action or actions;
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15.4.4 payment by any Guarantor of a portion, but not all, of the Guaranteed Obligations shall in no way limit, affect, modify or abridge any Guarantor’s liability for any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations which has not been paid. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if Administrative Agent or any Lender is awarded a judgment in any suit brought to enforce any Guarantor’s covenant to pay a portion of the Guaranteed Obligations, such judgment shall not be deemed to release such Guarantor from its covenant to pay the portion of the Guaranteed Obligations that is not the subject of such suit, and such judgment shall not, except to the extent satisfied by such Guarantor, limit, affect, modify or abridge any other Guarantor’s liability hereunder in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations;
15.4.5 Administrative Agent and/or Lenders, upon such terms as they deem appropriate, without notice or demand and without affecting the validity or enforceability hereof or giving rise to any reduction, limitation, impairment, discharge or termination of any Guarantor’s liability hereunder, from time to time may (i) renew, extend, accelerate, increase the rate of interest on, or otherwise change the time, place, manner or terms of payment of the Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) settle, compromise, release or discharge, or accept or refuse any offer of performance with respect to, or substitutions for, the Guaranteed Obligations or any agreement relating thereto and/or subordinate the payment of the same to the payment of any other obligations; (iii) request and accept other guaranties of the Guaranteed Obligations and take and hold security for the payment hereof or the Guaranteed Obligations; (iv) release, surrender, exchange, substitute, compromise, settle, rescind, waive, alter, subordinate or modify, with or without consideration, any security for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations, any other guaranties of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any other obligation of any Person (including any other Guarantor) with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations; (v) enforce and apply any security now or hereafter held by or for the benefit of Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself and the Lenders in respect hereof or the Guaranteed Obligations and direct the order or manner of sale thereof, or exercise any other right or remedy that Administrative Agent may have against any such security, in each case as Administrative Agent in its discretion may determine consistent herewith or any applicable security agreement, including foreclosure on any such security pursuant to one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, whether or not every aspect of any such sale is commercially reasonable, and even though such action operates to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any Guarantor against any Borrower or any security for the Guaranteed Obligations; and (vi) exercise any other rights available to it under the Loan Documents; and
15.4.6 this Guaranty and the obligations of Guarantors hereunder shall be valid and enforceable and shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment, discharge or termination for any reason (other than payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations), including the occurrence of any of the following, whether or not any Guarantor shall have had notice or knowledge of any of them: (i) any failure or omission to assert or enforce or agreement or election not to assert or enforce, or the stay or enjoining, by order of court, by operation of law or otherwise, of the exercise or enforcement of, any claim or demand or any right, power or remedy (whether arising under the Loan Documents, at law, in equity or otherwise) with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any agreement relating thereto, or with respect to any other guaranty of or security for the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or any consent to departure from, any of the terms or provisions (including provisions relating to events of default) hereof, any of the other Loan Documents or any agreement or instrument executed pursuant thereto, or of any other guaranty or security for the Guaranteed Obligations, in each case whether or not in accordance with the terms hereof or such Loan Document, or any agreement relating to such other guaranty or security; (iii) the Guaranteed Obligations, or any agreement relating thereto, at any time being found to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect; (iv) the application of payments received from any source (other than payments received pursuant to the other Loan Documents or from the proceeds of any security for the Guaranteed Obligations, except to the extent such security also serves as collateral for indebtedness other than the Guaranteed Obligations) to the payment of indebtedness other than the Guaranteed Obligations, even though Administrative Agent or Lenders might have elected to apply such payment to any part or all of the Guaranteed Obligations; (v) Administrative Agent’s or Lenders’ consent to the change, reorganization or termination of the corporate structure or existence of any Borrower and to any corresponding restructuring of the Guaranteed Obligations; (vi) any failure to perfect or continue perfection of a security interest in any collateral which secures any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (vii) any defenses, set-offs or counterclaims which any Borrower may allege or assert against Administrative Agent or any Lender in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations, including failure of consideration, breach of warranty, payment, statute of frauds, statute of limitations, accord and satisfaction and usury; and (viii) any other act or thing or omission, or delay to do any other act or thing, which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor as an obligor in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations.
