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): October 23, 2018 (October 17, 2018)

 

NRC GROUP HOLDINGS CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   001-38119   81-4838205
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

3500 Sunrise Highway, Suite 200, Building 200

Great River, New York

  11739
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (631) 224-9141

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introductory Note

 

On October 17, 2018 (the “ Closing Date ”), the registrant consummated the previously announced acquisition (the “ Business Combination ”) of all of the issued and outstanding membership interests of NRC Group Holdings, LLC (“ NRC Group ”) from JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC (“ JFL Partners ”), in accordance with the Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 25, 2018 and amended as of July 12, 2018 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), between Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III (“ Hennessy Capital ”) and JFL Partners. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the total purchase price of $394.7 million was paid to JFL Partners in a combination of cash ($170.9 million) and in shares of the registrant’s common stock (21,873,680 shares valued at a total of $223.7 million). In connection with the closing of the Business Combination (the “ Closing ”), the registrant changed its name from Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III to NRC Group Holdings Corp.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, “ we ,” “ us ,” “ our ” and the “ Company ” refer to NRC Group Holdings Corp. and its consolidated subsidiaries at and after the Closing, “ NRC Group ” refers to NRC Group Holdings, LLC and its consolidated subsidiaries prior to the Closing, and “ Hennessy Capital ” refers to the registrant prior to the Closing.

 

In connection with the Business Combination, and to ensure sufficient funds to finance the cash component of the consideration payable to JFL Partners and payment of Hennessy Capital’s transaction fees and expenses, Hennessy Capital entered into a backstop and subscription agreement (the “ Backstop and Subscription Agreement ”) with Nomura Securities International, Inc. (“ Nomura ”), which provided for the issuance and sale by the registrant to institutional accredited investors of $75.0 million shares of the registrant’s 7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Series A Convertible Preferred Stock ”), with the possibility of additional shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”) or shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock in a private placement (collectively, the “ Nomura Commitment ”). On August 24, 2018, Hennessy Capital entered into that certain Subscription Agreement (the “ Cyrus Subscription Agreement ”) with Cyrus Capital Partners, L.P. (“ Cyrus Capital ”), which provided for the issuance and sale by the registrant to Cyrus Capital, or to any affiliate of Cyrus Capital or to any fund and/or accounts that are managed, advised, or sub-advised by Cyrus Capital (collectively, with Cyrus Capital, “ Cyrus ”) of $53.0 million of shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and approximately $15.0 million of newly issued shares of Common Stock. Prior to August 24, 2018, Hennessy Capital entered into certain additional subscription agreements (the “ Other Subscription Agreements ”) on terms substantially similar to the Cyrus Subscription Agreement with certain institutional accredited investors (the “ Other Subscribers ,” collectively, and together with Nomura and Cyrus, the “ PIPE Investors ”), which provided for the issuance and sale by the Company to the Other Subscribers of $8.75 million of shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and approximately $5.0 million of newly issued shares of Common Stock. The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock purchased under the Cyrus Subscription Agreement and the Other Subscription Agreements reduced the equity commitment by Nomura under the Nomura Commitment, which resulted in Nomura purchasing $13.25 million shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. The issuance and sale of shares under the Nomura Commitment, the Cyrus Subscription Agreement and the Other Subscription Agreements, being referred to collectively hereafter as the “ PIPE Financing ”. On the Closing Date, the PIPE Financing was consummated, and the Company issued to the PIPE Investors, in the aggregate, 750,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock for aggregate cash proceeds of $75.0 million and 1,951,220 shares of Common Stock for aggregate cash proceeds of approximately $20.0 million.

 

Further to the Backstop and Subscription Agreement, Nomura subscribed for an additional $25.0 million of shares of Common Stock to serve as a backstop (the “ Backstop Commitment ”), which could be exercised at the option of the Company and would be fulfilled either through the issuance of newly issued shares of Common Stock or through open market purchases. On October 15-16, 2018, Hennessy Capital exercised the Backstop Commitment in full, and Nomura purchased $25.0 million in shares of Common Stock on the open market.

 

Concurrently with the execution of the Purchase Agreement, Hennessy Capital and its sponsor, Hennessy Capital Partners III LLC (“ HCAC Sponsor ”), entered into that certain Subscription Agreement (“ JFL Subscription Agreement ”), with J.F. Lehman & Company, LLC (“ JFLCo ”), which provided that JFLCo or one or more of its affiliated investment funds may elect (i) to purchase from the Company (A) up to 300,000 newly issued shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $29.1 million and (B) up to 1,951,220 newly issued shares of Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $20.0 million and (ii) in connection with any such purchase, receive from HCAC Sponsor 106,953 additional shares of Common Stock, for no consideration, in accordance with the terms of the JFL Subscription Agreement. JFLCo elected to exercise its rights under the JFL Subscription Agreement in full through certain of its affiliated funds (together with JFL Partners, the “ JFL Funds ”) for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $49.1 million. On the Closing Date, the transactions contemplated by the JFL Subscription Agreement were consummated.

 

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At the Closing, HCAC Sponsor exchanged 9,600,000 outstanding warrants issued to HCAC Sponsor in the private placement that occurred simultaneously with the consummation of Hennessy Capital’s initial public offering (the “ placement warrants ”) for 1,920,000 newly issued shares of Common Stock and forfeited to the Company an equivalent number of existing founder shares held by HCAC Sponsor for cancellation (the “ Sponsor Warrant Exchange ”). The effect of the Sponsor Warrant Exchange is to effectively cancel all of the outstanding placement warrants for no consideration upon consummation of the Business Combination. 

 

Item 1.01 Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

On the Closing Date, the Company entered into an amended and restated registration rights agreement (the “ New Registration Rights Agreement ”) with each of the Company’s initial stockholders, HCAC Sponsor, the PIPE Investors and the JFL Funds. In this section, we refer to each of the parties to the New Registration Rights Agreement (other than the Company) as a “ Restricted Stockholder .”

 

Resale Shelf Registration Statement . Pursuant to the New Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has agreed to file, as soon as reasonably practicable within 60 days after the Closing Date, a resale shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (the “ Shelf Registration Statement ”), for the benefit of the Restricted Stockholders, to register (i) the shares of Common Stock and shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock issued or received by the JFL Funds upon consummation of the Business Combination (including any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of such Series A Convertible Preferred Stock or shares of Common Stock issued or issuable as dividends on the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock), (ii) the founder shares held by Hennessy Capital’s initial stockholders, (iii) the shares of Common Stock issued to HCAC Sponsor in exchange for all 9,600,000 outstanding warrants held by HCAC Sponsor in the Sponsor Warrant Exchange, (iv) the shares of Common Stock and shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock issued to the PIPE Investors (including any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of such Series A Convertible Preferred Stock or shares of Common Stock issued or issuable as dividends on the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock), (v) any outstanding shares of Common Stock or any other security of the Company held by a Restricted Stockholder on the Closing Date and (vi) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any such share of Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, distribution, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization or other similar event (collectively, the “ Registrable Securities ”). The Company is obligated to use reasonable best efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) within 180 days following the Closing Date (or 90 days following the Closing Date if the SEC does not comment on the Shelf Registration Statement), and to use best efforts to maintain the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), subject to certain permitted blackout periods, during the period (the “ Shelf Registration Statement Effective Period ”) from the date the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC until the earliest to occur of (a) 36 months after the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, (b) the date on which all the Registrable Securities have been sold or distributed pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement or (c) the date on which the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement first become eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act without volume limitation or other restrictions on transfer thereunder. There are no penalties associated with delays in registering such securities under the Shell Registration Statement.

 

Certain Restricted Stockholders (consisting of the initial stockholders of Hennessy Capital holding founder shares, Cyrus, Nomura and the JFL Funds (each such person, a “ Demand Right Holder ”)) will have the right, subject to certain conditions, to demand an underwritten offering of their respective Registrable Securities. The Company is not obligated to effect more than (i) eight underwritten offerings for JFL Funds and (ii) one underwritten offering for each of the other Demand Right Holders (acting individually), in each case less any demand registrations initiated by such person .  

 

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Demand Rights . Subject to certain customary limitations set forth in the New Registration Rights Agreement, if (a) the Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the date that is 180 days after the Closing or (b) at any time during the Shelf Registration Statement Effective Period, the Shelf Registration Statement is not available to the Restricted Stockholders (subject to certain specified exceptions), the Demand Right Holders will have the right, subject to certain conditions, to require the Company by written demand to prepare and file a registration statement registering the offer and sale of a certain number of registrable securities (which offering may, in certain cases, be in the form of an underwritten offering). The Company is not obligated to effect more than (i) eight demand registrations for JFL Funds and (ii) one demand registration for the other Demand Right Holders (acting individually), in each case less any underwritten offerings pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement initiated by such person.

 

In addition, the Company is also not obligated to effect any demand registration in the form of an underwritten offering unless the minimum aggregate offering price is at least $5.0 million (if on Form S-3) or at least $25.0 million (if the Company is not eligible to use Form S-3 or any successor form or similar short-form registration).

 

Piggyback Rights . If at any time on or after the Closing (a)(i) the Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the date that is 180 days after the Closing Date or (ii) at any time during the Shelf Registration Statement Effective Period, the Shelf Registration Statement is not available to the Restricted Stockholders (subject to certain specified exceptions), and (b) the Company proposes to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (other than those public offerings pursuant to registration statements on forms that do not permit registration for resale by the Restricted Stockholders), then the Restricted Stockholders will have customary piggyback registration rights that allow them to include their Registrable Securities in any such registration statement. In addition, if the Company proposes to effect an underwritten offering for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company, then the Restricted Stockholders will have customary piggyback rights that allow them to include their Registrable Securities in such underwritten offering, subject to proportional cutbacks based on the identity of the party initiating such offering.

 

Limitations; Expenses; Indemnification . These registration rights are subject to certain customary limitations, including the right of the underwriters to limit the number of securities to be included in an underwritten public offering and the Company’s right to delay or withdraw a registration statement under certain circumstances. The Company will generally be required to bear the registration expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, associated with any registration and sale of Registrable Securities held by the Restricted Stockholders. In addition, the Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of one legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demand Right Holders initiating a demand registration. Under the New Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has agreed to indemnify the Restricted Stockholders against any losses or damages resulting from any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission of a material fact in any registration statement or prospectus pursuant to which they sell the Company’s equity securities, unless such liability arose from their misstatement or omission, and each of the Restricted Stockholders, severally and individually, has agreed to indemnify the Company against any losses or damages caused by such Restricted Stockholder’s material misstatements or omissions in those documents.

 

A copy of the New Registration Rights Agreement is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 4.1 and is incorporated herein by reference, and the foregoing description of the New Registration Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto.

 

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Investor Rights Agreement

 

At the Closing, the Company entered into an Investor Rights Agreement with JFL Partners and JFLCo (the “ Investor Rights Agreement ”). The Investor Rights Agreement provides that JFLCo, on behalf of each JFL (as defined below) entity that holds shares of the Company’s capital stock, shall have the right (but not the obligation) to nominate to the Company’s board of directors (the “ Board ”), a number of designees equal to at least: (i) a majority of the total number of directors serving on the Board, so long as JFL collectively beneficially owns 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock; (ii) 50% of the total number of directors serving on the Board in the event that (a) JFL collectively beneficially owns 40% or more, but less than 50% of the shares of Common Stock and (b) there are an even total number of directors; (iii) 49% of the total number of directors, in the event that (a) JFL collectively beneficially own 40% or more, but less than 50%, of the shares of Common Stock and (b) there are an odd total number of directors; (iv) 40% of the total number of directors serving on the Board in the event that JFL collectively beneficially owns 30% or more, but less than 40% of Common Stock; (v) 30% of the total number of directors serving on the Board in the event that JFL collectively beneficially owns 15% or more, but less than 30% of the shares of Common Stock; and (vi) 20% of the total number of directors serving on the Board in the event JFL collectively beneficially owns 10% or more, but less than 15% of the shares of Common Stock. For purposes of calculating the number of directors that JFLCo is entitled to designate, any fractional amounts will automatically be rounded to the nearest whole number and any such calculations will be made after taking into account any increase in the total number of directors serving on the Board. As used in this Current Report on Form 8-K, “ JFL ” shall mean JFLCo, and, together with the JFL Funds (including JFL Partners) and each of its respective affiliates, subsidiaries and managed funds and its and their successors and assigns (other than the Company and its subsidiaries).

 

Calculated in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), JFL beneficially owns 50% or more of the Common Stock as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K, which pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement entitles JFLCo, on behalf of JFL, to nominate a majority of the total number of Company directors. Following the Closing, JFLCo exercised its rights to nominate two additional directors pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement. See “Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets—Directors and Executive Officers” below.

 

A copy of the Investor Rights Agreement is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 4.2 and is incorporated herein by reference, and the foregoing description of the Investor Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto.

 

Indemnification Agreements

 

In addition, the Company has entered into customary indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers, effective October 17, 2018. Each indemnification agreement provides that, subject to limited exceptions, the Company will indemnify each such director and executive officer to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, and upon the other undertakings set forth in the indemnification agreement, for claims arising in such person’s capacity as the Company’s director and/or officer. The indemnification agreements supersede any similar agreement previously entered into by the directors and executive officers with Hennessy Capital. A copy of a form indemnification agreement is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.8 and is incorporated herein by reference, and the foregoing description of the indemnification agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto.

 

Lock-Up Agreements

 

At the Closing, JFL Partners entered into a 180-day lock-up agreement (the “ Lock-Up Agreement ”) with the Company with respect to the shares of Common Stock issued to JFL Partners upon the Closing pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (the “ Lock-Up Shares ”). Pursuant to the Lock-Up Agreement, JFL Partners agreed that, for a period of 180 days from the Closing (which period may be shortened under certain circumstances), it will not (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, with respect to any Lock-Up Shares, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any of the Lock-Up Shares, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (ii). Notwithstanding the foregoing, pursuant to the Lock-Up Agreement, JFL Partners may sell or otherwise transfer any Lock-Up Shares to its equity holders or to any of its other affiliates, provided that the transferee thereof agrees to be bound by the restrictions set forth in the Lock-Up Agreement.

 

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A copy of the Lock-Up Agreement is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 4.3 and is incorporated herein by reference, and the foregoing description of the Lock-Up Agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto.

 

Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

 

The disclosure set forth under “Introductory Note” above and in Item 2.01 “Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets” in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 17, 2018 is incorporated in this Item 2.01 by reference.

 

Prior to the Closing, Hennessy Capital was a shell company with no operations, formed as a vehicle to effect a business combination with one or more operating businesses. After the Closing, the Company became a holding company whose assets primarily consist of interests in its direct wholly-owned subsidiary, NRC Group, and the direct and indirect subsidiaries thereof. The following information is provided about the business of the Company following the consummation of the Business Combination, set forth below under the following captions:

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements;

 

Business;

 

Risk Factors;

 

Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Information of NRC Group;

 

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information;

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk;

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management;

 

Directors and Executive Officers;

 

Executive Compensation;

 

Director Compensation;

 

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions;

 

Legal Proceedings;

 

Market Price of and Dividends on the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters;

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities;

 

Description of the Company’s Securities;

 

Indemnification of Directors and Officers;

 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data; and

 

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants and Financial Disclosure.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

We make forward-looking statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including in the statements incorporated herein by reference. These forward-looking statements relate to expectations for future financial performance, business strategies or expectations for our business.  These forward-looking statements are often preceded by, followed by or include the words “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target,” “will” or similar expressions. Specifically, forward-looking statements may include statements relating to:

 

the benefits of the Business Combination;

 

the future financial performance of the Company following the Business Combination;

 

changes in the market for the Company’s services; and

 

expansion plans and opportunities, including future acquisitions or additional business combinations.

 

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These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K (or, in the case of forward-looking statements incorporated herein by reference, as of the date of the applicable filed document), and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, our actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include:

 

the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against us following consummation of the Business Combination and the transactions contemplated thereby;

 

the inability to maintain the listing of the Common Stock and the Company’s warrants on the NYSE American following the Business Combination;

 

the risk that the Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby;

 

the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition and the Company’s ability to grow and manage growth profitably;

 

costs related to the Business Combination;

 

the possibility that we may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors;

 

changes in applicable laws or regulations; and

 

other risks and uncertainties indicated in Hennessy Capital’s definitive proxy statement dated October 1, 2018 (the “ Definitive Proxy Statement ”), including those under “Risk Factors” on pages 58 through 95 of the Definitive Proxy Statement.

 

Business

 

The business of the Company, including a description of its properties, is described in the Definitive Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Information About NRC Group” beginning on page 205, which is incorporated by reference herein.  The business of Hennessy Capital is described in the Definitive Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Information About Hennessy Capital” beginning on page 187, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

On October 2, 2018, the Company acquired Quail Run Capital, LLC for an initial cash payment of $25.0 million, with an earnout of up to $15.0 million. For additional information, see the section entitled “The Business Combination—Interim Acquisition” beginning on page 120 of the Definitive Proxy Statement, incorporated by reference herein.

 

Risk Factors

 

The risk factors related to the Company’s business, operations and industry and ownership of our Common Stock are described in the Definitive Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Risk Factors” on pages 58 through 95, which descriptions are incorporated by reference herein.

 

Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Information of NRC Group

 

The section entitled “Selected Historical Financial Information of NRC Group” beginning on page 53 of the Definitive Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference herein.

 

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Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information

  

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements give effect to the Business Combination, the combination of Sprint (as defined below) and NRC (as defined below) to form NRC Group in May 2018, the Dividend Recapitalization and the acquisition of SWS in May 2018 under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”) . The combination of Sprint and NRC to form NRC Group, the Dividend Recapitalization and the acquisition of SWS are described in the section entitled “Information about NRC Group” beginning on page 187. The combination of Sprint and NRC to form NRC Group, the Dividend Recapitalization and related financing, and the acquisition of SWS occurred prior to June 30, 2018 and, therefore, are reflected in the historical unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of NRC Group at June 30, 2018. Since Sprint and NRC were under common control prior to their combination to form NRC Group in June 2018, historical condensed consolidated results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and historical consolidated results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017 have been retroactively restated to present Sprint and NRC operations on a “combined” basis in order to conform to the current presentation. The Business Combination will be accounted for as a reverse merger in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Under this method of accounting, Hennessy Capital will be treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. This determination was primarily based on NRC Group comprising the ongoing operations of the combined company, NRC Group’s equityholders having approximately 65% voting control of the combined company and NRC Group’s senior management comprising the senior management of the combined company. For accounting purposes, NRC Group will be deemed to be the accounting acquirer in the transaction and, consequently, the transaction will be treated as a recapitalization of NRC Group (i.e., a capital transaction involving the issuance of stock by Hennessy Capital for the stock of NRC Group). Accordingly, the consolidated assets, liabilities and results of operations of NRC Group will become the historical financial statements of the combined company, and Hennessy Capital’s assets, liabilities and results of operations will be consolidated with NRC Group beginning on the acquisition date.

 

The historical consolidated financial information has been adjusted in these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements to give effect to pro forma events that are (1) directly attributable to the Business Combination and the proposed related financing transactions, (2) factually supportable, and (3) with respect to the statements of operations, expected to have a continuing impact on the post-combination company. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet is based on NRC Group’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2018 together with the unaudited condensed balance sheet of Hennessy Capital, as of June 30, 2018 and has been prepared to reflect the Business Combination and the proposed related financing transactions as if they occurred on June 30, 2018. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018 combines the pro forma consolidated results of operations of NRC Group to reflect the May 2018 acquisition of SWS as though it was made at January 1, 2017 (as described in Note 6), together with the unaudited historical results of operations for Hennessy Capital for the six months ended June 30, 2018. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017 combines the pro forma consolidated results of operations of NRC Group to reflect the May 2018 acquisition of SWS as though it was made at January 1, 2017 (as described in Note 6), together with the audited historical results of operations for Hennessy Capital for the period from January 3, 2017 (inception) to December 31, 2017. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and for the year ended December 31, 2017 gives pro forma effect to the Business Combination and the proposed related financing transactions as if they occurred on January 1, 2017, the beginning of the fiscal year presented and carried forward to the subsequent interim period.

 

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The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was derived from NRC Group’s unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018 after making pro forma adjustments to include the operations of the acquired SWS business as though it was acquired on January 1, 2017 (see Note 6 below) and Hennessy Capital’s unaudited condensed statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018, each of which is included elsewhere in this Current Report on Form 8-K or in the Definitive Proxy Statement. Such unaudited interim financial information has been prepared on a basis consistent with the audited financial statements of NRC Group and Hennessy Capital, respectively, and should be read in conjunction with the interim unaudited financial statements and audited financial statements and related notes, each of which is included elsewhere in this Current Report on Form 8-K or in the Definitive Proxy Statement. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations information for the year ended December 31, 2017 was derived from NRC Group’s audited consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017, after making pro forma adjustments to include the operations of the acquired SWS business as though it was acquired on January 1, 2017 together with Hennessy Capital’s historical audited statement of operations for the period January 3, 2017 (inception) to December 31, 2017 included elsewhere in this Current Report on Form 8-K or in the Definitive Proxy Statement.

 

These unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements are for informational purposes only. They do not purport to indicate the results that would actually have been obtained had the Business Combination and the proposed related financing transactions been completed on the assumed date or for the periods presented, or which may be realized in the future. The pro forma adjustments are based on the information currently available and the assumptions and estimates underlying the pro forma adjustments are described in the accompanying notes. Actual results may differ materially from the assumptions within the accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. The combined company will incur additional costs after the Business Combination in order to satisfy its obligations as a fully reporting public company. In addition, we anticipate the adoption of various stock compensation plans or programs (including the Incentive Plan) that are typical for employees, officers and directors of public companies. No adjustment to the unaudited pro forma statement of operations has been made for these items as they are not directly related to the Business Combination and amounts are not yet known.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes and the sections entitled “NRC Group’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Hennessy Capital Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the historical financial statements and notes thereto of NRC Group, SWS and Hennessy Capital, included elsewhere in this Current Report on Form 8-K or in the Definitive Proxy Statement.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements have been prepared based on: (i) 20,954,826 shares of Hennessy Capital common stock redeemed at the Closing ($214.3 million) pursuant to Hennessy Capital’s pre-Business Combination certificate of incorporation, (ii) the amount raised from the sale of $75.0 million of our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and approximately $20.0 million of the registrant’s common stock in the PIPE Financing and (iii) approximately $49 million raised in connection with the JFL Subscription (as defined).

 

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Unaudited Pro Forma

Condensed Combined Balance Sheet

As of June 30, 2018

(In Thousands)

 

    Hennessy                        
    Capital                        
    Acquisition           Pro Forma     Footnote   Pro Forma  
    Corp. III     NRC Group     Adjustments     Reference   Combined  
ASSETS                            
Current assets                            
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 882     $ 9,257     $ 261,523     3a   $ 7,512  
                    $ (214,343 )   3f        
                      (170,900 )   3b        
                      (23,907 )   3c        
                      105,000     3e        
                      40,000     3g        
Accounts receivable, net    

      95,094      

          95,094  
Inventory    

      7,009                 7,009  
Prepaid expenses and other assets     62       5,402                 5,464  
Total current assets   $ 944     $ 116,762     $ (2,627 )       $ 115,079  
Cash and investments held in Trust Account     261,658             (261,523 )   3a      
                      (135 )   3a        
Property and equipment, net           114,504                 114,504  
Goodwill           44,563                 44,563  
Other intangible assets, net           51,254                 51,254  
Other long term assets           2,145                 2,145  
TOTAL ASSETS   $ 262,602     $ 329,228     $ (264,285 )       $ 327,545  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)                                    
Current liabilities                                    
Current maturities of long-term and revolving debt   $     $ 3,080                 $ 3,080  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses     2,534       41,754       (3,732 )   3h     40,556  
Deferred revenue           5,137                 5,137  
Other current liabilities including taxes     135       110       (135 )   3a     110  
Total current liabilities   $ 2,669     $ 50,081     $ (3,867 )       $ 48,883  
Long-term liabilities                                    
Deferred underwriters’ fee     9,616             (9,616 )   3c      
Long-term debt, net of current maturities           295,328                   295,328  
Other liabilities           5,555                   5,555  
Total liabilities     12,285       350,964       (13,483 )   3a     349,766  
Common stock subject to possible redemption     245,317               (245,317 )   3c      
Stockholders’ Equity                                    
Preferred stock                       3e      
                          3d        
Common stock     1               2     3b     4  
                      2     3c        
                          3d        
                      (1 )   3f        
Common Units/Members Capital           64,150       (64,150 )   3b      
Additional paid-in-capital     6,121       14,331       (104,250 )   3b     81,153  
                      (2,500 )   3c        
                      223,738     3b        
                      (223,740 )   3b        
                      245,315     3c        
                      (214,342 )   3f        
                      (1,122 )   3d        
                      (7,398 )   3c, g        
                      105,000     3e        
                      40,000     3g        
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)     (1,122 )     (94,374 )     (6,893 )   3c     (97,535 )
                      1,122     3d        
                      3,732     3h        
Accumulated other comprehensive loss           (5,843 )               (5,843 )
Total stockholders’ equity   $ 5,000     $ (21,736 )   $ (5,485 )       $ (22,221 )
                                     
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)   $ 262,602     $ 329,228     $ (264,285 )       $ 327,545  

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed financial information

 

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Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
(In Thousands EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

    Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III     NRC Group Pro Forma with SWS     Pro Forma Adjustments     Footnote Reference   Pro Forma Combined  
                             
Net revenue   $     $ 173,451     $         $ 173,451  
Operating expenses:                                    
Operating expenses including cost of revenues     2,963       121,104       (2,332 )   4d     121,735  
General and administrative expenses           27,247                 27,247  
Depreciation and amortization           13,010                 13,010  
Other expense including management fees and acquisition expenses, net           4,926       (1,400 )   4d     3,526  
Total operating expenses     2,963       166,287       (3,732 )         165,518  
Income from operations     (2,963 )     7,164       3,732           7,933  
Other income(expense):                                    
Interest and other income or expense     1,962       64       (1,962 )   4a     64  
Loss on extinguishment of debt           (2,720 )     2,720     4c      
Interest and financing costs           (7,633 )     7,633     4b     (11,650 )
                      (11,650 )   4b        
Total other income (expense)     1,962       (10,289 )     (3,259 )         (11,586 )
Income (loss) before income taxes     (1,001 )     (3,125 )     473           (3,653 )
Provision (benefit) for income taxes     402       (1,092 )     (402 )   4a     (1,092 )
Net income (loss)   $ (1,403 )   $ (2,033 )   $ 875         $ (2,561 )
Earnings (loss) per share available to common shareholders Basic and diluted   $ (0.18 )                       $ (0.07 )
Weighted average shares outstanding – Basic and diluted     7,681,000               29,221,000     5a     36,902,000  

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed financial information

 

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Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017
(In Thousands EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

    Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III     NRC Group Pro Forma with SWS     Pro Forma Adjustments     Footnote Reference   Pro Forma Combined  
                             
Operating revenue   $     $ 338,239     $         $ 338,239  
Costs and expenses:                                    
Operating expenses including cost of revenues           230,214                 230,214  
General and administrative expenses     670       56,745                 57,415  
Depreciation and amortization           29,137                 29,137  
Impairment loss – goodwill           6,852                 6,852  
Management fees           1,836                 1,836  
Other expense including acquisition expenses, net           4,113                 4,113  
Total operating expenses     670       328,897                 329,567  
Income (loss) from operations     (670 )     9,342                 8,672  
Other income (expense):                                    
Interest and other income     1,395       7       (1,395 )   4a     7  
Other expense, net           (93 )                 (93 )
Interest and financing costs           (14,033 )     14,033     4b     (23,300 )
                      (23,300 )   4b        
Foreign currency transaction losses           (402 )               (402 )
Total other income (expense)     1,395       (14,521 )     (10,662 )         (23,788 )
Income (loss) before income taxes     725       (5,179 )     (10,662 )         (15,116 )
Provision for income taxes     444       2,135       (444 )   4a     2,135  
Net income (loss)   $ 281     $ (7,314 )   $ (10,218 )       $ (17,251 )
Earnings (loss) per share available to common shareholders                                    
Basic   $ 0.04                         $ (0.47 )
Diluted   $ 0.02                         $ (0.47 )
Weighted average shares outstanding –                                    
Basic     6,711,000               30,191,000     5a     36,902,000  
Diluted     19,254,000               17,648,000     5a     36,902,000  

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed financial information

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

1. Description of Transaction

 

On October 17, 2018, the registrant consummated the previously announced acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding membership interests of NRC Group from JFL Partners, in accordance with the Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 25, 2018 and amended as of July 12, 2018 between Hennessy Capital and JFL Partners. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the total purchase price of $394.7 million was paid to JFL Partners in a combination of cash ($170.9 million) and in shares of the registrant’s common stock (21,873,680 shares valued at a total of $223.7 million). In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, the registrant changed its name from Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III to NRC Group Holdings Corp.

 

In connection with the Business Combination, and to ensure sufficient funds to finance the cash component of the consideration payable to JFL Partners and payment of Hennessy Capital’s transaction fees and expenses, Hennessy Capital entered into the Backstop and Subscription Agreement with Nomura, which provided for the issuance and sale by the registrant to institutional accredited investors of $75.0 million shares of the registrant’s 7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, with the possibility of additional shares of the registrant’s common stock or shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock in a private placement. On August 24, 2018, Hennessy Capital entered into the Cyrus Subscription Agreement, which provided for the issuance and sale by the registrant to Cyrus Capital, or to any affiliate of Cyrus Capital or to any fund and/or accounts that are managed, advised or sub-advised by Cyrus Capital (collectively, with Cyrus Capital, “Cyrus”) of $53.0 million of shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and approximately $15.0 million of newly issued shares of the registrant’s common stock. Prior to August 24, 2018, Hennessy Capital entered into certain Other Subscription Agreements on terms substantially similar to the Cyrus Subscription Agreement with certain Other Subscribers, collectively, and together with Nomura and Cyrus, the “PIPE Investors”), which provided for the issuance and sale by the registrant to the Other Subscribers of $8.75 million of shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and approximately $5.0 million of newly issued shares of the registrant’s common stock. The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock purchased under the Cyrus Subscription Agreement and the Other Subscription Agreements reduced the equity commitment by Nomura under the Nomura Commitment, which resulted in Nomura purchasing $13.25 million shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. The issuance and sale of shares under the Nomura Commitment, the Cyrus Subscription Agreement and the Other Subscription Agreements, being referred to collectively hereafter as the “PIPE Financing”. On the Closing Date, the PIPE Financing was consummated, and the registrant issued to the PIPE Investors, in the aggregate, 750,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock for aggregate cash proceeds of $75.0 million and 1,951,220 shares of the registrant’s common stock for aggregate cash proceeds of approximately $20.0 million.

 

Further to the Backstop and Subscription Agreement, Nomura subscribed for an additional $25.0 million of shares of the registrant’s common stock to serve as a backstop (the “Backstop Commitment”), which could be exercised at the option of the registrant and would be fulfilled either through the issuance of newly issued shares of the registrant’s common stock or through open market purchases.

 

Concurrently with the execution of the Purchase Agreement, Hennessy Capital and its sponsor, Hennessy Sponsor, entered into the JFL Subscription Agreement with JFLCo, which provided that JFLCo or one or more of its affiliated investment funds may elect (i) to purchase from the registrant (A) up to 300,000 newly issued shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $29.1 million and (B) up to 1,951,220 newly issued shares of the registrant’s common stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $20.0 million and (ii) in connection with any such purchase, receive from HCAC Sponsor 106,953 additional shares of the registrant’s common stock, for no consideration, in accordance with the terms of the JFL Subscription Agreement. JFLCo elected to exercise its rights under the JFL Subscription Agreement in full through certain of its affiliated funds (together with JFL Partners, the “JFL Funds”) for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $49.1 million. On the Closing Date, the transactions contemplated by the JFL Subscription Agreement were consummated.

 

At the Closing, HCAC Sponsor exchanged 9,600,000 outstanding warrants issued to HCAC Sponsor in the private placement that occurred simultaneously with the consummation of Hennessy Capital’s initial public offering for 1,920,000 newly issued shares of the registrant’s common stock and forfeited to the registrant in the Sponsor Warrant Exchange for equivalent number of existing founder shares held by HCAC Sponsor for cancellation. The effect of the Sponsor Warrant Exchange is to effectively cancel all of the outstanding placement warrants for no consideration upon consummation of the Business Combination. 

 

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements have been prepared based on: (i) 20,954,826 shares of Hennessy Capital common stock redeemed at the Closing ($214.3 million) pursuant to Hennessy Capital’s pre-Business Combination certificate of incorporation, (ii) the amount raised from the sale of $75.0 million of our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and approximately $20.0 million of the registrant’s common stock in the PIPE Financing and (iii) approximately $49 million raised in connection with the JFL Subscription (as defined).

 

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2. Basis of Presentation

 

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements give effect to the Business Combination, the combination of Sprint and NRC to form NRC Group in May 2018, the Dividend Recapitalization, and the acquisition of SWS in May 2018 under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”) . The combination of Sprint and NRC to form NRC Group, the Dividend Recapitalization and related financing, and the acquisition of SWS occurred prior to June 30, 2018 and, therefore, are reflected in the historical unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of NRC Group at June 30, 2018. Since Sprint and NRC were under common control prior to their combination to form NRC Group in June 2018, historical condensed consolidated results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and historical consolidated results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017 have been retroactively restated to present Sprint and NRC operations on a “combined” basis in order to conform to the current presentation. The Business Combination will be accounted for as a reverse merger in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Under this method of accounting, Hennessy Capital will be treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. This determination was primarily based on NRC Group comprising the ongoing operations of the combined company, NRC Group’s equityholders having approximately 65% voting control of the combined company and NRC Group’s senior management comprising the senior management of the combined company. For accounting purposes, NRC Group is the accounting acquirer in the transaction and, consequently, the transaction will be treated as a recapitalization of NRC Group (i.e., a capital transaction involving the issuance of stock by Hennessy Capital for the stock of NRC Group). Accordingly, the consolidated assets, liabilities and results of operations of NRC Group will become the historical financial statements of the combined company, and Hennessy Capital’s assets, liabilities and results of operations will be consolidated with NRC Group beginning on the acquisition date.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2018 was derived from NRC Group’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2018 together with Hennessy Capital’s unaudited balance sheet as of June 30, 2018. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2018 assumes that the Business Combination and the related proposed financing transactions were completed on June 30, 2018.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations information for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was derived from NRC Group’s unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018 after making pro forma adjustments to include the operations of the acquired SWS business as though it was acquired on January 1, 2017 (see note 6 below), together with Hennessy’s unaudited condensed statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations information for the year ended December 31, 2017 was derived from NRC Group’s audited consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017 after making pro forma adjustments to include the operations of the acquired SWS business as though it was acquired on January 1, 2017 (see note 6 below), together with Hennessy Capital’s audited statement of operations for the period from January 3, 2017 (inception) to December 31, 2017 and gives pro forma effect to the Business Combination and the related proposed financing transactions as if they had occurred on January 1, 2017, the beginning of the fiscal year presented and carried forward to the subsequent interim period.

 

3. Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet Adjustments

 

The pro forma adjustments to the unaudited combined pro forma balance sheet consist of the following:

 

(a) Reflects cash funding as follows: (i) the transfer of $261.5 million from Hennessy Capital’s trust account and (ii) the transfer of $135 thousand from Hennessy Capital’s trust account for the payment of accrued taxes. The following transactions that are related to the Business Combination occurred in June 2018 and are, therefore, already reflected in the unaudited historical condensed consolidated balance sheet of NRC Group, (i) the combination of Sprint and NRC in June 2018 to form NRC Group, (ii) the proceeds from NRC’s new $308.0 million term loan facility, net of approximately $9.7 million of financing costs including original issue discount of approximately $3.5 million, placement fees of approximately $5.3 million, and reflecting approximately $3.1 million as current portion of long-term debt (four installments of $770 thousand per quarter beginning September 30, 2018), (iii) the repayment of the existing approximately $210 million of debt and (iv) the approximately $86.5 million Dividend Recapitalization to investment affiliates of JFLCo.

 

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(b) Reflects the payment of purchase price as follows: (i) $170.9 million in cash (approximately $39.1 of which was remitted to NRC Group to reimburse seller expenses that were paid through NRC Group) including $2.5 million reimbursement of commitment fees advanced by JFL in connection with the Backstop and Subscription Agreement (charged to additional paid in capital) and (ii) equity purchase price of $223.74 million in fair value of 21,873,680 shares of the registrant’s common stock valued at $10.23 per share.

 

(c) Reflects other transaction effects including the payment of transaction costs associated with the Business Combination which are estimated to be approximately $36.1 million in total for both parties, including; (i) approximately $9.616 million of deferred underwriting discounts and fees from Hennessy Capital’s IPO which are due upon consummation of the Business Combination as well (ii) approximately $9.9 million in placement/subscription fees and original issue (including $2.5 million advanced by and reimbursed to JFL), (iii) other legal, accounting, printing, mailing, filing, commitment fees and other costs aggregating approximately $6.9 million, and (iv) approximately $9.7 million of costs (paid in June 2018 and included in the historical consolidated pro forma balance sheet of NRC at June 30, 2018) associated with the debt financing, including $3.5 million of original issue discount. Also includes the elimination of 24,288,851 shares of common stock subject to possible redemption.

 

(d) This adjustment reflects the elimination of Hennessy Capital’s retained earnings and the company’s par value of common and preferred stock upon consummation of the Business Combination.

 

(e) Represents the issuance of 1,050,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (par value $0.0001) at a per share purchase price (prior to original issue discount) of $100, for gross proceeds (prior to original issue discount) in the amount of $105.0 million, including $75.0 million from PIPE Investors and $30.0 million from investment affiliates of JFL. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock will be convertible into shares of the registrant’s common stock at an assumed conversion price of $12.50. The unaudited pro forma combined balance sheet does not assume conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. If the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock were to be converted into shares of the registrant’s common stock, the impact on the unaudited pro forma condensed unaudited balance sheet as of June 30, 2018 would be as follows:

 

    (in thousands of dollars)  
Line item   Pro Forma Combined     Adjusted for the Conversion  
             
Convertible preferred stock   $     $  
Common stock   $ 4     $ 4  
Additional paid-in-capital   $ 81,153     $ 81,153  
Stockholders’ deficit   $ (22,221 )   $ (22,221 )

 

(f) Reflects the withdrawal of $214.3 million of funds from our trust account to fund the redemption of 20,954,826 shares of common stock at Closing.

 

(g) To reflect the $20.0 million PIPE Financing and the $20.0 million JFL Subscription for an aggregate of 3,902,000 shares of common stock at $10.25 as well as related subscription fees.

 

(h) To reflect Business Combination costs included in (c) above that have already been incurred and need to be removed to avoid duplication.

 

4. Notes and Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations

 

The pro forma adjustments to the unaudited condensed combined pro forma statements of operations consist of the following:

 

(a) Elimination of interest income, and related federal income taxes, on the Hennessy Capital trust assets.

 

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(b) Reflects (a) the elimination of historical interest expense of $7.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and $14.1 million of historical interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2017 on debt that was repaid in NRC’s June 2018 refinancing and (b) the addition of approximately $11.65 million and $23.3 million, respectively, in interest and financing cost on the new debt for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and for the year ended December 31, 2017, respectively, consisting of annual interest expense at 7.2% of approximately $21.5 million per year ($10.75 million for the six months) and amortization of financing costs of approximately $1.8 million per year ($0.9 million for the six months). The interest rate on the new debt financing is LIBOR (with a floor of 1%) plus 5.25% and is approximately 7.2% as of July 1, 2018. Each 0.125% change in the interest rate would generate an approximately $373 thousand change in interest expense per year (approximately $186 thousand for the six months).

 

The condensed combined pro forma statement of operations does not contain an adjustment for the related effect on income tax expense for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and the year ended December 31, 2017 applied to the incremental change in interest expense as the company does not currently believe that tax deduction would be realizable.

 

(c) To eliminate loss on extinguishment of debt refinanced in June 2018 in connection with the business combination.

 

(d) To eliminate approximately $3.7 million of costs associated with the Business Combination including approximately $2.3 million at Hennessy Capital and $1.4 million at NRC Group.

 

5. Earnings per Share

 

The pro forma adjustments to the unaudited combined pro forma statement of operations earnings per share consist of the following:

 

(a) The unaudited pro forma condensed combined basic and diluted earnings per share calculations are based on the historical Hennessy Capital weighted average number of shares outstanding as follows.

 

For basic and diluted earnings per share, 7,681,000 and 7,681,000, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2018, and 6,711,000 and 19,254,000, respectively, for the period from January 3, 2017 (inception) to December 31, 2017, are adjusted by: (a) 24,400,000 and 24,400,000 shares, respectively at June 30, 2018 and 25,370,000 and 12,827,000, shares, respectively, at December 31, 2017 to increase the weighted average share amount to 32,081,000 at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, representing the total number of shares outstanding as of those dates inclusive of the shares that would no longer be subject to possible redemption as a result of the Business Combination and (b) 21,874,000 shares issued in connection with the Business Combination scenarios, (c) 20,955,000 shares redeemed at the Closing, (d) 3,902,000 PIPE common shares issued and (e) 1,920,000 warrant exchange shares issued and 1,920,000 founder shares forfeited as summarized below:

 

Basic shares —  

Six Months ended
June 30,
2018

   

Year ended December 31, 2017

 
Weighted average shares – basic, reported     7,681,000       6,711,000  
Add: Redeemable/IPO shares     24,400,000       25,370,000  
Warrant Exchange Shares     1,920,000       1,920,000  
Closing merger consideration payable in stock     21,874,000       21,874,000  
Issuance of PIPE shares     3,902,000       3,902,000  
Less: Founder Forfeited Shares     (1,920,000 )     (1,920,000 )
Shares redeemed     (20,955,000 )     (20,955,000 )
Subtotal Added     29,221,000       30,191,000  
Weighted average shares pro forma     36,902,000       36,902,000  

  

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Diluted shares —   Year ended
December 31,
2017
 
Weighted average shares reported     19,254,000  
Add: Redeemable/IPO shares     12,827,000  
Warrant exchange shares     1,920,000  
Closing merger consideration payable in stock     21,874,000  
Issuance of PIPE shares     3,902,000  
Less: Founder Forfeited Shares     (1,920,000 )
Shares redeemed     (20,955,000 )
Subtotal Added     17,648,000  
Weighted average shares pro forma     36,902,000  

 

The registrant currently has 19,248,750 warrants to purchase up to a total of 19,249,750 shares. Additionally, the 1,050,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock issued will be convertible into 8,400,000 shares of the registrant’s common stock. Because the warrants are exercisable and the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock are convertible at per share amounts exceeding the current market price of the registrant’s common stock and the per share redemption price of $10.23, the warrants and Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, and in any instance in which there is a net loss, the warrants are considered antidilutive and any shares that would be issued upon exercise of the warrants or conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock are not included in earnings per share.

 

6. NRC’s May 2018 Acquired Business (“SWS”) and Related Unaudited Pro Forma Information

 

In May 2018, NRC acquired Progressive Environmental Services, Inc. (“SWS”) for approximately $22.3 million, excluding approximately $0.4 of cash acquired, to retire SWS’ then outstanding indebtedness. SWS, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, provides environmental services through 20 locations in eight states in the Southwest, Gulf Coast and Midwest of the United States.

 

The following is a summary of the allocation of the purchase price paid to the fair values of the net assets at the acquisition date in May 2018:

 

Accounts receivable   $ 12,942,000  
Other current assets     544,000  
Property and equipment     7,037,000  
Goodwill     4,939,000  
Intangible assets     2,879,000  
Other non-current assets     861,000  
Accounts payable and other liabilities     (5,873,000 )
Deferred tax liability     (1,054,000 )
Total   $ 22,275,000  

 

The assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at fair value as of the acquisition date. The acquisition was a stock purchase, therefore the values assigned to the intangible assets and goodwill are not deductible for tax purposes. Approximately $1.5 million of transaction expenses were incurred in the acquisition, much of which are not deductible for tax purposes.

 

Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information for Businesses Acquired by NRC in May 2018 — The following unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements gives effect to the acquisition of SWS under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”) . The Business Combination has been accounted for as an acquisition of SWS by NRC (the accounting acquirer) since, immediately following completion of the transaction, the equityholders of NRC immediately prior to the Business Combination control SWS.

  

The SWS acquisition occurred in May 2018, and therefore it has been included in the NRC Group historical consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2018 and it has been included in the NRC Group consolidated statements of operations subsequent to the date of acquisition. Since the SWS acquisition meets the threshold for reporting of significant acquired businesses, the following consolidated pro forma information is presented in order to give pro forma effect to the acquisition of SWS as if it had occurred as of January 1, 2017, the beginning of the fiscal year presented and carried forward to the subsequent interim period, for purposes of the six months ended June 30, 2018 and the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

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NRC Group and Subsidiaries
Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
(Dollars in thousands)

 

    NRC Group     Progressive Environmental Services, Inc. “SWS” (to May 31, 2018)     Pro Forma Adjustments for the Business Combination     Footnote Reference   NRC Group Pro Forma Combined  
                             
Net revenue   $ 152,924     $ 20,527     $         $ 173,451  
Operating expenses:                                    
Operating expenses including cost of revenues     105,790       15,314                   121,104  
General and administrative expenses     20,193       7,054                   27,247  
Depreciation and amortization     11,784       891       335     6a     13,010  
Other expense including management fees and acquisition expenses, net     6,426             (1,500 )   6d     4,926  
Total operating expenses     144,193       23,259       (1,165 )         166,287  
Income from operations     8,731       (2,732 )     1,165           7,164  
Other income (expense):                                    
Gain on sale of assets           34,090       (34,090 )   6c      
Other income (expense), including debt extinguishment     (2,687 )     31                 (2,656 )
Interest and financing costs     (7,633 )     (575 )     575     6b     (7,633 )
Total other income (expense)     (10,320 )     33,546       (33,515 )         (10,289 )
Income (loss) before income taxes     (1,589 )     30,814       (32,350 )         (3,125 )
Provision (benefit) for income taxes     (1,020 )     (72 )                 (1,092 )
Net income (loss)   $ (569 )   $ 30,886     $ (32,350 )       $ (2,033 )

 

See accompanying notes for pro forma adjustments

 

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NRC Group and Subsidiaries
Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017
(Dollars in thousands)

 

    NRC Group     Progressive Environmental Services, Inc. “SWS”     Pro Forma Adjustments for the Business Combination     Footnote Reference   NRC Group Pro Forma Combined  
                             
Operating revenue   $ 277,631     $ 60,608     $         $ 338,239  
Costs and expenses:                                    
Operating expenses including cost of revenues     190,610       39,604                   230,214  
General and administrative expenses     34,284       21,092       1,369     6e     56,745  
Depreciation and amortization     26,148       2,187       802     6a     29,137  
Impairment loss - goodwill           6,852                   6,852  
Management fees     1,836                         1,836  
Other expense including acquisition expenses, net     4,113                         4,113  
Total operating expenses     256,991       69,735       2,171           328,897  
Income (loss) from operations     20,640       (9,127 )     (2,171 )         9,342  
Other income (expense):                                    
Interest and other income     7                       7  
Other expense, net     (93 )     (1,369 )     1,369     6e     (93 )
Interest and financing costs     (14,033 )     (4,833 )     4,833     6b     (14,033 )
Foreign currency transaction losses     (402 )                       (402 )
Total other income (expense)     (14,521 )     (6,202 )     6,202           (14,521 )
Income (loss) before income taxes     6,119       (15,329 )     4,031           (5,179 )
Provision for income taxes     447       1,688                   2,135  
Net income (loss)   $ 5,672     $ (17,017 )   $ 4,031         $ (7,314 )

 

See accompanying notes for pro forma adjustments

 

Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statements of Operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and for the year ended December 31, 2017 — The following adjustments were made to the unaudited pro forma consolidated statement of operations:

 

(a) To record amortization of intangibles acquired.

 

(b) To record the elimination of interest expense on the SWS debt that was assumed and paid off at a discount.

 

(c) To eliminate gain on sale on SWS books for its sale to NRG Group.

 

(d) To eliminate approximately $1.5 million of expenses of the SWS acquisition in the six months ended June 30, 2018.

 

(e) To reclassify non-recurring expense to operating expense, general and administrative expenses.

 

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The section entitled “NRC Group’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” beginning on page 235 of the Definitive Proxy Statement is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Market risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices, such as interest rates. The Company is exposed to changes in interest rates primarily from variable rate long-term debt arrangements. At June 30, 2018, interest on borrowings under the New Credit Facility was subject to fluctuation based on changes in short-term interest rates. The Company does not believe that fluctuations in interest had a material effect on its business, financial condition or results of operations during the years ended December 31, 2017 or 2016 or the six months ended June 30, 2018 or 2017. Inflation generally affects the Company by increasing its cost of labor. The Company does not believe that inflation had a material effect on its business, financial condition or results of operations during the years ended December 31, 2017 or 2016 or the six months ended June 30, 2018 or 2017.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

The following table sets forth information known to the Company regarding beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock upon consummation of the Business Combination on October 17, 2018 by:

 

each person who is known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Common Stock;

 

each of the Company’s directors and executive officers; and

 

all executive officers and directors of the Company as a group.

 

The beneficial ownership of our Common Stock, subject to the exclusions below, is based on 36,902,544 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of October 19, 2018.

 

Beneficial ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC, which generally provide that a person has beneficial ownership of a security if he, she or it possesses sole or shared voting or investment power over that security, including options, warrants or other derivative securities that are currently exercisable or convertible or exercisable or convertible within 60 days.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by them.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owners(1)   Number of Shares     %  
Entities affiliated with J.F. Lehman & Company, LLC (2)     26,331,853       67.0 %
Nomura Securities International, Inc. (3)     3,502,419       9.2 %
SBTS, LLC(4)     5,703,415       13.9 %
James R. Baumgardner     --       *  
Michael Bayer     --       *  
Donald Glickman     --       *  
C. Alexander Harman (2)     --       *  
Daniel J. Hennessy     1,271,961       3.4 %
Robert V. Nelson III     --       *  
Joseph Peterson     --       *  
James F. O’Neil III     168,930       *  
John R. Rapaport (4)     --       *  
Glenn M. Shor (2)     --       *  
Christian Swinbank     --       *  
Paul Taveira     --       *  
All directors and officers as a group (12 persons)     1,440,891       3.9 %

 

* Indicates percentage of less than one percent

 

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(1) Unless otherwise notes, the business addresses of each of the following entities or individuals is 3500 Sunrise Highway, Suite 200, Building 200 Great River, New York.

 

(2) (A) Includes 21,873,680 shares of Common Stock held by JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC (“JFL Partners”). JFL Partners may be deemed to be controlled by its sole members, JFL-NRC Partners, LLC (“JFL-NRC”) and JFL-SES Partners, LLC (“JFL-SES”). JFL-SES is controlled by JFL-SES Holdings, LLC (“JFL-SES Holdings”), which is controlled by its member JFL-SES (JA) Holdings, LLC (“JFL-SES (JA)”), which is controlled by its sole member JFL-SES Int. (JA) Holdings, LLC (“JFL-SES Int.”), which is controlled by its member JFL AIV Investors III-JA, L.P. (“JFL AIV JA”). JFL-NRC is controlled by its member JFL-NRC (JA) Holdings, LLC (“JFL-NRC (JA)”), which is controlled by its sole member JFL-NRC Int. (JA) Holdings, LLC (“JFL-NRC Int.”), which is controlled by its member JFL AIV JA. JFL AIV JA is controlled by its general partner, JFL GP Investors III, LLC (“Ultimate GP III”). Ultimate GP III is controlled by its managers Messrs. John F. Lehman, Louis N. Mintz, Stephen L. Brooks, and C. Alexander Harman. (B) Includes (x) 165,568 shares of Common Stock and (z) 193,064 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 24,133 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, held by JFL-NRCG Holdings III, LLC (“JFL-NRCG III”). JFL-NRCG III may be deemed to be controlled by its managing member, JFL-NRCG Annex Fund, LP (“Annex Fund”). Annex Fund is controlled by its general partner, Ultimate GP III. (C) Includes (x) 1,892,605 shares of Common Stock and (z) 2,206,936 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 275,867 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, held by JFL-NRCG Holdings IV, LLC (“JFL-NRCG IV”). JFL-NRCG IV may be deemed to be controlled by its managing member, JFL Equity Investors IV, LP (“JFL Equity Investors IV”). JFL Equity Investors IV is controlled by its general partner, JFL GP Investors IV (“Ultimate GP IV”). Ultimate GP IV is controlled by its managers Messrs. John F. Lehman, Louis N. Mintz, Stephen L. Brooks, and C. Alexander Harman. Each of Messrs. C. Alexander Harman and Glenn M. Shor is employed by JFLCo, holding the positions of partner and managing director, respectively. Neither Mr. Harman nor Mr. Shor individually direct the voting or disposition of the shares held of record by the entities affiliated with JFLCo in this footnote #2 and disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares held by such entities except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.

 

The principal business address of each entity listed in this Footnote #2 is c/o J.F. Lehman & Company, LLC, 110 East 59th Street, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10022. Each of JFL Partners, JFL-NRC, JFL-SES, JFL-SES Holdings, JFL-SES (JA), JFL-SES Int., JFL AIV JA, JFL-NRC (JA), JFL-NRC Int., Ultimate GP III, JFL-NRCG III, Annex Fund, JFL-NRCG IV, JFL Equity Investors IV, Ultimate GP IV and each of Messrs. Lehman, Mintz, Brooks and Harman disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by JFL Partners, JFL-NRCG III and JFL-NRCG IV, except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.

 

(3) Includes (x) 2,442,419 shares of Common Stock held by Nomura Securities International, Inc. (“Nomura”) and (y) 1,060,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 132,500 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock held by Nomura. Nomura is a registered broker dealer and a FINRA member firm, and may be viewed as a statutory underwriter under the Securities Act. The principal business address of Nomura is 309 West 49 th Street, New York, NY 10019.

 

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(4) Includes 4,240,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of 530,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. These securities are held directly by SBTS, LLC (“SBTS”). Stephen C. Freidheim may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the securities directly held by SBTS because Mr. Freidheim may be deemed to have voting and investment power over such securities as the sole member of Cyrus Capital Partners GP, L.L.C. (“Cyrus Capital GP”) and the Chief Investment Officer of Cyrus Capital. Cyrus Capital GP is the general partner of Cyrus Capital and Cyrus Capital is the Manager of SBTS. John R. Rapaport is a partner in Cyrus Capital. However, Mr. Rapaport does not have voting and/or investment power over the shares directly held by SBTS and therefore may not be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such shares.

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

Resignation of Directors and Officers . In connection with the Closing, and effective immediately upon consummation of the Business Combination, Bradley Bell, Richard Burns, Peter Shea and Daniel DiMicco each resigned from their positions as directors of the Company, and Daniel Hennessy, Kevin Charlton and Nicholas Petruska each resigned from their positions as Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer, and Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, respectively, of the Company. In addition, following the Closing, on October 17, 2018, Kevin Charlton resigned from his position as a director of the Company.

 

Appointment of Officers . Promptly after the Closing, and effective immediately upon consummation of the Business Combination, Christian Swinbank was appointed to serve as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President, Joe Peterson was appointed to serve as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Paul Taveira was appointed to serve as the Company’s President of Standby & Environmental Services and Robert V. Nelson III was appointed to serve as the Company’s President of Waste Disposal Services. Biographical information for each of Messrs. Swinbank, Peterson, Taveira and Nelson, the new executive officers of the Company, is set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Information About NRC Group—Executive Officers” beginning on page 221 and in the other sections of the Definitive Proxy Statement cross-referenced therein, all of which information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

For information on any material plan, contract or arrangement with our new executive officers, including a description of agreements with Messrs. Swinbank, Taveira and Nelson, see “Executive and Director Compensation of NRC Group” beginning on page 229 of the Definitive Proxy Statement, which information is incorporated herein by reference. Joseph Peterson and NRC Group entered into an employment agreement on June 22, 2018 that replaced and superseded his previous employment agreement. Mr. Peterson’s employment agreement provides that he serves as the Chief Financial Officer of NRC Group at a base salary of $330,000, subject to adjustment as provided therein. Mr. Peterson’s target annual bonus for calendar year 2018 is 65% of his base salary.

 

If Mr. Peterson’s employment with NRC Group is terminated by NRC Group without cause or if Mr. Peterson terminates his employment with NRC Group for good reason, in each case, other than in connection with a change in control of NRC Group, Mr. Peterson will be entitled to receive severance compensation in an amount equal to 150% multiplied by the sum of his base salary and target annual bonus at the time of such termination, which severance will be payable in 18 equal monthly installments. If (i) Mr. Peterson’s employment with NRC Group is terminated by NRC Group without cause or if Mr. Peterson terminates his employment with NRC Group for good reason, in each case, within 24 months following a change of control of NRC Group or (ii) Mr. Peterson’s employment with NRC Group is terminated by NRC Group without cause within 3 months prior to a change in control of NRC Group, in each case, Mr. Peterson will be entitled to receive severance compensation in an amount equal to 200% multiplied by the sum of his base salary and target annual bonus at the time of such termination, which severance will be payable in 24 equal monthly installments. Additionally, in the event of Mr. Peterson’s involuntary termination of employment by NRC Group without cause or voluntary termination of employment for good reason at any time, Mr. Peterson will be entitled to reimbursement for the costs of COBRA medical insurance premiums for up to 18 months of continued participation by Mr. Peterson and his eligible dependents in NRC Group’s medical insurance plan. NRC Group’s obligation to make the severance and COBRA payments described in this paragraph is contingent upon Mr. Peterson’s timely execution and non-revocation of a general release of claims in favor of NRC Group. Mr. Peterson’s employment agreement also includes an obligation that Mr. Peterson not compete with NRC Group or solicit NRC Group’s employees or customers while employed and for a period of 18 months following his termination of employment.

 

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Copies of the Employment Agreements with each of Messrs. Swinbank, Peterson, Nelson and Taveira are filed as Exhibits 10.4 through 10.7 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference. For information regarding any related party transaction (as defined in Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K) involving the members of the executive officers, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” beginning on page 295 of the Definitive Proxy Statement, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Election of Directors . At a special meeting of Hennessy Capital stockholders conducted on October 17, 2018 (the “ Special Meeting ”), James Baumgardner, John Rapaport and Christian Swinbank were each elected as Class III directors and James O’Neil III was elected as a Class II director.

 

On October 17, 2018, following the consummation of the Business Combination, the Company’s Board established the size of the Board to include nine total directors and appointed C. Alexander Harman, Glenn M. Shor, Donald Glickman and Michael J. Bayer to the Board pursuant to that certain Investors Rights Agreement described in this Current Report on Form 8-K. Messrs. Bayer, Glickman and Shor shall serve as Class I directors, which class of directors shall serve until the 2019 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders, at which time they will be up for election. Messrs. Harman, O’Neil and Hennessy shall serve as Class II directors, which class of directors shall serve until the 2020 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders, at which time they will be up for election. Messrs. Swinbank, Baumgardner and Rapaport shall serve as Class III directors, which class of directors shall serve until the 2021 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders, at which time they will be up for election. For information regarding any related party transaction (as defined in Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K) involving the members of our Board, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” beginning on page 295 of the Definitive Proxy Statement, which information is incorporated herein by reference. The Board elected Mr. Baumgardner to serve as Chairman of the Board. Furthermore, the Board appointed the committees of the Board as reflected in the table below.

 

Audit Committee

Compensation Committee

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

Mr. Baumgardner*   Mr. Shor*   Mr. Harman*
Mr. Bayer   Mr. Glickman   Mr. Shor
Mr. O’Neil   Mr. O’Neil   Mr. Hennessy

 

* Denotes chairman

 

Biographical information for Messrs. Swinbank, O’Neil, Baumgardner and Rapaport is set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Director Election Proposal” beginning on page 173. Biographical information for Mr. Hennessy is set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Information About Hennessy Capital—Management—Directors and Executive Officers” beginning on page 189. Biographical information for Messrs. Harman and Shor is set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Management After the Business Combination—Information about Directors Expected to be Appointed to the Board Upon the Closing of the Business Combination” beginning on page 265.

 

Donald Glickman, 85, is a founding partner of JFLCo, a position he has held since July 1992. Prior to founding JFLCo, Mr. Glickman was a principal of the Peter J. Solomon Company, an investment banking firm, from July 1989 to June 1992. From July 1988 to July 1989, he was a managing director of Shearson Lehman Brothers, Inc.’s $1.3 billion Merchant Banking Partnership. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President and Regional Head of the First National Bank of Chicago. Mr. Glickman has served on numerous public and private company boards, including many of JFLCo’s realized investments. He currently serves on the board of directors of Monro, Inc. Mr. Glickman holds a B.M.E. from Cornell University and received his M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School.

 

Michael J. Bayer, 71, is the president and CEO of Dumbarton Strategies, LLC, an energy and national security consulting firm, and currently serves as a member of an advisory board of JFLCo. Previously, Mr. Bayer served as Chairman of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Business Board and currently serves as a member of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Science Board, the Sandia National Laboratory’s National Security Advisory Panel and the Chief of Naval Operations’ Executive Panel. He also currently serves as a director of SIGA Technologies, Inc. Mr. Bayer holds a BA in Accounting from Miami University.

 

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The following table shows the directors and executive officers of the Company as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Name   Age   Position
Chris Swinbank   46   Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
Joe Peterson   49   Chief Financial Officer
Paul Taveira   58   President of Standby & Environmental Services
Robert V. Nelson III   42   President of Waste Disposal Services
James R. Baumgardner   55   Chairman of the Board
Michael J. Bayer   71   Director
Donald Glickman   85   Director
C. Alexander Harman   42   Director
Daniel J Hennessy   60   Director
James O’Neil III   60   Director
John Rapaport   37   Director
Glenn M. Shor   38   Director

 

Executive Compensation

 

The compensation of Hennessy Capital’s executive officers before the Business Compensation is described in the Definitive Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Information About Hennessy Capital—Executive Compensation” beginning on page 196, which is incorporated herein by reference. The compensation of NRC Group’s named executive officers before the Business Combination is described in the Definitive Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Executive and Director Compensation of NRC Group” beginning on page 229, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

On October 17, 2018, the stockholders of Hennessy Capital approved the NRC Group Holdings Corp. 2018 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “ Incentive Plan ”). The description of the Incentive Plan set forth in the section of the Definitive Proxy Statement entitled “Incentive Plan Proposal” beginning on page 176 is incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the full text of the Incentive Plan is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.9 and is incorporated herein by reference, and the foregoing description of the Incentive Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto.

 

During 2017, no officer or employee served as a member of the compensation committee. None of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our Board or compensation committee.

 

Director Compensation

 

As of December 31, 2017, NRC Group did not have any directors. NRC Group was managed by its sole member, JFL Partners.

 

The Board of the Company approved the following director compensation policy to be effective as of October 17, 2018. Non-employee directors of the Company each will receive an annual cash retainer of $75,000 and an annual equity grant with a grant date fair market value equal to $50,000. In addition, the Company’s Audit Committee chairman will receive an annual cash retainer of $15,000, the Company’s Compensation Committee chairman will receive an annual cash retainer of $10,000, the Company’s Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee chairman will receive an annual cash retainer of $10,000 and the Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors will receive an annual cash retainer of $50,000.

 

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Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

 

A description of certain relationships and related party transactions is included in the Definitive Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” beginning on page 295, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The information set forth under the heading “Indemnification Agreements” under “Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement” above in this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Director Independence . The Board has determined that Messrs. Baumgardner, Bayer, Glickman, Harman, Hennessy, O’Neil, Rapaport and Shor are independent under applicable SEC and NYSE American rules and, to the extent applicable, that they qualify as independent directors according to the rules and regulations of the SEC with respect to audit committee membership.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time, the Company is involved in litigation arising out of its operations in the normal course of business or otherwise. The Company is not currently a party to any legal proceedings that, individually or in the aggregate, are expected to materially impact its business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows, taken as a whole. At September 30, 2018, the Company did not have any reserves on its books relative to any outstanding litigation, claim or assessment.

 

Market Price of and Dividends on the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

 

Information about the market price, number of stockholders and dividends for the Company’s securities is set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement in the section entitled “Price Range of Securities and Dividends” beginning on page 299, which is incorporated herein by reference. On October 17, 2018, the closing sale price of our Common Stock and warrants was $10.22 per share and $1.49 per warrant, respectively. During the period from October 1, 2018 through October 17, 2018, the high and low sales prices for our Common Stock were $10.32 and $10.03, respectively, and the high and low sales prices for our warrants were $1.59 and $1.25, respectively.

 

In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, Common Stock trading symbol was changed to “NRCG” and its warrant trading symbol was changed to “NRCG WS” on the NYSE American. As of the Closing Date of the Business Combination, there were 47 holders of record of the Common Stock.

 

No equity awards of the Company were outstanding as of December 31, 2017 or are currently outstanding as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

Information about unregistered sales of Hennessy Capital’s equity securities is set forth in “Part II, Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities” of Amendment No. 2 to Hennessy Capital’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-218341) filed with the SEC on June 21, 2017 and in Item 3.02 of Hennessy Capital’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 28, 2017.  Information about the Company’s unregistered sales of securities is set forth in Item 3.02 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 17, 2018.  All such information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Description of the Company’s Securities

 

A description of the Company’s securities are included in the Definitive Proxy Statement in the sections entitled “Description of Securities” beginning on page 270 through 290, which descriptions are incorporated herein by reference. A description of the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is included in the Definitive Proxy Statement in the section entitled “The Business Combination Proposal—Series A Convertible Preferred Stock Certificate of Designations” beginning on page 134, which description is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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The Company has authorized 205,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of 200,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share.

 

Upon consummation of the Business Combination and the transactions related thereto, there were 36,902,544 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding, 1,050,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding and 19,248,750 warrants to purchase 19,248,750 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

 

The Company believes there were 47 record holders of Common Stock and 1 record holder of warrants to purchase Common Stock immediately after the Business Combination on October 17, 2018.

 

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

Information about the indemnification of the Company’s directors and officers is set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement in the section entitled “The Business Combination Proposal—Indemnification of Directors and Officers; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance” beginning on page 128 and in Amendment No. 2 to Hennessy Capital’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-218341) filed with the SEC on June 21, 2017, in the section entitled “Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors,” beginning on page 100, and in Item 14 of Part II thereof, all of which information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

See also “Item 1.01 Entry Into a Material Agreement — Indemnification Agreements” of this Current Report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Financial Statements, Supplementary Data and Exhibits

 

The historical financial statements (and accompanying notes) of (1) NRC Group included in the Definitive Proxy Statement on page F-36 through F-71, (2) Progressive Environmental Services, Inc. included in the Definitive Proxy Statement on page F-72 through F-101 are incorporated herein by reference. The information set forth under Item 9.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

The information set forth under “Item 4.01. Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant” of this Current Report on Form 8-K 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.

 

As a result of the Business Combination, the Company became obligated with respect to debt of NRC Group and its subsidiaries that remained outstanding after the consummation of the Business Combination, which totaled approximately $350.1 million at such time. Such debt consists of the New Credit Facility (as described below).

 

New Credit Facility

 

In connection with the combination of JFL-NRC Holdings, LLC and its consolidated subsidiaries (“ NRC ”) and SES Holdco, LLC (“ Sprint ”), NRC and Sprint (collectively, the “ Borrowers ”), NRC Group, as parent, and the other guarantors party thereto entered into the a credit facility on June 11, 2018 (the “ New Credit Facility ”). The New Credit Facility includes a $308.0 million term loan (the “ Original Term Loan ” and, together with the Incremental Term Loan (as defined below), the “ Term Loan ”), the proceeds of which have been used for, among other things, the funding of a dividend paid to investment affiliates of JFLCo as part of the combination of NRC and Sprint, and a currently undrawn $40.0 million revolving credit facility (the “ Revolver ”). The Revolver matures on June 11, 2023 and the Term Loan matures on June 11, 2024, in each case unless otherwise extended in accordance with the terms of the New Credit Facility. The Borrowers may also incur incremental revolving and term loan commitments pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the New Credit Facility.

 

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In connection with the Interim Acquisition (as defined in the Definitive Proxy Statement), the Borrowers and the other guarantors (including NRC Group) entered into a Joinder Agreement (the “ Joinder Agreement ”) pursuant to which the Borrowers incurred incremental term loans in the amount of $35.0 million (the “ Incremental Term Loan ”) (of which $25.0 million was used for Interim Acquisition purchase price, $0.9 million was used to pay related fees and expenses, $5.0 million was reserved for a potential acquisition, and the remainder was funded to NRC Group’s balance sheet).  The Incremental Term Loan will mature in 2024 and accrue interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 5.25%.  The incremental term loan will be secured on a pari passu basis with the obligations under the New Credit Facility by a first-priority lien on substantially all assets of the Borrowers, NRC Group and the other guarantors.  The Incremental Term Loan will be governed under NRC Group's New Credit Facility and will contain the same covenants, terms and conditions.

 

Outstanding loans under the New Credit Facility will bear interest at the Borrowers’ option at either the Eurodollar Rate plus 5.25% or the Base Rate plus 4.25% per year. In addition, the Borrowers will be charged (1) a commitment fee in an amount equal to 0.50% per annum times the average daily undrawn portion of the Revolver, (2) a letter of credit fee in an amount equal to the applicable margin then in effect for revolving loans bearing interest at the Eurodollar Rate times the average aggregate daily maximum amount available to be drawn under all outstanding letters of credit, (3) a letter of credit fronting fee in an amount equal to 0.125% times the average aggregate daily maximum amount available to be drawn under all letters of credit and (4) certain other fees as agreed between the parties.

 

The Borrowers are required to make quarterly amortization payments on the Term Loan, which payments began on September 30, 2018. Commencing on December 31, 2018, the quarterly amortization payments are in the amount of $857,719.30, with the balance of the Term Loan due at maturity. Subject to (1) customary breakage costs in connection with Eurodollar Rate loans and (2) prepayment fees required to be paid upon the occurrence of a “Repricing Event” (as defined below), the Borrowers may prepay all loans under the New Credit Facility at any time without premium or penalty, subject to notice requirements. Other than in connection with certain specified exceptions, if in connection with (A) any prepayment of the Term Loan with the proceeds of, or any conversion of the Term Loan into, any new or replacement tranche of term loans, the primary purpose of which is to reduce the interest rate margins thereon to have a lower all-in yield than the all-in yield applicable to the Term Loan or (B) any amendment to the New Credit Facility the primary purpose of which is to reduce the effective interest rate applicable to the Term Loan to have an all-in yield lower than the all-in yield applicable to the then outstanding Term Loan (either of the foregoing, a “ Repricing Event ”) the Borrowers either voluntarily prepay the Term Loan, prepay the Term Loan using proceeds from the incurrence of certain indebtedness or effect any amendment with respect to the Term Loan, in each case, on or prior to April 2, 2019, the Borrowers will be required to pay a prepayment premium to each lender of Term Loans equal to 1.00% of the principal amount of the Term Loans affected by a reduction in interest rate margins held by such lender or Term Loans that are prepaid or 1.00% of the principal amount of the Term Loans held by such lender, as applicable.

 

Subject to certain thresholds, exceptions and reinvestment rights, the Borrowers are required to prepay the loans under the New Credit Facility upon receipt of net cash proceeds from certain dispositions and casualty/condemnation events and the incurrence of indebtedness, other than indebtedness permitted to be incurred under the New Credit Facility. In addition, commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019, the Borrowers will be required to make an annual prepayment of the loans under the New Credit Facility in an amount equal to a percentage, determined by reference to the NRC Group’s consolidated first lien net leverage ratio, of the NRC Group’s excess cash flow.

 

The Borrowers’ obligations under the New Credit Facility are guaranteed by, subject to certain exceptions, substantially all of NRC Group’s present and future wholly owned domestic restricted subsidiaries (other than the Borrowers and other than, among others, foreign subsidiary holding companies and immaterial subsidiaries).

 

The New Credit Facility is secured by first-priority liens on substantially all assets of the Borrowers, NRC Group and the other guarantors, including without limitation, equity interests in domestic subsidiaries and 65% of the voting interests in first-tier foreign subsidiaries (subject to limitations as regards foreign subsidiary holding companies) and certain vessels.

 

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The New Credit Facility contains, subject to certain carveouts, exceptions and thresholds, representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants and events of default that the Borrowers consider customary for an agreement of this type, including a covenant setting a maximum consolidated total net leverage ratio of 5.45:1.00, to be tested when the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all revolving loans plus certain letter of credit obligations and outstanding principal amount of swingline loans exceeds 30% of the revolving credit commitments then in effect. If an event of default occurs and continues, the lenders will be permitted to terminate their commitments under the New Credit Facility, accelerate all outstanding obligations under the New Credit Facility and exercise other rights and remedies, including the commencement of foreclosure or other actions against the collateral. This covenant is not currently in effect.

 

The New Credit Facility is pursuant to the credit agreement, pledge and security agreement, joinder agreement, trademark security agreement, and patent security agreement, each filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.10 and 10.11, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the New Credit Facility is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto.

 

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

On October 17, 2018, the Company filed its Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Certificate of Designations, Preferences, Rights and Limitations of the 7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock (the “ Certificate of Designations ”) and adopted its Second Amended and Restated Bylaws. For additional information, see the information set forth under “Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year” in this Current Report on Form 8-K, which information is incorporated in this Item 3.03 by reference. Copies of the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Amended and Restated Bylaws and the Certificate of Designations are included as Exhibits 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

 

(a) Previous independent registered public accounting firm:

 

On October 17, 2018, at the recommendation of the Board’s Audit Committee, the Board approved the dismissal of WithumSmith+Brown, PC (“ Withum ”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. As of December 31, 2017 and for the period from January 3, 2017 (date of inception) to December 31, 2017, Withum’s audit report on Hennessy Capital’s financial statements did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor was it qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles except as follows: such audit report contained an explanatory paragraph in which Withum expressed substantial doubt as to Hennessy Capital’s ability to continue as a going concern if Hennessy Capital does not complete a business combination by December 28, 2018. During the period from January 3, 2017 (date of inception) to December 31, 2017 and the subsequent period through the date of Withum’s dismissal, (i) there were no “disagreements” (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) between Hennessy Capital and Withum on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to Withum’s satisfaction, would have caused Withum to make reference in connection with Withum’s opinion to the subject matter of the disagreement; and (ii) there were no “reportable events” as the term is described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K. We have given permission to Withum to respond fully to the inquiries of the successor auditor. We furnished a copy of this disclosure to Withum and have requested that Withum furnish us with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether it agrees with the above statements or, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. We have received the requested letter from Withum, and a copy of the letter is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 16.1.

 

(b) New independent registered public accounting firm:

 

On October 17, 2018, as part of the change in independent registered public accounting firms described in Item 4.01(a) above, the Board’s Audit Committee recommended that the Board approve, and the Board approved, the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018.

 

  27  

 

 

During the two most recent fiscal years and through October 17, 2018, the registrant has not consulted with Grant Thornton LLP regarding either (1) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either contemplated or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the financial statements of the registrant, or (2) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement or a reportable event described in Items 304(a)(1)(iv) or (v), respectively, of Regulation S-K or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the financial statements of the registrant, or (2) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement or a reportable event described in Items 304(a)(1)(iv) or (v), respectively, of Regulation S-K.

 

Item 5.01 Change in Control of Registrant.

 

The disclosure set forth under “Introductory Note,” “Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement—Investor Rights Agreement” and “Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets” above is incorporated in this Item 5.01 by reference.

 

Prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, Hennessy Capital was a special purpose acquisition company. It was controlled by HCAC Sponsor, which on the date of the Definitive Proxy Statement beneficially owned 16.5% of the Common Stock (excluding warrants, as they were not exercisable until 30 days after the completion of the Business Combination). Substantially all of the remaining shares owned prior to the consummation of the Business Combination were owned by Hennessy Capital’s public stockholders.

 

By virtue of the consummation of the Business Combination, HCAC Sponsor has ceased to control the Company. The former management of Hennessy Capital no longer holds any executive officer positions and legacy Hennessy Capital directors now represent only two of nine of the members of the Board.

 

Immediately after consummation of, and as a result of, the Business Combination and the transactions related thereto, including the JFL Subscription Agreement, JFL beneficially owns 67.0% of the outstanding Common Stock, and may therefore be deemed to control the Company. The percentages set forth in this paragraph include 2,400,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 300,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock held by JFL. Pursuant to the terms of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock the holder may convert, subject to limited exceptions, the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into Common Stock at any time at the election of the holder.

 

The Company is not aware of any arrangements, including any pledge by any person of securities of the Company or any of its parent entities, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of the Company.

 

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

The disclosures set forth under “Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets—Directors and Executive Officers” above are incorporated in this Item 5.02 by reference.

 

For information regarding (i) any material plan, contract or arrangement in which any of the Company’s directors is a party or participates that was entered into or materially amended in connection with the Business Combination and any grant or award made to any of the Company’s directors under any such plan, contract or arrangement and (ii) any material compensatory plan, contract or arrangement in which the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, executive officer named in a Summary Compensation Table in the Definitive Proxy Statement or other comparable officer participates or is a party, any material amendment to any such plan, contract or arrangement and any material grant or award to any such person under any such plan, contract or arrangement, see (a) the section in the Definitive Proxy Statement entitled “Incentive Plan Proposal” beginning on page 176, (b) the section in the Definitive Proxy Statement entitled “Executive and Director Compensation of NRC Group” beginning on page 229, (c) the section in the Definitive Proxy Statement entitled “Management After the Business Combination—Director Compensation” beginning on page 268 as supplemented by the information contained above under “Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets—Director Compensation”, (d) the section in the Definitive Proxy Statement entitled “Management After the Business Combination—Executive Compensation” beginning on page 268, (e) the section in the Definitive Proxy Statement entitled “Information About Hennessy Capital—Executive Compensation” beginning on page 196, (f) “Item 1.01. Entry Into a Material Agreement” in this Current Report on Form 8-K, (g) “Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets—Directors and Executive Officers” in this Current Report on Form 8-K, and (h) “Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets—Director Compensation” in this Current Report on Form 8-K, all of which information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

At the Special Meeting, the stockholders of Hennessy Capital approved each of the amendments to Hennessy Capital’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation that were proposed for adoption at the Special Meeting. For information regarding each of those amendments, see the section of the Definitive Proxy Statement entitled “The Charter Proposals” beginning on page 165 and the information set forth in “Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets—Description of the Company’s Securities” above, which information is incorporated herein by reference. Immediately after the Special Meeting, on October 17, 2018, the Company filed its Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (reflecting each of the related proposals to amend the existing Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company adopted at the Special Meeting) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. A copy of the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, is attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Immediately following the Special Meeting on October 17, 2018, the Company adopted its Amended and Restated Bylaws to, among other things, (1) provide JFL the right to call special meetings of our stockholders anytime it beneficially owns at least 50% in voting power of the Common Stock, (2) add certain provisions to comply with the Jones Act (as defined below), (3) remove the ability for stockholders to act by written consent and (4) provide a super-majority vote requirement to amend the Amended and Restated Bylaws under certain circumstances. A copy of the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws is attached as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference, and the foregoing description of the Amended and Restated Bylaws is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto.

 

In order to assist the Company in meeting its obligations following the Closing to remain in compliance with certain provisions of U.S. cabotage laws that impose certain restrictions on the ownership and operation of vessels in the U.S. coastwise trade (such laws are principally contained in 46 U.S.C. Chapters 121, 505 and 551 and the related regulations and are commonly referred to collectively as the “ Jones Act ”), the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation includes in Article V provisions (i) limiting the ownership of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock by non-U.S. Citizens (meaning a person who is not a citizen of the United States within the meaning of 46 U.S.C. section 50501 for purposes of owning and operating U.S.-flag vessels in the U.S. coastwise trade) to 24% (so as to allow a margin of safety under the statutory maximum of 25%), (ii) prohibiting the transfer of shares of the Company’s capital stock if doing so would cause the Company to exceed the 24% non-U.S. Citizen ownership threshold (any shares owned by non-U.S. Citizens in excess of such 24% limitation are “ Excess Shares ” as defined in the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation), (iii) authorizing the redemption of Excess Shares, (iv) suspending the right to vote and to receive dividends and distributions for Excess Shares, (v) establishing procedures for the redemption of Excess Shares, including providing notice and paying the redemption price, (vi) authorizing the Company to make U.S. Citizenship determinations with respect to the holders of its capital stock, (vii) requiring holders (including beneficial holders) of the Company’s capital stock to submit information to establish the U.S. Citizenship of such holder within the meaning of the Jones Act, and (viii) generally authorizing the Board to take appropriate action to monitor and maintain compliance with the U.S. Citizen ownership requirements of the Jones Act. The Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws also include provisions incorporating the U.S. Citizenship requirements of the Jones Act that are applicable to directors and officers.

 

Also on October 17, 2018, the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware the Certificate of Designations. The Certificate of Designations was adopted by resolution of the Board pursuant to the Company’s charter, which vests in the Board the authority to provide for the authorization and issuance of one or more series of preferred stock of the Company within the limitations and restrictions set forth in the charter. A copy of the Certificate of Designations, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, is attached as Exhibit 3.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Item 5.05 Amendments to the Registrant’s Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.

 

The Company has adopted a new Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, effective as of October 17, 2018 (the “ Code of Conduct ”). The Code of Conduct is applicable to all directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives of the Company and its subsidiaries. The changes to the Code of Conduct include, among other things: (i) the expansion of the Code of Conduct’s scope to include agents and representatives of the Company; (ii) the addition of provisions regarding political contributions and activities, including lobbying activities, discrimination and harassment, and workplace health and safety; (iii) the expansion of provisions pertaining to business entertainment and gifts and the protection of confidential information; and (iv) other administrative and non-substantive amendments.

 

The amendment and restatement of the Code of Conduct did not relate to or result in any waiver, explicit or implicit, of any provision of the previous Code of Conduct. Any waivers under the Code of Conduct will be disclosed on a Current Report on Form 8-K or as otherwise permitted by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the NYSE American (or other stock exchange on which the Company’s securities are then listed). The new Code of Conduct is available on our corporate website at ir.nrcg.com.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(a) Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.

 

The historical consolidated financial statements of NRC Group and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and for each of the three years ended December 31, 2017 and as of June 30, 2018 (unaudited) and the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 (unaudited), together with the notes thereto, included in the Definitive Proxy Statement on pages F-36 through F-71 are incorporated by reference into this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

The historical consolidated financial statements of Progressive Environmental Services, Inc. as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and for each of the two years ended December 31, 2017 and as of March 31, 2018 (unaudited) and for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 (unaudited), together with the notes thereto, included in the Definitive Proxy Statement on pages F-72 through F-101 are incorporated by reference into this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

The historical consolidated financial statements of SES Hold Co, LLC, to the extent applicable, have been included in the historical consolidated financial statements of NRC Group.

 

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(b) Pro Forma Financial Information.

 

Reference is made to Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, “Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets—Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” for the following pro forma financial information:

 

Introduction  
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2018  
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018  
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2017  
Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information  

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   Exhibit
2.1**   Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 25, 2018, by and between JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC and the registrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-38119) filed with the SEC on June 26, 2018.
2.2   First Amendment to Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 12, 2018, by and between JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC and the registrant, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-38119) filed with the SEC on October 10, 2018.
3.1*   Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III (renamed NRC Group Holdings Corp.).
3.2*   Amended and Restated Bylaws of NRC Group Holdings Corp.
3.3*   Certificate of Designations, Preferences, Rights and Limitations of 7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock of NRC Group Holdings Corp. (and form of certificate for 7.00% Series A Preferred Stock of NRC Group Holdings Corp. attached as Exhibit C thereto)
4.1*   Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2018, by and among the registrant, Hennessy Capital Partners III LLC, and certain security holders of the registrant party thereto.
4.2*   Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2018, by and among the registrant, JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC and J.F. Lehman & Company, LLC.
4.3*   Lock-Up Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2018, by and between the registrant and JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC.
4.4   Warrant Agreement, dated as of June 22, 2017, between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-38119) filed on June 28, 2017).
10.1*   Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of June 11, 2018, between JFL-NRC Holdings, LLC and SES Holdco, LLC, as borrowers, NRC Group Holdings, LLC, as parent, and the other guarantors party thereto.
10.2*   Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of June 11, 2018, by and among NRC US Holding Company, LLC, Sprint Energy Services, LLC, JFL-NRC Holdings, LLC< SES Holdco, LLC, NRC Group Holdings, LLC, the grantors party thereto from time to time, and BNP Paribas.
10.3*   Joinder Agreement, dated as of October 2, 2018, by and among BNP Paribas, NRC US Holding Company, LLC, Sprint Energy Services, LLC, and the guarantors party thereto.
10.4* +   Employment Agreement, dated as of July 18, 2018, by and between NRC Group Holdings, LLC and Christian Swinbank.
10.5* +   Employment Agreement, dated as of June 22, 2018, by and between NRC Group Holdings, LLC and Joseph Peterson.
10.6* +   Employment Agreement, dated as of August 29, 2016, by and between Sprint Energy Services, LLC and Robert V. Nelson III.
10.7* +   Employment Agreement, dated as of May 28, 2015, by and between JFL-NRC Holdings, LLC and Paul Taveira.
10.8* +   Form of Indemnification Agreement between the registrant and each of its directors and executive officers.
10.9* +   NRC Group Holdings Corp. 2018 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan.
10.10*   Intellectual Property Security Agreement, dated as of June 11, 2018, by and among National Response Corporation, NRC NY Environmental Services, Inc., Progressive Environmental Services Inc., and BNP Paribas.
10.11*   Intellectual Property Security Agreement, dated as of June 11, 2018, by and between National Response Corporation and BNP Paribas.
14.1*   Code of Business Conduct and Ethics adopted by the registrant’s board of directors on October 17, 2018.
16.1*   Letter from WithumSmith+Brown, PC to the Securities and Exchange Commission, dated October 23, 2018.
21.1*   List of subsidiaries of the registrant

 

 

* Filed herewith.

 

** Schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. Copies of any omitted schedule or exhibit will be furnished supplementally to the SEC upon request.

 

+ Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement

 

 

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SIGNATURE

 

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

 

Dated: October 23, 2018 NRC GROUP HOLDINGS CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Joseph Peterson
  Name:  Joseph Peterson
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

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Exhibit 3.1

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

HENNESSY capital acquisition corp. III

 

October 17, 2018

 

Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:

 

1.  The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 3, 2017 (the “ Original Certificate ”).

 

2.  The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “ First Amended and Restated Certificate ”), which amended and restated in its entirety the Original Certificate, was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”) and the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (as amended from time to time, the “ DGCL ”) and was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 22, 2017.

 

3.  This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “ Second Amended and Restated Certificate ”), which both restates and amends the provisions of the First Amended and Restated Certificate, was duly adopted by the Board and the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the DGCL.

 

4.  This Second Amended and Restated Certificate shall become effective on the date of filing with Secretary of State of Delaware.

 

5.  The text of the First Amended and Restated Certificate is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
NAME

 

The name of the corporation is NRC Group Holdings Corp.

 

ARTICLE II
PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.

 

ARTICLE III
REGISTERED AGENT

 

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware, 19801, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV
CAPITALIZATION

 

Section 4.1. Authorized Capital Stock . The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Corporation is authorized to issue is 205,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”) and (b) 5 ,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”).

 

Section 4.2. Preferred Stock . The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”) is hereby expressly authorized to provide out of the unissued shares of the Preferred Stock for one or more series of Preferred Stock and to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional, special and other rights, if any, of each such series and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board providing for the issuance of such series and included in a certificate of designation (a “ Preferred Stock Designation ”) filed pursuant to the DGCL, and the Board is hereby expressly vested with the authority to the full extent provided by law, now or hereafter, to adopt any such resolution or resolutions.

 

Section 4.3. Common Stock .

 

(a) Voting .

 

(i) Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of the shares of Common Stock shall exclusively possess all voting power with respect to the Corporation.

 

(ii) Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation on which the holders of the shares of Common Stock are entitled to vote.

 

(iii) Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, the holders of the shares of Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and on all other matters properly submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of the shares of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any amendment to any Preferred Stock Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series of Preferred Stock are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or the DGCL.

 

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(b) Dividends. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, the holders of the shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions (payable in cash, property or capital stock of the Corporation) when, as and if declared thereon by the Board from time to time out of any assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in such dividends and distributions.

 

(c) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up of the Corporation. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, the holders of the shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them.

 

Section 4.4. Rights and Options . The Corporation has the authority to create and issue rights, warrants and options entitling the holders thereof to acquire from the Corporation any shares of its capital stock of any class or classes, with such rights, warrants and options to be evidenced by or in instrument(s) approved by the Board. The Board is empowered to set the exercise price, duration, times for exercise and other terms and conditions of such rights, warrants or options; provided, however, that the consideration to be received for any shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise thereof may not be less than the par value thereof.

 

ARTICLE V
COMPLIANCE WITH U.S. MARITIME LAWS

 

Section 5.1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Article V, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below.

 

(a) A Person shall be deemed to be the “ beneficial owner ” of, or to “ beneficially own ”, or to have “ beneficial ownership ” of, shares of the capital stock of the Corporation to the extent such Person (i) would be deemed to be the “ beneficial owner ” thereof pursuant to Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act, as such rule may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and any successor to such rule, and such terms shall apply to and include the holder of record of shares in the Corporation, or (ii) otherwise has the ability to exercise or to control, directly or indirectly, any interest or rights thereof, including any voting power of the shares of the capital stock of the Corporation, under any contract, understanding or other means; provided , however , that a Person shall not be deemed to be the “beneficial owner” of, or to “beneficially own” or to have “beneficial ownership” of, shares of the capital stock of the Corporation if the Corporation determines in accordance with this Article V that such Person is not the beneficial owner of such shares for purposes of the U.S. Maritime Laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person will be deemed to beneficially own shares of capital stock issuable on exercise or conversion of the Redemption Warrants except to the extent such shares are issued on exercise or conversion.

 

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(b) “ Board of Directors ”, as used in this Article V unless otherwise expressly provided includes any duly authorized committee thereof, and any officer of the Corporation who shall have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors or any such committee thereof.

 

(c) “ Citizenship Statement ” means any citizenship certifications required under Section 5.4(b), the written statements and affidavits required under ‎Section 5.8 given by the beneficial owners or their transferees or proposed or purported transferees, in each case whether such certifications, written statements or affidavits have been given on their own behalf or on behalf of others.

 

(d) “ Corporation ”, as used in this Article V, includes the subsidiaries of the Corporation that own vessels that are subject to the U.S. Maritime Laws to the extent the U.S. Maritime Laws require the Corporation to qualify as a U.S. Citizen in order for such subsidiaries to so qualify.

 

(e) “ Excess Share Date ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.5.

 

(f) “ Excess Shares ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.5

 

(g) “ Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

(h) “ Fair Market Value ” of one share of a particular class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation shall mean the arithmetic average of the daily VWAP of one share of such capital stock for the 20 consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding the date of measurement, or, if such capital stock is not listed or admitted for unlisted trading privileges on a National Securities Exchange, the average of the reported closing bid and asked prices of such class or series of capital stock on such dates in the over-the-counter market or a comparable system as shown by a system of automated dissemination of quotations of securities prices then in common use comparable to the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System (and, for the avoidance of doubt, not including the gray market); provided , however , that if at such date of measurement there is otherwise no established trading market for such capital stock, or the number of consecutive Trading Days since the effective date of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate is less than 20, the “Fair Market Value” of a share of such capital stock shall be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

 

(i) “ National Securities Exchange ” shall mean an exchange registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act, as such section may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and any successor to such statute.

 

(j) “ Non-U.S. Citizen ” shall mean any Person other than a U.S. Citizen.

 

(k) “ Permitted Percentage ” shall mean, with respect to any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, with respect to all Non-U.S. Citizens in the aggregate, 24% of the shares of such class or series of capital stock of the Corporation from time to time issued and outstanding.

 

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(l) “ Person ” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, firm, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, limited liability partnership, trust, unincorporated organization, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or other entity.

 

(m) “ Redemption Date ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.6(c)(iv).

 

(n) “ Redemption Notes ” shall mean interest-bearing promissory notes of the Corporation with a maturity of not more than 10 years from the date of issue and bearing interest at a fixed rate equal to the yield on the U.S. Treasury Note having a maturity comparable to the term of such Redemption Notes as published in The Wall Street Journal or comparable publication at the time of the issuance of the Redemption Notes. Such notes shall be governed by the terms of an indenture to be entered into by and between the Corporation and a trustee, as may be amended from time to time. Redemption Notes shall be redeemable at par plus accrued but unpaid interest.

 

(o) “ Redemption Notice ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.6(c)(iii).

 

(p) “ Redemption Price ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.6(c)(i).

 

(q) “ Redemption Warrants ” shall mean the warrants issued pursuant to a warrant agreement to be entered into between the Corporation and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (or any successor thereto), as warrant agent, with respect to the warrants entitling the holders thereof to purchase shares of Common Stock with an exercise price per warrant equal to $0.0001 per share of Common Stock. A holder of Redemption Warrants (or its proposed or purported transferee) who cannot establish to the satisfaction of the Corporation that it is a U.S. Citizen shall not be permitted to exercise its Redemption Warrants if the shares issuable upon exercise would constitute Excess Shares if they were issued. Redemption Warrants shall not entitle the holder to have any rights or privileges of stockholders of the Corporation solely by virtue of such Redemption Warrants, including, without limitation, any rights to vote, to receive dividends or distributions, to exercise any preemptive rights, or to receive notices, in each case, as stockholders of the Corporation, until they exercise their Redemption Warrants and receive shares of Common Stock.

 

(r) “ Trading Day ” shall mean a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which shares of any class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation are listed is open for the transaction of business or, if such capital stock is not listed or admitted for unlisted trading privileges on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are open.

 

(s) “ transfer ” shall mean any transfer of beneficial ownership of shares of the capital stock of the Corporation, including (i) original issuance of shares, (ii) issuance of shares upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of any securities of the Corporation, including Redemption Warrants, and (iii) transfer by merger, transfer by testamentary disposition, transfer pursuant to a court order or arbitration award, or other transfer by operation of law.

 

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(t) “ transferee ” shall mean any Person receiving beneficial ownership of shares of the capital stock of the Corporation, including any recipient of shares resulting from (i) the original issuance of shares, (ii) the issuance of shares upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of any securities of the Corporation, including Redemption Warrants, or (iii) transfer by merger, transfer by testamentary disposition, transfer pursuant to a court order or arbitration award, or other transfer by operation of law; all references to “transferees” shall also include, and the provisions of this Article V (including, without limitation, requirements to provide Citizenship Statements) shall apply to, any beneficial owner on whose behalf a transferee is acting as custodian, nominee, fiduciary, purchaser representative or in any other capacity.

 

(u) “ U.S. Citizen ” shall mean a citizen of the United States within the meaning of the U.S. Maritime Laws, eligible and qualified to own and operate U.S.-flag vessels in the U.S. Coastwise Trade.

 

(v) “ U.S. Coastwise Trade ” shall mean the carriage or transport of merchandise and/or other materials and/or passengers in the coastwise trade of the United States of America within the meaning of 46 U.S.C. Chapter 551 and any successor statutes thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

(w) “ U.S. Maritime Laws ” shall mean, collectively, the U.S. citizenship and cabotage laws principally contained in 46 U.S.C. § 50501 and 46 U.S.C. Chapters 121 and 551 and any successor statutes thereto, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Coast Guard and, to the extent applicable to the Corporation, the U.S. Maritime Administration and their respective practices enforcing, administering and interpreting such laws, statutes, rules and regulations, in each case as amended or supplemented from time to time, relating to the ownership and operation of U.S.-flag vessels in the U.S. Coastwise Trade.

 

(x) “ VWAP ” means for any Trading Day and any security (including Common Stock and Preferred Stock), the price for such security determined by the daily volume weighted average price per unit of such security for such Trading Day on the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market, as the case may be, in each case, for the regular trading session (including any extensions thereof, without regard to pre-open or after hours trading outside of such regular trading session), or if such security is not listed or quoted on the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market, as reported by the principal National Securities Exchange on which such security is then listed or quoted, whichever is applicable, as published by Bloomberg at 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or 15 minutes following the end of any extension of the regular trading session), on such Trading Day.

 

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Section 5.2. Restrictions on Ownership of Shares by Non-U.S. Citizens . Non-U.S. Citizens shall not be permitted to beneficially own in the aggregate, more than the Permitted Percentage of each class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation. To help ensure that at no time Non-U.S. Citizens, in the aggregate, become the beneficial owners of more than the Permitted Percentage of the issued and outstanding shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, and to enable the Corporation to comply with any requirement that it be, and submit any proof that it is, a U.S. Citizen under any applicable law or under any contract with the United States government (or any agency thereof), the Corporation shall have the power to take the actions prescribed in Section 5.3 through Section 5.8. The provisions of this Article V are intended to ensure that the Corporation continues to qualify as a U.S. Citizen under the U.S. Maritime Laws so that the Corporation does not cease to be qualified: (a) under the U.S. Maritime Laws to own and operate vessels in the U.S. Coastwise Trade; (b) to operate vessels under an agreement with the United States government (or any agency thereof) that requires the Corporation to qualify as a U.S. Citizen; or (c) to participate in or receive the benefits of any statutory program that requires the Corporation to qualify as a U.S. Citizen. The Board of Directors is specifically authorized to make all determinations and to adopt and effect all policies and measures necessary or desirable, in accordance with applicable law and this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, to fulfill the purposes or implement the provisions of this Article V; provided , however , that determinations with respect to redemptions of any Excess Shares shall be made only by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5.3. Dual Share System.

 

(a) To implement the requirements set forth in Section 5.2, the Corporation may, but is not required to, institute a dual share system such that: (i) each certificate and/or book entry (in the case of uncertificated shares) representing shares of each class or series of capital stock of the Corporation that are beneficially owned by a U.S. Citizen shall be marked “U.S. Citizen” and each certificate and/or book entry (in the case of uncertificated shares) representing shares of each class or series of capital stock of the Corporation that are beneficially owned by a Non-U.S. Citizen shall be marked “Non-U.S. Citizen”, but with all such certificates and/or book entries (in the case of uncertificated shares) to be identical in all other respects and to comply with all provisions of the laws of the State of Delaware; (ii) an application to transfer shares shall be set forth on the back of each certificate or made available by the Corporation (in the case of book entry shares) in which a proposed transferee of title to shares shall apply to the Corporation to transfer the number of shares indicated therein and shall certify as to the citizenship of such proposed transferee; (iii) a certification shall be submitted by such proposed transferee (which may include as part thereof a form of affidavit), upon which the Corporation and its transfer agent (if any) shall be entitled (but not obligated) to rely conclusively, stating whether such proposed transferee is a U.S. Citizen; and (iv) the stock transfer records of the Corporation may be maintained in such manner as to enable the percentages of the shares of each class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock that are beneficially owned by U.S. Citizens and by Non-U.S. Citizens to be confirmed. The Board of Directors is authorized to take such other ministerial actions or make such interpretations of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to implement a dual share system consistent with the requirements set forth in Section 5.2 and to ensure compliance with such system and such requirements.

 

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(b) A conspicuous statement shall be set forth on the face or back of each certificate and/or on each book entry (in the case of uncertificated shares) representing shares of each class or series of capital stock of the Corporation to the effect that: (i) such shares and the beneficial ownership thereof are subject to restrictions on transfer set forth in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate; and (ii) the Corporation will furnish, without charge, to each stockholder of the Corporation who so requests a copy of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate.

 

Section 5.4. Restrictions on Transfers.