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15.5 Waivers by Guarantors. Each Guarantor hereby waives, for the benefit of Administrative Agent and each Lender: (a) any right to require Administrative Agent or any Lender, as a condition of payment or performance by such Guarantor, to (i) proceed against any Borrower, any other guarantor (including any other Guarantor) of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other Person, (ii) proceed against or exhaust any security held from any Borrower, any such other guarantor or any other Person, (iii) proceed against or have resort to any balance of any Deposit Account, securities account or commodities account or credit on the books of Administrative Agent or any Lender in favor of any Borrower or any other Person, or (iv) pursue any other remedy in the power of Administrative Agent or any Lender whatsoever; (b) any defense arising by reason of the incapacity, lack of authority or any disability or other defense of any Borrower or any other Guarantor including any defense based on or arising out of the lack of validity or the unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or any agreement or instrument relating thereto or by reason of the cessation of the liability of any Borrower or any other Guarantor from any cause other than payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations; (c) any defense based upon any statute or rule of law which provides that the obligation of a surety must be neither larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome than that of the principal; (d) any defense based upon Administrative Agent’s or any Lender’s errors or omissions in the administration of the Guaranteed Obligations; (e) (i) any principles or provisions of law, statutory or otherwise, which are or might be in conflict with the terms hereof and any legal or equitable discharge of such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, (ii) the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting such Guarantor’s liability hereunder or the enforcement hereof, (iii) any rights to set-offs, recoupments and counterclaims, and (iv) promptness, diligence and any requirement that Administrative Agent or any Lender protect, secure, perfect or insure any security interest or lien or any property subject thereto; (f) notices, demands, presentments, protests, notices of protest, notices of dishonor and notices of any action or inaction, including acceptance hereof, notices of default hereunder or any agreement or instrument related thereto, notices of any renewal, extension or modification of the Guaranteed Obligations or any agreement related thereto, notices of any extension of credit to Borrowers and notices of any of the matters referred to in Section 15.4 and any right to consent to any thereof; and (g) any defenses or benefits that may be derived from or afforded by law which limit the liability of or exonerate guarantors or sureties, or which may conflict with the terms hereof.
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15.6 Guarantors’ Rights of Subrogation, Contribution, etc. Until the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full and the Revolving Credit Commitment shall have terminated and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or been cancelled, each Guarantor hereby waives any claim, right or remedy, direct or indirect, that such Guarantor now has or may hereafter have against any Borrower or any other Guarantor or any of its assets in connection with this Guaranty or the performance by such Guarantor of its obligations hereunder, in each case whether such claim, right or remedy arises in equity, under contract, by statute, under common law or otherwise and including without limitation (a) any right of subrogation, reimbursement or indemnification that such Guarantor now has or may hereafter have against any Borrower with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations, (b) any right to enforce, or to participate in, any claim, right or remedy that Administrative Agent or any Lender now has or may hereafter have against any Borrower, and (c) any benefit of, and any right to participate in, any collateral or security now or hereafter held by Administrative Agent or any Lender. In addition, until the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full and the Revolving Credit Commitment shall have terminated and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or been cancelled, each Guarantor shall withhold exercise of any right of contribution such Guarantor may have against any other guarantor (including any other Guarantor) of the Guaranteed Obligations, including, without limitation, any such right of contribution as contemplated by Section 15.2. Each Guarantor further agrees that, to the extent the waiver or agreement to withhold the exercise of its rights of subrogation, reimbursement, indemnification and contribution as set forth herein is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be void or voidable for any reason, any rights of subrogation, reimbursement or indemnification such Guarantor may have against any Borrower or against any collateral or security, and any rights of contribution such Guarantor may have against any such other guarantor, shall be junior and subordinate to any rights Administrative Agent or any Lender may have against any Borrower, to all right, title and interest Administrative Agent or Lender may have in any such collateral or security, and to any right Administrative Agent or any Lender may have against such other guarantor. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of any such subrogation, reimbursement, indemnification or contribution rights at any time when all Guaranteed Obligations shall not have been finally and indefeasibly paid in full, such amount shall be held in trust for Administrative Agent and Lenders and shall forthwith be paid over to Administrative Agent to be credited and applied against the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms hereof.