 

(a) No shares of any class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation may be transferred to a Non-U.S. Citizen or to a holder of record that will hold such shares for or on behalf of a Non-U.S. Citizen if, upon completion of such transfer, the number of shares of such class or series beneficially owned by Non-U.S. Citizens in the aggregate would exceed the Permitted Percentage for such class or series. Any transfer or purported transfer of beneficial ownership of any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, the effect of which would be to cause Non-U.S. Citizens in the aggregate to beneficially own shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation in excess of the Permitted Percentage for such class or series, shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be void ab initio and ineffective, and, to the extent that the Corporation or its transfer agent (if any) knows that such transfer or purported transfer would, if completed, be in violation of the restrictions on transfers to Non-U.S. Citizens set forth in this Article V, neither the Corporation nor its transfer agent (if any) shall register such transfer or purported transfer on the stock transfer records of the Corporation and neither the Corporation nor its transfer agent (if any) shall recognize the transferee or purported transferee thereof as a stockholder of the Corporation with respect to such shares for any purpose whatsoever (including for purposes of voting, dividends and other distributions) except to the extent necessary to effect any remedy available to the Corporation under this Article V. In no event shall any such registration or recognition make such transfer or purported transfer effective unless the Board of Directors shall have expressly and specifically authorized the same.

 

(b) In connection with any proposed or purported transfer of shares of any class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation, any transferee or proposed or purported transferee of shares may be required by the Corporation or its transfer agent (if any) to deliver (i) a certification by such transferee or proposed or purported transferee (which may include as part thereof an affidavit) upon which the Corporation and its transfer agent (if any) shall be entitled (but not obligated) to rely conclusively, stating whether such transferee or proposed or purported transferee is a U.S. Citizen, and (ii) such other documentation and information concerning the citizenship of such transferee or proposed or purported transferee (as applicable) under Section 5.8 as the Corporation may request in its sole discretion. Registration and recognition of any transfer of shares may be denied by the Corporation upon refusal or failure to furnish any of the foregoing Citizenship Statements. Each proposed or purported transferor of such shares shall reasonably cooperate with any requests from the Corporation to facilitate the transmission of requests for such Citizenship Statements to the proposed or purported transferee and such proposed or purported transferee’s responses thereto.

 

(c) Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Article V, the Corporation shall be entitled (but not obligated) to rely, without limitation, on the stock transfer and other stockholder records of the Corporation (and its transfer agent, if any) for the purposes of preparing lists of stockholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of proxies, and otherwise conducting votes of stockholders.

 

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Section 5.5. Excess Shares. If on any date, including, without limitation, any record date (each, an “ Excess Share Date ”), the number of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation beneficially owned by Non-U.S. Citizens in the aggregate exceeds the Permitted Percentage with respect to such class or series of capital stock, irrespective of the date on which such event becomes known to the Corporation (such shares in excess of the Permitted Percentage, the “ Excess Shares ”), then the shares of such class or series of capital stock of the Corporation that constitute Excess Shares for purposes of this Article V shall be (x) those shares that have been acquired by or become beneficially owned by Non-U.S. Citizens, starting with the most recent acquisition of beneficial ownership of such shares by a Non-U.S. Citizen and including, in reverse chronological order of acquisition, all other acquisitions of beneficial ownership of such shares by Non-U.S. Citizens from and after the acquisition of beneficial ownership of such shares by a Non-U.S. Citizen that first caused such Permitted Percentage to be exceeded, or (y) those shares beneficially owned by Non-U.S. Citizens that exceed the Permitted Percentage as the result of any repurchase or redemption by the Corporation of shares of its capital stock, starting with the most recent acquisition of beneficial ownership of such shares by a Non-U.S. Citizen and going in reverse chronological order of acquisition; provided , however , that: (a) the Corporation shall have the sole power to determine, in the exercise of its reasonable judgment, those shares of such class or series that constitute Excess Shares in accordance with the provisions of this Article V; (b) the Corporation may in its reasonable discretion rely on any reasonable documentation provided by Non-U.S. Citizens with respect to the date and time of their acquisition of beneficial ownership of Excess Shares; (c) if the acquisition of beneficial ownership of more than one Excess Share occurs on the same date and the time of acquisition is not definitively established, then the order in which such acquisitions shall be deemed to have occurred on such date shall be determined by lot or by such other method as the Corporation may, in its reasonable discretion, deem appropriate; (d) Excess Shares that result from a determination that a beneficial owner has ceased to be a U.S. Citizen shall be deemed to have been acquired, for purposes of this Article V, as of the date that such beneficial owner ceased to be a U.S. Citizen; and (e) the Corporation may adjust upward to the nearest whole share the number of shares of such class or series deemed to be Excess Shares. Any determination made by the Corporation pursuant to this Section 5.5 as to which any shares of any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock constitute Excess Shares of such class or series shall be conclusive and shall be deemed effective as of the applicable Excess Share Date for such class or series.

 

Section 5.6. Redemption.

 

(a) In the event that (i) the provisions of Section 5.4(a) would not be effective for any reason to prevent the transfer of beneficial ownership of any Excess Share of any class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation to a Non-U.S. Citizen (including by reason of the applicability of Section 5.10), (ii) a change in the status of a Person from a U.S. Citizen to a Non-U.S. Citizen causes a share of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation of which such Person is the beneficial owner to constitute an Excess Share, (iii) any repurchase or redemption by the Corporation of shares of its capital stock causes any share of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation beneficially owned by Non-U.S. Citizens in the aggregate to exceed the Permitted Percentage and thereby constitute an Excess Share, or (iv) a beneficial owner of a share of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation has been determined to be or to be treated as a Non-U.S. Citizen pursuant to Section 5.7 or Section 5.8, respectively, and the beneficial ownership of such share by such Non-U.S. Citizen results in such share constituting an Excess Share, then, the Corporation, by action of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof), in its sole discretion, pursuant to applicable provisions of the DGCL is authorized to redeem such Excess Share in accordance with this Section 5.6, unless the Corporation does not have sufficient lawfully available funds to permit such redemption or such redemption is not otherwise permitted under the DGCL or other provisions of applicable law; provided , however , that the Corporation shall not have any obligation under this Section 5.6 to redeem any one or more Excess Shares.

 

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(b) Until such time as any Excess Shares subject to redemption by the Corporation pursuant to this Section 5.6 are so redeemed by the Corporation at its option and beginning on the first Excess Share Date for the classes or series of the Corporation’s capital stock of which such Excess Shares are a part, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law:

 

(i) the holders of such Excess Shares subject to redemption shall (so long as such shares constitute Excess Shares) not be entitled to any voting rights with respect to such Excess Shares; and

 

(ii) the Corporation shall (so long as such shares constitute Excess Shares) pay into a segregated account dividends and any other distributions (upon liquidation or otherwise) in respect of such Excess Shares.

 

Full voting rights shall be restored to any shares of a class or series of capital stock of the Corporation that were previously deemed to be Excess Shares, and any dividends or distributions with respect thereto that have been previously paid into a segregated account shall be due and paid solely to the holders of record of such shares, promptly after such time as, and to the extent that, such shares have ceased to be Excess Shares (including as a result of the sale of such shares to a U.S. Citizen prior to the issuance of a Redemption Notice pursuant to Section 5.6(c)(iii); provided, however , that such shares have not been already redeemed by the Corporation at its option pursuant to this Section 5.6.

 

(c) The terms and conditions of redemptions by the Corporation of Excess Shares of any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock under this Section 5.6 shall be as follows:

 

(i) the per share redemption price (the “ Redemption Price ”) for each Excess Share shall be paid by the issuance of one Redemption Warrant (or such higher number of Redemption Warrants or a fraction of a Redemption Warrant, as the case may be, then exercisable for one share of Common Stock) for each Excess Share; provided , however , that if the Corporation determines that a Redemption Warrant would be treated as capital stock under the U.S. Maritime Laws or that the Corporation may not issue Redemption Warrants for any reason, then the Redemption Price shall be paid, as determined by the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof) in its sole discretion, (A) in cash (by wire transfer or bank or cashier’s check), (B) by the issuance of Redemption Notes, (C) by any combination of cash and Redemption Notes (it being understood that all Excess Shares being redeemed in the same transaction or any series of related transactions shall be redeemed for the same amount and form of consideration), or (D) by any other means authorized or permitted under the DGCL;

 

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(ii) with respect to the portion of the Redemption Price being paid in whole or in part by cash and/or by the issuance of Redemption Notes, such portion of the Redemption Price shall be an amount equal to, in the case of cash, or a principal amount equal to, in the case of Redemption Notes, the sum of (A) the Fair Market Value of such Excess Share as of the date of redemption of such Excess Share plus (B) an amount equal to the amount of any dividend or any other distribution (upon liquidation or otherwise) declared in respect of record of such Excess Share prior to the date on which such Excess Share is called for redemption and which amount has been paid into a segregated account by the Corporation pursuant to Section 5.6(b) (which shall be in full satisfaction of any right of the holder to any amount(s) in such segregated account to the extent relating to such Excess Share);

 

(iii) written notice of the redemption of the Excess Shares containing the information set forth in Section 5.6(c)(v), together with a letter of transmittal to accompany certificates, if any, representing the Excess Shares that have been called for redemption, shall be given either by hand delivery or by overnight courier service or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each holder of record of the Excess Shares to be redeemed, at such holder’s last known address as the same appears on the stock register of the Corporation (the “ Redemption Notice ”), unless such notice is waived in writing by any such holder(s);

 

(iv) the date on which the Excess Shares shall be redeemed (the “ Redemption Date ”) shall be the later of (A) the date specified in the Redemption Notice sent to the record holder of the Excess Shares (which shall not be earlier than the date of such notice), and (B) the date on which the Corporation has irrevocably deposited in trust with a paying agent or set aside for the benefit of such record holder consideration sufficient to pay the Redemption Price to such record holders of such Excess Shares in Redemption Warrants, cash and/or Redemption Notes;

 

(v) each Redemption Notice to each holder of record of the Excess Shares to be redeemed shall specify (A) the Redemption Date (as determined pursuant to Section 5.6(c)(iv); (B) the number and the class or series of shares of capital stock to be redeemed from such holder as Excess Shares (and to the extent such Excess Shares are certificated, the certificate number(s) representing such Excess Shares), (C) the Redemption Price and the manner of payment thereof, (D) the place where certificates for such Excess Shares (if such Excess Shares are certificated) are to be surrendered for cancellation, (E) any instructions as to the endorsement or assignment for transfer of such certificates (if any) and the completion of the accompanying letter of transmittal, and (F) the fact that all right, title and interest in respect of the Excess Shares to be redeemed (including, without limitation, voting, dividend and distribution rights) shall permanently cease and terminate on the Redemption Date, except for the right to receive the Redemption Price, without interest;

 

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(vi) on and after the Redemption Date, all right, title and interest in respect of the Excess Shares selected for redemption (including, without limitation, voting and dividend and distribution rights) shall forthwith permanently cease and terminate, such Excess Shares shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding shares for any purpose, including, without limitation, for purposes of voting or determining the total number of shares entitled to vote on any matter properly brought before the stockholders for a vote thereon or receiving any dividends or distributions (and may be either cancelled or held by the Corporation as treasury stock), and the holders of record of such Excess Shares shall thereafter be entitled only to receive the Redemption Price, without interest; and

 

(vii) upon surrender of the certificates (if any) for any Excess Shares so redeemed in accordance with the requirements of the Redemption Notice and the accompanying letter of transmittal (and otherwise in proper form for transfer as specified in the Redemption Notice), the holder of record of such Excess Shares shall be entitled to payment of the Redemption Price. In case fewer than all the shares represented by any such certificate are redeemed, a new certificate (or certificates), to the extent such shares were certificated, shall be issued representing the shares not redeemed, without cost to the holder of record. On the Redemption Date, to the extent that dividends or other distributions (upon liquidation or otherwise) with respect to the Excess Shares selected for redemption were paid into a segregated account in accordance with Section 5.6(b)(ii), then to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, such amounts shall be released to the Corporation upon the completion of such redemption.

 

(d) Nothing in this Section 5.6 shall prevent the recipient of a Redemption Notice from transferring its shares before the Redemption Date if such transfer is otherwise permitted under this Second Amended and Restated Certificate and applicable law and prior to the Redemption Date the recipient provides notice of such proposed or purported transfer to the Corporation along with the documentation and information required under Section 5.4(b) and Section 5.8 establishing that the proposed or purported transferee is a U.S. Citizen to the satisfaction of the Corporation in its reasonable discretion. If such conditions are met, the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof) shall withdraw the Redemption Notice related to such shares, but otherwise the redemption thereof shall proceed on the Redemption Date in accordance with this Section and the Redemption Notice.

 

Section 5.7. Citizenship Determinations. The Corporation shall have the power to determine, in the exercise of its reasonable judgment and with the advice of counsel, the citizenship of the beneficial owners and the transferees or proposed or purported transferees of any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock for the purposes of this ‎Article V. In making such determinations, the Corporation may rely (a) on the stock transfer records of the Corporation and Citizenship Statements and (b) on any reasonable or accepted ownership presumption or fair inference rule, to establish the citizenship of such beneficial owners, transferees or proposed or purported transferees. The determination of the citizenship of such beneficial owners, transferees or proposed or purported transferees may also be established in such other manner as the Corporation may deem reasonable pursuant to Section 5.8(b). The determination of the Corporation at any time as to the citizenship of such beneficial owners, transferees or proposed or purported transferees in accordance with the provisions of Article V shall be conclusive.

 

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Section 5.8. Requirement to Provide Citizenship Information.

 

(a) In furtherance of the requirements of ‎Section 5.2, and without limiting any other provision of this ‎Article V, the Corporation may require the beneficial owners of shares of any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock to confirm their citizenship status from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this ‎Section 5.8, and, as a condition to acquiring and having beneficial ownership of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, every beneficial owner of any such shares must comply with the following provisions:

 

(i) promptly upon a beneficial owner’s acquisition of beneficial ownership of five percent or more of the outstanding shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, and at such other times as the Corporation may determine by written notice to such beneficial owner, such beneficial owner must provide to the Corporation a written statement or an affidavit, as specified by the Corporation, duly signed, stating the name and address of such beneficial owner, the number of shares of each class or series of capital stock of the Corporation beneficially owned by such beneficial owner as of a recent date, the legal structure of such beneficial owner, a statement as to whether such beneficial owner is a U.S. Citizen, and such other information and documents required by the U.S. Coast Guard or the U.S. Maritime Administration under the U.S. Maritime Laws, including 46 C.F.R. Parts 67 and 355;

 

(ii) promptly upon request by the Corporation, each beneficial owner must provide to the Corporation a written statement or an affidavit, as specified by the Corporation, duly signed, stating the name and address of such beneficial owner, the number of shares of each class or series of capital stock of the Corporation beneficially owned by such beneficial owner as of a recent date, the legal structure of such beneficial owner, a statement as to whether such beneficial owner is a U.S. Citizen, and such other information and documents required by the U.S. Coast Guard or the U.S. Maritime Administration under the U.S. Maritime Laws, including 46 C.F.R. Parts 67 and 355;

 

(iii) promptly upon request by the Corporation, any beneficial owner must provide to the Corporation a written statement or an affidavit, as specified by the Corporation, duly signed, stating the name and address of such beneficial owner, together with reasonable documentation of the date and time of such beneficial owner’s acquisition of beneficial ownership of the shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation specified by the Corporation in its request;

 

(iv) promptly after becoming a beneficial owner, every beneficial owner must provide, or authorize such beneficial owner’s broker, dealer, custodian, depositary, nominee or similar agent with respect to the shares of each class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock beneficially owned by such beneficial owner to provide, to the Corporation such beneficial owner’s address and other contact information as may be requested by the Corporation; and

 

(v) every beneficial owner must provide to the Corporation, at any time such beneficial owner ceases to be a U.S. Citizen, as promptly as practicable but in no event less than five business days after the date such beneficial owner becomes aware that it has ceased to be a U.S. Citizen, a written statement, duly signed, stating the name and address of the beneficial owner, the number of shares of each class or series of capital stock of the Corporation beneficially owned by such beneficial owner as of a recent date, the legal structure of such beneficial owner, and a statement as to such change in status of such beneficial owner to a Non-U.S. Citizen.

 

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(b) The Corporation may at any time require reasonable proof, in addition to the Citizenship Statements certifications required under ‎Section 5.4(b) and the written statements and affidavits required under ‎Section 5.8(a), of the citizenship of the beneficial owner or the transferee or proposed or purported transferee of shares of any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock.

 

(c) In the event that (i) the Corporation requests in writing (in which express reference is made to this ‎Section 5.8) from a beneficial owner of shares of any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock a Citizenship Statement, and (ii) such beneficial owner fails to provide the Corporation with the requested documentation by the date set forth in such written request, then, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law: (A)(x) the voting rights of such beneficial owner’s shares of the Corporation’s capital stock shall be suspended, and (y) any dividends or other distributions (upon liquidation or otherwise) with respect to such shares shall be paid into a segregated account, until such requested documentation is submitted in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation, subject to the other provisions of this Article V; provided, however , that the Corporation shall have the power, in its sole discretion, to extend the date by which such requested documentation must be provided and/or to waive the application of sub-clauses (x) and/or (y) of this clause (ii)(A) to any of the shares of such beneficial owner in any particular instance; and (B) the Corporation, upon approval by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, shall have the power to treat such beneficial owner as a Non-U.S. Citizen unless and until the Corporation receives the requested documentation confirming that such beneficial owner is a U.S. Citizen.

 

(d) In the event that (i) the Corporation requests in writing (in which express reference is made to this ‎Section 5.8) from the transferee or proposed or purported transferee) of, shares of any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock a Citizenship Statement, and (ii) such Person fails to submit the requested documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation, subject to the other provisions of this ‎Article V, by the date set forth in such written request, the Corporation, acting through its Board of Directors, shall have the power, in its sole discretion, (i) to refuse to accept any application to transfer ownership of such shares (if any) or to register such shares on the stock transfer records of the Corporation and may prohibit and/or void such transfer, including by placing a stop order with the Corporation’s transfer agent (if any), until such requested documentation is so submitted and the Corporation is satisfied that the proposed or purported transfer of shares will not result in Excess Shares, and (ii) to treat shares held by such Person as Excess Shares subject to the provisions of this Article V and the remedies provided for herein.

 

Section 5.09. Severability. Each provision of this ‎Article V is intended to be severable from every other provision. If any one or more of the provisions contained in this ‎Article V is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision of this ‎Article V shall not be affected, and this ‎Article V shall be construed as if the provisions held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable had never been contained herein.

 

  - 14 -  

 

 

Section 5.10. NYSE American Transactions. Nothing in this ‎Article V shall preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of NYSE American LLC or any other National Securities Exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system for so long as any class or series of the capital stock of the Corporation is listed on the NYSE American or any other National Securities Exchange. The fact that the settlement of any transaction occurs shall not negate the effect of any provision of this ‎Article V and any transferee in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the provisions and limitations set forth in this ‎Article V (including, without limitation, the redemption provisions of ‎Section 5.06 applicable to Excess Shares).

 

Section 5.11. Authority of the Board of Directors with Respect to the Corporation’s Compliance with U.S. Maritime Laws . The Board of Directors may from time to time establish, adopt, or revise by resolution and publicly disclose with respect to any class, classes, or series of Capital Stock any (a) ownership presumption or fair inference rule, (b) rule relating to the determination of which Persons are Beneficial Owners or the determination of a Person’s address or status as a U.S. Citizen, or (c) other comparable policy or procedure that the Board of Directors determines in good faith is necessary or advisable for the Corporation to adopt in order to satisfy and demonstrate compliance with the U.S. Maritime Laws and that is in addition or supplemental to the provisions of this Article V. The Board of Directors shall from time to time by resolution establish and implement appropriate and timely monitoring, counting and related procedures and protocols to facilitate compliance with the U.S. Maritime Laws. The actions and resolutions of the Board of Directors referred to in this Section 5.11 mean those taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors duly convened at which a quorum is present as provided in the DGCL and the Bylaws.

 

Section 5.12. Applicability. The provisions of this Article V shall apply so long as the operations of the Corporation are subject to the U.S. Maritime Laws.

 

ARTICLE VI
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 6.1. Board Powers . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon the Board by statute, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws of the Corporation (“ Bylaws ”), the Board is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, and any Bylaws adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.

 

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Section 6.2. Number, Election and Term .

 

(a) Subject to the rights of any holder of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors and the rights granted pursuant to the terms of the Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2018 (as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Investor Rights Agreement ”), by and among the Corporation, JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ JFL Seller ”), and J.F. Lehman & Company, LLC (“ JFLCO ,” and, together with JFL Seller and each of its respective affiliates, subsidiaries and managed funds and its and their successors and assigns (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries), collectively, “ JFL ”), the number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board shall be the number from time to time fixed by resolution of the Board and which shall be, upon initial filing of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, eight.

 

(b) Subject to Section 6.5, the Board shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible and designated Class I, Class II, and Class III. The Board is authorized to assign the members of the Board already in office to Class I, Class II or Class III. The term of the initial Class I Directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, the term of the initial Class II Directors shall expire at the second annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, and the term of the initial Class III Directors shall expire at the third annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate. At each succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, beginning with the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, each of the successors elected to replace the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a three-year term. Subject to Section 6.5, if the number of directors that constitutes the Board is changed, any increase or decrease in directorships shall be apportioned by the Board among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shorten the term of any incumbent director. Subject to the rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors pursuant to the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock, the election of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. The Board is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions thereof, to assign members of the Board already in office to the aforesaid classes at the time this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (and therefore such classification) becomes effective in accordance with the DGCL.

 

(c) Subject to Section 6.5, a director shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

 

(d) Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights.

 

  - 16 -  

 

 

Section 6.3. Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies . Subject to Section 6.5, newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause may be filled solely and exclusively by a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by stockholders), and any director so chosen shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors to which the new directorship was added or in which the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal; provided that for so long as JFL maintains beneficial ownership, in the aggregate, of (x) at least 10% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause may be filled solely and exclusively in accordance with the Investor Rights Agreement. For the purposes of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, beneficial ownership of shares shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Section 6.4. Removal . Subject to Section 6.5 and the rights granted to JFL under the Investor Rights Agreement, any or all of the directors may be removed at any time either with or without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power of all outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting as a single class provided , however , that at any time when JFL beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 50% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any such director or all such directors may be removed from office only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

Section 6.5. Preferred Stock - Directors. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article VI, and except as otherwise required by law, whenever the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect one or more directors, the term of office, the filling of vacancies, the removal from office and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of such series of the Preferred Stock as set forth in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) and such directors shall not be included in any of the classes created pursuant to this Article VI unless expressly provided by such terms.

 

Section 6.6. U.S. Citizenship Requirement for Directors. So long as the Corporation is subject to the U.S. Maritime Laws, no more than a minority of the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors (or the portion thereof as the Board of Directors may determine to be necessary under U.S. Maritime Laws in order for the Corporation to continue as a U.S. Citizen) shall be Non-U.S. Citizens.

 

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ARTICLE VII
BYLAWS

 

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the power and is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors present at a regular or special meeting of the Board at which there is a quorum or by unanimous written consent. The Bylaws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), (i) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders of the Corporation to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws for so long as JFL beneficially owns, in the aggregate, at least 10% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (ii) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders of the Corporation to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws for so long as JFL beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 10% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; and provided further, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.

 

ARTICLE VIII
SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS; ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT

 

Section 8.1. Special Meetings . Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time only by or at the direction of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Chairman of the Board; provided , however , that at any time when JFL beneficially owns, in the aggregate, at least 50% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes shall also be promptly called by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board upon the written request of JFL.

 

Section 8.2. Advance Notice . Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

 

Section 8.3. Action by Written Consent . Except as may be otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) relating to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected by a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

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ARTICLE IX
LIMITED LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 9.1. Limitation of Director Liability . A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended unless a director violated its duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived improper personal benefit from its actions as a director. Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.

 

Section 9.2. Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses .

 

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who is or was made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “ proceeding ”) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “ indemnitee ”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with such proceeding. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this ‎ Section 9.2 or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this ‎Section 9.2 shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this ‎Section 9.2(a) , except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to an indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.

 

(b) The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred on any indemnitee by this ‎Section 9.2 shall not be exclusive of any other rights that any indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under law, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, the Bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

 

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(c) Any repeal or amendment of this ‎Section 9.2 by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate inconsistent with this ‎ Section 9.2 , shall, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision in respect of any proceeding (regardless of when such proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) arising out of, or related to, any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.

 

(d) This ‎ Section 9.2 shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than indemnitees.

 

ARTICLE X
CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY

 

To the fullest extent of law, the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, renounces and waives any interest or expectancy of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, directly or indirectly, any potential transactions, matters or business opportunities (including, without limitation, any business activities or lines of business that are the same as or similar to those pursued by, or competitive with, the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or any dealings with customers or clients of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries) that are from time to time presented to JFL or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, stockholders, members, partners, affiliates or subsidiaries (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries), even if the transaction, matter or opportunity is one that the Corporation or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so. None of JFL nor any of its respective officers, directors, employees, agents, stockholders, members, partners, affiliates or subsidiaries shall be liable to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such person pursues, acquires or participates in such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Corporation or its subsidiaries, unless, in the case of any such person who is a director or officer of the Corporation, such business opportunity is expressly offered to such director or officer in writing solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation. Without limiting and in addition to the foregoing, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any other analogous doctrine, shall not apply with respect to the Corporation or any of its officers or directors in circumstances where the application of any such doctrine to a corporate opportunity would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they or it may have as of the date of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or in the future. In addition to and without limiting the foregoing, the doctrine of corporate opportunity shall not apply to any other corporate opportunity with respect to any of the officers or directors of the Corporation unless such corporate opportunity is offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Corporation and such opportunity is one the Corporation is financially able and legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for the Corporation to pursue.

 

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This ARTICLE X shall not limit any protections or defenses available to, or indemnification or advancement rights of, any director or officer of the Corporation under this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, the Bylaws of the Corporation, applicable law, any agreement or otherwise.

 

ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENT OF SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE
OF INCORPORATION

 

The Corporation reserves the right at any time and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force that may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate and the DGCL; and, except as set forth in ‎ARTICLE IX , all rights, preferences and privileges of whatever nature herein conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this ‎ ARTICLE XI ; provided that notwithstanding any other provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, and in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of the stock of this Corporation required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), (i) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter, change or repeal or adopt any provision as part of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate inconsistent with the purpose and intent of this ARTICLE XI, ARTICLE VI, ARTICLE VII, ARTICLE IX or ARTICLE X for so long as JFL beneficially owns, in the aggregate, at least 10% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (ii) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter, change or repeal or adopt any provision as part of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate inconsistent with the purpose and intent of this ARTICLE XI, ARTICLE VI, ARTICLE VII, ARTICLE IX or ARTICLE X for so long as JFL beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 10% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

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ARTICLE XII
Exclusive forum for certain lawsuits

 

Section 12.1. Forum . Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws, or (d) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (a) through (d) above, any claim as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction.

 

Section 12.2. Consent to Jurisdiction . If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of ‎ Section 12.1 immediately above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “ Foreign Action ”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (a) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce ‎ Section 12.1 immediately above (an “ FSC Enforcement Action ”) and (b) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

 

ARTICLE XIII
SEVERABILITY

 

If any provision or provisions (or any part thereof) of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person, entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and (b) the provisions of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Second Amended and Restated Certificate to be duly executed and acknowledged in its name and on its behalf by an authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.

 

  By: /s/ Daniel J. Hennessy
    Name: Daniel J. Hennessy
    Title: Chairman of the Board and
      Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS  

OF 

NRC group holdings corp. 

(THE “CORPORATION”) 

(Amended and Restated October 17, 2018)

 

Article I
OFFICES

 

Section 1.1. Registered Office . The registered office of the Corporation within the State of Delaware shall be located at either (a) the principal place of business of the Corporation in the State of Delaware or (b) the office of the corporation or individual acting as the Corporation’s registered agent in Delaware.

 

Section 1.2. Additional Offices . The Corporation may, in addition to its registered office in the State of Delaware, have such other offices and places of business, both within and outside the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”) may from time to time determine or as the business and affairs of the Corporation may require.

 

Article II
STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS

 

Section 2.1. Annual Meetings . The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware and time and on such date as shall be determined by the Board and stated in the notice of the meeting, provided that the Board may in its sole discretion determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 9.5(a) . At each annual meeting, the stockholders entitled to vote on such matters shall elect those directors of the Corporation to fill any term of a directorship that expires on the date of such annual meeting and may transact any other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

 

Section 2.2. Special Meetings . Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the preferred stock of the Corporation (“ Preferred Stock ”), and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time only by or at the direction of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Chairman of the Board; provided, however, that at any time when JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ JFL Seller ”), and J.F. Lehman & Company, LLC (“ JFLCO ”) and each of its respective affiliates, subsidiaries and managed funds and its and their successors and assigns (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries) (collectively with JFL Seller and JFLCO, “ JFL ”) beneficially owns, in the aggregate, at least 50% in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes shall also be promptly called by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board upon the written request of JFL. For the purposes of these Bylaws, beneficial ownership of shares shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”). Special meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such and time and on such date as shall be determined by the Board and stated in the Corporation’s notice of the meeting, provided that the Board may in its sole discretion determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 9.5(a).

 

 

 

  

Section 2.3. Notices. Written notice of each stockholders meeting stating the place, if any, date, and time of the meeting, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting and the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, shall be given in the manner permitted by Section 9.3 to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, by the Corporation not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting unless otherwise required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”). If said notice is for a stockholders meeting other than an annual meeting, it shall in addition state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, and the business transacted at such meeting shall be limited to the matters so stated in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto). Any meeting of stockholders as to which notice has been given may be postponed, and any meeting of stockholders as to which notice has been given may be cancelled, by the Board upon public announcement (as defined in Section 2.7(c) ) given before the date previously scheduled for such meeting.

 

Section 2.4. Quorum . Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Corporation’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as the same may be amended or restated from time to time (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”) or these Bylaws, the presence, in person or by proxy, at a stockholders meeting of the holders of shares of outstanding capital stock of the Corporation representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, except that when specified business is to be voted on by a class or series of stock voting as a class, the holders of shares representing a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series shall constitute a quorum of such class or series for the transaction of such business. If a quorum shall not be present or represented by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 2.6 until a quorum shall attend. The stockholders present at a duly convened meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum. Shares of its own stock belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any such other corporation to vote shares held by it in a fiduciary capacity.

 

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Section 2.5. Voting of Shares .

 

(a) Voting Lists . The Secretary of the Corporation (the “ Secretary ”) shall prepare, or shall cause the officer or agent who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation to prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders of record entitled to vote at such meeting; provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than 10 days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address and the number and class of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Nothing contained in this Section 2.5(a) shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If a meeting of stockholders is to be held solely by means of remote communication as permitted by Section 9.5(a) , the list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of meeting. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list required by this Section 2.5(a) or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

(b) Manner of Voting . At any stockholders meeting, every stockholder entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy. If authorized by the Board, the voting by stockholders or proxy holders at any meeting conducted by remote communication may be effected by a ballot submitted by electronic transmission (as defined in Section 9.3 ), provided that any such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which the Corporation can determine that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder or proxy holder. The Board, in its discretion, or the chairman of the meeting of stockholders, in such person’s discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.

 

(c) Proxies . Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. Proxies need not be filed with the Secretary until the meeting is called to order, but shall be filed with the Secretary before being voted. Without limiting the manner in which a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy, either of the following shall constitute a valid means by which a stockholder may grant such authority. No stockholder shall have cumulative voting rights.

 

(i) A stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy. Execution may be accomplished by the stockholder or such stockholder’s authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing such person’s signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means, including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature.

 

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(ii) A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of an electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission authorizing another person or persons to act as proxy for a stockholder may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used; provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.

 

(d) Required Vote . Subject to the rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors pursuant to the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock, at all meetings of stockholders at which a quorum is present, the election of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. All other matters presented to the stockholders at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon, unless the matter is one upon which, by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or applicable stock exchange rules, a different vote is required, in which case such provision shall govern and control the decision of such matter.

 

(e) Inspectors of Election . The Board may, and shall if required by law, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, designate one or more persons as inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation or otherwise serve the Corporation in other capacities, to act at such meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof. The Board may appoint one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspectors of election or alternates are appointed by the Board, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before discharging his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall ascertain and report the number of outstanding shares and the voting power of each; determine the number of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots; count all votes and ballots and report the results; determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors; and certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election. Each report of an inspector shall be in writing and signed by the inspector or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors.

 

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Section 2.6. Adjournments . Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned by the chairman of the meeting, from time to time, whether or not there is a quorum, to reconvene at the same or some other place. Notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the date, time, and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the stockholders, or the holders of any class or series of stock entitled to vote separately as a class, as the case may be, may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 9.2 , and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

 

Section 2.7. Advance Notice for Business .

 

(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders . No business may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders, other than business that is either (i) specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board, (ii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by any stockholder of the Corporation (x) who is a stockholder of record entitled to vote at such annual meeting on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 2.7(a) and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such annual meeting and (y) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.7(a). Notwithstanding anything in this ‎‎‎ Section 2.7(a) to the contrary, only persons nominated for election as a director to fill any term of a directorship that expires on the date of the annual meeting pursuant to Section 3.2 will be considered for election at such meeting.

 

(i) In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business (other than nominations) to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary and such business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action. Subject to Section 2.7(a)(iii) , a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary with respect to such business, to be timely, must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the opening of business on the 120th day before the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received no earlier than the opening of business on the 120th day before the meeting and not later than the later of (x) the close of business on the 90th day before the meeting or (y) the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting is first made by the Corporation. The public announcement of an adjournment of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described in this Section 2.7(a) .

 

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(ii) To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary with respect to any business (other than nominations) must set forth as to each such matter such stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment) and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (B) the name and record address of such stockholder and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (C) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (D) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder, (E) any material interest of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made in such business and (F) a representation that such stockholder (or a qualified representative of such stockholder) intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before the meeting.

 

(iii) The foregoing notice requirements of this ‎‎‎ Section 2.7(a) shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder as to any proposal (other than nominations) if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of such stockholder’s intention to present such proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) of the Exchange Act, and such stockholder has complied with the requirements of such rule for inclusion of such proposal in a proxy statement prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. No business shall be conducted at the annual meeting of stockholders except business brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this ‎‎‎ Section 2.7(a) , provided, however, that once business has been properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with such procedures, nothing in this ‎‎ Section 2.7(a) shall be deemed to preclude discussion by any stockholder of any such business. If the Board or the chairman of the annual meeting determines that any stockholder proposal was not made in accordance with the provisions of this ‎‎ Section 2.7(a) or that the information provided in a stockholder’s notice does not satisfy the information requirements of this ‎‎ Section 2.7(a) , such proposal shall not be presented for action at the annual meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this ‎‎ Section 2.7(a) , if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present the proposed business, such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such matter may have been received by the Corporation.

 

(iv) In addition to the provisions of this ‎‎ Section 2.7(a) , a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth herein. Nothing in this ‎‎ Section 2.7(a) shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

 

(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders . Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting only pursuant to Section 3.2 .

 

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(c) Public Announcement . For purposes of these Bylaws, “ public announcement ” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (or any successor thereto).

 

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.7, for as long as the Investor Rights Agreement remains in effect, JFL shall not be subject to the notice and other requirements set forth in this Section 2.7 with respect to any annual or special meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 2.8. Conduct of Meetings . The chairman of each annual and special meeting of stockholders shall be the Chairman of the Board or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer (if he or she shall be a director) or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act of the Chief Executive Officer or if the Chief Executive Officer is not a director, the President (if he or she shall be a director) or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the President or if the President is not a director, such other person as shall be appointed by the Board. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the chairman of the meeting. The Board may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with these Bylaws or such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and to adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (c) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (d) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (e) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure. The secretary of each annual and special meeting of stockholders shall be the Secretary or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary so appointed to act by the chairman of the meeting. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary and all Assistant Secretaries, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

Section 2.9. Consents in Lieu of Meeting . Except as may be otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation relating to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected by a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

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Article III
DIRECTORS

 

Section 3.1. Powers . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders. Directors need not be stockholders or residents of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 3.2. Advance Notice for Nomination of Directors .

 

(a) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for election as directors of the Corporation, except as may be otherwise provided by the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock with respect to the rights of holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors or as contemplated by and pursuant to the terms of the Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2018 (as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Investor Rights Agreement ”), by and among the Corporation, JFL Seller and JFLCO. Nominations of persons for election to the Board at any annual meeting of stockholders, or at any special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors as set forth in the Corporation’s notice of such special meeting, may be made (i) by or at the direction of the Board or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation (x) who is a stockholder of record entitled to vote in the election of directors on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 3.2 and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting and (y) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 3.2 .

 

(b) In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination to be made by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (i) in the case of an annual meeting, not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the opening of business on the 120th day before the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received no earlier than the opening of business on the 120th day before the meeting and not later than the later of (x) the close of business on the 90th day before the meeting or (y) the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting was first made by the Corporation; and (ii) in the case of a special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the special meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described in this Section 3.2 .

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything in Section 3.2(b) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board at an annual meeting is greater than the number of directors whose terms expire on the date of the annual meeting and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for the additional directors to be elected or specifying the size of the increased Board before the close of business on the 90th day prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 3.2 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships created by such increase that are to be filled by election at such annual meeting, if it shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which such public announcement was first made by the Corporation.

 

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(d) To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth (i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of the person, (B) the principal occupation or employment of the person, (C) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially or of record by the person and (D) any other information relating to the person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (ii) as to the stockholder giving the notice (A) the name and record address of such stockholder as they appear on the Corporation’s books and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, (B) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, (C) a description of all arrangements or understandings relating to the nomination to be made by such stockholder among such stockholder, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, each proposed nominee and any other person or persons (including their names), (D) a representation that such stockholder (or a qualified representative of such stockholder) intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the persons named in its notice and (E) any other information relating to such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Such notice must be accompanied by a written consent of each proposed nominee to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected.

 

(e) If the Board or the chairman of the meeting of stockholders determines that any nomination was not made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.2 , or that the information provided in a stockholder’s notice does not satisfy the information requirements of this Section 3.2 , then such nomination shall not be considered at the meeting in question. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.2 , if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present the nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nomination may have been received by the Corporation.

 

(f) In addition to the provisions of this Section 3.2 , a stockholder shall also comply with all of the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth herein. Nothing in this Section 3.2 shall be deemed to affect any rights of the holders of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 3.2, for as long as the Investor Rights Agreement remains in effect, none of JFL nor any JFL Director (as defined in the Investor Rights Agreement) shall be subject to the notice and other requirements and procedures set forth in this Section 3.2 with respect to any annual or special meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 3.3. Compensation . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. The directors may be reimbursed their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board, including for service on a committee of the Board, and may be paid either a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board or other compensation as director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of committees of the Board may be allowed like compensation and reimbursement of expenses for service on the committee.

 

Section 3.4. U.S. Citizenship Requirement for Directors. So long as the Corporation is subject to the U.S. Maritime Laws, no more than a minority of the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors (or the portion thereof as the Board of Directors may determine to be necessary under U.S. Maritime Laws in order for the Corporation to continue as a U.S. Citizen) shall be Non-U.S. Citizens.

 

Article IV
BOARD MEETINGS

 

Section 4.1. Annual Meetings . The Board shall meet as soon as practicable after the adjournment of each annual stockholders meeting at the place of the annual stockholders meeting unless the Board shall fix another time and place and give notice thereof in the manner required herein for special meetings of the Board. No notice to the directors shall be necessary to legally convene this meeting, except as provided in this Section 4.1 .

 

Section 4.2. Regular Meetings . Regularly scheduled, periodic meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such times, dates and places (within or without the State of Delaware) as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.

 

Section 4.3. Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board (a) may be called by the Chairman of the Board or President and (b) shall be called by the Chairman of the Board, President or Secretary on the written request of at least a majority of directors then in office, or the sole director, as the case may be, and shall be held at such time, date and place (within or without the State of Delaware) as may be determined by the person calling the meeting or, if called upon the request of directors or the sole director, as specified in such written request. Notice of each special meeting of the Board shall be given, as provided in Section 9.3 , to each director (i) at least 24 hours before the meeting if such notice is oral notice given personally or by telephone or written notice given by hand delivery or by means of a form of electronic transmission and delivery; (ii) at least two days before the meeting if such notice is sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service; and (iii) at least five days before the meeting if such notice is sent through the United States mail. If the Secretary shall fail or refuse to give such notice, then the notice may be given by the officer who called the meeting or the directors who requested the meeting. Any and all business that may be transacted at a regular meeting of the Board may be transacted at a special meeting. Except as may be otherwise expressly provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting. A special meeting may be held at any time without notice if all the directors are present or if those not present waive notice of the meeting in accordance with Section 9.4 .

 

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Section 4.4. Quorum; Required Vote . A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board, and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.

 

Section 4.5. Consent In Lieu of Meeting . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions (or paper reproductions thereof) are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

Section 4.6. Organization . The chairman of each meeting of the Board shall be the Chairman of the Board or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer (if he or she shall be a director) or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chief Executive Officer or if the Chief Executive Officer is not a director, the President (if he or she shall be a director) or in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the President or if the President is not a director, a chairman elected from the directors present. The Secretary shall act as secretary of all meetings of the Board. The Chairman of the Board (if one has been appointed) and any person acting in the absence or disability of the Chairman of the Board shall be a U.S. Citizen. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of the Secretary at such meeting. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary and all Assistant Secretaries, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

Article V
COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 5.1. Establishment . The Board may by resolution passed by a majority of the Board designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required. The Board shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to dissolve any such committee.

 

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Section 5.2. U.S. Citizenship of Executive Committee Members . No more than a minority of the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum of any committee of the Board of Directors (or such other portion thereof as the Board of Directors may determine to be necessary under U.S. Maritime Laws in order for the Corporation to continue as a U.S. Citizen) with executive power and authority, which for the sake of clarity excludes the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (such committee or other portion of the Board of Directors being an “ Executive Committee ”), shall be Non-U.S. Citizens. The chairman of any Executive Committee of the Board of Directors and any other person who chairs a meeting of any Executive Committee of the Board of Directors shall be a U.S. Citizen.

 

Section 5.3. Available Powers . Any committee established pursuant to Section 5.1 , to the extent permitted by applicable law and by resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise all of the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it.

 

Section 5.4. Alternate Members . The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.

 

Section 5.5. Procedures . Unless the Board otherwise provides, the time, date, place, if any, and notice of meetings of a committee shall be determined by such committee. At meetings of a committee, a majority of the number of members of the committee (but not including any alternate member, unless such alternate member has replaced any absent or disqualified member at the time of, or in connection with, such meeting) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The act of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee, except as otherwise specifically provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or the Board. If a quorum is not present at a meeting of a committee, the members present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than an announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present. Unless the Board otherwise provides and except as provided in these Bylaws, each committee designated by the Board may make, alter, amend and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board is authorized to conduct its business pursuant to Article III and Article IV of these Bylaws.

 

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Article VI
OFFICERS

 

Section 6.1. Officers . The officers of the Corporation elected by the Board shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, a Secretary and such other officers (including without limitation, an executive Chairman of the Board, President, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers) as the Board from time to time may determine. Officers elected by the Board shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article VI or such other authority as may be specifically conferred by the Board upon such election. Such officers shall also have such other powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board. The Chief Executive Officer or President may also appoint such other officers (including without limitation one or more Vice Presidents and Controllers) as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Corporation. Such other officers shall have such powers and duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as may be provided in these Bylaws or as may be prescribed by the Board or, if such officer has been appointed by the Chief Executive Officer or President, as may be prescribed by the appointing officer.

 

(a) Chairman of the Board . The Board of Directors may appoint a Chairman of the Board. If the Board of Directors appoints a Chairman of the Board, he or she shall perform such duties and possess such powers as are assigned to him by the Board of Directors, including as an officer of the Corporation if so designated. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, he or she shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board must be a director of the Corporation. The powers and duties of the Chairman of the Board shall not include supervision or control of the preparation of the financial statements of the Corporation (other than through participation as a member of the Board). The position of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer may be held by the same person. The Chairman of the Board shall be a U.S. Citizen.

 

(b) Chief Executive Officer . The Chief Executive Officer shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Corporation and general control of all of its business subject to the ultimate authority of the Board, and shall be responsible for the execution of the policies of the Board with respect to such matters, except to the extent any such powers and duties have been prescribed to the Chairman of the Board pursuant to Section 6.1(a) above. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer (if he or she shall be a director) shall preside when present at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board. The position of Chief Executive Officer and President may be held by the same person. The Chief Executive Officer (by whatever title) shall be a U.S. Citizen.

 

(c) President . The President shall make recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer on all operational matters that would normally be reserved for the final executive responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, the President (if he or she shall be a director) shall preside when present at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board. The President shall also perform such duties and have such powers as shall be designated by the Board. The position of President and Chief Executive Officer may be held by the same person. If no Chief Executive Officer has been appointed, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer and shall be a U.S. Citizen.

 

(d) Vice Presidents . In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the President, the Vice President (or in the event there be more than one Vice President, the Vice Presidents in the order designated by the Board) shall perform the duties and have the powers of the President provided, however , that no Vice President who is a Non-U.S. Citizen shall have any authority or power, or be authorized to perform the duties, of the Chief Executive Officer in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chief Executive Officer. Any one or more of the Vice Presidents may be given an additional designation of rank or function.

 

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(e) Secretary .

 

(i) The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the stockholders, the Board and (as required) committees of the Board and shall record the proceedings of such meetings in books to be kept for that purpose. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President. The Secretary shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Corporation and the Secretary, or any Assistant Secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it, and when so affixed, it may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such Assistant Secretary. The Board may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing thereof by his or her signature.

 

(ii) The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at the office of the Corporation’s transfer agent or registrar, if one has been appointed, a stock ledger, or duplicate stock ledger, showing the names of the stockholders and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each and, with respect to certificated shares, the number and date of certificates issued for the same and the number and date of certificates cancelled.

 

(f) Assistant Secretaries . The Assistant Secretary or, if there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board shall, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary, perform the duties and have the powers of the Secretary.

 

(g) Chief Financial Officer . The Chief Financial Officer shall perform all duties commonly incident to that office (including, without limitation, the care and custody of the funds and securities of the Corporation, which from time to time may come into the Chief Financial Officer’s hands and the deposit of the funds of the Corporation in such banks or trust companies as the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President may authorize).

 

(h) Treasurer . The Treasurer shall, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chief Financial Officer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chief Financial Officer.

 

Section 6.2. Term of Office; Removal; Vacancies . The elected officers of the Corporation shall be appointed by the Board and shall hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualified by the Board or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, or removal from office. Any officer may be removed, with or without cause, at any time by the Board. Any officer appointed by the Chief Executive Officer or President may also be removed, with or without cause, by the Chief Executive Officer or President, as the case may be, unless the Board otherwise provides. Any vacancy occurring in any elected office of the Corporation may be filled by the Board. Any vacancy occurring in any office appointed by the Chief Executive Officer or President may be filled by the Chief Executive Officer, or President, as the case may be, unless the Board then determines that such office shall thereupon be elected by the Board, in which case the Board shall elect such officer.

 

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Section 6.3. Other Officers . The Board may delegate the power to appoint such other officers and agents, and may also remove such officers and agents or delegate the power to remove same, as it shall from time to time deem necessary or desirable.

 

Section 6.4. Multiple Officeholders; Stockholder and Director Officers . Any number of offices may be held by the same person unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws otherwise provide. Officers need not be stockholders or residents of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 6.5. Citizenship Restriction on Delegation of Authority, Power and Duties. No person who is a Non-U.S. Citizen may exercise or be delegated any authority, power or duties of the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer (by whatever title).

 

Article VII
SHARES

 

Section 7.1. Certificated and Uncertificated Shares . The shares of the Corporation may be certificated or uncertificated, subject to the sole discretion of the Board and the requirements of the DGCL.

 

Section 7.2. Multiple Classes of Stock . If the Corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the Corporation shall (a) cause the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights to be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of any certificate that the Corporation issues to represent shares of such class or series of stock or (b) in the case of uncertificated shares, within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of such shares, send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth on certificates as specified in clause (a) above; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided by applicable law, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of such certificate or, in the case of uncertificated shares, on such written notice a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences or rights.

 

Section 7.3. Signatures . Each certificate representing capital stock of the Corporation shall be signed by or in the name of the Corporation by (a) the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President and (b) the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation. Any or all the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, such certificate may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar on the date of issue.

 

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Section 7.4. Consideration and Payment for Shares .

 

(a) Subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation, shares of stock may be issued for such consideration, having in the case of shares with par value a value not less than the par value thereof, and to such persons, as determined from time to time by the Board. The consideration may consist of any tangible or intangible property or any benefit to the Corporation including cash, promissory notes, services performed, contracts for services to be performed or other securities, or any combination thereof.

 

(b) Subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation, shares may not be issued until the full amount of the consideration has been paid, unless upon the face or back of each certificate issued to represent any partly paid shares of capital stock or upon the books and records of the Corporation in the case of partly paid uncertificated shares, there shall have been set forth the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon up to and including the time said certificate representing certificated shares or said uncertificated shares are issued.

 

Section 7.5. Lost, Destroyed or Wrongfully Taken Certificates .

 

(a) If an owner of a certificate representing shares claims that such certificate has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Corporation shall issue a new certificate representing such shares or such shares in uncertificated form if the owner: (i) requests such a new certificate before the Corporation has notice that the certificate representing such shares has been acquired by a protected purchaser; (ii) if requested by the Corporation, delivers to the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, wrongful taking or destruction of such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares; and (iii) satisfies other reasonable requirements imposed by the Corporation.

 

(b) If a certificate representing shares has been lost, apparently destroyed or wrongfully taken, and the owner fails to notify the Corporation of that fact within a reasonable time after the owner has notice of such loss, apparent destruction or wrongful taking and the Corporation registers a transfer of such shares before receiving notification, the owner shall be precluded from asserting against the Corporation any claim for registering such transfer or a claim to a new certificate representing such shares or such shares in uncertificated form.

 

Section 7.6. Dual Share System.

 

(a) If the Board of Directors has determined pursuant to the Article V (Compliance with U.S. Maritime Laws) of the Certificate of Incorporation to use a dual share system, the Company shall instruct its transfer agent to maintain two separate stock records for each class or series of its capital stock: (i) a record of shares owned by U.S. Citizens; and (ii) a record of shares owned by Non-U.S. Citizens.

 

(b) Certificates and/or book entries (in the case of uncertificated shares) representing shares of each class or series of the capital stock of the Company shall be marked either “U.S. Citizen” or “Non-U.S. Citizen”, but shall be identical in all other respects. Shares owned by U.S. Citizens shall be represented by U.S. Citizen certificates and/or book entries, and shares owned by Non-U.S. Citizens shall be represented by Non-U.S. Citizen certificates and/or book entries. Whether shares are owned by U.S. Citizens or by Non-U.S. Citizens shall be determined in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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Section 7.7. Transfer of Stock .

 

(a) If a certificate representing shares of the Corporation is presented to the Corporation with an endorsement requesting the registration of transfer of such shares or an instruction is presented to the Corporation requesting the registration of transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall register the transfer as requested if:

 

(i) in the case of certificated shares, the certificate representing such shares has been surrendered;

 

(ii) (A) with respect to certificated shares, the endorsement is made by the person specified by the certificate as entitled to such shares; (B) with respect to uncertificated shares, an instruction is made by the registered owner of such uncertificated shares; or (C) with respect to certificated shares or uncertificated shares, the endorsement or instruction is made by any other appropriate person or by an agent who has actual authority to act on behalf of the appropriate person;

 

(iii) the Corporation has received a guarantee of signature of the person signing such endorsement or instruction or such other reasonable assurance that the endorsement or instruction is genuine and authorized as the Corporation may request;

 

(iv) the transfer does not violate (A) any provision of Article V (Compliance with U.S. Maritime Laws) of the Certificate of Incorporation or (B) any other restriction on transfer imposed by the Corporation that is enforceable in accordance with Section 7.9(a) ; and

 

(v) such other conditions for such transfer as shall be provided for under applicable law have been satisfied.

 

(b) Whenever any transfer of shares shall be made for collateral security and not absolutely, the Corporation shall so record such fact in the entry of transfer if, when the certificate for such shares is presented to the Corporation for transfer or, if such shares are uncertificated, when the instruction for registration of transfer thereof is presented to the Corporation, both the transferor and transferee request the Corporation to do so.

 

(c) Without limiting the applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, shares of any class or series of capital stock represented by a U.S. Citizen certificate and/or book entry, or represented by a Non-U.S. Citizen certificate and/or book entry determined by the Company to be held by or on behalf of a U.S. Citizen, may not be transferred, and shares of any class or series of the capital stock of the Company may not be issued (upon original issuance), to a Non-U.S. Citizen or a holder of record that will hold such shares for or on behalf of a Non-U.S. Citizen if, upon completion of such transfer or issuance, Non-U.S. Citizens, individually or in the aggregate, will own shares of such class or series of the capital stock represented by Non-U.S. Citizen certificates and/or book entries and represented by U.S. Citizen certificates and/or book entries determined by the Company to be held by or on behalf of Non-U.S. Citizens in excess of the applicable Permitted Percentage for such class or series.

 

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Section 7.8. Registered Stockholders . Before due presentment for registration of transfer of a certificate representing shares of the Corporation or of an instruction requesting registration of transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation may treat the registered owner as the person exclusively entitled to inspect for any proper purpose the stock ledger and the other books and records of the Corporation, vote such shares, receive dividends or notifications with respect to such shares and otherwise exercise all the rights and powers of the owner of such shares, except that a person who is the beneficial owner of such shares (if held in a voting trust or by a nominee on behalf of such person) may, upon providing documentary evidence of beneficial ownership of such shares and satisfying such other conditions as are provided under applicable law, may also so inspect the books and records of the Corporation.

 

Section 7.9. Effect of the Corporation’s Restriction on Transfer .

 

(a) Subject to Section 7.9(c), a written restriction on the transfer or registration of transfer of shares of the Corporation or on the amount of shares of the Corporation that may be owned by any person or group of persons, if permitted by the DGCL and noted conspicuously on the certificate representing such shares or, in the case of uncertificated shares, contained in a notice, offering circular or prospectus sent by the Corporation to the registered owner of such shares within a reasonable time prior to or after the issuance or transfer of such shares, may be enforced against the holder of such shares or any successor or transferee of the holder including an executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or other fiduciary entrusted with like responsibility for the person or estate of the holder.

 

(b) Subject to Section 7.9(c), a restriction imposed by the Corporation on the transfer or the registration of shares of the Corporation or on the amount of shares of the Corporation that may be owned by any person or group of persons, even if otherwise lawful, is ineffective against a person without actual knowledge of such restriction unless: (i) the shares are certificated and such restriction is noted conspicuously on the certificate; or (ii) the shares are uncertificated and such restriction was contained in a notice, offering circular or prospectus sent by the Corporation to the registered owner of such shares prior to or within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of such shares.

 

(c) The provisions of Sections 7.9(a) and (b) above, shall not apply to any of the restrictions and limitations on share transfers and ownership by Non-U.S. Citizens or any other provisions set forth in Article V (Compliance with U.S. Maritime Laws) of the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 7.10. Regulations . The Board shall have power and authority to make such additional rules and regulations, subject to any applicable requirement of law, as the Board may deem necessary and appropriate with respect to the issue, transfer or registration of transfer of shares of stock or certificates representing shares. The Board may appoint one or more transfer agents or registrars and may require for the validity thereof that certificates representing shares bear the signature of any transfer agent or registrar so appointed.

 

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Article VIII
INDEMNIFICATION

  

Section 8.1. Right to Indemnification . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “ proceeding ”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “ Indemnitee ”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with such proceeding; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 8.3 with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify an Indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.

 

Section 8.2. Right to Advancement of Expenses . In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 8.1 , an Indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the Corporation to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law the expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “ advancement of expenses ”); provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such Indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon the Corporation’s receipt of an undertaking (hereinafter an “ undertaking ”), by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VIII or otherwise.

 

Section 8.3. Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit . If a claim under Section 8.1 or Section 8.2 is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 20 days, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the 8.2 Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Indemnitee shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (a) any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by an Indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (b) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “ final adjudication ”) that, the Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including a determination by its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Indemnitee, shall be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VIII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

 

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Section 8.4. Non-Exclusivity of Rights . The rights provided to any Indemnitee pursuant to this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other right, which such Indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, an agreement, a vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

 

Section 8.5. Insurance . The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.

 

Section 8.6. Indemnification of Other Persons . This Article VIII shall not limit the right of the Corporation to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Indemnitees. Without limiting the foregoing, the Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation and to any other person who is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of Indemnitees under this Article VIII .

 

Section 8.7. Amendments . Any repeal or amendment of this Article VIII by the Board or the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provision of these Bylaws inconsistent with this Article VIII , will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in applicable law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights to Indemnitees on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision; provided however, that amendments or repeals of this Article VIII shall require the affirmative vote of the stockholders holding at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation.

 

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Section 8.8. Certain Definitions . For purposes of this Article VIII , (a) references to “ other enterprise ” shall include any employee benefit plan; (b) references to “ fines ” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; (c) references to “ serving at the request of the Corporation ” shall include any service that imposes duties on, or involves services by, a person with respect to any employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and (d) a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interest of the Corporation” for purposes of Section 145 of the DGCL.

 

Section 8.9. Contract Rights . The rights provided to Indemnitees pursuant to this Article VIII shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, agent or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators.

 

Section 8.10. Severability . If any provision or provisions of this Article VIII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article VIII shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article VIII (including, without limitation, each such portion of this Article VIII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

 

Article IX
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 9.1. Place of Meetings . If the place of any meeting of stockholders, the Board or committee of the Board for which notice is required under these Bylaws is not designated in the notice of such meeting, such meeting shall be held at the principal business office of the Corporation; provided, however, if the Board has, in its sole discretion, determined that a meeting shall not be held at any place, but instead shall be held by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 9.5(a) , then such meeting shall not be held at any place.

 

Section 9.2. Fixing Record Dates .

 

(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.2(a) at the adjourned meeting.

 

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

 

Section 9.3. Means of Giving Notice .

 

(a) Notice to Directors . Whenever under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws notice is required to be given to any director, such notice shall be given either (i) in writing and sent by mail, or by a nationally recognized delivery service, (ii) by means of facsimile telecommunication or other form of electronic transmission, or (iii) by oral notice given personally or by telephone. A notice to a director will be deemed given as follows: (i) if given by hand delivery, orally, or by telephone, when actually received by the director, (ii) if sent through the United States mail, when deposited in the United States mail, with postage and fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the director at the director’s address appearing on the records of the Corporation, (iii) if sent for next day delivery by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, when deposited with such service, with fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the director at the director’s address appearing on the records of the Corporation, (iv) if sent by facsimile telecommunication, when sent to the facsimile transmission number for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation, (v) if sent by electronic mail, when sent to the electronic mail address for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation, or (vi) if sent by any other form of electronic transmission, when sent to the address, location or number (as applicable) for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation.

 

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(b) Notice to Stockholders . Whenever under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws notice is required to be given to any stockholder, such notice may be given (i) in writing and sent either by hand delivery, through the United States mail, or by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for next day delivery, or (ii) by means of a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder, to the extent permitted by, and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 232 of the DGCL. A notice to a stockholder shall be deemed given as follows: (i) if given by hand delivery, when actually received by the stockholder, (ii) if sent through the United States mail, when deposited in the United States mail, with postage and fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address appearing on the stock ledger of the Corporation, (iii) if sent for next day delivery by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, when deposited with such service, with fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address appearing on the stock ledger of the Corporation, and (iv) if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given and otherwise meeting the requirements set forth above, (A) if by facsimile transmission, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice, (B) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice, (C) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specified posting, upon the later of (1) such posting and (2) the giving of such separate notice, and (D) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. A stockholder may revoke such stockholder’s consent to receiving notice by means of electronic communication by giving written notice of such revocation to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (1) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent and (2) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or to the Corporation’s transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.

 

(c) Electronic Transmission . “ Electronic transmission ” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process, including but not limited to transmission by telex, facsimile telecommunication, electronic mail, telegram and cablegram.

 

(d) Notice to Stockholders Sharing Same Address . Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively by the Corporation to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. A stockholder may revoke such stockholder’s consent by delivering written notice of such revocation to the Corporation. Any stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Corporation within 60 days of having been given written notice by the Corporation of its intention to send such a single written notice shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice.

 

(e) Exceptions to Notice Requirements . Whenever notice is required to be given, under the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person. Any action or meeting that shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. In the event that the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such persons with whom communication is unlawful.

 

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Whenever notice is required to be given by the Corporation, under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, to any stockholder to whom (1) notice of two consecutive annual meetings of stockholders and all notices of stockholder meetings or of the taking of action by written consent of stockholders without a meeting to such stockholder during the period between such two consecutive annual meetings, or (2) all, and at least two payments (if sent by first-class mail) of dividends or interest on securities during a 12-month period, have been mailed addressed to such stockholder at such stockholder’s address as shown on the records of the Corporation and have been returned undeliverable, the giving of such notice to such stockholder shall not be required. Any action or meeting that shall be taken or held without notice to such stockholder shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. If any such stockholder shall deliver to the Corporation a written notice setting forth such stockholder’s then current address, the requirement that notice be given to such stockholder shall be reinstated. In the event that the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware, the certificate need not state that notice was not given to persons to whom notice was not required to be given pursuant to Section 230(b) of the DGCL. The exception in subsection (1) of the first sentence of this paragraph to the requirement that notice be given shall not be applicable to any notice returned as undeliverable if the notice was given by electronic transmission.

 

Section 9.4. Waiver of Notice . Whenever any notice is required to be given under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, a written waiver of such notice, signed before or after the date of such meeting by the person or persons entitled to said notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to said notice, shall be deemed equivalent to such required notice. All such waivers shall be kept with the books of the Corporation. Attendance at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a person attends for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened.

 

Section 9.5. Meeting Attendance via Remote Communication Equipment .

 

(a) Stockholder Meetings . If authorized by the Board in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board may adopt, stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting and proxy holders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication:

 

(i) participate in a meeting of stockholders; and

 

(ii) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that (A) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxy holder, (B) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxy holders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and, if entitled to vote, to vote on matters submitted to the applicable stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (C) if any stockholder or proxy holder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such votes or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.

 

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(b) Board Meetings . Unless otherwise restricted by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, members of the Board or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board or any committee thereof by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting, except where a person participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened.

 

Section 9.6. Dividends . The Board may from time to time declare, and the Corporation may pay, dividends (payable in cash, property or shares of the Corporation’s capital stock) on the Corporation’s outstanding shares of capital stock, subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 9.7. Reserves . The Board may set apart out of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve.

 

Section 9.8. Contracts and Negotiable Instruments . Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument may be executed and delivered in the name and on behalf of the Corporation by such officer or officers or other employee or employees of the Corporation as the Board may from time to time authorize. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances as the Board may determine. The Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Vice President may execute and deliver any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation. Subject to any restrictions imposed by the Board, the Chairman of the Board Chief Executive Officer, President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Vice President may delegate powers to execute and deliver any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation to other officers or employees of the Corporation under such person’s supervision and authority, it being understood, however, that any such delegation of power shall not relieve such officer of responsibility with respect to the exercise of such delegated power.

 

Section 9.9. Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board.

 

Section 9.10. Seal . The Board may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be in such form as the Board determines. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed, affixed or otherwise reproduced.

 

Section 9.11. Books and Records . The books and records of the Corporation may be kept within or outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may from time to time be designated by the Board.

 

Section 9.12. Resignation . Any director, committee member or officer may resign by giving notice thereof in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. The resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, or at the time of receipt of such notice if no time is specified or the specified time is earlier than the time of such receipt. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

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Section 9.13. Surety Bonds . Such officers, employees and agents of the Corporation (if any) as the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President or the Board may direct, from time to time, shall be bonded for the faithful performance of their duties and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of their death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in their possession or under their control belonging to the Corporation, in such amounts and by such surety companies as the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President or the Board may determine. The premiums on such bonds shall be paid by the Corporation and the bonds so furnished shall be in the custody of the Secretary.

 

Section 9.14. Securities of Other Corporations . Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents in writing and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, any Vice President or any officers authorized by the Board. Any such officer, may, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities, or to consent in writing, in the name of the Corporation as such holder, to any action by such corporation, and at any such meeting or with respect to any such consent shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed. The Board may from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.

 

Section 9.15. Definitions of Maritime Law Terms. As used in these Bylaws, the terms “Permitted Percentage”, “Non-U.S. Citizen,” “U.S. Citizen,” and “U.S. Maritime Laws” shall have the same meanings as ascribed to those terms in Article V (Compliance with U.S. Maritime Laws) of the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 9.16. Amendments . The Board shall have the power to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Board shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The Bylaws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, (i) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws at any time when J.F. Lehman & Company, LLC and its affiliates, subsidiaries and managed funds and its and their successors and assigns (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries), collectively, “ JFL ”) beneficially owns, in the aggregate, at least ten percent (10%) in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (ii) the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws at any time when JFL beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than ten percent (10%) in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

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Exhibit 3.3

 

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS,

 

PREFERENCES, RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS

 

OF

 

7.00% SERIES A CONVERTIBLE CUMULATIVE PREFERRED STOCK

 

OF

 

NRC GROUP HOLDINGS CORP.

 

(formerly known as Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III)

 

Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

 

NRC GROUP HOLDINGS CORP. (formerly known as Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III), a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), certifies that pursuant to the authority contained in Article IV of its Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”), and in accordance with the provisions of Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”), the Board of the Corporation has adopted the following resolution on October 17, 2018, creating a series of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation designated as 7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock, which resolution remains in full force and effect on the date hereof:

 

RESOLVED, that a series of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation be, and hereby is, created, and that the designation and number of shares thereof and the voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and such qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:

 

1) Designation and Amount; Ranking.

 

(a) There shall be created from the 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation authorized to be issued pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, a series of preferred stock, designated as “7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock”, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”), and the authorized number of shares of Preferred Stock shall be 1,050,000 Shares of Preferred Stock that are purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation, or that are converted into shares of Common Stock, shall be cancelled and shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock.

 

(b) The Preferred Stock, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, ranks: (i) senior to all Junior Stock; (ii) on a parity with all Parity Stock; and (iii) junior to all Senior Stock, in each case as provided more fully herein.

 

2) Definitions . As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(a) “ Accumulated Dividends ” shall mean, with respect to any share of Preferred Stock, as of any date, the aggregate accumulated and unpaid dividends, whether or not declared, on such share from the Issue Date until the most recent Dividend Payment Date on or prior to such date. There shall be no Accumulated Dividends with respect to any share of Preferred Stock prior to the Issue Date. For the avoidance of doubt, dividends that have been paid in Preferred Stock or Common Stock shall not be included in Accumulated Dividends.

 

(b) “ Affiliate ” shall have the meaning ascribed to it, on the date hereof, under Rule 144 of the Securities Act.

 

(c) “ Agent Members ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16(a).

 

 

 

 

(d) “ Approved Stock Plan ” shall mean any employee benefit plan which has been approved by the Board and the Corporation’s stockholders, pursuant to which the Corporation’s securities may be issued to any employee, officer, consultant or director for services provided to the Corporation or its Subsidiaries.

 

(e) “ Base Conversion Price ” shall mean an amount equal to $12.50.

 

(f) “ Beneficial Ownership Limitation ” shall mean, with respect to any Holder, 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Preferred Stock held by such Holder.

 

(g) “ Bloomberg ” shall mean Bloomberg Financial Markets.

 

(h) “ Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation or, with respect to any action to be taken by the Board of Directors, any committee of the Board of Directors duly authorized to take such action, except that for purposes of the definition of “Fundamental Change,” the Board shall refer to the full Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

(i) “ Business Day ” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is authorized or required by law or executive order to close or be closed.

 

(j) “ Capital Stock ” shall mean, for any entity, any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) stock issued by that entity.

 

(k) “ Certificated Notice of Conversion ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 8(b)(ii)(A).

 

(l) “ close of business ” shall mean 5:00 p.m. (New York City time).

 

(m) “ Closing Sale Price ” of the Common Stock on any date shall mean the closing sale price per share (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the closing bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average closing bid and the average closing ask prices) of the Common Stock on such date as reported on the NYSE American or, if the Common Stock is not listed on the NYSE American, on the principal other national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not listed on a national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then listed, quoted or admitted for trading. In the absence of such a quotation, the Closing Sale Price shall be the average of the midpoint of the last bid and ask prices for the Common Stock on the relevant date from each of at least three nationally recognized independent investment banking firms selected by the Corporation for this purpose.

 

(n) “ Common Stock ” shall mean the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation, subject to Section 8(j).

 

(o) “ Conversion Agent ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15(a).

 

(p) “ Conversion Cap ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).

 

(q) “ Conversion Date ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 8(b).

 

(r) “ Conversion Instruction ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 8(b)(i).

 

(s) “ Conversion Price ” shall mean, at any time, the Liquidation Preference divided by the Conversion Rate in effect at such time.

 

(t) “ Conversion Rate ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 8(a).

 

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(u) “ Convertible Securities ” shall mean any stock or securities (other than Options) directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, including the Corporation’s warrants.

 

(v) “ Depositary ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16(a).

 

(w) “ Distributed Property ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 8(e)(iii).

 

(x) “ Dividend Payment Date ” shall mean January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on the first such date after the date of the first issuance of the Preferred Stock.

 

(y) “ Dividend Rate ” shall mean the rate per annum of 7.00% per share of Preferred Stock on the Liquidation Preference.

 

(z) “ Dividend Record Date ” shall mean, with respect to any Dividend Payment Date, the January 1, April 1, July 1 or October 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date.

 

(aa) “ Dividends ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3(a).

 

(bb) “ DTC ” means The Depository Trust Corporation.

 

(cc) “ Effective Date ” shall mean the date on which a Fundamental Change event occurs or becomes effective, except that, as used in Section 8(e), Effective Date shall mean the first date on which the shares of the Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or market, regular way, reflecting the relevant share split or share combination, as applicable.

 

(dd) “ Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(ee) “ Excluded Securities ” shall mean any Common Stock issued or issuable (i) in connection with any Approved Stock Plan; (ii) upon conversion or redemption of the Preferred Stock; (iii) upon exercise of any Options or Convertible Securities which are outstanding on the Issue Date; or (iv) shares issuable pursuant to the terms of Section 5.18 of that certain Purchase Agreement dated as of June 25, 2018, by and between JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC and Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III; provided, that the terms of such Options or Convertible Securities are not amended, modified or changed in any material respect on or after the Issue Date.

 

(ff) “ Ex-Date ,” when used with respect to any issuance, dividend or distribution on the Common Stock, shall mean the first date on which the Common Stock trades on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such issuance, dividend or distribution from the Corporation or, if applicable, from the seller of the Common Stock on such exchange or market (in the form of due bills or otherwise) as determined by such exchange or market.

 

(gg) “ Final Mandatory Conversion Period ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 9(c).

 

(hh) “ First Mandatory Conversion Period ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 9(a).

 

(ii) “ First Mandatory Conversion Premium ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 9(a).

 

(jj) “ Fundamental Change ” shall be deemed to have occurred at any time after the Preferred Stock is originally issued if any of the following occurs:

 

(i) a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than any of the Corporation or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries, and the employee benefit plans of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of more than 50% of the voting power in the aggregate of all classes of Capital Stock then outstanding entitled to vote generally in elections of the Board;

 

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(ii) the consummation of (A) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination) as a result of which the Common Stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets; (B) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of the Corporation with any Person (other than any of the Corporation’s Subsidiaries) pursuant to which the Common Stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property; or (C) any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, including pursuant to a merger transaction, to any Person (other than one of the Corporation’s Subsidiaries); provided , however, that any merger solely for the purpose of changing the Corporation’s jurisdiction of incorporation, and resulting in a reclassification, conversion or exchange of outstanding shares of Common Stock solely into shares of common stock of the surviving entity, shall not be a Fundamental Change;

 

(iii) the stockholders of the Corporation approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation;

 

(iv) the Common Stock (or other Reference Property) ceases to be listed or quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American or The Nasdaq Stock Market (or any of their respective successors); or

 

(v) the number of shares of the Common Stock (or other Reference Property) held by beneficial holders and holders of record who are not, either directly or indirectly, an executive officer or director of the Corporation, or the beneficial holder of more than 10% of the total shares of the Common Stock (or other Reference Property) outstanding, is less than 50% of the number of shares of the Common Stock (or other Reference Property) that would be outstanding if all issued shares of the Preferred Stock were converted into shares of the Common Stock (or other Reference Property) in accordance with Section 8(a) (determined without regard to the Conversion Cap, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation or the Permitted Percentage Limitation);

 

provided , however, that a transaction or transactions described in clause (i) or (ii) above shall not constitute a Fundamental Change, if at least 90% of the consideration received or to be received by the common stockholders of the Corporation, excluding cash payments for fractional shares and cash payments made pursuant to dissenters’ appraisal rights, in connection with such transaction or transactions consists of shares of common stock and as a result of such transaction or transactions the Preferred Stock becomes convertible into such consideration pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

(kk) “ Fundamental Change Additional Shares ” shall mean, in respect of a Fundamental Change, such number of shares as is set forth under the Acquisition Price Per Share applicable to such Fundamental Change, and beside the date indicating the last day of the 12-month period in which the Effective Date of such Fundamental Change occurred, on Annex A hereto.

 

(ll) “ Fundamental Change Notice ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5(a).

 

(mm) “ Global Preferred Share ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16(a).

 

(nn) “ Global Shares Legend ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16(a).

 

(oo) “ Holder ” or “ holder ” shall mean a holder of record of the Preferred Stock.

 

(pp) “ Holder Stock Price ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5(b).

 

(qq) “ Issue Date ” shall mean October 17, 2018, the original date of issuance of the Preferred Stock.

 

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(rr) “ Junior Stock ” shall mean Common Stock and any class of Capital Stock or series of preferred stock established after the Issue Date, the terms of which expressly provide that such class or series will rank junior to the Preferred Stock as to dividend rights or rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation.

 

(ss) “ Liquidation Preference ” shall mean $100.00 per share of Preferred Stock.

 

(tt) “ Mandatory Conversion Date ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 9(d).

 

(uu) “ Material Change ” shall mean any change (i) expediting the commencement of the First Mandatory Conversion Period, the Second Mandatory Conversion Period or the Final Mandatory Conversion Period, (ii) reducing the First Mandatory Conversion Premium, the Second Mandatory Conversion Premium, the Dividend Rate or the Liquidation Preference, (iii) increasing the Base Conversion Price or (iv) any change that impairs the Seven-Year Holder Conversion Right.

 

(vv) “ Notice of Conversion ” shall mean, as applicable, a Conversion Instruction or a Certificated Notice of Conversion.

 

(ww) “ NYSE American ” shall mean the NYSE American (f/k/a NYSE MKT) market (or its successor).

 

(xx) “ Officer ” shall mean the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation.

 

(yy) “ open of business ” shall mean 9:00 a.m. (New York City time).

 

(zz) “ Options ” shall mean any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

 

(aaa) “ Outstanding ” shall mean, when used with respect to Preferred Stock, as of any date of determination, all Preferred Stock theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Certificate of Designations, except shares of Preferred Stock as to which any property deliverable upon conversion thereof has been delivered and required to be cancelled pursuant to Sections 5, 8 or 9.

 

(bbb) “ Parity Stock ” shall mean any class of Capital Stock or series of preferred stock established after the Issue Date, the terms of which expressly provide that such class or series will rank on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividend rights, and/or rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation and/or voting rights.

 

(ccc) “ Paying Agent ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15(a).

 

(ddd) “ Permitted Percentage Limitation ” shall mean, with respect to the Common Stock (or any other class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock), after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock (or any other class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock) issuable upon conversion of Preferred Stock held by any Holder, 24% of the number of shares of Common Stock (or any other class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock) issued and outstanding being beneficially owned by Non-U.S. Citizens (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) in the aggregate.

 

(eee) “ Person ” shall mean any individual, corporation, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

(fff) “ Preferred Director ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 7(c).

 

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(ggg) “ Record Date ” shall mean, with respect to any dividend, distribution or other transaction or event in which the holders of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock (or other applicable security) have the right to receive any cash, securities or other property or in which the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock (or such other security) is exchanged for or converted into any combination of cash, securities or other property, the date fixed for determination of holders of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock (or such other security) entitled to receive such cash, securities or other property (whether such date is fixed by the Board, statute, contract or otherwise).

 

(hhh) “ Reference Property ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 8(j).

 

(iii) “ Registrar ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.

 

(jjj) “ Reorganization Event ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 8(j).

 

(kkk) “ Required Holders ” means any Holder that acquired the Preferred Stock on the Issue Date (solely for the purposes of this definition, treating any Holder and its Affiliates (or any other funds or accounts managed by the same investment manager) that are Holders as a singular Holder) that, as of any time, continues to own at least 14.99% of the shares of Preferred Stock originally issued.

 

(lll) “ Resale Restriction Termination Date ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14(a).

 

(mmm) “ Restricted Securities ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14(a).

 

(nnn) “ Rule 144 ” shall mean Rule 144 as promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

(ooo) “ SEC ” or “ Commission ” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

(ppp) “ Second Mandatory Conversion Period ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 9(b).

 

(qqq) “ Second Mandatory Conversion Premium ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 9(b).

 

(rrr) “ Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(sss) “ Senior Stock ” shall mean any class of the Corporation’s Capital Stock or series of preferred stock established after the Issue Date, the terms of which expressly provide that such class or series will rank senior to the Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and/or rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation.

 

(ttt) “ Seven-Year Holder Conversion Right ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 8(a).

 

(uuu) “ Shareholder Approval ” shall mean all approvals, if any, of the shareholders of the Corporation necessary for purposes of Section 713(a) of the NYSE American Company Guide or the terms hereof, including without limitation, to approve (i) the conversion of the Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock, (ii) the voting rights of the Preferred Stock, and (iii) the payment of additional Preferred Stock or Common Stock as Dividends.

 

(vvv) “ Spin-Off ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 8(e)(iii).

 

(www) “ Subsidiary ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, general partners or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person; (ii) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person; or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

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(xxx) “ Trading Day ” shall mean a day during which trading in the Common Stock generally occurs on the NYSE American or, if the Common Stock is not listed on the NYSE American, on the principal other national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not listed on a national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then listed or admitted for trading. If the Common Stock is not so listed or traded, Trading Day means a Business Day.

 

(yyy) “ Transfer Agent ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.

 

(zzz) “ Weighted Average Price ” shall mean for any security as of any Trading Day, the per share volume-weighted average price for such security as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page Ticker <HCAC> VWAP (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from 9:30:01 a.m. to 4:00:00 p.m., New York City time, on such Trading Day or, if no weighted average price is reported for such security by Bloomberg for such hours, the average of the highest closing bid price and the lowest closing ask price of any of the market makers for such security as reported in the OTC Link or “pink sheets” by OTC Markets Group Inc. (formerly Pink OTC Markets Inc.). If the Weighted Average Price cannot be calculated for a security on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Weighted Average Price of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Corporation and a majority of the Holders. All such determinations are to be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or similar transaction during the applicable calculation period.

 

3) Dividends .

 

(a) Holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board out of funds of the Corporation legally available for payment, cumulative dividends at the Dividend Rate (“ Dividends ”). Dividends on the Preferred Stock shall be paid quarterly in arrears at the Dividend Rate in cash or, at the election of the Corporation, subject to receipt of any necessary Shareholder Approval (to the extent necessary), in Common Stock as provided pursuant to Section 4 that is registered pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act. For the avoidance of doubt, unless prohibited by applicable law, (i) the Board shall not fail to declare such Dividends on Preferred Stock and (ii) notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, dividends on the Preferred Stock shall accrue for all fiscal periods during which the Preferred Stock is outstanding, regardless of whether the Corporation has earnings in any such period, whether there are funds legally available for the payment of such dividends and whether or not such dividends are authorized or declared. Dividends shall be payable in arrears on each Dividend Payment Date to the holders of record of Preferred Stock as they appear on the Corporation’s stock register at the close of business on the relevant Dividend Record Date. Dividends payable for any period less than a full quarterly dividend period (based upon the number of days elapsed during such period) shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

(b) No dividend shall be declared or paid upon, or any sum set apart for the payment of dividends upon, any Outstanding share of the Preferred Stock with respect to any dividend period unless all dividends for all preceding dividend periods have been declared and paid, or declared and a sufficient sum has been set apart for the payment of such dividend, upon all Outstanding shares of Preferred Stock.

 

(c) No dividends or other distributions (other than a dividend or distribution payable solely in shares of Parity Stock or Junior Stock (in the case of Parity Stock) or Junior Stock (in the case of Junior Stock) and cash in lieu of fractional shares) may be declared, made or paid, or set apart for payment upon, any Parity Stock or Junior Stock, nor may any Parity Stock or Junior Stock be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any money paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any Parity Stock or Junior Stock) by the Corporation or on behalf of the Corporation (except by (i) conversion into or exchange for shares of Parity Stock or Junior Stock (in the case of Parity Stock) or Junior Stock (in the case of Junior Stock) and cash solely in lieu of fractional shares of Parity Stock or Junior Stock (in the case of Parity Stock) or Junior Stock (in the case of Parity Stock) and (ii) payments in connection with the satisfaction of employees’ tax withholding obligations pursuant to employee benefit plans or outstanding awards (and payment of any corresponding requisite amounts to the appropriate governmental authority), unless all Accumulated Dividends (as of the date of such declaration, payment, redemption, purchase or acquisition) shall have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid in cash. Further, no dividends or other distributions (other than a dividend or distribution payable solely in shares of Junior Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares) may be declared, made or paid, or set apart for payment upon, any Junior Stock (except payments in connection with the satisfaction of employees’ tax withholding obligations pursuant to employee benefit plans or outstanding awards (and payment of any corresponding requisite amounts to the appropriate governmental authority) unless the payment of the dividend in respect of the Preferred Stock for the most recent dividend period ending on or prior to the date of such declaration or payment has been declared and paid in cash or declared and a sum of cash sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside for such payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if full dividends have not been paid on the Preferred Stock and any Parity Stock, dividends may be declared and paid on the Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock so long as the dividends are declared and paid pro rata so that the amounts of dividends declared per share on the Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accumulated and unpaid dividends per share on the shares of Preferred Stock and such Parity Stock bear to each other at the time of declaration.

 

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(d) Holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property or stock, in excess of full cumulative dividends (it being understood that this Section 3(d) shall not limit the Corporation’s obligations pursuant to Section 3(a).

 

(e) If any Dividend Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the required payment will be on the next succeeding Business Day and no interest or dividends on such payment will accrue or accumulate as the case may be, in respect of the delay.

 

(f) The holders of shares of Preferred Stock at the close of business on a Dividend Record Date shall be entitled to receive the dividend payment on those shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the conversion of such shares in accordance with Sections 8 or 9 following such Dividend Record Date or the Corporation’s default in payment of the dividend due on such Dividend Payment Date. In the case of conversion of shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 5 following the close of business on a Dividend Record Date but prior to the corresponding Dividend Payment Date, the holders of such shares shall not be entitled to receive the corresponding dividend payment following conversion (it being understood that the value thereof is included in the conversion terms set forth in Section 5).

 

(g) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary:

 

(i) to the extent that any Holder’s right to participate in any Dividend would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Corporation shall, at the Corporation’s option, waive the Beneficial Ownership Limitation or pay such Dividend in cash; and

 

(ii) to the extent that any Holder’s right to participate in any Dividend would result in the Holder exceeding the Permitted Percentage Limitation, then the Corporation shall pay such Dividend in cash.

 

(h) Except as provided in Section 8 the Corporation shall make no payment or allowance for unpaid dividends, whether or not in arrears, on converted shares of Preferred Stock or for dividends on the shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion.

 

4) Method of Payment of Dividends .

 

(a) Subject to the restrictions set forth herein, the Corporation may elect to pay any dividend on the Preferred Stock: (i) in cash; (ii) by delivery of shares of Common Stock; or (iii) through any combination of cash and Common Stock; provided that any shares of Common Stock issued or delivered to a Holder as part of a dividend on the Preferred Stock in accordance with Section 3 and this Section 4 shall be the subject of a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act.

 

(b) If the Corporation elects to make a dividend payment, or any portion thereof, in shares of Common Stock, the number of shares deliverable shall be (i) the cash amount of such dividend payment that would apply if no payment were to be made in Common Stock, or such portion, divided by (ii)   the product of (x) the Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock for each of the 10 consecutive Trading Days ending on the second Trading Day immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date (as equitably adjusted by the Board to the extent necessary for any stock splits, combinations or like transactions); multiplied by (y)   0.95; provided, that at least 2 Trading Days prior to the beginning of the averaging period described in (ii)(x) above, the Corporation shall provide written notice of such election to the Holder.

 

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(c) The Corporation shall make each dividend payment on the Preferred Stock in cash, except to the extent the Corporation elects to make all or any portion of such payment in shares of the Common Stock (or any combination thereof) as set forth above. The Corporation shall give Holders notice of any such election and the portion of such payment that will be made in cash and the portion that will be made in shares of the Common Stock no later than 12 Trading Days prior to the Dividend Payment Date for such dividend.

 

5) Conversion Upon a Fundamental Change .

 

(a) The Corporation must give notice (a “ Fundamental Change Notice ”) of each Fundamental Change to all Holders of the Preferred Stock no later than 10 Business Days prior to the anticipated Effective Date (determined in good faith by the Board) of the Fundamental Change or, if not practicable because the Corporation is unaware of the Fundamental Change, as soon as reasonably practicable but in any event no later than one (1) Business Day after the Corporation becomes aware of such Fundamental Change.

 

(b) Within 15 days following the Effective Date of such Fundamental Change, each Outstanding share of the Preferred Stock shall (subject to the applicable limitations set forth in Section 12), at the election of the Holder thereof pursuant to the delivery of a Notice of Conversion, be converted into a number of shares of Common Stock equal to (i) the greater of (A) the sum of the Conversion Rate on the Effective Date of such Fundamental Change plus the Fundamental Change Additional Shares and (B) the quotient of (x) the Liquidation Preference, divided by (y)   the greater of (1) the applicable Holder Stock Price and (2) 10% of the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Issue Date (it being understood that for purposes of this Section 5(b) the Closing Sale Price shall be adjusted proportionally in the event of any stock split, stock dividend, issuance of rights, options or warrants or other event that would result in an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 8(e)), plus (ii) the number of shares of the Common Stock that would be issued if any and all accumulated and unpaid dividends were paid in shares of the Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, prior to the receipt of Shareholder Approval, shares of Preferred Stock shall not be convertible pursuant to this Section 5 in the aggregate into more than the Conversion Cap. As used herein, “ Holder Stock Price ” means (i) in the case of a Fundamental Change in which the Holders of Common Stock will receive only cash consideration, the price to be paid (or deemed paid) per share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Change transaction and (ii) in all other cases, the average Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the 10 consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding the Effective Date of the Fundamental Change.

 

(c) The Fundamental Change Notice shall be given by first-class mail to each record holder of shares of Preferred Stock, at such Holder’s address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. Each such notice shall state (i) the anticipated Effective Date and (ii) that dividends on the Preferred Stock to be converted will cease to accrue on the date immediately preceding the Effective Date of the Fundamental Change.

 

(d) Whenever any provision of this Certificate of Designations requires the Corporation to calculate the Weighted Average Price or Closing Sale Price for purposes of a Fundamental Change over a span of multiple days, the Board shall make appropriate adjustments to account for any adjustment to the Conversion Rate that becomes effective, or any event requiring an adjustment to the Conversion Rate where the Record Date of the event occurs, at any time during the period when such Weighted Average Prices or Closing Sale Prices are to be calculated.

 

6) Voting .

 

(a) The shares of Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights except as set forth in this Section 6 or otherwise required by Delaware law.

 

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(b) So long as any shares of Preferred Stock remain Outstanding, unless a greater percentage shall then be required by law, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the Holders of at least 50.1% of the shares of Preferred Stock Outstanding at the time, voting together as a single class, (i) create, or authorize the creation of, any additional class or series of Capital Stock of the Corporation (or any security convertible into or exercisable for any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation), (ii) issue or sell, or obligate itself to issue or sell, any securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary (or any security convertible into or exercisable for any class or series of Capital Stock of the Corporation or any Subsidiary), in each case, that constitutes Senior Stock or, within the first 12 months after the Issue Date, that constitutes Parity Stock, or (iii) at any time after the 12-month anniversary of the Issue Date, issue or sell, or obligate itself to issue or sell, in excess of $50.0 million in the aggregate of any securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary (or any security convertible into or exercisable for any class or series of Capital Stock of the Corporation or any Subsidiary), in each case, that constitutes Parity Stock.

 

(c) In the election of directors to the Corporation, for so long as the Holders own in the aggregate at least 350,000 shares of Preferred Stock, the Holders, voting as a separate class, by the affirmative vote or consent of the Holders of at least 50.1% of the shares of Preferred Stock Outstanding at the time and with each share of Preferred Stock entitled to one vote, shall be entitled to appoint one (1) individual to serve on the Board as a director of the Corporation (the “ Preferred Director ”) and, following the expiration of the initial term of the Preferred Director, nominate one individual to stand for election to the Board as the Preferred Director at each meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation in which the Class III directors are elected, including, without limitation, at every adjournment or postponement thereof. The initial term of the Preferred Director shall begin immediately upon such Preferred Director’s appointment by the Holders pursuant to the preceding sentence. Thereafter, except as set forth herein, such Preferred Director shall stand for election to the Board as a Class III Director in accordance with Section 6.2(b) of the Certificate of Incorporation. In each case, the individual appointed or nominated to serve as the Preferred Director shall satisfy all requirements regarding service as a director of the Corporation under applicable law and regulation (including the applicable rules of the NYSE American). The Holders will cause the Preferred Director to make himself or herself reasonably available for interviews and to consent to such reference and background checks or other investigations and provide such information as the Board may reasonably request to determine the Preferred Director’s eligibility and qualification to serve as a director of the Board. From and after the date hereof, the Corporation shall take such actions as are necessary to cause the Preferred Director to be nominated as a member of the Board and shall, subject to applicable law, include in any proxy statement prepared, used, delivered or publicly filed by the Corporation to solicit the vote of its stockholders in connection with any meeting of Corporation stockholders in which the Class III directors are elected the recommendation of the Board that stockholders of the Corporation vote in favor of the Preferred Director and solicit votes in favor of the election of the Preferred Director to the Board consistent with the Corporation’s efforts to solicit votes in favor of the election of the Corporation’s other nominees to the Board. The Preferred Director may be removed at any time as a director on the Board (with or without cause) upon, and only upon, the written request of the Holders (voting as a separate class by the affirmative vote or consent of the Holders of at least 50.1% of the shares of Preferred Stock Outstanding at the time and with each share of Preferred Stock entitled to one vote). In the event that a vacancy is created on the Board at any time due to the death, disability, retirement, resignation or removal of a Preferred Director, then the Holders (voting as a separate class by the affirmative vote or consent of the Holders of at least 50.1% of the shares of Preferred Stock Outstanding at the time and with each share of Preferred Stock entitled to one vote) shall have the right to designate an individual to fill such vacancy. In the event that the Holders shall fail to designate in writing a representative to fill the vacant Preferred Director seat on the Board, and such Board seat shall remain vacant until such time as the Holders elect an individual to fill such seat in accordance with this Section 6(c), and during any period where such seat remains vacant, the Board nonetheless shall be deemed duly constituted. At such time that the Holders are no longer entitled to designate the Preferred Director pursuant to this Section 6(c), the Holders shall promptly cause the Preferred Director to offer to resign from the Board.

 

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(d) So long as any shares of Preferred Stock remain Outstanding, unless a greater percentage shall then be required by law, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote or consent of (a) the Holders of at least 50.1% of the shares of Preferred Stock Outstanding at the time, voting together as a single class with all series of Parity Stock upon which similar voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting, amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting powers of the shares of Preferred Stock; provided , however, that so long as any shares of Preferred Stock remain Outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged, such amendment, alteration or repeal shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of Holders of the shares of Preferred Stock and, provided further, that any increase in the amount of authorized preferred stock (including, without limitation, additional Preferred Stock) or the creation or issuance of any additional shares of Preferred Stock or other series of preferred stock, or any increase in the amount of authorized shares of such series, in each case of Parity Stock or Junior Stock, shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of Holders of shares of Preferred Stock specified herein and (b) for so long as there is any Required Holder, the Required Holder(s), given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting, amend, alter or repeal the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to effect a Material Change. For the avoidance of doubt, any change, amendment, alteration or repeal of Section 6(b) or Section 6(c) without the affirmative vote or consent of the Holders of at least 50.1% of the shares of Preferred Stock Outstanding at the time, voting together as a single class, shall be deemed to materially and adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the shares of Preferred Stock.

 

7) Liquidation Rights .

 

(a) In the event of any liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, each Holder of shares of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive and to be paid out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders the Liquidation Preference plus all accumulated and unpaid dividends in respect of the Preferred Stock (whether or not declared) to the date fixed for liquidation, winding-up or dissolution in preference to the holders of, and before any payment or distribution is made on, any Junior Stock, including, without limitation, the Common Stock.

 

(b) Neither the sale (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all the assets or business of the Corporation (other than in connection with the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation) nor the merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with any other Person shall be deemed to be a liquidation, winding-up or dissolution, voluntary or involuntary, for the purposes of this Section 7.

 

(c) After the payment to the Holders of the shares of Preferred Stock of full preferential amounts provided for in this Section 7, the Holders of Preferred Stock as such shall have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

 

(d) In the event the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to the Holders of shares of Preferred Stock and holders of shares of Parity Stock upon any liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such Holders are entitled pursuant to this Section 7, no such distribution shall be made on account of any shares of Parity Stock upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding-up unless proportionate distributable amounts shall be paid on account of the shares of Preferred Stock, equally and ratably, in proportion to the full distributable amounts for which holders of all Preferred Stock and of any Parity Stock are entitled upon such liquidation, winding-up or dissolution.

 

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8) Conversion .

 

(a) Each Holder of Preferred Stock shall have the right at any time, at its option, to convert, subject to the terms and provisions of this Section 8 and subject to the applicable limitations set forth in Section 12, any or all of such Holder’s shares of Preferred Stock into Common Stock at a conversion rate equal to the quotient of (i) the Liquidation Preference; divided by (ii)   the Base Conversion Price (subject to adjustment as provided in this Section 8, the “ Conversion Rate ”) per share of Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to the Conversion Cap, each Holder of Preferred Stock shall have the right (the “ Seven-Year Holder Conversion Right ”) at any time after the seven-year anniversary of the Issue Date, if the then-current Conversion Price exceeds the Weighted Average Price for the Common Stock during any 10 consecutive Trading Days, at its option by delivery of a Notice of Conversion in accordance with Section 8(b) below no later than 5 Business Days following such 10 th consecutive Trading Day, to convert any or all of such Holder’s shares of Preferred Stock into, at the Corporation’s sole discretion, either Common Stock, cash or a combination of Common Stock and cash; provided, that the Corporation shall provide such converting Holder notice of its election within 2 Trading Days of receipt of the Notice of Conversion; provided further, that in the event the Corporation elects to issue Common Stock for all or a portion of such conversion, the “Conversion Rate” for such conversion (subject to the applicable limitations set forth in Section 12) shall mean the quotient of the Liquidation Preference divided by the average Weighted Average Price for the Common Stock during the 20 consecutive Trading Days commencing on the Trading Day immediately following the Trading Day on which the Corporation provided such notice. If the Corporation does not elect a settlement method prior to the deadline set forth, the Corporation shall be deemed to have elected to settle the conversion entirely in Common Stock. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, prior to the receipt of Shareholder Approval, shares of Preferred Stock shall not be converted pursuant to this Section 8 in the aggregate into more than 19.99% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Issue Date (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend, combination or other similar recapitalization) (such limitation, the “ Conversion Cap ”). Upon conversion of any share of Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall deliver to the converting Holder, in respect of each share of Preferred Stock being converted, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate, together with a cash payment in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock in accordance with Section 10, on the second Business Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date; provided, that upon any Holder’s election to convert any share or shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to the second sentence of this Section 8(a) the Corporation shall have the option to deliver the applicable conversion value (or any portion thereof) in cash in lieu of shares of Common Stock, after providing such Holder at least 2 Business Days’ prior written notice of its election pursuant to this proviso; provided further, that any such payment in cash in lieu of shares of Common Stock shall be made in an amount equal to the Liquidation Preference for every whole share of Preferred Stock so converted; provided further, that if the conversion value consists (x) solely of cash, then the Corporation shall deliver such cash payment to the Holder no later than 2 Trading Days from the receipt of the Notice of Conversion or (y) partially of cash, then the Corporation shall deliver such cash payment to the Holder simultaneously with the delivery of the Common Stock included in the conversion value.

 

(b) Before any Holder shall be entitled to convert a share of Preferred Stock as set forth above, such Holder who:

 

(i) holds a beneficial interest in a Global Preferred Share must deliver to DTC the appropriate instruction form for conversion pursuant to DTC’s conversion program (a “ Conversion Instruction ”) and, if required, pay all transfer or similar taxes or duties, if any; or

 

(ii) holds Preferred Stock in definitive, certificated form must:

 

(A) manually sign and deliver an irrevocable notice to the office of the Conversion Agent as set forth in the Form of Certificated Notice of Conversion (or a facsimile thereof) in the form included in Exhibit A hereto (a “ Certificated Notice of Conversion ”) and state in writing therein the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be converted and the name or names (with addresses) in which such Holder wishes the certificate or certificates for any shares of Common Stock, if any, to be delivered and registered;

 

(B) surrender such shares of Preferred Stock, at the office of the Conversion Agent;

 

(C) if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents; and

 

(D) if required, pay all transfer or similar taxes or duties, if any.

 

The Conversion Agent shall notify the Corporation of any pending conversion pursuant to this Section 8 on the Conversion Date for such conversion. The date on which a Holder complies with the procedures in this clause (b) is the “ Conversion Date .” If more than one share of Preferred Stock shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same Holder, the number of shares of Common Stock to be delivered upon conversion of such shares of Preferred Stock shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock so surrendered.

 

(c) With respect to any conversion of shares of Preferred Stock:

 

(i) if there shall have been surrendered certificate or certificates, as the case may be, representing a greater number of shares of Preferred Stock than the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be converted, the Corporation shall execute and the Registrar shall countersign and deliver to such Holder or such Holder’s designee, at the expense of the Corporation, a new certificate or certificates, as the case may be, representing the number of shares of Preferred Stock that shall not have been converted; and

 

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(ii) if the shares of Preferred Stock converted are held in book-entry form through the facilities of the Depositary, promptly following the relevant Conversion Date, the Corporation shall cause the Transfer Agent and Registrar to reduce the number of shares of Preferred Stock represented by the global certificate by making a notation on Schedule I attached to the relevant Global Preferred Share.