15.7 Subordination of Other Obligations. Any indebtedness of any Borrower or any Guarantor now or hereafter held by any Guarantor (the “Obligee Guarantor”) is hereby subordinated in right of payment to the Guaranteed Obligations, and any such indebtedness collected or received by the Obligee Guarantor after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing shall be held in trust for Administrative Agent and Lenders and shall forthwith be paid over to Administrative Agent to be credited and applied against the Guaranteed Obligations but without affecting, impairing or limiting in any manner the liability of the Obligee Guarantor under any other provision hereof.
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15.8 Continuing Guaranty. This Guaranty is a continuing guaranty and shall remain in effect until all of the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been indefeasibly paid in full and the Revolving Credit Commitment shall have terminated and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or been cancelled. Each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any right to revoke this Guaranty as to future transactions giving rise to any Guaranteed Obligations.
15.9 Authority of Guarantors or Borrowers. It is not necessary for Administrative Agent or any Lender to inquire into the capacity or powers of any Guarantor or any Borrower or the officers, directors or any agents acting or purporting to act on behalf of any of them.
15.10 Financial Condition of Borrowers. Any Loan may be made to Borrowers or continued from time to time, without notice to or authorization from any Guarantor regardless of the financial or other condition of Borrowers at the time of any such grant or continuation. Neither Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to disclose or discuss with any Guarantor its assessment, or any Guarantor’s assessment, of the financial condition of any Borrower. Each Guarantor has adequate means to obtain information from each Borrower on a continuing basis concerning the financial condition of such Borrower and its ability to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents, and each Guarantor assumes the responsibility for being and keeping informed of the financial condition of Borrowers and of all circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor hereby waives and relinquishes any duty on the part of Administrative Agent or any Lender to disclose any matter, fact or thing relating to the business, operations or conditions of any Borrower now known or hereafter known by Administrative Agent or any Lender.
15.11 Bankruptcy, etc. So long as any Guaranteed Obligations remain outstanding, no Guarantor shall, without the prior written consent of Administrative Agent, commence or join with any other Person in commencing any bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency case or proceeding of or against any Borrower or any other Guarantor.
15.11.1 The obligations of Guarantors hereunder shall not be reduced, limited, impaired, discharged, deferred, suspended or terminated by any case or proceeding, voluntary or involuntary, involving the bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization, liquidation or arrangement of any Borrower or any other Guarantor or by any defense which any Borrower or any other Guarantor may have by reason of the order, decree or decision of any court or administrative body resulting from any such proceeding.
15.11.2 Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that any interest on any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations which accrues after the commencement of any case or proceeding referred to in Section 15.11.1 above (or, if interest on any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations ceases to accrue by operation of law by reason of the commencement of such case or proceeding, such interest as would have accrued on such portion of the Guaranteed Obligations if such case or proceeding had not been commenced) shall be included in the Guaranteed Obligations because it is the intention of Guarantors and Administrative Agent and Lenders that the Guaranteed Obligations which are guaranteed by Guarantors pursuant hereto should be determined without regard to any rule of law or order which may relieve any Borrower of any portion of such Guaranteed Obligations. Guarantors will permit any trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, debtor in possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar person to pay Administrative Agent and Lenders, or allow the claim of Administrative Agent and Lenders in respect of, any such interest accruing after the date on which such case or proceeding is commenced.
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15.11.3 In the event that all or any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations are paid by any Borrower, the obligations of Guarantors hereunder shall continue and remain in full force and effect or be reinstated, as the case may be, in the event that all or any part of such payment(s) are rescinded or recovered directly or indirectly from Administrative Agent or any Lender as a preference, fraudulent transfer or otherwise, and any such payments which are so rescinded or recovered shall constitute Guaranteed Obligations for all purposes hereunder.
(Signature Page Follows)
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(Signature Page to Loan, Security and Guaranty Agreement)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed on the day and year specified at the beginning of this Agreement.