 

(d) Immediately prior to the close of business on the Conversion Date with respect to a conversion, a converting Holder of Preferred Stock shall be deemed to be the holder of record of the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such Holder’s Preferred Stock notwithstanding that the share register of the Corporation shall then be closed or that certificates representing such Common Stock, if any, shall not then be actually delivered to such Holder. On the date of any conversion, all rights with respect to the shares of Preferred Stock so converted, including the rights, if any, to receive notices, shall terminate, excepting only the rights of holders thereof (i) pursuant to Section 3(f) and (ii) to (A) receive certificates for the number of whole shares of Common Stock, if any, into which such shares of Preferred Stock have been converted (with a cash payment in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock in accordance with Section 10) and (B) exercise the rights to which they are thereafter entitled as holders of Common Stock, if any.

 

(e) The Conversion Rate shall be adjusted, without duplication, upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(i) If the Corporation exclusively issues shares of Common Stock as a dividend or distribution on all shares of its Common Stock, or if the Corporation effects a share split or share combination, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

 

where,

 

  CR 0 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately prior to the open of business on the Effective Date of such share split or share combination, as the case may be;
       
  CR 1 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the close of business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately after the open of business on the Effective Date of such share split or share combination, as the case may be;
       
  OS 0 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the close of business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately prior to the open of business on the Effective Date of such share split or share combination, as the case may be; and
       
  OS 1 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such dividend or distribution, or such share split or share combination, as the case may be.

 

  13  

 

 

Any adjustment made under this Section 8(e)(i) shall become effective immediately after the close of business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately after the open of business on the Effective Date for such share split or share combination, as the case may be. If any dividend or distribution of the type described in this Section 8(e)(i) is declared but not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date the Board determines not to pay such dividend or distribution, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

 

(ii) If the Corporation distributes to all or substantially all holders of its Common Stock any rights, options or warrants entitling them, for a period expiring not more than 60 days immediately following the announcement date of such distribution, to purchase or subscribe for shares of its Common Stock at a price per share that is less than the average of the Closing Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Date of such distribution, the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

 

where,

 

  CR 0 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the Record Date for such distribution;
       
  CR 1 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the close of business on the Record Date for such distribution;
       
  OS 0 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the close of business on the Record Date for such distribution;
       
  X = the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to such rights, options or warrants; and
       
  Y = the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants, divided by the average of the Closing Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Date of such distribution.

 

Any increase made under this Section 8(e)(ii) shall be made successively whenever any such rights, options or warrants are distributed and shall become effective immediately after the close of business on the Record Date for such distribution. To the extent that shares of Common Stock are not delivered after the expiration of such rights, options or warrants, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted, effective as of the date of such expiration, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the increase with respect to the distribution of such rights, options or warrants been made on the basis of delivery of only the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered. If such rights, options or warrants are not so distributed, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased, effective as of the date the Board determines not to make such distribution, to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such Record Date for such distribution had not occurred. If such rights, options or warrants are only exercisable upon the occurrence of certain triggering events, then the Conversion Rate shall not be adjusted until the triggering events occur.

 

For purposes of this Section 8(e)(ii) in determining whether any rights, options or warrants entitle the holders to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at less than such average of the Closing Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Date of such distribution, and in determining the aggregate offering price of such shares of Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Corporation for such rights, options or warrants and any amount payable on exercise or conversion thereof, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by the Board.

 

  14  

 

 

(iii) If the Corporation distributes shares of its Capital Stock, evidences of its indebtedness or other assets, securities or property of the Corporation or rights, options or warrants to acquire its Capital Stock or other securities, to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock, excluding (a) dividends, distributions or issuances as to which an adjustment was effected pursuant to Section 8(e)(i) or Section 8(e)(ii), (b) dividends or distributions paid exclusively in cash as to which an adjustment was effected pursuant to (or a cash amount paid pursuant to the last paragraph of) Section 8(e)(iv) and (c) Spin-Offs as to which the provisions set forth below in this Section 8(e)(iii) shall apply (any of such shares of Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness, other assets, securities or property or rights, options or warrants to acquire Capital Stock or other securities, the “ Distributed Property ”), then the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

 

where,

 

  CR 0 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the Record Date for such distribution;
       
  CR 1 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the close of business on the Record Date for such distribution;
       
  SP 0 = the average of the Closing Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Date for such distribution; and
       
  FMV = the fair market value as of the Record Date for such distribution (as determined by the Board) of the Distributed Property with respect to each outstanding share of the Common Stock.

 

Any increase made under the portion of this Section 8(e)(iii) above shall become effective immediately after the close of business on the Record Date for such distribution. If such distribution is not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased, effective as of the date the Board determines not to pay the distribution, to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing (but subject to the applicable limitations set forth in Section 12), if “FMV” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP 0 ” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder of Preferred Stock shall receive, for each share of Preferred Stock, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the Common Stock, the amount and kind of Distributed Property that such Holder would have received as if such Holder owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate (determined without regard to the Conversion Cap, Beneficial Ownership Limitation or the Permitted Percentage Limitation) in effect on the Record Date for the distribution.

 

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With respect to an adjustment pursuant to this Section 8(e)(iii) where there has been a payment of a dividend or other distribution on the Common Stock consisting solely of shares of Capital Stock of any class or series, or similar equity interests, of or relating to a Subsidiary or other business unit of the Corporation where such Capital Stock or similar equity interest is, or will be when issued, listed or admitted for trading on a U.S. national securities exchange (a “ Spin-Off ”), the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

 

 

where,

 

  CR 0 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the 10 th Trading Day immediately following, and including, the Ex-Date for the Spin-Off;
       
  CR 1 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the close of business on the 10 th Trading Day immediately following, and including, the Ex-Date for the Spin-Off;
       
  FMV = the average of the Closing Sale Prices of the Capital Stock or similar equity interest distributed to holders of the Common Stock applicable to one share of Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period immediately following, and including, the Ex-Date for the Spin-Off; and
       
  MP 0 = the average of the Closing Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period immediately following, and including, the Ex-Date for the Spin-Off.

 

The adjustment to the Conversion Rate under the preceding paragraph shall become effective at the close of business on the 10 th Trading Day immediately following, and including, the Ex-Date for the Spin-Off; provided that, for purposes of determining the Conversion Rate, in respect of any conversion during the 10 Trading Days following, and including, the Ex-Date of any Spin-Off, references within the portion of this Section 8(e)(iii) related to Spin-Offs to 10 consecutive Trading Days shall be deemed to be replaced with such lesser number of consecutive Trading Days as have elapsed between the Ex-Date of such Spin-Off and the relevant Conversion Date.

 

(iv) If any cash dividend or distribution is made to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock, excluding any consideration payable in connection with a tender or exchange offer made by the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

 

where,

 

  CR 0 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution;
       
  CR 1 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the close of business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution;
       
  SP 0 = the average of the Closing Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Date for such dividend or distribution; and
       
  C = the amount in cash per share of Common Stock the Corporation distributes to all or substantially all holders of its Common Stock.

 

  16  

 

 

Any increase pursuant to this Section 8(e)(iv) shall become effective immediately after the close of business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution. If such dividend or distribution is not so paid, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased, effective as of the date the Board determines not to pay or make such dividend or distribution, to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “C” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP 0 “ (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder of Preferred Stock shall receive, for each share of Preferred Stock, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the Common Stock, the amount of cash that such Holder would have received as if such Holder owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate on the Record Date for such cash dividend or distribution (determined without regard to the Conversion Cap, Beneficial Ownership Limitation or the Permitted Percentage Limitation).

 

(v) If the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries makes a payment in respect of a tender offer or exchange offer for the Common Stock and the cash and value of any other consideration included in the payment per share of the Common Stock exceeds the average of the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period commencing on, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

where,

 

 

 

  CR 0 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the last Trading Day of the 10 consecutive Trading Day period commencing on, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires;
       
  CR 1 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the close of business on the last Trading Day of the 10 consecutive Trading Day period commencing on, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires;
       
  AC = the aggregate value of all cash and any other consideration (as determined by the Board) paid or payable for shares of Common Stock purchased in such tender or exchange offer;
       
  OS 0 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the date such tender or exchange offer expires (prior to giving effect to the purchase of all shares of Common Stock accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer);
       
  OS 1 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the date such tender or exchange offer expires (after giving effect to the purchase of all shares of Common Stock accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer); and
       
  SP 1 = the average of the Closing Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period commencing on, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires.

 

The increase to the Conversion Rate under this Section 8(e)(v) shall occur at the close of business on the 10th Trading Day immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires; provided that, for purposes of determining the Conversion Rate, in respect of any conversion during the 10 Trading Days immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date that any such tender or exchange offer expires, references within this Section 8(e)(v) to 10 consecutive Trading Days shall be deemed to be replaced with such lesser number of consecutive Trading Days as have elapsed between the date such tender or exchange offer expires and the relevant Conversion Date.

 

  17  

 

 

In the event that the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries is obligated to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to any such tender offer or exchange offer, but the Corporation or such Subsidiary is permanently prevented by applicable law from effecting any such purchases, or all such purchases are rescinded, then the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted to be such Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such tender offer or exchange offer had not been made.

 

(vi) All calculations and other determinations under this Section 8(e) shall be made by the Corporation and shall be made to the nearest one-ten thousandth (1/10,000 th ) of a share. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no adjustment under this Section 8(e) shall be made to the Conversion Rate unless such adjustment would result in a change of at least 1% in the Conversion Rate then in effect. Any lesser adjustment shall be carried forward and shall be made at the time of and together with the next subsequent adjustment, if any, which, together with any adjustment or adjustments so carried forward, shall amount to a change of at least 1% in such Conversion Rate; provided , however , that the Corporation shall make such carried-forward adjustments, regardless of whether the aggregate adjustment is less than 1%, (a) on December 31 of each calendar year, (b) on the Conversion Date for any conversions of Preferred Stock, (c) upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change and (d) in the event that the Corporation exercises its mandatory conversion right pursuant to Section 9. No adjustment to the Conversion Rate shall be made if it results in a Conversion Price that is less than the par value (if any) of the Common Stock.

 

(vii) In addition to those adjustments required by clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) of this Section 8(e) and to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to the applicable rules of the NYSE American, the Corporation may from time to time increase the Conversion Rate by any amount for a period of at least 20 Business Days or any longer period permitted or required by law if the increase is irrevocable during that period and the Board determines that such increase would be in the Corporation’s best interest. In addition, the Corporation may (but is not required to) increase the Conversion Rate to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of Common Stock or rights to purchase Common Stock in connection with a dividend or distribution of shares (or rights to acquire shares) or similar event. Whenever the Conversion Rate is increased pursuant to any of the preceding two sentences, the Corporation shall mail to the Holder of each share of Preferred Stock at its last address appearing on the stock register of the Corporation a notice of the increase at least 15 days prior to the date the increased Conversion Rate takes effect, and such notice shall state the increased Conversion Rate and the period during which it will be in effect.

 

(viii) For purposes of this Section 8(e) the number of shares of Common Stock at any time outstanding shall not include shares held in the treasury of the Corporation so long as the Corporation does not pay any dividend or make any distribution on shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Corporation, but shall include shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock.

 

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 8(e), no adjustment to the Conversion Rate shall be made with respect to any transaction described in Section 8(e)(i) through Section 8(e)(iv) if the Corporation makes provision for each Holder of the Preferred Stock to participate in such transaction, at the same time as holders of the Common Stock, without conversion, as if such Holder held a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Record Date or Effective Date, as the case may be, for such transaction, multiplied by the number of shares of Preferred Stock held by such Holder (determined without regard to the Conversion Cap, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation or the Permitted Percentage Limitation). No adjustment to the Conversion Rate shall be made with respect to any transaction described in Section 8(e)(v) if the Corporation makes provision for each Holder of the Preferred Stock to participate in such transaction, at the same time as holders of the Common Stock as if such Holder held a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Record Date or Effective Date, as the case may be, for such transaction, multiplied by the number of shares of Preferred Stock held by such Holder (determined without regard to the Conversion Cap, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation or the Permitted Percentage Limitation).

 

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(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no adjustment to the Conversion Rate shall be made pursuant to this Section 8 in respect of the issuance of any Excluded Securities.

 

(h) If the Corporation shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them to receive an extraordinary dividend or other distribution, and shall thereafter (and before the extraordinary dividend or distribution has been paid or delivered to stockholders) legally abandon its plan to pay or deliver such extraordinary dividend or distribution, then thereafter no adjustment in the Conversion Rate then in effect shall be required by reason of the taking of such record.

 

(i) Upon any increase in the Conversion Rate, the Corporation shall deliver to each Holder, as promptly as practicable, a certificate signed by an authorized officer of the Corporation, setting forth in reasonable detail the event requiring the adjustment and the method by which such adjustment was calculated and specifying the increased Conversion Rate then in effect following such adjustment.

 

(j) In the case of:

 

(i) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination),

 

(ii) any consolidation, merger or combination involving the Corporation,

 

(iii) any sale, lease or other transfer to a third party of the consolidated assets of the Corporation and the Corporation’s Subsidiaries substantially as an entirety, or

 

(iv) any statutory share exchange,

 

as a result of which the Common Stock is converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) (any such transaction or event, a “ Reorganization Event ”), then, at and after the effective time of such Reorganization Event, the right to convert each share of Preferred Stock shall be changed into a right to convert such share into the kind and amount of shares of stock, other securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) that a holder of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate immediately prior to such Reorganization Event would have owned or been entitled to receive upon such Reorganization Event (such stock, securities or other property or assets, the “ Reference Property ”). If the Reorganization Event causes the Common Stock to be converted into, or exchanged for, the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of stockholder election), then the Reference Property into which the Preferred Stock will be convertible shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration received by the holders of Common Stock that affirmatively make such an election. The Corporation shall notify Holders of such weighted average as soon as practicable after such determination is made. None of the foregoing provisions shall affect the right of a Holder of Preferred Stock to convert its Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock as set forth in Section 8(a) prior to the effective time of such Reorganization Event. Notwithstanding Section 8(e) no adjustment to the Conversion Rate shall be made for any Reorganization Event to the extent stock, securities or other property or assets become the Reference Property receivable upon conversion of Preferred Stock.

 

The Corporation shall provide, by amendment hereto effective upon any such Reorganization Event, for anti-dilution and other adjustments that shall be as nearly equivalent as is possible to the adjustments provided for in this Section 8. The provisions of this Section 8 shall apply to successive Reorganization Events.

 

In this Certificate of Designations, if the Common Stock has been replaced by Reference Property as a result of any such Reorganization Event, references to the Common Stock are intended to refer to such Reference Property.

 

(k) The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available for issuance upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock a number of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate Liquidation Preference divided by the Conversion Price on the Issue Date, and shall take all action required to increase the authorized number of shares of Common Stock if at any time there shall be insufficient unissued shares of Common Stock to permit such reservation or to permit the conversion of all Outstanding shares of Preferred Stock or the payment or partial payment of dividends declared on Preferred Stock that are payable in Common Stock.

 

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(l) For the avoidance of doubt, the Corporation shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any such certificate in a name other than that of the holder of the shares of the relevant Preferred Stock and the Corporation shall not be required to issue or deliver such certificate unless or until the Person or Persons requesting the issuance or delivery thereof shall have paid to the Corporation the amount of such tax or shall have established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Corporation that such tax has been paid.

 

(m) Shares of Preferred Stock shall immediately and permanently cease to be subject to the Conversion Cap for purposes of this Section 8 and Sections 5 and 9 upon the receipt of Shareholder Approval. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything in this Certificate of Designations to the contrary, the Conversion Cap shall not in any way limit the amounts to accrue or be paid as dividends. Shares of Preferred Stock not convertible as a result of the Conversion Cap shall remain Outstanding and shall become convertible by such Holder or another Holder to the extent the Conversion Cap no longer applies. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Conversion Cap shall have no effect on any adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to this Section 8.

 

(n) Notwithstanding Sections 8(e)(ii) and 8(e)(iii), if the Corporation has a rights plan (including, without limitation, the distribution of rights pursuant thereto to all holders of the Common Stock) in effect while any shares of Preferred Stock remain Outstanding, Holders of Preferred Stock will receive, upon conversion of Preferred Stock, in addition to the Common Stock to which a Holder is entitled (subject to the applicable limitations set forth in Section 12), a corresponding number of rights in accordance with the rights plan. If, prior to any conversion, such rights have separated from the shares of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of the applicable rights plan so that Holders of Preferred Stock would not be entitled to receive any rights in respect of the Common Stock delivered upon conversion of Preferred Stock, the Conversion Rate will be adjusted at the time of separation, as if the Corporation had distributed to all holders of its Common Stock, shares of Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness, assets, securities, property, rights, options or warrants as described in Section 8(e)(iii) above, subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights.

 

9) Mandatory Conversion .

 

(a) During the period on or after the 3-year anniversary of the Issue Date but prior to the 5-year anniversary of the Issue Date (the “ First Mandatory Conversion Period ”), the Corporation shall have the right, at its option, to give notice of its election to cause all Outstanding shares of Preferred Stock to be automatically converted into that number of whole shares of Common Stock for each share of Preferred Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Mandatory Conversion Date (subject to the applicable limitations set forth in Section 12), with cash in lieu of any fractional share pursuant to Section 10. The Corporation may exercise its right to cause a mandatory conversion pursuant to this Section 9(a) only if the Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds 140% (such percentage, the “ First Mandatory Conversion Premium ”) of the then-current Conversion Price for at least 20 Trading Days (whether or not consecutive) in a period of 30 consecutive Trading Days, including the last Trading Day of such 30 Trading Day period, ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Business Day on which the Corporation issues a press release announcing the mandatory conversion as described in Section 9(d).

 

(b) During the period on or after the 5-year anniversary of the Issue Date but prior to the 7-year anniversary of the Issue Date (the “ Second Mandatory Conversion Period ”), the Corporation shall have the right, at its option, to give notice of its election to cause all Outstanding shares of Preferred Stock to be automatically converted into that number of whole shares of Common Stock for each share of Preferred Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Mandatory Conversion Date (subject to the applicable limitations set forth in Section 12), with cash in lieu of any fractional share pursuant to Section 10. The Corporation may exercise its right to cause a mandatory conversion pursuant to this Section 9 only if the Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds 115% (such percentage, the “ Second Mandatory Conversion Premium ”) of the then-current Conversion Price for at least 20 Trading Days (whether or not consecutive) in a period of 30 consecutive Trading Days, including the last Trading Day of such 30 Trading Day period, ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Business Day on which the Corporation issues a press release announcing the mandatory conversion as described in Section 9(d).

 

  20  

 

 

(c) On or after the 7-year anniversary of the Issue Date (the “ Final Mandatory Conversion Period ”), the Corporation shall have the right, at its option, to give notice of its election to cause all Outstanding shares of Preferred Stock to be automatically converted into that number of whole shares of Common Stock for each share of Preferred Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Mandatory Conversion Date (subject to the applicable limitations set forth in Section 12), with cash in lieu of any fractional share pursuant to Section 10. The Corporation may exercise its right to cause a mandatory conversion pursuant to this Section 9(c) only if the Weighted Average Price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds the Conversion Price for at least 10 consecutive Trading Days, ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Business Day on which the Corporation issues a press release announcing the mandatory conversion as described in Section 9(d).

 

(d) To exercise any mandatory conversion right described in Sections 9(a) through 9(c), the Corporation must issue a press release for publication on the Dow Jones News Service or Bloomberg Business News (or if either such service is not available, another broadly disseminated news or press release service selected by the Corporation) prior to the open of business on the first Trading Day following any date on which the condition described in any of Sections 9(a) through 9(c) is met, announcing such a mandatory conversion. The Corporation shall also give notice by mail or by publication (with subsequent prompt notice by mail) to the Holders of the Preferred Stock (not later than 3 Business Days after the date of the press release) of the mandatory conversion announcing the Corporation’s intention to convert the Preferred Stock. The conversion date shall be a date selected by the Corporation (the “ Mandatory Conversion Date ”) and shall be no fewer than 15 Trading Days, nor more than 20 Trading Days, after the date on which the Corporation issues the press release described in this Section 9(d). Upon conversion of any Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 9, the Corporation shall deliver to the applicable Holder the applicable number of shares of Common Stock, together with any applicable cash payment in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock, on the 3 rd Business Day immediately following the relevant Mandatory Conversion Date.

 

(e) In addition to any information required by applicable law or regulation, the press release and notice of a mandatory conversion described in Section 9 shall state, as appropriate: (i) the Mandatory Conversion Date; (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of each share of Preferred Stock; and (iii) that dividends on the Preferred Stock to be converted will cease to accrue on the Mandatory Conversion Date.

 

(f) On and after the Mandatory Conversion Date, dividends shall cease to accrue on the Preferred Stock called for a mandatory conversion pursuant to Section 9 and all rights of Holders of such Preferred Stock shall terminate except for the right to receive the whole shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof with a cash payment in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock in accordance with Section 10. The full amount of any dividend payment with respect to the Preferred Stock called for a mandatory conversion pursuant to Section 9 on a date during the period beginning at the close of business on any Dividend Record Date and ending on the close of business on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date shall be payable on such Dividend Payment Date to the record holder of such share at the close of business on such Dividend Record Date if such share has been converted after such Dividend Record Date and prior to such Dividend Payment Date. Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence with respect to a mandatory conversion pursuant to Section 9, no payment or adjustment shall be made upon conversion of Preferred Stock for dividends with respect to the Common Stock issued upon such conversion thereof.

 

(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9, prior to the receipt of Shareholder Approval, shares of Preferred Stock shall not be convertible pursuant to Sections 9(a), 9(b) or 9(c) in the aggregate into more than the Conversion Cap.

 

10) No Fractional Shares . No fractional shares of Common Stock or securities representing fractional shares of Common Stock shall be delivered upon conversion, whether voluntary or mandatory, of the Preferred Stock. Instead, the Corporation will make a cash payment to each Holder that would otherwise be entitled to a fractional share based on the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the relevant Conversion Date; provided , however, that the Corporation may round such fractional share up to the next highest whole number of shares in lieu of making such cash payment.

 

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11) Preemptive Rights.

 

(a) From the Issue Date until the earlier of (x) such time as the as the Holders cease to beneficially own in the aggregate at least 350,000 shares of Preferred Stock and (y) the issuance or sale after the date hereof of $50.0 million in the aggregate of Parity Stock, if the Corporation, from time to time, makes any public or non-public offering of any Parity Stock, each Holder (each, a “ Preemptive Rights Holder ”) and such Preemptive Rights Holder’s affiliates and funds and/or accounts that are managed, advised or sub-advised by a Preemptive Rights Holder (with respect to a Preemptive Rights Holder, the “ Preemptive Rights Holder Parties ”)) shall be afforded the opportunity, whether in one or multiple offerings, to acquire from the Corporation such Preemptive Rights Holder Party’s Preemptive Rights Portion of such Parity Stock;  provided ,   that any Preemptive Rights Holder Party shall not be entitled to acquire any Parity Stock pursuant to this Section 11 to the extent the issuance of such Parity Stock to such Preemptive Rights Holder Party would require approval of the stockholders of the Corporation under applicable law or pursuant to the rules and listing standards of the NYSE American until such time as the Corporation receives such stockholder approval; provided , further , that the exercise of the preemptive rights contained in this Section 11 shall be subject to the applicable limitations set forth in Section 12.

 

(b) Subject to the foregoing proviso in Section 11(a), the amount of Parity Stock that each Preemptive Rights Holder Party shall be entitled to purchase in the aggregate shall be determined by multiplying (1) the total number of such offered shares of Parity Stock by (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Preferred Stock held by such Preemptive Rights Holder Party, as of such date, and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Preferred Stock then Outstanding, as of such date (the “ Preemptive Rights Portion ”).

 

(c) If the Corporation proposes to offer Parity Stock, it shall give each Preemptive Rights Holder written notice (an “ Offering Notice ”) of its intention, describing the anticipated price (or range of anticipated prices), anticipated amount of Parity Stock and other material terms and timing upon which the Corporation proposes to offer the same at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to such issuance (or, in the case of a registered public offering, at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to the commencement of such registered public offering) (provided that, to the extent the terms of such offering cannot reasonably be provided thirty (30) calendar days prior to such issuance, notice of such terms may be given as promptly as reasonably practicable but in no event less than ten (10) business days prior to such issuance). The Corporation may provide such Offering Notice to the Preemptive Rights Holders on a confidential basis prior to public disclosure of such offering. Other than in the case of a registered public offering, a Preemptive Rights Holder may notify the Corporation in writing at any time on or prior to the fifth business day immediately preceding the date of such issuance (the “ Unregistered Exercise Period ”) whether any of such Preemptive Rights Holder Parties will exercise such preemptive rights and as to the amount of Parity Stock such Preemptive Rights Holder Parties desires to purchase, up to the maximum amount calculated pursuant to Section 11(b). In the case of a registered public offering, a Preemptive Rights Holder Party shall notify the Corporation in writing at any time prior to the fifth business day immediately preceding the date of commencement of such registered public offering (the “ Registered Exercise Period ”) whether any of the Preemptive Rights Holder Parties will exercise such preemptive rights and as to the amount of Parity Stock each Preemptive Rights Holder Party desires to purchase, up to the maximum amount calculated pursuant to Section 11(b). Such notice to the Corporation shall constitute a binding commitment by such Preemptive Rights Holder Parties to purchase the amount of Parity Stock so specified at the price and other terms set forth in the Corporation’s notice to it. No later than two (2) business days following the expiration of the Unregistered Exercise Period or the Registered Exercise Period, as applicable, the Corporation shall give each Preemptive Rights Holder written notice (an “ Allotment Notice ”) of the amount of Parity Stock that each Preemptive Rights Holder has agreed to purchase with respect to the offering described in the applicable Offering Notice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where such number is zero). Each Preemptive Rights Holder purchasing its full Preemptive Rights Portion of Parity Stock (each, an “ Exercising Preemptive Rights Holder ”) in such offering shall have a right of overallotment such that if any other Preemptive Rights Holder fails to exercise its rights under this Section 11 to purchase its Preemptive Rights Portion (each, a “ Non-Exercising Preemptive Rights Holder ”), such Exercising Preemptive Rights Holder may purchase its pro rata portion of such Non-Exercising Preemptive Rights Holder’s Preemptive Rights Portion by giving written notice to the Corporation within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of the Allotment Notice. The failure of a Preemptive Rights Holder to respond prior to the time a response is required pursuant to this Section 11(c) shall be deemed to be a waiver of such Preemptive Rights Holder Parties’ purchase rights under this Section 11 only with respect to the offering described in the applicable Offering Notice.

 

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(d) Each Preemptive Rights Holder Party shall purchase the Parity Stock that it has elected to purchase under this Section 11 concurrently (or as otherwise contemplated within the time period specified in Section 11(c) in the event an Exercising Preemptive Rights Holder exercises its overallotment right) with the related issuance of such Parity Stock by the Corporation (subject to the receipt of any required approvals from any governmental authority to consummate such purchase by such Preemptive Rights Holder Party). If the proposed issuance by the Corporation of securities which gave rise to the exercise by the Preemptive Rights Holder Parties of its preemptive rights pursuant to this Section 11 shall be terminated or abandoned by the Corporation without the issuance of any securities, then the purchase rights of the Preemptive Rights Holder Parties pursuant to this Section 11 shall also terminate as to such proposed issuance by the Corporation (but not any subsequent or future issuance), and any funds in respect thereof paid to the Corporation by the Preemptive Rights Holder Parties in respect thereof shall be refunded in full.

 

(e) In the case of the offering of securities for consideration in whole or in part other than cash, including securities acquired in exchange therefor (other than securities by their terms so exchangeable), the consideration other than cash shall be deemed to be the fair value thereof as reasonably determined by the Board.

 

(f) The election by any Preemptive Rights Holder Party to not exercise its rights under this Section 11 in any one instance shall not affect its right as to any subsequent proposed issuance.

 

12) Beneficial Ownership Limitation; Permitted Percentage Limitation; Certain Other Transfer Restrictions .

 

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Corporation shall not effect any conversion of the Preferred Stock or issue shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Holder’s preemptive rights in Section 11, and a Holder shall not have the right to convert any portion of the Preferred Stock or exercise its preemptive rights pursuant to Section 11, in each case to the extent that, after giving effect to such conversion or exercise, such Holder would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation; provided , that in the case of a conversion pursuant to Section 5(b), Section 8 or Section 9 or an exercise pursuant to Section 11, the Corporation shall promptly (and without any additional consideration), upon the request of any Holder, waive the Beneficial Ownership limitation set forth in this Section 12(a) with respect to all or a portion (at such requesting Holder’s option) of such requesting Holder’s shares of Preferred Stock that are to be (or proposed to be) converted or purchased. For purposes of this Section 12(a), beneficial ownership of a Holder shall be calculated in accordance with Section 16(a) and 16(b) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder for purposes of determining whether such Holder is subject to the reporting and liability provisions of Section 16(a) and 16(b) of the Exchange Act. For purposes of complying with this Section 12(a), the Corporation shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the information set forth in any Holder’s Notice of Conversion or Exercise Notice, and each Holder delivering a Notice of Conversion or Exercise Notice shall be deemed to represent to the Corporation that such Notice of Conversion or Exercise Notice does not violate the restrictions set forth in this paragraph, and the Corporation shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such representation. Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Corporation shall, within 2 Trading Days, confirm orally and in writing to such Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. By written notice to the Corporation, a Holder may from time to time increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation applicable solely to such Holder to any other percentage; provided that any such increase or decrease will not be effective until the 65 th  day after such notice is delivered to the Corporation. The express purpose of this Section 12(a) is to preclude any Holder’s ownership of any shares of Preferred Stock, unless waived as set forth above, from causing such Holder to become subject to the reporting and liability provisions of Section 16(a) and 16(b) of the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Rule 16a-2 promulgated by the Commission, and this Section 12(a) shall be interpreted according to such express purpose. Solely for purposes of this Section 12(a) the term “Holder” shall include all persons whose beneficial ownership of the Common Stock is aggregated pursuant to Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act or Rule 13d-5 thereunder.

 

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Corporation shall not effect any conversion of the Preferred Stock or issue shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Holder’s preemptive rights in Section 11, and a Holder shall not have the right to convert any portion of the Preferred Stock or exercise its preemptive rights pursuant to Section 11, in each case to the extent that, after giving effect to such conversion or exercise, the number of shares of Common Stock (or any other class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock) beneficially owned by Non-U.S. Citizens (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) in the aggregate would exceed the Permitted Percentage Limitation, and (ii) the Preferred Stock shall be subject to the limitations on Non-U.S. Citizen (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) ownership set forth in the U.S. Maritime Laws (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation), and Article V (Compliance with U.S. Maritime Laws) of the Certificate of Incorporation shall be incorporated by reference herein, mutatis mutandis , and shall apply as if fully set forth herein, mutatis mutandis , to the ownership and transfer of Preferred Stock.

 

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(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Preferred Stock may be owned by or transferred to any Holder or beneficial owner that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a) (30) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and any transfer made or effected in violation of this Section 12(c) shall be void ab initio .

 

(d) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, prior to receipt of Shareholder Approval conversion of the Preferred Stock shall at all times be limited by the Conversion Cap.

 

13) Transfer Agent and Registrar . The duly appointed transfer agent (the “ Transfer Agent ”) and Registrar (the “ Registrar ”) for the Preferred Stock shall be Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. The Corporation may, in its sole discretion, remove the Transfer Agent in accordance with the agreement between the Corporation and the Transfer Agent; provided that the Corporation shall appoint a successor transfer agent who shall accept such appointment prior to the effectiveness of such removal. For the avoidance of doubt, the Corporation shall notify the Registrar in writing upon the Corporation’s or any of its Affiliates’ purchases or sales of Preferred Stock.

 

14) Certificates; Restrictions on Transfer .

 

(a) If physical certificates are issued, then the Corporation shall, upon written request of a Holder, issue certificates in definitive form representing the shares of Preferred Stock held by such Holder. Every share of Preferred Stock that bears or is required under this Section 14(a) to bear the legend set forth in Section 14(b) (together with any Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock that is required to bear the legend set forth in Section 14(b), collectively “ Restricted Securities ”) shall be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in Sections 12(b) and 12(c) and this Section 14(a) (including the legend set forth below), unless such restrictions on transfer shall be eliminated or otherwise waived by written consent of the Corporation, and the Holder of each such Restricted Security, by such Holder’s acceptance thereof, agrees to be bound by all such restrictions on transfer. As used in this Section 14(a) and in Section 14(b) the term “transfer” encompasses any sale, pledge, transfer or other disposition whatsoever of any Restricted Security.

 

Until the later of (i) the date on which such shares of Preferred Stock may be transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, or sold pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or unless otherwise agreed by the Corporation in writing with written notice thereof to the Transfer Agent), and (ii) such later date, if any, as may be required by applicable law (the “ Resale Restriction Termination Date ”), any certificate evidencing such Preferred Stock (and all securities issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof, other than Common Stock, if any, issued upon conversion thereof, which shall bear the legend set forth in Section 14(b) if applicable) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

THIS SHARE OF PREFERRED STOCK AND THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS SHARE OF PREFERRED STOCK HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SHARE OF PREFERRED STOCK NOR THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS SHARE OF PREFERRED STOCK NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN OR THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING:

 

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BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER:

 

1. REPRESENTS THAT IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT, AND
     
2. AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF NRC GROUP HOLDINGS CORP. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS HENNESSY CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. III) (THE “COMPANY”) THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THE LATER OF (X) ONE (1) YEAR OR SUCH OTHER PERIOD OF TIME AS PERMITTED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THERETO AFTER THE LAST DATE OF INITIAL ISSUANCE HEREOF, AND (Y) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EXCEPT:

 

(A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, OR
     
(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR
     
(C) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR
     
(D) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH CLAUSE (2) (D) ABOVE, THE COMPANY AND THE TRANSFER AGENT RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

3. ACKNOWLEDGES THAT NO PREFERRED STOCK MAY BE OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY HOLDER OR BENEFICIAL OWNER THAT IS NOT A “UNITED STATES PERSON” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 7701(A)(30) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED, AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER, AND ANY TRANSFER MADE OR EFFECTED IN VIOLATION OF THIS REQUIREMENT SHALL BE VOID AB INITIO.

 

No transfer of any Preferred Stock prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date will be registered by the Registrar (and shall not be effective) unless the applicable box on the Form of Assignment and Transfer attached hereto as Exhibit B has been checked (it being understood that the checking of such box shall not substitute for satisfaction of any other applicable transfer restrictions).

 

Any share of Preferred Stock (or security issued in exchange or substitution therefor) as to which such restrictions on transfer shall have expired in accordance with their terms may, upon surrender of such Preferred Stock for exchange to the Registrar, be exchanged for a new share or shares of Preferred Stock, of like aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock, which shall not bear the restrictive legend required by this Section 14(a) and shall not be assigned a restricted CUSIP number.

 

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(b) Until the Resale Restriction Termination Date, any stock certificate representing Common Stock issued upon conversion of Preferred Stock shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (unless such Common Stock has been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, or pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or such Common Stock has been issued upon conversion of shares of Preferred Stock that have been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, or pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or unless otherwise agreed by the Corporation with written notice thereof to the Transfer Agent):

 

THIS SHARE OF COMMON STOCK HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SHARE OF COMMON STOCK NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING:

 

BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER:

 

1. REPRESENTS THAT IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT, AND

 

2. AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF NRC GROUP HOLDINGS CORP. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS HENNESSY CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. III) (THE “COMPANY”) THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THE LATER OF (X) ONE YEAR OR SUCH OTHER PERIOD OF TIME AS PERMITTED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THERETO AFTER THE LAST DATE OF INITIAL ISSUANCE OF THE PREFERRED STOCK FROM WHICH THIS SHARE OF COMMON STOCK WAS CONVERTED, AND (Y) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EXCEPT:

 

(A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, OR
   
(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR
   
(C) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR
   
(D) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT

 

PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH CLAUSE (2)(D) ABOVE, THE COMPANY AND THE TRANSFER AGENT RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

Any such Common Stock as to which such restrictions on transfer shall have expired in accordance with their terms may, upon surrender of the certificates representing such shares of Common Stock for exchange in accordance with the procedures of the Transfer Agent, be exchanged for a new certificate or certificates for a like aggregate number of shares of Common Stock, which shall not bear the restrictive legend required by this Section 14(b). Until the Resale Restriction Termination Date, no transfer of any Common Stock issued upon conversion of Preferred Stock will be registered by the Registrar (and shall not be effective) unless the applicable box on the Form of Assignment and Transfer attached hereto as Exhibit B has been checked (it being understood that the checking of such box shall not substitute for satisfaction of any other applicable transfer restrictions).

 

(c) The Preferred Stock shall initially be issued with a restricted CUSIP number.

 

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15) Paying Agent and Conversion Agent .

 

(a) The Corporation shall maintain in the United States (i) an office or agency where Preferred Stock may be presented for payment (the “ Paying Agent ”) and (ii) an office or agency where, in accordance with the terms hereof, Preferred Stock may be presented for conversion (the “ Conversion Agent ”). The Transfer Agent may act as Paying Agent and Conversion Agent, unless another Paying Agent or Conversion Agent is appointed by the Corporation. The Corporation may appoint the Registrar, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent and may appoint one or more additional paying agents and one or more additional conversion agents in such other locations as it shall determine. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent and the term “Conversion Agent” includes any additional conversion agent. The Corporation may change any Paying Agent or Conversion Agent without prior notice to any Holder. The Corporation shall notify the Registrar of the name and address of any Paying Agent or Conversion Agent appointed by the Corporation. If the Corporation fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, the Registrar shall act as such or the Corporation or any of its Affiliates shall act as Paying Agent, Registrar or Conversion Agent.

 

(b) Payments due on the Preferred Stock shall be payable at the office or agency of the Corporation maintained for such purpose in The City of New York and at any other office or agency maintained by the Corporation for such purpose. Payments of cash shall be payable by United States dollar check drawn on, or wire transfer (provided, that appropriate wire instructions have been received by the Registrar at least 15 days prior to the applicable date of payment) to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the Holder with, a bank located in New York City; provided that at the option of the Corporation, payment of cash dividends may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Preferred Stock register.

 

16) Form .

 

(a) The Preferred Stock shall be issued in the form of one or more permanent global shares of Preferred Stock in definitive, fully registered form eligible for book-entry settlement with the global legend (the “ Global Shares Legend ”) as set forth on the form of Preferred Stock certificate attached hereto as Exhibit C (each, a “ Global Preferred Share ”), which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made part of this Certificate of Designations. The Global Preferred Shares may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rules, agreements to which the Corporation is subject, if any, or usage (provided, that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Corporation). The Global Preferred Shares shall be deposited on behalf of the Holders represented thereby with the Registrar, at its New York office as custodian for DTC (the “ Depositary ”), and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, duly executed by the Corporation and countersigned and registered by the Registrar as hereinafter provided. The aggregate number of shares represented by each Global Preferred Share may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Registrar and the Depositary or its nominee as hereinafter provided.

 

This Section 16(a) shall apply only to a Global Preferred Share deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary. The Corporation shall execute and the Registrar shall, in accordance with this Section 16(a) countersign and deliver any Global Preferred Shares that (i) shall be registered in the name of Cede & Co. or other nominee of the Depositary and (ii) shall be delivered by the Registrar to Cede & Co. or pursuant to instructions received from Cede & Co. or held by the Registrar as custodian for the Depositary pursuant to an agreement between the Depositary and the Registrar. Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“ Agent Members ”) shall have no rights under this Certificate of Designations with respect to any Global Preferred Share held on their behalf by the Depositary or by the Registrar as the custodian of the Depositary, or under such Global Preferred Share, and the Depositary may be treated by the Corporation, the Registrar and any agent of the Corporation or the Registrar as the absolute owner of such Global Preferred Share for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Corporation, the Registrar or any agent of the Corporation or the Registrar from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of the Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Preferred Share. The Holder of the Global Preferred Shares may grant proxies or otherwise authorize any Person to take any action that a Holder is entitled to take pursuant to the Global Preferred Shares, this Certificate of Designations or the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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Owners of beneficial interests in Global Preferred Shares shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated shares of Preferred Stock, unless (x) the Depositary notifies the Corporation that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Preferred Shares and the Corporation does not appoint a qualified replacement for the Depositary within 90 days or (y) the Depositary ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and the Corporation does not appoint a qualified replacement for the Depositary within 90 days. In any such case, the Global Preferred Shares shall be exchanged in whole for definitive stock certificates that are not issued in global form, with the same terms and of an equal aggregate Liquidation Preference, and such definitive stock certificates shall be registered in the name or names of the Person or Persons specified by the Depositary in a written instrument to the Registrar.

 

(b) Signature . Two Officers permitted by applicable law shall sign each Global Preferred Share for the Corporation, in accordance with the Corporation’s Bylaws and applicable law, by manual or facsimile signature. If an Officer whose signature is on a Global Preferred Share no longer holds that office at the time the Registrar countersigned such Global Preferred Share, such Global Preferred Share shall be valid nevertheless. A Global Preferred Share shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Registrar manually countersigns such Global Preferred Share. Each Global Preferred Share shall be dated the date of its countersignature. The foregoing paragraph shall likewise apply to any certificate representing shares of Preferred Stock.

 

17) Other Provisions .

 

(a) With respect to any notice to a Holder of shares of Preferred Stock required to be provided hereunder, neither failure to mail such notice, nor any defect therein or in the mailing thereof, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of the notice or the validity of the proceedings referred to in such notice with respect to the other Holders or affect the legality or validity of any distribution, rights, warrant, reclassification, consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, or the vote upon any such action. Any notice which was mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Holder receives the notice.

 

(b) Shares of Preferred Stock that have been issued and reacquired in any manner, including shares of Preferred Stock that are purchased or exchanged or converted, shall (upon compliance with any applicable provisions of the laws of Delaware) have the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock of the Corporation undesignated as to series and may be designated or redesignated and issued or reissued, as the case may be, as part of any series of preferred stock of the Corporation; provided that any issuance of such shares as Preferred Stock must be in compliance with the terms hereof.

 

(c) The shares of Preferred Stock shall be issuable only in whole shares.

 

(d) If any applicable law requires the deduction or withholding of any tax from any payment or deemed dividend to a Holder on its Preferred Stock, the Corporation or an applicable withholding agent may withhold such tax on cash dividends, shares of Preferred Stock, Common Stock or sale proceeds paid, subsequently paid or credited with respect to such Holder or his successors and assigns.

 

(e) All notice periods referred to herein shall commence on the date of the mailing of the applicable notice that initiates such notice period. Notice to any Holder shall be given to the registered address set forth in the Corporation’s records for such Holder.

 

(f) To the extent lawful to do so, the Corporation shall provide the Holders prior written notice of any cash dividend or distribution to be made to the holders of Common Stock, with such notice to be made no later than the notice thereof provided to all holders of Common Stock of the Corporation.

 

(g) Any payment required to be made hereunder on any day that is not a Business Day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no interest or dividends on such payment will accrue or accumulate, as the case may be, in respect of such delay.

 

(h) Holders of Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any preemptive rights to acquire additional capital stock of the Corporation.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate of Designations as of October 17, 2018.

 

  NRC GROUP HOLDINGS CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Daniel J. Hennessy
  Name: Daniel J. Hennessy
  Title: Chairman of the Board and
    Chief Executive Officer

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

[FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION]

 

(To be executed by the registered holder in order to convert the Preferred Stock)

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to convert (the “ Conversion ”) shares of 7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock (the “ Preferred Stock ”) of NRC Group Holdings Corp. (the “ Corporation ”), represented by stock certificate

 

No(s). ____________________________________________________________________________

 

(the “ Preferred Stock Certificate(s) ”), into shares of common stock (the “ Common Stock ”) of the Corporation according to the conditions of the Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of the Preferred Stock (the “ Certificate of Designations ”). A copy of each Preferred Stock Certificate(s) are attached hereto (or evidence of loss, theft or destruction thereof).

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in or pursuant to the Certificate of Designations.

 

Number of shares of Preferred Stock to be converted: ____________________________________________

 

Number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned prior to Conversion (excluding shares issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock):

 

Name or Names (with addresses) in which the certificate or certificate for any shares of Common Stock to be issued are to be registered 1 :

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

Signature: _____________________________________________________________________________

 

Name of registered holder: _________________________________________________________________

 

Fax No.: ______________________________________________________________________________

 

Telephone No.: ________________________________________________________________________

 

 

1 The Corporation is not required to issue shares of Common Stock until you, if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents.

 

  Exh A- 1  

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER]

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers the shares of Preferred Stock/Common Stock evidenced hereby to:

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax identification number)

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

(Insert address and zip code of assignee)

 

and irrevocably appoints:

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

agent to transfer the shares of Preferred Stock/Common Stock evidenced hereby on the books of the Transfer Agent. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.

 

In connection with any transfer of the within share of Preferred Stock/Common Stock occurring prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, as defined in the Certificate of Designations, the undersigned confirms that such Preferred Stock/Common Stock is being transferred:

 

To NRC Group Holdings Corp. or a Subsidiary thereof; or
   
Pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; or
   
Pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; or
   
Pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Date:            _____________________________

 

Signature:   _____________________________

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Preferred Stock/Common Stock)

 

Signature Guarantee: _____________________________ 2

 

 

2 Signature must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the requirements of the Transfer Agent, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Transfer Agent in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.)

 

  Exh B- 1  

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

[FORM OF PREFERRED STOCK CERTIFICATE]

 

FACE OF SECURITY

 

[ THIS GLOBAL CERTIFICATE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS GOVERNING THIS CERTIFICATE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THIS GLOBAL CERTIFICATE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRANSFER AGENT FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 15) OF THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS AND (2) THIS GLOBAL CERTIFICATE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS.

 

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK IN CERTIFICATED FORM, THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”) TO THE CORPORATION OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.] 3

 

THIS SHARE OF PREFERRED STOCK AND THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS SHARE OF PREFERRED STOCK HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SHARE OF PREFERRED STOCK NOR THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS SHARE OF PREFERRED STOCK NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN OR THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING:

 

BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER:

 

1. REPRESENTS THAT IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT, AND

  

 

3 Insert if a global security

 

  Exh C- 1  

 

 

2. AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF NRC GROUP HOLDINGS CORP. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS HENNESSY CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. III) (THE “COMPANY”) THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THE LATER OF (X) ONE (1) YEAR OR SUCH OTHER PERIOD OF TIME AS PERMITTED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THERETO AFTER THE LAST DATE OF INITIAL ISSUANCE HEREOF, AND (Y) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EXCEPT:

 

(A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, OR

 

(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

 

(C) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

 

(D) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH CLAUSE (2) (D) ABOVE, THE COMPANY AND THE TRANSFER AGENT RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

  Exh C- 2  

 

 

Certificate Number [ ] Number of Shares of
  Series A Preferred Stock [   ]
  CUSIP No.: [   ]
  ISIN No. [   ]

 

7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock

(par value $0.0001 per share)

(liquidation preference $100.00 per share)

OF

NRC GROUP HOLDINGS CORP.

 

(formerly known as Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III)

 

NRC GROUP HOLDINGS CORP. (formerly known as Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III), a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), hereby certifies that Cede & Co. or registered assigns (the “ Holder ”) is the registered owner of fully paid and non-assessable shares of preferred stock of the Corporation designated the “7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock,” par value $0.0001 per share and liquidation preference $100.00 per share (the “ Series A Preferred Stock ”). The shares of Series A Preferred Stock are transferable on the books and records of the Registrar, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Series A Preferred Stock represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Designations of the Corporation, dated October 17, 2018, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms (the “ Certificate of Designations ”). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the respective meanings given them in the Certificate of Designations. The Corporation will provide a copy of the Certificate of Designations to a Holder without charge upon written request to the Corporation at its principal place of business.

 

Reference is hereby made to select provisions of the Series A Preferred Stock set forth on the reverse hereof, and to the Certificate of Designations, which select provisions and the Certificate of Designations shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Certificate of Designations and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.

 

Unless the Transfer Agent’s Certificate of Authentication hereon has been properly executed, the shares of Series A Preferred Stock evidenced hereby shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Certificate of Designations or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, NRC Group Holdings Corp. has executed this Certificate of Designations as of the date set forth below.

 

  NRC GROUP HOLDINGS CORP.
     
  By:       
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

Dated: ______________________

 

  Exh C- 3  

 

 

TRANSFER AGENT’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the certificates representing shares of Preferred Stock referred to in the within mentioned Certificate of Designations.

 

  Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Transfer Agent
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

 

Dated: ______________________

 

  Exh C- 4  

 

 

REVERSE OF SECURITY

 

NRC GROUP HOLDINGS CORP.

 

(formerly known as Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III)

 

7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock

 

Dividends on each share of 7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be payable in cash at a rate per annum set forth on the face hereof or as provided in the Certificate of Designations.

 

The shares of 7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be redeemable as provided in the Certificate of Designations. The 7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock shall be convertible into the Corporation’s Common Stock in the manner and according to the terms set forth in the Certificate of Designations. Upon a Change of Control, holders of shares of 7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock will have the right to require the Corporation to purchase such shares in the manner and according to the terms set forth in the Certificate of Designations.

 

As required under Delaware law, the Corporation shall furnish to any Holder upon request and without charge, a full summary statement of the designations, voting rights preferences, limitations and special rights of the shares of each class or series authorized to be issued by the Corporation so far as they have been fixed and determined.

 

  Exh C- 5  

 

 

ASSIGNMENT

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers the shares of 7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock evidenced hereby to:

 

 

 

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax identification number)

 

(Insert address and zip code of assignee)

 

 

 

and irrevocably appoints:

 

agent to transfer the shares of 7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock evidenced hereby on the books of the Transfer Agent and Registrar. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.

 

Date:            _____________________________

 

Signature:   _____________________________

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this certificate for 7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock)

 

Signature

Guarantee: _____________________________ 4

 

 

4 Signature must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” (i.e., a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union) meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

  Exh C- 6  

 

 

NOTICE OF CONVERSION

 

(To be Executed by the Registered Holder 

in Order to Convert the 7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock)

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to convert (the “ Conversion ”) _____________ shares of 7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock (the “ Series A Preferred Stock ”), represented by stock certificate No(s). ___________________ (the “ Series A Preferred Stock Certificates ”), into shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Common Stock ”), of NRC Group Holdings Corp. (the “ Corporation ”) according to the conditions of the Certificate of Designations establishing the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock (the “ Certificate of Designations ”), as of the date written below. If shares are to be issued in the name of a person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto and is delivering herewith such certificates (unless it can be established that no such taxes are payable). No fee will be charged to the holder for any conversion, except for transfer taxes, if any. A copy of each Series A Preferred Stock Certificate is attached hereto (or evidence of loss, theft or destruction thereof).

 

The Corporation is not required to issue shares of Common Stock (i) unless the conditions for conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock set forth in Section 8 of the Certificate of Designations have been satisfied and (ii) until the original Series A Preferred Stock Certificate(s) (or evidence of loss, theft or destruction thereof) to be converted are received by the Corporation or its Transfer Agent. If the foregoing conditions have been satisfied, the Corporation shall issue and deliver shares of Common Stock to an overnight courier not later than two Business Days following receipt of the original Series A Preferred Stock Certificate(s) to be converted.

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in or pursuant to the Certificate of Designations.

 

Date of Conversion: _______________________________________________________________________________

 

Applicable Conversion Rate: ________________________________________________________________________

 

Number of Shares of 7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock to be Converted: ___________________

 

Number of Shares of Common Stock to be Issued: _______________________________________________________

 

Signature: _______________________________________________________________________________________

 

Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Address 5 : _______________________________________________________________________________________

 

Fax No.: ________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

5 Address where shares of Common Stock and any other payments or certificates shall be sent by the Corporation.

 

  Exh C- 7  

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES FOR GLOBAL SECURITY

 

The initial number of shares of 7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock represented by this Global Preferred Share shall be 1,050,000. The following exchanges of a part of this Global Preferred Share have been made:

 

Date of Exchange   Amount of decrease in number of shares represented by this Global Preferred Share   Amount of increase in number of shares represented by this Global Preferred Share   Number of shares represented by this Global Preferred Share following such decrease or increase   Signature of authorized officer of Registrar
                 
                 

 

  8  

 

 

ANNEX A

 

FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE ADDITIONAL SHARES

 

Fundamental Change Additional Shares

 

Common Shares Delivered for Each Preferred Share ($100.00 Face Value)

 

 

 

*The Acquisition Price Per Share (that is, the column headers) will be adjusted as of any date on which the Conversion Rate is adjusted. The adjusted Acquisition Price Per Share will equal the Acquisition Price Per Share applicable immediately prior to such adjustment multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Conversion Rate immediately prior to such adjustment and the denominator of which is the Conversion Rate as so adjusted. As used in this Fundamental Change Additional Shares table, Acquisition Price Per Share shall be determined in the same manner as the Holder Stock Price (as defined in Section 5(b)) of the Certificate of Designations).

 

**If the stock price is between two stock prices in the table, the number of Fundamental Change Additional Shares will be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of additional shares set forth for the higher and lower stock prices, as applicable.

 

***If the stock price is greater than $60.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Acquisition Price Per Share set forth in the column headings of the table above), no Fundamental Change Additional Shares will be added to the Conversion Rate.

 

****If the stock price is less than $10.23 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Acquisition Price Per Share set forth in the column headings of the table above), no Fundamental Change Additional Shares will be added to the Conversion Rate.

 

*****The values set forth in this Fundamental Change Additional Shares table beside the applicable date will be adjusted as of any date on which the Conversion Rate is adjusted in the same manner as set forth in Section 8(e) of the Certificate of Designations.

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT  (this “ Agreement ”), effective as of October 17, 2018, is made and entered into by and among Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), Hennessy Capital Partners III LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Sponsor ”), each of the undersigned parties that holds Founder Shares (as defined below) and is identified as an “Other Pre-IPO Holder” on the signature pages hereto (collectively, with the Sponsor, the “ Pre-IPO Holders ”), Nomura Securities International, Inc., a New York corporation (“ Nomura ”), SBTS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Cyrus ”), Linden Capital L.P., a Bermuda limited partnership (“ Linden ”), Touchstone Funds Group Trust – Touchstone Arbitrage Fund, (“ Touchstone TAF ”), Touchstone Merger Arbitrage Fund (together with Touchstone TAF, “ Longfellow ”) and BEMAP Master Fund Ltd (“ BEMAP ”), Monashee Capital Master Fund LP (“ MCMF ”), Monashee Pure Alpha Capital Master Fund LP (“ MPACMF ”), Kiski (Cayman) Master Fund Ltd. (together with BEMAP, MCMF, and MPACMF, “ Monashee ” and collectively, and together with Linden and Longfellow, the “ Other Investors ”), JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ JFL Seller ”), JFL-NRCG Holdings III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ JFL III ”) and JFL-NRCG Holdings IV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ JFL IV ”) (each of the foregoing parties (other than the Company) and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to  Section 5.2  of this Agreement, a “ Holder ” and collectively, the “ Holders ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS , each of the Company and the Pre-IPO Holders is a party to, and hereby consents to, this amendment and restatement of that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 22, 2017 (the “ Original Registration Rights Agreement ”) , pursuant to which the Company granted the Pre-IPO Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth therein;

 

WHEREAS , the Company and the Sponsor previously entered into that certain Securities Purchase Agreement (the “ Founder Shares Purchase Agreement ”), dated as of March 31, 2017, pursuant to which the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 7,906,250 shares (1,490,000 of which were subsequently cancelled or forfeited) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), which were issued in a private placement prior to the closing of the Company’s IPO (as defined below) (such pre-IPO shares being referred to herein as the “ Founder Shares ”);

 

WHEREAS,  the Sponsor and certain of the officers, directors and advisors of the Company entered into that certain Securities Assignment Agreement, dated as of May 23, 2017, pursuant to which the Sponsor transferred an aggregate of 1,125,000 Founder Shares to such persons for an aggregate purchase price of $3,375.00;

 

 

 

 

WHEREAS , on June 20, 2017, the Company and the Sponsor entered into that certain Third Amended and Restated Sponsor Warrants Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which the Sponsor purchased 9,600,000 warrants (the “ Sponsor Warrants ”), in a private placement transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering (the “ IPO ”);

 

WHEREAS , the Company and JFL Seller have entered into that certain Purchase Agreement (as may be amended from time to time, the “ Purchase Agreement ”), dated as of June 25, 2018, pursuant to which, on the Effective Date (as defined below), the Company will purchase the issued and outstanding membership interests of NRC Group Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ NRC Acquisition ”);

 

WHEREAS,  pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, JFL Seller will be entitled to receive, as partial consideration for the membership interests of NRC Group Holdings, LLC purchased in the NRC Acquisition, (i) a specified number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock equal to the Purchase Price Common Stock (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), (ii) any shares of the Company’s Common Stock that may be issued as consideration for the Potential Acquisition Earnout Amount (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), and (iii) any additional shares of the Company’s Common Stock received by JFL Seller in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement (all such shares to be issued upon closing of the NRC Acquisition or in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement being referred to hereafter as the “ JFL Seller Shares ”);

 

WHEREAS , concurrently with the execution of the Purchase Agreement, on June 25, 2018, the Company and the Sponsor entered into that Warrant Exchange and Share Forfeiture Agreement, pursuant to which the Sponsor has agreed that immediately prior to (and contingent upon) the closing of the NRC Acquisition, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, (a) the Sponsor shall exchange all of the Sponsor Warrants for 1,920,000 newly issued shares of the Company’s Common Stock (“ New Sponsor Shares ”), and (b) the Sponsor shall transfer to the Company for forfeiture, 1,920,000 of the Founder Shares then held by the Sponsor;

 

WHEREAS,  concurrently with the execution of the Purchase Agreement, on June 25, 2018, the Company and Nomura entered into that certain Backstop and Subscription Agreement (the “ Nomura Subscription Agreement ”), pursuant to which, on or prior to the Effective Date, the Company will issue and sell to Nomura an aggregate of 132,500 shares (at a face value of $100.00 per share) of the Company’s 7.00% Series A Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”), each share of Preferred Stock being convertible into shares of Common Stock (the “ Underlying Common Shares ”) on the terms provided in the Certificate of Designations, Preferences, Rights and Limitations of the Preferred Stock (the “ Certificate of Designations ”) (the shares of Preferred Stock (and the Underlying Common Shares) being issued to Nomura pursuant to the Nomura Subscription Agreement and the shares of Common Stock issuable as dividend payments on the Preferred Stock under Sections 3 and 4 of the Certificate of Designations, being referred to collectively herein as the “ Nomura Shares ”);

 

  - 2 -  

 

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Subscription Agreement, dated as of June 25, 2018 (the “ JFL Subscription Agreement ”), by and among the Company, Sponsor, and J.F. Lehman & Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, pursuant to which, on the Effective Date, JFL III and JFL IV will acquire (a) an aggregate of 300,000 shares of Preferred Stock on the terms provided in the Certificate of Designations and (b) an aggregate of 2,058,173 shares of Common Stock (the shares of Preferred Stock (and the Underlying Common Shares) and the shares of Common Stock being acquired by JFL III and JFL IV pursuant to the JFL Subscription Agreement, and the shares of Common Stock issuable as dividend payments on the Preferred Stock under Sections 3 and 4 of the Certificate of Designations, being referred to collectively herein as the “ JFL Subscription Shares ,” and, together with the JFL Seller Shares, the “ JFL Shares ”);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Subscription Agreement, dated as of August 24, 2018 (the “ Cyrus Subscription Agreement ”), by and between the Company and Cyrus Capital Partners, L.P., pursuant to which, on the Effective Date, the Company will issue and sell to Cyrus (a) an aggregate of 530,000 shares of Preferred Stock on the terms provided in the Certificate of Designations and (b) an aggregate of 1,463,415 shares of Common Stock (the shares of Preferred Stock (and the Underlying Common Shares) and the shares of Common Stock being issued to Cyrus pursuant to the Cyrus Subscription Agreement, and shares of Common Stock issuable as dividend payments on the Preferred Stock under Sections 3 and 4 of the Certificate of Designations, being referred to collectively herein as the “ Cyrus Shares ”); and

 

WHEREAS,  the Company and each of the Other Investors have entered into those certain Subscription Agreements, dated between August 6 and August 16, 2018 (collectively, and together with the Nomura Subscription Agreement and Cyrus Subscription Agreement, the “ Investor Agreements ”), pursuant to which, on the Effective Date, the Company will issue and sell to the Other Investors (a) an aggregate of 87,500 shares of Preferred Stock (at a face value of $100.00 per share) on the terms provided in the Certificate of Designations and (b) an aggregate of 487,805 shares of Common Stock (the shares of Preferred Stock (and the Underlying Common Shares) and the shares of Common Stock being issued to the Other Investors pursuant to such Subscription Agreements, and the shares of Common Stock issuable as dividend payments on the Preferred Stock under Sections 3 and 4 of the Certificate of Designations, together with the Nomura Shares and the Cyrus Shares, being referred to collectively herein as the “ PIPE Shares ”); and

 

WHEREAS , the Company and the Holders desire to enter into this Agreement in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, the JFL Subscription Agreement and the Investor Agreements, as applicable, to amend and restate the Original Registration Rights Agreement to provide certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW ,  THEREFORE , in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

  - 3 -  

 

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

1.1 Definitions . The terms defined in this  Article I  shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:

 

Adverse Disclosure ” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the principal executive officer of the Company, principal financial officer of the Company or principal legal officer of the Company, after consultation with an outside recognized securities law counsel to the Company, (a) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (b) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (c) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.

 

Affiliate ” shall mean when used with reference to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controlling, controlled by or under common control with such first Person and, when used with reference to any natural person, shall also include such person’s spouse, parents and descendants (whether by blood or adoption, and including stepchildren) and the spouses of such persons.

 

Agreement ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

BEMAP ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Blackout Period ” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.3 .

 

Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Certificate of Designations ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Commission ” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Stock ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Company ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Cyrus ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Cyrus Shares ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Cyrus Subscription Agreement ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Demand Registration ” shall have the meaning given in  subsection 2.1.4 .

 

Demand Registration Requesting Holder ” shall have the meaning given in  subsection 2.1.4 .

 

  - 4 -  

 

 

Demand Right Holders ” shall mean the Pre-IPO Demanding Holders, the PIPE Demanding Holders and JFL.

 

Demanding Holder ” shall mean a Demand Right Holder who has made a written demand pursuant to  subsection 2.1.3 2.1.4 or  2.1.6 , as applicable.

 

Effective Date ” shall mean the date the Company consummates the NRC Acquisition.

 

Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

Form S-1 ” shall have the meaning given in  subsection 2.1.4 .

 

Form S-3 ” shall have the meaning given in  subsection 2.1.1 .

 

Founder Shares ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Founder Shares Purchase Agreement ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Holders ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Investor Agreements ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

IPO ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

JFL ” shall mean, collectively, JFL III, JFL IV and JFL Seller and any of their respective Affiliates, subsidiaries and managed funds and its and their successors and assigns (other than the Company and its subsidiaries) who are Permitted Transferees, in each case to the extent the foregoing is a Holder of Registrable Securities. 

 

JFL III ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

JFL IV ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

JFL Seller ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

JFL Seller Shares ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

JFL Shares ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

JFL Subscription Agreement ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

JFL Subscription Shares ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Linden ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

  - 5 -  

 

 

Lock-Up Agreement ” shall mean that certain Lock-Up Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, by and between JFL Seller and the Company, entered into pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

Lock-up Period ” shall mean the applicable lock-up periods for the Holders set forth in the Investor Agreements, the Lock-Up Agreement and the Founder Shares Purchase Agreement.

 

Longfellow ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Material Adverse Change ” shall mean (a) any general suspension of trading in, or limitation on prices for, securities on any national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market in the United States; (b) the declaration of a banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of banks in the United States; (c) a material outbreak or escalation of armed hostilities or other international or national calamity involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or a change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions; or (d) any event, change, circumstance or effect that is or is reasonably likely to be materially adverse to the business, properties, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

Maximum Number of Securities ” shall have the meaning given in  subsection 2.1.7 .

 

MCMF ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Misstatement ” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading.

 

Monashee ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

MPACMF ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

New Sponsor Shares ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Nomura ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Nomura Shares ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Nomura Subscription Agreement ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

NRC Acquisition ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Other Investors ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

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Original Registration Rights Agreement ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

Permitted Transferee ” shall mean, with respect to each Holder of Registrable Securities, a person or entity to whom a Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the applicable Lock-up Period under any of the following agreements if such Holder is a party thereto or otherwise bound thereby: the Investor Agreements, the Lock-Up Agreement, the Founder Shares Purchase Agreement and any letter agreement with the Company, and in the case of the Sponsor, under the Sponsor’s limited liability company agreement, in each case in accordance with and without violating such agreement; provided, however, a person shall not be a Permitted Transferee under this Agreement unless and until such person has entered into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by the same transfer restrictions the transferring Holder is bound by pursuant to the Investor Agreements, the Lock-Up Agreement, the Founder Shares Purchase Agreement and, if applicable, such other agreements to which such transferring Holder is a party or otherwise bound thereby; provided, further, that no transferee, to be a Permitted Transferee under this Agreement, shall be required to enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by transfer restrictions under any of the foregoing agreements to the extent the transferring Holder is not party to or otherwise bound by such transfer restrictions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to the JFL Subscription Shares, Permitted Transferees shall include JFL III, JFL IV and JFL Seller and each of their respective direct and indirect equity holders, Affiliates, subsidiaries and managed funds and its and their successors and permitted assigns (other than the Company and its subsidiaries).

 

Person ” shall mean a company, a corporation, an association, a partnership, a limited liability company, an organization, a joint venture, a trust or other legal entity, an individual, a government or political subdivision thereof or a governmental agency.

 

Piggyback Registration ” shall have the meaning given in  subsection 2.2.1 .

 

PIPE Demanding Holder ” shall mean each of Cyrus and Nomura, to the extent Cyrus or Nomura initiates a demand pursuant to  subsection 2.1.3 2.1.4 or  2.1.6 , as applicable.

 

PIPE Holder ” shall mean Cyrus, Nomura, the Other Investors or any of their respective Affiliates or their respective Permitted Transferees, in each case who is a Holder of Registrable Securities.

 

PIPE Shares ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Pre-IPO Demanding Holders ” shall mean the Pre-IPO Holders (or any of their respective Affiliates or their respective Permitted Transferees, in each case who is a Holder of Registrable Securities) initiating a demand pursuant to  subsection 2.1.3 2.1.4  or  2.1.6 , as applicable, and representing at least a majority in interest of the then outstanding number of Registrable Securities held by the Pre-IPO Holders in the aggregate.

 

Pre-IPO Holders ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

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Preferred Stock ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Pro Rata ” shall have the meaning given in  subsection 2.1.7 .

 

Prospectus ” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (and the Shelf Prospectus in the case of the Shelf Registration Statement), as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

 

Purchase Agreement ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Registrable Security ” shall mean (a) the JFL Shares, (b) the Founder Shares, (c) the New Sponsor Shares, (d) the PIPE Shares issued pursuant to (or issuable under) the Investor Agreements and Certificate of Designations, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that are issuable by the Company as dividend payments on the Preferred Stock in accordance with Sections 3 and 4 of the Certificate of Designations, (e) the Underlying Common Shares, (f) any outstanding shares of the Common Stock or any other equity security (including the shares of the Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise or exchange of any other equity security) of the Company held by a Holder as of the date of this Agreement, and (g) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any such share of the Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, distribution, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization or other similar event;  provided however , that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (i) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (ii) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (iii) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (iv) such securities may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (but with no volume or other restrictions or limitations); or (v) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.

 

Registration ” shall mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.

 

Registration Expenses ” shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:

 

(a) all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) and any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;

 

  - 8 -  

 

 

(b) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);

 

(c) internal fees and expenses of the Company;

 

(d) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;

 

(e) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;

 

(f) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and

 

(g) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Holders in connection with each Registration to represent the interests of the Holders, except, in connection with a Demand Registration, legal counsel shall be selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders (and, in any event, so selected with the approval of JFL, but only to the extent that JFL is participating in such Demand Registration) initiating a Demand Registration to be registered for offer and sale in the applicable Registration.

 

Registration Statement ” shall mean any registration statement (including the Shelf Registration Statement) that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement (and the Shelf Prospectus in the case of the Shelf Registration Statement), amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

Requesting Holder ” shall mean the Demand Registration Requesting Holders and the Underwritten Shelf Offering Requesting Holders, as applicable.

 

SEC Comments ” shall have the meaning given in  subsection 2.1.1 .

 

Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

Shelf Prospectus ” shall have the meaning given in  subsection 2.1.1 .

 

Shelf Registration Statement ” shall have the meaning given in  subsection 2.1.1 .

 

Shelf Registration Statement Effective Period ” shall have the meaning given in  subsection 2.1.1 .

 

Shelf Takedown ” shall have the meaning given in  subsection 2.1.2 .

 

Shelf Takedown Notice ” shall have the meaning given in  subsection 2.1.2 .

 

Sponsor ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

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Sponsor Warrants ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Touchstone TAF ” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

Underlying Common Shares ” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

Underwriter ” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.

 

Underwritten Offering ” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.

 

Underwritten Shelf Offering Requesting Holder ” shall have the meaning given in  subsection 2.1.3 .

 

ARTICLE II
REGISTRATIONS

 

2.1 Shelf Registration Statement; Demand Registration .

 

2.1.1 Shelf Registration Statement . The Company shall (a) as soon as reasonably practicable within sixty (60) days after the Effective Date, file with the Commission a shelf registration statement (the “ Shelf Registration Statement ”) under the Securities Act on Form S-3 (or any successor form or similar short-form registration involving a similar amount of disclosure constituting a “shelf” registration statement for a public offering to be made on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act) (“ Form S-3 ”) that covers all Registrable Securities then held by the Holders for a public offering to be made on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule thereto) and includes a Prospectus (the “ Shelf Prospectus ”) that permits the disposition of all Registrable Securities subject to the Shelf Registration Statement and (b) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective as promptly thereafter as practicable, but in any event not later than one hundred eighty (180) days after the Effective Date if the Company receives comments to the Shelf Registration Statement from the staff of the Commission (“ SEC Comments ”) or ninety (90) days after the Effective Date if the Company does not receive SEC Comments.  The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, post-effective amendments and supplements (including prospectus supplements) to such Shelf Registration Statement and the Shelf Prospectus as may be necessary to keep such Shelf Registration Statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act to, subject to  Section 3.4 , permit the disposition of all Registrable Securities subject thereto during the period (the “ Shelf Registration Statement Effective Period ”) beginning on the date the staff of the Commission declares the Shelf Registration Statement effective and ending on the earliest to occur of (i) 36 months after the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement, (ii) the date on which all the Registrable Securities subject thereto have been sold or distributed pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement or (iii) the date when all Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement first become eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act without volume limitation or other restrictions on transfer thereunder.

 

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2.1.2 Request for Shelf Takedown . Subject to the provisions of  subsection 2.1.7  and  Section 2.3  hereof, at any time and from time to time on or after the Effective Date, at any time that the Shelf Registration Statement is effective, if a Holder of Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement delivers a notice to the Company (a “ Shelf Takedown Notice ”) stating that the Holder intends to effect an offering of all or part of its Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement (a  “Shelf Takedown ”) and the Company is eligible to use the Shelf Registration Statement for such Shelf Takedown, then, the Company shall, subject to  Section 3.4 , as promptly as reasonably practicable, take all actions reasonably required, including amending or supplementing the Shelf Registration Statement, to enable such Registrable Securities to be offered and sold as contemplated by such Shelf Takedown Notice.  Each Shelf Takedown Notice shall specify the amount and type of Registrable Securities to be offered and sold in the Shelf Takedown and the intended method of distribution thereof.  Except as set forth in  subsection 2.1.3  hereof, the Company shall not be obligated to effect requests set forth in a Shelf Takedown Notice through an Underwritten Offering.

 

2.1.3 Underwritten Offering pursuant to Shelf Takedown . Any Demand Right Holder that has initiated a Shelf Takedown and delivered a Shelf Takedown Notice to the Company pursuant to  subsection 2.1.2  shall have the right to demand as part of their Shelf Takedown Notice an offering in the form of an Underwritten Offering, provided that the aggregate offering price for any such offering is at least $5,000,000.00 in the aggregate. The Company shall, within 10 days of the Company’s receipt from such Demanding Holder of such Shelf Takedown Notice that includes a written demand for an Underwritten Offering, notify, in writing, all other Demand Right Holders of Registrable Securities and such Holder who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Shelf Takedown (each such Holder, an “ Underwritten Shelf Offering Requesting Holder ”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five days after the receipt by such Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from an Underwritten Shelf Offering Requesting Holder, such Holder shall be entitled, subject to  subsection 2.1.7  and  Section 2.3  hereof, to have its Registrable Securities included in the Underwritten Offering pursuant to the Shelf Takedown. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through a Shelf Takedown under this  subsection 2.1.3  shall, at the time of any such Shelf Takedown, enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected by the Demand Right Holder that initiated the Underwritten Offering pursuant to the Shelf Takedown ( provided however , that such Underwriter(s) is reasonably satisfactory to the Company and JFL (but only to the extent that JFL is participating in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Shelf Takedown pursuant to this subsection 2.1.3 );  provided further  that any obligation of any such Holder to indemnify any Person pursuant to any such underwriting agreement shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders selling Registrable Securities, and such liability shall be limited to the net amount received by any such Holder from the sale of his, her or its Registrable Securities pursuant to such Underwritten Offering, and the relative liability of each such Holder shall be in proportion to such net amounts). The number of Shelf Takedowns that the Demand Right Holders may initiate pursuant to  subsection 2.1.2  shall not be limited, provided that the number of Underwritten Offerings that may be initiated hereunder shall be limited, in the case of JFL, to a total of eight (8) (less any Demand Registration requests initiated by JFL pursuant to subsection 2.1.4 ) and, in the case of each of the PIPE Demanding Holders or the Pre-IPO Demanding Holders, to one (1) per each of the PIPE Demanding Holders or Pre-IPO Demanding Holder (less any Demand Registration requests initiated by any such Demand Right Holders pursuant to  subsection 2.1.4 ).

 

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2.1.4 Request for Demand Registration . Subject to the provisions of  subsection 2.1.7  and  Section 2.3 , at any time and from time to time on or after the Effective Date, if (a) the Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the date that is 180 days after the Effective Date or (b) at any time during the Shelf Registration Statement Effective Period, the Shelf Registration Statement is not available to the Holders (except for any unavailability resulting from information supplied by or on behalf of a Holder for use in the Shelf Registration Statement being incorrect or incomplete), any Demand Right Holder may make a written demand for Registration under the Securities Act of all or part of their Registrable Securities, which written demand shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof (such written demand a “ Demand Registration ”). Any such Demand Registration may (but shall not be required to be), at the election of the Demanding Holder, be a shelf registration pursuant to Rule 415 (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission). The Company shall, within 10 days of the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, notify, in writing, all other Demand Right Holders of Registrable Securities of such demand, and each such Holder who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to the Demand Registration (each such Holder, a “ Demand Registration Requesting Holder ”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five days after the receipt by such Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Demand Registration Requesting Holder to the Company, such Holder shall be entitled, subject to  subsection 2.1.7  and  Section 2.3  hereof, to have their Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement pursuant to a Demand Registration, and the Company shall file a Registration Statement relating thereto within 30 days after receipt by the Company of the Demand Registration and shall cause such Registration Statement to become effective as soon thereafter as reasonably practicable, providing for the Registration of all Registrable Securities requested by the Demanding Holders and Demand Registration Requesting Holders pursuant to such Demand Registration. The number of Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration that the Demand Right Holders may initiate pursuant to the first sentence of this  subsection 2.1.4  shall be limited, (i) in the case of JFL, to a total of eight (8) (less any Shelf Takedown Notice in the form of an Underwritten Offering initiated by JFL pursuant to subsection 2.1.3 ) and, (ii) in the case of each of the PIPE Demanding Holders or the Pre-IPO Demanding Holders, to one (1) per each of the PIPE Demanding Holders or Pre-IPO Demanding Holder (less any Shelf Takedown Notice in the form of an Underwritten Offering initiated by any such Demand Right Holders pursuant to  subsection 2.1.3 );  provided however , that a Registration shall not be counted for such purposes unless a Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration statement that may be available at such time (“ Form S-1 ”) has become effective and all of the Registrable Securities requested by the Requesting Holders to be registered on behalf of the Requesting Holders in such Form S-1 Registration have been sold, in accordance with  Section 3.1  of this Agreement.

 

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2.1.5 Effective Registration . Notwithstanding the provisions of  subsection 2.1.4  above or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration shall not count as a Registration unless and until (a) the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission, (b) the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto and (c) the Registration Statement has remained effective continuously until the earlier of (x) one (1) year after effectiveness or (y) the date on which all of the Registrable Securities requested by the Requesting Holders to be registered on behalf of the Requesting Holders in such Registration Statement have been sold;  provided further , that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, an offering of Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration is subsequently interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission, federal or state court or any other governmental agency the Registration Statement with respect to such Registration shall be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and (ii) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holder(s) initiating such Demand Registration thereafter affirmatively elect to continue with such Registration and accordingly notify the Company in writing, but in no event later than five days, of such election;  provided further , that the Company shall not be obligated or required to file another Registration Statement until the Registration Statement that has been previously filed with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration becomes effective or is subsequently terminated.

 

2.1.6 Underwritten Offering pursuant to Demand Registration . Subject to the provisions of  subsection 2.1.7  and  Section 2.3  hereof, the Demanding Holder(s) may advise the Company as part of their Demand Registration that the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration, or a portion thereof, may be in the form of an Underwritten Offering;  provided however , that the aggregate offering price for any such Underwritten Offering may not be less than $25,000,000.00, unless the Company is eligible to register such shares of Common Stock on a Form S-3, or subsequent similar form, in a manner which does not require inclusion of any information concerning the Company other than to incorporate by reference (including forward incorporation by reference) its filings under the Exchange Act, in which case the aggregate offering price for any such Underwritten Offering may not be less than $5,000,000.00. All such Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders (if any) proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this  subsection 2.1.6  shall, at the time of any such Underwritten Offering, enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected by the Demanding Holder ( provided however , that such Underwriter(s) is reasonably satisfactory to the Company and JFL (but only to the extent that JFL is participating in such Underwritten Offering);  provided further  that any obligation of any such Holder to indemnify any Person pursuant to any such underwriting agreement shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders selling Registrable Securities, and such liability shall be limited to the net amount received by any such Holder from the sale of his, her or its Registrable Securities pursuant to such Underwritten Offering, and the relative liability of each such Holder shall be in proportion to such net amounts).

 

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2.1.7 Reduction of Underwritten Offering in Connection with Shelf Takedown or Demand Registration . If the managing Underwriter(s) in an Underwritten Offering effected pursuant to a Shelf Takedown or Demand Registration, as applicable, in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and/or the Requesting Holders (as applicable) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and/or the Requesting Holders (as applicable) desire to sell, taken together with all other Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and the Common Stock, if any, as to which a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggyback registration rights held by any other stockholders who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “ Maximum Number of Securities ”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: (a) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and JFL (as applicable) (pro rata based on the number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder has requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering and, in the case of JFL, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities then held by such Holders (such proportion is referred to herein as “ Pro Rata ”)) up to the maximum amount that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities, (b) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (a), the Registrable Securities of the PIPE Holders (Pro Rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each such Holder has requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering), (c) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), the Registrable Securities of the Pre-IPO Holders (Pro Rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each such Holder has so requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (d) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (a), (b) and (c), the Registrable Securities of other Holders (Pro Rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has so requested exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to  subsection 2.2.1  hereof, without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (e) fifth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d), the Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (f) sixth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (a), (b), (c) (d) and (e), the Common Stock or other equity securities, Pro Rata, of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register in a Registration pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

 

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2.1.8 Demand Registration Withdrawal .

 

(a) A Holder may withdraw all or any portion of its Registrable Securities included in a Demand Registration from such Demand Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement;  provided  that such withdrawal shall be irrevocable and, after making such withdrawal, a Holder shall no longer have any right to include Registrable Securities in the Demand Registration as to which such withdrawal was made. In the event the initiating Demanding Holder notifies the Company that it is withdrawing all of its Registrable Securities from the Demand Registration, the Company shall cease all efforts to secure effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement. Such registration nonetheless shall be deemed a Demand Registration with respect to such initiating Holder for purposes of  subsection 2.1.4  unless (i) such Holder shall have paid or reimbursed the Company for its pro rata share of all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the withdrawn registration of such Registrable Securities (based on the number of securities such Holder sought to register, as compared to the total number of securities included in such Demand Registration) or (ii) the withdrawal is made following the occurrence of a Material Adverse Change or pursuant to the Company’s request for suspension.

  

(b) In the case of any Underwritten Offering in connection with any Shelf Takedown or Demand Registration, any participating Holder shall have the right to withdraw their respective Registrable Securities, in whole or in part, from such Underwritten Offering prior to the pricing of such Underwritten Offering;  provided  that such withdrawal shall be irrevocable and, after making such withdrawal, a Holder shall no longer have any right to include Registrable Securities in the Underwritten Offering as to which such withdrawal was made. If the withdrawing Holder is the Holder who initiated the Underwritten Offering pursuant to  subsection 2.1.3 , such Underwritten Offering nonetheless shall be deemed a Shelf Takedown with respect to such withdrawing Holder for purposes of  subsection 2.1.3  unless (i) such Holder shall have paid or reimbursed the Company for its pro rata share of all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the withdrawn Underwritten Offering (based on the number of securities such Holder sought to include in the Underwritten Offering, as compared to the total number of securities included in such Underwritten Offering) or (ii) the withdrawal is made following the occurrence of a Material Adverse Change or pursuant to the Company’s request for suspension.

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration or an Underwritten Offering prior to its withdrawal under this  subsection 2.1.8 ; provided, however, that Nomura shall reimburse the Company for its proportionate share of all out-of-pocket Registration Expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any Underwritten Offering requested by Nomura pursuant to a Shelf Takedown or Demand Registration (it being understood that such proportionate share shall be based on the total number of Registrable Securities sold by Nomura relative to the total number of Registrable Securities sold in such Underwritten Offering).

 

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2.2 Piggyback Registration .

 

2.2.1 Piggyback Rights .

 

(a) If at any time on or after the Effective Date, (i) the Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the date that is 180 days after the Effective Date or (ii) at any time during the Shelf Registration Statement Effective Period, the Shelf Registration Statement is not available to the Holders (except for any unavailability resulting from information supplied by or on behalf of a Holder for use in the Shelf Registration Statement being incorrect or incomplete) and the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (or by the Company and by the stockholders of the Company), other than a Registration Statement (A) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (B) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing stockholders, or (C) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than ten days before the anticipated effectiveness date of such Registration Statement, which notice shall (1) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (2) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration, a “ Piggyback Registration ”). The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration.

  

(b) If at any time on or after the Effective Date, the Company proposes to effect an Underwritten Offering for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (a “ Company Underwritten Offering ”), the Company shall notify, in writing, all Holders of Registrable Securities of such demand, and such Holder who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering (each such Holder, a “ Company Underwritten Shelf Offering Requesting Holder ”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five days after the receipt by such Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Company Underwritten Shelf Offering Requesting Holder, such Holder shall be entitled, subject to  subsection 2.2.2  and  Section 2.3  hereof, to have its Registrable Securities included in the Company Underwritten Offering. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through the Company Underwritten Offering shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected by the Company. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of any proposed Company Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this  subsection 2.2.1(b)  to be included in such Company Underwritten Offering on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Company Underwritten Offering and to otherwise permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through any Company Underwritten Offering under this  subsection 2.2.1(b)  shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company;  provided however  that any obligation of any such Holder to indemnify any Person pursuant to any such underwriting agreement shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders selling Registrable Securities, and such liability shall be limited to the net amount received by any such Holder from the sale of his, her or its Registrable Securities pursuant to such Underwritten Offering, and the relative liability of each such Holder shall be in proportion to such net amounts.

 

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2.2.2 Reduction of Underwritten Offering in Connection with Piggyback Registration . If the managing Underwriter(s) in any Underwritten Offering to be effected in connection with a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Underwritten Offering in writing that the dollar amount or number of the Common Stock that the Company desires to sell in such Underwritten Offering, taken together with (i) the Common Stock, if any, as to which inclusion in such Underwritten Offering has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which inclusion in such Underwritten Offering has been requested pursuant to  subsection 2.2.1  hereof, and (iii) the Common Stock, if any, as to which inclusion in such Underwritten Offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggyback registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:

  

(a) If the Company Underwritten Offering is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Underwritten Offering (A) first, the Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell in such Underwritten Offering, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of JFL that it has requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to subsection 2.2.1(b) hereof, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Registrable Securities of the PIPE Holders exercising their rights to include their Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to subsection 2.2.1(b) hereof, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the Registrable Securities of the Pre-IPO Holders exercising their rights to include their Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to subsection 2.2.1(b) hereof, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (E) fifth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B), (C) and (D), the Common Stock, if any, as to which inclusion in such Underwritten Offering has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggyback registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;

 

(b) If the Company Underwritten Offering is pursuant to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Underwritten Offering (A) first, the Common Stock or other equity securities (if any), Pro Rata, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of JFL that it has requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to subsection 2.2.1(b) hereof, Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities, (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Registrable Securities of the PIPE Holders exercising their rights to include their Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to subsection 2.2.1(b) , Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell in such Underwritten Offering, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (E) fifth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B), (C) and (D), the Registrable Securities of the Pre-IPO Holders exercising their rights to include their Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to subsection 2.2.1(b) , Pro Rata, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (F) sixth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E), the Common Stock or other equity securities, Pro Rata, for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to include in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons or entities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

 

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2.2.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal . Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter(s) (if any) of such Holder’s intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. In the case of any Underwritten Offering in connection with any Piggyback Registration, any participating Holder shall have the right to withdraw their respective Registrable Securities from such Underwritten Offering prior to the pricing of such Underwritten Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration or Underwritten Offering prior to its withdrawal under this  subsection 2.2.3 .

 

2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights . For purposes of clarity, any Registration or Underwritten Offering effected pursuant to  Section 2.2  hereof shall not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under  Section 2.1  hereof.

 

2.3 Restrictions on Registration Rights . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company shall not be obligated to (but may, at its sole option) (a) effect any Demand Registration or an Underwritten Offering within sixty (60) days after the closing of an Underwritten Offering or (b) file a Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or effect an Underwritten Offering (or, if the Company has filed a Shelf Registration Statement and has included Registrable Securities therein, the Company shall be entitled to suspend the offer and sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement) for a period of up to forty-five (45) days if the Company has determined in good faith that the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant a Registration Statement would require disclosure of material non-public information not otherwise required to be disclosed under applicable securities laws (i) which disclosure would have a material adverse effect on the Company or (ii) relating to a material transaction involving the Company (any such period, a “ Blackout Period ”); provided, however, that in no event shall any Blackout Period together with other Blackout Periods exceed an aggregate of 90 days in any consecutive 12-month period. Any delivery by the Company of notice of a Blackout Period during the sixty (60) days immediately following effectiveness of any Registration Statement effected pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof shall give the Holders of a majority in aggregate amount of Registrable Securities being sold pursuant to such Registration Statement the right, by written notice to the Company within twenty (20) business days after the end of such Blackout Period, to cancel such registration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not exercise its rights under this Section 2.3 to invoke a Blackout Period unless it applies the same Blackout Period restrictions contained herein to all other securityholders of the Company with contractual registration rights.

 

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ARTICLE III
COMPANY PROCEDURES

 

3.1 General Procedures . If at any time on or after the Effective Date the Company is required to effect the Registration of Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:

 

3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold;

 

3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be requested by the Holders or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

 

3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;

 

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3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to (a) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (b) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;

 

3.1.5 notify each selling Holder promptly of any written comments by the Commission or any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of such Registration Statement or prospectus or for additional information;

 

3.1.6 cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

 

3.1.7 provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

 

3.1.8 provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of the Registration Statement with respect thereto;

 

3.1.9 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;

 

3.1.10 at least five business days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, furnish a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel;

 

3.1.11 notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in  Section 3.4  hereof;

 

3.1.12 permit a representative of the Holders, the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives or Underwriters enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;

 

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3.1.13 obtain a “comfort” letter for the benefit of the Underwriters from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Offering, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter and its counsel may reasonably request;

 

3.1.14 on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion and negative assurance letter, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion and negative assurance letter is being given as the Underwriters may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters;

 

3.1.15 in the event of any Underwritten Offering or Shelf Takedown, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriters of such offering;

 

3.1.16 make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least 12 months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder;

 

3.1.17 if the Registration involves the Registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $25,000,000.00, use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriters in any Underwritten Offering or Shelf Takedown ( provided that the dollar threshold in this Section 3.1.17 shall be reduced to $10,000,000 in a Registration relating to Registrable Securities of JFL);

 

3.1.18 take no direct or indirect action prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act;  provided that , to the extent that any prohibition is applicable to the Company, the Company will take all reasonable action to make any such prohibition inapplicable; and

 

3.1.19 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection with such Registration.

 

3.2 Registration Expenses . Subject to the proviso in subsection 2.1.8(c) , the Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that each Holder shall be responsible for any Underwriters’ commissions and discounts or brokerage fees in respect of the Registrable Securities sold by it and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” the fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.

 

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3.3 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings and Shelf Takedowns . No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering or Shelf Takedown for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person (a) agrees to sell such person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (b) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

3.4 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure . Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure or would require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than 30 days, determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose. In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this  Section 3.4 .

 

3.5 Reporting Obligations . As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be reporting under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and, if requested by Holders, to promptly furnish such Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings. The Company covenants that, promptly after the Effective Date (but no later than four business days after the Effective Date), it shall file “Form 10 information” (as such term is defined in Rule 144(i) under the Securities Act) with the Commission. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell shares of the Common Stock held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, including providing any legal opinions. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

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ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTIO N

 

4.1  Indemnification .

 

4.1.1 The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its partners, officers, directors, employees and agents, and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in (or incorporated by reference in) any Registration Statement, Prospectus, preliminary Prospectus, free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto) or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or any filing under any state securities law required to be filed or furnished, or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse such Holder for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, action, damage, liability or proceeding, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly stating that it is for use therein. The Company shall indemnify the Underwriters, their partners, officers, directors, employees and agents, and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable), to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holders.

 

4.1.2 In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its partners, directors, officers, employees and agents, and each other Holder and its respective partners, directors, officers, employees and agents, and each person who controls the Company or any other Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act or Exchange Act, as applicable) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly stating that it is for use therein;  provided however , that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters, their partners, officers, directors, employees and agents, and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act), to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.

 

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4.1.3 Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (a) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (b) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (and one applicable local counsel) for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

 

4.1.4 The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any partner, officer, director, employee, agent or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.

 

4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under  Section 4.1  hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action;  provided however , that the liability of any Holder under this  subsection 4.1.5  shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in  subsections 4.1.1 4.1.2  and  4.1.3  above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this  subsection 4.1.5  were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this  subsection 4.1.5 . No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this  subsection 4.1.5  from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

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ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS

 

5.1 Notices . Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (a) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (b) delivery in person or by courier service providing evidence of delivery, or (c) transmission by hand delivery or electronic mail (provided that if by electronic mail, a copy is delivered for next day delivery by a nationally recognized overnight courier service). Each notice or communication that is mailed, delivered, or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent, and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third business day following the date on which it is mailed and, in the case of notices delivered by courier service, hand delivery or electronic mail, at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt or the affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation. Any notice or communication to the Company under this Agreement must be addressed to the Company at NRC Group Holdings Corp. (f/k/a Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III), 3500 Sunrise Highway, Suite 200, Building 200, Great River, New York 11739, Attention: Chief Financial Officer (Email: JPeterson@nrcc.com ). Any notice or communication to any Holder under this Agreement must be addressed to such Holder’s address as found in the Company’s books and records. Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective 30 days after delivery of such notice as provided in this  Section 5.1 .

 

5.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries .

 

5.2.1 This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part.

 

5.2.2 Prior to the expiration of the applicable Lock-up Period, no Holder may assign or delegate such Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, except in connection with a transfer of Registrable Securities by such Holder to a Permitted Transferee (but only if, as set forth in the definition thereof, such person has agreed to become bound by the transfer restrictions applicable to the transferring Holder set forth in the Investor Agreements, the Lock-Up Agreement, the Founder Shares Purchase Agreement and, if applicable, any other applicable letter agreements to which such transferring Holder is a party or otherwise bound thereby).

 

5.2.3 This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted assigns of the Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees.

 

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5.2.4 This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and  Section 5.2 .

 

5.2.5 No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (a) written notice of such assignment as provided in  Section 5.1 and (b) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this  Section 5.2  shall be null and void.

 

5.3 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile or PDF counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.

 

5.4 Governing Law . NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG DELAWARE RESIDENTS ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN DELAWARE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

 

5.5 Amendments and Modifications . Upon the written consent at the time in question of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified;  provided however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in its capacity as a holder of the shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.

 

5.6 Other Registration Rights . The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities and other than the holders of warrants issued to public investors pursuant to that certain Warrant Agreement, dated June 22, 2017, between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, has any right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person. Further, the Company represents and warrants that this Agreement supersedes and restates the Original Registration Rights Agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail. Except as required by a pre-existing registration rights agreement referenced in this  Section 5.6 , neither the Company nor any stockholder of the Company (other than the Holders) may include securities in any Registration made pursuant to  Section 2.1  of this Agreement.

 

5.7 Term . This Agreement shall terminate upon the date as of which (a) all of the Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to a Registration Statement (but in no event prior to the applicable period referred to in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder) or (b) the Holders of all Registrable Securities are permitted to sell the Registrable Securities under Rule 144 (or any similar provision) under the Securities Act without limitation on the amount of securities sold or the manner of sale. The provisions of  Section 3.5 Article IV  and  Article V  shall survive any termination.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

  - 26 -  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

 

  COMPANY:
   
  HENNESSY CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. III
       
  By: /s/ Daniel J. Hennessy
    Name: Daniel J. Hennessy
    Title: Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

 

 

  SPONSOR:
   
  HENNESSY CAPITAL PARTNERS III LLC
   
  By: Hennessy Capital III LLC, its managing member
     
  By: /s/ Daniel J. Hennessy
    Name: Daniel J. Hennessy
    Title: Managing Member
       
  OTHER PRE-IPO HOLDERS:
   
  THE BRADLEY J. BELL REVOCABLE TRUST
       
  By: /s/ Bradley Bell
    Name: Bradley Bell
    Title: Trustee
       
  /s/ Richard Burns
  Richard Burns
   
  /s/ Daniel R. DiMicco
  Daniel R. DiMicco
   
  /s/ James O’Neil III
  James O’Neil III
   
  /s/ Nicholas Petruska
  Nicholas Petruska
   
  /s/ Kevin Charlton
  Kevin Charlton
       
  BALLYBUNION, LLC
       
  By: /s/ Peter Shea
    Name: Peter Shea
    Title: Manager

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

 

 

 

  JFL-NRC-SES PARTNERS, LLC
       
  By: /s/ C. Alexander Harman
    Name: C. Alexander Harman
    Title: President and Assistant Secretary
       
  JFL-NRCG HOLDINGS III, LLC
       
  By: /s/ David L. Rattner
    Name: David L. Rattner
    Title: Secretary
       
  JFL-NRCG HOLDINGS IV, LLC
       
  By: /s/ David L. Rattner
    Name: David L. Rattner
    Title: Secretary

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

 

 

  NOMURA SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
       
  By: /s/ Mark Connelly
    Name: A Mark Connelly
    Title: Managing Director

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement

 

 

 

 

  SBTS, LLC
     
  By: Cyrus Capital Partners, L.P.,
    its Investment Manager
     
  By: /s/ Jennifer M. Pulick
    Name: Jennifer M. Pulick
    Title: Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (Cyrus)

 

 

 

 

  LINDEN CAPITAL L.P.
       
  By: /s/ Saul S. Ahn
    Name:  Saul S. Ahn
    Title:  Authorized Signatory

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (Linden)

 

 

 

 

  TOUCHSTONE FUNDS GROUP TRUST – TOUCHSTONE ARBITRAGE FUND
       
  By: /s/ Terrie Wiedenheft
    Name: Terrie Wiedenheft
    Title: Controller and Treasurer
       
  TOUCHSTONE MERGER ARBITRAGE FUND
       
  By: /s/ Terrie Wiedenheft
    Name: Terrie Wiedenheft
    Title: Controller and Treasurer

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (Longfellow)

 

 

 

 

  BEMAP MASTER FUND LTD
       
  By: /s/ John Adiletto
    Name:  John Adiletto
    Title:  Operations Manager
       
  MONASHEE CAPITAL MASTER FUND LP
       
  By: /s/ John Adiletto
    Name:  John Adiletto
    Title:  Operations Manager
       
  MONASHEE PURE ALPHA CAPITAL MASTER
FUND LP
       
  By: /s/ John Adiletto
    Name:  John Adiletto
    Title:  Operations Manager
       
  KISKI (CAYMAN) MASTER FUND LTD.
       
  By: /s/ John Adiletto
    Name:  John Adiletto
    Title:  Operations Manager

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (Monashee)

 

 

Exhibit 4.2

 

INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of October 17, 2018 by and among Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ JFL Seller ”), and J.F. Lehman & Company, LLC (“ JFLCo, ” and, together with JFL Seller and each of its respective Affiliates (as defined below), subsidiaries and managed funds and its and their successors and assigns (other than the Company and its subsidiaries), collectively, “ JFL ”).

 

RECITALS

 

A. WHEREAS , the Company and JFL Seller have entered into that certain Purchase Agreement (as may be amended from time to time, the “ Purchase Agreement ”), dated as of June 25, 2018, pursuant to which, on the Effective Date (as defined below), the Company will purchase the outstanding membership interests of NRC Group Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ NRC Acquisition ”);

 

B. WHEREAS , pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, JFL Seller will be entitled to receive, as partial consideration for the membership interests of NRC Group Holdings, LLC purchased in the NRC Acquisition, a specified number of shares of the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”) of the Company equal to the Purchase Price Common Stock (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) (such shares to be issued upon closing of the NRC Acquisition being referred to hereafter as the “ JFL Initial Acquisition Shares ”);

 

C. WHEREAS , pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, JFL Seller may also receive additional shares of Common Stock with respect to the Potential Acquisition Earnout Amount (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) (such shares, together with all other shares of Common Stock issued to JFL Seller pursuant to the Purchase Agreement after the closing of the NRC Acquisition being referred to hereafter as the “ JFL Post-Closing Acquisition Shares ”);

 

D. WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement and related JFL Subscription Agreement dated of even date therewith, JFL will acquire additional shares of Purchaser Common Stock and Preferred Shares (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) in accordance with the terms of the JFL Subscription Agreement (such shares, including without limitation the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares, being referred to hereafter as the “ JFL Subscription Shares ” and, together with the JFL Initial Acquisition Shares and the JFL Post-Closing Acquisition Shares, the “ JFL Shares .”

 

D. WHEREAS , in connection with the NRC Acquisition and pursuant to Sections 6.01(g) and 6.02(r) of the Purchase Agreement, the Company and JFL Seller desire to enter into this Agreement setting forth certain rights and obligations with respect to the nomination of directors to the board of directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) and other matters relating to the Board from and after the Effective Date.

 

 

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE , for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

 

1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them below:

 

(a) “ Affiliate ” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person.

 

(b) “ beneficially own ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term under Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act.

 

(c) “ Bylaws ” means the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as may be amended from time to time.

 

(d) “ Certificate of Incorporation ” means the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as may be amended from time to time.

 

(e) “ DGCL ” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time.

 

(f) “ Effective Date ” means the date the Company consummates the NRC Acquisition.

 

(g) “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(h) “ Person ” means a natural person or any legal, commercial or governmental entity, such as, but not limited to, a corporation, general partnership, joint venture, limited partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, trust, business association, group acting in concert, or any person acting in a representative capacity.