BORROWERS: | QUEST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC | |
By: | ||
Name: Laurie L. Latham | ||
Title: Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | ||
RWS FACILITY SERVICES, LLC | ||
By: | ||
Name: Laurie L. Latham | ||
Title: Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer | ||
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS GROUP, LLC | ||
By: | ||
Name: Laurie L. Latham | ||
Title: Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer | ||
LANDFILL DIVERSION INNOVATIONS, L.L.C. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer |
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GUARANTORS: | QUEST RESOURCE HOLDING CORPORATION | |
By: | ||
Name: Laurie L. Latham | ||
Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | ||
QUEST SUSTAINABILITY SERVICES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION (F/K/A EARTH911, INC.) | ||
By: | ||
Name: Laurie L. Latham | ||
Title: Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer |
GUARANTORS (CONTINUED): | YOUCHANGE, INC. | |
By: | ||
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
QUEST VERTIGENT CORPORATION | ||
By: | ||
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
QUEST VERTIGENT ONE, LLC | ||
By: | ||
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer | |
GLOBAL ALERTS, LLC | ||
By: | ||
Name: | Laurie L. Latham | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer |
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as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and as a Lender | ||
By: | ||
Name: |
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Title: |
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as Issuing Bank |
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By: | ||
Name: |
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Title: |
Quest Resource Holding Corporation Acquires Two Asset-Light Waste Services Companies
· | Expands presence in industrial and commercial property management end markets |
· | Combined transactions increases net income and adjusted EBITDA by more than 50% annually |
The Colony, TX, December 8, 2021 - Quest Resource Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: QRHC) ("Quest"), a national leader in environmental waste and recycling services, announced today that it has acquired two national asset-light waste and environmental services businesses: Chadds Ford, PA-based, RWS Facility Services, LLC (“RWS”), and Greenville, SC-based, InStream Environmental, LLC (“InStream”). RWS and Instream will expand Quest’s presence in the commercial property space and meaningfully add to our industrial market customer base.
“These transactions are estimated to increase our annual revenue, net income, and adjusted EBITDA by more than 50%, adding significant scale as well as customer diversification,” said Quest President and Chief Executive Officer S. Ray Hatch. “Like Quest, RWS and InStream both have a reputation for providing exceptional service and building strong customer loyalty. With the increased scale and scope of our combined businesses, we are well positioned to maintain strong customer relationships and provide more services for existing and prospective customers,” Hatch added.
The Company agreed to acquire the membership interests of RWS for a total consideration of $33.0 million in cash. The Company agreed to acquire the assets of InStream for a total consideration of $11.0 million (and an additional $1.5 million of consideration which may be earned based on future performance). The combined transaction price of approximately $44 million is estimated to add more than $80 million of revenue, approximately $2.2 million in net income, and $5.5 million in adjusted EBITDA. The transactions are expected to be accretive on a free cash flow per share basis.
“Quest is committed to growing long-term shareholder value and to supporting our customers’ sustainability goals,” Dan Friedberg, Quest’s Board Chairman added. “Our strategy is to grow by expanding services to existing customers, organically adding to our customer base, and by acquiring businesses like RWS and InStream whose customers can be better served on the Quest platform. We are focused on building scale and scope to our national platform, bringing value by lowering the costs to serve, enhancing our technology capabilities, and offering a broad range of sustainability solutions across services and industries.”
RWS Acquisition
“RWS will add incremental volume to our existing market verticals and establish a more meaningful position in the commercial property management market and significantly add to our industrial market customer base,” Quest President and Chief Executive Officer, S. Ray Hatch said. “We look forward to working together with RWS’s very successful team as part of the Quest organization.”
“We believe this business combination offers our employees an exciting opportunity for career development and growth, as well as opportunities to further improve the value we bring to customers,” Anthony DiIenno, RWS’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said. “In addition to expanding our service offering, Quest also brings a unique and differentiated data reporting capability that is in demand from our customers who are looking to increase visibility into their operations and to improve and simplify sustainability reporting. We look forward to working with the Quest team to ensure a smooth transition.”