 

(i) “ Total Number of Directors ” means the total number of directors constituting the Board.

 

  - 2 -  

 

 

2. Board Nominations .

 

(a)

  

(i) Following the Effective Date, JFLCo (on behalf of each JFL entity that owns JFL Shares or any other shares of capital stock of the Company) shall have the right (but not the obligation) pursuant to this Section 2 to nominate to the Board at every meeting of the stockholders of the Company in which directors are elected, including, without limitation, at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on any action approval by written consent of the stockholders of the Company relating to the election of directors, a number of designees equal to at least: (i) a majority of the Total Number of Directors, so long as JFL collectively beneficially owns 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock; (ii) 50% of the Total Number of Directors, in the event that (a) JFL collectively beneficially owns 40% or more, but less than 50%, of the shares of Common Stock and (b) there are an even Total Number of Directors; (iii) 49% of the Total Number of Directors, in the event that (a) JFL collectively beneficially owns 40% or more, but less than 50%, of the shares of Common Stock and (b) there are an odd Total Number of Directors; (iv) 40% of the Total Number of Directors, in the event that JFL collectively beneficially owns 30% or more, but less than 40%, of the shares of Common Stock; (v) 30% of the Total Number of Directors, in the event that JFL collectively beneficially owns 15% or more, but less than 30%, of the shares of Common Stock and (vi) 20% of the Total Number of Directors, in the event that JFL collectively beneficially owns 10% or more, but less than 15%, of the shares of Common Stock (the “ JFL Director ” or “ JFL Directors ,” as the case may be). For purposes of calculating the number of directors that JFLCo is entitled to designate pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, any fractional amounts shall automatically be rounded to the nearest whole number (e.g., one and three quarters (1-3/4) directors shall equate to two (2) directors, one and one quarter (1-1/4) directors shall equate to one (1) director, or one and one-half (1-1/2) directors shall equate to two (2) directors) and any such calculations shall be made after taking into account any increase in the Total Number of Directors.

 

(ii) Subject to the Federal Securities Laws and applicable national stock exchange requirements on which the Company’s Common Stock may then be listed, at least one JFL Director shall be entitled to serve on each standing or ad hoc committee of the Board, and the Board shall not create any new committees without the consent of at least one JFL Director.

 

(iii) For the avoidance of doubt, as of the Effective Date, each of Glenn M. Shor, C. Alexander Harman and James R. Baumgardner shall be a JFL Director under the terms of this Agreement.

 

(b) In the event that the number of JFL Directors serving on the Board is less than the total number of JFL Directors that JFLCo shall be entitled to nominate pursuant to Section 2(a)(i) , then JFLCo shall have the right, at any time, to nominate such additional nominee(s) to which JFLCo is entitled, in which case, the Board shall take all necessary corporate action (including as required by Section 2(c) below) to (i) increase the size of the Board as required to enable JFLCo to so nominate such additional nominee(s) and (ii) designate such additional nominee(s) to fill such newly created vacancies.

 

(c) So long as this Agreement remains in effect, in addition to any requirement of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or the DGCL, the size of the Board shall not be increased without affirmative vote of at least one JFL Director.

 

(d) The following procedures shall be followed with respect to the nomination of JFL Directors pursuant to Section 2(a) and any vacancy created by the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal of any JFL Director:

 

(i) For purposes of whether JFLCo has a right to nominate a JFL Director pursuant to Section 2(a)(i) , JFL’s beneficial ownership of the outstanding Common Stock will be measured as of the record date for such meeting or written consent.

 

  - 3 -  

 

  

(ii) Vacancies arising through the death, resignation retirement, disqualification or removal of any JFL Director may be filled by the Board only with a director nominee selected by JFLCo, and the JFL Director so chosen shall hold office until the next election and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

 

(iii) So long as JFLCo is entitled to nominate any directors pursuant to Section 2(a)(i) hereof, the Company shall notify JFL Seller in writing of the date on which proxy materials are expected to be mailed by the Company in connection with an election of directors at an annual or special meeting of the shareholders (and the Company shall deliver such notice at least 60 days (or such shorter period to which JFL Seller consents in writing) prior to such expected mailing date or such earlier date as may be specified by the Company reasonably in advance of such earlier delivery date on the basis that such earlier delivery is necessary so as to ensure that such nominee may be included in such proxy materials at the time such proxy materials are mailed). The Company shall provide JFL Seller with a reasonable opportunity to review and provide comments on any portion of the proxy materials relating to the JFL Director or the rights and obligations provided under this Agreement and to discuss any such comments with the Company. The Company shall notify JFL Seller of any opposition to a JFL Director sufficiently in advance of the date on which such proxy materials are to be mailed by the Company in connection with such election of directors so as to enable JFL Seller to propose a replacement JFL Director, if necessary, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and JFL Seller shall have 10 business days to designate another nominee.

 

(iv) No later than the latest date specified in or permitted by the Company’s Bylaws for stockholder director nominations for that year’s annual meeting of stockholders, JFL Seller shall provide the Board with JFL Seller’s nominee(s), as the case may be, for JFL Director(s), along with any other information reasonably requested by the Board to evaluate the suitability of such candidate(s) for directorship; provided , that in no event shall JFL Seller be required to provide any such notice of its nominees with respect to any JFL Director that is then currently serving on the Board and that has not provided notice in writing to the Company of his or her decision not to stand for re-election at that year’s annual meeting; provided, further, in no event will the failure to so timely nominate any JFL Director in accordance with the terms of this Section 2(d)(iv) or the Company’s Bylaws impair, restrict or limit the rights of JFL under this Agreement or the Company’s obligation to nominate such directors at any meeting of stockholders or written consent related to the election of directors. With respect to any JFLCo nominee, JFLCo shall use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that any such nominee substantially satisfies all reasonable stated criteria and guidelines for director nominees of the Company (it being understood and agreed that each of the JFL Directors on the Effective Date meet such criteria) and in compliance with applicable Federal Securities Laws and applicable national stock exchange requirements on which the Company’s Common Stock may then be listed. The Company shall be entitled to rely on any written direction from JFLCo regarding nominee(s) on behalf of JFL pursuant to this Agreement without further action by the Company.

 

  - 4 -  

 

  

(v) The Board (or any authorized committee thereof) shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to the fullest extent of the DGCL and other applicable law to nominate and include in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board for election at any meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors the persons designated pursuant to this Section 2 and to nominate and recommend each such individual to be elected as a JFL Director as provided herein, and to solicit proxies or consents in favor thereof.

 

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement and without any further action by the Company, JFL Seller’s right to nominate any person to the Board shall automatically terminate, and be of no further force and effect, on the date that JFL collectively beneficially owns less than 10% of the Common Stock; provided that a reduction in the percentage of total voting power of the Common Stock beneficially owned by JFL shall not shorten the term of any incumbent director. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may nominate an individual who previously served as JFL Director or any other Person associated or affiliated with JFL for election or re-election to the Board at any time.

 

(f) Each of the JFL Directors, upon appointment or election to the Board, will be governed by the same protections and obligations as all other directors of the Company, including, without limitation, protections and obligations regarding customary liability insurance for directors and officers, confidentiality, conflicts of interests, fiduciary duties, trading and disclosure policies, director evaluation process, director code of ethics, director share ownership guidelines, stock trading and pre-approval policies, and other governance matters. The Company agrees that it shall enter into an indemnification agreement with each JFL Director as of the Effective Date in the same form as indemnification agreements entered into with each of the other members of the Board, and shall enter into substantially similar indemnification agreements whenever a new JFL Director becomes a member of the Board. The Company shall at all times maintain paid and in effect directors and officers liability insurance policy coverage on terms commercially reasonable and consistent with other similarly situated public companies which expressly cover all JFL Directors.

 

(g) So long as this Agreement shall remain in effect, subject to applicable legal requirements, the Bylaws and the Certificate of Incorporation shall accommodate and be subject to and not in any respect conflict with the rights and obligations set forth herein.

 

3. Miscellaneous .

 

(a) Successors and Assigns. Any assignment of this Agreement or any of the rights or obligations under this Agreement by either of the parties hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise) shall be void, invalid and of no effect without the prior written consent of the other party; provided , however , that the rights under this Agreement may be assigned by JFL Seller and JFLCo to one or more member(s) of JFL so long as the assignee(s) agree in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The terms and conditions of this Agreement inure to the benefit of and are binding upon the respective successors and permitted assignees of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assignees any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.

 

  - 5 -  

 

  

(b) Termination . This Agreement shall terminate at such time as JFLCo or any assignee of JFLCo, as permitted under Section 3(a) hereof, no longer has the authority to nominate a director to the Board of the Company pursuant to Section 2 . Upon such termination, no party shall have any further obligations or liabilities hereunder; provided that such termination shall not relieve any party from liability for any breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.

 

(c) Governing Law . This Agreement and any controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware as to matters within the scope thereof, and as to all other matters shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles that would result in the application of any law other than the law of the State of Delaware.

 

(d) Counterparts; Electronic Transmission . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by portable document format (pdf) and in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

(e) Headings . The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

 

(f) Notices . All notices, requests, demands, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing (which shall include communications by e-mail) and shall be delivered (a) in person or by courier or overnight service, or (b) by e-mail with a copy delivered as provided in clause (a), as follows:

 

If to the Company:

 

NRC Group Holdings Corp. (f/k/a Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III)
3500 Sunrise Highway, Suite 200, Building 200
Great River, New York 11739
Attention: Christian Swinbank, Chief Executive Officer
E-mail: cswinbank@sprintenergy.com

 

If to JFL Seller or JFLCo:

 

JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC
c/o J.F. Lehman & Company
110 East 59th Street, 27th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Attention: C. Alexander Harman, Glenn M. Shor and David L. Rattner
Email: cah@jflpartners.com, gms@jflpartners.com, and dlr@jflpartners.com

 

(g) Amendments and Waivers . Any term of this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance, and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written consent of both parties. No waivers of or exceptions to any term, condition, or provision of this Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such term, condition, or provision.

 

  - 6 -  

 

  

(h) Severability . In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement is for any reason held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement, and such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision shall be reformed and construed so that it will be valid, legal, and enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law.

 

(i) Entire Agreement . This Agreement (including any Schedules and Exhibits hereto) constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof existing between the parties is expressly canceled.

 

  - 7 -  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III
     
  By:   /s/ Daniel J. Hennessy  
  Name:   Daniel J. Hennessy  
  Title: Chairman of the Board and  
  Chief Executive Officer 

 

Signature Page to Investor Rights Agreement

 

 

 

  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  JFL-NRC-SES PARTNERS, LLC
     
  By:   /s/ C. Alexander Harman  
  Name:   C. Alexander Harman  
  Title:   President and Assistant Secretary  
     
  J.F. LEHMAN & COMPANY, LLC
     
  By:   /s/ C. Alexander Harman  
  Name:   C. Alexander Harman  
  Title:   Managing Member  

 

Signature Page to Investor Rights Agreement

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.3

 

LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

 

October 17, 2018

 

Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III

3500 Sunrise Highway

Suite 200, Building 200

Great River, New York 11739

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This letter agreement (this “ Agreement ”) relates to a Purchase Agreement entered into as of June 25, 2018 (“ Purchase Agreement ”) by and between Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III, a Delaware corporation (“ Purchaser ”), and JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein are defined in the Purchase Agreement and shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Purchase Agreement.

 

1. In order to induce all parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, the undersigned hereby agrees that, from the date hereof until the earliest of: (a) the 180 th day after the Closing Date, (b) the date following the completion of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement on which Purchaser completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of Purchaser’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Purchaser Common Stock for cash, securities or other property and (c) the Alternative Lock-up Termination Date (as defined in the Exchange and Forfeiture Agreement) (the period between the Closing Date and the earliest of clauses (a), (b) and (c), the “ Lock-Up Period ”), the undersigned will not: (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder (the “ Exchange Act ”), with respect to the shares of Purchaser Common Stock received as Purchase Price Common Stock pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (such shares, collectively, the “ Lock-up Shares ”), (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any of the Lock-up Shares, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (ii).

 

2. The undersigned hereby authorizes Purchaser during the Lock-Up Period to cause its transfer agent for the Lock-up Shares to decline to transfer, and to note stop transfer restrictions on the stock register and other records relating to, Lock-up Shares for which the undersigned is the record holder and, in the case of Lock-up Shares for which the undersigned is the beneficial but not the record holder, agrees during the Lock-Up Period to cause the record holder to cause the relevant transfer agent to decline to transfer, and to note stop transfer restrictions on the stock register and other records relating to, such Lock-up Shares, if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

3. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may sell or otherwise transfer Lock-up Shares during the undersigned’s lifetime or on death (or, if the undersigned is not a natural person, during its existence) (i) if the undersigned is not a natural person, to its direct or indirect equity holders or to any of its other Affiliates, (ii) to the immediate family members (including spouses, significant others, lineal descendants, brothers and sisters) of the undersigned, (iii) to a family trust, foundation or partnership established for the exclusive benefit of the undersigned, its equity holders or any of their respective immediate family members, or (iv) to a charitable foundation controlled by the undersigned, its equityholders or any of their respective immediate family members; provided, however, that in each such case, any such sale or transfer shall be conditioned upon entry by such transferees into a written agreement, addressed to Purchaser, agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions and the other terms and conditions of this Agreement.

  

4. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and that this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the undersigned, enforceable in accordance with its terms. Upon request, the undersigned will execute any additional documents necessary in connection with enforcement hereof. Any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of the undersigned from the date first above written.

 

5. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.

 

6. No party hereto may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This Agreement shall be binding on the undersigned and its successors and assigns.

 

7. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The parties hereto (i) all agree that any action, proceeding, claim or dispute arising out of, or relating in any way to, this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks jurisdiction, then in the applicable Delaware state court), or if under applicable Law exclusive jurisdiction of such action is vested in the federal courts, then the United States District Court for the District of Delaware courts, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction and venue, which jurisdiction and venue shall be exclusive, and (ii) waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and venue or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.

 

8. Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested) or email transmission to the address or email address (as applicable) set forth below such party’s name on the signature page hereto.

 

[ Signature on the following page ]

 

  2  

 

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC
     
  By: /s/ C. Alexander Harman
    Name:   C. Alexander Harman
    Title:  President and Assistant Secretary

 

  Address:  110 East 59th Street, 27 th Floor
   

New York, NY 10022

     
  Email: cah@jflpartners.com

 

Signature Page to Lock-Up Agreement

 

 

 

 

Accepted and Agreed:

 

  PURCHASER
   
  HENNESSY CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP. III
     
  By: /s/ Daniel J. Hennessy
    Name:  Daniel J. Hennessy
   

Title:

Chairman of the Board and

Chief Executive Officer

 

  Address:  3485 North Pines Way
    Suite 110
    Wilson, Wyoming 83014
     
  Email: dhennessy@hennessycapllc.com

 

Signature Page to Lock-Up Agreement

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

 

CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of June 11, 2018

 

among

 

NRC US HOLDING COMPANY, LLC and SPRINT ENERGY SERVICES, LLC

each as a Borrower

 

NRC GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC,

as Parent

 

JFL-NRC HOLDINGS, LLC and SES HOLDCO, LLC,

as Guarantors

 

CERTAIN OTHER SUBSIDIARIES OF PARENT PARTY HERETO,
as Guarantors,

 

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO

 

and

 

BNP PARIBAS,
as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent

 

 

  

BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.,
as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner

 

 

 

Winston & Strawn LLP
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

      Page
SECTION 1   DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION 1
1.1   Definitions 1
1.2   Accounting Terms 52
1.3   Interpretation, Etc 52
1.4   Certifications 52
1.5   Timing of Performance 53
1.6   Cashless Rollovers 53
1.7   Pro Forma Calculations and Adjustments 53
1.8   Limited Condition Transactions 53
1.9   Currency Generally 54
1.10   Rounding 54
1.11   Currency 54
SECTION 2   LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT 54
2.1   Term Loans 54
2.2   Revolving Loans 55
2.3   Swing Line Loans 56
2.4   Letters of Credit 59
2.5   Pro Rata Shares; Availability of Funds 64
2.6   Use of Proceeds 65
2.7   Evidence of Debt; Notes 66
2.8   Interest on Loans 66
2.9   Conversion and Continuation 68
2.10   Default Interest 69
2.11   Fees 69
2.12   Installments and Maturity 70
2.13   Voluntary Prepayments and Reductions 70
2.14   Mandatory Prepayments and Reductions 74
2.15   Application of Prepayments 75
2.16   General Provisions Regarding Payments 75
2.17   Ratable Sharing 76
2.18   Making or Maintaining Eurodollar Loans 76
2.19   Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy 78
2.20   Taxes; Withholding, Etc 79
2.21   Obligation to Mitigate 83
2.22   Defaulting Lenders 83
2.23   Replacement of Lenders 86
2.24   Extension of Loans 87
2.25   Incremental Facilities 90
2.26   Permitted Refinancing Amendment 95
2.27   Joint and Several Liability 96
2.28   Borrower Representative 97
SECTION 3   CONDITIONS PRECEDENT 98
3.1   Conditions to Closing Date 98
3.2   Conditions to Subsequent Credit Extensions 102

 

i  

 

 

Table of Contents (continued)

 

      Page
SECTION 4   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 103
4.1   Organization; Required Power and Authority; Qualification 103
4.2   Equity Interests and Ownership 104
4.3   Due Authorization 104
4.4   No Conflict 104
4.5   Governmental Consents 104
4.6   Binding Obligation 104
4.7   Historical Financial Statements 105
4.8   Projections 105
4.9   No Material Adverse Change 105
4.10   Adverse Proceedings 105
4.11   Payment of Taxes 105
4.12   Title 105
4.13   Real Estate Assets 105
4.14   Environmental Matters 106
4.15   No Defaults 106
4.16   Investment Company Regulation 106
4.17   Margin Stock 106
4.18   Employee Matters 106
4.19   Employee Benefit Plans 107
4.20   Certain Fees 107
4.21   Solvency 107
4.22   Closing Date Contribution Documents 107
4.23   Compliance with Laws 107
4.24   Disclosure 108
4.25   Collateral 108
4.26   Status as Senior Indebtedness 109
4.27   Vessels 109
4.28   Vessel Insurance 109
SECTION 5   AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS 109
5.1   Financial Statements and Other Reports and Notices 109
5.2   Existence 113
5.3   Payment of Taxes and Claims 113
5.4   Maintenance of Properties 113
5.5   Insurance 113
5.6   Books and Records 114
5.7   Inspections 114
5.8   Lenders Meetings 114
5.9   Compliance with Laws 114
5.10   Environmental 115
5.11   Subsidiaries 115
5.12   Material Real Estate Assets 116
5.13   Unrestricted Subsidiaries 118
5.14   Ratings 119
5.15   Use of Proceeds 119
5.16   Certificates of Documentation; Preferred Mortgages on Vessels 119
5.17   Vessel Operation and Condition. 120
5.18   Further Assurances 120
5.19   Post-Closing Obligations 120

 

ii  

 

 

Table of Contents (continued)

 

      Page
SECTION 6   NEGATIVE COVENANTS 121
6.1   Indebtedness 121
6.2   Liens 128
6.3   Payments and Prepayments of Certain Indebtedness 132
6.4   Restricted Payments 133
6.5   Burdensome Agreements 137
6.6   Investments 139
6.7   Financial Condition Covenant 142
6.8   Fundamental Changes 142
6.9   Dispositions 142
6.10   Sales and Lease-Backs 144
6.11   Transactions with Affiliates 144
6.12   Conduct of Business 146
6.13   Permitted Activities of Parent 146
6.14   Amendments or Waivers of Certain Documents 147
6.15   Fiscal Year 147
SECTION 7   GUARANTY 147
7.1   Guaranty of the Obligations 147
7.2   Contribution by Guarantors 148
7.3   Payment by Guarantors 148
7.4   Liability of Guarantors Absolute 148
7.5   Waivers by Guarantors 150
7.6   Guarantors Rights of Subrogation, Contribution, Etc 151
7.7   Subordination of Other Obligations 151
7.8   Continuing Guaranty 151
7.9   Authority of Guarantors or the Borrowers 151
7.10   Financial Condition of the Borrowers 152
7.11   Bankruptcy, Etc 152
7.12   Discharge of Guaranty Upon Sale of Guarantor 152
7.13   Keepwell Agreement 153
7.14   Maximum Liability 153
SECTION 8   EVENTS OF DEFAULT 153
8.1   Events of Default 153
8.2   Acceleration 156
8.3   Application of Payments and Proceeds 157
8.4   Cure Right 158
SECTION 9   AGENTS 159
9.1   Appointment and Authority 159
9.2   Rights as a Lender 159
9.3   Exculpatory Provisions 159
9.4   Reliance by Agents 160
9.5   Delegation of Duties 161
9.6   Resignation of the Administrative Agent 161
9.7   Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders 162
9.8   No Other Duties, Etc 162
9.9   Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim 162
9.10   Collateral Documents and Guaranty 163
9.11   Withholding Taxes 165

  

iii  

 

 

Table of Contents (continued)

 

      Page
SECTION 10   MISCELLANEOUS 165
10.1   Notices 165
10.2   Expenses 166
10.3   Indemnity; Certain Waivers 167
10.4   Set-Off 168
10.5   Amendments and Waivers 169
10.6   Successors and Assigns; Participations 173
10.7   Independence of Covenants 182
10.8   Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements 182
10.9   No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative 182
10.10   Marshalling; Payments Set Aside 183
10.11   Severability 183
10.12   Obligations Several; Independent Nature of the Lenders Rights 183
10.13   Headings 183
10.14   Governing Law 183
10.15   Consent to Jurisdiction 184
10.16   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL 184
10.17   Confidentiality 185
10.18   Usury Savings Clause 185
10.19   No Strict Construction 185
10.20   Counterparts; Effectiveness 186
10.21   Integration 186
10.22   No Fiduciary Duty 186
10.23   PATRIOT Act 186
10.24   Judgment Currency 186
10.25   Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions 187

 

iv  

 

 

APPENDICES: A-1 Initial Term Loan Commitments
  A-2 Revolving Credit Commitments
  B Notice Addresses
  C Dutch Auction Procedures
     
SCHEDULES: 1.1(a) Existing Indebtedness
  1.1(b) Existing Letters of Credit
  4.1 Jurisdictions of Organization and Qualification
  4.2 Equity Interests and Ownership
  4.13 Real Estate Assets
  4.27 Vessels
  4.28 Vessel Insurance
  5.12 Closing Date Mortgaged Properties
  5.19 Post-Closing Obligations
  6.1 Certain Indebtedness
  6.2 Certain Liens
  6.6 Certain Investments
     
EXHIBITS: A-1 Form of Funding Notice
  A-2 Form of Conversion/Continuation Notice
  A-3 Form of Issuance Notice
  B-1 Form of Term Loan Note
  B-2 Form of Revolving Loan Note
  B-3 Form of Swing Line Note
  B-4 Form of Incremental Term Loan Note
  C-1 Form of Compliance Certificate
  C-2 Form of Pro Forma Compliance Certificate
  D-1 Form of US Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For US Federal Income Tax Purposes)
  D-2 Form of US Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-US Participants That Are Not Partnerships For US Federal Income Tax Purposes)
  D-3 Form of US Tax Compliance Certificate (For Non-US Participants That Are Partnerships For US Federal Income Tax Purposes)
  D-4 Form of US Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For US Federal Income Tax Purposes)
  E Form of Assignment and Assumption
  F Form of Closing Date Certificate
  G Form of Counterpart Agreement
  H Form of Pledge and Security Agreement
  I Form of Mortgage
  J Form of Landlord Waiver and Consent Agreement
  K Form of Joinder Agreement
  L Form of Solvency Certificate

 

v  

 

 

CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT

 

This CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT , dated as of June 11, 2018 (this “Agreement” ), is entered into by and among NRC US HOLDING COMPANY, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (the “NRC Borrower” ), SPRINT ENERGY SERVICES, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sprint Borrower” , and collectively with the NRC Borrower, the “Borrowers” and each a “Borrower” ), JFL-NRC HOLDINGS, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company ( “NRC Holdings” ), SES HOLDCO, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company ( “Sprint Holdings” , and collectively with NRC Holdings, the “Holding Companies” and each a “Holding Company” ), NRC GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company ( “Parent” ), CERTAIN OTHER SUBSIDIARIES OF PARENT PARTY HERETO , as Guarantors, THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO , and BNP PARIBAS ( “BNP Paribas” ), as administrative agent (together with its permitted successors in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent” ), and as collateral agent (together with its permitted successors in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent” ).

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used in these recitals shall have the respective meanings set forth for such terms in Section 1.1 hereof;

 

WHEREAS, the Lenders have agreed to extend certain credit facilities to the Borrowers in an aggregate amount of $348,000,000, consisting of $308,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Initial Term Loans and $40,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Commitments, the proceeds of which will be used to repay the Existing Indebtedness, fund the 2018 Dividend and other Related Transactions, and for general corporate purposes, including Permitted Acquisitions;

 

WHEREAS, the Guarantors party hereto have agreed to guarantee the obligations of the Borrowers hereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, the Borrowers and the Guarantors party hereto have agreed to secure their respective Obligations by granting to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a First Priority Lien on substantially all of their respective assets, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Collateral Documents.

 

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

 

SECTION 1 DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

 

1.1 Definitions . The following terms used herein, including in the preamble, recitals, appendices, schedules and exhibits hereto, shall have the following meanings:

 

“2018 Dividend” means a one-time dividend distribution to Parent and then from Parent to the Sponsor in an aggregate (without duplication) maximum amount of $85,000,000, a portion of which amount includes a return of equity contributed to the Credit Parties in connection with the Progressive Acquisition.

 

“Adjusted Eurodollar Rate” means with respect to each day during each Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Loan, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (x) 1.00% per annum, and (y) the Eurodollar Rate.

 

“Administrative Agent” as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

  1  

 

 

“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Adverse Proceeding” means any action, suit, proceeding, hearing (in each case, whether administrative, judicial or otherwise), governmental investigation or arbitration (whether or not purportedly on behalf of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) at law or in equity, or before or by any Governmental Authority, domestic or foreign, whether pending or, to the knowledge of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, threatened in writing against Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any property of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

“Affected Lender” as defined in Section 2.18(b).

 

“Affected Loans” as defined in Section 2.18(b).

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified; provided , no Agent, Lead Arranger nor any Lender shall be deemed an “Affiliate” of any Credit Party or of any Subsidiary of any Credit Party solely by reason of the provisions of the Credit Documents.

 

“Affiliated Lender” means an Affiliate of Parent or the Sponsor that becomes a “Lender” hereunder in accordance with the terms hereof; provided , neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries, including the Borrowers, shall be an Affiliated Lender.

 

“Agent” means each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.

 

“Agent Parties” as defined in Section 10.1(d)(ii).

 

“Aggregate Payments” as defined in Section 7.2.

 

“Agreement” as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

“All-In-Yield” means, with respect to any Loan on any date of determination, the yield to maturity, in each case, based on the interest rate applicable to such Loan on such date (including any floor but only to the extent any increase in the interest rate floor applicable to such Loan on such date would cause an increase in the interest rate then in effect thereunder, and in such case, the interest rate floor (but not the interest rate margin) applicable to such Loan on such date shall be increased to the extent of such differential between interest rate floors) and giving effect to all upfront or similar fees (including original issue discount where the amount of such discount is equated to interest based on an assumed four-year life to maturity or, if the actual maturity date falls earlier than four years, the lesser number of years) payable generally with respect to such Loan (but excluding such upfront or similar fees to the extent they constitute commitment, arrangement, structuring, underwriting, amendment or similar fees that are not distributed to Lenders generally), and without taking into account any fluctuations in the Eurodollar Rate.

 

“Alternate Currency” means Euros, Pounds, Canadian Dollars, Japanese Yen or any other currency other than Dollars as may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent and an Issuing Bank with respect thereto in the respective sole discretion of each such Person.

 

“Alternate Currency Letter of Credit” means any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternate Currency.

 

  2  

 

 

“AML Laws” means all Laws of any jurisdiction applicable to any Lender, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries from time to time primarily regarding anti-money laundering.

 

“Anti-Corruption Laws” means all Laws of any jurisdiction applicable to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries from time to time primarily regarding bribery or corruption.

 

“Anti-Terrorism Laws” means the Laws applicable to any Lender or Parent or any of its Subsidiaries primarily regarding terrorism or money laundering, including Executive Order No. 13224, the PATRIOT Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986 (i.e., 18 USC. §§ 1956 and 1957), the Laws administered by OFAC, and all Laws comprising or implementing these Laws.

 

“Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage” means 0.50%, per annum.

 

“Applicable Margin” means (i) for Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans, 4.25%, per annum, (ii) for Revolving Loans that are Eurodollar Loans, 5.25%, per annum, (iii) for Swing Line Loans, 4.25%, per annum, (iv) for Initial Term Loans that are Base Rate Loans, 4.25%, per annum, (v) for Initial Term Loans that are Eurodollar Loans, 5.25%, per annum, and (vi) for Extended Revolving Loans, Permitted Refinancing Revolving Loans, Incremental Revolving Loans, Incremental Term Loans, Extended Term Loans or Permitted Refinancing Term Loans, in each case, as set forth in the applicable Extension Amendment, Joinder Agreement or Permitted Refinancing Amendment.

 

“Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (i) a Lender, (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender or (iii) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

 

“Asset Swap” means any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which Parent or any one or more Restricted Subsidiaries thereof exchanges, with a Person other than Parent or another such Restricted Subsidiary, one or more Related Business Assets owned by them for one or more Related Business Assets owned by third parties; provided that in any Asset Swap no more than 25% of the assets so disposed of by Parent or any such Restricted Subsidiary and no more than 25% of the assets received by Parent or any such Restricted Subsidiary shall consist of current assets.

 

“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.6(b)(iii)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Assignment of Insurances” means an assignment of insurances with respect to the Mortgaged Vessels, which shall be in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, granted by one or more of the Credit Parties in favor of the Collateral Agent.

 

“Authorized Officer” means, as applied to any Person, any individual holding the position of chairman of the board (if an officer), chief executive officer, president or one of its vice presidents (or the equivalent thereof), chief financial officer or treasurer, secretary or assistant secretary; provided , at the Administrative Agent’s election, no individual shall be deemed to be an “Authorized Officer” of any Person unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received an incumbency certificate as to the office of such individual with respect to such Person.  

 

  3  

 

 

“Available Amount” means as of any date of determination, an amount (which shall not be less than zero), determined on a cumulative basis, equal to $25,000,000, plus , without duplication:

 

(A) the cumulative amount of Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for all Fiscal Years (commencing with the Fiscal Year ending on December 31, 2019) ending prior to such date that is not required to be applied to the prepayment of the Loans pursuant to Section 2.14(c) ( minus any amount excluded from Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for any Fiscal Year pursuant to Section 2.14(h)) (or $0 if such amount would be a negative amount); plus

 

(B) the sum of:

 

(i) the cumulative amount of (a) all net proceeds of the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of Parent received in cash or Cash Equivalents and (b) all cash and Cash Equivalents that have been received by a Borrower as a capital contribution, in each case, after the Closing Date and on or prior to the date of such determination and Not Otherwise Applied and excluding any amount designated as a Cure Amount, plus

 

(ii) the cumulative amount of (a) all Returns actually received in cash or Cash Equivalents by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) all Net Cash Proceeds received by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the Disposition of any Investment to the extent not required to be used to prepay the Obligations after the Closing Date and on or prior to the date of such determination in respect of all Investments permitted hereunder, in each case, to the extent such Investment was originally funded with and in reliance on the Available Amount, up to the amount of such original Investment, plus

 

(iii) (x) the cumulative amount of all Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries that have been re-designated as Restricted Subsidiaries or that have been merged or consolidated with or into Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, to the extent such Investment was originally funded with and in reliance on the Available Amount, up to the lesser of (a) the Fair Market Value of such Investments at the time of such re-designation or merger or consolidation and (b) the Fair Market Value as of the original date of such Investments and (y) the Fair Market Value of the assets of any Unrestricted Subsidiaries that have been transferred to Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries on or prior to the date of such determination, plus

 

(iv) the cumulative amount of all Declined Proceeds retained by the Borrowers on or prior to the date of such determination; minus

 

(C) the sum of:

 

(i) the cumulative amount of all repayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of any Junior Financing made after the Closing Date and on or prior to the date of such determination to the extent funded in reliance on Section 6.3(b)(i), plus

 

(ii) the cumulative amount of all Restricted Payments made after the Closing Date and on or prior to the date of such determination to the extent funded in reliance on Section 6.4(d)(ii); plus

 

(iii) the cumulative amount of all Investments made after the Closing Date and on or prior to the date of such determination to the extent funded in reliance on Section 6.6(t).

 

  4  

 

 

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

 

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

 

“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy,” as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.

 

“Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (i) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (ii) the sum of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day, plus (b) ½ of 1.00%, and (iii) the sum of (a) the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for an Interest Period of one month at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day), plus (b) 1.00%. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate, as the case may be, shall be effective on the effective day of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate, as applicable.

 

“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Base Rate.

 

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

 

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

 

“Beneficiary” means each Agent, each Issuing Bank, each Lender, each Eligible Counterparty and each Cash Management Bank.

 

“BNP Paribas” as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

“Board of Directors” means, with respect to any Person, (i) in the case of any corporation, the board of directors of such Person, (ii) in the case of any limited liability company, the board of managers or managing members of such Person, (iii) in the case of any partnership, the general partners of such partnership (or the board of directors of the general partner of such Person, if any) and (iv) in any other case, the functional equivalent of the foregoing.

 

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

 

“Borrower” and “Borrowers” as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

“Bona Fide Debt Fund” means any Person that is generally engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of business which is managed, sponsored or advised by any Person Controlling. Controlled by or under common Control with (a) any competitor of Parent and/or any of its Subsidiaries or (b) any Affiliate of such competitor, but with respect to which no personnel involved with any investment in such competitor or Affiliate (i) makes, has the right to make or participates with others in making any investment decisions with respect to such Person or (ii) has access to any information (other than information that is publicly available) relating to Parent or its Subsidiaries or any entity that forms a part of the business of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

  5  

 

 

“Borrower Representative” as defined in Section 2.28.

 

“Business Day” means (i) any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any day which is a legal holiday under the Laws of the State of New York or is a day on which banking institutions located in such state are authorized or required by Law or other governmental action to close and (ii) with respect to all notices, determinations, fundings and payments in connection with the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate or any Eurodollar Loans, the term “Business Day” shall mean any day which is a Business Day described in clause (i) and which is also a day for trading by and between banks in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

 

“Business Disposition” means the disposition of the outstanding Equity Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary or of the assets comprising a division or business unit or a substantial part of all of the business of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

“Capital Lease” means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee that, in conformity with GAAP, is or is required to be accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person.

 

“Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, an Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender (as applicable) and the Lenders, as collateral for the Letter of Credit Obligations, Obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans, or obligations of Lenders to fund participations in respect of either thereof (as the context may require), cash or deposit account balances or, if an Issuing Bank or Swing Line Lender benefitting from such collateral shall agree in its reasonable discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to (i) the Administrative Agent and (ii) an Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender (as applicable). “Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support. “Cash Collateralization” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing.

 

“Cash Equivalents” means, as at any date of determination, any of the following: (i) marketable securities (a) issued or directly and unconditionally guaranteed as to interest and principal by the United States Government or (b) issued by any agency of the United States the obligations of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within twenty-four months after such date; (ii) marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof, in each case maturing within one year after such date and having, at the time of the acquisition thereof, a rating of at least A 1 from S&P or at least P 1 from Moody’s and Indebtedness or preferred stock issued by Persons with a rating of A 1 from S&P or at least P 1 from Moody’s; (iii) commercial paper maturing no more than twenty-four months from the date of creation thereof and having, at the time of the acquisition thereof, a rating of at least A 1 from S&P or at least P 1 from Moody’s; (iv) certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances maturing within one year after such date and issued or accepted by any Lender or by any commercial bank organized under the Laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia that (a) is at least “adequately capitalized” (as defined in the regulations of its primary Federal banking regulator) and (b) has Tier 1 capital (as defined in such regulations) of not less than $1,000,000,000; and (v) shares of any money market mutual fund or other investment fund that (a) has at least 90% of its assets invested in the types of investments referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above, (b) has net assets of not less than $5,000,000,000, and (c) has the highest rating obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s. In the case of Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary or Investments made in a country outside the United States, Cash Equivalents shall also include (i) Investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (i) through (v) above of foreign obligors, which Investments or obligors (or the parents of such obligors) have ratings described in such clauses or equivalent ratings from comparable foreign rating agencies and (ii) other short-term investments utilized by Foreign Subsidiaries in accordance with normal investment practices for cash management in investments analogous to the foregoing investments.

 

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“Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement entered into between a Credit Party and a Cash Management Bank, provided , such agreement has been expressly designated by the Borrower Representative and such Cash Management Bank as a “Cash Management Agreement” hereunder in writing to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Cash Management Bank” means the Administrative Agent, any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, any Lender and any Affiliate of any Lender, in each case, at the time it provides any Cash Management Product.

 

“Cash Management Obligations” means the obligations of a Credit Party pursuant to any Cash Management Agreement, provided such obligations have been expressly designated by the Borrower Representative in writing to the Administrative Agent as “Cash Management Obligations” hereunder.

 

“Cash Management Product” means any of the following services provided to a Credit Party by a Cash Management Bank: (i) credit cards for commercial customers (including, without limitation, commercial credit cards and purchasing cards), (ii) stored value cards and (iii) treasury management services (including controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).

 

“Casualty/Condemnation Event” means any event that that constitutes (i) a covered loss under an insurance policy that covers or purports to cover the asset subject thereto or (ii) a taking of any assets of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Person pursuant to the power of eminent domain, condemnation or the like, or pursuant to a sale of any such assets to a purchaser with such power under threat of such a taking.

 

“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (i) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (ii) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (iii) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided , 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.

 

“Change of Control” means any of the following:

 

(i) at any time prior to consummation of a Qualified IPO, the Sponsor and its Controlled Investment Affiliates (collectively) shall cease to beneficially own and control, directly or indirectly, on a fully diluted basis (a) more than 50% on a fully diluted basis of the economic and voting interests in the Equity Interests of Parent; or (b) a sufficient number of the issued and outstanding voting interests in the Equity Interests of Parent to have and exercise voting power for the election of members holding a majority of the voting power of the Board of Directors of Parent; or

 

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(ii) at any time upon or after consummation of a Qualified IPO, any Person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) other than the Sponsor and its Controlled Investment Affiliates (a) shall have acquired beneficial ownership of 35% or more on a fully diluted basis of the voting and/or economic interest in the Equity Interests of the Relevant Public Company or (b) shall have obtained the power (whether or not exercised) to elect a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Relevant Public Company; or

 

(iii) Parent shall cease to own and control 100% on a fully diluted basis of the economic and voting interest in the Equity Interests of any of the Holding Companies, other than pursuant to, or as results from, a transaction not prohibited by Section 6.8; or

 

(iv) any Holding Company shall cease to beneficially own and control 100% on a fully diluted basis of the economic and voting interest in the Equity Interests of any of the Borrowers, other than pursuant to, or as results from, a transaction not prohibited by Section 6.8; or

 

(v) a “change of control” or similar event shall occur under any Junior Financing that constitutes Material Indebtedness.

 

For purposes of this definition, a Person shall not be deemed to have beneficial ownership of Equity Interests subject to a stock purchase agreement, merger agreement or similar agreement until the consummation of the acquisition contemplated by such agreement.

 

“Class” means (i) with respect to the Lenders, each of the following classes of Lenders: (a) with respect to each Term Loan Facility, the Lenders having Term Loan Exposure under such Term Loan Facility, and (b) the Revolving Lenders (including the Swing Line Lender), and (ii) with respect to Loans, each of the following classes of Loans: (a) with respect to each Term Loan Facility, the Term Loans outstanding under such Term Loan Facility, and (b) Revolving Loans (including Swing Line Loans).

 

“Closing Date” means, subject to Section 3.1, the date hereof.

 

“Closing Date Certificate” means a Closing Date Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F or otherwise in form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Closing Date Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio” means 3.90 to 1.00.

 

“Closing Date Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio” means 3.90 to 1.00.

 

“Closing Date Contribution” means the combination under Parent of NRC Holdings and its Subsidiaries and Sprint Holdings and its Subsidiaries.

 

“Closing Date Contribution Agreement” means the Joint Contribution and Subscription Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2018, by and among JFL-NRC Partners, LLC, JFL-SES Partners, LLC and JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC.

 

“Closing Date Contribution Documents” means, collectively, (a) the Closing Date Contribution Agreement and (b) the limited liability company agreement of Parent.

 

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“Closing Date Mortgaged Property” as defined in Section 5.12(a).

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

“Collateral” means, collectively, all of the real, personal and mixed property (including Equity Interests and the Mortgaged Vessels) in which Liens are purported to be granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents as security for the Obligations, but excluding any Excluded Assets.

 

“Collateral Agent” as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

“Collateral Documents” means the Pledge and Security Agreement, the Mortgages, if any, the Vessel Mortgages, the Landlord Waiver and Consent Agreements, if any, the Intellectual Property Security Agreements, if any, the Assignments of Insurances and all other instruments, documents and agreements delivered by or on behalf or at the request of any Credit Party pursuant to this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents to grant to, or perfect in favor of, the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a Lien on any real, personal or mixed property of that Credit Party as security for the Obligations.

 

“Commitment” means a Revolving Credit Commitment, Initial Term Loan Commitment, Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment, Incremental Term Loan Commitment, Extended Term Loan Commitment, Extended Revolving Credit Commitment, or a Permitted Refinancing Commitment.

 

“Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. §1 et. seq.) and any rule, regulation or order promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time and any successor statute.

 

“Communications” as defined in Section 10.1(d)(ii).

 

“Compliance Certificate” means a Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C-1 or otherwise in form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

“Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA” means, for any period, an amount determined for Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries (or, when reference is made to another Person, for such other Person and its Subsidiaries) on a consolidated basis equal to:

 

(A) Consolidated Net Income for such period; plus

 

(B) to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period (or, with respect to clauses (B)(x) and (B)(xi), to the extent reducing costs and expenses that are deducted), the sum (without duplication) of:

 

(i) total interest expense (including amortization, write-down or write off of deferred financing cost and original issue discount), all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit, and net costs under Swap Contracts; plus

 

(ii) total tax expense for taxes based on income, profits or capital gains; plus

 

(iii) total depreciation expense; plus

 

(iv) total amortization expense; plus

 

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(v) other non-cash charges, write-downs, expenses, losses or other items reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period (including (x) non-cash charges related to any underfunded Pension Plans and (y) any impairment charges and the impact of purchase accounting, but excluding (other than as result from the application or impact of purchase accounting) any such non-cash charge, write down or item to the extent that it represents an accrual or reserve for potential cash charges in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash charge or a write-down of accounts or inventory that was, in either case, paid in a prior period); plus

 

(vi) Transaction Costs; plus

 

(vii) amounts (x) paid or accrued to the Sponsor and its Affiliates under the Management Agreement to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 6.11(e) or (y) paid in respect of matters discussed in, or permitted by, Section 6.11(b) (other than to employees); plus

 

(viii) any costs or expenses incurred pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such costs or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of Parent or a Borrower or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of Parent or a Borrower (other than Disqualified Equity Interests); plus

 

(ix) accruals, fees, payments and expenses (including legal, tax, structuring and other costs and expenses) incurred by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the Progressive Acquisition and any actual or contemplated but not consummated SPAC Transaction, Permitted Acquisition or other Investment, Disposition, Swap Contract or debt or equity issuance or any refinancing transactions or amendment or other modification of any debt agreement that are payable to unaffiliated third parties, in each case, incurred for such period to the extent attributable to any such transaction (regardless of whether consummated); plus

 

(x) charges, losses, costs, expenses and reserves (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel, accountants and other professionals) in respect of severance, restructuring, integration or similar charges incurred during such period in respect of restructurings, plant closings, product portfolio rationalization, headcount reductions or other similar actions, including relocation costs, business process optimizations, integration costs, signing costs, retention or completion bonuses, employee replacement costs, portfolio rationalization and/or normalization related inventory writeoffs and/or writedowns, transition costs (including costs regarding information technology, financial systems and controls, permitting and compliance and replacement of transition services in respect of the Progressive Acquisition or any Permitted Acquisition), costs related to opening, closure and/or consolidation of facilities, severance charges in respect of employee terminations, start-up losses related to new business ventures, costs incurred to achieve savings added back to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA under clause (xi) below; plus

 

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(xi) (A) unusual, one-time or non-recurring charges, losses, costs, expenses and reserves and (B) the amount of “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, operational improvements and synergies projected by Parent in good faith to result from actions either taken or initiated prior to or during such period (including prior to the Closing Date) in connection with the Closing Date Contribution, the Progressive Acquisition, any Permitted Acquisition, investment, Disposition, other divestiture, operating improvement, restructuring, cost savings initiative or similar initiative, if Parent in good faith expects to realize such “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, operational improvements or synergies within 24 months of the date of such event or action (collectively, “ Pro Forma Cost Savings ”), it being understood that such “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, operational improvements and synergies shall be added to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA until Parent no longer expects in good faith to realize such cost savings, operating expense reductions, operational improvements and synergies and that, if “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions, operational improvements and synergies are included in any pro forma calculations based on such actions, then on and after the date that is 24 months after the date of such Permitted Acquisition, investment, Disposition, other divestiture, operating improvement, restructuring, cost savings initiative or similar initiative, such pro forma calculations shall no longer give effect to such cost savings to the extent that realization did not actually occur during such 24 month period; provided , (a) such cost savings and synergies shall be calculated net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions, (b) such cost savings and synergies are reasonably identifiable and are disclosed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to a certificate of an Authorized Officer of Parent prior to or at the time of addition thereof to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, (c) no cost savings or synergies shall be added to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA pursuant to this clause (xi) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges relating to such cost savings or synergies that are otherwise included in this clause (B) or in the definition of the term “Pro Forma Basis”, and (d) in no event shall the aggregate amount added to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA under this clause (xi) for any Test Period exceed 20% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Test Period (calculated prior to giving effect to any adjustment pursuant to this clause (xi)); plus

 

(xii) to the extent not already included in Consolidated Net Income, proceeds of business interruption insurance received in cash during such period or that Parent in good faith expects to be received within 365 days after the end of such period to the extent not accrued; provided , (a) if such proceeds are not so received within such one year period, they shall be subtracted in the subsequent calculation period and (b) if received in a subsequent period, such proceeds shall not be added back in calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in such subsequent period; plus

 

(xiii) charges, losses, expenses or reserves to the extent (in the case of reserves, the matter reserved against) indemnified or insured or reimbursed by an unaffiliated third party to the extent such indemnification, insurance or reimbursement is actually received in cash for such period, or Parent reasonably expects to be so paid or reimbursed within 365 days after the end of such period to the extent not accrued (plus, in the case of any such insured amounts, an amount equal to the amount of any deductible); provided , (a) if such amount is not so reimbursed or received within such one year period, such expenses or losses shall be subtracted in the subsequent calculation period and (b) if reimbursed or received in a subsequent period, such amount shall not be added back in calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in such subsequent period; minus

 

(C) to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period (without duplication), any non-cash charges previously added-back to determine Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA pursuant to clause (B)(v) above to the extent that, during such period such non-cash charges have become cash charges.

 

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The parties hereto agree that (a) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the Fiscal Quarter ending on (i) September 30, 2017 shall be deemed to be $21,147,224, (ii) December 31, 2017 shall be deemed to be $23,442,687 and (iii) March 31, 2018, shall be deemed to be $17,539,067, and (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the portion of the Fiscal Quarter ending June 30, 2018 prior to and including the Closing Date shall be calculated in good faith by Parent in a manner consistent with the methodology used to calculate the deemed Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA amounts provided in clause (a) of this paragraph.

 

For purposes of calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for any period, (A) if at any time during such period Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall have made any Business Disposition, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (if positive) attributable to the Equity Interests or the assets, as applicable, that is the subject of such Business Disposition for such period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (if negative) attributable thereto for such period as if such Business Disposition occurred on the first day of such period, giving effect only to such pro forma adjustments determined by Parent in good faith as are consistent with SEC Regulation S-X, and (B) if during such period Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall have made a Permitted Acquisition or any other permitted Investment or designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such period shall be increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Person(s) or business(es) so acquired or such newly designated Restricted Subsidiary for such period (as reasonably determined in good faith by Parent) or otherwise calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment or designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary occurred on the first day of such period, giving effect only to such pro forma adjustments determined by Parent in good faith as are consistent with SEC Regulation S-X and all Pro Forma Cost Savings attributable to such Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment or designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary that have been added back to Consolidated Net Income in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

“Consolidated Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as a liability and including any expenditures of Capital Leases) of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period determined on a consolidated basis that, in accordance with GAAP, are or are required to be included in “purchase of property and equipment” or similar items reflected in the consolidated statement of cash flows of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided , (a) the purchase price of assets that are purchased substantially simultaneously with the trade-in of existing assets or with insurance proceeds shall be included in Consolidated Capital Expenditures only to the extent of the gross amount by which such purchase price exceeds the credit granted by the seller of such assets for the assets being traded in at such time or the amount of such insurance proceeds, as the case may be and (b) Consolidated Capital Expenditures shall not include any such expenditure (i) to the extent made with Net Cash Proceeds invested pursuant to Section 2.14(a), (ii) for any asset acquired in exchange for an existing asset (but only to the extent of the value of such existing asset), (iii) that constitutes or otherwise is in respect of assets acquired in a Permitted Acquisition, or (iv) financed with cash proceeds from Equity Interests permitted hereunder (other than Permitted Cure Securities).

 

“Consolidated Excess Cash Flow” means, for any period, an amount (if positive) equal to:

 

(A) the sum (without duplication) of:

 

(i) Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus

 

(ii) total non-cash interest expense (including amortization, write-down or write off of deferred financing cost and original issue discount) for such period; plus

 

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(iii) total expense for taxes of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries based on income, profits or capital gains for such period; plus

 

(iv) the aggregate amount of non-cash charges reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period, including for depreciation and amortization (but excluding any such non-cash charge to the extent that it represents an accrual or reserve for potential cash charge in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash charge that was paid in a prior period), plus

 

(v) the decrease, if any, in Consolidated Working Capital for such period; plus

 

(vi) any net extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring cash gain that has been excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income for such period pursuant to the definition thereof; minus

 

(B) the sum (without duplication) of:

 

(i) total expense for taxes of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries based on income, profits or capital gains paid or payable in cash for such period, including franchise and similar taxes, and foreign withholding taxes of such Person; plus

 

(ii) without duplication of amounts deducted from Consolidated Excess Cash Flow in prior periods or in such period, to the extent set forth in a certificate of an Authorized Officer of Parent delivered to the Administrative Agent at or before the time the Compliance Certificate for the period ending simultaneously with such period is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(c), the aggregate amount Parent anticipates will likely be required to be paid in cash in respect of taxes of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, plus the aggregate amount of tax distributions Parent anticipates it will likely make in cash, during the six months immediately following such period (such sum, the “ Anticipated Tax Liability ”); provided that to the extent the aggregate amount of taxes actually so made and tax distributions actually so paid during such six-month period is less than the Anticipated Tax Liability, the amount of such shortfall shall be added to Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for the period following such period;

 

(iii) the aggregate amount of all principal payments, prepayments or repurchases of Indebtedness (but in respect of any revolving credit facility, only to the extent there is an equivalent permanent reduction in commitments thereunder), including principal payments, prepayments or repurchases of obligations under Capital Leases (excluding any interest expense portion thereof), in each case, paid from Internally Generated Cash during such period, other than voluntary payments, prepayments or repurchases of the Loans or any Incremental Equivalent Debt secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations; plus

   

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(iv) the aggregate amount of any premium, make whole or penalty payments actually paid from Internally Generated Cash during such period that are required to be made in connection with any prepayment or satisfaction and discharge of Indebtedness, other than in connection with any voluntary payments, prepayments or repurchases of the Loans or any Incremental Equivalent Debt secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations, to the extent that the amount so paid has not already been deducted (whether in determining Consolidated Net Income or otherwise) in determining Excess Cash Flow for that, or any prior, period; plus

 

(v) the aggregate amount of Consolidated Capital Expenditures (and capital expenditures excluded from the definition thereof) paid from Internally Generated Cash during such period; plus

 

(vi) the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments paid in accordance with Section 6.4(c) or 6.4(d)(i) from Internally Generated Cash during such period and not otherwise deducted in the determination of Consolidated Net Income for such period; plus

 

(vii) the aggregate amount of Permitted Acquisition Consideration, including any payments with respect to Seller Notes and any Earn-out Indebtedness, and consideration in respect of other Investments permitted pursuant to Sections 6.6(q)(iv), 6.6(r)(v), 6.6(s) or 6.6(u) paid from Internally Generated Cash during such period; plus

 

(viii) the increase, if any, in Consolidated Working Capital for such period; plus

 

(ix) any net extraordinary, unusual one-time or non-recurring cash loss that has been excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income for such period pursuant to the definition thereof; plus

 

(x) the aggregate amount of non-cash gains or credits increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period (but excluding any such non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for potential cash gain in any prior period); plus

 

(xi) without duplication of amounts deducted from Consolidated Excess Cash Flow in prior periods, the aggregate consideration required to be paid in cash by Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to binding contracts with third parties that are not Affiliates (the “Contract Consideration” ) entered into prior to or during such period relating to acquisitions and Investments permitted under this Agreement or Capital Expenditures, in each case, to the extent expected to be consummated or made during the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of Parent following the end of such period; provided , to the extent the aggregate amount of Internally Generated Cash actually utilized to finance such acquisitions, Investments or Capital Expenditures during such period of four consecutive fiscal quarters is less than the Contract Consideration, the amount of such shortfall shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow for the next succeeding period.

   

As used herein, “Internally Generated Cash” means, with respect to any period, any cash or Cash Equivalents of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries generated during such period, including any Net Cash Proceeds (but solely to the extent such Net Cash Proceeds are included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income for such period), other than any cash or Cash Equivalents that are the proceeds of (a) any incurrence of Indebtedness (other than Revolving Loans or Swing Line Loans), (b) any issuance of Equity Interests or (c) any contribution of capital.

 

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“Consolidated First Lien Net Debt” means, as at any date of determination, an amount equal to (i) Consolidated Total Net Debt as of such date, minus (ii) Consolidated Total Debt that is secured on a junior basis to the Obligations as of such date, minus (iii) Consolidated Total Debt that is unsecured as of such date.

 

“Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio” means the ratio as of the last day of the date of determination of (x) Consolidated First Lien Net Debt as of such date, to (y) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the then most recently ended Test Period.

 

“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, an amount equal to the net income (or loss) of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period taken as a single accounting period determined in conformity with GAAP; provided , the following shall (to the extent otherwise included therein and without duplication) be excluded in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

 

(i) the income or loss of any Person in which any other Person (other than Parent or any of its wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries) has a joint interest, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or other distributions actually paid to Parent or any of its wholly owned Restricted Subsidiaries by such Person during such period;

 

(ii) the income or loss of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of Parent or is merged into or consolidated with Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or that Person’s assets are acquired by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(iii) the income of any Restricted Subsidiary of Parent (other than a Guarantor Restricted Subsidiary) to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary of that income is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its Organizational Documents or any Contractual Obligations or pursuant to any Law applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(iv) any after tax gain or loss attributable to Dispositions in excess of $50,000 outside of the ordinary course of business for such period;

 

(v) any after tax gain or loss attributable to returned surplus assets of any Pension Plan for such period;

 

(vi) the income or loss of any Person for such period attributable to the early extinguishment of any Indebtedness or obligations under any Swap Contracts or other derivative instruments;

 

(vii) all foreign currency translation gains or losses to the extent such gains or losses are non-cash items;

 

(viii) the cumulative effect of any change in accounting principles; and

 

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(ix) without duplication of any amount included in the foregoing clauses, any net extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring gain for such period (provided, however, that for the avoidance of doubt any indemnification payments received by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to any acquisition documentation with respect to the Progressive Acquisition or any Permitted Acquisition shall not be deemed extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring gains to the extent related to actual costs, losses or expenses not excluded from Consolidated Net Income).

 

“Consolidated Secured Net Debt” means, as at any date of determination, an amount equal to (i) Consolidated Total Net Debt as of such date, minus (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of unsecured Consolidated Total Debt as of such date.

 

“Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio” means the ratio as at any date of determination (x) Consolidated Secured Net Debt as of such date, to (y) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the then most recently ended Test Period.

 

“Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of any date of determination, the consolidated total assets of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the last day of the most recently ended Test Period.

 

“Consolidated Total Debt” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate stated balance sheet amount of all Indebtedness of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the types described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) (but only with respect to any notes payable), (iv), (v) and (vi) (but only to the extent that any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, bank guarantee, surety bond, performance bond or similar instrument has been drawn and not reimbursed) of the definition of the term “Indebtedness”, and with respect to any of the foregoing (without duplication) any guarantee thereof, in each case, determined on a consolidated basis as of such date in accordance with GAAP; provided , in each case, (x) the effects of any discounting of Indebtedness resulting from the application of acquisition accounting in connection with the Related Transactions or any acquisition permitted hereunder shall be excluded and (y) any Indebtedness that is issued at a discount to its initial principal amount shall be calculated based on the entire principal amount thereof.

 

“Consolidated Total Net Debt” means, as at any date of determination, (x) Consolidated Total Debt, minus (y) the aggregate amount of Consolidated Unrestricted Cash as of such date (excluding, however, prior to the making of the 2018 Dividend, the Dividend Term Loan Proceeds).

 

“Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio” means the ratio as at any date of determination of (x) Consolidated Total Net Debt as of such day, to (y) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the then most recently ended Test Period.

 

“Consolidated Unrestricted Cash” means all cash and Cash Equivalents of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries that (i) does not appear as “restricted” on the consolidated balance sheet of Parent (unless such appearance is related to the Liens created under the Credit Documents, any documents evidencing or relating to any Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt, any documents evidencing or relating to any Extended Revolving Loans or any Extended Term Loans or any documents evidencing or relating to any Permitted Refinancing Loans) and (ii) is not subject to any Lien in favor of any Person other than (a) the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, (b) Liens in favor of any collateral agent or other secured parties created under any documents evidencing or relating to any Incremental Facility, Incremental Equivalent Debt, Extended Revolving Loans, Extended Term Loans or any Permitted Refinancing Loans or (c) Permitted Encumbrances; it being agreed that cash or Cash Equivalents (a) placed on deposit with a trustee to discharge or defease Indebtedness or (b) to the extent proceeds of Indebtedness incurred to finance an acquisition and held in escrow pending the consummation of such acquisition to consummate such acquisition or prepay such Indebtedness shall be considered unrestricted to the extent the related Indebtedness is included in Consolidated Total Debt.

 

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“Consolidated Working Capital” means, as at any date of determination, the excess of (i) the total assets of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis that may properly be classified as current assets in conformity with GAAP, excluding cash and Cash Equivalents, over (ii) the total liabilities of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis that may properly be classified as current liabilities in conformity with GAAP (which may be a negative number), excluding without duplication, (a) the current portion of any Indebtedness of Parent and its Subsidiaries for borrowed money that matures more than one year from the date of its creation or matures within one year from such date that is renewable or extendable, at the option of such Person, to a date more than one year from such date or arises under a revolving credit or similar agreement that obligates the lender or lenders to extend credit during a period of more than one year from such date, including Indebtedness in respect of the Loans, (b) all Indebtedness consisting of Revolving Loans, Swing Line Loans and Letter of Credit Obligations to the extent otherwise included therein, (c) the current portion of interests, (d) the current portion of current and deferred income taxes, (e) the current portion of any liability in respect of any Capital Lease or any other long term debt, (f) the current portion of deferred revenue, (g) the current portion of deferred acquisition costs and (h) current accrued costs associated with any restructuring or business optimization (including accrued severance and accrued facility closure costs). In calculating Consolidated Working Capital there shall be excluded the effect of reclassification during the applicable period of current assets to long term assets and current liabilities to long term liabilities and the effect of any Permitted Acquisition during such period; provided , there shall be included with respect to any Permitted Acquisition during such period an amount (which may be a negative number) by which the Consolidated Working Capital acquired in such Permitted Acquisition as at the time of such acquisition exceeds (or is less than) Consolidated Working Capital at the end of such period.

 

“Contractual Obligation” means, as applied to any Person, any provision of any Security issued by that Person or of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, contract, undertaking, agreement or other instrument (other than a Credit Document or any documents evidencing or relating to any Incremental Facility, Incremental Equivalent Debt, Extended Revolving Loans, Extended Term Loans or any Permitted Refinancing Loans) to which that Person is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound or to which it or any of its properties is subject.

 

“Contributing Guarantors” as defined in Section 7.2.

 

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

 

“Controlled Foreign Corporation” means a “controlled foreign corporation” (within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code) of which Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a “United States shareholder” (within the meaning of Section 951 of the Code).

 

“Controlled Investment Affiliate” means, as applied to any Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly is in Control of, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such Person and is organized by such Person (or any Person Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with such Person) primarily for making equity or debt investments in Parent or other portfolio companies of such Person or has the same principal fund advisor as such Person.

 

“Conversion/Continuation Date” means the effective date of a continuation or conversion, as the case may be, as set forth in the applicable Conversion/Continuation Notice.

 

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“Conversion/Continuation Notice” means a Conversion/Continuation Notice substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 or otherwise in form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Counterpart Agreement” means a Counterpart Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G or otherwise in form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Credit Date” means the date of a Credit Extension.

 

“Credit Document” means any of this Agreement, the Notes, each Notice, each Counterpart Agreement, if any, the Collateral Documents, each Intercreditor Agreement, each Joinder Agreement, each Extension Amendment and each Permitted Refinancing Amendment.

 

“Credit Extension” means the making of a Loan or the issuing of a Letter of Credit.

 

“Credit Party” means each Borrower, each Holding Company, Parent and each other Guarantor.

 

“Cure Amount” as defined in Section 8.4(a).

 

“Cure Right” as defined in Section 8.4(a).

 

“Cure Right Fiscal Quarter” as defined in Section 8.4(b).

 

“Debt Fund Affiliate” means an Affiliated Lender that (x) is a Person that is primarily engaged in, or advises funds or other investment vehicles that are engaged in, making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of business which is managed, sponsored or advised by any Person Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with Parent and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (y) is not an affiliated fund of Sponsor that is primarily engaged in making control equity investments in portfolio companies.

 

“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.

 

“Declined Proceeds” as defined in Section 2.15(d).

 

“Default” means a condition or event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

 

“Default Rate” means an interest rate equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of or interest on any Base Rate Loan, the Base Rate plus the then Applicable Margin applicable to such Class of Loans plus 2.00% per annum, (ii) in the case of overdue principal of or interest on any Eurodollar Loan, the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate plus the then Applicable Margin applicable to such Class of Loans plus 2.00% per annum and (iii) in the case of fees or any other amount, the Base Rate plus the then Applicable Margin applicable to Revolving Loans plus 2.00% per annum, in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

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“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.22(b), 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 the Administrative Agent, an Issuing Bank, the Swing Line Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans) within two (2) Business Days of the date when due, (ii) has notified the Borrower Representative, the Administrative Agent or an Issuing Bank or Swing Line Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect, (iii) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower Representative, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder ( provided , such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (iii) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative), or (iv) at any time after the Closing Date has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (a) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (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 state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (c) become the subject of a Bail-in Action; provided , a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in such 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 or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under 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 2.22(b)) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower Representative, each Issuing Bank, the Swing Line Lender and each Lender.

 

“Designated Non-Cash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of any non-cash consideration received by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a Disposition that is designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Borrower Representative, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of cash received in connection with any subsequent sale of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration.

 

“Disposition” as defined in Section 6.9.

 

“Disqualified Equity Interest” means any Equity Interest which, 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 (i) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Equity Interests that are not otherwise Disqualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, (ii) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Equity Interests that are not otherwise Disqualified Equity Interests), in whole or in part, (iii) provides for the scheduled payments or dividends in cash, or (iv) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for (unless at the sole option of the issuer) Indebtedness or any other Equity Interest that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case, prior to the date that is one hundred eighty one days after the latest applicable Maturity Date as in effect on the date of the issuance of such Equity Interest, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), if (x) as a result of an initial public offering, a change of control or asset sale, so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of such initial public offering, a change of control or asset sale event are subject to the prior payment in full of all Obligations (other than Remaining Obligations), the cancellation, expiration or Cash Collateralization in an amount not less than the Minimum Collateral Amount of all Letters of Credit and the termination of the Commitments or (y) in connection with an optional redemption by the issuer thereof.

 

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“Disqualified Institution” means, on any date, (i) any Person designated by the Borrower Representative as a “Disqualified Institution” by written notice delivered to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Closing Date, (ii) any Person that is a competitor of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, which Person has been designated by the Borrower Representative as a “Disqualified Institution” by written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (including by posting such notice to the Platform) not less than five (5) Business Days prior to such date, and (iii) any reasonably identifiable Affiliate of any Person referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) on the basis of its name or otherwise readily identifiable as such; provided , (a) a competitor or an Affiliate of a competitor shall not include any Bona Fide Debt Fund and (b) “Disqualified Institution” shall exclude any Person that the Borrower Representative has designated as no longer being a “Disqualified Institution” by written notice delivered to the Administrative Agent from time to time.

 

“Dividend Term Loan Proceeds” means the portion of the Term Loan proceeds received by the Borrowers on the Closing Date that are borrowed specifically for the 2018 Dividend.

 

“Dollars” and the sign “$” mean the lawful money of the United States of America.

 

“Dollar Equivalent” means (i) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, such amount and (ii) with respect to any amount denominated in any other currency (the “ Non-Dollar Amount ”), the amount of Dollars that could be converted into the Non-Dollar Amount on the basis of the Spot Rate as reasonably determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent as of the most recent Revaluation Date or other applicable date of determination.

 

“Domestic Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

 

“DQ List” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.6(h)(iv).

 

“Dutch Auction” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.6(f).

 

“Earn-out Indebtedness” means, with respect to any acquisition, any consideration to be deferred for payment at any future time (other than any Seller Note), whether or not any such future payment is subject to the occurrence of any contingency, including any payment representing the deferred purchase price, “earn-outs” and other agreements to make any payment the amount of which is, or the terms of payment to the seller in an acquisition of which are, in any respect subject to or contingent upon the revenues, income, cash flow or profits (or the like) of any Person or business, in each case, (a) to the extent stated as a liability on the balance sheet of the acquiring Person in accordance with GAAP and (b) other than post-closing working capital or other balance sheet based purchase price adjustments.

 

“EEA Financial Institution” means (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” 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.

 

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“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.6(b)(iii), 10.6(b)(v) and 10.6(b)(vi) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.6(b)(iii)). For the avoidance of doubt, any Disqualified Institution is subject to Section 10.6(h).

 

“Eligible Counterparty” means the Administrative Agent, any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, any Lender and any Affiliate of any Lender, in each case, that from time to time enters into a Secured Swap Contract with Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided , the term “Eligible Counterparty” shall include any Person that is the Administrative Agent, an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender as of the Closing Date or as of the date that such Person enters into a Secured Swap Contract, but subsequently ceases to be the Administrative Agent, an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, as the case may be.

 

“Employee Benefit Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA (regardless of whether such plan is subject to ERISA, but other than any Multiemployer Plan or Foreign Pension Plan) which is sponsored, maintained or contributed to by, or required to be contributed to, Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or, solely with respect to such a plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, any of their respective ERISA Affiliates, or with respect to which Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any material liability.

 

“Environmental Claim” means any notice of violation, claim, action, suit, proceeding, demand, abatement order or other written notice or order or directive (conditional or otherwise), by any Governmental Authority or any other Person, arising (i) pursuant to or in connection with any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law; (ii) in connection with any Hazardous Material or any actual or alleged Hazardous Materials Activity; or (iii) in connection with any actual or alleged damage, injury, threat or harm to health or safety (with respect to exposure to Hazardous Materials), natural resources or the environment.

 

“Environmental Services Division” means the business division of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries engaged in the environmental services business.

 

“Environmental Laws” means any and all current or future foreign or domestic, federal or state (or any subdivision of either of them) Laws, Governmental Authorizations, or any other requirements of Governmental Authorities relating to (i) pollution or the protection of the environment, including those relating to any Hazardous Materials Activity; (ii) the generation, use, storage, transportation or disposal of Hazardous Materials; or (iii) occupational safety and health (with respect to exposure to Hazardous Materials), industrial hygiene, land use or the protection of human, plant or animal health or welfare (in each case with respect to exposure to Hazardous Materials), in any manner applicable to Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Real Property Facility or Vessel.

 

“Equity Interests” means all shares of capital stock, partnership interests (whether general or limited), limited liability company membership interests, beneficial interests in a trust and any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of profits or losses, or distributions of assets, of an issuing Person, including any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase or other arrangements or rights to acquire any of the foregoing, but excluding any debt Securities convertible into such Equity Interests.

 

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and any successor thereto.

 

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“ERISA Affiliate” means, as applied to any Person, (i) any corporation which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414(b) of the Code of which that Person is a member; (ii) any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is a member of a group of trades or businesses under common control within the meaning of Section 414(c) of the Code of which that Person is a member; and (iii) solely for purposes of Section 412 of the Code, any member of an affiliated service group within the meaning of Section 414(m) or (o) of the Code of which that Person is a member.

 

“ERISA Event” means, except as could not reasonably be expected to result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect: (i) a “reportable event” within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder with respect to any Pension Plan (excluding those for which the provision for 30 day notice to the PBGC has been waived by regulation); (ii) with respect to any Pension Plan, the failure to meet the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code (whether or not waived in accordance with Section 412(c) of the Code) or the failure to make by its due date a required installment under Section 430(j) of the Code or, with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the failure to make any required contribution in accordance with Section 515 of ERISA or the application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard or an extension of any amortization period, within the meaning of Sections 412(c) or 431(d) of the Code with respect to any Pension Plan; (iii) the provision by the administrator of any Pension Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA of a notice of intent to terminate such plan in a distress termination described in Section 4041(c) of ERISA; (iv) the withdrawal by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates from any Pension Plan with two or more contributing sponsors or the termination of any such Pension Plan resulting in liability to Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA; (v) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan, or the occurrence of any event or condition which could reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; (vi) the imposition of liability on any ERISA Party pursuant to Section 4062(e) or 4069 of ERISA or by reason of the application of Section 4212(c) of ERISA; (vii) with respect to a Multiemployer Plan, the withdrawal of any ERISA Party in a complete or partial withdrawal (within the meaning of Sections 4203 and 4205 of ERISA) if there is any potential liability to the ERISA Parties therefor, or the receipt by any ERISA Party of notice that such plan is insolvent pursuant to Section 4245 of ERISA, or that such plan is to terminate or has terminated under Section 4041A of ERISA (to the extent such termination will or is likely to result in a liability to the ERISA Parties) or under 4042 of ERISA; (viii) the occurrence of an act or omission which could reasonably be expected to give rise to the imposition on the ERISA Parties of fines, penalties, taxes or related charges under Chapter 43 of Title 26 of the Code or under Section 409, Section 502(c), (i) or (l), or Section 4071 of ERISA in respect of any Employee Benefit Plan; (ix) the assertion of a material claim (other than routine claims for benefits), suit, action, proceeding, hearing, audit or, to the knowledge of Parent or any Borrower, investigation against any Foreign Pension Plan or the assets thereof, Employee Benefit Plan other than a Multiemployer Plan or the assets thereof, or against an ERISA Party in connection with any Employee Benefit Plan or Foreign Pension Plan; (x) receipt from the IRS of notice of the failure of any Pension Plan (or any other Employee Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code) to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code, or the failure of any trust forming part of any Pension Plan to qualify for exemption from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code, or the receipt of the notice of the failure of a Foreign Pension Plan to qualify for any applicable tax-favored status or to be registered and maintained in good standing with the applicable Governmental Authority; or (xi) the imposition of a lien on the assets of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Code or Section 303(k) or Section 4068 of ERISA.

 

“ERISA Party” means Parent, any Borrower, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate of any of the foregoing.

 

“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.

 

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“Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements” means for any day as applied to a Eurodollar Loan, the aggregate (without duplication) of the maximum rates (expressed as a decimal fraction) of reserve requirements in effect on such day (including basic, supplemental, marginal and emergency reserves) under any regulations of the Board of Governors or other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto dealing with reserve requirements prescribed for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board of Governors) maintained by a member bank of the Federal Reserve System.

 

“Eurodollar Base Rate” means (i) the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the offered rate which appears on the page of the Reuters Screen which displays an average London interbank offered rate administered by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) (such page currently being page number LIBOR01) for deposits (for delivery on the first day of such period) with a term equivalent to such period in Dollars, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) on the applicable Interest Rate Determination Date, (ii) if the rate referenced in the preceding clause (i) does not appear on such page or service or if such page or service shall cease to be available, the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the offered rate on such other page or other service which displays an average London interbank offered rate administered by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) Interest Settlement Rate for deposits (for delivery on the first day of such period) with a term equivalent to such period in Dollars, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) on such Interest Rate Determination Date or (iii) if the rates referenced in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii) are not available, the rate per annum equal to the quotation rate offered to first class banks in the London interbank market by the Administrative Agent for deposits (for delivery on the first day of the relevant period) in Dollars of amounts in same day funds comparable to the principal amount of the applicable Loan of the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as a Lender, for which the Eurodollar Base Rate is then being determined with maturities comparable to such period as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) on such Interest Rate Determination Date; provided , if the Eurodollar Base Rate determined as provided above with respect to any Eurodollar Loan for any Interest Period would be less than 0.0% per annum, then the Eurodollar Base Rate with respect to such Eurodollar Loan for such Interest Period shall be deemed to be 0.0% per annum.

 

“Eurodollar Loan” means a Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate.

 

“Eurodollar Rate” means with respect to each day during each Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Loan, a rate per annum equal to (x) the Eurodollar Base Rate as of such date divided by (y) (1.00 minus Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements as of such date).

 

“Event of Default” as defined in Section 8.1.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

“Excluded Assets” means:

 

(i) any (i) Real Estate Asset that (a) is a leasehold interest or (b) is not a Material Real Estate Asset and (ii) Vessel that is not a Material Vessel;

 

(ii) (a) assets located outside the United States or assets that require action under the law of any non-U.S. jurisdiction to create or perfect a security interest in such assets under such non-U.S. jurisdiction, including any intellectual property registered in any non-U.S. jurisdiction and (b) any assets to the extent the creation or perfection of pledges thereof, or security interests therein, would reasonably be expected to result in adverse tax consequences to Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as reasonably determined by the Borrower Representative;

 

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(iii) Equity Interests of any Subsidiary that is a Controlled Foreign Corporation or Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company in excess of 65% of the total outstanding Equity Interests of such Subsidiary entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Sec. 1.956-2(c)(2));

 

(iv) motor vehicles, airplanes and other assets subject to certificates of title, to the extent a Lien therein cannot be perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement (other than Material Vessels);

 

(v) property and assets to the extent that the Administrative Agent may not validly possess a security interest therein under, or such security interest is restricted by, applicable Laws or the pledge or creation of a security interest in which would require governmental consent, approval, license or authorization, other than to the extent such prohibition or limitation is rendered ineffective under the UCC or other applicable Law notwithstanding such prohibition;

 

(vi) assets of and Equity Interests in any Person (other than a wholly owned Subsidiary) to the extent that (A) a security interest is not permitted to be granted by the terms of such Person’s Organizational Documents or joint venture documents, or (B) consent of any Person (other than Parent or any of its Subsidiaries) would be required to the extent such consent has not been obtained (after giving effect to applicable anti-assignment provisions of the UCC or other applicable Laws);

 

(vii) leases, licenses, permits and agreements (including with respect to any lease, Purchase Money Indebtedness or similar arrangements and assets subject thereto) to the extent that, and so long as, a grant of a security interest therein, or in the property or assets that secure the underlying obligations with respect thereto (a) is prohibited by applicable Law other than to the extent such prohibition is rendered ineffective under the UCC or other applicable Law notwithstanding such prohibition, (b) would violate or invalidate such lease, license, permit or agreement, or create a right of termination in favor of, or require the consent of, any other party thereto (other than Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries) (in each case, after giving effect to the relevant provisions of the UCC or other applicable Laws) or (c) would cause such lease, license, permit or agreement to be terminated pursuant to any “change of control” or similar provisions contained therein, in each case, other than the proceeds thereof to the extent the assignment of such proceeds is not rendered ineffective under the UCC or other applicable law, and only to the extent that and for so long as such limitation on such pledge or security interest is otherwise permitted under Section 6.5;

 

(viii) governmental licenses, state or local franchises, charters and authorizations and any other property and assets to the extent that the Administrative Agent may not validly possess a security interest therein under, or such security interest is restricted by, (a) the terms of such license, franchise, charter or authorization or (b) applicable Laws (including, without limitation, rules and regulations of any Governmental Authority or agency) or the pledge or creation of a security interest in which would require governmental consent, approval, license or authorization, other than to the extent such prohibition or limitation is rendered ineffective under the UCC or other applicable Law notwithstanding such prohibition (but excluding proceeds of any such governmental license to the extent the assignment of such proceeds is not rendered ineffective under the UCC or other applicable law), or otherwise require consent thereunder (after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the UCC or other applicable law);

 

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(ix) Margin Stock;

 

(x) any intellectual property registered in any non-U.S. jurisdiction other than to the extent a security interest therein can be perfected by the filing of a financing statement under the UCC;

 

(xi) Equity Interests in Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

 

(xii) any intent-to-use trademark application prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” with respect thereto, to the extent, if any, that, and solely during the period, if any, in which the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use trademark application under applicable federal law;

 

(xiii) Equity Interests of any Subsidiary that is a captive insurance company, not-for-profit entity or special purpose entity;

 

(xiv) Equity Interests of any Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment that is subject to secured Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.1(s) at the time of the acquisition thereof or investment therein if such Equity Interests are pledged as security for such Indebtedness if and for so long as the terms of such Indebtedness prohibit the creation of any other Lien on such Equity Interests; and

 

(xv) particular assets if, and for so long as, in each case, reasonably agreed by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative, the cost of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests in such assets exceeds the practical benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Excluded Assets” shall not include proceeds, substitutions or replacements of any Excluded Asset unless such proceeds, substitutions or replacements would independently constitute Excluded Assets.

 

“Excluded Information” means any non-public information with respect to Parent, any Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their respective securities to the extent such information could reasonably be expected to have a material effect upon, or otherwise be material to, an assigning Term Loan Lender’s decision to assign Term Loans or a purchasing Term Loan Lender’s decision to purchase Term Loans.

 

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“Excluded Subsidiary” means (i) any Unrestricted Subsidiary and (ii) any Restricted Subsidiary that is (a) not a wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary of Parent, any Borrower or a Guarantor, (b) an Immaterial Subsidiary, (c) prohibited or restricted by applicable Law or by Contractual Obligations existing on the Closing Date (or, in the case of any newly acquired Subsidiary, in existence at the time of acquisition thereof but not entered into in contemplation thereof) from guaranteeing the Obligations or if guaranteeing the Obligations would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization, or if such guarantee could reasonably be expected to result in adverse tax consequences as reasonably determined by the Borrower Representative, (d) a Controlled Foreign Corporation, (e) any Subsidiary to the extent the provision of a Guaranty could reasonably be expected to expose the officers, directors, managers or shareholders of such Subsidiary to individual liability or would result in corporate benefit, financial assistance or similar issues, in each case as reasonably determined by the Borrower Representative, in consultation with the Administrative Agent, (f) a Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company, (g) a Domestic Subsidiary that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary or a Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company, (h) a special purpose securitization vehicle (or similar entity), (i) a not-for-profit Subsidiary, (j) a captive insurance Subsidiary, or (k) a Subsidiary with respect to which, in the reasonable judgment of Parent and the Administrative Agent, the burden or cost or other negative consequences of providing a Guarantee shall be excessive in view of the benefits to be obtained by the Lenders therefrom.

 

“Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor at any time, any Swap Contract (and Swap Obligation thereunder), if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Contract and/or Swap Obligation thereunder (or any guarantee thereof) is illegal at such time 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 Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act. 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 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).

 

“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower Representative under Section 2.23) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.20, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.20(g) and (d) any Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

“Executive Order No. 13224” means that certain Executive Order No. 13224, effective September 24, 2001, as the same has been, or shall hereafter be, renewed, extended, amended or replaced.

 

“Existing Indebtedness” means the Indebtedness listed in Schedule 1.1(a).

 

“Existing Letters of Credit” means the letters of credit listed in Schedule 1.1(b).

 

“Extended Revolving Credit Commitment” means a Revolving Credit Commitment or Permitted Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitment that has been extended pursuant to an Extension.

 

“Extending Revolving Lender” means a Lender holding an Extended Revolving Credit Commitment.

 

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  “Extended Revolving Loan” means a Revolving Loan that has been extended pursuant to an Extension.

 

“Extended Term Loan Commitment” means a commitment of any Lender, established pursuant to Section 2.24, to make Extended Term Loans to the Borrowers.

 

“Extended Term Loan” means a Term Loan that has been extended pursuant to an Extension.

 

“Extension” as defined in Section 2.24(a).

 

“Extension Amendment” means an amendment to this Agreement (which may, at the option of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative, be in the form of an amendment and restatement of this Agreement) among the Credit Parties, the applicable extending Lenders, the Administrative Agent and, to the extent required by Section 2.24, an Issuing Bank and/or the Swing Line Lender implementing an Extension in accordance with Section 2.24.

 

“Extension Offer” as defined in Section 2.24(a).

 

“Facilities” means (i) the Initial Term Loan Facility, (ii) the Revolving Credit Facility, (iii) any credit facility consisting of Other Term Loans, and (iv) any credit facility established pursuant to a Permitted Refinancing Amendment.

 

“Fair Market Value” means fair market value as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower Representative.

 

“Fair Share” as defined in Section 7.2.

 

“Fair Share Contribution Amount” as defined in Section 7.2.

 

“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such sections of the Code, and any official interpretations of, and any legislative or regulatory rules adopted pursuant to such intergovernmental agreement.

 

“Federal Flood Insurance” means federally backed Flood Insurance available under the NFIP to owners of real property improvements located in Special Flood Hazard Areas in a community participating in the NFIP.

 

“Federal Funds Effective Rate” means for any day, the rate per annum (expressed, as a decimal) 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 , (i) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (ii) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be the average rate charged to the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as a Lender, on such day on such transactions as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in good faith.

 

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“FEMA” means the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that administers the NFIP.

 

“Financial Condition Covenant” means the covenant set forth in Section 6.7.

 

“Financial Condition Covenant Event of Default” as defined in Section 8.1(c).

 

“Financial Officer Certification” means, with respect to the financial statements for which such certification is required, the certification of the chief financial officer or treasurer (or other officer reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) of Parent that such financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition of Parent and its Subsidiaries or its Restricted Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the periods indicated, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end adjustments.

 

“Financial Plan” as defined in Section 5.1(f).

 

“FIRREA” means the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989.

 

“First Priority” means, (i) with respect to any Lien purported to be created in any Collateral pursuant to any Collateral Document that does not constitute Equity Interests, that such Lien is prior in right to any other lien thereon, other than Permitted Liens and (ii) with respect to any Lien purported to be created in any Collateral pursuant to any Collateral Document that constitutes Equity Interests, that such Lien is prior in right to any other lien thereon, other than Permitted Liens which (x) as a matter of law have priority over the Liens on such Collateral created pursuant to the relevant Collateral Document or (y) solely with respect to Equity Interests of any Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment that is subject to secured Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.1(s) at the time of the acquisition thereof or investment therein, secure such Indebtedness.

 

“Fiscal Quarter” means a fiscal quarter of any Fiscal Year.

 

“Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries ending on December 31 of each calendar year.

 

“Flood Insurance” means, for any improved Material Real Estate Asset located in a Special Flood Hazard Area, Federal Flood Insurance or private insurance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, in either case, that (i) meets the applicable requirements of the NFIP and (ii) shall have a coverage amount equal to the lesser of (x) the “replacement cost value” of the buildings and any personal property Collateral located on the Material Real Estate Asset as determined under the NFIP or (y) the maximum policy limits set under the NFIP.

 

“Flood Notice” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.12(a)(v)(B).

 

“Foreign Lender” means (i) if a Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (ii) if a Borrower is not a U.S. Person, a Lender that is resident or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which such Borrower is resident for tax purposes.

 

“Foreign Pension Plan” means any plan, fund (including, without limitation, any superannuation fund) or other similar program established or maintained outside of the United States by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries primarily for the benefit of employees of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries residing outside of the United States that provides, or results in, retirement income, a deferral of income in contemplation of retirement or payments to be made upon termination of employment, and which plan is not subject to ERISA or the Code.

 

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“Foreign Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

“Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company” means any Domestic Subsidiary of Parent substantially all of the assets of which consist of the Equity Interests (or Equity Interests and other Securities) of one or more Controlled Foreign Corporations or other such Domestic Subsidiaries.

 

“Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (i) with respect to each Issuing Bank, such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit issued by each Issuing Bank other than Letter of Credit Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (ii) with respect to the Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of outstanding Swing Line Loans made by the Swing Line Lender other than Swing Line Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

“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 and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

 

“Funding Guarantor” as defined in Section 7.2.

 

“Funding Notice” means a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

“GAAP” means, subject to the limitations on the application thereof set forth in Section 1.2, United States generally accepted accounting principles in effect as of the date of determination thereof.

 

“Governmental Act” means any act or omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future de jure or de facto government or Governmental Authority.

 

“Governmental Authority” means 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).

 

“Governmental Authorization” means any permit, license, authorization, plan, directive, consent order or consent decree of or from any Governmental Authority.

 

“Granting Lender” as defined in Section 10.6(e)(ii).

 

“Grantor” as defined in the Pledge and Security Agreement.

 

“Guaranteed Obligations” as defined in Section 7.1.

 

“Guarantor” means Parent and each Guarantor Subsidiary.

 

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“Guarantor Subsidiary” means a wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary of Parent that is not an Excluded Subsidiary or a Borrower.

 

“Guaranty” means the guaranty of each Guarantor party hereto set forth in Section 7.

 

“Hazardous Materials” means any chemical, material or substance that is listed, classified, regulated, characterized or otherwise defined as “hazardous,” “toxic,” “radioactive” (or words of similar intent or meaning) under applicable Environmental Law.

 

“Hazardous Materials Activity” means any past, current, proposed or threatened activity, event or occurrence involving any Hazardous Materials, including the use, manufacture, possession, storage, holding, presence, existence, location, Release, threatened Release, discharge, placement, generation, transportation, processing, construction, treatment, abatement, removal, remediation, disposal, disposition or handling of any Hazardous Materials, and any corrective action or response action with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

“Highest Lawful Rate” means the maximum lawful interest rate, if any, that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for, charged, or received under the Laws applicable to any Lender which are presently in effect or, to the extent allowed by Law, under such applicable Laws which may hereafter be in effect and which allow a higher maximum nonusurious interest rate than applicable Laws now allow.

 

“Historical Financial Statements” means, (i) the audited financial statements of JFL-NRC Holdings, LLC and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal years thereof ending December 31, 2015, December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2017, consisting of balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal years, (ii) the audited financial statements of SES Holdco, LLC and its Subsidiaries for fiscal years thereof ending December 31, 2015, December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2017, consisting of balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal years, (iii) the unaudited financial statements of JFL-NRC Holdings, LLC and its Subsidiaries as of March 31, 2018, consisting of a balance sheet and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the three-month period ending on such date and (iv) the unaudited financial statements of SES Holdco, LLC and its Subsidiaries as of March 31, 2018, consisting of a balance sheet and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the three-month period ending on such date.

 

“Holding Companies” and “Holding Company” as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

“Immaterial Subsidiary” means, at any time, any Restricted Subsidiary that (i) contributed 2.5% or less of the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period, or (ii) had consolidated assets representing 2.5% or less of the Consolidated Total Assets of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the last day of the most recently ended Test Period; provided , if at any time and from time to time after the Closing Date, Immaterial Subsidiaries comprise in the aggregate more than 5.0% of the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended Test Period, or more than 5.0% of the Consolidated Total Assets of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently ended Test Period, then the Borrower Representative shall, not later than forty-five (45) days after the date by which financial statements for such period are required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), (i) designate in writing to the Administrative Agent that one or more of such Restricted Subsidiaries is no longer an Immaterial Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement to the extent required such that the foregoing condition ceases to be true and (ii) comply with the provisions of Section 5.11 applicable to such Restricted Subsidiaries and provided further that so long as no Event of Default is then continuing, the Borrower Representative may designate and redesignate a Subsidiary as an Immaterial Subsidiary at any time, subject to the terms set forth in this definition.

 

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“Incremental Equivalent Debt” as defined in Section 2.25(l).

 

“Incremental Facility” means a credit facility established as Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments and Incremental Revolving Loans or Incremental Term Loan Commitments and Incremental Term Loans.

 

“Incremental Facility Amount” as defined in Section 2.25(b).

 

“Incremental Facility Effective Date” as defined in Section 2.25(c).

 

“Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments” as defined in Section 2.25(a).

 

“Incremental Revolving Lender” as defined in Section 2.25(c).

 

“Incremental Revolving Loan” as defined in Section 2.25(e).

 

“Incremental Term Loan” as defined in Section 2.25(f).

 

“Incremental Term Loan Commitments” as defined in Section 2.25(a).

 

“Incremental Term Loan Lender” as defined in Section 2.25(c).

 

“Incremental Term Loan Note” means a promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit B-4 or otherwise in form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Indebtedness” , as applied to any Person, means, without duplication, (i) indebtedness for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person in respect of principal or interest evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments; (ii) that portion of obligations with respect to Capital Leases that is properly classified as a liability on a balance sheet in conformity with GAAP; (iii) notes payable and drafts accepted representing extensions of credit, regardless of whether representing obligations for borrowed money; (iv) any obligation owed for all or any part of the deferred purchase price of property or services, but excluding (x) any such obligations incurred under ERISA, (y) accounts payable and accrued obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business that are not overdue by more than ninety days, unless such payables are being actively contested pursuant to appropriate proceedings and (z) Earn-Out Indebtedness, other than Earn-Out Indebtedness that is (a) due (or remains unpaid) more than ninety days from the date such Earn-Out Indebtedness is stated as a liability on the balance sheet of the acquiring Person in accordance with GAAP or (b) evidenced by a note or similar written instrument, (v) indebtedness secured by a Lien on any property or asset owned or held by that Person regardless of whether the indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed by that Person or is nonrecourse to the credit of that Person; provided that, if such Person has not assumed such obligations, then the amount of Indebtedness of such Person for purposes of this clause (v) shall be equal to the lesser of the amount of the obligations of the holder of such obligations and the Fair Market Value of the assets of such Person that secure such obligations; (vi) the face amount of any letter of credit, bankers’ acceptances, bank guarantees, surety bonds, performance bonds, and similar instruments issued for the account of that Person or as to which that Person is otherwise liable for reimbursement of drawings; (vii) Disqualified Equity Interests; (viii) the direct or indirect guaranty, endorsement (otherwise than for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business) or co-making, of obligations of another of the nature described in any of the foregoing clauses (i) through (vi) above for another Person; (ix) any obligation of such Person the primary purpose or intent of which is to provide assurance to an obligee that the obligation of the obligor thereof will be paid or discharged, or any agreement relating thereto will be complied with, or the holders thereof will be protected (in whole or in part) against loss in respect thereof; (x) any liability of such Person for the obligation of another through any agreement (contingent or otherwise) (a) to purchase, repurchase or otherwise acquire such obligation or any security therefor, or to provide funds for the payment or discharge of such obligation (whether in the form of loans, advances, stock purchases, capital contributions or otherwise) or (b) to maintain the solvency or any balance sheet item, level of income or financial condition of another if, in the case of any agreement described under subclauses (a) or (b) of this clause (x), the primary purpose or intent thereof is as described in clause (ix) above; and (xi) solely for purposes of Sections 6.1 and 8.1(b), net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract; provided , (a) the amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date and (b) the amount of any obligation described in clause (viii), (ix) or (x) hereof shall be deemed to be the lower of (y) the amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such guaranty, liability or obligation is made or assumed and (z) the maximum amount for which such Person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such guaranty or assumption of liability or obligation, unless such primary obligation and the maximum amount for which such Person may be liable are not stated or determinable, in which case the amount of such guaranty, liability or obligation shall be such Person’s maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the Borrower Representative in good faith.

 

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

 

“Indemnitee” as defined in Section 10.3(a).

 

“Initial Term Loan” means a term loan made by the Lenders on the Closing Date to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.1(a).

 

“Initial Term Loan Commitment” means the commitment of a Lender to make or otherwise fund an Initial Term Loan and “Initial Term Loan Commitments” means such commitments of all of the Lenders in the aggregate. The amount of each Lender’s Initial Term Loan Commitment, if any, is set forth on Appendix A-1 or in the applicable Assignment and Assumption, subject to any adjustment or reduction pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof. The aggregate amount of the Initial Term Loan Commitments as of the Closing Date is $308,000,000.

 

“Initial Term Loan Facility” means the Initial Term Loan Commitments and the provisions herein related to the Initial Term Loans; provided , any reference to the Initial Term Loan Facility shall be deemed to include any Incremental Facility consisting of Incremental Term Loan Commitments and Incremental Term Loans unless such Incremental Term Loans are Other Term Loans.

 

“Initial Term Loan Lender” means each Lender that has an Initial Term Loan Commitment or that holds an Initial Term Loan.

 

“Initial Term Loan Maturity Date” means June 11, 2024 or such later date as may be extended pursuant to Section 2.24.

 

“Intellectual Property Security Agreement” has the meaning assigned to that term in the Pledge and Security Agreement.

 

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“Intercreditor Agreement” means each intercreditor agreement referred to herein or contemplated hereby entered into in connection with the incurrence, assumption or acquisition of any Indebtedness permitted hereunder.

 

“Interest Payment Date” means with respect to (i) any Base Rate Loan, each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on September 30, 2018 and the final maturity date of such Loan; and (ii) any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan; provided , in the case of each Interest Period of longer than three months, the term “Interest Payment Date” shall also include each date that is three months, or an integral multiple thereof, after the commencement of such Interest Period.

 

“Interest Period” means, in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, an interest period of one-, two-, three- or six-months (or, with the consent of all affected Lenders, twelve months or, subject to Section 2.8(b), one week), as selected by the Borrower Representative in the applicable Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice, (i) initially, commencing on the Credit Date or Conversion/Continuation Date thereof, as the case may be; and (ii) thereafter, commencing on the day on which the immediately preceding Interest Period expires; provided , (a) if an Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on the next succeeding Business Day unless no further Business Day occurs in such month, in which case such Interest Period shall expire on the immediately preceding Business Day; (b) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall, subject to clauses (c) and (d), of this definition, end on the last Business Day of a calendar month; (c) no Interest Period with respect to any portion of any Class of Term Loans shall extend beyond such Class’s Maturity Date; and (d) no Interest Period with respect to any portion of the Revolving Loans shall extend beyond the Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date.

 

“Interest Rate Determination Date” means, with respect to any Interest Period, the date that is two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period.

 

“Investment” means (i) any direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of, or of a beneficial interest in, any of the Securities of any other Person; (ii) any direct or indirect redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition for value, by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from any Person, of any Equity Interests of such Person; and (iii) any direct or indirect loan, advance or capital contribution by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to any other Person. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment at any time shall be the amount actually invested (measured at the time made), without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment, less any Returns to Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of such Investment; provided , the aggregate amount of such Returns shall not exceed the original amount of such Investment.

 

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

“Issuance Notice” means an Issuance Notice substantially in the form of Exhibit A-3 or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Issuing Bank” means (a) BNP Paribas, as an Issuing Bank hereunder, together with its permitted successors and assigns in such capacity; (b) any other Lender that may become an Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.4(l) in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit issued by such Lender; or (c) collectively, all of the foregoing.

 

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  “Joinder Agreement” means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit K or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Junior Financing” means any Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness among Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries) for borrowed money of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries that is (i) contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations expressly by its terms and/or (ii) secured on a contractually junior lien basis to the Liens securing the Obligations.

 

“Junior Financing Documentation” means any documentation governing any Junior Financing.

 

“Landlord Waiver and Consent Agreement” means a Landlord Waiver and Consent Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit J, with such amendments or modifications as may be approved by the Collateral Agent, or such other form as is reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent.

 

“Laws” means any and all federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, judicial decisions, regulations, guidances, guidelines, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, codes, plans, injunctions, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, governmental agreements and governmental restrictions, whether now or hereafter in effect.

 

LCA Test Date ” as defined in Section 1.7(c).

 

“Lead Arranger” means BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

 

“Lender” means each Person listed on the signature pages hereto as a Lender, and any other Person (other than a natural Person) that becomes a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, a Joinder Agreement or a Permitted Refinancing Amendment.

 

“Lender Affiliated Parties” as defined in Section 10.22.

 

“Lender Party” as defined in Section 10.17.

 

“Letter of Credit” means a commercial or standby letter of credit issued or to be issued by an Issuing Bank pursuant to this Agreement, including the NRC Letters of Credit which, as of the Closing Date, shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

“Letter of Credit Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the sum of (i) the maximum aggregate amount that is, or at any time thereafter may become, available for drawing under all Letters of Credit then outstanding (calculated, in the case of Alternate Currency Letters of Credit, based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof), plus (ii) the aggregate amount of all drawings under Letters of Credit honored by an Issuing Bank and not theretofore reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrowers (calculated, in the case of Alternate Currency Letters of Credit, based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof).

 

“Letter of Credit Sublimit” means, as of any date of determination, the lower of (i) $20,000,000, and (ii) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments as of such date minus the Total Utilization of Revolving Credit Commitments as of such date.

 

“Lien” means any lien, mortgage, pledge, assignment, security interest, charge or similar encumbrance (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any lease in the nature thereof) and any option, trust or other preferential arrangement having the practical effect of any of the foregoing.

 

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“Limited Condition Acquisition” means any acquisition, including by way of merger, or Investment, in each case, by Parent or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted pursuant to this Agreement the consummation of which is not conditioned upon the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing.

 

“Loan” means a Term Loan, a Revolving Loan or a Swing Line Loan.

 

“Management Agreement” means, collectively (i) the Management Agreement and the Consultancy Agreement, each dated as of March 16, 2012, between the Management Company and NRC Holdings and (ii) the Management Agreement and the Consultancy Agreement, each dated as of May 5, 2015, between the Management Company, the Sprint Borrower and Sprint Holdings, each as assigned to and assumed by the Sponsor. 

 

“Management Company” means J.F. Lehman & Company, Inc., predecessor in interest to the Sponsor.

 

“Margin Stock” as defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors as in effect from time to time.

 

“Master Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Swap Contract.”

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means any event, change or condition that, individually or in the aggregate, has had (i) a material adverse effect on the business, assets, results of operations or financial condition of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) a material adverse effect on the ability of the Credit Parties (taken as a whole) to fully and timely perform their payment obligations under any Credit Document to which any of the Credit Parties is a party or (iii) a material adverse effect on the material rights and remedies (taken as a whole) of the Agents, the Issuing Banks and any other Secured Party under the Credit Documents (taken as a whole), including the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of the Credit Documents (for the avoidance of doubt, in each case after giving effect to all protections afforded by the acquisition documentation with respect to any Permitted Acquisition and applicable insurance policies).

 

“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) of any one or more of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate outstanding principal amount of $15,000,000 or more.

 

“Material Intellectual Property” has the meaning given thereto in the Pledge and Security Agreement.

 

“Material Real Estate Asset” means any fee-owned Real Estate Asset (a) having a Fair Market Value in excess of $3,000,000 or (b) on which Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries operates a material (as reasonably determined by the Collateral Agent in consultation with Parent) waste disposal facility.

 

“Material Vessel” means (i) any Vessel that is documented with the NVDC, under the law and flag of the United States, with a coastwise endorsement and is entitled to engage in U.S. Coastwise Trade, and (ii) in the case of a Vessel that is not so documented with the NVDC, any Vessel that has a Fair Market Value in excess of $1,000,000 and is registered under the laws of a state in the United States whose vessel mortgage laws satisfy the requirements of 46 U.S.C. § 31322(d). For purposes of the Credit Documents, the value of a Vessel shall be deemed to equal the Fair Market Value of such Vessel as reasonably determined by the Borrower Representative in good faith (it being agreed, however, that such value shall not be less than the book value of such Vessel as reflected in the most recently delivered financial statements of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries).

 

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“Maturity Date” means, (i) with respect to (a) the Initial Term Loans, the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date and (b) any other Class of Term Loans, the maturity date specified therefor in the applicable Joinder Agreement, Extension Amendment or Permitted Refinancing Amendment, and (ii) with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Scheduled Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date applicable thereto.

 

“MFN Protection” as defined in Section 2.25(h)(iv).

 

“Minimum Collateral Amount” means, at any time, (i) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances, an amount equal to 103% of the Fronting Exposure and the Letter of Credit Obligations of an Issuing Bank with respect to Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time (calculated, in the case of Alternate Currency Letters of Credit, based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof), and (ii) otherwise, an amount determined by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank in their reasonable discretion.

 

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

 

“Mortgage” means a Mortgage substantially in the form of Exhibit I or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent.

 

“Mortgaged Property” means each Material Real Estate Asset for which a Mortgage is required pursuant to Section 5.12.

 

“Mortgaged Vessels” means all Material Vessels from time to time mortgaged or required to be mortgaged as security for the Obligations pursuant to this Agreement.

 

“Multiemployer Plan” means any “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA which is sponsored, maintained or contributed to by, or required to be contributed to by, Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates, or with respect to which Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any material liability.

 

“NAIC” means The National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and any successor thereto.

 

“Narrative Report” means, with respect to the financial statements for which such narrative report is required, a narrative report describing the operations of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the form prepared for presentation to senior management thereof for the applicable month, Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year and for the period from the beginning of the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such period to which such financial statements relate.

 

“Net Cash Proceeds” means the net proceeds received in cash or Cash Equivalents by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any Disposition or Casualty/Condemnation Event, in each case, in an amount equal to:

 

(a) the aggregate amount of all payments in cash or Cash Equivalents (including any cash or Cash Equivalents received by way of release from escrow or deferred payment pursuant to, or by monetization of, a note receivable or otherwise, but only as and when so received) received by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from such Disposition or Casualty/Condemnation Event, as applicable, minus

 

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(b) (i) any costs, fees and expenses actually incurred (or estimated in good faith by the Borrower Representative to be incurred within 180 days of such Disposition and/or Casualty/Condemnation Event; provided , if not actually incurred within such 180 day period, the amount thereof shall be added back to Net Cash Proceeds) in connection with such Disposition or Casualty/Condemnation Event, as applicable, (ii) sales, transfer, income, gains or other taxes payable (or estimated in good faith by the Borrower Representative to become payable) in connection with such Disposition or Casualty/Condemnation Event, as applicable, or in connection with the repatriation of such cash payments, (iii) any actual and reasonable costs incurred (or estimated in good faith by the Borrower Representative to be incurred) by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the adjustment or settlement of any claims of Parent, the Borrowers or such Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Casualty/Condemnation Event, (iv) payment of the outstanding principal amount of, premium or penalty, if any, and interest on any Indebtedness (other than the Loans) that is secured by a Lien on the Equity Interests or assets in question and that is required to be repaid (or to establish an escrow for the future repayment thereof) under the terms thereof as a result of such Disposition or Casualty/Condemnation Event, as applicable, (v) a reserve established in accordance with GAAP against any adjustment to the sale price or any liabilities (other than any taxes deducted pursuant to clause (ii) above) related to any of the applicable assets and retained by Parent or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities or other liabilities related to environmental matters or for any indemnification payments (fixed or contingent) attributable to seller’s indemnities and representations and warranties to purchaser in respect of such Disposition undertaken by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such Disposition; provided , upon release of any such reserve, the amount released shall be considered Net Cash Proceeds, (vi) amounts required to be turned over to landlords (or their mortgagees) pursuant to the terms of any lease to which Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is party in connection with such Disposition or Casualty/Condemnation Event, (vii) the out of pocket or other customary expenses, costs and fees incurred (or estimated in good faith by the Borrower Representative to be incurred within 180 days of such Disposition and/or Casualty/Condemnation Event; provided , if not actually incurred within such 180 day period, the amount thereof shall be added back to Net Cash Proceeds) with respect to legal, investment banking, brokerage, advisor and accounting and other professional fees, sales commissions and disbursements, in each case in connection with such Disposition or Casualty/Condemnation Event, as applicable, and payable to a Person that is not an Affiliate of Parent (other than any expenses required to reimburse Sponsor or its Controlled Investment Affiliates in connection with such transaction (to the extent such reimbursement is permitted hereby)), (viii) in the case of any such Disposition or Casualty/Condemnation Event, as applicable, by or with respect to a non-wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary, the pro rata portion of the Net Cash Proceeds thereof (calculated without regard to this clause (viii)) attributable to minority interests and not available for distribution to or for the account of the Borrowers or a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary as a result thereof and (ix) with respect to any Disposition by or Casualty/Condemnation Event with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrowers requiring prepayment of Loans pursuant to Section 2.14(a), the amount of taxes payable (or tax distributions to or by Parent) as a result of any dividends or distributions by any Restricted Subsidiary of proceeds thereof.

 

For purposes of Section 2.14(a), any amount determined in accordance with the foregoing shall not constitute “Net Cash Proceeds” in any Fiscal Year until the aggregate amount of all such amounts in such Fiscal Year exceed $2,500,000.

 

“NFIP” means the National Flood Insurance Program created by the U.S. Congress pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as revised by the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 and the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, that mandates the purchase of flood insurance to cover real property improvements located in Special Flood Hazard Areas in participating communities and provides protection to property owners through a federal insurance program.

 

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“Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (i) requires the approval of all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.5(b) or 10.5(c) and (ii) has been approved by the Required Lenders.

 

“Non-Debt Fund Affiliate” means an Affiliated Lender that is not a Debt Fund Affiliate.

 

“Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.

 

“Non-Public Information” means information which has not been disseminated in a manner making it available to investors generally, within the meaning of Regulation FD.

 

“Not Otherwise Applied” shall mean, with reference to any amount of proceeds of any transaction or event, that such amount (a) was not required to be applied to prepay the Loans or any other Indebtedness and (b) was not previously applied or committed to be applied in determining the permissibility of a transaction under the Credit Documents where such permissibility was (or may have been) contingent on receipt of such amount or utilization of such amount for a specified purpose.

 

“Note” means a Term Loan Note, a Revolving Loan Note, a Swing Line Note or an Incremental Term Loan Note.

 

“Notice” means a Funding Notice, an Issuance Notice, or a Conversion/Continuation Notice.

 

“Notice Office” means the office of the Administrative Agent set forth on Appendix B hereto, or such other office as the Administrative Agent may hereafter designate in writing as such to the other parties hereto.

 

“NRC Borrower” as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

“NRC Holdings” as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

“NRC Letters of Credit” means the following letters of credit issued by BNP Paribas for the account of the NRC Borrower: (i) Letter of Credit No. CH-CO-TR-04146623-00 in an original amount of $639,244.77, for the benefit of the State of Vermont, (ii) Letter of Credit No. CH-CO-TR-04146624-00 in an original amount of $204,586.59, for the benefit of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and (iii) Letter of Credit No. 04151217 in an original amount of $720,000.00 for the benefit of Zurich American Insurance Company.

 

“NVDC” means the United States Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center, or any successor thereto.

 

“Obligations” means all obligations of every nature of each Credit Party from time to time owed to any Agent (including any former Agent), any Lender, any Issuing Bank, any Eligible Counterparty or any Cash Management Bank under any Credit Document, Secured Swap Contract or Cash Management Agreement, whether for principal, interest (including interest which, but for the filing of a petition in any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law with respect to such Credit Party, would have accrued on any Obligation, whether or not a claim is allowed against such Credit Party for such interest in such proceeding), reimbursement of amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, payments for early termination of Secured Swap Contracts, fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise, in each case, other than any Excluded Swap Obligations.

 

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“Obligee Guarantor” as defined in Section 7.7.

 

“OFAC” means the US Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control, or any successor thereto.

 

“Organizational Documents” means (i) with respect to any corporation, its certificate or articles of incorporation or organization and its by-laws; (ii) with respect to any limited partnership, its certificate of limited partnership and its partnership agreement; (iii) with respect to any general partnership, its partnership agreement; (iv) with respect to any limited liability company, its articles of organization and its operating agreement; and (v) with respect to any Person that is any other type of entity, such organizational documents as are comparable to the foregoing. If any term or condition of this Agreement or any other Credit Document requires any Organizational Document to be certified by a Governmental Authority, the reference to any such “Organizational Document” shall only be to a document of a type customarily certified by such Governmental Authority.

 

“Other Applicable Debt” as defined in Section 2.14(i).

 

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

 

“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Credit Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.23).

 

“Other Term Loans” as defined in Section 2.25(h).

 

“Parent” as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

“Participant” as defined in Section 10.6(d).

 

“Participant Register” as defined in Section 10.6(d).

 

“PATRIOT Act” means USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act, Title III of Pub. L. 109-177.

 

“Payment Office” means the office of the Administrative Agent set forth on Appendix B hereto, or such other office as the Administrative Agent may hereafter designate in writing as such to the other parties hereto.

 

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.

 

“Pension Plan” means any Employee Benefit Plan other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA.

 

“Permitted Acquisition” as defined in Section 6.6(r).

 

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“Permitted Acquisition Consideration” means the purchase consideration for any Permitted Acquisition payable by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and all other payments by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in exchange for, or as part of, or in connection with, any Permitted Acquisition, whether paid in cash, by way of Seller Notes or by exchange of Equity Interests or of properties or otherwise and whether payable at or prior to the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or deferred for payment at any future time, whether or not any such future payment is subject to the occurrence of any contingency, and includes any and all payments representing the purchase price and any assumptions of Indebtedness.

 

“Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness” as defined in Section 6.1(v).

 

“Permitted Cure Securities” means Equity Interests in Parent that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.

 

“Permitted Encumbrance” as defined in Section 6.2(b).

 

“Permitted Lien” means each Lien permitted pursuant to Section 6.2.

 

“Permitted Maritime Liens“ means the following Liens on any Vessel: (a) Liens in respect of which a bond or other security has been posted by or on behalf of a Credit Party to prevent the arrest of a Vessel, or to secure the release of a Vessel from arrest; (b) Liens for master’s and crew’s wages, if not yet due and payable (except for such liens being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, in which case the Credit Parties shall have set aside on their books reserves in accordance with GAAP, and provided always that such deferment does not subject a Vessel to arrest); (c) Liens for necessaries (as defined in 46 USC § 31301) and other Liens arising by operation of law in operating, maintaining and repairing the Vessels incurred in the ordinary course of business that have accrued for a period not exceeding sixty (60) days, the payments for which are not by their respective terms overdue (except for such liens being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, in which case the Credit Parties shall have set aside on their books reserves in accordance with GAAP, and provided always that such deferment does not subject a Vessel to arrest); (d) Liens for general average, salvage and contract salvage and for wages of stevedores employed by any Credit Party, the master of the applicable Vessel or a permitted charterer thereof; (e) Liens in favor of a charterer of a Vessel arising by operation of law; (f) Liens that, as indicated by the written admission of liability therefor by an insurance company, are covered by insurance; and (g) Liens for damages arising from maritime torts which are unclaimed, or which are covered by insurance, or in respect of which a bond or other security has been posted by or on behalf of a Credit Party to prevent the arrest of a Vessel, or to secure the release of a Vessel from arrest; provided , that any Liens described in clauses (c) through (f) above on any Mortgaged Vessel shall constitute Permitted Maritime Liens only if subordinate to the lien of the Vessel Mortgage on such Vessel, or if they constitute maritime liens which would in any event be entitled to priority over such Vessel Mortgage under applicable law.

 

“Permitted Pari Passu Refinancing Indebtedness” as defined in Section 6.1(v).

 

“Permitted Refinancing” as defined in Section 6.1(u).

 

“Permitted Refinancing Amendment” means an amendment to this Agreement (which may, at the option of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative, be in the form of an amendment and restatement of this Agreement) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative executed by the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, each Permitted Refinancing Lender and Lender that agrees to provide any portion of the Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness being incurred pursuant to Section 2.26, and, in the case of Permitted Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments or Permitted Refinancing Revolving Loans, the applicable Issuing Bank and the Swing Line Lender.

 

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“Permitted Refinancing Commitments” means the Permitted Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments and the Permitted Refinancing Term Loan Commitments.

 

“Permitted Refinancing Lender” means, at any time, any bank, other financial institution or institutional investor that agrees to provide any portion of any Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness pursuant to a Permitted Refinancing Amendment in accordance with Section 2.26; provided , (i) each Permitted Refinancing Lender shall be subject to the approval (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) of the Administrative Agent and, in the case of Permitted Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments or Permitted Refinancing Revolving Loans, the Issuing Bank and the Swing Line Lender, in each case, to the extent any such consent would be required under Section 10.6(b) for an assignment of Loans or Commitments to such Permitted Refinancing Lender, and (ii) the provision of any Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness by a Permitted Refinancing Lender that is an Affiliated Lender shall be subject to the conditions set forth in Section 10.6(g).

 

“Permitted Refinancing Loans” means the Permitted Refinancing Revolving Loans and the Permitted Refinancing Term Loans.

 

“Permitted Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments” means one or more classes of revolving credit commitments hereunder or extended Revolving Credit Commitments that result from a Permitted Refinancing Amendment.

 

“Permitted Refinancing Revolving Loans” means the Revolving Loans made pursuant to any Permitted Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitment.

 

“Permitted Refinancing Term Loan Commitments” means one or more classes of term loan commitments hereunder that result from a Permitted Refinancing Amendment.

 

“Permitted Refinancing Term Loans” means one or more classes of Term Loans that result from a Permitted Refinancing Amendment.

 

“Person” means and includes natural persons, corporations, limited partnerships, general partnerships, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, joint stock companies, joint ventures, associations, companies, trusts, banks, trust companies, land trusts, business trusts or other organizations, whether or not legal entities, and Governmental Authorities.

 

“Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 10.6(f)(iii).

 

“Platform” as defined in Section 10.1(d).

 

“Pledge and Security Agreement” means the Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit H.

 

“Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum that BNP Paribas announces from time to time as its prime lending rate, as in effect from time to time. The Prime Rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer. BNP Paribas or any other Lender may make commercial loans or other loans at rates of interest at, above or below the Prime Rate.

 

“Pro Forma Basis” as determined in accordance with Section 1.7.

 

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“Pro Forma Compliance Certificate” means a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C-2 or otherwise in form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Pro Forma Cost Savings” as defined in the definition of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA.

 

“Projections” means the projections of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a quarterly basis for the first Fiscal Quarters after the Closing Date through 2019, and on annual basis thereafter to and including 2024.

 

“Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to any Lender, (i) with respect to all payments, computations and other matters relating to each Term Loan Facility, the percentage obtained by dividing (a) the Term Loan Exposure of such Lender under such Term Loan Facility by (b) the aggregate Term Loan Exposure of all of the Lenders under such Term Loan Facility; and (ii) with respect to all payments, computations and other matters relating to the Revolving Credit Commitment or Revolving Loans of such Lender or any Letters of Credit issued or participations purchased therein by such Lender or any participations in any Swing Line Loans purchased by such Lender, the percentage obtained by dividing (a) the Revolving Credit Exposure of such Lender by (b) the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all of the Lenders. For all other purposes with respect to each Lender, “Pro Rata Share” means the percentage obtained by dividing (A) an amount equal to the sum of the Term Loan Exposure under each Term Loan Facility and the Revolving Credit Exposure of such Lender, by (B) an amount equal to the sum of the aggregate Term Loan Exposure under each Term Loan Facility and the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all of the Lenders.

 

“Progressive” means, collectively, Progressive Environmental Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its Subsidiaries.

 

“Progressive Acquisition” means the acquisition, by way of a merger, by the NRC Borrower of all Equity Interests of Progressive.

 

“Public Lender” means a Lender that does not wish to receive material Non-Public Information with respect to Parent or its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their Securities.

 

“Purchase Money Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of a Person incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of acquisition, repair, construction or improvement of property or assets used or useful in the business of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries and/or Affiliates.

 

“Qualified ECP Credit Party” means, in respect of any Swap Contract, each Credit Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time such Swap Contract is incurred.

 

“Qualified IPO” means (i) the issuance by any Ultimate Parent Company or Parent of its Securities in an underwritten primary public offering (other than a public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with the Securities Act (whether alone or in connection with a secondary public offering) or (ii) the consummation of a SPAC Transaction.

 

“Real Estate Asset” means an interest (fee, leasehold or otherwise) in any real property.

 

“Real Property Facility” means any real property (including all buildings, fixtures or other improvements located thereon) owned, leased, operated or used by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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  “Recipient” means (i) any Agent, (ii) any Lender or (iii) an Issuing Bank, as applicable.

 

“Refunded Swing Line Loans” as defined in Section 2.3(g).

 

“Register” as defined in Section 10.6(c).

 

“Registered Equivalent Notes” means, with respect to any notes originally issued in an offering pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act or other private placement transaction under the Securities Act, substantially identical notes (having the same guarantees) issued in a dollar-for-dollar exchange therefor pursuant to an exchange offer registered with the SEC.

 

“Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Board of Governors, as in effect from time to time.

 

“Regulation FD” means Regulation FD as promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act and Exchange Act as in effect from time to time.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Reimbursement Date” as defined in Section 2.4(d).

 

“Related Business Assets” means any property, plant, equipment or other assets to be used or useful by Parent or its Restricted Subsidiaries in any business permitted under Section 6.12 or capital expenditures relating thereto.

 

“Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors and representatives of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

 

“Related Transactions” means the Closing Date Contribution, the payment of the 2018 Dividend and the other transactions consummated (or to be consummated) pursuant thereto and the payment of the Transaction Costs.

 

“Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, pouring, injection, escaping, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, dumping, leaching or migration of any Hazardous Material into the indoor or outdoor environment (including the abandonment or disposal of any barrels, containers or other closed receptacles containing any Hazardous Material), including the movement of any Hazardous Material through the air, soil, surface water or groundwater.

 

“Relevant Public Company” means Parent or any Ultimate Parent Company that (in each case) is (or is to be) the registrant with respect to a Qualified IPO.

 

“Remaining Obligations” means, as of any date of determination, the Obligations that as of such date of determination are (i) Obligations under the Credit Documents that expressly survive termination of the Credit Documents by the terms thereof, but as of such date of determination are not due and payable and for which no claims have been made, (ii) Obligations in respect of Secured Swap Contracts, and (iii) Cash Management Obligations.

 

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“Removal Effective Date” as defined in Section 9.6(b).

 

“Repricing Event” as defined in Section 2.11(h).

 

“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, one or more Lenders having or holding Term Loan Exposure under each Term Loan Facility and/or Revolving Credit Exposure and representing more than 50% of the sum of (i) the aggregate Term Loan Exposure of all of the Lenders under all Term Loan Facilities, and (ii) the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all of the Lenders; provided , (a) the Term Loan Exposure under any Term Loan Facility and/or Revolving Credit Exposure, as applicable, of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time; and (b) any determination of Required Lenders with respect to Affiliated Lenders shall be subject to Section 10.6(f).

 

“Required Prepayment Date” as defined in Section 2.15(d).

 

“Required Revolving Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, one or more of the Lenders having or holding Revolving Credit Exposure and representing more than 50% of the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all of the Lenders; provided , (a) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Revolving Lenders at any time and (b) at any time that there are two or more Revolving Lenders party to this Agreement, the term “Required Revolving Lenders” must include at least two Revolving Lenders (Lenders that are Affiliates or Approved Funds of each other shall be deemed to be a single Lender for purposes of this clause (b)).

 

“Resignation Effective Date” as defined in Section 9.6(a).

 

“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interest of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to Parent’s or a Restricted Subsidiary’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Persons thereof).

 

“Restricted Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of Parent that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

“Returns” means, with respect to any Investment, any dividends, distributions, interest, fees, premium, return of capital, repayment of principal, income, profits (from a Disposition or otherwise (but excluding any Disposition to Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries)) and other amounts received or realized in respect of such Investment, in each case on an after-tax basis, including any amount received by Parent or its Restricted Subsidiaries upon (i) the redesignation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) the merger or consolidation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary into a Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary (so long as such Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary is the surviving entity), or (iii) the transfer of assets by an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any joint venture to a Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary (up to the Fair Market Value thereof as determined in good faith by the Borrower Representative).

 

“Revaluation Date” means, with respect to any Alternate Currency Letter of Credit, each of the following: (i) each date of issuance of an Alternate Currency Letter of Credit, (ii) each date of an amendment of any Alternate Currency Letter of Credit having the effect of increasing the amount thereof (solely with respect to the increased amount), (iii) each date of any payment by an Issuing Bank under any Alternate Currency Letter of Credit, and (iv) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or an applicable Issuing Bank shall reasonably determine in good faith or the required Revolving Lenders shall require pursuant to a written notice to the Administrative Agent.

 

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“Revolving Credit Commitment” means the commitment of a Lender to make or otherwise fund any Revolving Loan and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans hereunder and “Revolving Credit Commitments” means such commitments of all of the Lenders in the aggregate. The amount of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, if any, is set forth on Appendix A-2 or in the applicable Assignment and Assumption or Joinder Agreement, if applicable subject to any adjustment or reduction pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof. The aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments as of the Closing Date is $40,000,000. Unless the context shall otherwise require, the term “Revolving Credit Commitment” shall include any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment, Extended Revolving Credit Commitment or Permitted Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitment.

 

“Revolving Credit Commitment Period” means the period from the Closing Date to but excluding the Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date.

 

“Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date” means the earliest to occur of (i) the Scheduled Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date, (ii) the date the Revolving Credit Commitments are permanently reduced to zero pursuant to Section 2.13(b) or 2.14, and (iii) the date of the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 8.2.

 

“Revolving Credit Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender as of any date of determination, (i) prior to the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment; and (ii) after the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, the sum, without duplication, of (a) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans of such Lender, (b) in the case of an Issuing Bank, the aggregate Letter of Credit Obligations in respect of all Letters of Credit issued by such Lender (net of any participations by the Lenders in such Letters of Credit), (c) the aggregate amount of all participations by such Lender in any outstanding Letters of Credit or any unreimbursed drawing under any Letter of Credit, (d) in the case of the Swing Line Lender, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Swing Line Loans (net of any participations therein by the Lenders), and (e) the aggregate amount of all participations therein by such Lender in any outstanding Swing Line Loans.

 

“Revolving Credit Facility” means the Revolving Credit Commitments and the extensions of credit made thereunder.

 

“Revolving Credit Limit” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments as of such date.

 

“Revolving Lender” means a Lender holding a Revolving Commitment or Revolving Loans.

 

“Revolving Loan” means a Loan made by a Lender to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.2(a) or 2.25(d), and unless the context shall otherwise require, the term “Revolving Loan” shall include any Extended Revolving Loan, Permitted Refinancing Revolving Loan or Incremental Revolving Loan.

 

“Revolving Loan Note” means a promissory note in the form of Exhibit B-2 or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business.

 

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“Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country or territory which is, or whose government is, the subject or target of any Sanctions broadly restricting or prohibiting dealings with such country, territory or government.

 

“Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, any Person with whom dealings are restricted or prohibited under Sanctions, including (i) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the United States (including by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, or the U.S. Department of Commerce), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any of its member states, Her Majesty’s Treasury, Switzerland or any other relevant Governmental Authority, (ii) any Person organized under the laws of or resident in, or any Governmental Entity or governmental instrumentality of, a Sanctioned Country or (iii) any Person 25% or more directly or indirectly owned by, controlled by, or acting for the benefit or on behalf of, any Person described in clauses (i) or (ii) hereof.

 

“Sanctions” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes or restrictive measures enacted, imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (i) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, or the U.S. Department of Commerce; (ii) the United Nations Security Council; (iii) the European Union or any of its member states; (iv) Her Majesty’s Treasury; (v) Switzerland; or (vi) any other relevant Governmental Authority.

 

“Scheduled Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date” means (i) with respect to the portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Revolving Lenders that have not been extended pursuant to Section 2.24, June 11, 2023, and (ii) with respect to any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Permitted Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitment, the maturity date specified therefor in the applicable Extension Amendment or Permitted Refinancing Amendment.

 

“Secured Parties” has the meaning assigned to that term in the Pledge and Security Agreement.

 

“Secured Swap Contract” means any Swap Contract permitted under Section 6.1 that is entered into by and between Parent, a Borrower or any Guarantor Subsidiary and any Eligible Counterparty, to the extent designated by the Borrower Representative and such Eligible Counterparty as a “Secured Swap Contract” in writing to the Administrative Agent. The designation of any Secured Swap Contract shall not create in favor of such Eligible Counterparty any rights in connection with the management or release of Collateral or of the obligations of any Guarantor under the Credit Documents.

 

“Securities” means any stock, shares, partnership interests, voting trust certificates, certificates of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement or arrangement, options, warrants, bonds, debentures, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured, convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any instruments commonly known as “securities” or any certificates of interest, shares or participations in temporary or interim certificates for the purchase or acquisition of, or any right to subscribe to, purchase or acquire, any of the foregoing.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, and any successor statute.

 

“Securities and Exchange Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor thereto.

 

“Securitization” means a public or private offering by a Lender or any of its Affiliates or their respective successors and assigns, of Securities which represent an interest in, or which are collateralized, in whole or in part, by the Loans.

 

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“Securitization Party” means any Person that is a trustee, collateral manager, servicer, backup servicer, noteholder or other security holder, secured party, counterparty to a Securitization related Swap Contract, or other participant in a Securitization.

 

“Seller Note” means unsecured Indebtedness that is issued to satisfy a portion of the purchase price of a Permitted Acquisition, and that (i) is subordinated to the Obligations (other than Remaining Obligations) under the Credit Documents on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (which such subordination terms and conditions, in any event, shall, without limitation, prohibit Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from making any payment of principal thereof and interest or other amount due thereunder while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such payment or would arise as a result of such payment of interest or other amount), and (ii) has a scheduled maturity date not earlier than the date that is six months after the latest Maturity Date then in effect.

 

“Solvency Certificate” means a Solvency Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit L or otherwise in form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Solvent” as defined in the Solvency Certificate.

 

“SPAC” means a special purpose acquisition company whose shares are publicly traded and that was formed for the purpose of acquiring an entity or business.

 

“SPAC Transaction” means a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other business combination between an Ultimate Parent Company or Parent, on the one hand, and a SPAC, on the other hand, or the acquisition by a SPAC of a majority of the Securities or Equity Interests or assets of any Ultimate Parent Company or Parent; provided that (A) such SPAC shall have no assets (other than proceeds from its initial public offering, the private placement of securities in connection therewith and working capital loans made by the SPAC’s sponsor, management team or their respective Affiliates) and no liabilities or obligations (other than ordinary course payables to vendors, professionals, consultants and other advisors, deferred underwriting fees incurred in connection with its initial public offering and otherwise to the extent arising from the rights of the SPAC’s public shareholders to redeem their shares and receive liquidating distributions under specified circumstances), and its assets shall be subject to no Liens, and (B) in the case of a transaction in which the SPAC is the surviving entity or the Ultimate Parent Company (i) such SPAC shall be organized under the Laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received (x) fully executed assumption documentation in connection therewith and, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, customary opinions of counsel with respect thereto and (y) solely to the extent specifically requested of the Borrower Representative by the Administrative Agent at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the SPAC Transaction, all documentation and other information necessary for regulatory compliance clearance, including, without limitation, in respect of applicable know your customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations and the PATRIOT Act and (iii) in accordance with the requirements set forth in Section 5.11 (as if such SPAC has become a Restricted Subsidiary), such SPAC shall become a Borrower or a Guarantor for all purposes under this Agreement and shall become a grantor under the Pledge and Security Agreement substantially concurrently with the consummation of the SPAC Transaction.

 

“Spot Rate” for a currency means the rate reasonably determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent or the applicable Issuing Bank, as applicable, to be the rate quoted by the Person acting in such capacity as the applicable sport rate for the purchase by such Person of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date three (3) Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made or if such rate cannot be computed as of such date such other date as the applicable Person shall reasonably determine is reasonably appropriate under the circumstances; provided that the Administrative Agent or the applicable Issuing Bank may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution reasonably designated in good faith by such Person if such Person does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency.

 

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“SPC” as defined in Section 10.6(e)(ii).

 

“Special Flood Hazard Area” means an area that FEMA’s current flood maps indicate has at least a one percent (1%) chance of a flood equal to or exceeding the base flood elevation (a 100-year flood) in any given year.

 

“Specified Event of Default” as defined in Section 6.11(e).

 

“Sponsor” means J.F. Lehman & Company.

 

“Sprint Borrower” as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

“Sprint Holdings” as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

“Standby Division” means the business division of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries engaged in the standby business.

 

“Subsequent Transaction” as defined in Section 1.7(c).

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Equity Interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Person or Persons (whether members of the Board of Directors, managers, trustees or other Persons performing similar functions) having the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; provided , in determining the percentage of ownership interests of any Person controlled by another Person, no ownership interest in the nature of a “qualifying share” of the former Person shall be deemed to be outstanding. Unless otherwise specified herein, “Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary of Parent.

 

“Swap Contract” means (i) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (ii) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “ Master Agreement ”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

 

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“Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

“Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (i) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (ii) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (i), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

 

“Swing Line Lender” means BNP Paribas in its capacity as the Swing Line Lender hereunder, together with its permitted successors and assigns in such capacity.

 

“Swing Line Loan” means a Loan made by the Swing Line Lender to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.3.

 

“Swing Line Loan Outstandings” means, at any time of calculation, then existing aggregate outstanding principal amount of Swing Line Loans.

 

“Swing Line Note” means a promissory note in the form of Exhibit B-3 or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Swing Line Sublimit” means, as of any date of determination, the lower of the following amounts: (i) $10,000,000, and (ii) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments as of such date minus the Total Utilization of Revolving Credit Commitments as of such date.

 

“Syndication Date” as defined in Section 2.8(b).

 

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

 

“Term Loan” means an Initial Term Loan, Incremental Term Loan, Extended Term Loan or Permitted Refinancing Term Loan.

 

“Term Loan Commitment” means an Initial Term Loan Commitment, Incremental Term Loan Commitment, Extended Term Loan Commitment and Permitted Refinancing Term Loan Commitment.

 

“Term Loan Exposure” means, in the case of any Term Loan Facility, as of any date of determination, the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans owing to a Lender under such Term Loan Facility; provided , at any time prior to the making of such Term Loans under such Facility, the Term Loan Exposure of any Lender shall be equal to such Lender’s Term Loan Commitment under such Term Loan Facility.

 

“Term Loan Facility” means the Initial Term Loan Facility, the Incremental Term Loans, the Extended Term Loans, each credit facility represented by Other Term Loans and each term loan credit facility established pursuant to a Permitted Refinancing Amendment.

 

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  “Term Loan Lender” means a Lender that has a Term Loan Commitment or that holds a Term Loan.

 

“Term Loan Note” means a promissory note in the form of Exhibit B-1 or otherwise in form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Term Loan Standstill Period” as defined in Section 8.1(c).

 

“Test Period” means the most recently ended four Fiscal Quarter period for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or 5.1(b), as applicable (or with respect to periods prior to the first full Fiscal Year for which financial statements pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or 5.1(b) have been delivered, the four consecutive Fiscal Quarters of Parent then last ended (including for periods prior to the Closing Date, any predecessor entity or entities, in each case, as determined, calculated, consolidated, estimated or the like, in good faith by the Borrower Representative)).

 

“Title Policy” means, with respect to any Mortgaged Property, an ALTA or TLTA, as applicable, mortgagee title insurance policy or unconditional commitment therefor issued by one or more title companies reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent with respect to such Mortgaged Property, in an amount not less than the Fair Market Value of such Mortgaged Property, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

 

“Total Utilization of Revolving Credit Commitments” means, as at any date of determination, the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Loans (other than Revolving Loans made for the purpose of repaying any Refunded Swing Line Loans or reimbursing the applicable Issuing Bank for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, but not yet so applied), (ii) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Swing Line Loans, and (iii) the Letter of Credit Obligations.

 

“Trade Date” has the meaning specified in Section 10.6(h)(i).

 

“Transaction Costs” means the fees, costs and expenses incurred by Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the consummation of the transactions to occur on the Closing Date contemplated by the Credit Documents or the Closing Date Contribution Documents.

 

“Type of Loan” means (i) with respect to either Term Loans or Revolving Loans, a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Loan, and (ii) with respect to Swing Line Loans, a Base Rate Loan.

 

“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York; provided , if by reason of mandatory provisions of Law, the perfection, the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of the security interests of the Collateral Agent in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than New York, the term “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.

 

“Ultimate Parent Company” means (a) any Person controlled by the Sponsor or Controlled Investment Affiliates thereof that, directly or indirectly, controls Parent (other than investment funds that are Affiliates of the Sponsor or its Controlled Investment Affiliates) or (b) any Person that, directly or indirectly, controls Parent and Securities of which are publicly traded.

 

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“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Parent designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.13; provided , in no event may a Borrower be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary. As of the Closing Date, there are no Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

“U.S. Citizen” means a Person that is a citizen of the United States within the meaning of 46 U.S.C. § 50501, and the regulations promulgated thereunder (as each may be amended from time to time), eligible and qualified to own and operate vessels in the U.S. Coastwise Trade.

 

“U.S. Coastwise Trade” means the carriage or transport of merchandise and/or other materials and/or passengers in the coastwise trade of the United States of America within the meaning of Chapter 551 of Title 46 of the United States Code.

 

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

 

“U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in paragraph (g) of Section 2.20.

 

“Vessel” means any vessel, ship, boat, barge, or watercraft of any description owned by any Credit Party, and shall be deemed to include all engines, machinery, tackle, apparel, boats, rigging, furniture, freights, tools, spare parts, pumps, equipment, and all other appurtenances thereunto appertaining or belonging, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, whether on board or not, and all additions, improvements and replacements hereafter made in or to any of the Vessels, or any part thereof, or in or to any of the appurtenances aforesaid.

 

“Vessel Mortgage” means a first priority (subject to Permitted Liens) preferred ship or fleet mortgage (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or modified from time to time) creating and evidencing a Lien on a Mortgaged Vessel securing the Obligations, which shall be in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, in each case, including such provisions as shall be necessary to create and perfect such Lien under applicable laws of the United States.

 

“Waivable Mandatory Prepayment” as defined in Section 2.15(d).

 

“Waste Disposal Division” means the business division of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries engaged in the waste disposal business.

 

“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Class of Term Loans or other Item of Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (x) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment by (y) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness; provided , for purposes of determining the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any item of Indebtedness that is being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed, replaced or extended (the “Applicable Indebtedness” ), the effects of any amortization or prepayments made on such Applicable Indebtedness prior to the date of or in connection with the applicable modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal, replacement or extension shall be disregarded.

 

“Withholding Agent” means the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent.

 

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“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

1.2 Accounting Terms . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in conformity with GAAP. Financial statements and other information required to be delivered by Parent to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.1(a) and 5.1(b) shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect at the time of such preparation (and delivered together with the reconciliation statements as required under Section 5.1(d), if applicable) (except for the lack of footnotes and being subject to year-end and audit adjustments). If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or financial requirement set forth in any Credit Document, and either the Borrower Representative or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower Representative shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided , until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower Representative shall provide to the Administrative Agent (for distribution to the Lenders) financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement which include a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) notwithstanding any change in GAAP after the Closing Date that would require lease obligations that would be treated as operating leases as of the Closing Date to be classified and accounted for as Capital Leases or otherwise reflected on Parent’s consolidated balance sheet, such obligations shall continue to be excluded from the definition of Indebtedness and (ii) any lease that was entered into after the date of this Agreement that would have been considered an operating lease under GAAP in effect as of the Closing Date shall be treated as an operating lease for all purposes under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and obligations in respect thereof shall be excluded from the definition of Indebtedness.

 

1.3 Interpretation, Etc . The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth in any Credit Document), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Sections, Appendices, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Sections of, and Appendices, Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (e) any reference to any Law herein shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such Law as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, (f) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, Securities, accounts and contract rights and (g) all times set forth herein or in any other Credit Document shall, unless otherwise specified, be deemed to refer to such time in New York City.

 

1.4 Certifications . Any certificate or other writing required hereunder or under any other Credit Document to be certified by any officer or other authorized representative of any Person shall be deemed to be executed and delivered by the individual holding such office solely in such individual’s capacity as an officer or other authorized representative of such Person and not in such officer’s or other authorized representative’s individual capacity.

 

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1.5 Timing of Performance . Subject to Section 2.16(f), when the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation under any Credit Document is required to be performed on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day.

 

1.6 Cashless Rollovers . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any Lender may exchange, continue or rollover all or a portion of its Loans in connection with any refinancing, extension, loan modification or similar transaction permitted by the terms of this Agreement, pursuant to a cashless settlement mechanism approved by the Borrower Representative, the Administrative Agent and such Lender.

 

1.7 Pro Forma Calculations and Adjustments .

 

(a) For purposes of calculating the compliance of any transaction with any provision hereof that requires such compliance to be on a “Pro Forma Basis” , such transaction shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the most recently ended Test Period.

 

(b) In connection with the calculation of any ratio hereunder upon giving effect to a transaction on a “Pro Forma Basis”, (i) any Indebtedness incurred, acquired or assumed, or repaid, by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such transaction (or any other transaction which occurred during the relevant Test Period) shall be deemed to have been incurred, acquired or assumed, or repaid, as the case may be, as of the first day of the relevant Test Period, (ii) if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, then the rate of interest for such Indebtedness for the applicable period for purposes of the calculations contemplated by this definition shall be determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of such calculations, (iii) such calculation shall be made without regard to the netting of any cash proceeds of Indebtedness incurred by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such transaction (but without limiting the pro forma effect of any prepayment of Indebtedness with such cash proceeds), and (iv) if any Indebtedness incurred, acquired or assumed in connection with such transaction is in the nature of a revolving credit facility, the entire principal amount of such facility shall be deemed to have been drawn.

 

1.8 Limited Condition Transactions . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Credit Document to the contrary, if any Indebtedness, Lien, permitted Investment or Permitted Acquisition permitted hereunder is incurred, acquired, assumed or made as permitted hereunder, or if any Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated hereunder, in each case, in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, then compliance with any applicable ratio, test or other basket hereunder on a Pro Forma Basis may be determined, at the option of Parent, either (x) at the time of entry into the applicable acquisition agreement (but in no event more than 180 days prior to the incurrence, acquisition or assumption, as applicable, of such Indebtedness) or (y) at the time of incurrence, acquisition or assumption, as applicable, of such Indebtedness (the date of (x) or (y), the “LCA Test Date” ), and, if Parent has made such an election, then in connection with any calculation of any ratio, test or basket availability with respect to the incurrence of Indebtedness or Liens, the making of Restricted Payments, the making of any permitted Investment or Permitted Acquisition, the prepayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or other satisfaction of Indebtedness, or the designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary (each, a “Subsequent Transaction” ) following the relevant LCA Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Acquisition is consummated or the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Acquisition is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition, for purposes of determining whether such Subsequent Transaction is permitted hereunder, any such ratio, test or basket shall be required to be satisfied on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition Acquisition and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated; provided , in the case of a Restricted Payment, prepayment, redemption, purchase, defeasance or other satisfaction of Junior Financing or designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, any such ratio, test or basket shall also be required to be satisfied assuming such Limited Condition Acquisition and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have not been consummated; provided , further , if any of such ratios or amounts are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in such ratio or amount including due to fluctuations in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of Parent or the Person subject to such acquisition or Investment, at or prior to the consummation of the relevant transaction or action, such ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the relevant transaction or action is permitted to be consummated or taken.

 

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1.9 Currency Generally . For purposes of determining compliance with Section 6.1, Section 6.2 and Section 6.6 with respect to any amount of any Indebtedness, Lien or Investment in a currency other than Dollars, no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of currency exchange occurring after the time such Indebtedness, Lien or Investment is incurred or granted (so long as such Indebtedness, Lien or Investment, at the time incurred or granted, made or acquired, was permitted hereunder).

 

1.10 Rounding . Any financial ratios required to be maintained pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

 

1.11 Currency .

 

(a) Spot Rates . The Administrative Agent shall determine the Spot Rate as of each Revaluation Date to be used for calculating the Dollar Equivalent of any Alternate Currency, and such Spot Rate shall become effective as of such Revaluation Date and shall be the Spot Rate employed in converting any amounts between Dollars and such Alternate Currency until the next Revaluation Date to occur.

 

(b) Equivalent Units . In connection with an Alternate Currency Letter of Credit, wherever in this Agreement an amount, such as a required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, the correlative Alternate Currency amount applicable to such Alternate Currency Letter of Credit shall be the Dollar Equivalent thereof (rounded to the nearest unit of such Alternate Currency, with 0.5 of a unit being rounded upward), as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 2 LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT

 

2.1 Term Loans .

 

(a) Initial Term Loan Commitments . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Lender severally agrees to make, on the Closing Date, an Initial Term Loan to the Borrowers in an amount equal to such Lender’s Initial Term Loan Commitment. The Borrowers may make only one borrowing under each Initial Term Loan Commitment. Each Lender’s Initial Term Loan Commitment shall terminate immediately and without further action on the Closing Date after giving effect to the funding of such Lender’s Initial Term Loan Commitment on such date.

 

(b) Repayments and Prepayments . Any amount of the Initial Term Loans that is subsequently repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.

 

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(c) Maturity . Subject to Sections 2.13(a), 2.14, 2.24 and 2.26, all amounts owed hereunder with respect to the Initial Term Loans shall be paid in full no later than the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date.

 

(d) Funding Notice . The Borrower Representative shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a fully executed Funding Notice for the Initial Term Loans no later than 11:00 a.m. at least one Business Day in advance of the Closing Date (or such later time as the Administrative Agent may agree) and, promptly upon receipt thereof, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the proposed borrowing.

 

(e) Funding of Initial Term Loans . Each Lender shall make its Initial Term Loan available to the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon on the Closing Date, by wire transfer of same day funds in Dollars, at the Payment Office.

 

(f) Availability of Funds . Upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent specified herein, the Administrative Agent shall make the proceeds of the Initial Term Loans available to the Borrowers on the Closing Date by causing an amount of same day funds in Dollars equal to the proceeds of all such Initial Term Loans received by the Administrative Agent from the Lenders to be credited to the account of the Borrowers at the Payment Office or to such other account as is designated in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower Representative.

 

(g) Additional Term Loans . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, (i) the terms and conditions of any Class of Incremental Term Loan Commitments and Incremental Term Loans shall be as set forth in the related Joinder Agreement, (ii) the terms and conditions of any Class of Extended Term Loan Commitments and Extended Term Loans shall be as set forth in the related Extension Amendment, and (iii) the terms and conditions of any Class of Permitted Refinancing Term Loan Commitments and Permitted Refinancing Term Loans shall be as set forth in the related Permitted Refinancing Amendment.

 

2.2 Revolving Loans .

 

(a) Revolving Credit Commitments . During the Revolving Credit Commitment Period, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers in an aggregate amount up to but not exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment; provided , after giving effect to the making of any Revolving Loans in no event shall the Total Utilization of Revolving Credit Commitments exceed the Revolving Credit Limit.

 

(b) Repayments and Prepayments . Amounts borrowed pursuant to this Section 2.2 may be repaid and reborrowed during the Revolving Credit Commitment Period.

 

(c) Maturity . Each Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitments shall terminate on the applicable Scheduled Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date, and all Revolving Loans and all other amounts owed hereunder with respect to the Revolving Loans and the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be paid in full no later than such date.

 

(d) Minimum Amounts . Except pursuant to Section 2.3(g) or 2.4(d), Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans shall be made in an aggregate minimum amount (i) of $500,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess of that amount or (ii) equal to the remaining principal balance of the Revolving Credit Commitments, and Revolving Loans that are Eurodollar Loans shall be in an aggregate minimum amount (i) of $500,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess of that amount or (ii) equal to the remaining principal balance of the Revolving Credit Commitments.

 

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(e) Notice to the Administrative Agent . Whenever a Borrower desires that the Lenders make Revolving Loans, the Borrower Representative shall deliver to the Administrative Agent at the Notice Office a fully executed and delivered Funding Notice no later than 12:00 noon at least three (3) Business Days in advance of the proposed Credit Date in the case of a Eurodollar Loan, and at least one (1) Business Day in advance of the proposed Credit Date in the case of a Revolving Loan that is a Base Rate Loan. Except as otherwise provided herein, a Funding Notice for a Revolving Loan that is a Eurodollar Loan shall be irrevocable on and after the date of receipt thereof by the Administrative Agent, and such Borrower shall be bound to make a borrowing in accordance therewith.

 

(f) Notice to Lenders . Notice of receipt of each Funding Notice in respect of Revolving Loans, together with the amount of each Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof, if any, together with the applicable interest rate, shall be provided by the Administrative Agent to each applicable Lender in writing with reasonable promptness, but (so long as the Administrative Agent shall have received such Notice by the time set forth in Section 2.2(e)) not later than 2:00 p.m. on the same day as the Administrative Agent’s receipt of such Notice from the Borrower Representative.

 

(g) Availability of Funds . Each Lender shall make the amount of its Revolving Loan available to the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. on the applicable Credit Date by wire transfer of same day funds in Dollars, at the Payment Office. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent specified herein, the Administrative Agent shall make the proceeds of such Revolving Loans available to the applicable Borrower on the applicable Credit Date by causing an amount of same day funds in Dollars equal to the proceeds of all such Revolving Loans received by the Administrative Agent from the Lenders to be credited to the account of the applicable Borrower at the Payment Office or such other account as may be designated in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower Representative.

 

2.3 Swing Line Loans .

 

(a) Swing Line Loans . During the Revolving Credit Commitment Period, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender hereby agrees to make Swing Line Loans to the Borrowers; provided , after giving effect to the making of any Swing Line Loan, in no event shall (x) the Swing Line Loan Outstandings exceed the Swing Line Sublimit then in effect or (y) the Total Utilization of Revolving Credit Commitments exceed the Revolving Credit Limit.

 

(b) Repayments and Prepayments . Amounts borrowed pursuant to this Section 2.3 may be repaid and reborrowed during the Revolving Credit Commitment Period.

 

(c) Maturity . The Swing Line Lender’s obligation to make Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall expire on the latest Scheduled Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date and all Swing Line Loans and all other amounts owed hereunder with respect to the Swing Line Loans shall be paid in full no later than such date.

 

(d) Minimum Amounts . Swing Line Loans shall be made in an aggregate minimum amount of $100,000 and integral multiples of $50,000 in excess of that amount.

 

(e) Notice to Swing Line Lender . Whenever a Borrower desires that the Swing Line Lender make a Swing Line Loan, the Borrower Representative shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a Funding Notice no later than 12:00 noon on the proposed Credit Date.

 

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(f) Availability of Funds . The Swing Line Lender shall make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. on the applicable Credit Date by wire transfer of same day funds in Dollars, at the Payment Office. Except as provided herein, upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent specified herein, the Administrative Agent shall make the proceeds of such Swing Line Loans available to the Borrowers on the applicable Credit Date by causing an amount of same day funds in Dollars equal to the proceeds of all such Swing Line Loans received by the Administrative Agent from the Swing Line Lender to be credited to the account of the Borrowers at the Payment Office, or to such other account as is designated in writing to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower Representative.

 

(g) Refunded Swing Line Loans . With respect to any Swing Line Loans which have not been voluntarily prepaid by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.13, the Swing Line Lender may at any time in its sole and absolute discretion, deliver to the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Borrower Representative), no later than 11:00 a.m. at least one Business Day in advance of the proposed Credit Date, a notice requesting that each Revolving Lender make Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans to the Borrowers on such Credit Date in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the amount of such Swing Line Loans (the “Refunded Swing Line Loans” ) outstanding on the date such notice is given which the Swing Line Lender requests the Revolving Lenders to prepay (without regard to the minimum funding amounts set forth in Section 2.2(d)). Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) the proceeds of such Revolving Loans made by the Revolving Lenders other than the Swing Line Lender shall be immediately delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Swing Line Lender (and not to the Borrowers) and applied to repay a corresponding portion of the Refunded Swing Line Loans and (ii) on the day such Revolving Loans are made, the Swing Line Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Refunded Swing Line Loans shall be deemed to be paid with the proceeds of a Revolving Loan made by the Swing Line Lender to the Borrowers, and such portion of the Swing Line Loans deemed to be so paid shall no longer be outstanding as Swing Line Loans and shall no longer be due under the Swing Line Note of the Swing Line Lender but shall instead constitute part of the Swing Line Lender’s outstanding Revolving Loans to the Borrowers and shall be due under the Revolving Loan Note issued by the Borrowers to the Swing Line Lender. Each Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender to charge (without duplication) such Borrower’s accounts with the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender (up to the amount available in each such account) in order to immediately pay the Swing Line Lender the amount of the Refunded Swing Line Loans to the extent the proceeds of such Revolving Loans made by the Revolving Lenders, including the Revolving Loans deemed to be made by the Swing Line Lender, are not sufficient to repay in full the Refunded Swing Line Loans. If any portion of any such amount paid (or deemed to be paid) to the Swing Line Lender should be recovered by or on behalf of a Borrower from the Swing Line Lender in any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, the loss of the amount so recovered shall be ratably shared among all of the Revolving Lenders in the manner contemplated by Section 2.17.

 

(h) Revolving Lenders’ Purchase of Participations in Swing Line Loans . If for any reason Revolving Loans are not made pursuant to Section 2.3(g) in an amount sufficient to repay any amounts owed to the Swing Line Lender in respect of any outstanding Swing Line Loans on or before the third Business Day after demand for payment thereof by the Swing Line Lender, each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby agrees to, have purchased a participation in such outstanding Swing Line Loans, and in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the applicable unpaid principal amount together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon. Upon one Business Day’s notice from the Swing Line Lender, each Revolving Lender shall deliver to the Swing Line Lender an amount equal to its respective participation in the applicable unpaid amount in same day funds at the Payment Office of the Swing Line Lender. In order to evidence such participation each Revolving Lender agrees to enter into a participation agreement at the request of the Swing Line Lender in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Swing Line Lender. If any Revolving Lender fails to make available to the Swing Line Lender the amount of such Revolving Lender’s participation as provided in this Section 2.3(h), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Revolving Lender together with interest thereon for three (3) Business Days at the rate customarily used by the Swing Line Lender for the correction of errors among banks and thereafter at the Base Rate, as applicable. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Revolving Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (h) shall be conclusive absent demonstrable or manifest error.

 

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(i) Absolute and Unconditional Obligations . Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, (i) each Revolving Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans for the purpose of repaying any Refunded Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.3(g) and each Revolving Lender’s obligation to purchase a participation in any unpaid Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.3(h) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any set off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Revolving Lender may have against Swing Line Lender, any Credit Party or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuation of a Default or Event of Default; (C) any adverse change in the business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of any Credit Party; (D) any breach of this Agreement or any other Credit Document by any party thereto; or (E) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided , such obligations of each Revolving Lender are subject to the condition that Swing Line Lender had not received prior notice from the Borrower Representative or the Required Revolving Lenders that any of the conditions under Section 3.2 to the making of the applicable Refunded Swing Line Loans or other unpaid Swing Line Loans, were not satisfied at the time such Refunded Swing Line Loans or unpaid Swing Line Loans were made; and (ii) the Swing Line Lender shall not be obligated to make any Swing Line Loans (A) if it has elected not to do so after the occurrence and during the continuation of a Default or Event of Default, or (B) it does not in good faith believe that all conditions under Section 3.2 to the making of such Swing Line Loan have been satisfied or waived by the Required Revolving Lenders.

 

(j) Resignation of Swing Line Lender . The Swing Line Lender may resign as Swing Line Lender upon thirty days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, Revolving Lenders and Borrower Representative. Upon any such notice of resignation, the Required Revolving Lenders shall have the right, upon five (5) Business Days’ notice to the Borrower Representative (or such lesser notice as is acceptable to the Borrower Representative), to appoint a successor Swing Line Lender with the written consent of the Borrower Representative; provided , (x) no such consent of the Borrower Representative shall be required while an Event of Default exists and (y) such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, and shall be deemed to have been given unless the Borrower Representative shall have objected to such appointment by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof; provided , failing such appointment, the retiring Swing Line Lender may appoint, on behalf of the Revolving Lenders, a successor Swing Line Lender from among the Revolving Lenders or, with the written consent of the Borrower Representative, any other financial institution; provided , in no event shall any such successor Swing Line Lender be a Defaulting Lender, an Affiliated Lender or a Disqualified Institution. At the time any such resignation shall become effective, (i) the Borrowers shall prepay any outstanding Swing Line Loans made by the resigning Swing Line Lender, (ii) upon such prepayment, the resigning Swing Line Lender shall surrender any Swing Line Note held by it to the Borrowers for cancellation, and (iii) the Borrowers shall issue, if so requested by the successor Swing Line Lender, a new Swing Line Note to the successor Swing Line Lender, in the principal amount of the Swing Line Loan Sublimit then in effect and with other appropriate insertions. From and after the effective date of any such resignation, (A) any successor Swing Line Lender shall have all the rights and obligations of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swing Line Loans made thereafter and (B) references herein to the term “Swing Line Lender” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Swing Line Lender, or to such successor and all previous Swing Line Lender, as the context shall require.

 

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(k) Extensions . If the Maturity Date shall have occurred in respect of any tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments (such Maturity Date, the “Earlier Revolving Commitment Maturity Date” ) at a time when another tranche or tranches of Revolving Credit Commitments is or are in effect with a longer Maturity Date, then, on such Earlier Revolving Commitment Maturity Date, all then outstanding Swing Line Loans shall be repaid in full (and there shall be no adjustment to the participations in such Swing Line Loans as a result of the occurrence of such Earlier Revolving Maturity Date); provided , if on the occurrence of such Earlier Revolving Commitment Maturity Date (after giving effect to any repayments of Revolving Loans and any reallocation of Letter of Credit participations as contemplated in Section 2.4(k)), there shall exist sufficient unutilized Extended Revolving Credit Commitments so that the respective outstanding Swing Line Loans could be incurred pursuant to such Extended Revolving Credit Commitments which will remain in effect after the occurrence of such Earlier Revolving Commitment Maturity Date, then there shall be an automatic adjustment on such date of the risk participations of each Revolving Lender that is an Extended Revolving Lender and such outstanding Swing Line Loans shall be deemed to have been incurred solely pursuant to the relevant Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and such Swing Line Loans shall not be so required to be repaid in full on such Earlier Revolving Commitment Maturity Date.

 

2.4 Letters of Credit .

 

(a) Letters of Credit . During the Revolving Credit Commitment Period, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Issuing Bank agrees to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary (provided, that in the case of any Letter of Credit issued for a Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, the Borrower Representative shall be the co-applicant with respect thereto) in the aggregate amount up to but not exceeding the Letter of Credit Sublimit; provided , (i) each Letter of Credit shall be denominated in Dollars or, at the option of the Borrower Representative, in an Alternate Currency; (ii) the stated amount of each Letter of Credit shall not be less than $100,000 or such lesser amount as is acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank; (iii) after giving effect to such issuance, in no event shall the Total Utilization of Revolving Credit Commitments exceed the Revolving Credit Limit then in effect; (iv) after giving effect to such issuance, in no event shall the Letter of Credit Obligations exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit then in effect; (v) absent the consent of the applicable Issuing Bank to the contrary, no Letters of Credit shall be issued after the date that is ten (10) Business Days prior to the Scheduled Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date; (vi) absent the consent of the applicable Issuing Bank to the contrary, in no event shall any standby Letter of Credit have an expiration date later than the earlier of (A) the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Scheduled Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date and (B) the date which is one year from the date of issuance of such standby Letter of Credit; and (vii) absent the consent of the applicable Issuing Bank to the contrary, no commercial Letter of Credit shall have an expiration date later than the earlier of (1) the date that is ten (10) Business Days prior to the Scheduled Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date and (2) the date that is one hundred eighty days from the date of issuance of such commercial Letter of Credit. Subject to the foregoing, the Issuing Banks may agree that a standby Letter of Credit will automatically be extended for one or more successive periods not to exceed one year each, unless such Issuing Bank elects not to extend for any such additional period; provided , the Issuing Banks shall not extend any such Letter of Credit if it has received written notice that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time such Issuing Bank must elect to allow such extension.

 

(b) Notice of Issuance . Whenever a Borrower desires the issuance of a Letter of Credit, it shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Issuance Notice no later than 12:00 noon at least three (3) Business Days, or such shorter period as may be agreed to by an Issuing Bank in any particular instance, in advance of the proposed date of issuance. Upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Section 3.2, the applicable Issuing Bank shall issue the requested Letter of Credit in accordance with such Issuing Bank’s standard operating procedures. Upon the issuance or increase of any Letter of Credit, such Issuing Bank shall promptly notify each Revolving Lender thereof, which notice shall be accompanied by a copy of a Letter of Credit or increasing amendment or modification to a Letter of Credit and the amount of such Revolving Lender’s respective participation in such Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.4(e). On the Closing Date, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have requested the issuance hereunder of the NRC Letters of Credit and the NRC Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been so issued hereunder.

 

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(c) Responsibility of the Issuing Banks With Respect to Requests for Drawings and Payments . In determining whether to honor any drawing under any Letter of Credit by the beneficiary thereof, the Issuing Bank shall be responsible only to examine the documents delivered under such Letter of Credit with reasonable care so as to ascertain whether they appear on their face to be in accordance with the terms and conditions of such Letter of Credit. As between the Borrowers and an Issuing Bank, the Borrowers assume all risks of the acts and omissions of, or misuse of the Letters of Credit issued by any Issuing Bank, by the respective beneficiaries of such Letters of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the Issuing Banks shall not be responsible for (i) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any document submitted by any party in connection with the application for and issuance of any such Letter of Credit, even if it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged; (ii) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any such Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason; (iii) failure of the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit to comply fully with any conditions required in order to draw upon such Letter of Credit; (iv) errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex or otherwise, whether or not they be in cipher; (v) errors in interpretation of technical terms; (vi) any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under any such Letter of Credit or of the proceeds thereof; (vii) the misapplication by the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit of the proceeds of any drawing under such Letter of Credit; or (viii) any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Bank, including any Governmental Acts; none of the above shall affect or impair, or prevent the vesting of, any of any Issuing Bank’s rights or powers hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing and in furtherance thereof (but subject to the immediately following sentence), any action taken or omitted by any Issuing Bank under or in connection with the Letters of Credit or any documents and certificates delivered thereunder, if taken or omitted in good faith, shall not give rise to any liability on the part of such Issuing Bank to the Borrowers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.4(c), the Borrowers shall retain any and all rights it may have against the Issuing Bank for any liability arising out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of, or material breach by, any Issuing Banks as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(d) Reimbursement by Borrowers of Amounts Drawn or Paid Under Letters of Credit . If an Issuing Bank has determined to honor a drawing under a Letter of Credit, it shall immediately notify the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent, and the Borrowers shall reimburse such Issuing Bank on or before the Business Day immediately following the date on which such drawing is honored (the “Reimbursement Date” ) in an amount in Dollars (calculated, in the case of any Alternate Currency Letter of Credit, based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof) and in same day funds equal to the amount of such honored drawing; provided , anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) unless the Borrower Representative shall have notified the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank prior to 10:00 a.m. on the date such drawing is honored that the Borrowers intend to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank for the amount of such honored drawing with funds other than the proceeds of Revolving Loans, the Borrower Representative shall be deemed to have given a timely Funding Notice to the Administrative Agent requesting each Revolving Lender to make Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans on the Reimbursement Date in an amount in Dollars equal to the amount of such honored drawing (calculated, in the case of any Alternate Currency Letter of Credit, based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof), and (ii) regardless of whether the conditions specified in Section 3.2 are satisfied, each Revolving Lender shall, on the Reimbursement Date, make Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans in the amount of such honored drawing, the proceeds of which shall be applied directly by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank for the amount of such honored drawing; and provided further , if for any reason proceeds of Revolving Loans are not received by such Issuing Bank on the Reimbursement Date in an amount equal to the amount of such honored drawing, the Borrowers shall reimburse such Issuing Bank, on demand, in an amount in Dollars (calculated, in the case of any Alternate Currency Letter of Credit, based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof) same day funds equal to the excess of the amount of such honored drawing over the aggregate amount of such Revolving Loans, if any, which are so received. Nothing in this Section 2.4(d) shall be deemed to relieve any Revolving Lender from its obligation to make Revolving Loans on the terms and conditions set forth herein, and the Borrowers shall retain any and all rights it may have against any Revolving Lender resulting from the failure of such Revolving Lender to make such Revolving Loans under this Section 2.4(d).

 

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 (e) Revolving Lenders’ Purchase of Participations in Letters of Credit . Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to have purchased, and hereby agrees to irrevocably purchase, from the applicable Issuing Bank a participation in such Letter of Credit and any drawings honored thereunder in an amount equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share (with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments) of the maximum amount which is or at any time may become available to be drawn thereunder (calculated, in the case of any Alternate Currency Letter of Credit, based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof). If the Borrowers shall fail for any reason to reimburse such Issuing Bank as provided in Section 2.4(d), such Issuing Bank shall promptly notify each Revolving Lender of the unreimbursed amount of such honored drawing and of such Lender’s respective participation therein based on such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Credit Commitments (calculated, in the case of any Alternate Currency Letter of Credit, based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof). Each Revolving Lender shall make available to such Issuing Bank an amount equal to its respective participation, in Dollars and in same day funds (calculated, in the case of any Alternate Currency Letter of Credit, based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof), at the office of such Issuing Bank specified in such notice, not later than 12:00 noon on the first business day (under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which such office of such Issuing Bank is located) after the date notified by such Issuing Bank. If any Revolving Lender fails to make available to such Issuing Bank on such business day the amount of such Lender’s participation in such Letter of Credit as provided in this Section 2.4(e), such Issuing Bank shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Revolving Lender, together with interest thereon for three (3) Business Days at the rate customarily used by such Issuing Bank for the correction of errors among banks and thereafter at the Base Rate. Nothing in this Section 2.4(e) shall be deemed to prejudice the right of any Revolving Lender to recover from any Issuing Bank any amounts made available by such Revolving Lender to such Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section if it is determined that the payment with respect to a Letter of Credit in respect of which payment was made by such Revolving Lender constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of such Issuing Bank as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. If an Issuing Bank shall have been reimbursed by other Revolving Lenders pursuant to this Section 2.4(e) for all or any portion of any drawing honored by such Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit, such Issuing Bank shall distribute to each Revolving Lender which has paid all amounts payable by it under this Section 2.4(e) with respect to such honored drawing such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share of all payments subsequently received by such Issuing Bank from the Borrowers in reimbursement of such honored drawing when such payments are received. Any such distribution shall be made to a Revolving Lender at its primary address set forth below its name on Appendix B or at such other address as such Revolving Lender may request.

 

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(f) Obligations Absolute . The obligation of the Borrowers to reimburse an Issuing Bank for drawings honored under the Letters of Credit issued by it and to repay any Revolving Loans made by the Revolving Lenders pursuant to Section 2.4(d) and the obligations of the Revolving Lenders under Section 2.4(e) shall be unconditional and irrevocable and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms hereof under all circumstances including any of the following circumstances: (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit; (ii) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right which the Borrowers or any Lender may have at any time against a beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Persons for whom any such transferee may be acting), any Issuing Bank, Lender or any other Person or, in the case of a Lender, against the Borrowers, whether in connection herewith, the transactions contemplated herein or any unrelated transaction (including any underlying transaction between Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and the beneficiary for which any Letter of Credit was procured); (iii) any draft or other document presented under any Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; (iv) payment by an Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document which does not substantially comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; (v) any adverse change in the business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (vi) any breach hereof or any other Credit Document by any party thereto; (vii) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; or (viii) the fact that an Event of Default or a Default shall have occurred and be continuing; provided , in each case, that payment by an Issuing Bank under the applicable Letter of Credit shall not have constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct of, or material breach of agreement by, such Issuing Bank under the circumstances in question as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(g) Indemnification . Without duplication of any obligation of the Borrowers under Section 10.2 or 10.3, in addition to amounts payable as provided herein, the Borrowers hereby agree to protect, indemnify, pay and save harmless the Issuing Banks from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, charges and expenses (limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses, to the reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of a single external counsel documented in reasonable detail) which any Issuing Bank incurs or is subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of (i) the issuance of any Letter of Credit by an Issuing Bank, other than as a result of (A) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of, or material breach of agreement by, such Issuing Bank as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or (B) the wrongful dishonor by such Issuing Bank of a proper demand for payment made under any Letter of Credit issued by it, or (ii) the failure of such Issuing Bank to honor a drawing under any such Letter of Credit as a result of any Governmental Act.

 

(h) Cash Collateralization - Borrower s. If any Letter of Credit is outstanding at the time that the Borrowers prepay, or are required to repay, the Obligations (other than the Remaining Obligations) or the Revolving Credit Commitments are terminated, the Borrowers shall Cash Collateralize the applicable Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Obligations in an amount not less than the Minimum Collateral Amount, to reimburse payments of drafts drawn under such Letters of Credit and pay any fees and expenses related thereto. Upon termination of any such Letter of Credit such deposit shall be refunded to the Borrowers to the extent not previously applied by the Administrative Agent in the manner described herein.

 

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(i) Cash Collateralization - Defaulting Lenders . At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within three (3) Business Days following the written request of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) the Borrowers shall Cash Collateralize such Issuing Bank’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender (determined after giving effect to Section 2.22(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by such Defaulting Lender) in an amount not less than the Minimum Collateral Amount. 

 

(i) Grant of Security Interest . The Borrowers, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Issuing Banks, and agree to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such Cash Collateral as security for the Defaulting Lenders’ obligation to fund participations in respect of Letter of Credit Obligations, to be applied pursuant to clause (ii) below. If at any time the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that such Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank as herein provided), or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the Minimum Collateral Amount, the Borrowers will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency (after giving effect to Section 2.22(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).

 

(ii) Application . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under this Section 2.4(i) or Section 2.22 in respect of Letters of Credit shall be applied to the satisfaction of the Defaulting Lender’s obligation to fund participations in respect of Letter of Credit Obligations (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.

 

(iii) Termination of Requirement . Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce the applicable Issuing Bank’s Fronting Exposure shall no longer be required to be held as Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.4(i) following (A) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Revolving Lender), or (B) the determination by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided , subject to Section 2.22(a)(v), the Person providing Cash Collateral and such Issuing Bank may agree that Cash Collateral shall be held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations; provided further , to the extent that such Cash Collateral was provided by the Borrowers, such Cash Collateral shall remain subject to the security interest granted pursuant to the Credit Documents.

   

(j) Resignation of an Issuing Bank . An Issuing Bank may resign as the Issuing Bank upon thirty days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, Revolving Lenders and Borrower Representative. Upon any such notice of resignation, the Required Revolving Lenders shall have the right, upon five (5) Business Days’ notice to the Borrower Representative, to appoint a successor Issuing Bank with the written consent of the Borrower Representative (or such lesser notice as is acceptable thereto); provided , (x) no such consent of the Borrower Representative shall be required while an Event of Default exists and (y) such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, and shall be deemed to have been given unless the Borrower Representative shall have objected to such appointment by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof; provided , failing such appointment, the retiring Issuing Bank may appoint, on behalf of the Revolving Lenders, a successor Issuing Bank from among the Revolving Lenders or, with the written consent of the Borrower Representative, any other financial institution; provided , in no event shall any such successor Issuing Bank be a Defaulting Lender, an Affiliated Lender or a Disqualified Institution. At the time any such resignation shall become effective, the Borrowers shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank. From and after the effective date of any such resignation, (i) any successor to an Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the resignation of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the resigning Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto to the extent that Letters of Credit issued by it remain outstanding and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such resignation, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

 

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(k) Extensions . If the Maturity Date in respect of any tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments occurs prior to the expiration of any Letter of Credit, then (i) if one or more other tranches of Revolving Credit Commitments in respect of which the Maturity Date shall not have occurred are then in effect, such Letters of Credit shall automatically be deemed to have been issued (including for purposes of the obligations of the Revolving Lenders to purchase participations therein and to make Revolving Loans and payments in respect thereof pursuant to Sections 2.4(d) and 2.4(e)) under (and ratably participated in by Revolving Lenders pursuant to) the Revolving Credit Commitments in respect of such non-terminating tranches up to an aggregate amount not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of the unutilized Revolving Credit Commitments thereunder at such time (it being understood that no partial face amount of any Letter of Credit may be so reallocated) and (ii) to the extent not reallocated pursuant to immediately preceding clause (i), the Borrowers shall Cash Collateralize any such Letter of Credit in accordance with Section 2.4(h). Except to the extent of reallocations of participations pursuant to clause (i) of the immediately preceding sentence, the occurrence of a Maturity Date with respect to a given tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments shall have no effect upon (and shall not diminish) the percentage participations of the Revolving Lenders in any Letter of Credit issued before such Maturity Date.

 

(l) Additional Issuing Banks . The Borrowers may, at any time and from time to time, designate one or more additional Revolving Lenders to act as an issuing bank under the terms of this Agreement, with the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) and such Revolving Lender(s). Any Revolving Lender designated as an issuing bank pursuant to this clause (l) shall have all rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under the Credit Documents with respect to Letters of Credit issued or to be issued by it, and all references in the Credit Documents to the term “Issuing Bank” shall, with respect to Letters of Credit, be deemed to refer to such Revolving Lender in its capacity as Issuing Bank, as the context may require. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such additional Issuing Bank. If at any time there is more than one Issuing Bank hereunder, the Borrower Representative may, in its discretion, select which Issuing Bank to issue any particular Letter of Credit.

 

2.5 Pro Rata Shares; Availability of Funds .

 

(a) Pro Rata Shares . All Loans shall be made, and all participations purchased, by the Lenders simultaneously and proportionately to their respective Pro Rata Shares, it being understood that (i) the failure of any Lender to fund any such Loan shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation hereunder and (ii) no Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in such other Lender’s obligation to make a Loan requested hereunder or purchase a participation required hereby nor shall any Term Loan Commitment or any Revolving Credit Commitment of any Lender be increased or decreased as a result of a default by any other Lender in such other Lender’s obligation to make a Loan requested hereunder or purchase a participation required hereby.

 

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(b) Availability of Funds . Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Credit Extension that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Credit Extension, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.2 and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrowers a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Credit Extension available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrowers severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrowers to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, and (ii) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrowers, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrowers and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrowers the amount of such interest paid by the Borrowers for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Credit Extension to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Credit Extension. Any payment by the Borrowers shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrowers may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent. Nothing in this Section 2.5(b) shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Term Loan Commitments or Revolving Credit Commitments hereunder or to prejudice any rights that the Borrowers may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

 

2.6 Use of Proceeds .

 

(a) On the Closing Date .

 

(i) The proceeds of the Term Loans shall be applied by the Borrowers on the Closing Date, first, to repay and discharge in full the Existing Indebtedness, and, second, to pay the 2018 Dividend, and consummate the other Related Transactions; provided , that, if the 2018 Dividend is not paid on the Closing Date, an amount equal to the Dividend Term Loan Proceeds may be maintained on the balance sheet of the Borrowers until the earlier of (x) the consummation of the 2018 Dividend and (y) the date on which such amount is required to be prepaid under Section 2.14(d)(i).

 

(ii) The Borrowers may apply proceeds of the Revolving Loans made on the Closing Date to fund any original issue discount and/or upfront fees with respect to the Loans required pursuant to any applicable market flex provisions.

   

(b) After the Closing Date . The proceeds of the Revolving Loans, Swing Line Loans made and Letters of Credit issued after the Closing Date shall be applied by the Borrowers for working capital and general corporate purposes of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including Permitted Acquisitions, post-closing costs and expenses relating to the Related Transactions, any original issue discount and/or upfront fees with respect to the Loans required pursuant to any applicable market flex provisions and costs and expenses related to any SPAC Transaction.

 

(c) Incremental Term Loans . The proceeds of Incremental Term Loans shall be applied by the Borrowers for working capital and general corporate purposes of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including Permitted Acquisitions, and as otherwise agreed by the Borrowers and the Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loans to the extent not otherwise prohibited under the Credit Documents.

 

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(d) Margin Regulations . Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not use any portion of the proceeds of any Credit Extension to purchase or carry any Margin Stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock or for any purpose that violates the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors.

 

(e) Anti-Corruption Laws, AML Laws, and Sanctions . The Borrowers shall not request any Loan or Letter of Credit, nor use, and shall procure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees, controlled Affiliates and agents shall not use, directly or indirectly, the proceeds of any Loan or Letter of Credit, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, other Affiliate, joint venture partner or other Person, (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation in any material respect of any Anti-Corruption Laws or AML Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, or involving any goods originating in or with a Sanctioned Person or Sanctioned Country, in each case in violation of Sanctions, or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the transactions contemplated hereunder, whether as underwriter, advisor lender, investor or otherwise).

 

2.7 Evidence of Debt; Notes .

 

(a) Evidence of Debt . Each Lender shall maintain on its internal records an account or accounts evidencing the Indebtedness of the Borrowers to such Lender, including the amounts of the Loans made by it and each repayment and prepayment in respect thereof. Any such recordation shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrowers, absent manifest or demonstrable error; provided , failure to make any such recordation, or any error in such recordation, shall not affect any Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitments or the Borrowers’ Obligations in respect of any applicable Loans; and provided further , if there is any inconsistency between the Register and any Lender’s records, the recordations in the Register shall govern.

 

(b) Notes . If so requested by any Lender by written notice to the Borrower Representative (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, or at any time thereafter, the Borrowers shall execute and deliver to such Lender (and/or, if applicable and if so specified in such notice, to any Person who is an assignee of such Lender pursuant to Section 10.6) on the Closing Date (or, if such notice is delivered after the Closing Date, promptly after the Borrower Representative’s receipt of such notice) a Note or Notes to evidence such Lender’s applicable Loan.

 

2.8 Interest on Loans .

 

(a) Interest . Except as otherwise set forth herein, each Loan shall bear interest on the unpaid principal amount thereof from the date made through repayment thereof (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at an interest rate determined for the Class of such Loan equal to (x) the Base Rate or the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate, as applicable, plus (y) the Applicable Margin for such Type of Loan.

 

(b) Interest Rate Election . The basis for determining the rate of interest with respect to any Loan (except a Swing Line Loan which can be made and maintained as Base Rate Loans only), and the Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, shall be selected by the Borrower Representative and notified to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the applicable Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice, as the case may be; provided , until the earlier of (x) the date that the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower Representative that the primary syndication of the Loans and Revolving Credit Commitments has been completed (which it will promptly do upon the completion thereof), and (y) the sixtieth day following the Closing Date (such earlier date, the “Syndication Date” ), all Loans shall be borrowed and remain outstanding as Base Rate Loans, except that the Borrowers may borrow Loans as Eurodollar Loans or convert Base Rate Loans into Eurodollar Loans in accordance with Section 2.9(a) and thereafter continue such Eurodollar Loans in accordance with Section 2.9(b), in each case, with an Interest Period of one week. If on any day a Loan is outstanding with respect to which a Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice has not been delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms hereof specifying the applicable basis for determining the rate of interest, then for that day such Loan shall be a Eurodollar Loan with an Interest Period of one month (or if prior to the Syndication Date, one week).

 

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(c) Interest Periods . In connection with Eurodollar Loans there shall be no more than seven (7) Interest Periods outstanding at any time; provided , after the establishment of any tranche of new Loans pursuant to an Extension, such number of Interest Periods shall increase by two (2) Interest Periods for each such new tranche of Loans so established. If the Borrower Representative fails to specify between a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Loan in the applicable Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice, such Loan (x) if outstanding as a Eurodollar Loan will be automatically continued on the last day of then-current Interest Period for such Loan as a Eurodollar Loan with an Interest Period of one month (or, if prior to the Syndication Date, one week) and (y) if outstanding as a Base Rate Loan will remain as, or (if not then outstanding) will be made as, a Base Rate Loan). If the Borrower Representative fails to specify an Interest Period for any Eurodollar Loan in the applicable Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice, the Borrower Representative shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of, prior to the Syndication Date, one week, and thereafter, one month. As soon as practicable after 10:00 a.m. on each Interest Rate Determination Date, the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall, absent manifest error, be final, conclusive and binding upon all parties) the interest rate that shall apply to the Eurodollar Loans for which an interest rate is then being determined for the applicable Interest Period and shall promptly give notice thereof (in writing or by telephone confirmed in writing) to the Borrower Representative and each Lender.

 

(d) Computation of Interest . Interest payable pursuant to Section 2.8(a) shall be computed (i) in the case of Base Rate Loans on the basis of a 365-day or 366-day year, as the case may be, and (ii) in the case of Eurodollar Loans, on the basis of a 360-day year, in each case for the actual number of days elapsed in the period during which it accrues. In computing interest on any Loan, the date of the making of such Loan or the first day of an Interest Period applicable to such Loan or, with respect to a Base Rate Loan being converted from a Eurodollar Loan, the date of conversion of such Eurodollar Loan to such Base Rate Loan, as the case may be, shall be included, and the date of payment of such Loan or the expiration date of an Interest Period applicable to such Loan or, with respect to a Base Rate Loan being converted to a Eurodollar Loan, the date of conversion of such Base Rate Loan to such Eurodollar Loan, as the case may be, shall be excluded; provided , if a Loan is repaid on the same day on which it is made, one day’s interest shall be paid on that Loan.

 

(e) Interest Payable . Except as otherwise set forth herein, interest on each Loan shall accrue on a daily basis and be payable in arrears (i) on each Interest Payment Date applicable to that Loan; (ii) concurrently with any prepayment of that Loan, whether voluntary or mandatory, to the extent accrued on the amount being prepaid; and (iii) at maturity, including final maturity; provided , with respect to any voluntary prepayment of a Revolving Loan outstanding as a Base Rate Loan, accrued interest shall instead be payable on the applicable Interest Payment Date and, provided further, no interest shall be due hereunder (or under any Note) prior to the end of the first full Fiscal Quarter following the Closing Date.

 

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(f) Interest on Letters of Credit . Each Borrower agrees to pay to an Issuing Bank, with respect to drawings honored under any Letter of Credit, interest on the amount paid by such Issuing Bank in respect of each such honored drawing from the date such drawing is honored to but excluding the date such amount is reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrowers at a rate equal to (i) for the period from the date such drawing is honored to but excluding the applicable Reimbursement Date, the rate of interest otherwise payable hereunder with respect to Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans, and (ii) thereafter, a rate which is 2.00% per annum in excess of the rate of interest otherwise payable hereunder with respect to Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans. Interest payable pursuant to this Section 2.8(f) shall be computed on the basis of a 365/366-day year for the actual number of days elapsed in the period during which it accrues, and shall be payable on demand or, if no demand is made, on the date on which the related drawing under a Letter of Credit is reimbursed in full. Promptly upon receipt by an Issuing Bank of any payment of interest pursuant to this Section 2.8(f), such Issuing Bank shall distribute to each Revolving Lender, out of the interest received by such Issuing Bank in respect of the period from the date such drawing is honored to but excluding the date on which such Issuing Bank is reimbursed for the amount of such drawing (including any such reimbursement out of the proceeds of any Revolving Loans), the amount that such Revolving Lender would have been entitled to receive in respect of the letter of credit fee that would have been payable in respect of such Letter of Credit for such period if no drawing had been honored under such Letter of Credit. If such Issuing Bank shall have been reimbursed by the Revolving Lenders for all or any portion of such honored drawing, such Issuing Bank shall distribute to each Revolving Lender which has paid all amounts payable by it under Section 2.4(e) with respect to such honored drawing such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any interest received by such Issuing Bank in respect of that portion of such honored drawing so reimbursed by the Revolving Lenders for the period from the date on which such Issuing Bank was so reimbursed by the Revolving Lenders to but excluding the date on which such portion of such honored drawing is reimbursed by the Borrowers.

 

2.9 Conversion and Continuation .

 

(a) Conversion . Subject to Section 2.18, the Borrowers shall have the option to convert at any time all or any part of any Term Loan, Revolving Loan or Incremental Term Loan equal to $500,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess of that amount from one Type of Loan to another Type of Loan; provided , a Eurodollar Loan may not be converted on a date other than the expiration date of the Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Loan unless the Borrowers shall pay all amounts due under Section 2.18 in connection with any such conversion; provided , further , if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may prohibit the Borrowers from converting any Term Loan or Revolving Loan to a Eurodollar Loan.

 

(b) Continuation . Subject to Section 2.18, the Borrowers shall also have the option, upon the expiration of any Interest Period applicable to any Eurodollar Loan, to continue all or any portion of such Loan equal to $500,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess of that amount as a Eurodollar Loan; provided , if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may prohibit the Borrower from continuing any Eurodollar Loan as such.

 

(c) Conversion/Continuation Notice . The Borrower Representative shall deliver a Conversion/Continuation Notice to the Administrative Agent at the Notice Office no later than 11:00 a.m. at least one Business Day in advance of the proposed conversion date (in the case of a conversion to a Base Rate Loan) and at least three (3) Business Days in advance of the proposed Conversion/Continuation Date (in the case of a conversion to, or a continuation of, a Eurodollar Loan). Except as otherwise provided herein, a Conversion/Continuation Notice for conversion to, or continuation of, any Eurodollar Loans (or telephonic notice in lieu thereof) shall be irrevocable on and after the date of receipt thereof by the Administrative Agent, and the Borrowers shall be bound to effect a conversion or continuation in accordance therewith.

 

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2.10 Default Interest . During the continuance of an Event of Default under Section 8.1(a) in respect of a failure to pay principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee owing under Section 2.11, 8.1(f) or 8.1(g), the Borrowers shall pay interest on past due amounts owing by it hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws; provided , no interest at the Default Rate shall accrue or be payable to a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender. Accrued and unpaid interest on such amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon written demand. Payment or acceptance of the increased rates of interest provided for in this Section 2.10 is not a permitted alternative to timely payment and shall not constitute a waiver of any Event of Default or otherwise prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

2.11 Fees .

 

(a) Commitment Fees . The Borrowers agree to pay to the Revolving Lenders commitment fees equal to (i) the average of the daily difference between (A) the Revolving Credit Commitments, and (B) the sum of (1) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans (but not any outstanding Swing Line Loans), plus (2) the Letter of Credit Obligations, times (ii) the Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage.

 

(b) Letter of Credit Fees . The Borrowers also agree to pay to the Revolving Lenders letter of credit fees, payable in Dollars, equal to (i) the Applicable Margin for Revolving Loans that are Eurodollar Loans, times (ii) the average aggregate daily maximum amount (calculated, in the case of any Alternate Currency Letter of Credit, based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof) available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit (regardless of whether any conditions for drawing could then be met and determined as of the close of business on any date of determination).

 

(c) Fronting Fees . The Borrowers agree to pay directly to an Issuing Bank, for its own account, a fronting fee payable in Dollars equal to (i) 0.125%, per annum, times (ii) the average aggregate daily maximum amount available (calculated, in the case of any Alternate Currency Letter of Credit, based on the Dollar Equivalent thereof) to be drawn under all Letters of Credit (determined as of the close of business on any date of determination).

 

(d) Documentary and Processing Charges . The Borrowers also agree to pay directly to the applicable Issuing Bank, for its own account, such reasonable documentary and processing charges for any issuance, amendment, transfer or payment of a Letter of Credit as are in accordance with such Issuing Bank’s standard schedule for such charges and as in effect at the time of such issuance, amendment, transfer or payment, as the case may be.

 

(e) Computation and Payment of Fees . All fees referred to in Sections 2.11(a), 2.11(b) and 2.11(c) shall be (i) calculated on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed and (ii) payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year during the Revolving Credit Commitment Period, commencing on the last day of the first full Fiscal Quarter ending after the Closing Date, and on the Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date.

 

(f) Payment to Lenders . All fees referred to in Sections 2.11(a) and 2.11(b) shall be paid when due to the Administrative Agent at the Payment Office and upon receipt thereof, the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to each Lender its Pro Rata Share thereof.

 

(g) Fees to Lead Arranger and Agents . In addition to any of the foregoing fees, the Borrowers agree to pay to the Lead Arranger, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent such other fees in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon in writing.

 

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(h) Repricing Event . If the Borrowers in connection with any Repricing Event, (i) make a prepayment of the Initial Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.13(a), (ii) make a prepayment of the Initial Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.14(b) or (iii) effect any amendment with respect to the Initial Term Loans, in each case, on or prior to the six month anniversary of the Closing Date, the Borrowers shall pay to each Term Loan Lender holding Initial Term Loans (x) with respect to clauses (i) and (ii), a prepayment premium in an amount equal to 1.00% of the principal amount of the Initial Term Loans affected by such reduction in interest rate margins held by such Term Loan Lender that are prepaid, and (y) with respect to clause (iii), a prepayment premium in an amount equal to 1.00% of the principal amount of the Initial Term Loans held by such Term Loan Lender, regardless of whether such Term Loan Lender consented to such amendment. As used herein, “ Repricing Event ” means, other than in connection with (1) any initial public offering, (2) any transformative acquisition that is not permitted under this Agreement, (3) a transaction that would result in a Change of Control or (4) a SPAC Transaction, (A) any prepayment of the Initial Term Loans, in whole or in part, with the proceeds of, or any conversion of the Initial Term Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of term loans, the primary purpose of which is to reduce the interest rate margins thereon to have an All-In-Yield less than the All-In-Yield applicable to the Initial Term Loans or (B) any amendment to this Agreement the primary purpose of which is to reduce the “effective” interest rate applicable to the Initial Term Loans to have an All-In-Yield less than the All-In-Yield applicable to the then outstanding Initial Term Loans.

 

2.12 Installments and Maturity .

 

(a) The principal amounts of the Initial Term Loans shall be repaid in installments in the aggregate amounts set forth below on the date correlative thereto; provided , such installments shall be reduced in connection with any voluntary or mandatory prepayments of the Initial Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.15:

 

Installment Date  

  Installment
     
Each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 (beginning with September 30, 2018) and ending prior to the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date  

$770,000

 

     
Initial Term Loan Maturity Date   Outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Initial Term Loans

 

(b) The principal amount of any other Class of Term Loans shall be repaid in installments, if any, as set forth in the applicable Joinder Agreement, Extension Amendment or Permitted Refinancing Amendment, and in any event, shall be paid in full no later than the applicable Maturity Date with respect thereto.

 

2.13 Voluntary Prepayments and Reductions .

 

(a) Voluntary Prepayments . Any time and from time to time, with respect to any Type of Loan, the Borrowers may prepay, without premium or penalty (but subject to Sections 2.11(h) and 2.18(c), as applicable), any Loan on any Business Day in whole or in part, in an aggregate minimum amount of and integral multiples in excess of that amount (or, if less, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Class of Loans to be prepaid), and upon prior written or telephonic notice, in each case, as set forth in the following table:

 

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Type of Loan   Minimum Amount     Integral Multiple     Prior Notice
Base Rate Loans
(other than Swing Line Loans)
  $ 500,000     $ 100,000     One Business Day
Eurodollar Loans   $ 500,000     $ 100,000     Three Business Days
Swing Line Loans   $ 100,000     $ 50,000     Same Day

 

in each case given to the Administrative Agent or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, by 12:00 noon on the date required and, if given by telephone, promptly confirmed in writing to the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent will promptly transmit such telephonic or original notice to each applicable Lender. Upon the giving of any such notice, the principal amount of the Loans specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the prepayment date specified therein; provided , such prepayment obligation may be conditioned on the occurrence of any subsequent event (including a Change of Control or refinancing transaction).

 

(b) Voluntary Commitment Reductions . The Borrowers may, upon not less than three (3) Business Days’ prior written or telephonic notice confirmed in writing to the Administrative Agent (which original written or telephonic notice the Administrative Agent will promptly transmit by telefacsimile, e-mail or telephone to each applicable Lender), at any time and from time to time terminate in whole or permanently reduce in part, without premium or penalty, the Revolving Credit Commitments in an amount up to the amount by which the Revolving Credit Commitments exceed the Total Utilization of Revolving Credit Commitments at the time of such proposed termination or reduction; provided , any such partial reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be in an aggregate minimum amount of $500,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess of that amount. The Borrower Representative’s notice to the Administrative Agent shall designate the date (which shall be a Business Day) of such termination or reduction and the amount of any partial reduction, and such termination or reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be effective on the date specified in the Borrower Representative’s notice and shall (subject to Section 2.22(d)) reduce the Revolving Commitment of each Lender proportionately to its Pro Rata Share thereof; provided , such commitment reduction may be conditioned on the occurrence of any subsequent event (including a Change of Control or refinancing transaction).

 

2.14 Mandatory Prepayments and Reductions .

 

(a) Dispositions; Casualty/Condemnation Events . No later than the third Business Day following the date of receipt by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any Net Cash Proceeds resulting from a Disposition consummated in reliance on Section 6.9(k) or 6.9(l) or from any Casualty/Condemnation Event, the Borrowers shall prepay the Loans and/or the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be permanently reduced as set forth in Section 2.15(b) in an aggregate amount equal to such Net Cash Proceeds; provided , so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries (subject, in the case of Parent, to Section 6.13) shall have the option, directly or through one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries, to invest such Net Cash Proceeds within three hundred sixty (360) days of receipt thereof in long-term productive assets of the general type used in the business of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including, in respect of any Casualty/Condemnation Event, to repair, restore or replace the assets affected thereby); provided further , if Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary enters into a legally binding commitment (and has provided the Administrative Agent a copy of such binding commitment) to invest such Net Cash Proceeds within such 360-day period, it may directly or through one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries so invest such Net Cash Proceeds within the later of (x) three hundred sixty (360) days following the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds or (y) one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of entry into such legally binding commitment.

 

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(b) Issuance of Debt . No later than the third Business Day (or such later date as is acceptable to the Administration Agent) following receipt of cash proceeds from the incurrence of any Indebtedness by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than with respect to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.1 (other than any Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness)), the Borrowers shall prepay the Loans and/or the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be permanently reduced as set forth in Section 2.15(b) in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of the cash proceeds from such incurrence, net of any underwriting discounts and commissions and other reasonable costs and expenses associated therewith, including reasonable legal fees and expenses.

 

(c) Consolidated Excess Cash Flow . If there shall be Consolidated Excess Cash Flow for any Fiscal Year (commencing with the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2019), the Borrowers shall, no later than ten (10) Business Days after the date the annual financial statements for such Fiscal Year are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(b), prepay the Loans and/or the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be permanently reduced as set forth in Section 2.15(b) in an aggregate amount equal to (i) 50% of such Consolidated Excess Cash Flow (which percentage shall be reduced to (x) 25% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio determined for such Fiscal Year is 3.40:1.00 or less, and (y) 0% if the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio determined for such Fiscal Year is 2.90:1.00 or less, in each case, by reference to the Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(c) calculating the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of such Fiscal Year), minus (ii) voluntary prepayments of the Loans and any Incremental Equivalent Debt secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Loans or Revolving Loans ( provided , with respect to any prepayment at a discount to par of such Term Loans or such Incremental Equivalent Debt with credit only given for the actual amount of cash payment) and the amount of any premium, make whole or penalty paid in connection therewith, but excluding (x) repayments of Revolving Loans or Swing Line Loans except to the extent the Revolving Credit Commitments are permanently reduced in connection with such repayments, (y) any repayments of the Loans made with the proceeds of any Permitted Cure Securities issued in connection with the Cure Right and (z) any repayments of the Loans made with the proceeds of any long-term indebtedness of Parent or any Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

(d) Prepayment of Unutilized Loan Proceeds . No later than 20 days after the Closing Date, the Borrowers shall prepay (on such 20 th day) 100% of the Dividend Term Loan Proceeds, unless the 2018 Dividend has been paid on or before such 20 th day.

 

(e) Revolving Credit Limit . If at any time the Total Utilization of Revolving Credit Commitments exceeds the Revolving Credit Limit then in effect, the Borrowers shall promptly prepay first , the Swing Line Loans, and second , the Revolving Loans to the extent necessary so that the Total Utilization of Revolving Credit Commitments shall not at any time exceed the Revolving Credit Limit then in effect. If after giving effect to any prepayments required pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Total Utilization of Revolving Credit Commitments exceeds the Revolving Credit Limit, the Borrowers shall promptly Cash Collateralize Letter of Credit Obligations in an amount equal to such excess.

 

(f) Revaluation Date . If as a result of changes in currency exchange rates, on any Revaluation Date, the Letter of Credit Obligations exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit by more than $200,000, the Borrowers shall, in each case within five (5) Business Days after being notified thereof by the Administrative Agent, Cash Collateralize all Letters of Credit in accordance with Section 2.4(h), in an aggregate amount such that the Letter of Credit Obligations, less the amount thereof so Cash Collateralized, do not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. If the Borrowers shall have Cash Collateralized any Letters of Credit in accordance with the prior sentence, and thereafter, on a Revaluation Date, the Letter of Credit Sublimit exceeds the Letter of Credit Obligations by more than $25,000, the Administrative Agent shall, within five (5) Business Days after being notified thereof by the Borrower and only so long as no Event of Default is then continuing, refund to the Borrowers such excess.

 

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(g) Prepayment Certificate . Concurrently with any prepayment of the Loans and/or reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to Sections 2.14(a) through 2.14(d), the Borrower Representative shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of an Authorized Officer demonstrating the calculation of the amount of the applicable Net Cash Proceeds or Consolidated Excess Cash Flow, as the case may be. If the Borrower Representative shall subsequently determine that the actual amount received exceeded the amount set forth in such certificate, the Borrowers shall promptly make an additional prepayment of the Loans and/or the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be permanently reduced in an amount equal to such excess, and the Borrower Representative shall concurrently therewith deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of an Authorized Officer demonstrating the derivation of such excess.

 

(h) Constraints on Upstreaming . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.14, with respect to any amount of Net Cash Proceeds subject to Section 2.14(a) or any amount of Consolidated Excess Cash Flow subject to Section 2.14(c), in each case, attributable to a Foreign Subsidiary, if the Borrower Representative determines in good faith that the upstreaming of cash equal to such amount by such Foreign Subsidiary (i) would violate any local Law (e.g., financial assistance, thin capitalization, corporate benefit, or the fiduciary and statutory duties of the directors of such Subsidiary) or any term of any Organizational Document applicable to such Foreign Subsidiary, or (ii) would reasonably be expected to result in any greater than de minimus adverse costs or tax consequences to Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries (it being understood that, for the avoidance of doubt, costs and/or taxes arising as a result of upstreaming of cash equal to such amount exceeding 2.5% of such amount would be greater than de minimus), then such amount shall be excluded from such Net Cash Proceeds or such Consolidated Excess Cash Flow, as applicable; provided , for one year from the date on which the obligation to make the applicable prepayment arose, the Borrowers and such Foreign Subsidiary shall use commercially reasonable efforts to overcome or eliminate any such restrictions or minimize to a de minimus amount any such costs of prepayment and, if successful, shall promptly make the applicable prepayment, unless the Borrower Representative shall have determined in good faith that such actions would require the expenditure of a material amount of funds. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement (including this Section 2.14) shall require the Borrowers or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries to cause any amounts to be repatriated, whether directly or indirectly, and whether such repatriation is actual or deemed under Section 956 of the Code, to the United States (whether or not such amounts are used in or excluded from the determination of the amount of any mandatory prepayment hereunder).

 

(i) Other Applicable Debt . If at the time that any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.14(a) would be required, the Borrowers are also required to offer to repurchase Permitted First Priority Refinancing Debt or Incremental Equivalent Debt (in each case, to the extent secured by Liens on the assets giving rise to such prepayment on a pari passu basis with the Obligations), in each case pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Indebtedness with Net Cash Proceeds with respect to any property or assets constituting Collateral (such Indebtedness required to be offered to be so repurchased, “Other Applicable Debt” ), then the Borrowers may apply such Net Cash Proceeds on a pro rata basis (determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and Other Applicable Debt at such time; provided , the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds allocated to the Other Applicable Debt shall not exceed the amount of such Net Cash Proceeds required to be allocated to the Other Applicable Debt pursuant to the terms thereof, and the remaining amount, if any, of such Net Cash Proceeds shall be allocated to the Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof) to the prepayment of the Term Loans and to the repurchase or prepayment of Other Applicable Debt, and the amount of prepayment of the Term Loans that would have otherwise been required pursuant to this Section 2.14(i) shall be reduced accordingly; provided further , to the extent the holders of Other Applicable Debt decline to have such Other Applicable Debt repurchased or prepaid, the declined amount shall promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the date of such rejection) be applied to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof, subject, in any event, to Section 2.15(d).

 

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2.15 Application of Prepayments .

 

(a) Application of Voluntary Prepayments . Any prepayment of any Loan pursuant to Section 2.13(a) shall be applied as specified by the Borrower Representative in the applicable notice of prepayment; provided , any such prepayment of Term Loans shall be applied to prepay the Term Loans across all Classes of Term Loans on a pro rata basis (in accordance with the respective outstanding principal amounts thereof); provided , further , absent such direction by the Borrower Representative, such prepayment shall be applied to the remaining scheduled principal payments of the Term Loans in direct order of maturity thereof.

 

(b) Application of Mandatory Prepayments . Subject to Section 2.15(d), any amount required to be paid pursuant to Sections 2.14(a) through 2.14(d) shall be applied:

 

first , to prepay the Term Loans on a pro rata basis (in accordance with the respective outstanding principal amounts thereof), and shall be further applied as specified by the Borrower Representative or, absent such specification, in the direct order of maturity to the remaining installments of principal of the Term Loans; provided , that any mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.14(d) shall be applied ratably against the then remaining scheduled principal payments of the Term Loans;

 

second , to prepay the Swing Line Loans to the full extent thereof without any permanent reduction in the Revolving Credit Commitments;

 

third , to prepay the Revolving Loans to the full extent thereof without any permanent reduction in the Revolving Credit Commitments;

 

fourth , to prepay outstanding reimbursement obligations with respect to Letters of Credit without any permanent reduction in the Revolving Credit Commitments; and

 

fifth , to Cash Collateralize all Letters of Credit in accordance with Section 2.4(h) without any permanent reduction in the Revolving Credit Commitments.

 

(c) Application of Prepayments to Types of Loans . Considering each Class of Loans being prepaid separately, any prepayment thereof shall be applied first to Base Rate Loans to the full extent thereof before application to Eurodollar Loans, in each case in a manner which minimizes the amount of any payment required to be made by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.18(c).

 

(d) Waivable Mandatory Prepayment . Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, so long as any Term Loans are outstanding, if the Borrowers are required to make any mandatory prepayment (a “Waivable Mandatory Prepayment” ) of the Term Loans, not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the date (the “Required Prepayment Date” ) on which the Borrowers are required to make such Waivable Mandatory Prepayment, the Borrower Representative may notify the Administrative Agent of the amount of such prepayment, and the Administrative Agent will promptly thereafter notify each Lender holding outstanding Term Loans of the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such Waivable Mandatory Prepayment and such Lender’s option to refuse such amount. Each such Lender may exercise such option by giving written notice to the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent of its election to do so on or before the first Business Day prior to the Required Prepayment Date (it being understood that any Lender which does not notify the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent of its election to exercise such option on or before the first Business Day prior to the Required Prepayment Date shall be deemed to have elected, as of such date, not to exercise such option). On the Required Prepayment Date, the Borrowers shall retain that amount of the Waivable Mandatory Prepayment with respect to which each Lender, if any, shall have exercised its option to refuse (the “Declined Proceeds” ).