InStream Acquisition
“InStream brings an attractive roster of multi-national manufacturers to our Company,” Quest President and Chief Executive Officer, S. Ray Hatch, said. “We welcome the InStream team to Quest, where our combined expertise will be a compelling value to customers in the industrial end market.”
“Taking care of our customers is our priority and has been the key to our success,” John Little, InStream’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said. “Quest’s strong reputation for providing exceptional service was an important consideration in our decision to join forces. By joining Quest, our customers gain access to our combined larger national, regional, and local vendor network and broader scope of services with superb customer support capabilities.”
Additional details of the transactions will be available in Quest’s Form 8-K, which will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Expanded Credit Facilities
As part of the transactions, Quest further announced that it has amended its lending agreement with Monroe Capital, increasing its borrowing facilities up to $75 million, lowering borrowing costs by 350 basis points, and providing other improved terms.
Additional financial terms and covenants under the Credit Agreement are included in the Form 8-K that will be filed with the SEC.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measure
This press release includes estimated adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. Estimated Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and other adjustments. Quest believes this non-GAAP measure provides useful information to shareholders regarding the business of RWS and InStream. The non-GAAP financial measure used does not replace the presentation of Quest's GAAP financial measures and should only be used as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, Quest's financial results presented in accordance with GAAP. A table reconciling these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures is included below.
About Quest Resource Holding Corporation
Quest is a national provider of waste and recycling services that help businesses excel in achieving their environmental and sustainability goals and responsibilities. Quest delivers focused expertise across multiple industry sectors to build single-source, client-specific solutions that generate quantifiable business and sustainability results. Addressing a wide variety of waste streams and recyclables, Quest provides information and data that tracks and reports the environmental results of Quest’s services, gives actionable data to improve business operations, and enables Quest’s clients to excel in their business and sustainability responsibilities. For more information, visit www.qrhc.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which provides a “safe harbor” for such statements in certain circumstances. The forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our belief that RWS and InStream will expand our presence in the commercial property segment and meaningfully add to our industrial market customer base, and our belief that with the increased scale and scope of our combined businesses following the closing of the transactions, we are well positioned to maintain strong customer relationships and do more for existing and prospective customers. These statements are based on our current expectations, estimates, projections, beliefs, and assumptions. Such statements involve significant risks and uncertainties. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements and to consult our SEC filings for additional risks and uncertainties that may apply to our business and the ownership of our securities. Our forward-looking statements are presented as of the date made, and we disclaim any duty to update such statements unless required by law to do so.
Investor Relations Contact:
Three Part Advisors, LLC - Joe Noyons • 817.778.8424
Below is certain combined financial information for RWS and InStream which is being included to include a reconciliation to GAAP of the combined Adjusted EBITDA for such entities for the 12 months ended September 30, 2021. The information provided below is based on financial information from RWS and InStream which is unaudited. Accordingly, such information does not include all of the information necessary for a complete presentation of results of operations for RWS and InStream. Quest will be filing a Form 8-K which will be amended to include audited financial statements for RWS and InStream and pro forma financial information of Quest to reflect Quest’s acquisition of these entities no later than February 18, 2022 for InStream and February 22, 2022 for RWS. Accordingly, there may be further adjustments to the Adjusted EBITDA and other information contained herein based on such audits. Shareholders are urged to read these audited financial statements and the pro forma financial information which will be included in the Form 8-K/A. In addition, the combined results of operations for the period presented for RWS and InStream are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected from these entities for future periods.
RECONCILIATION OF ESTIMATED NET INCOME TO ESTIMATED ADJUSTED EBITDA
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
Estimated Adjustments | ||||
Estimated net income TTM September 30, 2021 | $ | 2,232 | ||
Depreciation and amortization | 1,712 | |||
Interest expense | 119 | |||
Income tax expense | 735 | |||
PPP loan forgiveness | (950 | ) | ||
Adjusted EBITDA | 2,984 | |||
Run rate adjustment | 497 | |||
Non-recurring costs and business combination savings | 2,041 | |||
Estimated adjusted EBITDA | $ | 5,522 |
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