 

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2.16 General Provisions Regarding Payments .

 

(a) Payments Due . All payments by the Borrowers of principal, interest, fees and other Obligations shall be made in Dollars in same day funds, without defense, setoff or counterclaim, free of any restriction or condition, and delivered to the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date due at the Payment Office for the account of the Lenders; for purposes of computing interest and fees, funds received by the Administrative Agent after that time on such due date may in the discretion of the Administrative Agent be deemed to have been paid by the Borrowers on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

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

 

(c) Payments to Include Interest . All payments in respect of the principal amount of any Loan shall include payment of accrued interest on the principal amount being repaid or prepaid (other than voluntary prepayments of Revolving Loans outstanding as Base Rate Loans, which shall instead be payable on the applicable Interest Payment Date), and all such payments (and, in any event, any payments in respect of any Loan on a date when interest is due and payable with respect to such Loan) shall be applied to the payment of interest then due and payable before application to principal.

 

(d) Distribution of Payments . The Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to each Lender at such address as such Lender shall indicate in writing, such Lender’s applicable Pro Rata Share of all payments and prepayments of principal and interest due hereunder, together with all other amounts due thereto, including all fees payable with respect thereto, to the extent received by the Administrative Agent.

 

(e) Affected Lender . Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions hereof, if any Conversion/Continuation Notice is withdrawn as to any Affected Lender or if any Affected Lender makes Base Rate Loans in lieu of its Pro Rata Share of any Eurodollar Loans, the Administrative Agent shall give effect thereto in apportioning payments received thereafter.

 

(f) Payment Due on Non-Business Day . Subject to the provisos set forth in the definition of “Interest Period”, whenever any payment to be made hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and such extension of time shall be included in the computation of the payment of interest hereunder or of the Revolving Credit Commitment fees hereunder.

 

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(g) Borrowers’ Accounts . Each Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to charge each Borrower’s accounts with the Administrative Agent in order to cause timely payment to be made to the Administrative Agent of all principal, interest and fees pursuant to Section 2.11 due hereunder (subject to sufficient funds being available in its accounts for that purpose).

 

(h) Non-Conforming Payment . If any payment by or on behalf of the Borrowers hereunder is not made in same day funds prior to 1:00 p.m., the Administrative Agent may deem such payment to be a non-conforming payment and if so, shall give prompt telephonic notice thereof to the Borrower Representative and each applicable Lender (confirmed in writing). Any non-conforming payment may constitute or become a Default or Event of Default in accordance with the terms of Section 8.1(a). Interest shall continue to accrue on any principal as to which a non-conforming payment is made until such funds become available funds (but in no event less than the period from the date of such payment to the next succeeding applicable Business Day) at the rate determined pursuant to Section 2.10 from the date such amount was due and payable until the date such amount is paid in full.

 

2.17 Ratable Sharing . If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or other obligations hereunder resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon or other such obligations greater than its Pro Rata Share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and such other obligations of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them; provided , (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and (ii) the provisions of this Section 2.17 shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by the Borrowers pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), or (B) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in Letters of Credit to any assignee or Participant. Each Credit Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against each Credit Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of each Credit Party in the amount of such participation.

 

2.18 Making or Maintaining Eurodollar Loans .

 

(a) Inability to Determine Applicable Interest Rate . If the Administrative Agent shall have determined in good faith (which determination shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto, absent manifest error), on any Interest Rate Determination Date with respect to any Eurodollar Loans, that by reason of circumstances affecting the London interbank market adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the interest rate applicable to such Loans on the basis provided for in the definition of Adjusted Eurodollar Rate, the Administrative Agent shall on such date give notice (by telefacsimile, e-mail or by telephone confirmed in writing) to the Borrower Representative and each Lender of such determination, whereupon (i) no Loans may be made as, or converted to, Eurodollar Loans until such time as the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower Representative and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist (which the Administrative Agent agrees it will promptly do at such time), (ii) any Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice given by the Borrower Representative with respect to the Loans in respect of which such determination was made shall be deemed to be rescinded by the Borrower Representative and (iii) the utilization of the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case, until the Administrative Agent revokes such notice.

 

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(b) Illegality or Impracticability of Eurodollar Loans . If on any date any Lender (in the case of clause (i) below) or the Required Lenders (in the case of clause (ii) below) shall have determined in good faith (which determination shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto, absent manifest error) that the making, maintaining or continuation of its Eurodollar Loans (i) has become unlawful as a result of compliance by such Lender in good faith with any Law (or would conflict with any treaty, governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order not having the force of law even though the failure to comply therewith would not be unlawful), or (ii) has become impracticable, as a result of contingencies occurring after the date hereof which materially and adversely affect the London interbank market or the position of the Lenders in that market, then, and in any such event, the affected Lenders shall each be an “Affected Lender” and shall on that day give notice (by e-mail or by telephone confirmed in writing) to the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent of such determination (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each other Lender). If the Administrative Agent receives a notice from (A) any Lender pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence or (B) a notice from Lenders constituting Required Lenders pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, then (1) the obligation of the Lenders (or, in the case of any notice pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence, such Lender) to make Loans as, or to convert Loans to, Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended until such notice shall be withdrawn by each Affected Lender, (2) to the extent such determination by the Affected Lender relates to a Eurodollar Loan then being requested by the Borrowers pursuant to a Funding Notice or a Conversion/Continuation Notice, the Lenders (or in the case of any notice pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence, such Lender) shall make such Loan as (or continue such Loan as or convert such Loan to, as the case may be) a Base Rate Loan, (3) the Lenders’ (or in the case of any notice pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence, such Lender’s) obligations to maintain their respective outstanding Eurodollar Loans (the “Affected Loans” ) shall be terminated at the earlier to occur of the expiration of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the Affected Loans or when required by Law, and (4) the Affected Loans shall automatically convert into Base Rate Loans on the date of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent a determination by an Affected Lender as described above relates to a Eurodollar Loan then being requested by the Borrowers pursuant to a Funding Notice or a Conversion/Continuation Notice, the Borrowers shall have the option, subject to the provisions of Section 2.18(c), to rescind such Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice as to all Lenders by giving written or telephonic notice (promptly confirmed by delivery of written notice thereof) to the Administrative Agent of such rescission on the date on which the Affected Lender gives notice of its determination as described above (which notice of rescission the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each other Lender).

 

(c) Compensation for Breakage or Non Commencement of Interest Periods . The Borrowers shall compensate each Lender, upon written request by such Lender through the Administrative Agent (which request shall set forth the basis for requesting and calculation of such amounts), for all reasonable losses, expenses and liabilities (including any interest paid or payable by such Lender to Lenders of funds borrowed by it to make or carry its Eurodollar Loans and any loss, expense or liability sustained by such Lender in connection with the liquidation or re-employment of such funds but excluding loss of anticipated profits) which such Lender sustains: (i) if for any reason (other than a default by such Lender) a borrowing of any Eurodollar Loan does not occur on a date specified therefor in a Funding Notice or a telephonic request for borrowing, or a conversion to or continuation of any Eurodollar Loan does not occur on a date specified therefor in a Conversion/Continuation Notice or a telephonic request for conversion or continuation; (ii) if any prepayment or other principal payment of, or any conversion of, any of its Eurodollar Loans occurs on a date prior to the last day of an Interest Period applicable to that Loan; or (iii) if any prepayment of any of its Eurodollar Loans is not made on any date specified in a notice of prepayment given by the Borrower Representative.

 

(d) Booking of Eurodollar Loans . Any Lender may make, carry or transfer Eurodollar Loans at, to, or for the account of any of its branch offices or the office of an Affiliate of such Lender.

 

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 (e) Assumptions Concerning Funding of Eurodollar Loans . Calculation of all amounts payable to a Lender under this Section 2.18 and under Section 2.19 shall be made as though such Lender had actually funded each of its relevant Eurodollar Loans through the purchase of a Eurodollar deposit bearing interest at the rate obtained pursuant to clause (y) of the definition of Adjusted Eurodollar Rate in an amount equal to the amount of such Eurodollar Loan and having a maturity comparable to the relevant Interest Period and through the transfer of such Eurodollar deposit from an offshore office of such Lender to a domestic office of such Lender in the United States of America; provided , each Lender may fund each of its Eurodollar Loans in any manner it sees fit and the foregoing assumptions shall be utilized only for the purposes of calculating amounts payable under this Section 2.18 and under Section 2.19.

 

2.19 Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy .

 

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

 

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

 

(ii) subject any Lender or any Issuing Bank to any Taxes (other than Indemnified Taxes, Excluded Taxes or Connection Income Taxes) with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter of Credit or any Eurodollar Loan made by it, its Commitments or other obligations hereunder, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or

 

(iii) impose on any Lender or any Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar 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 of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan, or to increase the cost to such Lender or such Issuing Bank 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 or such Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or such Issuing Bank, in either case through the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers will pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b) Capital Requirements . If any Lender or any Issuing Bank determines in good faith that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or such Issuing Bank or any lending office of such Lender or such Lender’s or such 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 such Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or an Issuing Bank’s holding company would have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or an Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity), then from time to time the Borrowers will pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or an Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

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(c) Certificates for Reimbursement . A certificate of a Lender or an Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or its holding company (and the basis for requesting and calculation of such amounts), as the case may be, as specified in Section 2.19(a) or 2.19(b) and delivered to the Borrower Representative through the Administrative Agent, shall be conclusive absent manifest or demonstrable error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate and owing under Section 2.19(a) or Section 2.19(b) within ten (10) Business Days after receipt thereof.

 

(d) Delay in Requests . Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided , the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate a Lender or such Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than six months prior to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower Representative of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions, and of such Lender’s or such 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 six-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

 

2.20 Taxes; Withholding, Etc .

 

(a) Defined Terms . For purposes of this Section 2.20, the term “Lender” includes an Issuing Bank and the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

 

(b) Payments Free of Taxes . Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party under any Credit Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Credit Party shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

 

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

 

(d) Indemnification by the Borrower s. The Credit Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower Representative by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest or demonstrable error.

 

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(e) Indemnification by the Lenders . Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Credit Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Credit Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.6(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Credit Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest or demonstrable error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Credit Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).

 

(f) Evidence of Payments . As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Credit Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.20, such Credit Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(g) Status of Lenders .

 

(i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Credit Document shall deliver to the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times prescribed by applicable law and at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.20(g)(ii)(A), 2.20(g)(ii)(B) and 2.20(g)(ii)(D)) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

 

 

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(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

 

(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

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

 

(i) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Credit Document, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Credit Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

 

(ii) executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(D) if a payment made to a Lender under any Credit Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

   

Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

 

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(h) Treatment of Certain Refunds . If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.20 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.20), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments or the payments of such additional amounts made under this Section 2.20 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (h) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) if such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (h), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (h) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

 

(i) Survival . Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.20 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Credit Document.

 

2.21 Obligation to Mitigate . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.19, or requires the Borrowers to pay additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.20, then such Lender shall (at the request of the Borrower Representative) use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if, in the reasonable good faith judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (a) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.19 or 2.20, as the case may be, in the future, and (b) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrowers hereby agree to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

2.22 Defaulting Lenders .

 

(a) Defaulting Lender Adjustments . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable law:

 

(i) Waivers and Amendments . Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of Required Lenders.

  

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(ii) Defaulting Lender Waterfall . Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Section 8 or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.4 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent (and, so long as no Event of Default exists, in consultation with the Borrower Representative) as follows: first , to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second , to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to an Issuing Bank or Swing Line Lender hereunder; third , to Cash Collateralize an Issuing Bank’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.4(i); fourth , as the Borrower Representative may request (so long as no Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize an Issuing Bank’s future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.4(i); sixth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, an Issuing Bank or Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, any Issuing Bank or Swing Line Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrowers as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrowers against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided , if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or Letters of Credit in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 3.2 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and Letter of Credit Obligations owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or Letter of Credit Obligations owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letter of Credit Obligations and Swing Line Loans are held by the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares of the Revolving Credit Commitments without giving effect to Section 2.22(a)(iv). Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.22(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

(iii) Certain Fees .

 

(A) No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any commitment fees in accordance with Section 2.11(a) for any period during which such Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).

 

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(B) Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of Credit fees with Section 2.11(b) for any period during which such Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Pro Rata Share of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.4(i).

 

(C) With respect to any fees not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (A) or (B) above, the Borrowers shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in Letter of Credit Obligations or Swing Line Loans that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv) below, (y) pay to the Issuing Bank and the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to the Issuing Bank’s or Swing Line Lender’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.

 

(iv) Reallocation of Participations to Reduce Fronting Exposure . All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in Letter of Credit Obligations and Swing Line Loans shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) but only to the extent that (x) the conditions set forth in Section 3.2 are satisfied at the time of such reallocation provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Borrowers shall not be deemed to have represented and warranted that such conditions are satisfied at such time, and (y) such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. No reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from such 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.

 

(v) Repayment of Swing Line Loans, Cash Collateral . If the reallocation described in clause (iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrowers shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under law, first , prepay Swing Line Loans in an amount equal to the Swing Line Lender’s Fronting Exposure and second , Cash Collateralize an Issuing Bank’s Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.4(i).

   

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(b) Defaulting Lender Cure . If the Borrower Representative, the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender and the Issuing Banks agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), such Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent determines to be necessary or appropriate to cause the Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans to be held by the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares of the Revolving Credit Commitments without giving effect to Section 2.22(a)(iv), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided , no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrowers while such Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided further , except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lender having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

(c) New Swing Line Loans/Letters of Credit . So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (i) the Swing Line Lender shall not be required to fund any Swing Line Loans unless it is reasonably satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure immediately after giving effect to such Swing Line Loan and (ii) no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit unless it is reasonably satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure immediately after giving effect thereto.

 

(d) Termination of Defaulting Lender . The Borrowers may terminate (notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, on a non pro rata basis) the unused amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment of any Revolving Lender that is a Defaulting Lender upon not less than five (5) Business Days’ prior notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders thereof), and in such event the provisions of Section 2.22(a)(ii) will apply to all amounts thereafter paid by the Borrowers for the account of such Defaulting Lender under this Agreement (whether on account of principal, interest, fees, indemnity or other amounts); provided , (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and (ii) such termination shall not be deemed to be a waiver or release of any claim the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, the Swing Line Lender or any Lender may have against such Defaulting Lender.

 

2.23 Replacement of Lenders . If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.19, or if the Borrowers are required to pay additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.20 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 2.21, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, a Non-Consenting Lender or an Affected Lender (when Required Lenders are not Affected Lenders), then the Borrower Representative may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent (which shall be given within thirty days after such Lender requests such amount or becomes a Defaulting, Non-Consenting Lender or Affected Lender, as the case may be), require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.6), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Credit Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided :

 

(a) the Administrative Agent shall have received the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 10.6(b)(iv);

 

(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in Letters of Credit, accrued and unpaid interest thereon, accrued and unpaid fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Credit Documents (including any amounts under Section 2.18(c) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest and fees) or the Borrowers (in the case of all other amounts));

 

(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.19 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.20, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

 

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(d) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Law; and

 

(e) in the case of any assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender or Affected Lender, the applicable assignee shall, in the former case, have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent and in the latter case not then be an Affected Lender.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein:

 

(i) no Lender shall be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrowers to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply;

 

(ii) any Lender being replaced pursuant to Section 2.23 above shall execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such Lender’s Commitment and outstanding Loans and participations in Letters of Credit, as applicable; provided , the failure of any such Lender to execute an Assignment and Assumption after having received a request therefor shall not render such assignment invalid and such assignment shall be recorded in the Register and such Lender shall be deemed to have consented thereto;

 

(iii) no Lender that acts as Issuing Bank may be replaced hereunder (other than with respect to any Term Loans) at any time that it has any Letter of Credit outstanding hereunder unless arrangements reasonably satisfactory thereto (including the furnishing of a back-up standby letter of credit in form and substance, and issued by an issuer, reasonably satisfactory thereto or Cash Collateral) have been made in respect of such outstanding Letters of Credit; and

 

(iv) no Lender that acts as Administrative Agent may be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 9.6.

 

2.24 Extension of Loans .

 

(a) The Borrower Representative may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent from time to time, request an extension (each, an “Extension” ) of the maturity date of any Class of Loans and Commitments to the extended maturity date specified in such notice. Such notice shall (i) set forth the amount of the applicable Class of Revolving Credit Commitments and/or Term Loans that will be subject to the Extension (which shall be in minimum increments of $1,000,000 and a minimum amount of $10,000,000), (ii) set forth the date on which such Extension is requested to become effective (which shall be not less than ten (10) Business Days nor more than sixty days after the date of such Extension notice (or such longer or shorter periods as the Administrative Agent shall agree in its sole discretion)) and (iii) identify the relevant Class of Revolving Credit Commitments and/or Term Loans to which such Extension relates. Each Lender of the applicable Class shall be offered (an “Extension Offer” ) an opportunity to participate in such Extension on a pro rata basis and on the same terms and conditions as each other Lender of such Class pursuant to procedures established by, or reasonably acceptable to, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative. If the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Commitments or Term Loans in respect of which Lenders shall have accepted the relevant Extension Offer shall exceed the maximum aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Commitments or Term Loans, as applicable, subject to the Extension Offer as set forth in the Extension notice, then the Revolving Credit Commitments or Term Loans, as applicable, of Lenders of the applicable Class shall be extended ratably up to such maximum amount based on the respective principal amounts with respect to which such Lenders have accepted such Extension Offer.

 

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(b) The following shall be the only conditions precedent to the effectiveness of any Extension:

 

(i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately prior to and immediately after giving effect to such Extension,

 

(ii) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4 and in each other Credit Document shall be deemed to be made and shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties that are conditioned by materiality, which shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the effective date of such Extension to the same extent as though made on and as of that date, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties that are conditioned by materiality, which shall have been true and correct in all respects) on and as of such earlier date,

 

(iii) the Issuing Banks and the Swing Line Lender shall have consented to any Extension of the Revolving Credit Commitments, to the extent that such Extension provides for the issuance or extension of Letters of Credit or making of Swing Line Loans at any time during the extended period, and

 

(iv) the terms of such Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and Extended Term Loans shall comply with Section 2.24(c).

   

(c) The terms of each Extension shall be determined by the Borrower Representative and the applicable extending Lenders and set forth in an Extension Amendment; provided :

 

(i) the final maturity date of any Extended Revolving Credit Commitment or Extended Term Loan shall be determined by the Borrower Representative and the applicable extending Lenders but no earlier than the Scheduled Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date of the existing Revolving Loans or the Maturity Date of the existing Term Loans, respectively;

 

(ii) (A) there shall be no scheduled amortization of the loans or reductions of commitments under any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and (B) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Extended Term Loans shall be no shorter than the then remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the existing Term Loans with the latest Maturity Date then in effect;

 

(iii) the Extended Revolving Loans and the Extended Term Loans will rank pari passu in right of payment and with respect to security with the existing Revolving Loans and the existing Term Loans and the borrower and guarantors of the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Term Loans, as applicable, shall be the same as the Borrowers and Guarantors with respect to the existing Revolving Loans or Term Loans, as applicable;

   

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(iv) the interest rates, interest rate margin, rate floors, fees, original issue discount and premium applicable to any Extended Revolving Credit Commitment (and the Extended Revolving Loans thereunder) and Extended Term Loans shall be determined by the Borrower Representative and the applicable extending Lenders;

 

(v) (A) the Extended Term Loans may participate on a pro rata or less than pro rata (but not greater than pro rata) basis in voluntary or mandatory prepayments with the other Term Loans and (B) borrowing and prepayment of Extended Revolving Loans, or reductions of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, and participation in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans, shall be on a pro rata basis with the other Revolving Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments (other than upon the maturity of the non-extended Revolving Loans and Revolving Credit Commitments); and

 

(vi) the terms of the Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Term Loans, as applicable, shall be substantially similar, or (taken as a whole) not materially more favorable (as reasonably determined by the Borrower Representative), to the Credit Parties than the terms set forth in this Agreement (except with respect to terms described or referenced in any of clauses (i) through (v) above and except for covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the latest final Maturity Date of the relevant Revolving Credit Commitments or Term Loans, as applicable).

   

(d) In connection with any Extension, the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and each applicable extending Lender shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Extension Amendment and such other documentation as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably specify to evidence the Extension. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Extension. Any Extension Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lender, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative, to implement the terms of any such Extension, including any amendments necessary to establish Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Term Loans as a new Class or tranche of Revolving Credit Commitments or Term Loans, as applicable, and such other technical amendments as may be necessary or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative in connection with the establishment of such new Class or tranche (including to preserve the pro rata treatment of the extended and non-extended Classes or tranches and to provide for the reallocation of Revolving Credit Exposure upon the expiration or termination of the commitments under any Class or tranche), in each case on terms consistent with this Section 2.24.

 

(e) Preemption . This Section 2.24 shall preempt and supersede any provision in Section 2.15, 2.17 or 10.5 to the contrary.

 

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2.25 Incremental Facilities .

 

(a) Types . The Borrowers may by written notice from the Borrower Representative to the Administrative Agent (each, an “Incremental Facility Notice” ) elect to request (i) an increase to the Revolving Credit Commitments prior to the Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date (each, an “Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment” ) and/or (ii) the establishment of one or more new term loan commitments (each, an “Incremental Term Loan Commitment” ; and together with the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments, individually, an “Incremental Facility” , and collectively, the “Incremental Facilities” ); provided , the aggregate amount of all Incremental Facilities together with all Incremental Equivalent Debt shall not exceed the Incremental Facility Amount.

 

(b) Incremental Facility Amount . As used herein, “Incremental Facility Amount” means an amount equal to:

 

(i) the greater of (x) $50,000,000 and (y) an amount equal to 65% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the then most recently ended Test Period, plus

 

(ii) the aggregate amount of any voluntary repayments and prepayments of the Revolving Loans, Term Loans and Incremental Equivalent Debt secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Loans ( provided , with respect to any prepayment at a discount to par of such Term Loans or Incremental Equivalent Debt with credit only given for the actual amount of cash payment), but excluding (A) repayments of Revolving Loans or Swing Line Loans except to the extent the Revolving Credit Commitments are permanently reduced in connection with such repayments, so long as, in the case of any such optional prepayment, such prepayment was not funded with the proceeds of any long-term Indebtedness and (B) any repayments of the Loans made with the proceeds of any Permitted Cure Securities issued in connection with the Cure Right; plus

 

(iii) an unlimited amount; provided , solely with respect to any amount incurred in reliance on this clause (iii), on a Pro Forma Basis immediately after giving effect to the incurrence thereof (and after giving pro forma effect to any acquisition or other Investment consummated in connection therewith), (A) with respect to any Incremental Facility, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period shall not exceed the Closing Date Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio; and (B) with respect to any Incremental Equivalent Debt, (x) if such Incremental Equivalent Debt is secured by Liens on the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Obligations, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period shall not exceed the Closing Date Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, (y) if such Incremental Equivalent Debt ranks junior in right of security with the Obligations, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period shall not exceed 4.40:1.00 and (z) if such Incremental Equivalent Debt is unsecured, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period shall not exceed 4.65:1.00.

 

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Unless the Borrower Representative has selected utilization under clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have used amounts under clause (iii) (to the extent compliant therewith) prior to utilization of amounts under clauses (i) and/or (ii), and Incremental Facilities and Incremental Equivalent Debt may be incurred or established, as the case may be, simultaneously under clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), and proceeds from any such incurrence may be utilized in a single transaction by first calculating the incurrence under clause (iii) above and then calculating the incurrence under clauses (i) and/or (ii) above.

 

(c) Incremental Facility Notice . Each Incremental Facility Notice shall specify (i) the amount of the Incremental Facilities being requested (which shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 or, if less, an amount equal to the remaining Incremental Facility Amount), (ii) the date (each, an “Incremental Facility Effective Date” ) on which the Borrower Representative proposes that an Incremental Facility shall be effective, which shall be a date not less than ten (10) Business Days after the date on which such notice is delivered to the Administrative Agent (or such earlier date as is acceptable to the Administrative Agent) and (iii) the identity of each Lender, other Eligible Assignee or any other Person (each, an “Incremental Revolving Lender” or an “Incremental Term Loan Lender” , as applicable) to whom the Borrower Representative proposes any portion of such Incremental Facility be allocated and the amounts of such allocations; provided , (A) each existing Lender, if any, from which the Borrower Representative requests such Incremental Facility may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide such Incremental Facility, and (B) (x) such Eligible Assignee or other Person identified by the Borrower Representative as a proposed Incremental Revolving Lender, if not already a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, shall be acceptable to each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Swing Line Lender in its reasonable discretion and (y) such Eligible Assignee or other Person identified by the Borrowers as a proposed Incremental Term Loan Lender, if not already a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, shall be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

(d) Conditions to Effectiveness . Each Incremental Facility shall become effective as of the applicable Incremental Facility Effective Date; provided

 

(i) (a) if the proceeds of such Incremental Facility shall be applied to consummate a Limited Condition Acquisition, (1) no Event of Default shall exist at the time of the request thereof and (2) on such Incremental Facility Effective Date both immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such Incremental Facility and the borrowings thereunder, no Event of Default under Section 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or 8.1(g) shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and (b) in any other case, no Event of Default shall exist on such Incremental Facility Effective Date immediately before or immediately after giving effect to such Incremental Facility and the borrowings thereunder; and

 

(ii) both immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such Incremental Facility and the borrowings thereunder, as of such Incremental Facility Effective Date, the representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties that are conditioned by materiality, which shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of that Credit Date to the same extent as though made on and as of that date, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties that are conditioned by materiality, which shall have been true and correct in all respects) on and as of such earlier date; provided , to the extent that the proceeds of Loans under any Incremental Facility are to be used to finance a Limited Condition Acquisition, the availability thereof shall instead be subject only to customary “SunGard” or “certain funds” conditionality to the extent agreed by the Borrower Representative and the Lenders providing such loans.

   

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(e) Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments . On any Incremental Facility Effective Date on which any Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment is effected, subject to the satisfaction of the foregoing terms and conditions of this Section 2.25, (i) each of the Revolving Lenders shall assign to each of the applicable Incremental Revolving Lenders, and each of such Incremental Revolving Lenders shall purchase from each of the Revolving Lenders, at the principal amount thereof (together with accrued interest), such interests in the Revolving Loans outstanding on such Incremental Facility Effective Date as shall be necessary in order that, upon giving effect to all such assignments and purchases, the Revolving Loans will be held by existing Revolving Lenders and Incremental Revolving Lenders ratably in accordance with their Revolving Loan Commitments after giving effect to the addition of such Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments to the Revolving Loan Commitments, (ii) each Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment shall be deemed for all purposes a Revolving Loan Commitment of the Class of Revolving Commitments increased and each Loan made thereunder (an “Incremental Revolving Loan” ) shall be deemed, for all purposes, a Revolving Loan, (iii) each Incremental Revolving Lender shall become a Lender with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments and all matters relating thereto, and (iv) each Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment shall be effected pursuant to one or more Joinder Agreements, each of which Administrative Agent shall record in the Register. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that the minimum borrowing, pro rata borrowing and pro rata payment requirements contained elsewhere in this Agreement shall not apply to transactions effected pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence.

 

(f) Incremental Term Loans . On any Incremental Facility Effective Date on which any Incremental Term Loan Commitments are effective, subject to the satisfaction of the foregoing terms and conditions, (i) each Incremental Term Loan Lender shall make a Loan to the Borrowers (an “Incremental Term Loan” ) in an amount equal to its Incremental Term Loan Commitment, (ii) each Incremental Term Loan Lender shall become a Lender hereunder with respect to the Incremental Term Loan Commitment and the Incremental Term Loans made pursuant thereto, and (iii) the applicable Incremental Term Loan Commitments shall be effected pursuant to one or more Joinder Agreements, each of which Administrative Agent shall record in the Register.

 

(g) Notice to Lenders . The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders, promptly upon receipt of the Borrower Representative’s notice of an Incremental Facility Effective Date, of (i) the Incremental Revolving Credit Commitments and the Incremental Term Loan Commitments, in each case, as applicable, and (ii) in the case of each notice to any Revolving Lender, the respective interests in such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Loans, in each case subject to the assignments contemplated by this Section 2.25.

 

(h) Terms - Incremental Term Loans . The terms of Incremental Term Loans shall be identical to the Initial Term Loans; provided , to the extent mutually agreed by the Borrowers and the applicable Incremental Term Loan Lenders, Incremental Term Loans may have terms that are different from the terms of the Initial Term Loans (such Incremental Term Loans, “Other Term Loans” ), subject to the following:

 

(i) all Incremental Term Loans shall rank pari passu in right of payment, and rank pari passu in right of security, with the Obligations;

   

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(ii) as of the date of the incurrence thereof, (A) the maturity date applicable to any Incremental Term Loans shall not be earlier than the then-final scheduled maturity date of the Term Loans with the latest Maturity Date then in effect, and (B) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Incremental Term Loans shall not be shorter than the then applicable Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term Loans with the latest Maturity Date then in effect;

 

(iii) no Incremental Term Loan shall be (A) secured by property other than Collateral or (B) be incurred or guaranteed by any Person other than a Credit Party;

 

(iv) as of the date of the incurrence thereof, if the All-In-Yield relating to any Incremental Term Loans exceeds the All-In-Yield relating to the Initial Term Loans by more than 0.50%, the All-In-Yield relating to the Initial Term Loans shall be adjusted to be equal to the All-In-Yield relating to such Incremental Term Loans minus 0.50% (this clause (iv), the “MFN Protection” );

 

(v) no Incremental Term Loans may be voluntarily or mandatorily prepaid prior to repayment in full of the Obligations (other than Remaining Obligations), unless accompanied by at least a ratable payment of the other then existing Obligations;

 

(vi) except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, the other terms of such Incremental Term Loans (excluding interest, fees and premiums, optional prepayment and redemption terms) shall be, when taken as a whole, not materially more favorable (as reasonably determined by the Borrower Representative) to the lenders or holders providing such Incremental Term Loans than those applicable to the Term Loans having the latest Maturity Date existing at the time of such incurrence, except to the extent (A) such terms are added to the Credit Documents for the benefit of the Lenders pursuant to an amendment hereto or thereto subject solely to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent (including any increase in the Applicable Margin relating to any existing Term Loans to achieve fungibility with such Term Loans), (B) applicable solely to periods after the latest Maturity Date existing at the time of such incurrence or (C) otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

   

(i) Terms - Incremental Revolving Loans . The terms of the Incremental Revolving Loans shall be identical to the Revolving Loans.

 

(j) Related Amendments . Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that upon the effectiveness of any Joinder Agreement, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary or appropriate to reflect the existence and terms of the applicable Incremental Term Loan Commitment and the Incremental Term Loans evidenced thereby or the applicable Incremental Revolving Credit Commitment and additional Revolving Loans evidenced thereby, as applicable, and the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers may revise this Agreement and the other Credit Documents to evidence such amendments without the consent of the other Lenders as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative, to effectuate the provisions of this Section 2.25, and this Section 2.25 shall preempt and supersede any provision in Section 2.15, 2.17 or 10.5 to the contrary.

 

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(k) Installments . Except to the extent any Incremental Term Loans are Other Term Loans, the installments under Section 2.12(a) required to be made after the making of such Incremental Term Loans shall be ratably increased by the aggregate principal amount of such Incremental Term Loans and shall be further increased for all Lenders on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary to avoid any reduction in the amortization payments to which the Term Loan Lenders were entitled before such recalculation.

 

(l) Incremental Equivalent Debt . The Borrowers may issue or incur Incremental Equivalent Debt in lieu of Incremental Term Loans upon the delivery to the Administrative Agent of (revocable) notice thereof not less than ten (10) days, and not more than sixty days, prior to the proposed effective date thereof; provided , the aggregate principal amount of all Incremental Facilities together with all Incremental Equivalent Debt shall not exceed the Incremental Facility Amount. As used herein, “Incremental Equivalent Debt” means Indebtedness consisting of one or more series of senior secured first lien notes, junior lien notes, pari passu term loans, junior lien loans, subordinated notes or senior unsecured notes or unsecured loans, in each case, issued in a public offering, Rule 144A or other private placement transactions, a bridge facility in lieu of the foregoing, or secured or unsecured mezzanine Indebtedness or debt securities; provided :

 

(i) each of the conditions set forth in Section 2.25(d) shall be satisfied (or waived in accordance with the terms hereof) with respect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness (subject to “SunGard” or “certain funds” conditionality if in respect of a Limited Condition Acquisition);

 

(ii) if secured, such Indebtedness shall not be secured by property other than Collateral, and a representative acting on behalf of the lenders or investors providing such Indebtedness shall have entered into an Intercreditor Agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided , if secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations, (x) such Indebtedness shall be subject to the MFN Protection and (y) the lenders or investors providing such Indebtedness (or a representative acting on their behalf) shall have entered into an Intercreditor Agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(iii) such Indebtedness shall not at any time be incurred or guaranteed by any Person other than a Credit Party,

 

(iv) such Indebtedness (A) shall have a final scheduled maturity date no earlier than the then-final scheduled maturity date of the Term Loans with the latest Maturity Date then in effect and (B) shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is equal to or greater than the then applicable Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term Loans with the latest Maturity Date then in effect; provided , if such Indebtedness is contractually junior in right of Collateral or payment to the Obligations, it will not mature (and no scheduled payment, redemption or sinking fund or similar payments or obligations will be permitted) prior to 91 days after the latest Maturity Date existing at the time of such incurrence;

   

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(v) such Indebtedness may not be voluntarily or mandatorily prepaid prior to repayment in full of the Obligations (other than the Remaining Obligations), unless accompanied by at least a ratable payment of the then existing Obligations (or, if contractually junior in right of payment or as to security, on a junior basis with respect to the then existing Obligations); and

 

(vi) except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, the other terms of such Incremental Equivalent Debt (excluding interest, fees and premiums, optional prepayment and redemption terms thereof) shall be, when taken as a whole, not materially more favorable (as reasonably determined by the Borrower Representative) to the lenders or holders providing such Incremental Equivalent Debt than those applicable to the Term Loans having the latest Maturity Date existing at the time of such incurrence, except to the extent (A) such terms are added to the Credit Documents for the benefit of the Lenders pursuant to an amendment hereto or thereto subject solely to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent, (B) applicable solely to periods after the latest Maturity Date existing at the time of such incurrence or (C) otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

   

2.26 Permitted Refinancing Amendment .

 

(a) Permitted Refinancing Amendment . At any time after the Closing Date, the Borrowers may obtain, from any Lender or any Permitted Refinancing Lender, Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of all or any portion of the Loans or Commitments then outstanding under this Agreement, in the form of Permitted Refinancing Loans or Permitted Refinancing Commitments, in each case pursuant to a Permitted Refinancing Amendment; provided , notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.26 or otherwise, (i) the borrowing and repayment (except for (A) payments of interest and fees at different rates on Permitted Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments (and related outstandings), (B) repayments required upon the maturity date of the Permitted Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments and (C) repayment made in connection with a permanent repayment and termination of commitments (subject to clause (iii) below)) of Loans with respect to Permitted Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments after the date of obtaining any Permitted Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments shall be made on a pro rata basis with all Permitted Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments, (ii) subject to the provisions of Sections 2.3(k) and 2.4(k), all Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit shall be participated on a pro rata basis by all Lenders with Commitments in accordance with their percentage of the Revolving Credit Commitments (and except as provided in Sections 2.3(k) and 2.4(k), without giving effect to changes thereto on an earlier maturity date with respect to Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit theretofore incurred or issued), (iii) the permanent repayment of Revolving Loans with respect to, and termination of, Permitted Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments after the date of obtaining any Permitted Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments shall be made on a pro rata basis with all Permitted Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments, except that the Borrowers shall be permitted to permanently repay and terminate commitments of any such Class on a better than a pro rata basis as compared to any other Class with a later maturity date than such Class, (iv) assignments and participations of Permitted Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments and Permitted Refinancing Revolving Loans shall be governed by the same assignment and participation provisions applicable to Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Loans and (v) the Permitted Refinancing Term Loans may participate on a pro rata basis or less than pro rata basis (but not on a greater than pro rata basis) in any voluntary or mandatory prepayments of Term Loans hereunder, as specified in the applicable Permitted Refinancing Amendment.

 

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(b) Terms, Etc. The terms, provisions and documentation of any Permitted Refinancing Loans and Permitted Refinancing Commitments shall be subject to the limitations set forth in the definition of “Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness”.

 

(c) Minimum Amounts . Each issuance of Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness under Section 2.26(a) shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than the amounts set forth in Section 6.1(v)(i).

 

(d) Conditions Precedent . The effectiveness of any Permitted Refinancing Amendment shall be subject to the satisfaction or waiver on the date thereof of each of the conditions set forth in Section 3.2, provided that, to the extent any Permitted Refinancing Amendment is entered into in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, (x) the effectiveness thereof shall instead be subject only to customary “SunGard” or “certain funds” conditionality to the extent agreed by the Borrower Representative and the Lenders providing the Permitted Refinancing Loans thereunder and (y) on the date of effectiveness of such Permitted Refinancing Amendment, both immediately before and immediately after giving effect thereto and the borrowings thereunder, no Event of Default under Sections 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or 8.1(g) shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, receipt by the Administrative Agent of (i) board resolutions, officers’ certificates and/or reaffirmation agreements consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date under Section 3.1, (ii) customary legal opinions reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date under Section 3.1 and (iii) reaffirmation agreements and/or such amendments to the Collateral Documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to ensure that such Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness is provided with the benefit of the applicable Credit Documents.

 

(e) Effectiveness . The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Permitted Refinancing Amendment. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that, upon the effectiveness of any Permitted Refinancing Amendment, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness incurred pursuant thereto (including any amendments necessary to treat the Loans and Commitments subject thereto as Permitted Refinancing Loans and/or Permitted Refinancing Commitments).

 

(f) Necessary Amendments . Any Permitted Refinancing Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lender, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.26 and each of the Secured Parties hereby consents to the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.26 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, payment of interest, fees or premium in respect of any Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness on such terms as may be set forth in the relevant Permitted Refinancing Amendment in accordance with this Section 2.26).

 

(g) Preemption . This Section 2.26 shall preempt and supersede any provision in Section 2.15, 2.17 or 10.5 to the contrary.

 

2.27 Joint and Several Liability .

 

(a) NRC Borrower and Sprint Borrower are jointly and severally liable for the Obligations (other than the Excluded Swap Obligations). The Obligations of NRC Borrower and Sprint Borrower are independent of each other, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against either of NRC Borrower and Sprint Borrower to enforce this Agreement, irrespective of whether any action is brought against any other Person or whether any other Person is joined in any such action or actions.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other of the Credit Documents, to the extent the obligations of NRC Borrower and Sprint Borrower to repay any Obligations incurred by the other shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason (including, without limitation, because of any applicable state or federal law relating to fraudulent conveyances or transfers) then the obligations of such Person hereunder shall be limited to the maximum amount that is valid and enforceable under applicable law (whether federal or state and including, without limitation, any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law).

 

(c) Each of NRC Borrower and Sprint Borrower unconditionally guarantees, jointly with the other and severally, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the due and punctual payment and performance of the Obligations (other than the Excluded Swap Obligations). Each of NRC Borrower and Sprint Borrower further agrees that it will remain bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Obligation. Each of NRC Borrower and Sprint Borrower waives in respect of its respective acceptance of joint and several liability in respect of the Obligations of the other, (i) presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to either of them or any other Credit Party of any Obligation (other than the Excluded Swap Obligations), (ii) notice of acceptance of its guarantee and notice of protest for nonpayment and (iii) any other defenses or benefits that may be derived from or afforded by Law which limit the liability of or exonerate guarantors or sureties, or that conflict with the terms hereof. Each of NRC Borrower and Sprint Borrower further agrees that its guarantee hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due and not of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to any security held for the payment of the Obligations or to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party in favor of any of them or any other person. Each of NRC Borrower and Sprint Borrower agrees that its joint and several obligations 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 Obligations.

 

2.28 Borrower Representative .

 

(a) Each of NRC Borrower and Sprint Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints NRC US Holding Company, LLC acting as Borrower Representative, and NRC US Holding Company, LLC acting as Borrower Representative agrees to act under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, as the agent and representative of each of them (including itself) for all purposes under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents (in such capacity, the “Borrower Representative” ), including, without limitation, (i) submitting borrowing requests, conversion or continuation notices, notices requesting issuance of Letters of Credit, disbursement instructions, reports, information, or any other notice or communication to be made or given by either of them under this Agreement or any other Credit Document, and (ii) receiving account statements and other notices and communications to either of them from the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any Lender.

 

(b) Each of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each Issuing Bank and each Lender may rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, on any borrowing request, conversion or continuation notices, notices requesting issuance of Letters of Credit, disbursement instructions, reports, information, or any other notice or communication to be made or given by Borrower Representative, whether in its own name, or on behalf of either or both of the Borrowers, and none of the Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, any Issuing Bank nor any Lender shall have any obligation to make any inquiry or request any confirmation from or on behalf of any of NRC Borrower and Sprint Borrower as to the binding effect on either of them of any such borrowing request, conversion or continuation notices, notices requesting issuance of Letters of Credit, disbursement instructions, reports, information, or any other notice or communication.

 

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SECTION 3 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

3.1 Conditions to Closing Date . The obligations of each Lender to make a Loan, and each Issuing Bank to issue any Letter of Credit, on the Closing Date are subject to the satisfaction, or waiver in accordance with Section 10.5, of only the following conditions on or before the Closing Date, each to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in their sole discretion and, as to any agreement, document or instrument specified below, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)  Credit Documents . The Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following Credit Documents (together with the schedules and exhibits thereto, if any), duly executed and delivered by each applicable Credit Party:

 

(i) this Agreement;

 

(ii) the Pledge and Security Agreement;

 

(iii) each Intellectual Property Security Agreement, if any;

 

(iv) each Assignment of Insurances; and

 

(v) each Vessel Mortgage.

   

(b) Secretary’s Certificate and Attachments . The Administrative Agent shall have received a duly executed certificate from the secretary or assistant secretary of each Credit Party (or any other officer reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), together with all applicable attachments, certifying as to the following:

 

(i) Organizational Documents . Attached thereto is a copy of each Organizational Document of such Credit Party and, to the extent applicable, certified as of a recent date by the appropriate governmental official, each dated the Closing Date or a recent date prior thereto.

 

(ii) Signature and Incumbency . Set forth therein are the signature and incumbency of the officers or other authorized representatives of such Credit Party executing the Credit Documents to which it is a party.

 

(iii) Resolutions . Attached thereto are copies of resolutions of the Board of Directors of such Credit Party approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party as of the Closing Date, certified as of the Closing Date as being in full force and effect without modification or amendment.

 

(iv) Good Standing Certificates . Attached thereto is a good standing certificate or certificate of existence (if and as applicable) from the applicable Governmental Authority of such Credit Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation dated a recent date prior to the Closing Date.

   

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(c) Funding Notice and Flow of Funds Memorandum . The Administrative Agent shall have received a fully executed and delivered Funding Notice, no later than 12:00 noon. at least one (1) Business Day in advance of the Closing Date, or such later time or date as the Administrative Agent may agree, together with a flow of funds memorandum attached thereto with respect to the Related Transactions to occur as of the Closing Date.

 

(d) Closing Date Certificate and Attachments . The following shall have occurred (or shall occur substantially concurrently with the making of the Loans on the Closing Date), and the Administrative Agent shall have received a duly executed Closing Date Certificate, together with all applicable attachments, certifying as to the following:

 

(i) Closing Date Contribution . The Closing Date Contribution shall have been consummated in accordance with the terms of the Closing Date Contribution Documents in all material respects without any waiver, amendment, supplement or other modification that is materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders unless the Lead Arranger has consented thereto, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, and all conditions precedent to the consummation of the Closing Date Contribution, as set forth in the Closing Date Contribution Documents, shall have been satisfied.

 

(ii) Application of Proceeds . The proceeds of the borrowings made on the Closing Date pursuant to this Agreement shall be sufficient, and shall have been applied, to (A) repay all Existing Indebtedness, (B) if paid on the Closing Date, pay the 2018 Dividend and (C) pay fees and expenses of the Credit Parties in connection with the foregoing due on the Closing Date.

 

(iii) Material Adverse Effect . Since December 31, 2017, no event or change has occurred that has caused or evidences, either in any case or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(iv) Closing Date Contribution Documents . Attached thereto is a true, complete and correct copy of each of the material Closing Date Contribution Documents in effect as of the Closing Date.

 

(v) Management Agreement . Attached thereto is a true, complete and correct copy of the Management Agreement.

 

(e) Existing Indebtedness . On the Closing Date:

 

(i) Repayment . The Existing Indebtedness shall have been repaid in full, except with respect to the Existing Letters of Credit.

 

(ii) Termination . All commitments under the Existing Indebtedness, if any, to lend or make other extensions of credit thereunder shall have been terminated.

 

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(iii) Release of Liens . The Administrative Agent shall have received all documents or instruments necessary to release all Liens securing the Existing Indebtedness or other obligations of Parent and its Subsidiaries thereunder being repaid on the Closing Date, or arrangements therefor reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent shall have been made.

 

(iv) Existing Letters of Credit . Arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent with respect to the cancellation of the Existing Letters of Credit or the issuance of Letters of Credit or provision of cash collateral to support the obligations of Parent and its Subsidiaries with respect to any Existing Letters of Credit shall have been made.

 

(f) Solvency Certificate . The Administrative Agent shall have received a duly executed Solvency Certificate.

 

(g) Collateral . The Collateral Agent shall have received:

 

(i) Lien Searches . The results of a recent search, by a Person reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, of all effective UCC financing statements (or equivalent filings) made with respect to any personal or mixed property of any Credit Party in the appropriate jurisdictions, together with copies of all such filings disclosed by such search.

 

(ii) Termination Statements . UCC termination statements (or similar documents) for filing in all applicable jurisdictions as may be necessary to terminate any effective UCC financing statements (or equivalent filings) disclosed in such search (other than any such financing statements in respect of Permitted Liens), or provision for the delivery thereof to the Collateral Agent reasonably acceptable thereto shall have been made.

 

(iii) UCC Financing Statements . UCC financing statements for each Credit Party, in form and substance satisfactory reasonably to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.

 

(iv) Landlord Waiver and Consent Agreements . An executed Landlord Waiver and Consent Agreement as required by the Pledge and Security Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.

 

(v) Securities . Originals of Securities as required by Pledge and Security Agreement with endorsements, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, or provision for the delivery thereof to the Collateral Agent reasonably acceptable thereto shall have been made.

 

(vi) Instruments and Chattel Paper . Originals of instruments and chattel paper as required by the Pledge and Security Agreement with endorsements, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, or provision for the delivery thereof to the Collateral Agent reasonably acceptable thereto shall have been made.

   

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(vii) Vessel Certificates of Documentation and Abstracts of Title . Copies of current U.S. Coast Guard Certificates of Documentation, and recent Abstracts of Title covering all Vessels documented under the federal laws of the United States listed on Schedule 4.27.

   

Provided , if clauses (iv), (vi) or (vii) of this Section 3.1(g) are not satisfied on the Closing Date, then the satisfaction of such requirements shall not be a condition to the availability of the Credit Extensions on the Closing Date (but shall be required to be satisfied promptly after the Closing Date and in any event within ninety (90) days following the Closing Date or such later date as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree in its sole discretion); provided , further , if Parent and the Borrowers are unable to satisfy the requirements of clause (iv) of this Section 3.1(g) notwithstanding their commercially reasonable efforts to satisfy such requirements in such time period (it being understood that such commercially reasonable efforts shall not require any Credit Party to agree to any material increase in payments associated with the applicable lease arrangement, or any other adverse change to the terms thereof, to obtain any such Landlord Waiver and Consent Agreement), then such deliveries shall not be required as a condition under this Section 3.1 or otherwise.

 

(h) Financial Statements . The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) the Historical Financial Statements, (ii) pro forma consolidated balance sheets and income statements of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries as at the Closing Date, reflecting the consummation of the Related Transactions, the related financings and the other transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents to occur on the Closing Date and (iii) the Projections.

 

(i) Opinions of Counsel to Credit Parties . The Administrative Agent and its counsel shall have received duly executed copies of the favorable written opinion of Jones Day, Stoel Rives LLP and Blank Rome LLP, each as special counsel for the Credit Parties, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, dated as of the Closing Date (and each Credit Party hereby instructs such counsel to deliver such opinions to the Agents and the Lenders).

 

(j) Evidence of Insurance . The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from the Borrowers’ insurance broker or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to Section 5.5(a) is in full force and effect and that the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, has been named as additional insured and loss payee thereunder to the extent required under Section 5.5(b). In connection with any Mortgaged Vessel, the Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of, or a certificate as to coverage under, the Insurance Policies required by Section 5.5 and the applicable provisions of the Collateral Documents, which shall be endorsed or otherwise amended to include the loss payable clauses required under the Assignment of Insurances and shall name the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties, as additional insured, shall be otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and shall include customary mortgagee’s interest insurance (in the name of the Collateral Agent) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Any requirement with respect to endorsements set out in this clause (j) shall not be required to be satisfied on the Closing Date and shall not be a condition to the availability of the Credit Extensions on the Closing Date but shall be required to be satisfied within ninety (90) days following the Closing Date or such later date as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree in its sole discretion.

 

(k) Fees and Expenses . The Borrowers shall have paid to the Lead Arranger, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent the fees payable to each such Person on the Closing Date referred to in Section 2.11(g) to the extent due and payable on the Closing Date and the expenses of each such Person referred to in Section 10.2(a) to the extent due and payable on the Closing Date; provided , any such expenses due and payable on the Closing Date shall be included in a summary invoice delivered to the Borrowers at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

 

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(l) “Know-Your-Customer”, Etc . (i) Solely to the extent specifically requested by the Administrative Agent of the Borrower Representative at least ten (10) days prior to the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date all documentation and other information required under Anti-Terrorism Laws and applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering Laws; and (ii) at least three (3) days prior to the Closing Date (or such later date as is acceptable to the Administrative Agent), any Borrower that qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation shall deliver a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Borrower.

 

(m) Representations and Warranties . As of the Closing Date, the representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties that are conditioned by materiality, which shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the Closing Date to the same extent as though made on and as of that date, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties that are conditioned by materiality, which shall have been true and correct in all respects) on and as of such earlier date.

 

(n) No Default or Event of Default . As of the Closing Date, no event shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the consummation of the Credit Extensions on such date that would constitute a Default or an Event of Default.

 

Each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each Agent, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement and, if applicable, funding a Loan or issuing a Letter of Credit (including the deemed issuance of the NRC Letters of Credit) on the Closing Date, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Credit Document and each other document, agreement, instrument, certificate or opinion required to be approved by such Lender, Issuing Bank or Agent, as the case may be, on the Closing Date.

 

3.2 Conditions to Subsequent Credit Extensions .

 

(a) Conditions Precedent . The obligations of each Lender to make any Loan (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, in respect of Loans made or deemed made pursuant to Section 2.3(g) or 2.4(d), and subject to Section 2.25(d) and 2.26(d), if applicable), or each Issuing Bank to issue any Letter of Credit, on any Credit Date other than the Closing Date are subject to the satisfaction, or waiver in accordance with Section 10.5, of only the following conditions precedent:

 

(i) Notice . The Administrative Agent shall have received a fully executed and delivered Funding Notice or Issuance Notice, as the case may be;

 

(ii) Revolving Credit Limit . Immediately after making the Credit Extensions requested on such Credit Date, the Total Utilization of Revolving Credit Commitments shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Limit then in effect;

 

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(iii) Representations and Warranties . As of such Credit Date, the representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties that are conditioned by materiality, which shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of that Credit Date to the same extent as though made on and as of that date, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties that are conditioned by materiality, which shall have been true and correct in all respects) on and as of such earlier date; and

 

(iv) No Default or Event of Default . As of such Credit Date, no event shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the consummation of the applicable Credit Extension that would constitute a Default or an Event of Default.

   

In addition, with respect to the issuance of any Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent shall have received all other information required by the applicable Issuance Notice, and such other documents or information as the applicable Issuing Bank may reasonably require in connection with the issuance of such Letter of Credit.

 

(b) Notices . In lieu of delivering a Notice, the Borrower Representative may give the Administrative Agent telephonic notice by the required time of any proposed borrowing, conversion/continuation or issuance of a Letter of Credit, as the case may be; provided , each such notice shall be promptly confirmed in writing by delivery of the applicable Notice to the Administrative Agent on or before the applicable date of borrowing, continuation/conversion or issuance. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall incur any liability to the Borrowers, absent willful misconduct or gross negligence, in acting upon any telephonic notice that the Administrative Agent believes in good faith to have been given by an Authorized Officer or other Person authorized on behalf of the Borrowers or for otherwise acting in good faith.

 

SECTION 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

To induce the Lenders, each Agent and each Issuing Bank to enter into this Agreement and to make each Credit Extension to be made thereby, each Credit Party represents and warrants to the Lenders, the Agents and each Issuing Bank, on the Closing Date and on each Credit Date (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, in respect of Loans made or deemed made pursuant to Section 2.3(g) or 2.4(d), and subject to Section 2.25(d) and 2.26(d), if applicable), that the following statements are true and correct (it being understood and agreed that the representations and warranties made on the Closing Date are also deemed to be made concurrently with the consummation of the Related Transactions):

 

4.1 Organization; Required Power and Authority; Qualification . Each of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concepts are applicable) under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization as identified in Schedule 4.1 other than (i) as a result of a transaction permitted under Sections 6.8 or 6.9 and (ii) other than with respect to Parent, the Holding Companies and the Borrowers, in jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing has not had, and could not be reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, (b) has all requisite corporate (or equivalent) power and authority to own and operate its properties, to lease the property it operates as lessee, to carry on its business as now conducted, to enter into the Credit Documents to which it is a party and to carry out the transactions contemplated thereby, and (c) is qualified to do business and in good standing in every jurisdiction where its assets are located and wherever necessary to carry out its business and operations, except in jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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4.2 Equity Interests and Ownership . The Equity Interests of each of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable (in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries, to the extent such concepts are applicable thereto). Except as set forth on Schedule 4.2, as of the date hereof, there is no existing option, warrant, call, right, commitment or other agreement (including preemptive rights) to which any Restricted Subsidiary is a party requiring, and there is no Equity Interest of any Restricted Subsidiary outstanding that upon conversion or exchange would require, the issuance by any Restricted Subsidiary of any additional Equity Interests thereof or other Securities convertible into, exchangeable for or evidencing the right to subscribe for or purchase, Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary. Schedule 4.2 correctly sets forth the ownership interest of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries in their respective Restricted Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date after giving effect to the Related Transactions.

 

4.3 Due Authorization . The execution, delivery and performance of each Credit Document has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate (or equivalent) action on the part of each Credit Party that is a party thereto.

 

4.4 No Conflict . The execution, delivery and performance by each Credit Party of the Credit Documents to which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by each such Credit Document do not and will not (a) violate any of the Organizational Documents of any Credit Party or otherwise require any approval of any stockholder, member or partner of such Credit Party, except for such approvals or consents which will be obtained on or before the Closing Date; (b) violate any provision of any Law applicable to or otherwise binding on Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, except to the extent such violation could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Permitted Liens); or (d) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, or otherwise require any approval or consent of any Person under, any Contractual Obligation of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, except to the extent such conflict, breach or default could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and except for such approvals or consents (i) that have been or will be obtained on or before the Closing Date or (ii) the failure of which to obtain could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.5 Governmental Consents . The execution, delivery and performance by each Credit Party of the Credit Documents to which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by each such Credit Document do not and will not require any registration with, consent or approval of, or notice to, or other action to, with or by, any Governmental Authority, except (a) such as have been obtained, given or performed and are in full force and effect, (b) for filings and recordings with respect to the Collateral to be made, or otherwise delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing and/or recordation, as of the Closing Date and (c) those which, if not obtained or made, could not reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.6 Binding Obligation . Each Credit Document has been duly executed and delivered by each Credit Party that is a party thereto and is the legally valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party, enforceable against such Credit Party in accordance with its respective terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.

 

4.7 Historical Financial Statements . The Historical Financial Statements were prepared in conformity with GAAP and fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position, on a consolidated basis, of the Persons described in such financial statements as at the respective dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows, on a consolidated basis, of the entities described therein for each of the periods then ended, subject, in the case of any such unaudited financial statements, to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

 

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4.8 Projections . On and as of the Closing Date, the Projections are based on good faith estimates and assumptions made by the management of Parent; provided , the Projections are not to be viewed as facts and that actual results during the period or periods covered by the Projections may differ from such Projections and that the differences may be material; provided further , as of the Closing Date, management of Parent believed that the Projections were reasonable and attainable.

 

4.9 No Material Adverse Change . Since December 31, 2017, no event or change has occurred that has caused or evidences, either in any case or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.10 Adverse Proceedings . There are no Adverse Proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither Parent nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is subject to or in default with respect to any final judgments, writs, injunctions, decrees, rules or regulations of any Governmental Authority, domestic or foreign, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.11 Payment of Taxes . All material Tax returns and reports of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries and Unrestricted Subsidiaries required to be filed by any of them have been timely filed or caused to be timely filed, and all material Taxes shown on such Tax returns to be due and payable and all other material Taxes upon Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries and Unrestricted Subsidiaries and upon their respective properties, assets, income, businesses and franchises which are due and payable have been paid or caused to be duly and timely paid when due and payable, other than any Tax (and returns in respect of any Tax) being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings timely instituted and diligently conducted, so long as (a) reserves or other appropriate provisions, as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor, and in the case of any Tax or claim that has or may become a Lien against any material Collateral, such contest proceedings operate to stay the sale of any portion of the Collateral to satisfy such Tax or claim or (b) the failure to so pay would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to constitute a Material Adverse Effect. As of the Closing Date, Parent knows of no written proposed material Tax assessment against Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is not being actively contested by Parent, the Borrowers or such Restricted Subsidiary in good faith and by appropriate proceedings; provided , such reserves or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made or provided therefor.

 

4.12 Title . Parent or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries has (a) good and legal title to (in the case of fee interests in Real Estate Assets and Vessels), (b) valid leasehold interests in (in the case of leasehold interests in real or personal property), (c) valid licensed rights in (in the case of licensed interests in intellectual property), and (d) good title to (in the case of all other personal property), all of their respective properties and assets reflected in their most recent respective Historical Financial Statements or, after delivery of financial statements pursuant to Section 5.1, the most recent thereof, in each case except (i) for assets disposed of since the date of such financial statements in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise permitted under Section 6.4, 6.6, 6.8 or 6.9 or (ii) as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as permitted by this Agreement, all such properties and assets are free and clear of Liens.

 

4.13 Real Estate Assets . Schedule 4.13 is a complete and correct list as of the Closing Date of (a) all Real Estate Assets and (b) all material leases and subleases of any Real Estate Asset, in each case of any Credit Party, regardless of whether such Credit Party is the landlord or tenant (whether directly or as an assignee or successor in interest) under such lease or sublease.

 

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4.14 Environmental Matters . Neither Parent nor any of its Restricted or Unrestricted Subsidiaries nor any of their respective Facilities, Vessels or operations are subject to any outstanding written order, consent decree or settlement agreement with any Person relating to any Environmental Law, any Environmental Claim, or any Hazardous Materials Activity, in each case that individually or in the aggregate has had or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect. Neither Parent nor any of its Restricted or Unrestricted Subsidiaries has received any letter or request for information under Section 104 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 USC. § 9604) or any comparable state Law that individually or in the aggregate has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect. To each of Parent’s and its Subsidiaries’ knowledge, there are and have been, no conditions, occurrences, or Hazardous Materials Activities which could reasonably be expected to form the basis of an Environmental Claim against Parent or any of its Restricted or Unrestricted Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither Parent nor any of its Restricted or Unrestricted Subsidiaries has filed any notice under any Environmental Law indicating past or present treatment of Hazardous Materials at any Real Property Facility, and none of Parent’s or any of its Restricted or Unrestricted Subsidiaries’ operations involves the generation, transportation, treatment, storage or disposal of hazardous waste, as defined under 40 C.F.R. Parts 260-270 or any state equivalent that individually or in the aggregate has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect. No event or condition is occurring or, to each of Parent’s, and its Restricted or Unrestricted Subsidiaries’ knowledge, has occurred with respect to Parent or any of its Restricted or Unrestricted Subsidiaries relating to any Environmental Law, any Release of Hazardous Materials, or any Hazardous Materials Activity that individually or in the aggregate has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect. The representations and warranties in this Section 4.14 are the sole representations and warranties of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to environmental matters, including matters arising under Environmental Law or involving Environmental Claims, Hazardous Materials, or Hazardous Materials Activities.

 

4.15 No Defaults . Neither Parent nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any of its Contractual Obligations (other than any Credit Document or any other documentation with respect to any Indebtedness), and no condition exists which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, could constitute such a default, except where the consequences, direct or indirect, of such default or defaults, if any, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.16 Investment Company Regulation . Neither Parent nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is, or is required to be, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

4.17 Margin Stock . Neither Parent nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock. No part of the proceeds of any Credit Extension made to or for the benefit of any Credit Party will be used to purchase or carry any Margin Stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock or for any purpose that, in any such case, violates the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors.

 

4.18 Employee Matters . Neither Parent nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is engaged in any unfair labor practice that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. There is (a) no unfair labor practice complaint pending against Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Parent or the Borrowers, threatened in writing against any of them before the National Labor Relations Board, and no grievance or arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement that is pending against Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Parent or the Borrowers, threatened in writing against any of them, (b) no strike or work stoppage in existence or threatened in writing involving Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (c) to the knowledge of Parent or the Borrowers, no union representation question existing with respect to the employees of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (d) to the knowledge of Parent or the Borrowers, no union organization activity that is taking place, except, with respect to any matter specified in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above, either individually or in the aggregate, that could not reasonably be likely to give rise to a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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4.19 Employee Benefit Plans .

 

(a) Except in each case as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect: (i) with respect to each Employee Benefit Plan and Foreign Pension Plan, Parent and its Restricted or Unrestricted Subsidiaries are in material compliance with all applicable Laws, including the provisions and requirements of ERISA and the Code, and the terms of each Employee Benefit Plan; (ii) each Employee Benefit Plan which is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS, or is entitled, under applicable IRS guidance, to rely on a current favorable opinion or advisory letter from the IRS, indicating that such Employee Benefit Plan is so qualified and nothing has occurred subsequent to the issuance of such determination, opinion or advisory letter and, to the knowledge of Parent or the Borrowers, there are no circumstances that would reasonably be expected to cause such Employee Benefit Plan to lose its qualified status; (iii) no liability to the PBGC (other than required premium payments) has been or is expected to be incurred by any ERISA Party; (iv) no ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (v) no ERISA Party is in material “default” (as defined in Section 4219(c)(5) of ERISA) with respect to payments to a Multiemployer Plan; and (vi) neither Parent nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has incurred any material obligation in connection with the termination of, or withdrawal from, any Foreign Pension Plan.

 

(b) No Borrower is or will be (i) an employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA; (ii) a plan or account subject to Section 4975 of the Code; (iii) an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” of any such plans or accounts for within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA; or (iv) a “governmental plan” within the meaning of ERISA.

 

4.20 Certain Fees . No broker’s or finder’s fee or commission will be payable with respect to the financing transaction contemplated hereby except as payable to the Agents and the Lenders.

 

4.21 Solvency . Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries are and, upon the making of any Loan or issuance of any Letter of Credit on any date on which this representation and warranty is made, will be, taken as a whole, Solvent.

 

4.22 Closing Date Contribution Documents . On the Closing Date, (a) all of the conditions to effectuating or consummating the Related Transactions as set forth in the Closing Date Contribution Documents have been (or shall be concurrently) duly satisfied or waived with the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and (b) the Related Transactions have been (or shall be concurrently) consummated in accordance with the Closing Date Contribution Documents.

 

4.23 Compliance with Laws .

 

(a) Generally . Each of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable Laws in respect of the conduct of its business and the ownership of its property, except such non-compliance that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(b) Anti-Terrorism Laws . None of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (and, to the knowledge of each such Person, no joint venture or subsidiary thereof) is in violation in any material respect of any Anti-Terrorism Law.

 

(c) AML Laws; Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions . Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries and Unrestricted Subsidiaries have implemented and maintain in effect policies and procedures intended to ensure compliance by Parent, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents (in each such Person’s capacity as such) with applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, applicable AML Laws and applicable Sanctions. None of (i) Parent, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or Unrestricted Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors or officers, or, to the knowledge of Parent or the Borrowers, any of their respective employees, or (ii) to the knowledge of Parent or the Borrowers, any agent of Parent, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or Unrestricted Subsidiaries or other controlled Affiliate (in each such Person’s capacity as such) that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, (A) is a Sanctioned Person, or (B) is in violation of AML Laws, applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, or applicable Sanctions, in each case in any material respect. No Loan or Letter of Credit or use of proceeds thereof by Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiary will cause a violation of AML Laws, Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions by any Person participating in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, whether as lender, borrower, guarantor, agent, or otherwise. Parent and the Borrowers represent that neither Parent, the Borrowers nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or Unrestricted Subsidiaries, nor its parent company, or, to the knowledge of Parent or the Borrowers, any other controlled or controlling Affiliate has engaged in or intends to engage in any dealings or transactions with, or for the benefit of, any Sanctioned Person or with or in any Sanctioned Country in violation of Sanctions in any material respect.

 

4.24 Disclosure .

 

(a) No representation or warranty of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries contained in any Credit Document or in any other documents, certificates or written statements furnished to any Agent or the Lenders by or on behalf of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, taken as a whole and as modified by other information so furnished, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact (known to Parent or the Borrowers, in the case of any document not furnished by either of them) necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein, taken as a whole and as modified by other information so furnished, not materially misleading in light of the circumstances in which the same were made, provided that with respect to projections and pro forma financial information contained in such materials, the Credit Parties represent only that such information was based upon good faith estimates and assumptions believed by Parent or the Borrowers to be reasonable at the time made, it being recognized by the Agents and the Lenders that such projections as to future events are not to be viewed as facts and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections may differ from the projected results.

 

(b) As of the Closing Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all material respects.

 

4.25 Collateral . Subject to Section 3.1(g) of this Agreement and Section 4.1 of the Pledge and Security Agreement, (i) when all appropriate filings or recordings are made in the appropriate offices as may be required under applicable Laws and (ii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Collateral Agent of such Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or control, the security interest of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral (as defined in the Pledge and Security Agreement) will constitute a valid, perfected First Priority security interest in and continuing Lien on all of each Credit Party’s right, title and interest in, to and under such Collateral.

 

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4.26 Status as Senior Indebtedness . The Obligations under the Credit Documents constitute “senior indebtedness” as defined in any applicable Junior Financing Documentation, if any.

 

4.27 Vessels . Schedule 4.27 contains, as of the Closing Date, a true and complete list of each Material Vessel owned by any Credit Party as of such date, and as to each such Material Vessel, specifies the following information (in each case as of the Closing Date): the Material Vessel’s name, the official number or, if it is registered in a state, its registration number, the name of its owner, the hailing port, the charterer/lessee’s name in the case of any Material Vessel that is leased or chartered out by any Credit Party to another Credit Party or to a third party on a bareboat or demise basis, the vessel type or other description, and the vessel’s classification status (if applicable). Parent and each Restricted Subsidiary (and any Restricted Subsidiary in the chain of ownership of such Subsidiary) that owns and/or operates any Vessels in the U.S. Coastwise Trade is, and has been during any period that it has owned and/or operated any Vessel in the U.S. Coastwise Trade, a U.S. Citizen, and, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the owner (or Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary on behalf of the owner) maintains all Governmental Authorizations necessary with respect to the operation of such Vessels in U.S. Coastwise Trade. The owner (or Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary on behalf of the owner) (i) maintains the due documentation or registration of each Material Vessel with the NVDC or applicable state agency, as the case may be, and (ii) except in each case as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, has in its possession certificates and permits necessary for the operation of such Material Vessel under applicable Law, keeps such Material Vessel in appropriate condition in accordance with applicable Laws (with exceptions for any Vessels that are laid up) and maintains the appropriate manning of such Material Vessel.

 

4.28 Vessel Insurance . Schedule 4.28 contains, as of the Closing Date, a true and complete list of all insurance policies of any nature maintained by any Credit Party primarily with respect to each Material Vessels (rather than general property of liability insurance) owned by any Credit Party as of such date.

 

SECTION 5 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Commitment is in effect and until payment in full of all Obligations (other than Remaining Obligations) and cancellation, expiration or Cash Collateralization of all Letters of Credit, each Credit Party shall, and shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to:

 

5.1 Financial Statements and Other Reports and Notices . Deliver to the Administrative Agent:

 

(a) Quarterly Financial Statements . Within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year (beginning with the Fiscal Quarter ending June 30, 2018), (i) the consolidated balance sheet of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Quarter and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter and for the period from the beginning of the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such Fiscal Quarter, (ii) a consolidated balance sheet for each of the Standby Division, the Environmental Services Division and the Waste Disposal Division, respectively, as at the end of such Fiscal Quarter and the related consolidated statements of income for the Standby Division, the Environmental Services Division and the Waste Disposal Division, respectively, for such Fiscal Quarter and for the period from the beginning of the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such Fiscal Quarter; setting forth in each case of (i) and (ii) in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding periods of the previous Fiscal Year and the corresponding figures from the Financial Plan for the current Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail, together with a Financial Officer Certification and a Narrative Report with respect thereto; provided , all financial statements and financial information of or with respect to periods prior to the Closing Date Contribution (including for comparative purposes) may be of and/or in respect of the consolidated financial statements of NRC Holdings and/or Sprint Holdings, in each case as deemed, estimated or adjusted by the Borrower Representative in good faith.

 

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(b) Annual Financial Statements . Within one hundred and five (105) days after the end of each Fiscal Year (beginning with the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2018), (i) the consolidated balance sheet of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Year and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year (with balance sheets and income statements for each of the Standby Division, the Environmental Services Division and the Waste Disposal Division, respectively), setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the previous Fiscal Year and the corresponding figures from the Financial Plan for the Fiscal Year covered by such financial statements, in reasonable detail, together with a Financial Officer Certification and a Narrative Report with respect thereto; and (ii) with respect to such consolidated financial statements a report thereon of Grant Thornton LLP or other independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing selected by the Borrower Representative reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which report shall be unqualified as to going concern and scope of audit (other than solely with respect to, or resulting solely from (i) an upcoming maturity date under the Facilities or other Indebtedness occurring within one year from the time such report is delivered or (ii) any potential inability to satisfy any financial maintenance covenant on a future date or in a future period), and shall state that such consolidated financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the periods indicated in conformity with GAAP applied, as applicable, on a basis consistent with prior years (except as otherwise disclosed in such financial statements); provided , all financial statements and financial information of or with respect to periods prior to the Closing Date Contribution (including for comparative purposes) may be of and/or in respect of the consolidated financial statements of NRC Holdings and/or Sprint Holdings, in each case as deemed, estimated or adjusted by the Borrower Representative in good faith.

 

(c) Compliance Certificate . Together with each delivery of financial statements pursuant to Sections 5.1(a) and 5.1(b), a duly executed and completed Compliance Certificate, which shall include, when delivered in connection with the delivery of annual financial statements pursuant to Section 5.1(b), either (x) an executed Pledge Supplement (as defined in the Pledge and Security Agreement), which sets forth the information required to supplement each schedule referred to in Section 3 of the Pledge and Security Agreement as necessary to ensure that such schedule is accurate as of the date of the delivery of such certificate or (y) a certification confirming that there has been no change in such information since the later of the Closing Date and the date of the most recent Pledge Supplement or certificate delivered pursuant to this subsection, as applicable, and which shall also include a list of all Immaterial Subsidiaries that are not Guarantor Subsidiaries solely because they are Immaterial Subsidiaries and shall set forth in reasonable detail the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA and the amount of total consolidated assets, in each case, attributable to each such Immaterial Subsidiary at the end of the applicable fiscal period.

 

(d) Statements of Reconciliation after Change in Accounting Principles . If, as a result of any change in accounting principles and policies from those used in the preparation of the Historical Financial Statements, the consolidated financial statements of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or 5.1(b) will differ in any material respect from the consolidated financial statements that would have been delivered pursuant to such subdivisions had no such change in accounting principles and policies been made, then, together with the first delivery of such financial statements after such change, one or more statements of reconciliation against the most recent such prior financial statements in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

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(e) Accountants’ Report . Promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of all final management letters submitted by the independent certified public accountants referred to in Section 5.1(b) in connection with each annual, interim or special audit or review of any type of the financial statements or related internal control systems of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries made by such accountants.

 

(f) Financial Plan . No later than sixty days after the beginning of each Fiscal Year (beginning with the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2019), a consolidated plan and financial forecast for such Fiscal Year (such plan and forecast, together with the equivalent plan or budget for the Fiscal Year in which the Closing Date occurs, the “Financial Plan” ), including (i) a forecasted consolidated balance sheet and forecasted consolidated statements of income and cash flows of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries for each such Fiscal Year and an explanation of the assumptions on which such forecasts are based and (ii) forecasted consolidated statements of income and cash flows of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries for each month of such Fiscal Year, together with an explanation of the assumptions on which such forecasts are based.

 

(g) Annual Insurance Report . By the time of delivery of the financial statements described in Section 5.1(b) (or such later date as is acceptable to the Administrative Agent), a certificate from the Borrowers’ insurance broker(s) in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent outlining all material insurance coverage maintained as of the date of such certificate by Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

(h) Notices . Promptly upon any officer of Parent or the Borrowers obtaining knowledge of any of the following, a certificate of an Authorized Officer specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, and what action the Borrowers have taken, is taking and proposes to take with respect thereto:

 

(i) any Default or Event of Default;

 

(ii) the institution of, or non-frivolous threat in writing of, any Adverse Proceeding that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have Material Adverse Effect;

 

(iii) the occurrence of any ERISA Event;

 

(iv) any Release required to be reported to any Governmental Authority under any applicable Environmental Laws that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have Material Adverse Effect;

 

(v) any remedial action taken by Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary in response to (A) any Hazardous Materials Activities the existence of which could reasonably be expected to result in one or more Environmental Claims having, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, or (B) any Environmental Claims that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(vi) any other event or change that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have Material Adverse Effect.

   

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(i) Junior Financings . Promptly after the execution and delivery thereof, executed copies of any material amendment, modification, consent or waiver in respect of any Junior Financing with an outstanding principal amount in excess of $10,000,000, and promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of each written notice of default or event of default and any other material notice received by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any Junior Financing with an outstanding principal amount in excess of $10,000,000.

 

(j) Certification of Public Information . If documents or notices required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 5.1 or otherwise are being distributed through the Platform, not post on that portion of the Platform designated for Public Lenders any document or notice that Parent or the Borrowers has indicated contains Non-Public Information. Each of Parent and the Borrowers agree to clearly designate information provided to the Administrative Agent by or on behalf of Parent or the Borrowers that is suitable to make available to Public Lenders. If Parent or the Borrowers have not indicated whether a document or notice delivered pursuant to this Section 5.1 contains Non-Public Information, the Administrative Agent reserves the right to post such document or notice solely on that portion of the Platform designated for Lenders who wish to receive material Non-Public Information with respect to Parent, its Restricted Subsidiaries and any of the Securities.

 

(k) Other Information . (i) Promptly upon their becoming available (but with respect to clause (A), (B) and (C) of this Section 5.1(k), solely after the occurrence of a Qualified IPO), copies of (A) all financial statements, reports, notices and proxy statements sent or made available generally by Parent to its security holders acting in such capacity or by any Restricted Subsidiary of Parent to its security holders other than Parent or another Restricted Subsidiary of Parent, (B) all regular and periodic reports and all registration statements and prospectuses, if any, filed by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with any securities exchange or with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other Governmental Authority or private regulatory authority, and (C) all press releases and other statements made available generally by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the public concerning material developments in the business of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including the announcement of a SPAC Transaction), and (ii) subject to the limitations set forth in the last sentence of Section 5.7, such other information and data with respect to Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as from time to time may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or, through the Administrative Agent, any Lender, including, without limitation, any information or documents reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” requirements under the PATRIOT Act or under other applicable money laundering laws.

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 5.1(a), 5.1(b), 5.1(d), 5.1(e), 5.1(i) or 5.1(k)(A), (B) or (C) (to the extent any such documents are included in the materials otherwise filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) may be delivered electronically and shall be deemed to have been delivered on the first date (i) on which Parent, any Ultimate Parent or any Relevant Public Company posts such documents, or provides a link thereto, on the website thereof; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on any Relevant Public Company’s behalf on an Internet (including on EDGAR at www.sec.gov (or other successor government website that is freely and readily available)) or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that such Relevant Public Company shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent upon its request to such Relevant Public Company to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent. Following the electronic delivery of any such documents by posting such documents to a website in accordance with the preceding sentence (other than the posting by the Borrowers of any such documents on any website maintained for or sponsored by the Administrative Agent), the Borrowers shall promptly provide the Administrative Agent notice of such delivery (which notice may be by facsimile or electronic mail) and the electronic location at which such documents may be accessed. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above.

 

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5.2 Existence . Except as otherwise permitted under Section 6.8 or 6.9, at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and all rights and franchises, licenses and permits material to its business; provided , Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be required to preserve any such existence, right or franchise, licenses and permits if the loss thereof could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.3 Payment of Taxes and Claims . Pay all applicable Taxes imposed upon it or any of its properties or assets or in respect of any of its income, businesses or franchises before any penalty or fine accrues thereon, and all claims (including claims for labor, services, materials and supplies) for sums that have become due and payable and that by applicable Law have or may become a Lien upon any of its properties or assets, prior to the time when any penalty or fine shall be incurred with respect thereto; provided , no such Tax or claim need be paid if (a) it is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted, so long as reserves or other appropriate provisions, as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor or (b) the failure to so pay would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to constitute a Material Adverse Effect. Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not file or consent to the filing of any consolidated income Tax return with any other Person (other than any Ultimate Parent Company, any Relevant Public Company or other survivor of any SPAC Transaction or Parent or any of Parent’s Restricted Subsidiaries or Unrestricted Subsidiaries).

 

5.4 Maintenance of Properties . Maintain or cause to be maintained in good repair, working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear and casualty and condemnation excepted, all material properties used or useful in the business of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries and from time to time will make or cause to be made all appropriate repairs, renewals and replacements thereof, except in each case where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.5 Insurance .

 

(a) Non-Vessel Insurance Requirements . Maintain or cause to be maintained, with financially sound and reputable insurers, such public liability insurance, third party property damage insurance and casualty insurance (including, as applicable, Flood Insurance) with respect to liabilities, losses or damage in respect of the assets, properties and businesses of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries as may customarily be carried or maintained under similar circumstances by Persons of established reputation engaged in similar businesses, in each case in such amounts (giving effect to self-insurance), with such deductibles, covering such risks and otherwise on such terms and conditions as shall be customary for such Persons. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries will maintain or cause to be maintained replacement value casualty insurance on the Collateral under such policies of insurance, with such insurance companies, in such amounts, with such deductibles, and covering such risks as would reasonably be expected to be carried or maintained under similar circumstances by Persons of established reputation engaged in similar businesses. Each such policy of property and/or general liability insurance shall (i) in the case of liability insurance policies, name the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as an additional insured thereunder as its interests may appear and (ii) in the case of each casualty insurance policy, contain a loss payable clause or endorsement, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Collateral Agent, that names the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as the loss payee thereunder for any covered loss and provides for at least thirty days’ (or such lesser period as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) prior written notice to the Collateral Agent of any cancellation of such policy. If any improved Mortgaged Property is located is designated a Special Flood Hazard Area, the applicable Credit Party shall obtain Flood Insurance. If any improved Mortgaged Property is located in a “Zone 1” area, the applicable Credit Party shall obtain earthquake insurance in such total amount as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Required Lenders from time to time reasonably require. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 5.5(a) does not apply to Vessels.

 

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 (b) Vessel Insurance Requirements . With respect to Mortgaged Vessels, maintain insurance with respect to hull and machinery, protection and indemnity risks, marine and war risks coverage, towers’ liability (for any Vessel engaged in towing operations), pollution liability, mortgagee’s interest insurance (which shall be on customary terms providing for insurance coverage of the Collateral Agent for loss of or damage to Mortgaged Vessels, which is covered by the Credit Parties’ insurance policies or the Club entries, but in respect of which there is subsequent non-payment or reduced payment by the underwriters due to the Credit Parties’ breach of any warranties or conditions of such policies), and such other or additional insurance as would reasonably be expected to be carried or maintained under similar circumstances by prudent owners of like vessels engaged in similar trades or service, and otherwise in accordance with the Vessel Mortgages and Assignment of Insurances.

 

5.6 Books and Records . Keep proper books of record and accounts in which full, true and correct entries in conformity in all material respects with GAAP shall be made of all material dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities.

 

5.7 Inspections . Permit each of the Administrative Agent, any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) and any authorized representatives designated by the Administrative Agent to visit and inspect any of the properties of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, to inspect, copy and take extracts from its and their financial and accounting records, and to discuss its and their affairs, finances and accounts with its and their officers and independent public accountants, all upon reasonable notice and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may reasonably be requested and, solely with respect to the Administrative Agent and any authorized representatives designated by it, at the Credit Parties’ expense; provided , so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Credit Parties shall only be obligated to reimburse the Administrative Agent and any such authorized representative for the expenses of one such visit and inspection per calendar year. The Administrative Agent shall give the Borrower Representative the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Credit Parties’ independent public accountants (and such discussions shall be subject to such accountants’ customary policies and procedures). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.7 or elsewhere in any Credit Document, no Credit Party shall be required to (a) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, agree to or permit any Phase I or Phase II environmental study or other invasive environmental investigation or (b) disclose, permit the inspection, examination or making copies or abstracts of, or discussion of, any document, information or other matter that (x) constitutes trade secrets or proprietary information, (y) in respect of which disclosure is, in the Borrower Representative’s good faith judgment, prohibited by Law or any binding agreement so long as such binding agreement was not entered into in contemplation of preventing such disclosure, inspection or examination or (z) is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work-product.

 

5.8 Lenders Meetings . Upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, participate in a meeting of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders once during each Fiscal Quarter to be held at a location (or which may be held telephonically) and at a time as is agreed to by the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent.

 

5.9 Compliance with Laws .

 

(a) Generally . Comply with the requirements of all applicable Laws (including all Environmental Laws), except for any noncompliance which would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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 (b) Anti-Terrorism Laws . Comply in all material respects with all Anti-Terrorism Laws applicable thereto.

 

(c) Anti-Corruption Laws, AML Laws and Sanctions . Maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures intended to ensure compliance by Parent, its Restricted Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents (in each such Person’s capacity as such) with Anti-Corruption Laws, applicable AML Laws and applicable Sanctions.

 

5.10 Environmental . Promptly take any and all actions necessary to (a) cure any violation of applicable Environmental Laws by such Person or its Restricted or Unrestricted Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and (b) make an appropriate response to any Environmental Claim against such Person or any of its Restricted or Unrestricted Subsidiaries and discharge any obligations it may have to any Person thereunder where failure to do so could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.11 Subsidiaries . Within 30 days (or such longer period as is acceptable to the Administrative Agent) after the date (subsequent to the date hereof) any Person becomes, directly or indirectly, a Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower Representative shall:

 

(a) Notice to Administrative Agent . Promptly send to the Administrative Agent written notice setting forth with respect to such Person (i) the date on which such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary, and (ii) the data required to be set forth in Schedules 4.1 and 4.2 with respect to all Restricted Subsidiaries of Parent, which written notice shall be deemed to supplement Schedules 4.1 and 4.2 for all purposes hereof;

 

(b) Counterpart Agreement . Other than with respect to an Excluded Subsidiary, promptly cause such Restricted Subsidiary to become a Guarantor hereunder and a Grantor under the Pledge and Security Agreement by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent a Counterpart Agreement;

 

(c) Corporate Documents . Other than with respect to an Excluded Subsidiary, take all such corporate (or equivalent) actions, and execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all such applicable documents, instruments, agreements, and certificates in respect of such new Restricted Subsidiary reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent as are similar to those described in Section 3.1(b);

 

(d) Collateral Documents . Other than with respect to an Excluded Subsidiary, in each case to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, (x) comply with Section 5.16 with respect to any Material Vessels and (y) deliver all such applicable documents, instruments, agreements, and certificates in respect of such new Restricted Subsidiary and its Collateral as are similar to those described in Section 3.1(g)(i) through (vi), inclusive, and take the actions referred to in Section 3.1(g)(i) through (vi), inclusive, necessary to grant and to perfect a First Priority Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, under the Pledge and Security Agreement (but subject to any limitations set forth therein) in the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary and in substantially all of the personal property of such Restricted Subsidiary (other than Vessels and Excluded Assets), in each case, for the avoidance of doubt, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent;

 

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(e) Foreign Subsidiary Holding Companies and Foreign Subsidiaries . With respect to each Restricted Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company or a Foreign Subsidiary that is a Controlled Foreign Corporation and, in either case, a direct Subsidiary of a Credit Party, the applicable Credit Party shall deliver all such applicable documents, instruments, agreements, and certificates as are similar to those described in Section 3.1(g)(iii) and (v), and take all of the actions referred to in Section 3.1(g)(iii) and (v) necessary, to grant and to perfect a First Priority Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, under the Pledge and Security Agreement (but subject to any limitations set forth therein and other than any Excluded Assets) in 65% of each class of the Equity Interests of such Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company or Foreign Subsidiary entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Sec. 1.956-2(c)(2)) and 100% of each class of the Equity Interests not entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Sec. 1.956-2(c)(2)) of such Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company or Foreign Subsidiary; provided , the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries shall have ninety days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree in its sole discretion) after the date on which any Person becomes a Subsidiary of Parent to deliver documents of the type referred to in Section 3.1(g)(iii) and (v). Nothing in this Section 5.11(e) shall be interpreted to require Parent, the Borrower Representative or any other Subsidiary of Parent to cause such Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company or Foreign Subsidiary to authorize and issue new Equity Interests or to otherwise recapitalize the existing Equity Interests of such Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company or Foreign Subsidiary; and

 

(f) Foreign Assets . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Credit Parties shall not be required, nor shall the Collateral Agent be authorized to take, any action in any jurisdiction outside of the United States to create or perfect any security interest with respect to any assets located outside of the United States (it being understood that there shall be no security agreements or pledge agreements governed under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the United States).

 

5.12 Material Real Estate Assets .

 

(a) With respect to each Real Estate Asset listed in Schedule 5.12 (each, a “Closing Date Mortgaged Property” ), within 90 days of the Closing Date (or such later date as may be agreed by the Collateral Agent in its sole reasonable discretion), and with respect to any other Material Real Estate Asset owned by a Credit Party after the Closing Date, within 90 days of such Real Estate Asset becoming a Material Real Estate Asset (or such later date as may be agreed by the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion), the Borrowers or the applicable Credit Party shall execute and/or deliver, or cause to be executed and/or delivered, to the Collateral Agent, for each such Material Real Estate Asset, the following, each to the extent reasonably requested by, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to, the Collateral Agent:

 

(i) to the extent an appraisal is required under FIRREA, an appraisal complying with FIRREA;

 

(ii) a fully executed and acknowledged Mortgage in form suitable for filing or recording in all filing or recording offices that the Collateral Agent may reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to create a valid and enforceable first priority Lien (subject only to Permitted Encumbrances) on the Mortgaged Property described therein in favor of the Collateral Agent;

 

(iii) an ALTA or TLTA, as applicable, Title Policy issued by a title insurer reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and in an amount at least equal to the Fair Market Value of such Mortgaged Property or such lesser amount as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, insuring that the Mortgage is a valid and enforceable First Priority Lien on the respective property;

   

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(iv) a then current ALTA survey in respect of such Mortgaged Property, certified to the Collateral Agent by a licensed surveyor, or an update to an existing ALTA survey or an existing ALTA survey with a “no change” affidavit sufficient to allow the issuer of the Title Policy to issue such policy without a survey exception;

 

(v) (A) a completed “Life of Loan” standard flood hazard determination form as to any improved Mortgaged Property, (B) if the improvements located on a Mortgaged Property are located in a Special Flood Hazard Area, a notification to the Borrower Representative (a “Flood Notice” ) and (if applicable) notification to the Borrower Representative that flood insurance coverage under the NFIP is not available because the community in which the Mortgaged Property is located does not participate in the NFIP, and (C) if the Flood Notice is required to be given (x) documentation evidencing the Borrowers’ receipt of the Flood Notice (e.g., a countersigned Flood Notice) and (y) evidence of Flood Insurance as required by Section 5.5; provided , each Lender shall also have the right to make the determination, give the notices and receive the documentation and evidence, in each case, as referred to in this clause (v);

 

(vi) a customary zoning report or municipal zoning letter providing that the continued operation of the properties and assets as currently conducted conforms with all applicable zoning and building laws, rules or regulations or a zoning endorsement to the applicable Title Policy; provided that, so long as no zoning and building laws, rules or regulations are in effect with respect to the Closing Date Mortgaged Property, no zoning report, zoning letter or zoning endorsement to any Title Policy will be required with respect to the Closing Date Mortgaged Property;

 

(vii) an opinion of local counsel in each state in which such Mortgaged Property is located with respect to the enforceability of the form of Mortgage to be recorded in such state and such other matters as are customary; and

 

(viii) at the Administrative Agent’s reasonable request, an environmental site assessment prepared by a qualified firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(b) In addition to the obligations set forth in Section 5.12(a), within forty-five (45) days after written notice from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower Representative that any Mortgaged Property which was not previously located in an area designated as a Special Flood Hazard Area has been redesignated as a Special Flood Hazard Area (or such later date as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), the Credit Parties shall satisfy the Flood Insurance requirements of Section 5.5.

 

(c) From time to time (but absent the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, no more than once with respect to any Material Real Estate Asset in any 365 day period), if the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that obtaining appraisals for any Material Real Estate Asset is necessary in order for the Administrative Agent or any Lender to comply with applicable laws or regulations (including any appraisals required to comply with FIRREA), and at any time if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Administrative Agent may, or may require the Borrowers to, in either case at the Borrowers’ expense, obtain appraisals in form and from appraisers reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent stating the then current Fair Market Value of all or any portion of any material personal property of the Credit Parties (taken as a whole) and the Fair Market Value or such other value as reasonably required by the Administrative Agent (for example, replacement cost for purposes of Flood Insurance) of any Material Real Estate Asset of any Credit Party.

 

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5.13 Unrestricted Subsidiaries .

 

(a) Parent may at any time after the Closing Date, designate a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided :

 

(i) immediately before and after giving effect to such designation, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(ii) immediately after giving effect to such designation on a Pro Forma Basis, in each case, for the most recently ended Test Period, Parent shall be in compliance with the Financial Condition Covenant (whether or not then in effect);

 

(iii) no Unrestricted Subsidiary shall own any Equity Interests in Parent, the Borrowers or any of Parent’s other Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(iv) no Unrestricted Subsidiary shall hold any Indebtedness of, or any Lien on any property of Parent, the Borrowers or any of Parent’s other Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(v) no Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if (x) after such designation, it would be a “restricted subsidiary” (or similar designation) for the purpose of any Junior Financing or (y) it owns Material Intellectual Property utilized in the business of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(vi) no Restricted Subsidiary may be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it was previously designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

   

(b) The designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date shall constitute an Investment by the Borrowers therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of such Investment, and each such Investment shall be subject to Section 6.6.

 

(c) The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute (i) the incurrence by the Borrowers at the time of such designation of any Indebtedness, Liens or Investment of such Subsidiary existing at such time, subject, in each case, to Sections 6.1, 6.2, and 6.6, as applicable, and (ii) a Return on any Investment by the Borrowers in such Subsidiary in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value at the date of such designation of such Investment.

 

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5.14 Ratings . Use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain (a) a public corporate credit rating (but not any specific rating) from S&P and a public corporate family rating (but not any specific rating) from Moody’s, in each case, in respect of Parent (or, upon and after a SPAC Transaction, the public company survivor thereof), and (b) a public rating (but not any specific rating) in respect of each Class of Term Loans from each of S&P and Moody’s, unless a given Class has waived the requirement to maintain any rating for such Class at the time of establishment thereof pursuant to the applicable Credit Documents; provided, in no event shall the Credit Parties be deemed to be in breach of this Section 5.14 if the Credit Parties’ failure to comply with this Section 5.14 results solely from the non-performance of either Moody’s or S&P for whatever reason (other than any as a result of any failure by any Credit Party to use such aforementioned commercially reasonable efforts).

 

5.15 Use of Proceeds . Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension solely in accordance with Section 2.6.

 

5.16 Certificates of Documentation; Preferred Mortgages on Vessels .

 

(a) As to any Material Vessel owned by any Credit Party that is documented with the NVDC, under the law and flag of the United States, except in each case as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, promptly cause to be issued annually and maintain current and in effect a Certificate of Documentation for such Vessel with the appropriate endorsement for its respective trade, maintain the qualification of the Vessels holding Certificates of Documentation to operate in the U.S. Coastwise Trade and not do or permit anything to be done which might reasonably be expected to adversely affect such documentation or qualification.

 

(b) (i) Within 60 days (or such longer period as is acceptable to the Administrative Agent) after the acquisition by any Credit Party of any Material Vessel after the Closing Date that is or will be documented with the NVDC, under the law and flag of the United States, and (ii) promptly after the time at which any Vessel owned by a Credit Party that was not a Material Vessel as of the Closing Date but thereafter becomes a Material Vessel and is documented with the NVDC, under the law and flag of the United States, grant a valid, perfected First Priority Lien on such Material Vessel in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, by amending or supplementing an existing Vessel Mortgage or by entering into a new Vessel Mortgage with respect to such Material Vessel, and on all related insurances, by amending an existing Assignment of Insurances or by entering into a new Assignment of Insurances.

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no Vessel Mortgage shall be required on any Vessel if the Collateral Agent in its sole but reasonable discretion determines that the cost of obtaining or perfecting such Vessel Mortgage on such Vessel is excessive in relation to the value of the collateral afforded thereby. The Credit Parties shall reasonably cooperate with and assist the Collateral Agent in causing the prompt recordation or registration of all Vessel Mortgages by the NVDC or other agency with whom such Vessel Mortgage is required to be recorded or registered to create or perfect the Lien granted thereunder. In connection with any Vessel Mortgage required pursuant to this Section 5.16, the applicable Credit Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a copy of, or a certificate as to coverage under, the insurance policies required by Section 5.5(b) and the applicable provisions of the Collateral Documents, which shall be endorsed or otherwise amended to include the loss payable clauses required under the Assignment of Insurances and shall name the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as additional insured, shall be otherwise in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

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5.17 Vessel Operation and Condition.

 

(a) Parent and each applicable Subsidiary, shall or shall cause the owner of the Material Vessels to, ensure that each of them:

 

(i) will at all times preserve, repair and keep in thoroughly good and seaworthy repair and good order and condition the Vessels and all machinery and equipment and appurtenances thereto up to a modern standard of usage, and maintain the same in a manner consistent with the practices used by prudent owners of like vessels engaged in similar trades or service, except in each case where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(ii) will not suffer or permit the Vessels to be used or navigated in any manner inconsistent with any of the marine insurance policies thereon, and it shall comply and shall require the master, officers and engineers of the Vessels from time to time and at all times to comply in all material respects with all applicable Laws and maintain all required licenses and permits in force relating to the operation and navigation of the Vessels, except for any noncompliance or maintenance failure that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(iii) except in each case as not prohibited herein, will not sell, mortgage or transfer any Material Vessel or any share or interest therein, in any manner, or agree to any bareboat or demise charter of any Material Vessel, without the written consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and any such written consent to any one mortgage, transfer or charter shall not be construed to be a waiver of this provision in respect of any subsequent mortgage, transfer or charter;

 

(iv) subject to the limitations set forth in the last sentence of Section 5.7, will provide the Administrative Agent promptly with such information as is reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent regarding the Material Vessels, their location and employment, the particulars of all tonnages and copies of all bareboat or demise charters, provided , that so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, such information shall only be required to be provided to the Administrative Agent one time in any calendar year; and

 

(v) subject to the limitations set forth in the last sentence of Section 5.7, will permit Administrative Agent or its authorized representative, whenever reasonably requested by Administrative Agent upon reasonable prior notice, to review the survey files of each Material Vessel.

 

5.18 Further Assurances . At any time or from time to time upon the request of the Administrative Agent, each Credit Party will, at its expense, promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such further documents and do such other acts and things as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request in order to effect fully the purposes of the Credit Documents. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each Credit Party shall take such actions as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request from time to time to ensure that the Obligations are guaranteed by the Guarantors and are secured by substantially all of the assets of Parent, and its Restricted Subsidiaries and all of the outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrowers and Parent’s Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case other than Excluded Assets and the limitations contained in the Credit Documents with respect to Foreign Subsidiary Holding Companies and Foreign Subsidiaries).

 

5.19 Post-Closing Obligations . Execute and deliver the documents, and complete the tasks, in each case, as set forth on Schedule 5.19 within the applicable time limits specified on such schedule, or in each case, such later date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion. All conditions precedent, representations and warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement and the other Credit Documents shall be deemed modified to the extent necessary to effect the foregoing (and to permit the taking of the actions described above within the time periods required above, rather than as elsewhere provided in the Credit Documents).

 

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SECTION 6 NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Commitment is in effect and until payment in full of all Obligations (other than Remaining Obligations) and cancellation, expiration or Cash Collateralization of all Letters of Credit, no Credit Party shall, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to:

 

6.1 Indebtedness . Create, incur, assume or guaranty, or otherwise become or remain directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a) the Obligations, including any Incremental Facilities, Extended Revolving Loans and Extended Term Loans and any Incremental Equivalent Debt (and any Permitted Refinancing thereof);

 

(b) Indebtedness that may be deemed to exist pursuant to any guarantees, performance, completion, bid, surety, statutory, appeal or similar obligations (but not with respect to letters of credit) incurred in the ordinary course of business or in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims;

 

(c) Indebtedness arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with netting services, overdraft protections and otherwise in connection with deposit, securities, commodities accounts and other Cash Management Products;

 

(d) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided , such Indebtedness is extinguished within five (5) Business Days after its incurrence (or such longer period as is acceptable to the Administrative Agent);

 

(e) Indebtedness consisting of unpaid insurance premiums (not in excess of one year’s premiums) owing to insurance companies and insurance brokers incurred in connection with the financing of insurance premiums in the ordinary course of business;

 

(f) (i) guarantees in the ordinary course of business of the obligations of suppliers, customers, franchisees and licensees of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) to the extent constituting Indebtedness, take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements and (iii) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of any Restricted Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(g) endorsements for collection, deposit or negotiation and warranties of products or services, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(h) Indebtedness arising as a direct result of judgments, orders, awards or decrees against Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case not constituting an Event of Default;

 

(i) unsecured Indebtedness representing any Taxes to the extent such Taxes are being contested by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in good faith by appropriate proceedings and reserves are being maintained by the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

 

(j) unsecured Indebtedness of Parent to the Borrowers and Parent’s other Restricted Subsidiaries at such times and in such amounts necessary to permit Parent to receive any Restricted Payment permitted to be made to Parent pursuant to Section 6.4, so long as, as of the applicable date of determination, a Restricted Payment for such purposes would otherwise be permitted to be made pursuant to Section 6.4; provided , any such Indebtedness shall be deemed to utilize on a dollar-for-dollar basis the relevant basket under Section 6.4;

 

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(k) to the extent constituting Indebtedness, unsecured Indebtedness due to the Sponsor on the account of the accrual of advisory fees and/or other fees and amounts under the Management Agreement not permitted to be paid in cash pursuant to Section 6.11(e);

 

(l) Indebtedness of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries (i) under Swap Contracts and not for speculative purposes or (ii) under Cash Management Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(m) Indebtedness consisting of promissory notes issued by Parent, any Relevant Public Company or any Restricted Subsidiaries to current or former officers, managers, consultants, directors and employees (in each case of any of the foregoing), their respective estates, spouses or former spouses to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Borrowers, the Holding Companies, Parent, any Relevant Public Company or any Ultimate Parent Company permitted by Section 6.4; provided , such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to the payment in full of the Obligations (other than Remaining Obligations) under the Credit Documents pursuant to terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(n) Indebtedness of Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary owing to Parent or another Restricted Subsidiary, including any guarantees of Indebtedness of such other Person, in each case, to the extent permitted as an Investment pursuant to Section 6.6; provided , (i) any such Indebtedness owing by a Credit Party to a non-Credit Party shall be unsecured and subordinated in right of payment to the payment in full of the Obligations (other than Remaining Obligations) under the Credit Documents pursuant to terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (ii) if the Indebtedness that is guaranteed is unsecured or contractually subordinated to the Obligations under the Credit Documents, then such guaranty shall also be unsecured or contractually subordinated to the Obligations under the Credit Documents, and (iii) no guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of any Indebtedness constituting Junior Financing shall be permitted unless such Restricted Subsidiary shall have also provided a guarantee of the Obligations under the Credit Documents on the terms set forth herein;

 

(o) Indebtedness incurred by Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Permitted Acquisition, any other Investment permitted hereunder (including through a merger or consolidation) or any disposition permitted hereunder, in each case, constituting indemnification obligations or adjustment of purchase price (but excluding Earn-out Indebtedness or Seller Notes);

 

(p) Indebtedness described on Schedule 6.1 (and, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing thereof);

 

(q) Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to Capital Leases and Purchase Money Indebtedness (and, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing thereof), in each case, incurred prior to or within 180 days after the acquisition, construction, lease, repair or improvement of the applicable asset in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of $25,000,000 and 33% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period at any time outstanding for all such Persons;

 

(r) Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time the greater of $20,000,000 and 27% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period; provided , the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness for all Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties outstanding in reliance on this Section 6.1(r) and/or on Sections 6.1(s) and Section 6.1(t)(vi) shall not at any one time exceed the greater of $15,000,000 and 20% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period;

 

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(s) Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries assumed or acquired (but not incurred) in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder (and any Permitted Refinancing thereof); provided :

 

(i) such Indebtedness was not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition or Investment;

 

(ii) if such Indebtedness is secured and acquired or assumed by a Credit Party, the obligations of such Credit Party thereunder shall not be secured by any assets of such Credit Party that are not Collateral; and

 

(iii) the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness for all Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties outstanding in reliance on this Section 6.1(s) and/or on Sections 6.1(r) and 6.1(t)(vi) shall not at any one time exceed the greater of $15,000,000 and 20% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period;

   

(t) Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries in an unlimited amount; provided :

 

(i) (A) if such Indebtedness is in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, (x) no Event of Default shall exist at the time of the signing of the applicable acquisition agreement and (y) no Event of Default under Sections 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or 8.1(g) shall exist immediately before and immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, or (B) if such Indebtedness is not in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, no Event of Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness;

 

(ii) such Indebtedness (A) shall have a final scheduled maturity date no earlier than the then-final scheduled maturity date of the Term Loans with the latest Maturity Date then in effect or (B) shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is equal to or greater than the then remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term Loans with the latest Maturity Date then in effect; provided , if such Indebtedness is contractually junior in right of Collateral or payment to the Obligations, it will not mature (and no scheduled payment, redemption or sinking fund or similar payments or obligations will be permitted) prior to 91 days after the latest Maturity Date existing at the time of the incurrence thereof;

 

(iii) such Indebtedness may not be voluntarily or mandatorily prepaid prior to repayment in full of the Obligations (other than Remaining Obligations), unless accompanied by at least a ratable payment of the then existing Obligations owing hereunder (or, if contractually junior in right of payment or as to security, on a junior basis with respect to such then existing Obligations);

   

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(iv) (x) if such Indebtedness is secured by Liens on the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Obligations, the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period shall not exceed the Closing Date Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, (y) if such Indebtedness is contractually junior in right of security with the Obligations, the Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period shall not exceed 4.40:1.00 and (z) if such Indebtedness is unsecured, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period shall not exceed 4.65:1.00; provided , the Borrowers may select utilization under clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above in their sole discretion.

 

(v) if secured, such Indebtedness shall not be secured by property other than Collateral, and the lenders or investors providing such Indebtedness (or a representative acting on their behalf) shall have entered into an Intercreditor Agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(vi) the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness for all Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties outstanding in reliance on this Section 6.1(t)(vi) and/or on Sections 6.1(r) and Section 6.1(s) shall not at any one time exceed the greater of $15,000,000 and 20% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period;

 

(vii) if such Indebtedness is secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations, it shall be subject to the MFN Protection as though such Indebtedness is an Incremental Term Loan hereunder; and

 

(viii) except as otherwise expressly set forth herein or as contemplated above in this clause (t), the other terms of such Indebtedness (excluding pricing, interest, fees and premiums, optional prepayment and redemption terms thereof) shall be, when taken as a whole, not materially more favorable (as reasonably determined by the Borrower Representative) to the lenders or holders providing such Indebtedness than those applicable to the Term Loans having the latest Maturity Date existing at the time of such incurrence, except to the extent (A) such terms are added to the Credit Documents for the benefit of the Lenders pursuant to an amendment hereto or thereto subject solely to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent or (B) applicable solely to periods after the latest Maturity Date existing at the time of the incurrence thereof;

   

(u) Indebtedness issued, incurred or otherwise obtained (including by means of the extension or renewal of existing Indebtedness) (each, a “Permitted Refinancing” ) in exchange for, or to extend, renew, replace, repurchase, retire or refinance, in whole or part, any Incremental Equivalent Debt or any Indebtedness referenced in Section 6.1(p), 6.1(q), 6.1(s) or 6.1(t) or this Section 6.1(u); provided :

 

(i) (A) if such refinancing Indebtedness is in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, (x) no Event of Default shall exist at the time of the signing of the applicable acquisition agreement and (y) no Event of Default under Sections 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or 8.1(g) shall exist immediately before and immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, or (B) if such refinancing Indebtedness is not in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, no Event of Default shall exist immediately before or immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness;

   

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(ii) such Indebtedness shall not have a greater principal amount than the principal amount (including accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness being extended, renewed, replaced, repurchased, retired or refinanced thereby plus accrued interest, fees, premiums (if any) and penalties thereon and other amounts owing or paid in connection with, and fees and expenses associated with, the extension, renewal, replacement, repurchase, retirement or refinancing, plus an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder;

 

(iii) the Indebtedness being extended, renewed, replaced, repurchased, retired or refinanced thereby shall be repaid, repurchased, retired, defeased or satisfied and discharged, and all accrued interest, fees, premiums (if any) and penalties in connection therewith due at such time shall be paid, on or by the date such refinancing Indebtedness is issued, incurred or obtained;

 

(iv) at the time of incurrence of such refinancing Indebtedness, such refinancing Indebtedness shall not be incurred or guaranteed by any Person other than a Person that, at such time, is an obligor or guarantor of the Indebtedness being extended, renewed, replaced, repurchased, retired or refinanced thereby;

 

(v) at the time of incurrence of such refinancing Indebtedness, (A) if such refinancing Indebtedness is secured, such refinancing Indebtedness shall not be secured by property other than property securing, at such time, the Indebtedness being extended, renewed, replaced, repurchased, retired or refinanced thereby, and, if applicable, any after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into such assets and the proceeds and products thereof or (B) if the Indebtedness being extended, renewed, replaced, repurchased, retired or refinanced thereby is unsecured, such refinancing Indebtedness shall also be unsecured;

 

(vi) other than Indebtedness referenced in Sections 6.1(q) and 6.1(s), such Indebtedness (A) shall have a final scheduled maturity date no earlier than the then final schedule maturity date of the Indebtedness being extended, renewed, replaced, repurchased, retired or refinanced thereby and (B) shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being extended, renewed, replaced, repurchased, retired or refinanced thereby (excluding the effects of nominal amortization in the amount of no greater than one percent per annum of the original stated principal amount of such Indebtedness on the date of incurrence thereof); and

 

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(vii) solely with respect to Indebtedness referenced in Section 6.1(t) and any Indebtedness that is expressly contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations under the Credit Documents, and except as otherwise expressly set forth herein or as contemplated above, the other terms of such Indebtedness (excluding pricing, interest, fees and premiums, optional prepayment and redemption terms thereof) shall be, when taken as a whole, no more favorable (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent) to the lenders or holders providing such Indebtedness than those applicable to the Term Loans having the latest Maturity Date existing at the time of such incurrence, except to the extent (A) such terms are added to the Credit Documents for the benefit of the Lenders pursuant to an amendment hereto or thereto subject solely to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent or (B) applicable solely to periods after the latest Maturity Date existing at the time of such incurrence.

 

(v) Indebtedness ( “Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness” ) issued, incurred or otherwise obtained (including by means of the extension or renewal of existing Indebtedness) in exchange for, or to extend, renew, replace, repurchase, retire or refinance, in whole or part, any Class of existing Term Loans or any existing Revolving Loans (or unused Revolving Credit Commitments), or any then-existing Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, and constituting any of the following: (A) secured Indebtedness ( “Permitted Pari Passu Refinancing Indebtedness” ) in the form of one or more series of senior secured notes that is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis to the Liens securing the Obligations and the obligations in respect of any Permitted Pari Passu Refinancing Indebtedness, including any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor; (B) secured Indebtedness in the form of one or more series of secured notes or secured loans that is secured by the Collateral on a junior priority basis to the Liens securing the Obligations and the obligations in respect of any Permitted First Priority Refinancing Indebtedness, including any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor; (C) unsecured Indebtedness in the form of one or more series of senior unsecured notes or loans, including any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor; and (D) Permitted Refinancing Commitments and Permitted Refinancing Loans incurred pursuant to a Permitted Refinancing Amendment; provided :

 

(i) any incurrence of Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $25,000,000 (or, if the then outstanding principal amount of such Class of existing Term Loans or any existing Revolving Loans (or unused Revolving Credit Commitments), or any then-existing Permitted Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness, in each case, is less than $25,000,000, the entire outstanding principal amount thereof), and an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof;

 

(ii) such Indebtedness shall not have a greater principal amount than the principal amount (including accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness being extended, renewed, replaced, repurchased, retired or refinanced thereby plus accrued interest, fees, premiums (if any) and penalties thereon and other reasonable amounts paid thereon or incurred in connection therewith, and fees and expenses associated with the extension, renewal, replacement, repurchase, retirement or refinancing, plus an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder;

 

(iii) the Indebtedness being extended, renewed, replaced, repurchased, retired or refinanced thereby shall be repaid, repurchased, retired, defeased or satisfied and discharged, and all accrued interest, fees, premiums (if any) and penalties in connection therewith due at such time shall be paid, on the date such Indebtedness is issued, incurred or obtained;

   

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(iv) such Indebtedness shall not at any time be incurred or guaranteed by any Person other than a Credit Party;

 

(v) if secured, such Indebtedness shall not be secured by property other than Collateral, and, if applicable, any after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into such assets and the proceeds and products thereof, and the lenders or holders of such Indebtedness (or a representative acting on their behalf) shall have entered into an Intercreditor Agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative;

 

(vi) such Indebtedness (I) shall have a final scheduled maturity date no earlier than the then-final scheduled maturity date of the Indebtedness being extended, renewed, replaced, repurchased, retired or refinanced thereby and (II) shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is equal to or greater than the then remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being extended, renewed, replaced, repurchased, retired or refinanced thereby (excluding the effects of nominal amortization in the amount of no greater than one (1) percent per annum of the original stated principal amount of such Indebtedness on the date of incurrence thereof); provided , if such Indebtedness is contractually junior in right of Collateral or payment to the Obligations, it will not mature (and no scheduled payment, redemption or sinking fund or similar payments or obligations will be permitted) prior to 91 days after the latest Maturity Date existing at the time of the incurrence thereof;

 

(vii) such Indebtedness may not be voluntarily or mandatorily prepaid prior to repayment in full of the Obligations (other than Remaining Obligations), unless accompanied by at least a ratable payment of the then existing Obligations owing hereunder (or, if contractually junior in right of payment or as to security, on a junior basis with respect to such Obligations); and

 

(viii) except as otherwise expressly set forth herein or contemplated above, the other terms of such Indebtedness (excluding pricing, interest, fees and premiums, optional prepayment and redemption terms thereof) shall be, when taken as a whole, not materially more favorable (as reasonably determined by the Borrower Representative) to the lenders or holders providing such Indebtedness than those applicable to the Term Loans having the latest Maturity Date existing at the time of such incurrence, except to the extent (A) such terms are added to the Credit Documents for the benefit of the Lenders pursuant to an amendment hereto or thereto subject solely to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent or (B) applicable solely to periods after the latest Maturity Date existing at the time of the incurrence thereof; and

   

(w) all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional contingent interest on obligations described in any of clauses (a) through (v) above.

 

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For purposes of determining compliance with any restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed, in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance would cause the applicable restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such extension, replacement, refunding, refinancing, renewal or defeasance, such restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being extended, replaced, refunded, refinanced, renewed or defeased.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.1, if an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) described in Sections 6.1(a) through 6.1(y), for the avoidance of doubt the Borrower Representative may, in its sole discretion, divide, classify and reclassify and later redivide and reclassify such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 6.1 and will be entitled to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in any one or more of the above clauses as it so elects and such Indebtedness will be treated as being incurred or existing pursuant to only such clause or clauses (or any portion thereof); provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Documents will be deemed to have been incurred in reliance only on Section 6.1(a).

 

The accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 6.1.

 

6.2 Liens . Create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on or with respect to any property or asset of any kind (including any document or instrument in respect of goods or accounts receivable) of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits therefrom, except:

 

(a) (x) Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties granted pursuant to any Credit Document and (y) Liens securing Incremental Equivalent Debt or any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

 

(b) each of the following Liens (each, a “Permitted Encumbrance” ), excluding any such Lien imposed by any section of ERISA:

 

(i) Liens for Taxes if the applicable Person is in compliance with Section 5.3 with respect thereto and statutory Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable;

 

(ii) statutory or common law Liens of landlords, sub-landlords, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, repairmen, construction contractors or other like Liens, so long as, in each case, such Liens (A) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of the property of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and do not materially impair the use thereof in the operation of the business of such companies, taken as a whole or (B) are being contested in good faith and by appropriate actions, if reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

   

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(iii) Liens granted in the ordinary course of business (A) in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, payroll taxes and other social security legislation or (B) securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(iv) Liens to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, utilities, governmental contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money), statutory obligations, surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature (including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations) incurred in the ordinary course of business, so long as (A) any Liens that secure surety bonds are (other than in respect of the contracts in respect of which such surety bonds are posted and assets related thereto) junior to the Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent on the same properties that constitute Collateral under the Collateral Documents, and (B) no foreclosure, sale or similar proceedings have been commenced with respect to any portion of the Collateral on account thereof;

 

(v) covenants, conditions, easements, rights-of-way, building codes, restrictions (including zoning restrictions), encroachments, licenses, protrusions and other similar encumbrances and minor title defects or survey matters, in each case affecting Real Estate Assets and that do not in the aggregate materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and any exceptions on the Title Policies issued in connection with the Mortgaged Properties;

 

(vi) Liens (A) in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of Law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business or (B) on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit issued or created for the account of such person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods in the ordinary course of business;

 

(vii) Liens (A) of a collection bank (including those arising under Section 4-208 of the Uniform Commercial Code) on items in the course of collection, (B) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodities brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business, or (C) in favor of a banking or other financial institution arising as a matter of Law or under customary general terms and conditions encumbering deposits or other funds maintained with a financial institution (including the right of set-off) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry or arising pursuant to such banking institutions general terms and conditions;

   

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(viii) (A) any interest or title of a lessor, sub-lessor, licensor or sub-licensor under leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including with respect to any intellectual property) entered into by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or otherwise not materially interfering with Parent’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ business taken as a whole and (B) licenses, sublicenses, leases or subleases (including with respect to any intellectual property) with respect to any assets granted to third Persons in the ordinary course of business or otherwise not materially interfering with Parent’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ business taken as a whole;

  

(ix) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business permitted by this Agreement;

 

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

 

(xi) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off or rights of pledge (A) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks or other deposit-taking financial institutions and not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (B) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (C) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(xii) Liens on any cash earnest money deposits made by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement in connection with any Investment not prohibited hereby;

 

(xiii) ground leases in respect of Real Estate Assets on which facilities owned or leased by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries are located;

 

(xiv) (A) zoning, building, entitlement and other land use regulations by Governmental Authorities with which the normal operation of the business complies in all material respects, and (B) any zoning or similar law or right reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authority to control or regulate the use of any real property that does not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

 

(xv) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or similar filings;

 

(xvi) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

 

(xvii) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and the proceeds thereof securing such Person’s obligations in respect of documentary letters of credit or banker’s acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or goods;

   

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(xviii) deposits of cash with the owner or lessor of premises leased or operated by Restricted Subsidiaries to secure the performance of Restricted Subsidiaries’ obligations under the terms of the lease for such premises;

 

(xix) in the case of any non-wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary, any put and call arrangements or restrictions on disposition related to its Equity Interests set forth in its organizational documents or any related joint venture or similar agreement;

 

(xx) Liens on property subject to any sale-leaseback transaction permitted hereunder and general intangibles related thereto;

 

(xxi) Liens arising by operation of law in the United States under Article 2 of the UCC in favor of a reclaiming seller of goods or buyer of goods;

 

(xxii) Liens disclosed as an exception to a Title Policy;

 

(xxiii) Liens deemed to exist in connection with investments in repurchase agreements meeting the requirements of Cash Equivalents;

 

(xxiv) Liens on amounts deposited as “security deposits” (or their equivalent) in the ordinary course of business in connection with actions or transactions not prohibited by this Agreement;

 

(xxv) Liens on cash or Cash Equivalents securing obligations under Swap Contracts permitted hereunder; and

 

(xxvi) with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, Liens arising mandatorily pursuant to any applicable law.

 

(c) Liens existing on the Closing Date and listed in Schedule 6.2 and any modifications, replacements, renewals, restructurings, refinancings or extensions thereof; provided , (i) the Lien does not extend to any additional property other than after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien or financed by Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.1 and proceeds and products thereof and (ii) the replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing of the obligations secured or benefited by such Liens, to the extent constituting Indebtedness, is permitted by Section 6.1;

 

(d) Liens, if any, in favor of Issuing Banks and/or the Swing Line Lender to Cash Collateralize or otherwise secure the obligations of a Defaulting Lender to fund risk participations hereunder;

 

(e) Liens (i) securing judgments or orders for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.1(h), (ii) arising out of judgments or awards against Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to which an appeal or other proceeding for review is then being pursued and (iii) notices arising out of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which reserves in accordance with GAAP have been made;

 

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(f) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.1(q); provided , (i) such Liens are created within 180 days of the acquisition, construction, repair, lease or improvement of the property subject to such Liens, and (ii) such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets (except for replacements, additions and accessions to such assets) other than the assets subject to such Capital Leases or Purchase Money Indebtedness and the proceeds and products thereof and customary security deposits; provided , individual financings of equipment provided by one lender (or lessor) may be cross collateralized to other financings of equipment provided by such lender (or lessor);

 

(g) Liens existing on property at the time of its acquisition or existing on the property of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary (other than by designation as a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.13) or otherwise securing Indebtedness acquired or assumed pursuant to Section 6.1(s) (other than Liens on the Equity Interests of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such Equity Interests are owned by Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary); provided , (i) such Lien was not created in contemplation of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, and (ii) such Lien does not extend to or cover any other assets or property (other than the proceeds, products and accessions thereof and other than after-acquired property subjected to a Lien securing Indebtedness and other obligations incurred prior to such time and which Indebtedness and other obligations are permitted hereunder that require, pursuant to their terms at such time, a pledge of after-acquired property, it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition);

 

(h) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by Sections 6.1(t), (u) or (v);

 

(i) Permitted Maritime Liens; and

 

(j) Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section 6.2 securing obligations or liabilities of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries not to exceed at any time the greater of $20,000,000 and 27% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period; provided , the aggregate principal amount of all Liens for all Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties outstanding in reliance on this Section 6.2(j) shall not at any time exceed the greater of $15,000,000 and 20% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.2, if a Lien meets, in whole or in part, the criteria of more than one of the categories of Liens (or any portion thereof) described in Sections 6.2(a) through (k), the Borrower Representative may, in its sole discretion, divide and classify and later redivide and reclassify such Lien (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 6.2 and will be entitled to include the amount and type of such Lien or liability secured by such Lien (or any portion thereof) in any one or more of the above clauses as it so elects and such Lien will be treated as being incurred or existing pursuant to only such clause or clauses (or any portion thereof).

 

6.3 Payments and Prepayments of Certain Indebtedness .

 

(a) Prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner any Junior Financing, except:

 

(i) the conversion or exchange of any Junior Financing to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of Parent or any Ultimate Parent Company or Relevant Public Company;

 

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(ii) repayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of any Junior Financing, in each case, in compliance with the subordination terms or intercreditor arrangements applicable to such Junior Financing;

 

(iii) required payments of regularly scheduled payments of interest and fees, subject to compliance with any Intercreditor Agreement or subordination terms or other intercreditor arrangements applicable to such Junior Financing;

 

(iv) any Permitted Refinancing of such Junior Financing;

 

(v) payments of intercompany Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.1;

 

(vi) so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall be caused thereby, ‘AHYDO’ catch-up payments; and

 

(vii) so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time thereof or shall be caused thereby, repayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in an amount equal to:

 

(A) the then Available Amount; provided , on a Pro Forma Basis giving effect to the payment thereof utilizing any amount under clause (A) of the definition of “Available Amount”, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio shall not exceed the Closing Date Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, as demonstrated by a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent on or before the making of such payment; and

 

(B) an unlimited amount; provided , on a Pro Forma Basis giving effect to the payment thereof, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 2.65:1.00, as demonstrated by a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent on or before the making of such payment.

   

(b) Amend, modify or change any term or condition of any Junior Financing Documentation in violation of the applicable Intercreditor Agreement or subordination terms or other intercreditor arrangements applicable to such Junior Financing in any material respect adverse to the interests of the Lenders without the consent of the Required Lenders (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided that if immediately after giving effect to such amendment, modification or change, the Indebtedness under such Junior Financing documentation could have been incurred under Section 6.1, such amendment, modification or change shall be permitted.

 

6.4 Restricted Payments . Declare, order, pay or make any Restricted Payment except that, without duplication:

 

(a) each Restricted Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrowers and other Restricted Subsidiaries of Parent (and, in the case of a Restricted Payment by a non-wholly owned Subsidiary, to the Borrowers, any other Restricted Subsidiary and to each other owner of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary based on its relative ownership interests of the relevant class of Equity Interests); provided , if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall immediately be caused thereby, no Credit Party may make any restricted Payment to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party;

 

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(b) (i) Parent, any Relevant Public Company, the Holding Companies and the Borrowers may (or may make Restricted Payments to permit any Ultimate Parent Company to) redeem in whole or in part any of its Equity Interests for another class of its (or such Ultimate Parent Company’s) Equity Interests or rights to acquire its Equity Interests or with proceeds from substantially concurrent equity contributions or issuances of new Equity Interests, provided that any terms and provisions material to the interests of the Lenders, when taken as a whole, contained in such other class of Equity Interests are at least as advantageous to the Lenders as those contained in the Equity Interests redeemed thereby and (ii) Parent, any Relevant Public Company and each Restricted Subsidiary may declare and make dividend payments or other Restricted Payments payable solely in the Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of such Person (and, in the case of such a Restricted Payment by a non-wholly owned Subsidiary, to the Borrowers and any other Restricted Subsidiary and to each other owner of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary based on their relative ownership interests of the relevant class of Equity Interests (or more favorably in favor of Parent or any wholly owned Subsidiary thereof));

 

(c) the Borrowers may make Restricted Payments to the Holding Companies, and the Holding Companies may make Restricted Payments to Parent or any Relevant Public Company, and, if applicable (but without duplication), Parent and any Relevant Public Company may make Restricted Payments to any Ultimate Parent Company, the proceeds of which (x) subsequent to a SPAC Transaction may be used for the purpose specified in the following clause (i) and for any other purpose not prohibited by any other Section of this Agreement, and (y) prior to a SPAC Transaction shall be used solely:

 

(i) to (x) repurchase Equity Interests if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of any option or warrant upon the exercise thereof, (y) pay cash in lieu of fractional Equity Interests in connection with any dividend, split or combination thereof or any Permitted Acquisition and (z) honor any conversion request by a holder of convertible Indebtedness and make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares in connection with any such conversion and may make payments on convertible Indebtedness in accordance with its terms (so long as any cash payment permitted by this clause (i) is not made to avoid the limitations of this section 6.4);

 

(ii) in respect of indemnification obligations or obligations in respect of purchase price adjustments (including working capital adjustments or purchase price adjustments) permitted hereunder pursuant to any Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investments;

 

(iii) to pay franchise Taxes and other fees, Taxes (other than income Taxes) and expenses necessary or appropriate to maintain its corporate existence;

 

(iv) to pay income Taxes to the extent such income taxes are attributable to the income of the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided , the amount of such payments with respect to any taxable year does not exceed the amount of income taxes that the Restricted Subsidiaries would have been required to pay for such taxable year if the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries paid taxes as a stand-alone taxpayer (or stand-alone group); provided further , such payments are actually used to pay such Taxes and that any Tax refunds received by Parent that are attributable to the Borrowers or their Restricted Subsidiaries shall be promptly returned by Parent to the Borrowers;

   

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(v) to pay amounts as permitted by Section 6.11;

 

(vi) to pay Parent’s costs, fees and expenses related to any initial public offering or SPAC Transaction (in each case whether or not consummated);

 

(vii) to pay (x) operating costs and expenses of any Holding Company, Parent, any Relevant Public Company or any Ultimate Parent Company incurred in the ordinary course of business and other corporate overhead costs and expenses (including administrative, legal, accounting and similar expenses provided by third parties), incurred in the ordinary course of business and attributable to the ownership or operations of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries, and (y) Transaction Costs and any indemnification claims made by directors or officers of any Holding Company, Parent, any Relevant Public Company or any Ultimate Parent Company attributable to the ownership or operations of the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(viii) to pay customary salary, bonus, severance and other benefits payable to officers, directors, managers and employees of any Holding Company, Parent, any Relevant Public Company or any Ultimate Parent Company to the extent such salaries, bonuses, severance payments and other benefits are attributable to the ownership or operation of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

 

(ix) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, for payment of fees related to this Agreement and the Related Transactions and paid on the Closing Date.

 

(d) so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall immediately be caused thereby, the Borrowers may make Restricted Payments to the Holding Companies and the Holding Companies may make Restricted Payments to Parent or any Relevant Public Company and, if applicable (but without duplication), Parent and any Relevant Public Company may make Restricted Payments to any Ultimate Parent Company, the proceeds of which shall be used solely:

 

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(i) to purchase or redeem from current or former employees, members of the Board of Directors, managers, consultants and their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, or other immediate family members, (and successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributes of any of the foregoing) and any other minority shareholder of any Ultimate Parent Company, Relevant Public Company or Parent, on account of the death, termination, resignation or other voluntary or involuntary cessation of such person’s employment or directorship or shareholding, shares of such Ultimate Parent Company’s, Relevant Public Company’s or Parent’s Equity Interests or options or warrants to acquire such Equity Interests in an aggregate outstanding amount for all such payments not to exceed, from the Closing Date to the date of determination, the sum of (A) the greater of $5,000,000 and 7% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (with unused amounts in any Fiscal Year being carried over to succeeding Fiscal Years subject to a maximum of $7,500,000 in any Fiscal Year) plus (B) the amount of any net cash proceeds received by or contributed to Parent or any Relevant Public Company or any Ultimate Parent Company from the issuance and sale since the issue date of Equity Interests of Parent or any Relevant Public Company to officers, directors, managers, employees or consultants of Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary that have not been used to fund any Restricted Payments under this clause (d)(i), plus (C) the net cash proceeds of any “key man” life insurance policies of any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary that have not been used to make any repurchases, redemptions or payments under this clause (d)(i), plus (D) the proceeds of issuances of Equity Interests to or loans from equity holders for the purpose of funding any such Restricted Payments, provided that , for the avoidance of doubt, cancellation of Indebtedness owing to the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) or any of its Subsidiaries from members of management of the Borrower, any of the Borrower’s direct or indirect parent companies or any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of any of the Borrower’s direct or indirect parent companies will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this covenant or any other provision of this Agreement;

 

(ii) to pay dividends and distributions to the holders of Parent’s or any Relevant Public Company’s or any Ultimate Parent Company’s Equity Interests in an amount equal to the Available Amount; provided , on a Pro Forma Basis giving effect to the payment thereof utilizing any amount under clause (A) of the definition of “Available Amount”, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio shall not exceed the Closing Date Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, as demonstrated by a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent on or before the making of such payment;

 

(iii) to pay dividends and distributions to the holders of Parent’s or any Relevant Public Company’s or any Ultimate Parent Company’s Equity Interests in an unlimited amount; provided , on a Pro Forma Basis giving effect to the payment thereof, the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 2.65:1.00, as demonstrated by a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent on or before the making of such payment; and

 

(iv) to pay dividends and distributions to the holders of Parent’s or any Relevant Public Company’s or any Ultimate Parent Company’s Equity Interests (that are not Disqualified Equity Interests) following a Qualified IPO thereof, in an amount not to exceed in any Fiscal Year 6.0% of the proceeds received by or contributed to Parent or any Relevant Public Company in or from any Qualified IPO.

   

(e) Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments to finance any Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment; provided that (i) such Restricted Payment shall be made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Permitted Acquisition or permitted Investment and (ii) Parent, the Holding Companies or the Borrowers shall, immediately following the closing thereof, cause (x) all property acquired (whether assets or Equity Interests) to be held by or contributed to a Credit Party or (y) the merger (to the extent permitted in Section 6.8) of the Person formed or acquired into it or another Credit Party in order to consummate such Permitted Acquisition or permitted Investment; and

 

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(f) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into and consummate transactions expressly permitted by any provision of Section 6.6 (other than Section 6.6(i)) or Section 6.8.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, upon and after the occurrence of a Qualified IPO the foregoing provisions of Section 6.4 will not prohibit the payment of any Restricted Payment or the consummation of any redemption, purchase, defeasance or other payment within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof or the giving of notice, as applicable, if at the date of declaration or the giving of such notice such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Section 6.4 (it being understood that such Restricted Payment shall be deemed to have been made on the date of declaration or notice for purposes of such provision).

 

6.5 Burdensome Agreements . Create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Contractual Obligation that encumbers or restricts, in any material respect, the ability of any of Restricted Subsidiary to:

 

(a) pay dividends or make any other distributions on any Restricted Subsidiary’s Equity Interests owned by any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Borrower;

 

(b) repay or prepay any Indebtedness owed by such Restricted Subsidiary to Parent or any other Restricted Subsidiary of Parent;

 

(c) make loans or advances to Parent or any other Restricted Subsidiary of Parent; or

 

(d) transfer any of its property or assets to the Borrowers or any other Restricted Subsidiary of Parent;

 

Provided , notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Section 6.5 shall not apply to Contractual Obligations that:

 

(i) are binding on a Restricted Subsidiary at the time such Restricted Subsidiary first becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, so long as such Contractual Obligations were not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(ii) relate to Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party which is permitted by Section 6.1 and which does not apply to any Credit Party;

 

(iii) are customary restrictions that arise in connection with (x) any Permitted Lien and relate to the property subject to such Lien or (y) arise in connection with any disposition permitted by Section 6.8 or 6.9 and relate solely to the assets or Person subject to such disposition;

 

(iv) are customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures permitted under Section 6.6 and applicable solely to such joint venture and its equity entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(v) are negative pledges and restrictions on Liens in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.1 but solely to the extent any negative pledge relates to the property financed by such Indebtedness and the proceeds, accessions and products thereof;

 

(vi) are customary restrictions on leases, subleases, licenses or contemplated by asset sale, merger, purchase or other similar agreements not prohibited hereby so long as such restrictions relate to the property interest, rights or the assets subject thereto;

 

(vii) are customary provisions restricting subletting, transfer or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(viii) are customary provisions restricting assignment or transfer of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(ix) are restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(x) arise in connection with cash or other deposits permitted under Sections 6.2 and 6.6 and limited to such cash or deposit;

 

(xi) are restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(xii) are restrictions regarding licensing or sublicensing by the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries of intellectual property in the ordinary course of business;

 

(xiii) are restrictions on cash earnest money deposits in favor of sellers in connection with acquisitions not prohibited hereunder;

 

(xiv) are customary in partnership agreements, limited liability company organizational governance documents, asset sale and stock sale agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business that restrict the transfer of ownership interests in such partnership, limited liability company or similar person or assets subject to such transfer agreement;

 

(xv) restrictions or conditions in connection with any Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.1 to the extent such restrictions or conditions with respect to such Indebtedness are not, in the good faith opinion of the Borrower Representative, materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than the restrictions and conditions in the Credit Documents and such restrictions or conditions do not prohibit compliance with Sections 5.11 and 5.12; or

 

(xvi) are restrictions imposed by Credit Documents.

   

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6.6 Investments . Make or own any Investment in any Person except Investments in or constituting:

 

(a) cash and Cash Equivalents (and assets that were Cash Equivalents when such Investments were made);

 

(b) promissory notes, securities and other non-cash consideration received in connection with Dispositions permitted by Section 6.9;

 

(c) accounts receivable arising and trade credit granted in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d) (i) Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction of obligations owing from financially troubled account debtors or pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon or in connection with the bankruptcy or insolvency of such account debtors, (ii) deposits, prepayments and other credits to suppliers and customers made in the ordinary course of business and (iii) Investments that are received in settlement of bona fide disputes with trade creditors or customers;

 

(e) (i) Investments made in the ordinary course of business consisting of negotiable instruments held for collection in the ordinary course of business and lease, utility and other similar deposits in the ordinary course of business and (ii) guarantee obligations in respect of leases (other than Capital Leases) or other obligations which underlying obligations are permitted hereunder;

 

(f) Consolidated Capital Expenditures (and capital expenditures excluded from the definition thereof);

 

(g) Investments in Swap Contracts permitted under Section 6.1;

 

(h) advances, loans or extensions of credit by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in compliance with applicable Laws to officers, non-affiliated members of the Board of Directors, and employees of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) used to purchase the Equity Interests of Parent or any Relevant Public Company; provided , any such advance, loan or extension of credit shall be non-cash, (ii) reasonable travel, entertainment or relocation, out of pocket or other business-related expenses, (iii) constituting advances of payroll payments or commissions payments to employees or (iv) for purposes not described in or amounts not permitted under the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any one time under this clause (iv) not in excess of $1,000,000;

 

(i) unsecured intercompany advances by the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary to Parent for purposes and in amounts that would otherwise be permitted to be made as Restricted Payments to Parent, as the case may be, pursuant to Section 6.4; provided , the principal amount of any such loans (solely while outstanding) shall reduce dollar-for-dollar the amounts that would otherwise be permitted to be paid for such purpose in the form of Restricted Payments pursuant to such Section 6.4;

 

(j) Investments (i) made in connection with the establishment and initial capitalization of a Subsidiary for the purposes of a Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment or (ii) required in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment consisting of earnest money deposits required in connection with an acquisition of property not prohibited hereunder;

 

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(k) (i) Investments of any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary or consolidates, merges or amalgamates with a Borrower, Parent or any Subsidiary thereof (including in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investment), provided such Investments were not made in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary, or of such consolidation, merger or amalgamation and (ii) asset purchase (including purchases of inventory, supplies and materials) and the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons, in each case in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(l) Investments described on Schedule 6.6 and modifications, replacements, renewals, reinvestments or extensions thereof; provided that the amount of any Investment permitted pursuant to this Section 6.6(l) is not increased from the amount of such Investment on the Closing Date except pursuant to the terms of such Investment as of the Closing Date or as otherwise permitted by this Section 6.6;

 

(m) Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made solely with Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity Interests of Parent or any Relevant Public Company;

 

(n) contributions to a “rabbi” trust for the benefit of employees or other grantor trust subject to claims of creditors in the case of a bankruptcy of Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(o) Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary owned by Parent or another Restricted Subsidiary on the Closing Date;

 

(p) Equity Interests of any Guarantor Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date;

 

(q) Investments (including Indebtedness referred to in Section 6.1(n)) (i) by any Credit Party in any other Credit Party, (ii) by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party in a Borrower or in any Guarantor, (iii) by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party in any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party and (iv) by the Restricted Subsidiaries in Unrestricted Subsidiaries and in Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties, in an aggregate amount, together with all Investments made in reliance on Section 6.6(r)(v) not to exceed at any one time outstanding the greater of $15,000,000 and 20% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period;

 

(r) an acquisition by Parent (subject to Section 6.13) or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether by purchase, merger or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the assets of, all of the Equity Interests of, or a business line or unit or a division of, any Person, that satisfies each of the following conditions (each, a “Permitted Acquisition” ):

 

i) in the case of a Limited Condition Acquisition, (1) no Event of Default shall exist as of the date the definitive acquisition agreement for such Limited Condition Acquisition is entered into and (2) immediately prior and immediately after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default under Section 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or 8.1(g) shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and, (b) in the case of any other Permitted Acquisition, immediately prior and immediately after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom;

 

(ii) the Credit Parties shall be in compliance with Section 6.12 upon giving effect to such acquisition;

   

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(iii) on a Pro Forma Basis immediately after giving effect to such acquisition and any financing thereof, Parent shall be in compliance with the Financial Condition Covenant (whether or not then in effect) for the most recently ended Test Period;

 

(iv) such acquisition shall be consensual and shall have been approved by the subject Person’s Board of Directors or the requisite holders of the Equity Interests thereof, or, if applicable, by a court of competent jurisdiction in a court-approved sale; and

 

(v) the aggregate amount of all Investments by Credit Parties with respect to all Permitted Acquisitions in (A) assets (other than Equity Interests) that are (or become at the time of such acquisition) directly owned by Unrestricted Subsidiaries and Restricted Subsidiaries that are not (and are not required under Section 5.11(b) to become) Credit Parties plus (B) Equity Interests in Unrestricted Subsidiaries and Restricted Subsidiaries that are not (and are not required under Section 5.11(b) to become) Credit Parties, together with all Investments made in reliance on Section 6.6(q)(iv), shall not exceed at any one time outstanding the greater of $15,000,000 and 20% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period;

 

(s) Investments by Restricted Subsidiaries, the aggregate amount of which shall not exceed the greater of $15,000,000 and 20% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period;

 

(t) Investments by the Restricted Subsidiaries, the aggregate amount of which shall not exceed the then Available Amount; provided , on a Pro Forma Basis immediately after giving effect to any Investment utilizing Available Amount, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom;

 

(u) additional Investments by the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided , on a Pro Forma Basis immediately after giving effect to any such Investment, (A) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and (B) the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 3.15:1.00, as demonstrated by a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent on or before the making of such Investment; and

 

(v) a SPAC Transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment (and in such case subject to the satisfaction of each of the requirements set forth in the definition of SPAC Transaction and in Section 6.11(k) hereof).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries make any Investment for a primary purpose of effectuating any Restricted Payment not otherwise permitted under the terms of Section 6.4. For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.6, if an Investment meets, in whole or in part, the criteria of one or more of the categories of Investments (or any portion thereof) permitted in this Section 6.6, the Borrower Representative may, in its sole discretion, divide and classify and later redivide and reclassify such Investment (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 6.6 and will be entitled to include the amount and type of such Investment (or any portion thereof) in any one or more of the above clauses as it so elects and such Investment will be treated as being incurred or existing pursuant to only such clause or clauses (or any portion thereof). Any Investment in any Person other than a Credit Party that is otherwise permitted by this Section 6.6 may be made through intermediate investments in Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties and such intermediate investments shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the outstanding amount of investments pursuant to any clause set forth above.

 

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6.7 Financial Condition Covenant . If, as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter, the sum of (a)(i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Loans, plus (ii) the aggregate amount of all Letter of Credit Obligations in respect of all Letters of Credit (excluding Letters of Credit to the extent cash collateralized and undrawn Letters of Credit in an aggregate amount not to exceed $15,000,000) plus (iii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Swing Line Loans, exceeds (b) 30.0% of the Revolving Credit Limit in effect on such date, permit the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the last day of any such Fiscal Quarter to exceed 5.45:1.00.

 

6.8 Fundamental Changes . Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of related transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person (other than as part of or in furtherance of the Related Transactions), except:

 

(a) any Restricted Subsidiary may be merged with or into a Borrower or any Guarantor Subsidiary, or be liquidated, wound up or dissolved, or all or any part of its business, property or assets may be conveyed, sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, to a Borrower or any Guarantor Subsidiary; provided , in the case of such a merger, a Borrower or such Guarantor Subsidiary, as applicable, shall be the continuing or surviving Person;

 

(b) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor may be merged with or into another Restricted Subsidiary, or be liquidated, wound up or dissolved, or all or any part of its business, property or assets may be conveyed, sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, to another Restricted Subsidiary; provided , in the case of a merger between a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor and a Guarantor, the Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving Person;

 

(c) any Restricted Subsidiary may change its legal form (but not its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation) if the Borrower Representative determines in good faith that such action is not materially disadvantageous to the interests of the Lenders;

 

(d) in connection with any Permitted Acquisition effected by a merger or other consolidation where the surviving entity is, or will become, a Credit Party; provided , with respect to any such merger or consolidation that involves a Borrower, such Borrower shall be the surviving Person thereof;

 

(e) Dispositions permitted by Section 6.9; and

 

(f) Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries may consummate the SPAC Transaction, subject to the satisfaction of each of the requirements set forth in the definition of SPAC Transaction and in Section 6.11(k) hereof.

 

6.9 Dispositions . Sell, lease or sub-lease (as lessor or sublessor), sell and leaseback, assign, convey, license (as licensor or sublicensor), transfer or otherwise dispose to, or exchange any property with (any of the foregoing, a “Disposition” ), any Person, in one transaction or a series of transactions, of all or any part of Parent’s, any Borrower’s or any other Restricted Subsidiaries’ businesses, assets or properties of any kind, whether real, personal, or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, leased or licensed, including the Equity Interests of the Borrowers or any of the other Restricted Subsidiaries (provided, for the avoidance of doubt, any issuance by Parent or any Relevant Public Company of Equity Interests shall not be considered a Disposition), except:

 

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(a) Dispositions by any Subsidiary of Parent to another Subsidiary of Parent; provided , the Holding Companies shall not Dispose of the Equity Interests of the Borrowers to any Person other than another Holding Company, Parent or any Relevant Public Company; and provided , further , that if the transferor of such property is a Credit Party and the transferee thereof is not, to the extent such transaction constitutes an Investment, such transaction is permitted under Section 6.6;

 

(b) Dispositions of cash and Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c) Dispositions of inventory or other assets, including the non-exclusive license (as licensor or sublicensor) of intellectual property, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d) the sale or discount, in each case without recourse and in the ordinary course of business, by the Borrowers or other Restricted Subsidiaries of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising in the ordinary course of business, but only in connection with the compromise or collection thereof or in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of the applicable account debtors and dispositions of any securities or other assets received in any such bankruptcy or reorganization;

 

(e) Dispositions of used, worn out, obsolete or surplus property by the Restricted Subsidiaries, including the abandonment or other Disposition of intellectual property, in each case, which, in the reasonable judgment of the Borrower Representative, is no longer economically practicable to maintain or useful in the conduct of the business of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

 

(f) Dispositions of property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property, (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property, or (iii) such transaction is part of a sale lease-back of such property permitted by Section 6.10;

 

(g) Dispositions of assets that constitute a Restricted Payment permitted under Section 6.4, an Investment permitted under Section 6.6 or a transaction permitted under Section 6.8;

 

(h) Dispositions of assets subject to a Casualty/Condemnation Event;

 

(i) the Restricted Subsidiaries may lease or sublease (as lessee or sublessee) or license or sublicense (as licensee or sublicense) real or personal property (including charters of Vessels on a bareboat, demise, time or any other basis) so long as any such lease, license, sublease or sublicense does not create a Capital Lease except to the extent permitted by Section 6.10;

 

(j) Permitted Acquisitions;

 

(k) Dispositions of non-core assets acquired in connection with Permitted Acquisitions or other Investments permitted hereunder; provided , (i) the aggregate amount of such Dispositions shall not exceed 10% of the purchase price of the applicable acquired entity or business, and (ii) each such Disposition is an arm’s-length transaction and the Restricted Subsidiaries receive at least Fair Market Value in exchange therefor;

 

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(l) Dispositions of assets (including Equity Interests); provided , (i) in the case of any Dispositions resulting in Net Cash Proceeds in any Fiscal Year in excess of the greater of $3,750,000 and 5% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period, at least 75% of the consideration in respect of such Disposition is cash or Cash Equivalents; provided , the following shall be deemed cash for purposes of determining compliance with such 75% consideration requirement: (A) the amount of any Indebtedness or other liabilities (other than Indebtedness or other liabilities that are subordinated to the Obligations or that are owed to any Restricted Subsidiary) of any Restricted Subsidiary (as shown on such Person’s most recent balance sheet or statement of financial position (or in the notes thereto) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets and for which the applicable Restricted Subsidiary have been validly released, (B) the amount of any trade-in value applied to the purchase price of any replacement assets acquired in connection with such Disposition, (C) any Equity Interests or Securities received by any Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are due under the terms thereof to be, or that are, converted by such Person into cash or Cash Equivalents within 180 days following the closing of the applicable Disposition and (D) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received in respect of such Disposition, having an aggregate Fair Market Value, when taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (D) that is at that time outstanding not in excess of $500,000); (ii) the consideration in respect of such Disposition is at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets being sold, transferred, leased or disposed; and (iii) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom;

 

(m) the unwinding of any Swap Contract;

 

(n) Asset Swaps in exchange for assets of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as determined in good faith by the Borrower Representative; provided that the Fair Market Value of assets disposed of by Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries in reliance on this clause (p) in any Fiscal Year shall not exceed $10,000,000;

 

(o) Dispositions of Investments in joint ventures to the extent required by, or made pursuant to customary buy/sell arrangements between the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture arrangements and similar binding arrangements;

 

(p) Dispositions of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other Securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

(q) the surrender or waiver of contractual rights and the settlement or waiver of contractual or litigation claims in the ordinary course of business or in the commercially reasonable judgment of the Borrower Representative;

 

(r) the Disposition of a nominal amount of Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary of Parent to qualify members of the Board of Directors of such Restricted Subsidiary to the extent required by applicable law; and

 

(s) a SPAC Transaction to the extent it constitutes a Disposition (and in such case subject to the satisfaction of each of the requirements set forth in the definition of SPAC Transaction and in Section 6.11(k) hereof).

 

6.10 Sales and Lease-Backs . Other than with respect to Capital Lease Obligations permitted by Sections 6.1(q) and 6.2(f), become or remain liable as lessee or as a guarantor or other surety with respect to any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed), whether now owned or hereafter acquired, which such Credit Party (a) has sold or transferred or is to sell or to transfer to any other Person (other than a Borrower or any Guarantor Subsidiary), or (b) intends to use for substantially the same purpose as any other property which has been or is to be sold or transferred by such Credit Party to any Person (other than a Borrower or any Guarantor Subsidiary) in connection with such lease.

 

6.11 Transactions with Affiliates . Enter into or permit to exist any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate of Parent, on terms that are less favorable to Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, than those that would reasonably be expected to be obtained at the time from a Person who is not such an Affiliate in a comparable arms-length transaction; provided, the foregoing restriction shall not apply to:

 

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(a) any transaction, not otherwise prohibited hereunder, between or among Parent and any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(b) reasonable and customary indemnities provided to, and reasonable and customary fees and reimbursements paid to, members of the Board of Directors of Parent, its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Ultimate Parent Company or any Relevant Public Company;

 

(c) reasonable and customary employment, compensation, indemnification and severance arrangements for officers and other employees of Parent or its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Relevant Public Company entered into in the ordinary course of business and transactions pursuant to equity option and incentive plans and employee benefit plans and arrangements;

 

(d) Indebtedness to the extent permitted under Section 6.1, Restricted Payments to the extent permitted under Section 6.4 and Investments to the extent permitted under Section 6.6;

 

(e) (i) so long as no Event of Default under Section 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or 8.1(g) (each, a “ Specified Event of Default ”) has occurred and is continuing, the payment of management, monitoring, consulting, advisory and other fees (including transaction and termination fees), in each case, pursuant to the Management Agreement (without giving effect to any amendments or modifications thereto after the Closing Date not permitted under Section 6.14); provided , during the continuance of a Specified Event of Default, any such fees may continue to be accrued in favor of the Sponsor and its Affiliates and upon the cure, waiver or rescission of any such Specified Event of Default, any and all such accrued fees may immediately be paid in cash to Sponsor and its Affiliates, and (ii) indemnification and reimbursement of expenses of the Sponsor and its Affiliates in connection with management, monitoring, consulting and advisory services provided by them to Parent, Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries, including pursuant to the Management Agreement, if any;

 

(f) to the extent permitted by Sections 6.4(c)(iii) and 6.4(c)(iv), payments by the Borrowers, Parent and any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to tax sharing agreements among any such Persons (and any Ultimate Parent Company) on customary terms to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of such Persons;

 

(g) transactions pursuant to agreements, instruments or arrangements in existence on the Closing Date and set forth in Schedule 6.11 or any amendment thereto to the extent such an amendment is not adverse to the interests of the Lenders in any material respect;

 

(h) the consummation by Parent and the Borrowers of the Closing Date Contribution and the 2018 Dividend;

 

(i) the sale or issuance of Equity Interests (that are not Disqualified Equity Interests) of Parent or any Relevant Public Company to any officer, director, manager, employee or consultant of Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary and the granting of registration and other customary rights in connection therewith;

 

(j) any transaction with an Affiliate where the only material consideration paid by Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary is Equity Interests (that are not Disqualified Equity Interests) of Parent or any Relevant Public Company; and

 

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(k) the consummation of a SPAC Transaction; provided that, (x) each of the requirements set forth in the definition of SPAC Transaction shall have been satisfied, (y) as of the date the definitive acquisition agreement in respect of such SPAC Transaction is entered into, no Event of Default shall exist, and (z) as of the date thereof both immediately before and after giving effect thereto no Event of Default under Sections 8.1(a), 8.1(f) or 8.1(g) shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, in each case as certified in writing by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower Representative and Parent to the Administrative Agent not later than concurrently with the consummation of such SPAC Transaction.

 

6.12 Conduct of Business . Engage in any material business other than (a) the businesses engaged in thereby on the Closing Date and similar, corollary, ancillary, complementary (including synergistically), incidental or related businesses and reasonable extensions thereto and developments and expansions thereof and (b) such other lines of business as may be consented to by the Required Lenders.

 

6.13 Permitted Activities of Parent . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except (x) to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 6.13(f) or (y) in connection with or subsequent to a SPAC Transaction, Parent shall not:

 

(a) incur, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness or any other material obligation or liability whatsoever other than the Obligations and any other obligation under the Closing Date Contribution Documents or any Credit Document or as otherwise permitted under this Section 6.1;

 

(b) create or suffer to exist any Lien upon any property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired by it other than as otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 6.2;

 

(c) consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets to, any Person;

 

(d) create or acquire any direct Restricted Subsidiary or make or own any direct Investment in any Person other than in the Holding Companies or Borrowers and cash and Cash Equivalents;

 

(e) fail to hold itself out to the public as a legal entity separate and distinct from all other Persons; or

 

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(f) engage in any material business or activity or own any material assets other than, in each case, (i) its ownership of the Equity Interests of the Holding Companies or Borrowers and activities incidental thereto, including payment of dividends and other amounts in respect of its Equity Interests, in each case, not prohibited pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) the maintenance of its legal existence (including the ability to incur fees, costs and expenses relating to such maintenance) and the performance of obligations under and in compliance with its Organizational Documents to the extent not prohibited hereunder, (iii) the performance of its obligations as a Guarantor, (iv) any public offering of its common stock or any other issuance or sale of its Equity Interests, (v) participating in tax, accounting and other administrative matters as a member of the consolidated group of Parent and the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries, (vi) making or receipt of any Restricted Payments or Investments permitted to be made or received, or Indebtedness incurred, as applicable, by Parent pursuant to this Agreement, (vii) providing indemnification to officers and directors in the ordinary course of business, (viii) executing, delivering and the performance of rights and obligations under the Credit Documents, the Closing Date Contribution Documents and any documents and agreement relating to any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted hereunder to which it is a party, (ix) performance of rights and obligations under any Management Agreement to which it is a party, (x) purchasing and holding Equity Interests (to the extent not constituting Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Holding Companies and Borrowers, (xi) making capital contributions to the Holding Companies or Borrowers, including from amounts contributed to Parent and held temporarily prior to such contribution, (xii) taking actions in furtherance of and consummating a Qualified IPO, and fulfilling all initial and ongoing obligations related thereto, (xiii) execution and delivery of, and the performance of rights and obligations under, any employment agreements and any documents related thereto, (xiv) purchasing Obligations in accordance with this Agreement, (xv) transactions expressly described herein in which Parent may engage, including the ownership of assets contemplated by such transactions, (xvi) execution and delivery of, and the performance of rights and obligations under, any guarantees of leases or insurance obligations or other guarantees expressly permitted hereunder (including in connection with workers compensation insurance or self-insurance), (xvii) holding any Restricted Payment permitted hereunder temporarily pending further distribution, (xviii) activities required to comply with applicable Laws, (xix) the maintenance and administration of stock option and stock ownership plans, (xx) the obtainment of, and the payment of any fees and expenses for, management, consulting, investment banking and advisory services to the extent otherwise permitted by this Agreement, and (xxi) any activities incidental or reasonably related to the foregoing, including holding Cash and Cash Equivalents (together with any investment income thereon).

 

6.14 Amendments or Waivers of Certain Documents . Agree to any material amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification to, or waiver of, (a) any of its Organizational Documents in a manner materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders; (b) the Management Agreement in a manner materially adverse to the rights or interests of the Lenders, including (i) to increase the amount of the management fees payable under the terms thereof or to impose any additional management, consulting, investment, banking, refinancing, transaction or other similar fees, (ii) to require the payment of interest on any deferred management fees or other fees payable thereunder, or (iii) to change the time of payment of any management fees or other fees payable thereunder or (c) Junior Financing Documentation in violation of the applicable Intercreditor Agreement or subordination terms or other intercreditor arrangements applicable to such Junior Financing.

 

6.15 Fiscal Year . Change its Fiscal Year-end from December 31.

 

SECTION 7 GUARANTY

 

7.1 Guaranty of the Obligations . Subject to the provisions of Section 7.2, the Guarantors jointly and severally hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guaranty to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Beneficiaries the due and punctual payment in full of all 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, 11 USC. § 362(a), but excluding, with respect to any Guarantor at any time, Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Guarantor at such time) (collectively, the “Guaranteed Obligations” ).

 

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7.2 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, if 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 (x) the Fair Share Contribution Amount with respect to such Contributing Guarantor to (y) the aggregate of the Fair Share Contribution Amounts with respect to all Contributing Guarantors times (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 or thereunder 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 7.2, 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 (i) the aggregate amount of all payments and distributions made on or before such date by such Contributing Guarantor in respect of this Guaranty (including in respect of this Section 7.2), minus (ii) 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 7.2. 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 7.2 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 7.2.

 

7.3 Payment by Guarantors . Subject to Section 7.2, Guarantors hereby jointly and severally agree, in furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Beneficiary may have at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, that upon the failure of the Borrowers 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, 11 USC. § 362(a)), Guarantors will upon demand pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of Beneficiaries, 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 proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, would have accrued on such Guaranteed Obligations, whether or not a claim is allowed against such Borrower for such interest in such proceeding) and all other Guaranteed Obligations then owed to Beneficiaries as aforesaid.

 

7.4 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 (other than Remaining Obligations). In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, each Guarantor agrees as follows:

 

(a) this Guaranty is a guaranty of payment when due and not of collectability;

 

(b) this Guaranty is a primary obligation of each Guarantor and not merely a contract of surety;

 

(c) the Administrative Agent may enforce this Guaranty upon the occurrence of an Event of Default notwithstanding the existence of any dispute between any Borrower and any Beneficiary with respect to the existence of such Event of Default;

 

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(d) the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Borrowers and the obligations of any other guarantor (including any other Guarantor) of the obligations of the Borrowers, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against such Guarantor to enforce this Guaranty 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;

 

(e) 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 that has not been paid when due. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Administrative Agent 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;

 

(f) any Beneficiary, upon such terms as it deems appropriate, without notice or demand (except to the extent notice is required to be provided hereunder, in any other Credit Document or under applicable Law) 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 guarantees 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 guarantees 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 such Beneficiary in respect hereof or the Guaranteed Obligations and direct the order or manner of sale thereof, or exercise any other right or remedy that such Beneficiary may have against any such security, in each case as such Beneficiary in its reasonable discretion may determine consistent herewith or with the applicable Swap Contract, Cash Management Agreement or 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 (but so long as such sale is in accordance with applicable Law), 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 the Borrowers or any security for the Guaranteed Obligations; and (vi) exercise any other rights available to it under the Credit Documents, the Swap Contracts or Cash Management Agreements; and

 

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(g) 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 (other than Remaining Obligations) or unless the obligations of the Guarantors are reduced or terminated by the Administrative Agent and applicable Beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), 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 Credit Documents, the Swap Contracts or the Cash Management Agreements, 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 Credit Documents, any of the Swap Contracts, any of the Cash Management Agreements 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 Credit Document, such Swap Contract, such Cash Management Agreement 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 Credit Documents, any of the Swap Contracts or any of the Cash Management Agreements 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 any Beneficiary might have elected to apply such payment to any part or all of the Guaranteed Obligations; (v) any Beneficiary’s consent to the change, reorganization or termination of the corporate structure or existence of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries 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 the Borrowers may allege or assert against any Beneficiary 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.

 

7.5 Waivers by Guarantors . Each Guarantor hereby waives, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, for the benefit of the Beneficiaries: (a) any right to require any Beneficiary, 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 or credit on the books of any Beneficiary in favor of any Borrower or any other Person, or (iv) pursue any other remedy in the power of any Beneficiary 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 (other than Remaining 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 any Beneficiary’s errors or omissions in the administration of the Guaranteed Obligations, except behavior which amounts to gross negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct or material breach of agreement in each case as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; (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 any Beneficiary 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, the Swap Contracts, the Cash Management Agreements 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 7.4 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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7.6 Guarantors’ Rights of Subrogation, Contribution, Etc . Until the Guaranteed Obligations (other than Remaining Obligations) shall have been indefeasibly paid in full and the Revolving Credit Commitments shall have terminated and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or been cancelled, replaced or Cash Collateralized, 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 (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 any Beneficiary 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 any Beneficiary. In addition, until the Guaranteed Obligations (other than Remaining Obligations) shall have been indefeasibly paid in full and the Revolving Credit Commitments shall have terminated and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or been cancelled, replaced or Cash Collateralized, 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 any such right of contribution as contemplated by Section 7.2. 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 any Beneficiary may have against any Borrower, to all right, title and interest any Beneficiary may have in any such collateral or security, and to any right any Beneficiary 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 (other than Remaining Obligations) shall not have been finally and indefeasibly paid in full, such amount shall be held in trust for the Administrative Agent on behalf of Beneficiaries and shall forthwith be paid over to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of Beneficiaries to be credited and applied against the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms hereof and of the other Credit Documents.

 

7.7 Subordination of Other Obligations . Any Indebtedness of the Borrowers 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 the Administrative Agent on behalf of Beneficiaries and shall forthwith be paid over to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of Beneficiaries 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.

 

7.8 Continuing Guaranty . This Guaranty is a continuing guaranty and shall remain in effect until all of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than Remaining Obligations) shall have been paid in full and the Revolving Credit Commitments 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.

 

7.9 Authority of Guarantors or the Borrowers . It is not necessary for any Beneficiary to inquire into the capacity or powers of any Guarantor or the Borrowers or the officers, members of the Board of Directors or any agents acting or purporting to act on behalf of any of them.

 

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7.10 Financial Condition of the Borrowers . Any Credit Extension may be made to the Borrowers or continued from time to time, and any Swap Contracts or Cash Management Agreements may be entered into from time to time, in each case without notice to or authorization from any Guarantor regardless of the financial or other condition of the Borrowers at the time of any such grant or continuation or at the time such Swap Contract or such Cash Management Agreement is entered into, as the case may be. No Beneficiary shall have any obligation to disclose or discuss with any Guarantor its assessment, or any Guarantor’s assessment, of the financial condition of the Borrowers. Each Guarantor has adequate means to obtain information from the Borrowers on a continuing basis concerning the financial condition of the Borrowers and its ability to perform its obligations under the Credit Documents, the Swap Contracts and the Cash Management Agreements, and each Guarantor assumes the responsibility for being and keeping informed of the financial condition of the 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 any Beneficiary to disclose any matter, fact or thing relating to the business, operations or conditions of the Borrowers now known or hereafter known by any Beneficiary.

 

7.11 Bankruptcy, Etc .

 

(a) So long as any Guaranteed Obligations (other than Remaining Obligations) remain outstanding, no Guarantor shall, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent acting pursuant to the instructions of the Required Lenders, commence or join with any other Person in commencing any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law of or against the Borrowers or any other Guarantor. The obligations of the 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 the Borrowers or any other Guarantor or by any defense which the Borrowers 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.

 

(b) 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 clause (a) 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 Beneficiaries 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 the Administrative Agent, or allow the claim of the Administrative Agent in respect of, any such interest accruing after the date on which such case or proceeding is commenced.

 

(c) If 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, if all or any part of such payment(s) are rescinded or recovered directly or indirectly from any Beneficiary 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.

 

7.12 Discharge of Guaranty Upon Sale of Guarantor . If all of the Equity Interests of any Guarantor or any of its successors in interest hereunder shall be sold or otherwise disposed of (including by merger or consolidation) in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, the Guaranty of such Guarantor or such successor in interest, as the case may be, hereunder shall automatically be discharged and released without any further action by any Beneficiary or any other Person effective as of the time of such sale or disposition.

 

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7.13 Keepwell Agreement . Each Qualified ECP Credit Party, jointly and severally, hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by any other Credit Party hereunder to honor all of such Credit Party’s obligations under this Agreement in respect of Swap Contracts ( provided , each Qualified ECP Credit Party shall only be liable under this Section 7.13 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 7.13, or otherwise under this Agreement, voidable under applicable law, including applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations of each Qualified ECP Credit Party under this Section 7.13 shall remain in full force and effect until all of the Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Agreement shall have been paid in full and all Commitments have terminated or expired or been cancelled. Each Qualified ECP Credit Party intends that this Section 7.13 constitute, and this Section 7.13 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Credit Party for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

7.14 Maximum Liability . It is the desire and intent of the Guarantor Subsidiaries and the Secured Parties that this Guaranty shall be enforced against the Guarantor Subsidiaries to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. The provisions of this Guaranty are severable, and in any action or proceeding involving any state corporate law, or any state, Federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any Guarantor Subsidiary under this Guaranty would otherwise be held or determined to be avoidable, invalid or unenforceable on account of the amount of such Guarantor Subsidiary’s liability under this Guaranty, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Guaranty to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by the Guarantor Subsidiaries or the Secured Parties, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount that is valid and enforceable as determined in such action or proceeding (such highest amount determined hereunder being the relevant Guarantor Subsidiary’s “Maximum Liability” ). Each Guarantor Subsidiary agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the Maximum Liability of each Guarantor Subsidiary without impairing this Guaranty or affecting the rights and remedies of the Secured Parties hereunder; provided , nothing in this sentence shall be construed to increase any Guarantor Subsidiary’s obligations hereunder beyond its Maximum Liability.

 

SECTION 8 EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

8.1 Events of Default . The occurrence of any one or more of the following conditions or events shall constitute an “Event of Default” :

 

(a) Failure to Make Payments When Due . Failure by the Borrowers (i) to pay when due any principal of any Loan, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration, by notice of voluntary prepayment, by mandatory prepayment or otherwise, (ii) to pay when due any amount payable to an Issuing Bank in reimbursement of any drawing under a Letter of Credit, (iii) to Cash Collateralize any Letter or Credit or Swing Line Loan as required pursuant to Section 2.3, Section 2.4 or Section 2.22(a)(v), or (iv) within five (5) Business Days after the date when due, to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount due hereunder or under any other Credit Document; or

 

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(b) Default in Other Agreements . (i) Failure of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay when due any principal of or interest on any Material Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred under the Credit Documents) beyond the grace period, if any, provided therefor; or (ii) breach or default by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any other material term of (A) any Material Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred under the Credit Documents), or (B) any loan agreement, mortgage, Vessel Mortgage, indenture or other agreement relating to such Material Indebtedness, in each case beyond the grace period, if any, provided therefor, if the effect of such breach or default is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Material Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of such holder or holders), to cause, such Material Indebtedness to become or be declared due and payable (or subject to a compulsory repurchase or redeemable) prior to its stated maturity or the stated maturity of any underlying obligation, as the case may be (other than (1) any required prepayment of Indebtedness secured by a Permitted Lien that becomes due as the result of the disposition of the assets subject to such Lien so long as such disposition is permitted by this Agreement or (2) any required repurchase, repayment or redemption of (or offer to repurchase, repay or redeem) any Indebtedness that was incurred for the specified purpose of financing all or a portion of the consideration for a merger or acquisition provided that (x) such repurchase, repayment or redemption (or offer to repurchase, repay or redeem) results solely from the failure of such merger or acquisition to be consummated, (y) such Indebtedness is repurchased, repaid or redeemed in accordance with its terms and (z) no proceeds of any Loans are used to make such repayment, repurchase or redemption); or

 

(c) Breach of Certain Covenants . Failure of any Credit Party to perform or comply with any term or condition contained in any of Sections 5.1(h)(i), 5.2 (as it relates to the existence of any Credit Party) or 6; provided , a breach of Section 6.7 (a “Financial Condition Covenant Event of Default” ) shall not constitute an Event of Default with respect to any Term Loans unless and until the Required Revolving Lenders have declared all amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility to be immediately due and payable and all outstanding Revolving Credit Commitments to be immediately terminated in accordance with Section 8.3 (the “Term Loan Standstill Period” ); or

 

(d) Breach of Representations, Etc . Any representation, warranty or certification made or deemed made by any Credit Party in any Credit Document at any time given by such Credit Party in writing pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect (except to the extent such representations and warranties, specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects on and as of such earlier date) or, in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality, in all respects, in each case, as of the date made or deemed made; or

 

(e) Other Defaults Under Credit Documents . Any Credit Party shall default in the performance of or compliance with any term contained herein or any of the other Credit Documents, other than any such term referred to in any other subsection of this Section 8.1, and such default shall not have been remedied or waived (x) in the case of non-compliance with Section 5.1(a) or (b), within ten (10) Business Days of the date the applicable financial statements were required to have been delivered thereunder and (y) in the case of any other term contained herein or any of the other Credit Documents other than any such term referred to in any other subsection of this Section 8.1, within thirty days after the earlier of (i) an Authorized Officer of any Borrower becoming aware of such default or (ii) receipt by the Borrower Representative of notice from the Administrative Agent or any Lender of such default; or

 

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(f) Involuntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, Etc . (i) A court of competent jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an involuntary case under any Debtor Relief Law now or hereafter in effect, which decree or order is not stayed; or any other similar relief shall be granted under any applicable federal or state Law; or (ii) an involuntary case shall be commenced against Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under any Debtor Relief Law now or hereafter in effect; or a decree or order of a court having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee, custodian or other officer having similar powers over Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or over all or a substantial part of its property, shall have been entered; or there shall have occurred the involuntary appointment of an interim receiver, trustee or other custodian of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for all or a substantial part of its property; or a warrant of attachment, execution or similar process shall have been issued against any substantial part of the property of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and any such event described in this clause (ii) shall continue for sixty consecutive days without having been dismissed, bonded or discharged; provided , any reference in this Section 8.1(f) to a Restricted Subsidiary shall exclude any Immaterial Subsidiary affected by any event or circumstances referred herein (it being agreed that all Immaterial Subsidiaries affected by any event or circumstance referred to in any such clause shall be considered together for purposes of determining whether such Persons, collectively, shall be deemed an Immaterial Subsidiary); or

 

(g) Voluntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, Etc . (i) Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall have an order for relief entered with respect to it or shall commence a voluntary case under any Debtor Relief Law now or hereafter in effect, or shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case, or to the conversion of an involuntary case to a voluntary case, under any such Law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, trustee or other custodian for all or a substantial part of its property; or Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall make any assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (ii) Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be unable, or shall fail generally, or shall admit in writing its inability, to pay generally its debts as such debts become due; or (iii) the Board of Directors of Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or any committee thereof) shall adopt any resolution or otherwise authorize any action to approve any of the actions referred to herein or in Section 8.1(f); provided , any reference in this Section 8.1(g) to a Restricted Subsidiary shall exclude any Immaterial Subsidiary affected by any event or circumstances referred to herein (it being agreed that all Immaterial Subsidiaries affected by any event or circumstance referred to in any such clause shall be considered together for purposes of determining whether such Persons, collectively, shall be deemed an Immaterial Subsidiary); or

 

(h) Judgments and Attachments . Any money judgment, writ or warrant of attachment or similar process involving in any individual or aggregate proceeding at any time an amount in excess of $15,000,000 (in each case to the extent not covered by insurance as to which a solvent and unaffiliated insurance company has not denied, in writing, coverage and less any third party indemnity and taking into account any deductibles) shall be entered or filed against Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets and shall remain undischarged, unvacated, unbonded or unstayed for a period of sixty consecutive days; or

 

(i) Employee Benefit Plans . (i) There shall occur one or more ERISA Events which individually or in the aggregate results in or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or (ii) there exists any fact or circumstance that results in the imposition of a Lien pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Code or Section 303(k) or 4068 of ERISA on the assets of Parent or its Restricted Subsidiaries in excess of $15,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time that primes the Liens that secure the Obligations; or

 

(j) Change of Control . A Change of Control shall occur; or

 

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(k) Guarantees, Collateral Documents and other Credit Documents . At any time after the execution and delivery thereof, (i) the Guaranty for any reason, other than the satisfaction in full of all Obligations (other than Remaining Obligations), shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with its terms or as a result of the action or inaction of the Agent, Lenders, Secured Parties or Beneficiaries or any of their respective affiliates, officers, employees, agents, attorneys or representatives) or shall be declared to be null and void or any Guarantor shall repudiate its obligations thereunder, or (ii) this Agreement or any material provision of Collateral Document ceases to be in full force and effect (other than by reason of a release of Collateral in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof or the satisfaction in full of the Obligations (other than Remaining Obligations) in accordance with the terms hereof or as a result of the action or inaction of the Agent, Lenders, Secured Parties or Beneficiaries or any of their respective affiliates, officers, employees, agents, attorneys or representatives) or shall be declared null and void, or the Collateral Agent shall not have or shall cease to have a valid and perfected Lien in a material portion of the Collateral purported to be covered by the Collateral Documents (taken as a whole) with the priority required by the relevant Collateral Document, in each case for any reason other than as a result of the action or inaction of the Agent, Lenders, Secured Parties or Beneficiaries or any of their respective affiliates, officers, employees, agents, attorneys or representatives, or (iii) any Credit Party shall contest in writing the validity or enforceability of any material provision of any Credit Document in writing or deny in writing that it has any further liability, including with respect to future advances by the Lenders, under any Credit Document to which it is a party, or (iv) any Credit Party shall contest in writing the validity or perfection of any Lien in a material portion of Collateral purported to be covered by the Collateral Documents (taken as a whole); or

 

(l) Subordination; Lien Priority . (i) Any Junior Financing permitted hereunder or the guarantees thereof, if any, shall cease, for any reason, to be validly subordinated to the Obligations as provided in applicable Junior Financing Documentation; or (ii) with respect to any Junior Financing permitted hereunder or the guarantees thereof that is or are secured, the Obligations shall cease to constitute First Priority Indebtedness (or the equivalent term thereto therein) under the applicable Intercreditor Agreement or other applicable intercreditor arrangements applicable to such Junior Financing or, in any case, such Intercreditor Agreement or other applicable intercreditor arrangements shall be invalidated or otherwise cease to be legal, valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with their terms (other than pursuant to a Permitted Refinancing of such Junior Financing).

 

8.2 Acceleration . (a) Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in Section 8.1(f) or 8.1(g), automatically, and (b) upon the occurrence of any other Event of Default, at the request of (or with the consent of) the Required Lenders, upon notice to the Borrower Representative by the Administrative Agent (or, if a Financial Condition Covenant Event of Default occurs and is continuing and prior to the expiration of the Term Loan Standstill Period, solely at the request of the Required Revolving Lenders, and in such case, only with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitments, Revolving Loans, Swing Line Loans, and Letters of Credit):

 

(i) the Commitments and the obligation of an Issuing Bank to issue any Letter of Credit shall immediately terminate;

 

(ii) the aggregate principal of all Loans, all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, all fees and all other Obligations under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, together with an amount equal to the Minimum Collateral Amount (regardless of whether any beneficiary under any such Letter of Credit shall have presented, or shall be entitled at such time to present, the drafts or other documents or certificates required to draw under such Letters of Credit), shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each Credit Party; provided , the foregoing shall not affect in any way the obligations of the Lenders under Section 2.3(g) or (h) or Section 2.4(d) or (e);

 

(iii) the Borrowers shall immediately comply with the terms of Section 2.4(h) with respect to the deposit of Cash Collateral to secure the existing Letter of Credit Obligations and future payment of related fees; and

   

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(iv) the Administrative Agent may (and at the direction of the Required Lenders or, solely if a Financial Condition Covenant Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Required Revolving Lenders, shall), and may (and at the direction of the Required Lenders or, solely if a Financial Condition Covenant Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Required Revolving Lenders, shall) cause the Collateral Agent to, exercise any and all of its other rights and remedies under applicable Law (including the UCC) or at equity, hereunder and under the other Credit Documents.

   

8.3 Application of Payments and Proceeds . After the acceleration of the principal amount of any of the Loans in accordance with Section 8.2, all payments and proceeds in respect of any of the Obligations received by any Agent or any Lender under any Credit Document, including any proceeds of any sale of, or other realization upon, all or any part of the Collateral, shall be applied as follows:

 

first , to all fees, costs, indemnities, liabilities, obligations and expenses (other than principal and interest) incurred by or owing to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or an Issuing Bank with respect to this Agreement, the other Credit Documents or the Collateral;

 

second , to all fees, costs, indemnities, liabilities, obligations and expenses (other than principal and interest) incurred by or owing to any Lender with respect to this Agreement, the other Credit Documents or the Collateral;

 

third , to accrued and unpaid interest on the Obligations (including any interest which, but for the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, would have accrued on such amounts);

 

fourth , to the principal amount of the Obligations, including in respect of any Secured Swap Contract and Cash Management Obligations, and including with respect to the deposit of Cash Collateral to secure the existing Letter of Credit Obligations and future payment of related fees in compliance with Section 2.4(h);

 

fifth , to any other Indebtedness or obligations of any Credit Party owing to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender under the Credit Documents; and

 

sixth , to the Borrowers or to whoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such balance or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

 

In carrying out the foregoing, (a) amounts received shall be applied in the numerical order provided until exhausted prior to the application to the next succeeding category, and (b) each of the Persons entitled to receive a payment in any particular category shall receive an amount equal to its pro rata share of amounts available to be applied pursuant thereto for such category. Subject to Section 2.4 amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fourth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn, expired, or supported by back to back letters of credit reasonably acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above and, if no Obligations remain outstanding, to the Borrowers. Each Credit Party irrevocably waives the right to direct the application of any and all payments at any time or times thereafter received by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent from or on behalf of any Credit Party, and, as between each Credit Party on the one hand and the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties on the other, the Administrative Agent shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply and to reapply any and all payments received against the Obligations in such manner as the Administrative Agent may deem advisable notwithstanding any previous application by the Administrative Agent (in each case provided such application is consistent with the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.3).

 

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8.4 Cure Right .

 

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Sections 8.1 and 8.2, if Parent fails to comply with the Financial Condition Covenant as of the end of any Fiscal Quarter in which it is in effect, until the expiration of the tenth Business Day subsequent to the date the Compliance Certificate for such Fiscal Quarter is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(c) (the “Cure Expiration Date” ), Parent or the Relevant Public Company or any Ultimate Parent Company shall have the right to issue Permitted Cure Securities for cash (the amount thereof, the “Cure Amount” ), so long as such cash is immediately contributed to the capital of Parent or the Relevant Public Company as common equity (the “Cure Right” ); provided , (i) no more than five (5) Cure Rights may be exercised after the Closing Date; (ii) no more than two (2) Cure Rights may be exercised during any consecutive four Fiscal Quarters; and (iii) no Cure Amount shall exceed the amount necessary to cause compliance with the applicable Financial Condition Covenant for the period then ended.

 

(b) Upon the receipt by Parent or the Relevant Public Company of the cash proceeds of any capital contribution referred to in Section 8.4(a), Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the Fiscal Quarter as to which such Cure Right is exercised (the “Cure Right Fiscal Quarter” ) shall be deemed to have been increased by the Cure Amount in determining the Financial Condition Covenant for such Cure Right Fiscal Quarter and for any subsequent period that includes such Cure Right Fiscal Quarter; provided , (i) no increase in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA on account of the exercise of any Cure Right shall be applicable for any other purpose under this Agreement or any other Credit Document, including determining of any applicable margin or fee or the availability or amount of any covenant basket, carve-out or compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with any of the Financial Condition Covenant; (ii) the prepayment of the Loans with the proceeds of any Cure Amount shall be disregarded in determining the Financial Condition Covenant for the applicable Cure Right Fiscal Quarter and for any subsequent period that includes such Cure Right Fiscal Quarter; and (iii) no Cure Amount shall be “netted” in the determination of Indebtedness for the calculation of any leverage ratio (including the Financial Condition Covenant) in any period that includes the Cure Right Fiscal Quarter.

 

(c) If immediately after giving effect to the recalculations set forth in Section 8.4(b), Parent shall then be in compliance with the Financial Condition Covenant, Parent shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of such covenants as of the relevant date of determination with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply therewith at such date, and the applicable Event of Default with respect to any such covenant that had occurred shall be deemed cured for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents; provided , neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender may exercise any rights or remedies (including any rights or remedies under Section 8.2 or under any other Credit Document or with respect to acceleration of the Loans, termination of Commitments, foreclosure or possession of any Collateral or otherwise) solely on the basis of any actual or purported Default or Event of Default for failure to comply with the Financial Condition Covenant until and unless the Cure Expiration Date has occurred without the Cure Amount having been received; provided further at any time a Financial Condition Covenant Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, notwithstanding the delivery by the Borrower Representative of written notice stating its intention to cure such Financial Condition Covenant Event of Default, no Lender shall be required to make any extension of credit hereunder until the Cure Amount is actually received by Parent or the Relevant Public Company.

 

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SECTION 9 AGENTS

 

9.1 Appointment and Authority . Each of the Secured Parties hereby irrevocably appoints BNP Paribas to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Credit Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Each of the Secured Parties hereby irrevocably appoints BNP Paribas to act on its behalf as the Collateral Agent hereunder and under the other Credit Documents and authorizes the Collateral Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Collateral Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Except as expressly set forth in Sections 9.6(a) and 9.6(b), the provisions of this Section are solely for the benefit of the Agents, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, and neither Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall have rights as a third-party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Credit Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to an Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties. Each Secured Party irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to execute and deliver each Intercreditor Agreement and to take such action, and to exercise the powers, rights and remedies granted to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent thereunder and with respect thereto, and by virtue of acceptance or the benefits of the Guaranty and the Collateral Documents, each Secured Party not a party hereto is deemed to make the aforesaid appointments and authorizations.

 

9.2 Rights as a Lender . The Person serving as an Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent, and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as an Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own Securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for, and generally engage in any kind of business with, Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not an Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

9.3 Exculpatory Provisions .

 

(a) No Agent shall have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Agent:

 

(i) shall be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(ii) shall have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Credit Documents that such Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Credit Documents); provided , no Agent shall be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose such Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Credit Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

   

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(iii) shall, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents, have any duty to disclose, or be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrowers or any of their respective Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as an Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

   

(b) No Agent shall be liable to any Secured Party for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as such Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.5 and Sections 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3), or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. No Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to such Agent in writing by the Borrower Representative, a Lender or an Issuing Bank.

 

(c) No Agent shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Credit Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance by any other Persons party hereto of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Section 3 or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to such Agent, or (vi) compliance by Affiliated Lenders with the terms hereof relating to Affiliated Lenders. In addition, no Agent shall be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Disqualified Institutions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Agent shall ‎(x) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or participant or prospective Lender or participant is a Disqualified Institution or (y) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of loans, or disclosure of confidential information, to, or the restrictions on any exercise of rights or remedies of, any Disqualified Institution.

 

9.4 Reliance by Agents . Each Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. Each Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance, extension, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, each Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such Issuing Bank unless such Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or such Issuing Bank prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. Each Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrowers), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

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9.5 Delegation of Duties . Each Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Credit Document by or through any one or more sub-agents (which are not Disqualified Institutions) appointed by such Agent. Each Agent and any such sub agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Section shall apply to any such sub agent and to the Related Parties of each Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the Loans and Commitments as well as activities as such Agent. No Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that such Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

9.6 Resignation of the Administrative Agent .

 

(a) Each Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower Representative. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint from among the Lenders a successor with the consent of the Borrower Representative; provided , (x) no such consent of the Borrower Representative shall be required while an Event of Default under Section 8.1(a) or, with respect to Parent, any Holding Company or any Borrower, (f) or (g) exists and (y) such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, and shall be deemed to have been given unless the Borrower Representative shall have objected to such appointment by written notice to the Administrative Agent within seven (7) Business Days after having received notice thereof. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date” ), then the retiring Agent may (but shall not be obligated to), on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided , in no event shall any such successor Administrative Agent be a Defaulting Lender, an Affiliated Lender or a Disqualified Institution as of the date of appointment thereof. Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

 

(b) If the Person serving as an Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower Representative and such Person remove such Person as an Agent and, with the consent of the Borrower Representative ( provided , (x) no such consent of the Borrower Representative shall be required while an Event of Default under clause (a) or, with respect to Parent, any Holding Company or any Borrower, clause (f) or (g) of Section 8.1 exists and (y) such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, and shall be deemed to have been given unless the Borrower Representative shall have objected to such appointment by written notice to the Administrative Agent within seven (7) Business Days after having received notice thereof), appoint a successor from among the Lenders. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date” ), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

 

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(c) With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (i) the retiring or removed Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, (except that in the case of any Collateral held by the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties, the retiring or removed the Collateral Agent shall continue to hold such Collateral until such time as a successor Collateral Agent is appointed) and (ii) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through such Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and each Issuing Bank directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as an Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring or removed Agent, and the retiring or removed Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Credit Documents. The fees payable by the Borrowers to a successor Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrowers and such successor. After the retiring or removed Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, the provisions of this Section and Sections 10.2 and 10.3 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Agent, its sub agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Agent was acting as an Agent.

 

9.7 Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders .

 

(a) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon either Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender and each Issuing Bank acknowledges and agrees that neither such Lender or such Issuing Bank, nor any of its respective Affiliates, participants or assignees, may rely on the Administrative Agent to carry out such Lender’s, Issuing Bank’s Affiliate’s, participant’s or assignee’s customer identification program, or other obligations required or imposed under or pursuant to the PATRIOT Act or the regulations thereunder, including the regulations contained in 31 C.F.R. 103.121 (as hereafter amended or replaced, the “CIP Regulations” ), or any other Anti-Terrorism Law, including any programs involving any of the following items relating to or in connection with any of the Credit Parties, their Affiliates or their agents, the Credit Documents or the transactions hereunder or contemplated hereby: (a) any identity verification procedures, (b) any recordkeeping, (c) comparisons with government lists, (d) customer notices or (e) other procedures required under the CIP Regulations or such other Laws.

 

(b) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank represents and warrants as of the Closing Date to the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates and the Borrowers or each other Credit Party, that such Lender is not and will not be (i) an employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA; (ii) a plan or account subject to Section 4975 of the Code; (iii) an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” of any such plans or accounts within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA; or (iv) a “governmental plan” within the meaning of ERISA.

 

9.8 No Other Duties, Etc . Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no Lead Arranger listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as an Agent, a Lender or an Issuing Bank hereunder.

 

9.9 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim . In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Credit Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or Letter of Credit shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrowers) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

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(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, Letter of Credit Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.4, 2.11, 10.2 and 10.3) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

(c) and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each Issuing Bank to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, if the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.4, 2.11, 10.2 and 10.3.

 

9.10 Collateral Documents and Guaranty .

 

(a) The Secured Parties irrevocably authorize the Collateral Agent, at its option and in its discretion,

 

(i) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Collateral Agent under any Credit Document (x) upon termination of all Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than Remaining Obligations) and the expiration, termination or Cash Collateralization of all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit as to which other arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank shall have been made), (y) that is sold or otherwise disposed of or to be sold or otherwise disposed of as part of or in connection with any sale or other disposition permitted under the Credit Documents, or (z) subject to Section 10.5, if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders;

 

(ii) to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Collateral Agent under any Credit Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 6.2(f) or 6.2(g); and

 

(iii) to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted under the Credit Documents.

 

Upon request by the Collateral Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Collateral Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.10(a). If any Collateral is disposed of as permitted by Section 6.9 to any Person other than a Credit Party, such Collateral shall be sold free and clear of the Liens created by the Credit Documents and the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall, at the expense of the Borrowers, take any and all actions reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative to effect the foregoing (provided that if requested by the Administrative Agent the Borrower Representative shall provide a certification that such disposition is permitted by this Agreement).

 

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(b) Anything contained in any of the Credit Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, each Credit Party, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Secured Party hereby agree that (i) no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce the Guaranty, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies hereunder and under any of the Credit Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, for the benefit of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof and all powers, rights and remedies under the Collateral Documents may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms thereof, and (ii) if a foreclosure or similar enforcement action by the Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition occurs (including pursuant to section 363(k), section 1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or otherwise of the Bankruptcy Code), the Collateral Agent (or any Lender, except with respect to a “credit bid” pursuant to section 363(k), section 1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or otherwise of the Bankruptcy Code) may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale or other disposition and the Collateral Agent, as agent for and representative of Secured Parties (but not any Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities) shall be entitled, upon instructions from Required Lenders, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such sale or disposition, to use and apply any of the Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by the Collateral Agent at such sale or other disposition.

 

(c) None of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent shall be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Lien thereon granted under the Credit Documents, or any certificate prepared by any Credit Party in connection therewith, and none of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent shall be responsible or liable to any Secured Party for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.

 

(d) No Secured Swap Contract will create (or be deemed to create) in favor of any Eligible Counterparty that is a party thereto any rights in connection with the management or release of any Collateral or of the obligations of any Guarantor under the Credit Documents except as expressly provided in Section 8.3 and Section 10.5(d)(iv). By accepting the benefits of the Collateral, such Eligible Counterparty shall be deemed to have appointed the Collateral Agent as its agent and agreed to be bound by the Credit Documents as a Secured Party, subject to the limitations set forth in this clause (d).

 

(e) No Cash Management Agreement will create (or be deemed to create) in favor of any Cash Management Bank that is a party thereto any rights in connection with the management or release of any Collateral or of the obligations of any Guarantor under the Credit Documents except as expressly provided in Section 8.3 and Section 10.5(d)(iv). By accepting the benefits of the Collateral, each Cash Management Bank shall be deemed to have appointed the Collateral Agent as its agent and agreed to be bound by the Credit Documents as a Secured Party, subject to the limitations set forth in this clause (e).

 

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9.11 Withholding Taxes . To the extent required by any applicable Law, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. If the IRS or any other Governmental Authority asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold Tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender because the appropriate form was not delivered, was not properly executed or was invalid or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstance which rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding Tax ineffective or for any other reason, such Lender shall indemnify the Administrative Agent fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as Tax or otherwise, including any penalties or interest and together with all expenses (limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses, to the actual reasonable and documented and out-of-pocket fees, charges and disbursements of one primary outside legal counsel and, if necessary or appropriate, one local counsel in each relevant material jurisdiction) incurred, whether or not such Tax was correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Credit Document against any amount due the Administrative Agent under this Section 9.11. For the avoidance of doubt, (a) the term “Lender” shall, for purposes of this Section 9.11, include the Issuing Banks and any Swing Line Lender and (b) this Section 9.11 shall not limit or expand the obligations of the Borrowers or any other Credit Party under Section 2.20 or any other provision of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 10 MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.1 Notices .

 

(a) Notices Generally . Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in Section 10.1(b)), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile, if to any Credit Party, an Agent, an Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender, to it at its address (or facsimile number) as set forth on Appendix B, or if to a Lender, to it at its address (or facsimile number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire. Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications, to the extent provided in Section 10.1(b), shall be effective as provided in Section 10.1(b).

 

(b) Electronic Communications . Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided , the foregoing shall not apply to Notices to any Lender or any Issuing Bank if such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving Notices by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower Representative may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided , approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient, at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i), of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefore; provided , for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

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(c) Change of Address, Etc . Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

 

(d) Platform .

 

(i) Each Credit Party agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make the Communications (as defined below) available to the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders by posting the Communications on Debt Domain, IntraLinks, Syndtrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the “Platform” ). The Borrowers acknowledge and agree that the DQ List (if any) shall be deemed suitable for posting and may be posted by the Administrative Agent on the Platform, including the portion of the Platform that is designated for “public side” Lenders.

 

(ii) The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the adequacy of the Platform and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Communications. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Communications or the Platform. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties” ) have any liability to the Borrowers or the other Credit Parties, any Lender or any other Person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrowers’, any Credit Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of communications through the Platform. “Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material that any Credit Party provides to the Administrative Agent pursuant to any Credit Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through the Platform.

   

10.2 Expenses . The Borrowers shall pay (a) all reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses, to the actual reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other charges of one primary outside legal counsel for the Administrative Agent and, if necessary or appropriate, one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction), in connection with the syndication of the Loans and Commitments, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (b) all reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses incurred by an Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder, and (c) all documented out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank (limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses, to the actual reasonable and documented out of pocket fees, charges and disbursements of one primary outside counsel for all such persons taken as a whole (and, solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel for all such persons taken as a whole) and if necessary or appropriate, of one local counsel in each relevant material jurisdiction (and solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional conflicts counsel)) in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such documented out of pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

 

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10.3 Indemnity; Certain Waivers .

 

(a) Indemnification by Borrower s. The Borrowers shall indemnify each Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and each Issuing Bank, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee” ) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses, to the actual reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other charges of one common counsel for all Indemnitees taken as a whole and, solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional conflicts counsel to all affected Indemnitees and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel in each relevant material jurisdiction to all Indemnitees)), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any Person (including Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) other than such Indemnitee and its Related Parties to the extent arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by an Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrowers or the Restricted Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrowers or the Restricted 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 Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided , such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (w) 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 Indemnitee, (x) result from a claim brought by Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries against an Indemnitee for material breach of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Credit Document, if Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, (y) result from disputes solely among such Indemnitees (other than claims against an Indemnitee acting in its capacity as the Administrative Agent or Joint Lead Arranger) and not arising out of any act or omission of Sponsor, Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or (z) relate to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

 

(b) Reimbursement by Lenders . To the extent that the Borrowers for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under Section 10.2 or Section 10.3(a) to be paid by it to an Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the Issuing Banks, the Swing Line Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to such Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Issuing Bank, the Swing Line Lender or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender); provided , with respect to such unpaid amounts owed to such Issuing Bank or Swing Line Lender solely in its capacity as such, only the Revolving Lenders shall be required to pay such unpaid amounts, such payment to be made severally among them based on such Revolving Lenders’ Pro Rata Share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) provided further , the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against an Agent (or any such sub-agent), an Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Lender in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for such Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Issuing Bank or any the Swing Line Lender in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this Section 10.3(b) are subject to the provisions of Section 10.12.

 

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(c) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no party hereto or any beneficiary hereof shall assert, and each party hereto and beneficiary hereof hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee or any other party hereto, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Credit Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit, or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby; provided , nothing contained in this clause (c) shall limit any of the Borrowers’ indemnification and reimbursement obligations to the extent expressly set forth herein.

 

(d) Payments . All amounts due under Sections 10.2 and Section 10.3 shall be payable promptly after demand therefor.

 

(e) Survival . Each party’s obligations under Sections 10.2 and 10.3 shall survive the termination of the Credit Documents and payment of the obligations hereunder.

 

10.4 Set-Off . If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each Issuing Bank, and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency but excluding deposits in any trust, payroll, cash collateral or other similar account) at any time held, and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing, by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate, to or for the credit or the account of the Borrowers or any other Credit Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrowers or such Credit Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Credit Document to such Lender or such Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, such Issuing Bank or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Credit Document and although such obligations of the Borrowers or such Credit Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender or such Issuing Bank different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided , if any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.22 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender, each Issuing Bank and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such Issuing Bank or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees to notify the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided , the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

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10.5 Amendments and Waivers .

 

(a) Required Lenders’ Consent . Subject to the additional requirements of Sections 10.5(b), 10.5(c) and 10.5(d), no amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any term or condition of any Credit Document, or consent to any departure by any Credit Party therefrom, shall be effective without the written concurrence of the Required Lenders (other than (i) as provided in Section 2.24 with respect to an Extension Amendment, (ii) as provided in Section 2.25 with respect to any Joinder Agreement, and (iii) as provided in Section 2.26 with respect to a Permitted Refinancing Amendment); provided , the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Borrower Representative only, amend, modify or supplement this Agreement to (x) cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency, in each case, of a technical, immaterial or obvious nature, (y) comply with law or advice of local or regulatory counsel or (z) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein (including for the avoidance of doubt Section 10.6(a)(i)), further permit and reflect the occurrence of a SPAC Transaction, including without limitation replacing references herein or in any other Credit Document to Parent or any Borrower (including the Borrower Representative) with references to the Relevant Public Company resulting therefrom and as is otherwise necessary or appropriate to reflect the resulting public company nature of the Credit Parties, so long as no Agent, Issuing Bank or Lender shall have objected thereto in writing within five (5) Business Days of such amendment, modification or supplement being posted to the Platform or otherwise delivered to such Person.

 

(b) Affected Lenders’ Consent . No amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any term or condition of any Credit Document, or consent to any departure by any Credit Party therefrom, shall:

 

(i) extend the scheduled final maturity of any Loan without the written consent of the Lender holding such Loan;

 

(ii) extend the Scheduled Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date without the written consent of each Revolving Lender that is affected thereby;

 

(iii) extend the stated expiration date of any Letter of Credit beyond the Scheduled Revolving Credit Commitment Termination Date without the written consent of each Revolving Lender that is affected thereby;

 

(iv) reduce the principal amount of any Loan without the written consent of the Lender holding such Loan;

 

(v) reduce any reimbursement obligation in respect of any Letter of Credit without the written consent of each Revolving Lender;

 

(vi) increase the Revolving Credit Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender; provided , no amendment, modification or waiver of any condition precedent, covenant, Default or Event of Default shall constitute an increase in any Revolving Credit Commitment of any Lender;

 

(vii) waive, reduce or postpone any scheduled repayment (but not mandatory or voluntary prepayment) of the principal amount of any Loan without the written consent of the Lender holding such Loan;

   

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(viii) reduce the rate of interest on any Loan (other than any waiver of any increase in the interest rate applicable to any Loan pursuant to Section 2.10) without the written consent of the Lender holding such Loan;

 

(ix) reduce any fee or premium payable under any Credit Document without the written consent of the Lender that is entitled to receive such fee or premium;

 

(x) extend the time for payment of any interest (other than an interest that is payable pursuant to Section 2.10) on any Loan without the written consent of the Lender holding such Loan;

 

(xi) extend the time for payment of any fee or premium payable under any Credit Document without the written consent of the Lender that is entitled to receive such fee or premium;

 

(xii) amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision of the definition of “Pro Rata Share”, Section 2.17 or Section 8.3 without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby;

 

(xiii) amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision of the definition of “Required Revolving Lenders” without the consent of all Revolving Lenders; or

 

(xiv) amend, modify, terminate or waive any term or condition of Sections 10.5(a), 10.5(b), 10.5(c), 10.5(d), 10.6(b)(v), 10.6(d), 10.6(f) or 10.6(g) or the definition of “Affiliated Lender”, “Debt Fund Affiliate”, “Eligible Assignee”, “or “Non-Debt Fund Affiliate”, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby.

   

(c) Consent of all Lenders . Without the written consent of all Lenders, no amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any term or condition of any Credit Document, or consent to any departure by any Credit Party therefrom, shall:

 

(i) amend, modify, terminate or waive any term or condition of this Agreement or any other Credit Document that expressly provides that the consent of all Lenders is required;

 

(ii) amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision of the definition of “Required Lenders” or alter the required application of any payments, repayments or prepayments as between Classes of Loans pursuant to Section 2.15;

 

(iii) release or subordinate the Liens of the Secured Parties in all or substantially all of the Collateral, or release all or substantially all of the value of the Guarantees or subordinate the rights or claims of the Beneficiaries with respect thereto, in each case, except as expressly provided in the Credit Documents; provided , in connection with a “credit bid” undertaken by the Collateral Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders pursuant to section 363(k), section 1129(b)(2)(a)(ii) or otherwise of the Bankruptcy Code or other sale or disposition of assets in connection with an enforcement action with respect to the Collateral permitted pursuant to the Credit Documents, only the consent of the Required Lenders will be needed for such release; or

   

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(iv) consent to the assignment or transfer by any Credit Party of any of its rights and obligations under any Credit Document (except as expressly provided in or contemplated by the Credit Documents).

   

(d) Other Consents . No amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any term or condition of any Credit Document, or consent to any departure by any Credit Party therefrom, shall:

 

(i) amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision hereof relating to the Swing Line Sublimit or the Swing Line Loans without the consent of the Swing Line Lender;

 

(ii) amend, modify, terminate or waive any obligation of the Lenders relating to the purchase of participations in Letters of Credit as provided in Section 2.4(e) without the written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank;

 

(iii) amend, modify or waive any Credit Document so as to alter the ratable treatment of Obligations arising under the Credit Documents, Obligations arising under Secured Swap Contracts or Cash Management Obligations, or the definition of “Cash Management Agreement,” “Cash Management Bank,” “Cash Management Obligations,” “Cash Management Products,” “Eligible Counterparty,” “Obligations,” “Swap Contract,” “Secured Swap Contract,” or “Secured Obligations” (as defined in any applicable Collateral Document), in each case, in a manner materially adverse to (A) any Eligible Counterparty with Obligations then outstanding without the written consent of any such Eligible Counterparty or (B) any Cash Management Bank with Cash Management Obligations then outstanding without the written consent of any such Cash Management Bank;

 

(iv) amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision of Section 9 as the same applies to any Agent, or any other provision hereof as the same applies to the rights or obligations of any Agent, in each case without the consent of such Agent; or

 

(v) amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision of this Section 10.5(d)(v) or Section 3.2, 6.7, 8.1(c) (solely as it relates to Section 6.7), 8.3 (solely as it relates to a Financial Condition Covenant Event of Default) or 8.5 or the definition of “Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio” or the component definitions thereof (as used in each such Section but not as used in any other Section of this Agreement), in each case, without the written consent of the Required Revolving Lenders; provided , any such amendment, modification, termination or waiver shall require only the written consent of the Required Revolving Lenders, and not the written consent of the Required Lenders.

   

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(e) Intercreditor Arrangements . No consent of any other Secured Party is required for the Administrative Agent to enter into, or to effect any amendment, modification or supplement to any Intercreditor Agreement for the purpose of adding the holders of any Indebtedness permitted hereby (or their representative) that is permitted to be secured by the Collateral as a party thereto and otherwise causing such Indebtedness to be subject thereto as contemplated by the terms of such Intercreditor Agreement (it being understood that any such amendment or supplement may make such other changes to such Intercreditor Agreement as, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, are required or appropriate to effectuate the foregoing or to cure ambiguities, omissions, mistakes, defects or inconsistencies so long as such other changes are not adverse, in any material respect (taken as a whole), to the interests of the Lenders; provided , no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Credit Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.

 

(f) Guarantees and Collateral Documents . Guarantees, collateral security documents and related documents executed by the Credit Parties or other Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement may be in a form reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and may be, together with this Agreement, amended and waived with the consent of the Administrative Agent at the request of the Borrower Representative without the need to obtain the consent of any other Lender if such amendment or waiver is delivered in order (i) to comply with local Law or advice of local or regulatory counsel, (ii) to cure ambiguities, omissions, mistakes, defects or inconsistencies or (iii) to cause such guarantee, collateral security documents and related documents to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

 

(g) Execution of Amendments, Etc . The Administrative Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, with the concurrence of any Lender, execute amendments, modifications, waivers or consents on behalf of, and with the consent of such Lender. Any waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it was given. No notice to or demand on any Credit Party in any case shall entitle any Credit Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. Any amendment, modification, termination, waiver or consent effected in accordance with this Section 10.5 shall be binding upon each Lender at the time outstanding, each future Lender and, if signed by a Credit Party, on such Credit Party.

 

(h) Changes to Adjusted Eurodollar Rate . If the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Loans (including because Eurodollar Base Rate is not published on a current basis or is otherwise not available), and that such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary, or if the supervisor for the administrator of the Eurodollar Base Rate (or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent) has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the Eurodollar Base Rate shall no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans, then the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative shall (x) agree on an alternate method to ascertain the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Loans which gives due consideration to the then prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest for syndicated loans in the United States at such time, and (y) enter into an amendment to the applicable Credit Documents that reflects such alternate rate of interest and any other related changes as may be applicable, which amendment shall become effective solely upon execution by the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, unless the Required Lenders shall object in writing to such amendment on or prior to the fifth Business Day following delivery of notice of such amendment by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders.

 

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10.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations .

 

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally . The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (i) neither the Borrowers nor any other Credit Party may (other than pursuant to or as results from a transaction permitted under Section 6.8) assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (x) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.6(b), (y) by way of participation in accordance with Section 10.6(d), or (z) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to Section 10.6(e) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in Section 10.6(d) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b) Assignments by Lenders . Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided , each such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i) Minimum Amounts .

 

(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and/or the Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds that equal at least the amount specified in Section 10.6(b)(i)(B) in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

 

(B) in any case not described in Section 10.6(b)(i)(A), the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $1,000,000 in the case of any assignment in respect of Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Loans, or $1,000,000 in the case of any assignment in respect of any Term Loan or any Incremental Term Loan, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower Representative otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

(ii) Proportionate Amounts . Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loan or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations among separate facilities on a non-pro rata basis.

 

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(iii) Required Consents . No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by Section 10.6(b)(i)(B) and, in addition:

 

(A) the consent of the Borrower Representative (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed provided , it shall not be deemed unreasonable for the Borrower Representative to withhold consent to any assignment to a Disqualified Institution for any reason) shall be required unless (I) a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment, (II) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or (III) such assignment is to any Person that is not a Disqualified Institution and occurs at any time prior to the earlier of (x) the date that the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower Representative that the primary syndication of the Loans and Revolving Credit Commitments has been completed (which the Administrative Agent hereby agrees to notify the Borrowers of upon the occurrence thereof), and (y) the sixtieth day following the Closing Date; provided , the Borrower Representative shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment (other than with respect to an assignment to a Disqualified Institution) unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within 10 Business Days after having received notice thereof;

 

(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of (i) the Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Loans or any unfunded Commitments with respect to any Term Loan or Incremental Term Loan if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment in respect thereof, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender, or (ii) any Term Loan or any Incremental Term Loan to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; and

 

(C) the consent of each Issuing Bank and the Swing Line Lender shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Loans if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment in respect thereof, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender.

 

(iv) Assignment and Assumption . The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with all forms, certificates or other evidence each assignee is required to provide pursuant to Section 2.20(g) and a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (except that no such processing and recordation fee shall be payable in connection with any assignment to which the Lead Arranger or any of its Affiliates is a party as assignor or assignee); provided , the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

   

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(v) No Assignment to Certain Persons . No such assignment shall be made to (A) the Borrowers or any of the Borrowers’ Affiliates or Subsidiaries except, solely with respect to Term Loans, as permitted by Sections 10.6(f) and 10.6(g), (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute a Defaulting Lender or a Subsidiary thereof or (C) to any Disqualified Institution.

 

(vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons . No such assignment shall be made to a natural Person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person).

 

(vii) Certain Additional Payments . In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent, the applicable Pro Rata Share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Swing Line Lender and each other Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full Pro Rata Share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable law without compliance with the provisions of this Section, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

   

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.6(c), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits (and obligations) of Sections 2.19, 2.20 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.20(g)), 10.2 and 10.3 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided , except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lender having been a Defaulting Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 10.6.(b) but otherwise complies with Section 10.6(d) shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 10.6(d).

 

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(c) Register . The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at the Payment Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of (and stated interest on) the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register” ). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower Representative and by any Lender (but, with respect to any Lender, solely as to the Loans and Commitments thereof), at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. The Register is intended to cause each Loan and other obligation hereunder to be in registered form within the meaning of Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations and within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Code.

 

(d) Participations . Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person, or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person, or the Borrowers or any of the Borrowers’ Affiliates or Restricted Subsidiaries or any Disqualified Institution) (each, a “Participant” ) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided , (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, and (iii) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 10.3(b) with respect to any payments made by such Lender to its Participant(s).

 

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided , such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in Section 10.5(b) or 10.5(c) that adversely affects such Participant. The Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.19 and 2.20 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.20(g) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.20(g) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to clause (b) of this Section (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.20(g)); provided , such Participant agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.19 and 2.20 as if it were an assignee under Section 10.6(b). To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.4 as though it were a Lender; provided , such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.17 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation pursuant to this Section shall maintain a register on which it records the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts of (and stated interest on) each Participant’s participation interest with respect to the Loans and the Commitments (each, a “Participant Register” ). The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest or demonstrable error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of a participation with respect to such Loans or Commitments for all purposes under this Agreement, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. In maintaining the Participant Register, such Lender shall be acting as the agent of the Borrowers solely for purposes of applicable US federal income tax law and undertakes no duty, responsibility or obligation to the Borrowers (without limitation, in no event shall such Lender be a fiduciary of the Borrowers for any purpose, except that such Lender shall maintain the Participant Register; provided , no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans, or its other obligations under this Agreement) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish in connection with a Tax audit that such Commitment, Loan, or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations and within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Code. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.19 or 2.20 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant (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) unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower Representative’s prior written consent. A Participant shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.20 unless the Borrower Representative is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrowers, to comply with Section 2.20 as though it were a Lender (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.20(g) shall be provided to the participating Lender).

 

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(e) Certain Pledges; SPCs .

 

(i) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided , 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.

 

(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender” ) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative (an “SPC” ) the option to provide all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement; provided , (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any Loan, and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. Each party hereto hereby agrees that (A) neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 2.19 and 2.20), (B) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable and (C) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Credit Document, remain the lender of record hereunder. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the applicable Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior debt of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, or liquidation proceeding under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (1) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent, and with the payment of a processing fee of $3,500 to the Administrative Agent, assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Loan to the applicable Granting Lender and (2) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its funding of Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

   

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(f) Assignments to Affiliated Lenders . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any Term Loan Lender may, at any time, assign all or a portion of its Term Loans on a non-pro rata basis to an Affiliated Lender through open-market purchases or in accordance with the procedures set forth on Appendix C, pursuant to an offer made available to all Term Loan Lenders on a pro rata basis (a “Dutch Auction” ), subject to the following limitations:

 

(i) in connection with an assignment to a Non-Debt Fund Affiliate, (A) the Non-Debt Fund Affiliate shall have identified itself in writing as an Affiliated Lender to the assigning Term Loan Lender and the Administrative Agent prior to the execution of such assignment and (B) the Non-Debt Fund Affiliate shall be deemed to have represented and warranted to the assigning Term Loan Lender and the Administrative Agent that the requirements set forth in this clause (i) and clause (iv) below shall have been satisfied upon consummation of the applicable assignment;

 

(ii) Non-Debt Fund Affiliates will not (A) have the right to receive information, reports or other materials provided solely to Lenders by the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, except to the extent made available to the Borrowers or any other Credit Party, (B) attend or participate in meetings attended solely by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent to which no Credit Party has been invited, or (C) access any electronic site established for the Lenders or confidential communications from counsel to or financial advisors of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders;

   

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(iii) (A) for purposes of any consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of, or any action under, and for the purpose of any direction to the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) under, this Agreement or any other Credit Document, each Non-Debt Fund Affiliate will be deemed to have consented in the same proportion as the Term Loan Lenders that are not Non-Debt Fund Affiliates consented to such matter, unless such matter requires the consent of all or all affected Lenders or adversely affects such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate (in its capacity as a Lender) disproportionately compared to other Term Loan Lenders that are not Non-Debt Fund Affiliates, (B) for purposes of voting on any plan of reorganization or plan of liquidation pursuant to any Debtor Relief Laws (a “Plan” ), each Non-Debt Fund Affiliate hereby agrees (x) not to vote on such Plan, (y) if such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate does vote on such Plan notwithstanding the restriction in the foregoing clause (x), such vote will be deemed not to be in good faith and shall be “designated” pursuant to Section 1126(e) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws), and such vote shall not be counted in determining whether the applicable class has accepted or rejected such Plan in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws) and (z) not to contest any request by any party for a determination by the Bankruptcy Court (or other applicable court of competent jurisdiction) effectuating the foregoing clause (y), in each case under this clause (iii)(B) unless such Plan adversely affects such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate (in its capacity as a Lender) disproportionately compared to other Term Loan Lenders that are not Non-Debt Fund Affiliates, and (C) each Non-Debt Fund Affiliate hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to vote on behalf of such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate (solely in respect of Term Loans held thereby and not in respect of any other claim or status such Non-Debt Fund Affiliate may otherwise have), in any vote of the type described in the foregoing clause (B) (but subject in any event to the limitations set forth therein);

 

(iv) the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans held at any one time by Non-Debt Fund Affiliates may not exceed 20% of the then aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans;

 

(v) no Affiliated Lender in its capacity as such, will be entitled to bring actions against the Administrative Agent, in its role as such (except with respect to any claim that the Administrative Agent is treating such Affiliated Lender, in its capacity as a Lender, in a disproportionate manner relative to other Lenders that are not Non-Debt Fund Affiliates), or receive advice of counsel or other advisors to the Administrative Agent or any other Lenders or challenge the attorney client privilege of their respective counsel;

 

(vi) the portion of any Loans held by Debt Fund Affiliates in the aggregate in excess of 49.9% of the amount of Loans and Commitments required to be held by Lenders in order for such Lenders to constitute “Required Lenders” shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time; and

 

(vii) any Term Loan acquired by an Affiliated Lender may be contributed to Parent (whether through an Ultimate Parent Company or otherwise) and exchanged for debt or equity Securities of such Ultimate Parent Company or Parent that are otherwise permitted to be issued by such Person at such time in accordance with the terms hereof, and such Term Loans and all rights and obligations as a Term Loan Lender related thereto shall, for all purposes under this Agreement, the other Credit Documents and otherwise, be deemed to be irrevocably prepaid, terminated, extinguished, cancelled and of no further force and effect as of the date of such contribution.

   

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Each Affiliated Lender that is a Term Loan Lender hereunder agrees to comply with the terms of this Section 10.6(f) (notwithstanding that it may be granted access to the Platform or any other electronic site established for the Lenders by the Administrative Agent), and agrees that in any subsequent assignment of all or any portion of its Term Loans it shall identify itself in writing to the assignee as an Affiliated Lender prior to the execution of such assignment.

 

(g) Buybacks . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any Term Loan Lender may, at any time, assign all or a portion of its Term Loans on a non-pro rata basis to the Borrowers or Parent through open-market purchases or in accordance with a Dutch Auction, subject to the following limitations:

 

(i) if any Borrower is the assignee, immediately and automatically, without any further action on the part of such Borrower, any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any other Person, upon the effectiveness of such assignment of Term Loans from a Term Loan Lender to such Borrower, such Term Loans and all rights and obligations as a Term Loan Lender related thereto shall, for all purposes under this Agreement, the other Credit Documents and otherwise, be deemed to be irrevocably prepaid, terminated, extinguished, cancelled and of no further force and effect and such Borrower shall neither obtain nor have any rights as a Term Loan Lender hereunder or under the other Credit Documents by virtue of such assignment;

 

(ii) if Parent is the assignee, immediately and automatically, without any further action on the part of the Borrowers, Parent, any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any other Person, upon the effectiveness of such assignment of Term Loans from a Term Loan Lender to Parent, Parent shall automatically be deemed to have contributed the principal amount of such Term Loans, plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to the Borrowers as common equity, and such Term Loans and all rights and obligations as a Term Loan Lender related thereto shall, for all purposes under this Agreement, the other Credit Documents and otherwise, be deemed to be irrevocably prepaid, terminated, extinguished, cancelled and of no further force and effect and Parent shall neither obtain nor have any rights as a Term Loan Lender hereunder or under the other Credit Documents by virtue of such assignment;

 

(iii) no proceeds of any Revolving Loan or Swing Line Loan shall be used for any such assignment; and

 

(iv) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately before or immediately after giving effect to such assignment.

 

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(h) Disqualified Institutions .

 

(i) No assignment or participation shall be made to any Person that was a Disqualified Institution as of the date (the “Trade Date” ) on which the assigning Lender entered into a binding agreement to sell and assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to such Person (unless the Borrowers have consented to such assignment in writing in their sole and absolute discretion, in which case such Person will not be considered a Disqualified Institution for the purpose of such assignment or participation). For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any assignee that becomes a Disqualified Institution after the applicable Trade Date (including as a result of the delivery of a notice pursuant to, and/or the expiration of the notice period referred to in, the definition of “Disqualified Institution”), (x) such assignee shall not retroactively be disqualified from becoming a Lender and (y) the execution by the Borrowers of an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignee will not by itself result in such assignee no longer being considered a Disqualified Institution. Any assignment in violation of this Section 10.6(h)(i) shall not be void, but the other provisions of this Section 10(h) shall apply.

 

(ii) If any assignment or participation is made to any Disqualified Institution without the Borrowers’ prior written consent in violation of clause (i) above, or if any Person becomes a Disqualified Institution after the applicable Trade Date, the Borrowers may, at their sole expense and effort, upon notice to the applicable Disqualified Institution and the Administrative Agent, (A) terminate any Revolving Credit Commitment of such Disqualified Institution and repay all obligations of the Borrowers owing to such Disqualified Institution in connection with such Revolving Credit Commitment, (B) in the case of outstanding Term Loans held by Disqualified Institutions, purchase or prepay such Term Loan by paying the lesser of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such (or if less, any) Disqualified Institution paid to acquire such Term Loans, in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder and/or (C) require such Disqualified Institution to assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in this Section 10.6), all of its interest, rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more Eligible Assignees at the lesser of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Institution (or if less, any) paid to acquire such interests, rights and obligations, in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder.

   

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(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Disqualified Institutions (A) will not (x) have the right to receive information, reports or other materials provided to Lenders by the Borrowers, any Agent or any other Lender, (y) attend or participate in meetings attended by the Lenders and/or the Administrative Agent, or (z) access any electronic site established for the Lenders or confidential communications from counsel to or financial advisors of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders and (B) (x) for purposes of any consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of, or any action under, and for the purpose of any direction to any Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) under this Agreement or any other Credit Document, each Disqualified Institution will be deemed to have consented in the same proportion as the Lenders that are not Disqualified Institutions consented to such matter, and (y) for purposes of voting on any Plan, each Disqualified Institution party hereto hereby agrees (1) not to vote on such Plan, (2) if such Disqualified Institution does vote on such Plan notwithstanding the restriction in the foregoing clause (1), such vote will be deemed not to be in good faith and shall be “designated” pursuant to Section 1126(e) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws), and such vote shall not be counted in determining whether the applicable class has accepted or rejected such Plan in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws) and (3) not to contest any request by any party for a determination by the Bankruptcy Court (or other applicable court of competent jurisdiction) effectuating the foregoing clause (2).

 

(iv) The Administrative Agent shall have the right, and the Borrowers hereby expressly authorize the Administrative Agent, to (A) post the list of Disqualified Institutions provided by the Borrowers and any updates thereto from time to time (collectively, the “DQ List” ) on the Platform, including that portion of the Platform that is designated for “public side” Lenders and/or (B) provide the DQ List to each Lender requesting the same.

   

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

 

10.7 Independence of Covenants . All covenants hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is not permitted by any of such covenants, the fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or would otherwise be within the limitations of, another covenant shall not avoid the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default if such action is taken or condition exists.

 

10.8 Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements . All representations, warranties and agreements made herein shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and the making of any Credit Extension. Notwithstanding anything herein or implied by law to the contrary, the agreements of each Credit Party set forth in Sections 2.18(c), 2.19, 2.20, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4 and the agreements of the Lenders set forth in Sections 2.17, 2.20, 2.21, 2.22, 9.3(b), 9.6 and 9.11 shall survive the payment of the Loans, the cancellation or expiration of the Letters of Credit and the reimbursement of any amounts drawn thereunder, and the termination hereof.

 

10.9 No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative . No failure or delay on the part of any Agent or any Lender in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall impair such power, right or privilege or be construed to be a waiver of any default or acquiescence therein, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right or privilege. The rights, powers and remedies given to each Agent and each Lender hereby are cumulative and shall be in addition to and independent of all rights, powers and remedies existing by virtue of any statute or rule of law or in any of the other Credit Documents, any Secured Swap Contracts or any Cash Management Agreements. Any forbearance or failure to exercise, and any delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder shall not impair any such right, power or remedy or be construed to be a waiver thereof, nor shall it preclude the further exercise of any such right, power or remedy.

 

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  10.10 Marshalling; Payments Set Aside . Neither any Agent nor any Lender shall be under any obligation to marshal any assets in favor of any Credit Party or any other Person or against or in payment of any or all of the Obligations. To the extent that any Credit Party makes a payment or payments to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (or to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders or any Issuing Bank), or any Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender enforces any security interests or exercise their rights of setoff, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or setoff or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any Debtor Relief Law, any other state or federal law, common law or any equitable cause, then, to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied, and all Liens, rights and remedies therefor or related thereto, shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment or payments had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.

 

10.11 Severability . If any provision in or obligation hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

10.12 Obligations Several; Independent Nature of the Lenders’ Rights . The obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and no Lender shall be responsible for the obligations or Commitment of any other Lender hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other Credit Document, and no action taken by the Lenders pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Lenders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity. The amounts payable at any time hereunder to each Lender shall be a separate and independent debt, and each Lender shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights arising out hereof and it shall not be necessary for any other Lender to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

 

10.13 Headings . Section headings herein are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part hereof for any other purpose or be given any substantive effect.

 

10.14 Governing Law . This Agreement and the other Credit Documents and any claims, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Credit Document (except, as to any other Credit Document, as expressly set forth therein) and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

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10.15 Consent to Jurisdiction . The Borrowers and each other Credit Party irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that it will not commence any action, litigation or proceeding of any kind or description, whether in law or equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, against any Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Bank, or any Related Party of the foregoing in any way relating to this Agreement or any other Credit Document or the transactions relating hereto or thereto, in any forum other than the courts of the State of New York sitting in New York County, and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, and each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the jurisdiction of such courts and agrees that all claims in respect of any such action, litigation or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action, litigation or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or in any other Credit Document shall affect any right that each Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Credit Document against any Credit Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction. Each party hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Credit Document in any court referred to herein. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court. Each party hereto irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.1. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable law.

 

10.16 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IF LITIGATION OCCURS, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

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10.17 Confidentiality . Each of the Agents, each of the Lenders and each Issuing Bank (each, a “Lender Party” ) shall hold all non-public information regarding Parent and its Subsidiaries and their business obtained by any Lender Party pursuant to the requirements hereof or otherwise from or on behalf of Sponsor or Parent or any of their Affiliates or representatives, in accordance with its customary procedures for handling confidential information of such nature, it being understood and agreed by the Borrowers that, in any event, each Lender Party (a) may make disclosures of such non-public information (i) to its Affiliates and to such Lender Party’s and its Affiliates’ respective employees, legal counsel, independent auditors and other experts or agents and advisors or to such Lender Party’s current or prospective funding sources and to other Persons authorized by such Lender Party to organize, present or disseminate such information in connection with disclosures otherwise made in accordance with this Section 10.17 (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such information and instructed to keep such information confidential); (ii) to any actual or potential assignee, transferee, Participant or Securitization Party (in each case that is not a Disqualified Institution) of any rights, benefits, interests and/or obligations under this Agreement or to any direct or indirect contractual counterparties (or the professional advisors thereto) in swap or derivative transactions related to the Obligations (it being understood that (A) the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such information and instructed to keep such information confidential and (B) the DQ List may be disclosed to any assignee or Participant, or prospective assignee or Participant, in reliance on this clause (ii)); (iii) to (A) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrowers or the Restricted Subsidiaries or the Loans and/or the Commitments or (B) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the Loans; (iv) as required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Lender Party or its Affiliates (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the NAIC); provided , unless prohibited by applicable Law or court order, each Lender Party shall make reasonable efforts to notify the Borrower Representative of any request by such regulatory authority (other than any such request in connection with any examination of the financial condition or other routine examination of such Lender Party by such regulatory authority) for disclosure of any such non-public information prior to the actual disclosure thereof; (v) to the extent required by order of any court, governmental agency or representative thereof or in any pending legal or administrative proceeding, or otherwise as required by applicable Law or judicial process; provided , unless prohibited by applicable Law or court order, each Lender Party shall make reasonable efforts to notify the Borrower Representative of such required disclosure prior to the actual disclosure of such non-public information; (vi) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Credit Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Credit Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (vii) for purposes of establishing a “due diligence” defense, (viii) with the consent of the Borrower Representative, or (ix) to the extent such information (A) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.17 or any confidentiality obligation described in clause (i) or (ii) of this Section 10.17(a), (B) becomes available to such Lender Party or any of its Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than Sponsor, a Credit Party or an Affiliate or representative of either thereof, or (C) is independently developed by such Lender Party; (b) may disclose the existence of this Agreement and customary marketing information about this Agreement to market data collectors and similar services providers to the lending industry (including for league table designation purposes) and to service providers to such Lender Party in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents; and (c) may (at its own expense) place advertisements in financial and other newspapers and periodicals or on a home page or similar place for dissemination of information on the Internet or worldwide web as it may choose, and circulate similar promotional materials, in the form of a “tombstone” or otherwise describing the names of the Borrowers or the Sponsor, and the type and closing date (but not amount) with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

10.18 Usury Savings Clause . Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the aggregate interest rate charged with respect to any of the Obligations, including all charges or fees in connection therewith deemed in the nature of interest under applicable Law shall not exceed the Highest Lawful Rate. If the rate of interest (determined without regard to the preceding sentence) under this Agreement at any time exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, the outstanding amount of the Loans made hereunder shall bear interest at the Highest Lawful Rate until the total amount of interest due hereunder equals the amount of interest which would have been due hereunder if the stated rates of interest set forth in this Agreement had at all times been in effect. In addition, if when the Loans made hereunder are repaid in full the total interest due hereunder (taking into account the increase provided for above) is less than the total amount of interest which would have been due hereunder if the stated rates of interest set forth in this Agreement had at all times been in effect, then to the extent permitted by law, the Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the difference between the amount of interest paid and the amount of interest which would have been paid if the Highest Lawful Rate had at all times been in effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is the intention of the Lenders and the Borrowers to conform strictly to any applicable usury Laws. Accordingly, if any Lender contracts for, charges, or receives any consideration which constitutes interest in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate, then any such excess shall be cancelled automatically and, if previously paid, shall at such Lender’s option be applied to the outstanding amount of the Loans made hereunder or be refunded to the Borrowers.

 

10.19 No Strict Construction . The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Agreement.

 

  185  

 

 

10.20 Counterparts; Effectiveness . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) format shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

10.21 Integration . This Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent, constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.

 

10.22 No Fiduciary Duty . Each Agent, each Issuing Bank, each Lender and their Affiliates (collectively, the “Lender Affiliated Parties” ), may have economic interests that conflict with those of the Credit Parties, and each Credit Party acknowledges and agrees (a) nothing in the Credit Documents or otherwise will be deemed to create an advisory, fiduciary or agency relationship or fiduciary or other implied duty between the Lender Affiliated Parties and each Credit Party, its stockholders or its Affiliates; (b) the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Lender Affiliated Parties, on the one hand, and each Credit Party, on the other; (c) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each of the Lender Affiliated Parties is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of any Credit Party, its management, stockholders, creditors or any other Person; (d) none of the Lender Affiliated Parties has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of any Credit Party with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (regardless of whether any of the Lender Affiliated Parties or any of their respective Affiliates has advised or is currently advising any Credit Party on other matters) or any other obligation to any Credit Party except the obligations expressly set forth in the Credit Documents; (e) each Credit Party has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate; (f) each Credit Party is responsible for making its own independent judgment with respect to such transactions and the process leading thereto; and (g) no Credit Party will claim that any of the Lender Affiliated Parties has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to any Credit Party, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

 

10.23 PATRIOT Act . Each Lender and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Credit Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Credit Parties, which information includes the name and address of each Credit Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Credit Parties in accordance with the PATRIOT Act.

 

10.24 Judgment Currency . In respect of any judgment or order given or made for any amount due under this Agreement or any other Credit Document that is expressed and paid in a currency (the “judgment currency” ) other than the currency in which it is expressed to be payable under this Agreement or other Credit Document, the party hereto owing such amount due will indemnify the party due such amount against any loss incurred by them as a result of any variation as between (a) the rate of exchange at which the United States dollar amount is converted into the judgment currency for the purpose of such judgment or order and (b) the rate of exchange, as quoted by the Administrative Agent or by a known dealer in the judgment currency that is designated by the Administrative Agent, at which the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or such Lender is able to purchase Dollars with the amount of the judgment currency actually received by the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or such Lender. The foregoing indemnity shall constitute a separate and independent obligation of the applicable party and shall survive any termination of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any such judgment or order as aforesaid. The term “rate of exchange” shall include any premiums and costs of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of or conversion into Dollars.

 

  186  

 

 

10.25 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Credit 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 Credit Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

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

 

(b) the effects of any Bail-in Action on any such liability, including, if applicable (i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability, (ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent 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 Credit Document or (iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

  187  

 

 

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

 

 

NRC US HOLDING COMPANY, LLC , as a Borrower
     
  By: /s/ Glenn M. Shor
  Name: Glenn M. Shor
  Title: Secretary 
     
  SPRINT ENERGY SERVICES, LLC , as a Borrower
     
  By: /s/ Philip Bowman
  Name: Philip Bowman 
  Title: Chief Financial Officer 
     
  NRC GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC
     
  By: /s/ Glenn M. Shor
  Name: Glenn M. Shor 
  Title: Assistant Secretary 
     
  JFL-NRC HOLDINGS, LLC
  NATIONAL RESPONSE CORPORATION
  NRC ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC.
  OSRV HOLDINGS, INC.
  NRC PAYROLL MANAGEMENT LLC
  NRC ALASKA, LLC
  SPECIALIZED RESPONSE SOLUTIONS, L.P.
     
  By: /s/ Glenn M. Shor
  Name: Glenn M. Shor
  Title: Secretary
     
  SES HOLDCO, LLC
     
  SPRINT KARNES COUNTY DISPOSAL LLC
   
  By: /s/ Glenn M. Shor
  Name: Glenn M. Shor
  Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page Credit and Guaranty Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  ENPRO HOLDINGS GROUP, INC.
  ENPRO SERVICES OF MAINE, INC.
  ENPRO SERVICES OF VERMONT, INC.
  TMC SERVICES, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Paul Taveira
  Name: Paul Taveira
  Title: President
     
  PROGRESSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
  SOUTHERN WASTE, INC.
  EAGLE CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, LLC
     
  By: /s/ Glenn M. Shor
  Name: Glenn M. Shor
  Title: Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
     
  NRC NY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
  NRC EAST ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Paul Taveira
  Name: Paul Taveira
  Title: President and CEO

 

[Signature Page Credit and Guaranty Agreement]

 

 

 

 

 

 

BNP PARIBAS , as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Swing Line Lender, Issuing Bank and a Lender
   
  By: /s/ Michael Colias
  Name: Michael Colias
  Title: Managing Director
     
  By: /s/ Davin Engelson
  Name: Davin Engelson
  Title: Director

 

[Signature Page Credit and Guaranty Agreement]

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX A-1
TO CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT

 

Initial Term Loan Commitments

 

Lender   Initial Term Loan
Commitment
    Pro
Rata Share
 
BNP Paribas   $ 308,000,000.00     $ 100.0 %
Total   $ 308,000,000.00       100 %

 

A- 1 , page 1

 

 

APPENDIX A-2
TO CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT

 

Revolving Credit Commitments

 

Lender

  Revolving Credit Commitment     Pro
Rata Share
 
BNP Paribas   $ 40,000,000.00     100.0 %
Total   $ 40,000,000.00       100 %

 

A- 2 , page 1

 

 

APPENDIX B
TO CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT

 

Notice Addresses

 

To any of the Credit Parties:

 

c/o NRC US HOLDING COMPANY, LLC

3500 Sunrise Hwy

Suite 200, Building 200

Great River, New York 11739-1001

Attention: Joseph Peterson; Jim Michaud

Telephone: 631.892.3432; 631.892.3441

Telecopy: 631.224.9082

Email: jpeterson@nrcc.com ; jmichaud@nrcc.com

 

with a copy to :

 

J.F. Lehman & Company

110 East 59 th Street, 27 th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attention: C. Alexander Harman and Glenn Shor

Telephone: 212.634.1152; 212.634.1184

Telecopy: 212.634.1155

Email: cah@jflpartners.com ; gms@jflpartners.com

 

and a copy to :

 

Jones Day

250 Vesey Street

New York, NY 10281-1047

Attention: Charles N. Bensinger III

Telecopy: 212.326.3797

Email: cnbensinger@jonesday.com

 

  B - 1  

 

 

BNP Paribas,

as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Swing Line Lender,

Issuing Bank and a Lender

 

Payment Office :

 

BNP Paribas RCC

Regional Agency

2001 Robert-Bourassa, Montreal, QC H3A 2A6

Attention: Yu Shan Cui

Telephone: (514) 908-5755

Telecopy: (201) 616-7912

Email: dl.nyk.regional.agency@ca.bnpparibas.com

 

Notice Office :

 

BNP PARIBAS

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019

Attention: Charles Romano / Daier Song

Telephone: (212) 841-2968 / (917) 472-4789

Email: charles.romano@us.bnpparibas.com / daier.song@us.bnpparibas.com

 

with a copy to :

 

BNP Paribas

155 N Wacker Dr., Ste. 4450

Chicago, IL 60606

Attention: Michael Colias

Telephone: 312-977-2235

Telecopy: 815-824-4326

Email: michael.colias@us.bnpparibas.com

 

and a copy to (other than Funding Notices, Issuance Notices and Conversion/Continuation Notices):

 

Winston & Strawn LLP
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166
Attention: Mats G. Carlston
Telephone: 212-294-6696
Telecopy: 212-294-4700
Email: mcarlston@winston.com

 

  B - 2  

 

 

APPENDIX C
TO CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT

 

Dutch Auction Procedures

 

This outline is intended to summarize certain basic terms of procedures with respect to certain Borrower buy-backs pursuant to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of Section 10.6(g) of the Credit Agreement to which this Appendix C is attached. It is not intended to be a definitive list of all of the terms and conditions of a Dutch Auction and all such terms and conditions shall be set forth in the applicable auction procedures documentation set for each Dutch Auction (the “Offer Documents” ). None of the Administrative Agent, BNP Paribas Securities Corp. (or, if BNP Paribas Securities Corp. declines to act in such capacity, an investment bank of recognized standing selected by the Borrower Representative) (the “Auction Manager” ) or any of their respective Affiliates makes any recommendation pursuant to the Offer Documents as to whether or not any Term Loan Lender should sell by assignment any of its Term Loans pursuant to the Offer Documents (including, for the avoidance of doubt, by participating in the Dutch Auction as a Term Loan Lender) or whether or not the Borrowers should purchase by assignment any Term Loans from any Term Loan Lender pursuant to any Dutch Auction. Each Term Loan Lender should make its own decision as to whether to sell by assignment any of its Term Loans and, if so, the principal amount of and price to be sought for such Term Loans. In addition, each Term Loan Lender should consult its own attorney, business advisor or tax advisor as to legal, business, tax and related matters concerning any Dutch Auction and the Offer Documents. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Appendix C have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

Summary . The Borrowers may purchase (by assignment) Term Loans on a non-pro rata basis by conducting one or more Dutch Auctions pursuant to the procedures described herein; provided , no more than one Dutch Auction may be ongoing at any one time and no more than two Dutch Auctions may be made in any period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters of the Borrowers.

 

1. Notice Procedures . In connection with each Dutch Auction, the Borrower Representative will notify the Auction Manager (for distribution to the Term Loan Lenders) of the Term Loans that will be the subject of the Dutch Auction by delivering to the Auction Manager a written notice in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Auction Manager (an “Auction Notice” ). Each Auction Notice shall contain (i) the maximum principal amount of Term Loans the Borrowers are willing to purchase (by assignment) in the Dutch Auction (the “Auction Amount” ), which shall be no less than $10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess of thereof, (ii) the range of discounts to par (the “Discount Range” ), expressed as a range of prices per $1,000 of Term Loans, at which the Borrowers would be willing to purchase Term Loans in the Dutch Auction and (iii) the date on which the Dutch Auction will conclude, on which date Return Bids (as defined below) will be due at the time provided in the Auction Notice (such time, the “Expiration Time” ), as such date and time may be extended upon notice by the Borrower Representative to the Auction Manager not less than 24 hours before the original Expiration Time. The Auction Manager will deliver a copy of the Offer Documents to each Term Loan Lender promptly following completion thereof.

 

  C - 1  

 

 

2. Reply Procedures . In connection with any Dutch Auction, each Term Loan Lender holding Term Loans wishing to participate in such Dutch Auction shall, prior to the Expiration Time, provide the Auction Manager with a notice of participation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Auction Manager (the “Return Bid” ) to be included in the Offer Documents, which shall specify (i) a discount to par that must be expressed as a price per $1,000 of Term Loans (the “Reply Price” ) within the Discount Range and (ii) the principal amount of Term Loans, in an amount not less than $1,000,000, that such Term Loan Lender is willing to offer for sale at its Reply Price (the “Reply Amount” ); provided , each Term Loan Lender may submit a Reply Amount that is less than the minimum amount and incremental amount requirements described above only if the Reply Amount equals the entire amount of the Term Loans held by such Term Loan Lender at such time. A Term Loan Lender may only submit one Return Bid per Dutch Auction, but each Return Bid may contain up to three component bids, each of which may result in a separate Qualifying Bid (as defined below) and each of which will not be contingent on any other component bid submitted by such Term Loan Lender resulting in a Qualifying Bid. In addition to the Return Bid, a participating Term Loan Lender must execute and deliver, to be held by the Auction Manager, an assignment and acceptance in the form included in the Offer Documents which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Auction Manager and the Administrative Agent (the “Auction Assignment and Acceptance” ). The Borrowers will not purchase any Term Loans at a price that is outside of the applicable Discount Range, nor will any Return Bids (including any component bids specified therein) submitted at a price that is outside such applicable Discount Range be considered in any calculation of the Applicable Threshold Price (as defined below).

 

3. Acceptance Procedures . Based on the Reply Prices and Reply Amounts received by the Auction Manager, the Auction Manager, in consultation with the Borrower Representative, will calculate the lowest purchase price (the “Applicable Threshold Price” ) for the Dutch Auction within the Discount Range for the Dutch Auction that will allow the Borrowers to complete the Dutch Auction by purchasing the full Auction Amount (or such lesser amount of Term Loans for which the Borrowers have received Qualifying Bids). The Borrowers shall purchase (by assignment) Term Loans from each Term Loan Lender whose Return Bid is within the Discount Range and contains a Reply Price that is equal to or less than the Applicable Threshold Price (each, a “Qualifying Bid” ). All Term Loans included in Qualifying Bids received at a Reply Price lower than the Applicable Threshold Price will be purchased at a purchase price equal to the applicable Reply Price and shall not be subject to proration. If a Term Loan Lender has submitted a Return Bid containing multiple component bids at different Reply Prices, then all Term Loans of such Term Loan Lender offered in any such component bid that constitutes a Qualifying Bid with a Reply Price lower than the Applicable Threshold Price shall also be purchased at a purchase price equal to the applicable Reply Price and shall not be subject to proration.

 

4. Proration Procedures . All Term Loans offered in Return Bids (or, if applicable, any component bid thereof) constituting Qualifying Bids equal to the Applicable Threshold Price will be purchased at a purchase price equal to the Applicable Threshold Price; provided , if the aggregate principal amount of all Term Loans for which Qualifying Bids have been submitted in any given Dutch Auction equal to the Applicable Threshold Price would exceed the remaining portion of the Auction Amount (after deducting all Term Loans purchased below the Applicable Threshold Price), the Borrowers shall purchase the Term Loans for which the Qualifying Bids submitted were at the Applicable Threshold Price ratably based on the respective principal amounts offered and in an aggregate amount up to the amount necessary to complete the purchase of the Auction Amount. For the avoidance of doubt, no Return Bids (or any component thereof) will be accepted above the Applicable Threshold Price.

 

5. Notification Procedures . The Auction Manager will calculate the Applicable Threshold Price no later than the five (5) Business Days after the date that the Return Bids were due. The Auction Manager will insert the amount of Term Loans to be assigned and the applicable settlement date determined by the Auction Manager in consultation with the Borrower Representative onto each applicable Auction Assignment and Acceptance received in connection with a Qualifying Bid. Upon written request of the submitting Term Loan Lender, the Auction Manager will promptly return any Auction Assignment and Acceptance received in connection with a Return Bid that is not a Qualifying Bid.

 

  C - 2  

 

 

6. Additional Procedures . Once initiated by an Auction Notice, the Borrowers may withdraw a Dutch Auction by written notice to the Auction Manager no later than 24 hours before the original Expiration Time so long as no Qualifying Bids have been received by the Auction Manager at or prior to the time the Auction Manager receives such written notice from the Borrower Representative. Any Return Bid (including any component bid thereof) delivered to the Auction Manager may not be modified, revoked, terminated or cancelled; provided , a Term Loan Lender may modify a Return Bid at any time prior to the Expiration Time solely to reduce the Reply Price included in such Return Bid. However, a Dutch Auction shall become void if the Borrowers fail to satisfy one or more of the conditions to the purchase of Term Loans set forth in, or to otherwise comply with the provisions of Section 10.6 (g) of the Credit Agreement. The purchase price for all Term Loans purchased in a Dutch Auction shall be paid in cash by the Borrowers directly to the respective assigning Term Loan Lender on a settlement date as determined by the Auction Manager in consultation with the Borrower Representative (which shall be no later than ten (10) Business Days after the date Return Bids are due), along with accrued and unpaid interest (if any) on the applicable Term Loans up to the settlement date. The Borrowers shall execute each applicable Auction Assignment and Acceptance received in connection with a Qualifying Bid.

 

All questions as to the form of documents and validity and eligibility of Term Loans that are the subject of a Dutch Auction will be determined by the Auction Manager, in consultation with the Borrower Representative, and the Auction Manager’s determination will be conclusive, absent manifest error. The Auction Manager’s interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Offer Document, in consultation with the Borrower Representative, will be final and binding.

 

None of the Administrative Agent, the Auction Manager, any other Agent or any of their respective Affiliates assumes any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information concerning the Borrowers, the Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates contained in the Offer Documents or otherwise or for any failure to disclose events that may have occurred and may affect the significance or accuracy of such information.

 

The Auction Manager acting in its capacity as such under a Dutch Auction shall be entitled to the benefits of the provisions of Sections 9, 10.2 and 10.3 of the Credit Agreement to the same extent as if each reference therein to the “Administrative Agent” were a reference to the Auction Manager, each reference therein to the “Credit Documents” were a reference to the Offer Documents, the Auction Notice and Auction Assignment and Acceptance and each reference therein to the “Transactions” were a reference to the transactions contemplated hereby and the Administrative Agent shall cooperate with the Auction Manager as reasonably requested by the Auction Manager in order to enable it to perform its responsibilities and duties in connection with each Dutch Auction.

 

This Appendix C shall not require Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary to initiate any Dutch Auction, nor shall any Term Loan Lender be obligated to participate in any Dutch Auction.

 

  C - 3  

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

 

PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

dated as of June 11, 2018

 

among

 

NRC US HOLDING COMPANY, LLC and SPRINT ENERGY SERVICES, LLC,
each as a Borrower

 

NRC GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC,
as Parent

 

JFL-NRC HOLDINGS, LLC and SES HOLDCO, LLC ,
as Holding Companies

 

EACH OF THE OTHER GRANTORS PARTY HERETO

 

and

 

BNP PARIBAS ,
as Collateral Agent

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    PAGE
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION 1
1.1. Terms Defined Herein 1
1.2. UCC Definitions 6
1.3. Credit Agreement Definitions 6
1.4. Interpretation 6
1.5. Credit Agreement Governs 6
     
SECTION 2. SECURITY FOR OBLIGATIONS. 6
2.1. Grant of Security 6
2.2. Continuing Security Interest 7
2.3. Grantors Remain Liable 7
     
SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. 7
3.1. Grantor Information, Etc. 7
3.2. Collateral Identification, Etc. 8
3.3. Ownership of Collateral, Etc. 8
3.4. Status of Security Interest. 9
3.5. Receivables 9
3.6. Pledged Equity Interests. 10
3.7. Intellectual Property. 10
3.8. Title to Vessels. 11
     
SECTION 4. COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS. 11
4.1. Perfection and Certain Other Actions. 11
4.2. Grantor Information and Status 14
4.3. Inventory and Equipment. 14
4.4. Receivables. 14
4.5. Investment Related Property. 15
4.6. Intellectual Property. 16
4.7. Commercial Tort Claims 16
4.8. Special Collateral 16
4.9. Further Assurances 17
4.10. Relation to Certain other Security Documents 17
     
SECTION 5. ADDITIONAL GRANTORS. 17
     
SECTION 6. COLLATERAL AGENT APPOINTED ATTORNEY-IN-FACT 17
6.1. Power of Attorney 17
6.2. No Duty 18
     
SECTION 7. REMEDIES. 18
7.1. Rights and Remedies. 18
7.2. Cash Proceeds 19
7.3. Deposit Accounts 19
7.4. Investment Related Property 20
7.5. Intellectual Property. 20
7.6. Marshalling 21
7.7. Application of Proceeds 21
7.8. Specific Performance 22

 

  - i -  

 

 

SECTION 8. TERMINATION AND RELEASE. 22
     
SECTION 9. COLLATERAL AGENT 22
9.1. Appointment, Etc. 22
9.2. Standard of Care 23
     
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS. 23
10.1. Notices 23
10.2. Expenses 23
10.3. Indemnity 23
10.4. Amendments and Waivers 23
10.5. Successors and Assigns 23
10.6. Independence of Covenants 23
10.7. Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements 23
10.8. No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative 24
10.9. Severability 24
10.10. Headings 24
10.11. Governing Law 24
10.12. Consent to Jurisdiction 24
10.13. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL 24
10.14. Counterparts 25
10.15. No Strict Construction 25
10.16. Intercreditor Agreement 25
10.17. Jones Act Restrictions 25

 

SCHEDULES: 3.1 Grantor Information and Status
  3.2 Collateral Identification
     
EXHIBITS: A Form of Pledge Supplement
  B Form of Intellectual Property Security Agreement

 

  - ii -  

 

 

PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

This PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT, dated as of June 11, 2018 (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement” ), is entered into by and among NRC US HOLDING COMPANY, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (the “NRC Borrower” ) and SPRINT ENERGY SERVICES, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sprint Borrower” , and collectively with the NRC Borrower, the “Borrowers” and each a “Borrower” ), JFL-NRC HOLDINGS, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company ( “NRC Holdings” ), SES HOLDCO, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company ( “Sprint Holdings” , and collectively with NRC Holdings, the “Holding Companies” and each a “Holding Company” ), NRC GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC ( “Parent” ), CERTAIN OTHER SUBSIDIARIES OF PARENT PARTY HERETO , as Grantors (together with the Borrowers, Holding Companies and Parent, collectively, the “Grantors” , and each, a “Grantor” ), and BNP PARIBAS , as collateral agent (together with its permitted successors in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent” ).

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS , capitalized terms used in these Recitals shall have the respective meanings set forth for such terms in Section 1.1 hereof;

 

WHEREAS , reference is made to that certain Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement” ), by and among the Borrowers, Parent, Holding Companies, certain other Subsidiaries of Parent, as Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto from time to time, and BNP PARIBAS , as Administrative Agent and as Collateral Agent;

 

WHEREAS , subject to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, certain Grantors may enter into one or more Secured Swap Contracts with one or more Eligible Counterparties;

 

WHEREAS , subject to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, certain Grantors may enter into one or more Cash Management Agreements with one or more Cash Management Banks; and

 

WHEREAS , in consideration of the extensions of credit and other accommodations of the Lenders, Eligible Counterparties and Cash Management Banks as set forth in the Credit Agreement, the Secured Swap Contracts and the Cash Management Agreements, respectively, each Grantor has agreed to secure such Grantor’s obligations under the Credit Documents, the Secured Swap Contracts and the Cash Management Agreements as set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the agreements, provisions and covenants herein contained, each Grantor and the Collateral Agent agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

 

1.1. Terms Defined Herein. The following terms used herein, including in the preamble, recitals, exhibits and schedules hereto, shall have the following meanings:

 

“Agreement” as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

“Borrower” and “Borrowers” as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

“Cash Proceeds” as defined in Section 7.2.

 

 

 

 

“Collateral” means, with respect to each Grantor, such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under all personal property of such Grantor whether now owned or existing or hereafter acquired or arising and wherever located, including the following: (i) Accounts; (ii) Chattel Paper; (iii) Documents; (iv) General Intangibles; (v) Goods; (vi) Instruments; (vii) Insurance; (viii) Intellectual Property and Intellectual Property Licenses; (ix) Investment Related Property, including Deposit Accounts; (x) Letter-of-Credit Rights; (xi) Money; (xii) Receivables and Receivable Records; (xiii) Commercial Tort Claims set forth on Schedule 3.2 (as supplemented from time to time in accordance with Section 4.7); (xiv) Material Vessels; (xv) to the extent not otherwise included above, all other personal property of any kind and all Collateral Records, Collateral Support and Supporting Obligations relating to any of the foregoing, and all tangible property embodying Copyrights or any copyrighted materials; and (xvi) to the extent not otherwise included above, all Proceeds, products, accessions, rents and profits of or in respect of any of the foregoing; provided , as of any date of determination, the term “Collateral” shall not include any asset that is an Excluded Asset as of such date.

 

“Collateral Account” means any account established as a collateral account by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Credit Agreement or hereto.

 

“Collateral Agent” as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

“Collateral Records” means books, records, ledger cards, files, correspondence, customer lists, supplier lists, blueprints, technical specifications, manuals, computer software and related documentation, computer printouts, tapes, disks and other electronic storage media and related data processing software and similar items that at any time evidence or contain information relating to any of the Collateral or are otherwise necessary or helpful in the collection thereof or realization thereupon.

 

“Collateral Support” means all property (real or personal) assigned, hypothecated or otherwise securing any Collateral and shall include any security agreement or other agreement granting a lien or security interest in such real or personal property.

 

“Control” means (i) with respect to any Deposit Account, “control” within the meaning of Section 9-104 of the UCC; (ii) with respect to any Securities Account, Security Entitlement, Commodity Contract or Commodity Account, “control” within the meaning of Section 9-106 of the UCC; (iii) with respect to any Uncertificated Security, “control” within the meaning of Section 8-106(c) of the UCC; (iv) with respect to any Certificated Security, “control” within the meaning of Section 8-106(a) or (b) of the UCC; (v) with respect to any Letter-of-Credit Right, “control” within the meaning of Section 9-107 of the UCC; (vi) with respect to any Electronic Chattel Paper, “control” within the meaning of Section 9-105 of the UCC; and (vii) with respect to any “transferable record”(as that term is defined in Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or in Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction), “control” within the meaning of Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or in Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as in effect in the jurisdiction relevant to such transferable record.

 

“Copyright Licenses” means any and all agreements, licenses and covenants providing for the granting of any right in or to Copyrights or otherwise providing for a covenant not to sue (whether the applicable Grantor is licensee or licensor thereunder) regarding a copyright.

 

  - 2 -  

 

 

“Copyrights” means all United States copyrights (including Community designs), including but not limited to copyrights in software and all rights in and to databases, and all Mask Works (as defined under 17 USC 901 of the United States Copyright Act), whether registered or unregistered, moral rights, reversionary interests, termination rights, and, with respect to any and all of the foregoing: (i) all registrations and applications therefor; (ii) all extensions and renewals thereof; (iii) all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world; (iv) all rights in any material which is copyrightable under or which is protected by United States federal laws or the law of any state thereof; (v) all rights to sue for past, present and future infringements thereof; and (vi) all Proceeds of the foregoing, including any royalties or income from the Copyright Licenses and any and all payments, claims, damages and proceeds of suit.

 

“Credit Agreement” as defined in the recitals hereto.

 

“Excluded Account” means any (i) withholding tax, trust, escrow, payroll, employee benefit or other fiduciary account, (ii) zero balance account or (iii) account maintained solely for the benefit of third parties as cash collateral constituting Permitted Liens for obligations owing to such third parties.

 

“Excluded Asset” as defined in the Credit Agreement.

 

“Grantor” as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

“Holding Companies” as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

“Insurance” means (i) all insurance policies covering any or all of the Collateral (regardless of whether the Collateral Agent is the loss payee thereof) and (ii) any key man life insurance policies.

 

“Intellectual Property” means, collectively, the Copyrights, the Patents, the Trademarks and the Trade Secrets.

 

“Intellectual Property Licenses” means, collectively, the Copyright Licenses, the Patent Licenses, the Trademark Licenses and the Trade Secret Licenses.

 

“Intellectual Property Security Agreement” means that Intellectual Property Security Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto or otherwise acceptable to the Collateral Agent that is executed and delivered to the Collateral Agent by each applicable Grantor.

 

“Investment Accounts” means the Collateral Account (if any) and the Securities Accounts, Commodities Accounts and Deposit Accounts included in the Collateral. For the avoidance of doubt, “Investment Accounts” shall not include any Excluded Account.

 

“Investment Related Property” means all Investment Property (as defined in Section 1.2), together with all of the following (regardless of whether classified as Investment Property): all Pledged Equity Interests, Pledged Debt, the Investment Accounts and certificates of deposit.

 

“Material” means (i) as of any date of determination, as to any Instrument, any individual Instrument that has a value in excess of $500,000, or $1,000,000 in the aggregate for all such Instruments; (ii) as to any Intellectual Property or Intellectual Property License, that such Intellectual Property or Intellectual Property License is, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and (iii) as of any date of determination, as to any other item of Collateral (other than Vessels), that such item has a Fair Market Value of $500,000 or more, and collectively with all other of such items, a Fair Market Value of $1,000,000 or more.

 

“Parent” as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

  - 3 -  

 

 

“Patent Licenses” means all agreements, licenses and covenants providing for the granting of any right in or to Patents or otherwise providing for a covenant not to sue (whether the applicable Grantor is licensee or licensor thereunder) regarding a Patent.

 

“Patents” means all United States patents and certificates of invention, or similar industrial property, design or plant rights, for any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to: (i) all registrations, provisional and applications therefor; (ii) all reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, extensions, renewals, and reexaminations therefor; (iii) all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world; (iv) all inventions and improvements described therein; (v) all rights to sue for past, present and future infringements thereof; and (vi) all Proceeds of the foregoing, including any royalties or income from the Patent Licenses and any and all payments, claims, damages and proceeds of suit.

 

“Pledge Supplement” means a supplement to this Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto or otherwise acceptable to the Collateral Agent.

 

“Pledged Debt” means all indebtedness for borrowed money owed to any Grantor, regardless of whether evidenced by any Instrument, issued by the obligors named therein, the instruments, if any, evidencing any of the foregoing, and all interest, cash, instruments and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of the foregoing.

 

“Pledged Equity Interests” means all Pledged Stock, Pledged LLC Interests, Pledged Partnership Interests and any other participation or interests in any equity or profits of any business entity including any trust; provided , no Excluded Asset shall constitute a Pledged Equity Interest.

 

“Pledged LLC Interests” means all interests in any limited liability company and each series thereof, including without limitation all of the economic interest and the right to vote or otherwise control the limited liability company and all rights as a member, and the certificates, if any, representing such limited liability company interests and any interest of any Grantor on the books and records of such limited liability company or on the books and records of any securities intermediary pertaining to such interest and all dividends, distributions, cash, warrants, rights, options, instruments, Securities and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such limited liability company interests.

 

“Pledged Partnership Interests” means all interests in any general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership or other partnership, and the certificates, if any, representing such partnership interests and any interest of any Grantor on the books and records of such partnership or on the books and records of any securities intermediary pertaining to such interest and all dividends, distributions, cash, warrants, rights, options, instruments, Securities and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such partnership interests.

 

“Pledged Stock” means all Equity Interests (other than Pledged LLC Interests and Pledged Partnership Interests) owned by any Grantor, and the certificates, if any, representing such shares and any interest of any Grantor in the entries on the books of the issuer of such shares or on the books of any securities intermediary pertaining to such shares, and all dividends, distributions, cash, warrants, rights, options, instruments, Securities and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such shares.

 

“Prohibited Controlling Interest” as defined in Section 10.17.

 

  - 4 -  

 

 

“Receivables” means all rights to payment, regardless of whether earned by performance, for goods or other property sold, leased, licensed, assigned or otherwise disposed of, or services rendered or to be rendered, including all such rights constituting or evidenced by any Account, Chattel Paper, Instrument, General Intangible or Investment Related Property, together with all of each Grantor’s rights, if any, in any goods or other property giving rise to such right to payment and all Collateral Support and Supporting Obligations related thereto and all Records relating thereto.

 

“Secured Obligations” means all of the Obligations, but excluding with respect to any Grantor at any time, Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Grantor at such time.

 

“Secured Parties” means the Agents, the Lenders, the Eligible Counterparties and Cash Management Banks in their capacity as such under any Credit Document, Secured Swap Contract or Cash Management Agreement and shall include, without limitation, all former Agents, Lenders, Eligible Counterparties and Cash Management Banks in such capacity to the extent that any Obligations owing to such Persons were incurred while such Persons were Agents, Lenders, Eligible Counterparties or Cash Management Banks and such Obligations have not been paid or satisfied in full.

 

“Special Collateral” means any of the following: (i) Farm Products; (ii) As-Extracted Collateral; (iii) Manufactured Homes; (iv) Health-Care-Insurance Receivables; (v) timber to be cut; (vi) aircraft, aircraft engines, satellites, or railroad rolling stock; or (vii) the Proceeds of any of the foregoing.

 

“Trademark Licenses” means any and all agreements, licenses and covenants providing for the granting of any right in or to Trademarks or otherwise providing for a covenant not to sue or permitting co-existence (whether the applicable Grantor is licensee or licensor thereunder) regarding a Trademark.

 

“Trademarks” means all United States trademarks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, Internet domain names, service marks, certification marks, collective marks, logos, other source or business identifiers, designs and general intangibles of a like nature, all registrations and applications for any of the foregoing including, but not limited to (i) all extensions or renewals of any of the foregoing, (ii) all of the goodwill of the business associated with the use of and symbolized by the foregoing, (iii) the right to sue for past, present and future infringement or dilution of any of the foregoing or for any injury to goodwill, and (iv) all Proceeds of the foregoing, including any royalties or income from the Trademark Licenses and any and all payments, claims, damages and proceeds of suit.

 

“Trade Secret Licenses” means any and all agreements providing for the granting of any right in or to Trade Secrets (whether the applicable Grantor is licensee or licensor thereunder).

 

“Trade Secrets” means all common law and statutory trade secrets and all other confidential or proprietary information and know-how constituting trade secrets regardless of whether such Trade Secret has been reduced to a writing or other tangible form, including all documents and things embodying, incorporating, or referring in any way to such Trade Secret, including but not limited to: (i) the right to sue for past, present and future misappropriation or other violation of any Trade Secret and to enjoin or collect damages for the actual or threatened misappropriation of any Trade Secret; and (ii) all Proceeds of the foregoing, including any royalties or income from the Trade Secret Licenses and any and all payments, claims, damages and proceeds of suit.

 

“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York (including any successor provisions under any subsequent version or amendment to any Article of the UCC); provided , if, by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the perfection or priority of, or remedies with respect to, any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in such other jurisdiction solely for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, priority or remedies.

 

  - 5 -  

 

 

1.2. UCC Definitions. In this Agreement, each of the following terms shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the UCC: “Account”; “Account Debtor”; “As-Extracted Collateral”; “Bank”; “Certificated Security”; “Chattel Paper”; “Commercial Tort Claims”; “Commodity Account”; “Commodity Contract”; “Commodity Intermediary”; “Consignee”; “Consignment”; “Consignor”; “Deposit Account”; “Document”; “Electronic Chattel Paper”; “Equipment”; “Farm Products”; “General Intangibles”; “Goods”; “Health-Care-Insurance Receivable”; “Instrument”; “Inventory”; “Investment Property”; “Letter-of-Credit Right”; “Manufactured Home”; “Money”; “Proceeds”; “Record”; “Securities Account”; “Securities Intermediary”; “Security Certificate”; “Security Entitlement”; “Supporting Obligations”; “Tangible Chattel Paper”; and “Uncertificated Security”.

 

1.3. Credit Agreement Definitions. All other capitalized terms used herein (including the preamble and recitals hereto) and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Credit Agreement, and the incorporation by reference of terms defined in the Credit Agreement shall survive any termination of the Credit Agreement until this Agreement is terminated as provided in Section 8.

 

1.4. Interpretation. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (e) any reference to any Law herein shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such Law as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (f) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, Securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

1.5. Credit Agreement Governs. If any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement is in conflict with the Credit Agreement, then the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement shall govern.

 

SECTION 2. SECURITY FOR OBLIGATIONS.

 

2.1. Grant of Security. As collateral security for the prompt and complete payment or performance in full when due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, acceleration, demand or otherwise, of the Secured Obligations, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in and continuing lien on all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under the Collateral.

 

  - 6 -  

 

 

2.2. Continuing Security Interest. This Agreement (a) creates a continuing security interest in the Collateral and shall remain in full force and effect until the payment in full of all Secured Obligations (other than any Remaining Obligations), and the cancellation, expiration, posting of backstop letters of credit in respect of or Cash Collateralization of all outstanding Letters of Credit in accordance with Section 2.4(h) of the Credit Agreement, (b) is binding upon each Grantor, its successors and assigns, and (c) inures, together with the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent hereunder, to the benefit of the Collateral Agent and each of the other Secured Parties, and each of their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

2.3. Grantors Remain Liable. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary:

 

(a) each Grantor shall remain liable for all obligations under the Collateral and nothing contained herein is intended or shall be a delegation of duties to the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party;

 

(b) each Grantor shall remain liable under each of the agreements included in the Collateral, including any agreements relating to Pledged Partnership Interests or Pledged LLC Interests, to perform all of the obligations undertaken by it thereunder all in accordance with and pursuant to the terms and provisions thereof and neither the Collateral Agent nor any Secured Party has any obligation or liability under any of such agreements by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or any other Credit Document nor shall the Collateral Agent nor any Secured Party have any obligation to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment received by it or have any obligation to take any action to collect or enforce any rights under any agreement included in the Collateral, including any agreements relating to Pledged Partnership Interests or Pledged LLC Interests; and

 

(c) the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any of its rights hereunder shall not release any Grantor from any of its duties or obligations under any contract or agreement that is included in the Collateral.

 

SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

 

To induce the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, to enter into this Agreement, each Grantor represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, on the Closing Date and on each Credit Date, that (it being understood and agreed that the representations and warranties made on the Closing Date are deemed to be made concurrently with the consummation of the Related Transactions):

 

3.1. Grantor Information, Etc.

 

(a) Grantor Information . As of the Closing Date, Schedule 3.1 sets forth with respect to each Grantor (i) such Grantor’s full legal name, type of organization, jurisdiction of organization, and organizational identification number, if any; (ii) such Grantor’s trade names, fictitious business names or other names under which such Grantor currently conducts business; and (iii) each jurisdiction where such Grantor’s chief executive office or its sole place of business (or the principal residence if such Grantor is a natural person) is located.

 

(b) Name Changes, Etc . As of the Closing Date, except as provided on Schedule 3.1 , no Grantor has changed its name, jurisdiction of organization or its corporate structure in any way (e.g., by merger, consolidation, change in corporate form or otherwise) and has not done business under any other name, in each case, within the past five (5) years or (ii) has changed its chief executive office or sole place of business (or principal residence if such Grantor is a natural person), in each case, within the past one (1) year.

 

  - 7 -  

 

 

(c) Current Locations . As of the Closing Date, Schedule 3.1 sets forth with respect to each Grantor (i) all locations where such Grantor owns or leases any real property, (ii) except for (A) Vessels, (B) Inventory and Equipment that is in transit, out for repair or servicing, that is leased by a customer and used by such customer at the customer’s location, or located at a customer jobsite and (C) Collateral that has been purchased but not yet delivered to such Grantor, each in the ordinary course of the applicable Grantor’s business, all locations where such Grantor keeps any Material Inventory or Material Equipment included in the Collateral and (iii) all locations in which each Grantor maintains any material books or records relating to any of the Collateral.

 

(d) Other Security Agreements . As of the Closing Date, except for security agreements constituting Permitted Liens or as otherwise disclosed on Schedule 3.1 , no Grantor has within the last five (5) years become bound (whether as a result of merger or otherwise) as debtor under a security agreement entered into by another Person that either (x) has not heretofore been terminated or (y) as to which such Grantor and its assets have not been released in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

(e) Transmitting Utility . No Grantor is a “transmitting utility” (as defined in Section 9-102(a)(80) of the UCC).

 

3.2. Collateral Identification, Etc.

 

(a) Collateral Identification . As of the Closing Date, Schedule 3.2 sets forth the following (if any) for each Grantor (in each case, other than any Excluded Asset): (i) Deposit Accounts; (ii) Pledged Equity Interests; (iii) Securities Accounts; (iv) Commodity Contracts and Commodity Accounts; (v) United States registrations of and applications for Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights owned by such Grantor; (vi) Material Intellectual Property Licenses (other than commercial off-the-shelf licenses) used by such Grantor in its business; (vii) Letter-of-Credit Rights in excess of $500,000; and (viii) the name and address of any warehouseman, bailee or other third party in possession of any of such Grantor’s Material Inventory or Material Equipment (other than with respect to (x) any Vessels, (y) any Inventory or Equipment that is in transit, out for repair or servicing, that is leased by a customer and used by such customer at the customer’s location, or located at a customer jobsite and (z) Collateral that has been purchased but not yet delivered to such Grantor); (ix) Material Instruments and Material Tangible Chattel Paper; and (x) Material Commercial Tort Claims.

 

(b) Special Collateral . As of the Closing Date, none of the Collateral consists of Special Collateral.

 

3.3. Ownership of Collateral, Etc.

 

(a) Ownership . Each Grantor owns the Collateral purported to be owned by it or otherwise has the rights it purports to have in each item of Collateral, in each case free and clear of any and all Liens other than Permitted Liens.

 

(b) Financing Statements, Etc . Other than any financing statement, any Intellectual Property Security Agreement and any Vessel Mortgage filed in favor of the Collateral Agent, no Grantor has filed or authorized the filing of any effective financing statement, fixture filing or other instrument similar in effect under any applicable law covering all or any part of the Collateral on file in any filing or recording office except for (i) financing statements for which duly authorized proper termination statements have been delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing, (ii) financing statements, fixture filings and other instruments similar in effect filed in connection with Permitted Liens and (iii) any filings, notices or recordings with respect to which the underlying Indebtedness (other than with respect to contingent indemnification obligations not then due and owing) has been paid off or otherwise satisfied.

 

  - 8 -  

 

 

(c) Control . Other than the Collateral Agent and any automatic Control in favor of a Bank, Securities Intermediary or Commodity Intermediary maintaining a Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodity Contract, or in relation to a Permitted Lien (in each case, other than any Excluded Asset), as applicable, no Person is in Control of any Collateral the perfection of a security interest in which is effectuated by Control.

 

3.4. Status of Security Interest.

 

(a) First Priority Lien . Upon the timely completion of the filings and other actions set forth in Section 4.1, the security interest of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral shall constitute a valid, perfected, First Priority security interest in and continuing lien on all of each Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under the Collateral, subject only to Permitted Liens, any applicable Intercreditor Agreement or permitted non-perfection (including, without limitation pursuant to the proviso in this Section 3.4(a)), and to the extent perfection may be achieved by the filings and other actions required, pursuant to Section 4.1; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Credit Document, no Grantor shall have any obligation to (i) create or perfect any security interest in any Intellectual Property included in the Collateral in any jurisdiction other than the United States or in any Intellectual Property License or Trade Secret, (ii) make any filings, enter into any documents or agreements or take any other actions to grant, record or perfect a Lien on Collateral located or titled outside of the United States (or, for the avoidance of doubt, enter into any agreement governed by the law of a jurisdiction other than the United States (or a state or commonwealth thereof)), (iii) take any actions to perfect any security interest in Letter-of-Credit Rights included in the Collateral, except to the extent such Letter-of-Credit Rights constitute Supporting Obligations for any other Collateral as to which perfection is accomplished solely by the filing of a UCC-1 financing statement, in which case the only perfection action required to be taken with respect to such Letter-of-Credit Rights shall be the filing of a UCC-1 financing statement in the applicable jurisdiction, (iv) take any action to perfect any security interest in any Commercial Tort Claim with a value of less than $500,000 individually or $1,000,000 for all such Commercial Tort Claims or (v) enter into any control agreements with respect to any Deposit Account, Securities Account or Commodity Account and, for the avoidance of doubt, all covenants and other representations and warranties in all Credit Documents shall be subject to this proviso.

 

(b) No Authorization, Consent, Approval, Etc . No authorization, consent, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required for (i) the pledge or grant by any Grantor of the Liens purported to be created in favor of the Collateral Agent hereunder or (ii) the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any rights or remedies in respect of any Collateral (whether specifically granted or created hereunder or created or provided for by applicable law), except (A) the filings contemplated by Section 3.4(a) above, (B) as may be required, in connection with the disposition of any Investment Related Property, by Laws generally affecting the offering and sale of Securities and (C) with respect to the foregoing clause (i), any such authorizations, consents, approvals or other actions, notices or filings that have been made or obtained prior to the date hereof.

 

3.5. Receivables. As of the end of the most recent Test Period, none of the Account Debtors in respect of any Receivable owing to any Grantor with an aggregate amount payable in excess of $5,000,000 individually is the government of the United States, any agency or instrumentality thereof, any state or municipality or any foreign sovereign, except for any such Receivables with respect to which the applicable (or another) Grantor has given the Collateral Agent written notice of the creation thereof by the time of the first delivery of financial statements required by Sections 5.1(a) or (b), as applicable, of the Credit Agreement after the creation of such Receivable or Receivables, or such later date as is acceptable to the Collateral Agent. No Receivable of any Grantor as of the date hereof requires the consent of the Account Debtor in respect thereof in connection with the security interest hereunder, except any consent which has been obtained on or prior to the date hereof or where the failure to obtain such consent would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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3.6. Pledged Equity Interests.

 

(a) Record and Beneficial Owner . As of the Closing Date, the applicable Grantor is the record and beneficial owner of the Pledged Equity Interests listed as owned by it on Schedule 3.1 free of all Liens (other than statutory non-consensual Liens and other rights and claims of the Collateral Agent under this Agreement), rights or claims of other Persons.

 

(b) Consents . No consent of any Person, including any other general or limited partner, any other member of a limited liability company, any other shareholder or any other trust beneficiary is necessary in connection with the creation, perfection or first priority status of the security interest of the Collateral Agent in any Pledged Equity Interests or the exercise by the Collateral Agent of the voting or other rights provided for in this Agreement or the exercise of remedies in respect thereof in each case, except such as have been obtained.

 

(c) Status as “Securities” . None of the Pledged LLC Interests or Pledged Partnership Interests that, in either case, are Pledged Equity Interests, represent interests (i) that by their terms provide that they are securities governed by the uniform commercial code of an applicable jurisdiction, other than those with respect to which the Grantors have taken or will take, within the time frames required by Section 4.1(a), such actions to grant to the Collateral Agent Control of such securities pursuant to (1) Section 4.1(c) if such Pledged LLC Interests or Pledged Partnership Interests are represented by certificates or (2) Section 4.1(d) if such Pledged LLC Interests or Pledged Partnership Interests are not represented by certificates, (ii) that are dealt in or traded on securities exchanges or markets or (iii) in an issuer that is a “registered investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

3.7. Intellectual Property.

 

(a) Ownership . As of the Closing Date, and except as listed on Schedule 3.2 , to the applicable Grantor’s knowledge, such Grantor (i) is the sole and exclusive owner of the entire right, title, and interest in and to all Intellectual Property listed on Schedule 3.2 , or otherwise is licensed or permitted to use such Intellectual Property as used in or necessary to conduct its business as currently conducted, and (ii) owns or has the valid right to use and, where such Grantor does so, sublicense others to use, all other Material Intellectual Property used by it in its business, free and clear of all Liens, claims and encumbrances, except for Permitted Liens or as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 3.2 accurately lists, in all material respects, all Material Intellectual Property registered with (or for which application for registration has been made to) the United States Copyright Office or United States Patent and Trademark Office owned by each Grantor as of the Closing Date, and accurately reflects, in all material respects the existence and status of all such Intellectual Property as of such date.

 

(b) Subsisting, Etc. To each applicable Grantor’s knowledge, as of the Closing Date, all the Material Intellectual Property owned by each Grantor as of the Closing Date is subsisting and has not been adjudged invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, in any material respect nor, in the case of Material Patents owned by each Grantor as of the Closing Date, is the subject of a reexamination proceeding, and such Grantor has maintained all registered Material Intellectual Property owned by each Grantor as of the Closing Date in the ordinary course consistent with reasonable business practices. To such Grantor’s knowledge, as of the Closing Date, no action or proceeding challenging the validity or scope of any of the Material Intellectual Property owned by each Grantor as of the Closing Date is pending or threatened in writing.

 

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(c) Registrations and Applications . With respect to any Intellectual Property owned by a Grantor and listed on Schedule 3.2 , as of the Closing Date, all registrations and applications for the Material Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks owned by each applicable Grantor have each been duly filed in the United States Copyright Office or United States Patent and Trademark Office, respectively, and are standing in the name of the applicable Grantor.

 

(d) Infringement, Etc . To each Grantor’s knowledge, as of the Closing Date, no conduct of such Grantor’s business infringes upon or misappropriates or otherwise violates any Trademark, Patent, Copyright, Trade Secret or other Intellectual Property proprietary right of any other Person where such could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As of the Closing Date, no claim has been made in the last three (3) years alleging that the conduct of the Grantor’s business and/or the use or license of any Material Intellectual Property owned or, to each Grantor’s knowledge, used by such Grantor (or any of its respective licensees) infringes upon, misappropriates or otherwise violates the asserted rights of any other Person where such could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(e) Third Party Infringement . To each Grantor’s knowledge, as of the Closing Date, and except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no other Person is infringing upon, misappropriating or otherwise violating any rights in any Material Intellectual Property owned by or exclusively licensed to such Grantor.

 

3.8.       Title to Vessels. On the Closing Date, the Credit Parties shall have valid and marketable title to each Material Vessel set forth on Schedule 4.27 to the Credit Agreement, subject to no Liens other than Permitted Liens. On the Closing Date, there are no bareboat or demise charters in effect with respect to any Vessel other than as set forth on Schedule 4.27 to the Credit Agreement.

 

SECTION 4. COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS.

 

Each Grantor covenants and agrees that so long as any Commitment is in effect and until payment in full of all Secured Obligations (other than any Remaining Obligations) and the cancellation, expiration, posting of backstop letters of credit or Cash Collateralization of all outstanding Letters of Credit, each Grantor shall perform all covenants and agreements in this Section 4.

 

4.1. Perfection and Certain Other Actions.

 

(a) Timing Generally . Each Grantor shall comply with the requirements of this Section 4.1, (i) with respect to any Collateral in existence on the Closing Date, on the Closing Date or such later date as permitted pursuant to Section 3.1(g) of the Credit Agreement, and (ii) with respect to any Collateral in which a Grantor acquires rights after the Closing Date, within (A) 30 days of the date of the acquisition thereof (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree to in its sole discretion) for the actions required pursuant to Sections 4.1(c), (d), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k) and (l) of this Agreement and (B) 90 days of the date of acquisition thereof (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree to in its sole discretion) for the actions required pursuant to Section 4.1(m) of this Agreement.

 

(b) UCC Financing Statements . Each Grantor hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent to file a financing statement naming such Grantor as “debtor” and the Collateral Agent as “secured party” and describing the Collateral in the filing offices set forth opposite such Grantor’s name on Schedule 3.1 (as such schedule may be amended or supplemented from time to time), which financing statements may describe the Collateral in the same manner as described herein or may contain an indication or description of collateral that describes such property in any other manner as the Collateral Agent may determine, in its sole discretion, is necessary, advisable or prudent to ensure the perfection of the security interest in the Collateral granted to the Collateral Agent herein, including describing such property as “all assets” or “all personal property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired.”

 

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(c) Certificated Securities, Etc . Each Grantor shall deliver to the Collateral Agent the Security Certificates evidencing any Certificated Securities included in the Collateral duly indorsed by an effective endorsement (within the meaning of Section 8-107 of the UCC), or accompanied by share transfer powers or other instruments of transfer duly endorsed by such an effective endorsement, in each case, to the Collateral Agent or in blank. Each Grantor shall also cause any certificates evidencing any Pledged Equity Interests, including any Pledged Partnership Interests or Pledged LLC Interests that in either case are Pledged Equity Interests, to be similarly delivered to the Collateral Agent, regardless of whether such Pledged Equity Interests constitute Certificated Securities.

 

(d) Uncertificated Securities . Each applicable Grantor shall ensure that the Collateral Agent has Control with respect to any Uncertificated Security included in the Collateral (other than any Uncertificated Securities credited to a Securities Account) included in the Collateral by causing the issuer of such Uncertificated Security, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to either (i) register the Collateral Agent as the registered owner thereof on the books and records of the issuer or (ii) execute an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, pursuant to which such issuer agrees to comply with the Collateral Agent’s instructions with respect to such Uncertificated Security without further consent by such Grantor.

 

(e) Instruments and Tangible Chattel Paper . Each applicable Grantor shall deliver to the Collateral Agent all Material Instruments and Material Tangible Chattel Paper included in the Collateral to the Collateral Agent duly indorsed in blank.

 

(f) Reserved .

 

(g) Electronic Chattel Paper, Etc . With respect to all Material Electronic Chattel Paper or “transferable record” (as that term is defined in Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or in Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction) included in the Collateral, each applicable Grantor shall ensure that the Collateral Agent has Control thereof in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent.

 

(h) Patents . Each applicable Grantor shall execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent an Intellectual Property Security Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (or a supplement thereto) or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent covering all Collateral consisting of all registered or applied for Patents for which such Grantor is the owner in appropriate form for recordation with the United States Patent and Trademark Office with respect to the security interest of the Collateral Agent.

 

(i) Trademarks . Each applicable Grantor shall execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent an Intellectual Property Security Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (or a supplement thereto) or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent covering all Collateral consisting of all registered or applied for Trademarks for which such Grantor is the owner in appropriate form for recordation with the United States Patent and Trademark Office with respect to the security interest of the Collateral Agent.

 

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(j) Copyrights and Copyright Licenses . Each applicable Grantor shall execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent an Intellectual Property Security Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (or a supplement thereto) or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent covering all Collateral consisting of all registered or applied for Copyrights and exclusive Copyright Licenses for which such Grantor is the owner or licensee in appropriate form for recordation with the United States Copyright Office with respect to the security interest of the Collateral Agent.

 

(k) Consents of Other Grantors Regarding Investment Related Property . Each Grantor consents to the grant by each other Grantor of a Lien in all Investment Related Property to the Collateral Agent and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, consents, in each case subject to the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, to the transfer of any Pledged Partnership Interest and any Pledged LLC Interest that, in either case, are Pledged Equity Interests, to the Collateral Agent or its designee and to any accompanying substitution of the Collateral Agent or its designee as a partner in any partnership or as a member in any limited liability company with all the rights and powers related thereto.

 

(l) Consents of Third Parties Regarding Pledged Equity Interests . With respect to any Pledged Partnership Interests and Pledged LLC Interests included in the Collateral, if any Grantor owns less than 100% of the equity interests in any issuer of such Pledged Partnership Interests or Pledged LLC Interests, such Grantor shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consent of each other holder of partnership interests or limited liability company interests in such issuer to (i) the security interest of the Collateral Agent hereunder in that portion of the equity interests of such issuer owned by such Grantor (or, if less, that portion that constitutes Pledged Equity Interests) and (ii) during the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the transfer of such Pledged Partnership Interests and Pledged LLC Interests (to the extent of the equity interests in such issuer owned by such Grantor or, if less, that portion that constitutes Pledged Equity Interests) to the Collateral Agent of its designee, and to the substitution of the Collateral Agent or its designee as a partner or member with all the rights and powers related thereto.

 

(m) Material Vessels . With respect to any Material Vessels, the applicable Grantor shall deliver to the Collateral Agent Vessel Mortgages and related documentation in accordance with Section 5.16 of the Credit Agreement.

 

(n) Landlord Waiver and Consent Agreements . Upon the request of the Collateral Agent, the Grantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to the Collateral Agent a fully executed Landlord Waiver and Consent Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, with respect to any real property leased by any Grantor in which there is Collateral (other than Collateral stored or maintained in a building or other facility or structure owned by a Grantor that is located on such leased real property) having a Fair Market Value in excess of $1,500,000 at any such location at any time; provided , that, for the avoidance of doubt, no Grantor shall be obligated to agree to any material increase in payments associated with such lease arrangement, or any other adverse change to the terms thereof, to obtain any such Landlord Waiver and Consent Agreement.

 

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4.2. Grantor Information and Status.

 

(a) Maintenance of Information and Status . Without limiting any prohibitions or restrictions on mergers or other transactions set forth in the Credit Agreement, in connection with a change in any Grantor’s name, corporate structure (e.g. by merger, consolidation, change in corporate form or otherwise), type of organization or jurisdiction of organization, such Grantor shall (i) notify the Collateral Agent in writing promptly, and in any case (A) at least 10 days (or such subsequent date as the Collateral Agent may agree to in its sole discretion) prior to any such change, identifying such new proposed name, corporate structure, type of organization or jurisdiction of organization and (ii) if the Collateral Agent so requests, prepare and deliver to the Collateral Agent such filings or instruments as are necessary or reasonably advisable to maintain the continuous validity, perfection and the same or better priority of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in the Collateral granted or intended to be granted and agreed to hereby, which in the case of any merger or other change in corporate structure shall include, without limitation, executing and delivering to the Collateral Agent a completed Pledge Supplement upon completion of such merger or other change in corporate structure confirming the grant of the security interest hereunder.

 

(b) Maintenance of Security Interest . Each Grantor shall maintain the security interest of the Collateral Agent hereunder in all Collateral as valid, perfected, first priority Liens, subject only to Permitted Liens, any applicable Intercreditor Agreement and permitted non-perfection.

 

4.3. Inventory and Equipment.

 

(a) Documents . No Grantor shall deliver any Document evidencing any Material Inventory or Material Equipment to any Person other than (i) the issuer of such Document to claim the Goods evidenced therefor, (ii) the Collateral Agent or (iii) in connection with a disposition of such Material Inventory or Material Equipment permitted by the Credit Agreement.

 

(b) Warehouseman, Bailee, Etc . If any Material Equipment or Material Inventory is in possession or control of any warehouseman, bailee or other third party (other than (i) a Consignee under a Consignment for which a Grantor is the Consignor, (ii) with respect to any Inventory or Equipment that is in transit, out for repair or servicing, that is leased by a customer and used by such customer at the customer’s location, or located at a customer jobsite, (iii) Collateral that has been purchased but not yet delivered to such Grantor) or (iv) any Vessel, each Grantor shall join with the Collateral Agent in notifying the third party of the Collateral Agent’s security interest and, upon the Collateral Agent’s reasonable request, will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain an acknowledgment from the third party that (i) it is holding such Inventory and Equipment for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and (ii) will permit the Collateral Agent to have access to such Equipment or Inventory for purposes of inspecting such Collateral or, following the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, to remove such Inventory or Equipment from such premises if the Collateral Agent so elects; and with respect to any Material Goods subject to a Consignment for which such Grantor is the Consignor, upon the Collateral Agent’s request such Grantor shall file appropriate financing statements against the Consignee and take such other action as may be necessary to ensure that such Grantor has a first priority perfected security interest in such Goods; provided , that, for the avoidance of doubt, no Grantor shall be obligated to agree to any material increase in payments associated with such warehouseman or bailee arrangement, or any other adverse change to the terms thereof, in order to obtain such acknowledgment.

 

4.4. Receivables.

 

(a) Records . Each Grantor shall keep and maintain at its own cost and expense complete records of the Receivables, in a manner consistent with prudent business practice as determined in the reasonable business judgment of such Grantor, and records of all payments received and all credits granted on the Receivables, all merchandise returned and all other dealings therewith.

 

(b) Modifications, Etc . (i) Other than in a manner consistent with prudent business practice as determined in the reasonable business judgment of such Grantor, no Grantor shall amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision of any Material Receivable in any manner which could reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect on the value or collectability of such Receivable; and (ii) following and during the continuation of an Event of Default, no Grantor shall (A) grant any extension or renewal of the time of payment of any Receivable, (B) compromise or settle any dispute, claim or legal proceeding with respect to any Receivable for less than the total unpaid balance thereof, (C) release, wholly or partially, any Person liable for the payment thereof, or (D) allow any credit or discount thereon.

 

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(c) Notifications to Account Debtors . In each case solely following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent has the right to notify, or require any Grantor to notify, any Account Debtor of the Collateral Agent’s security interest in the Receivables and any Supporting Obligation and the Collateral Agent may (i) direct the Account Debtors under any Receivables to make payment of all amounts due or to become due to such Grantor thereunder directly to the Collateral Agent; (ii) notify, or require any Grantor to notify, each Person maintaining a lockbox or similar arrangement to which Account Debtors under any Receivables have been directed to make payment to remit all amounts representing collections on checks and other payment items from time to time sent to or deposited in such lockbox or other arrangement directly to the Collateral Agent; and (iii) enforce, at the expense of such Grantor, collection of any such Receivables and to adjust, settle or compromise the amount or payment thereof, in the same manner and to the same extent as such Grantor might have done. If the Collateral Agent notifies any Grantor that it has elected to collect the Receivables in accordance with the preceding sentence, any payments of Receivables received by such Grantor during the occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default shall be forthwith (and in any event within two Business Days) deposited by such Grantor in the exact form received, duly indorsed by such Grantor to the Collateral Agent if required, in the Collateral Account maintained under the sole dominion and control of the Collateral Agent, and until so turned over, all amounts and proceeds (including checks and other instruments) received by such Grantor in respect of the Receivables, any Supporting Obligation or Collateral Support shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent hereunder and shall be segregated from other funds of such Grantor and such Grantor shall not adjust, settle or compromise the amount or payment of any Receivable, or release wholly or partly any Account Debtor or obligor thereof, or allow any credit or discount thereon.

 

4.5. Investment Related Property.

 

(a) Dividends, Interest and Distributions . If any Grantor receives any dividends, interests, distributions or other property on or from any Pledged Equity Interest or other Investment Related Property, then to the extent any such dividends, interests, distributions or other property constitute certificated securities, they shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, be segregated from the other property or funds of such Grantor and be promptly delivered to the Collateral Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement). Notwithstanding anything contained herein, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, such Grantor shall be entitled to retain all dividends, distributions, interests, distributions and other property, and all scheduled payments of interest on intercompany loans, paid, distributed, received or receivable by such Grantor on or in respect of any Investment Related Property.

 

(b) Voting – Prior to Event of Default . So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, each Grantor shall be entitled to exercise or refrain from exercising any and all voting and other consensual rights pertaining to the Investment Related Property or any part thereof for any purpose not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement or the Credit Agreement.

 

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(c) Voting – During Event of Default . Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default described in Sections 8.1(f) or (g) of the Credit Agreement, or upon written notice to Parent in the case of the occurrence and continuance of any other Event of Default, (i) all rights of each Grantor to exercise or refrain from exercising the voting and other consensual rights which it would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant hereto shall cease and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral Agent who shall thereupon have the sole right to exercise such voting and other consensual rights; and (ii) in order to permit the Collateral Agent to exercise the voting and other consensual rights which it may be entitled to exercise pursuant hereto and to receive all dividends and other distributions which it may be entitled to receive hereunder: (A) each Grantor shall promptly execute and deliver (or cause to be executed and delivered) to the Collateral Agent all proxies, dividend payment orders and other instruments as the Collateral Agent may from time to time reasonably request to permit the Collateral Agent to exercise the voting and other rights which it may be entitled to exercise pursuant to this Agreement, (B) each Grantor acknowledges that the Collateral Agent may utilize the power of attorney set forth in Section 6.1 and (C) no Grantor shall close its stock transfer book at any time in such manner as to delay or prevent the Collateral Agent from promptly exercising its voting or other consensual rights hereunder.

 

4.6. Intellectual Property.

 

(a) Abandonment, Etc . No Grantor shall do any act or omit to do any act whereby any Material Intellectual Property may lapse, or become abandoned, dedicated to the public, or unenforceable, or which would adversely affect the validity, grant, or enforceability of the security interest granted therein; provided , for the avoidance of doubt, a Grantor may abandon or otherwise dispose of Intellectual Property, which, (A) is not Material Intellectual Property, or (B) in the reasonable judgment of the Borrower, is no longer economically practicable to maintain or necessary in the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

(b) New Works and Licenses . If any Grantor shall create or acquire any ownership interest in or exclusively license any Material Intellectual Property registered with (or for which application for registration has been made to) the United States Copyright Office or United States Patent and Trademark Office, then, upon delivery of the annual financial statements required by Section 5.1(b) of the Credit Agreement, such Grantor shall provide notice to Collateral Agent of such Intellectual Property. Each Grantor agrees that should it obtain an ownership interest in or an exclusive license to any Intellectual Property which is not part of the Collateral as of the Closing Date, the provisions of this Agreement shall apply thereto and any such Intellectual Property shall immediately become part of the Collateral.

 

(c) Notice to Collateral Agent . Each Grantor shall promptly notify the Collateral Agent in writing and in reasonable detail if it knows or has reason to know that any Material Intellectual Property that is Collateral has or may become (i) abandoned or dedicated to the public or placed in the public domain, (ii) invalid or unenforceable, (iii) subject to any adverse determination or development (including the institution of proceedings) in any action or proceeding in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office, any state registry, any foreign counterpart of the foregoing, or any court or other administrative body or (iv) be the subject of any reversion or termination rights, and the effect of any of the foregoing, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.7. Commercial Tort Claims. Promptly upon acquiring any Material Commercial Tort Claim, the applicable Grantor shall promptly (but in any event within 30 days after such acquisition or such later date as is acceptable to the Collateral Agent) deliver to the Collateral Agent a completed Pledge Supplement identifying such Material Commercial Tort Claim.

 

4.8. Special Collateral . Upon acquiring any Material Special Collateral, the applicable Grantor shall (a) promptly notify the Collateral Agent in writing thereof and (b) take all such actions and execute all such documents and make all such filings, in each case, at such Grantor’s expense as the Collateral Agent shall have reasonably requested in order to ensure that the Collateral Agent has a valid, perfected, First Priority Lien in such Material Special Collateral, subject to any Permitted Liens and permitted non-perfection.

 

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4.9. Further Assurances. Each Grantor agrees that from time to time, at the expense of such Grantor, it shall promptly execute and deliver all further instruments and documents, and take all further action, that may be necessary or reasonably desirable, or that the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, to create and/or maintain the validity, perfection or priority of and protect any security interest granted or purported to be granted hereby or to enable the Collateral Agent to exercise and enforce its rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any Collateral.

 

4.10. Relation to Certain other Security Documents. If there is any conflict between any one or more provisions in this Agreement and one or more provisions in any Vessel Mortgage or Assignment of Insurances, such provisions of the Vessel Mortgage or Assignment of Insurances shall control.

 

SECTION 5. ADDITIONAL GRANTORS.

 

Pursuant to Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement, certain other Restricted Subsidiaries of Parent may from time to time become parties hereto as additional Grantors by executing a Counterpart Agreement. Upon delivery of any such Counterpart Agreement to the Collateral Agent, notice of which is hereby waived by Grantors, each such Restricted Subsidiary shall be a Grantor and shall be as fully a party hereto as if such Restricted Subsidiary were an original signatory hereto. Each Grantor expressly agrees that its obligations arising hereunder shall not be affected or diminished by the addition of any other Grantor hereunder, nor by any election of the Collateral Agent not to cause any Restricted Subsidiary of Parent to become a Grantor hereunder. This Agreement shall be fully effective as to any Grantor that is or becomes a party hereto regardless of whether any other Person becomes or fails to become or ceases to be a Grantor hereunder.

 

SECTION 6. COLLATERAL AGENT APPOINTED ATTORNEY-IN-FACT .

 

6.1. Power of Attorney. Solely upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor hereby irrevocably appoints the Collateral Agent (such appointment being coupled with an interest) as such Grantor’s attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of such Grantor and in the name of such Grantor, the Collateral Agent or otherwise, from time to time in the Collateral Agent’s discretion to take any action and to execute any instrument that the Collateral Agent may deem reasonably necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, including the following (in each case, solely upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default):

 

(a) to create, prepare, complete, execute, deliver, endorse, or file in the name of and on behalf of each Grantor any and all instruments, documents, applications, financing statements, and any other agreements or writings required to be obtained, executed, delivered, endorsed or entered into by each Grantor to enforce, maintain or use any Intellectual Property, to grant or issue any license to any Intellectual Property to any Person, or to sell, assign, transfer, encumber, pledge, or otherwise transfer title or create a security interest in or dispose of any Intellectual Property;

 

(b) to take or cause to be taken all actions necessary to perform or comply or cause performance or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, including access to pay or discharge taxes (other than taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted in accordance with Section 4.11 of the Credit Agreement) or Liens (other than Permitted Liens) levied or placed upon or threatened against the Collateral, the legality or validity thereof and the amounts necessary to discharge the same to be determined by the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion, any such payments made by the Collateral Agent to become obligations of such Grantor to the Collateral Agent, due and payable immediately without demand; and

 

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(c) (i) to obtain and adjust insurance required to be maintained by such Grantor or paid to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Credit Agreement; (ii) to ask for, demand, collect, sue for, recover, compound, receive and give acquittance and receipts for moneys due and to become due under or in respect of any of the Collateral, and to receive, endorse and collect any drafts or other instruments, documents and chattel paper in connection therewith; (iii) to file any claims or take any action or institute any proceedings that the Collateral Agent may deem necessary or desirable for the collection of any of the Collateral or otherwise to enforce the rights of the Collateral Agent with respect to any of the Collateral; and (iv) generally to sell, transfer, lease, license, pledge, make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with any of the Collateral as fully and completely as though the Collateral Agent were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and to do, at the Collateral Agent’s option and such Grantor’s expense, at any time or from time to time, all acts and things that the Collateral Agent deems reasonably necessary to protect, preserve or realize upon the Collateral and the Collateral Agent’s security interest therein in order to effect the intent of this Agreement, all as fully and effectively as such Grantor might do.

 

6.2. No Duty. The powers conferred on the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 6.1 are solely to protect the interests of the Secured Parties in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to exercise any such powers. The Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties shall be accountable only for amounts that they actually receive as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither they nor any of their officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible to any Grantor for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for their own bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision.

 

SECTION 7. REMEDIES.

 

7.1. Rights and Remedies.

 

(a) Generally . If any Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, the Collateral Agent may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to all other rights and remedies provided for herein or otherwise available to it at law or in equity, all the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent on default under the UCC (regardless of whether the UCC applies to the affected Collateral) to collect, enforce or satisfy any Secured Obligations then owing, whether by acceleration or otherwise, and also may pursue any of the following separately, successively or simultaneously: (i) require any Grantor to, and each Grantor hereby agrees that it shall at its expense and promptly upon request of the Collateral Agent forthwith, assemble all or part of the Collateral as directed by the Collateral Agent and make it available to the Collateral Agent at a place to be designated by the Collateral Agent that is reasonably convenient to both parties; (ii) to the extent permitted by applicable law, enter onto the property where any Collateral is located and take possession thereof with or without judicial process; (iii) prior to the disposition of the Collateral, store, process, repair or recondition the Collateral or otherwise prepare the Collateral for disposition in any manner to the extent the Collateral Agent deems appropriate; and (iv) without notice except as specified below or under the UCC or applicable law, sell, assign, lease, license (on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis) or otherwise dispose of the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, at any of the Collateral Agent’s offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, at such time or times and at such price or prices and upon such other terms as the Collateral Agent may deem commercially reasonable.

 

  - 18 -  

 

 

(b) Public and Private Sales . The Collateral Agent or any Secured Party may be the purchaser of any or all of the Collateral at any public or private (to the extent to the portion of the Collateral being privately sold is of a kind that is customarily sold on a recognized market or the subject of widely distributed standard price quotations) sale in accordance with the UCC and the Collateral Agent, as collateral agent for and representative of the Secured Parties, shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such sale made in accordance with the UCC, to use and apply any of the Secured Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any Collateral payable by the Collateral Agent at such sale. Each purchaser at any such sale shall hold the property sold absolutely free from any claim or right on the part of any Grantor, and each Grantor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by applicable law) all rights of redemption, stay and/or appraisal which it now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted. Each Grantor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by law, at least 10 days’ notice to such Grantor of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification. The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. The Collateral Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned. Each Grantor agrees that it would not be commercially unreasonable for the Collateral Agent to dispose of the Collateral or any portion thereof by using Internet sites that provide for the auction of assets of the types included in the Collateral or that have the reasonable capability of doing so, or that match buyers and sellers of assets. Each Grantor hereby waives any claims against the Collateral Agent arising by reason of the fact that the price at which any Collateral may have been sold at such a private sale was less than the price which might have been obtained at a public sale, even if the Collateral Agent accepts the first offer received and does not offer such Collateral to more than one offeree. If Collateral Agent sells any of the Collateral upon credit, Grantor will be credited only with payments actually made by purchaser and received by Collateral Agent and applied to indebtedness of the purchaser. If the purchaser fails to pay for the Collateral, Collateral Agent may resell the Collateral and Grantor shall be credited with proceeds of the sale. The Collateral Agent may sell the Collateral without giving any warranties as to the Collateral. The Collateral Agent may specifically disclaim or modify any warranties of title or the like, and such disclaimer shall not be considered to adversely affect the commercial reasonableness of any sale of the Collateral. If the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay all the Secured Obligations, Grantors shall be liable for the deficiency and the reasonable and documented out of pocket fees of any attorneys employed by the Collateral Agent to collect such deficiency.

 

7.2. Cash Proceeds. If any Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, in addition to the rights of the Collateral Agent specified in Section 4.4 with respect to payments of Receivables, (a) all proceeds of any Collateral received by any Grantor consisting of cash, checks and other Cash Equivalents (collectively, “Cash Proceeds” ) shall be held by such Grantor in trust for the Collateral Agent, segregated from other funds of such Grantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Grantor, be turned over to the Collateral Agent in the exact form received by such Grantor (duly indorsed by such Grantor to the Collateral Agent, if required) and held by the Collateral Agent in the Collateral Account; and (b) any Cash Proceeds received by the Collateral Agent (whether from a Grantor or otherwise) may, in the sole discretion of the Collateral Agent, (i) be held by the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as collateral security for the Secured Obligations (whether matured or unmatured) and/or (ii) then or at any time thereafter may be applied by the Collateral Agent against the Secured Obligations then due and owing in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

7.3. Deposit Accounts. If any Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, the Collateral Agent may apply the balance from any Deposit Account (other than any Excluded Account) maintained with the Collateral Agent to pay the balance of any Deposit Account (other than any Excluded Account) to or for the benefit of the Collateral Agent.

 

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7.4. Investment Related Property. Each Grantor recognizes that, by reason of certain prohibitions contained in the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, the Collateral Agent may be compelled, with respect to any sale of all or any part of the Investment Related Property conducted without prior registration or qualification of such Investment Related Property under the Securities Act and/or such state securities laws, to limit purchasers to those who will agree, among other things, to acquire the Investment Related Property for their own account, for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. Each Grantor acknowledges that any such private sale may be at prices and on terms less favorable than those obtainable through a public sale without such restrictions (including a public offering made pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act) and, notwithstanding such circumstances, each Grantor agrees that any such private sale shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner and that the Collateral Agent has no obligation to engage in public sales and no obligation to delay the sale of any Investment Related Property for the period of time necessary to permit the issuer thereof to register it for a form of public sale requiring registration under the Securities Act or under applicable state securities laws, even if such issuer would, or should, agree to so register it. If the Collateral Agent determines to exercise its right to sell any or all of the Investment Related Property, upon written request, each Grantor shall and shall cause each issuer of any Pledged Stock to be sold hereunder, each partnership and each limited liability company from time to time to furnish to the Collateral Agent all such information as the Collateral Agent may request in order to determine the number and nature of interest, shares or other instruments included in the Investment Related Property which may be sold by the Collateral Agent in exempt transactions under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, as the same are from time to time in effect.

 

7.5. Intellectual Property.

 

(a) Rights and Remedies of Collateral Agent . Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, in addition to the other rights and remedies provided herein, in each case solely upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default: (i) the Collateral Agent has the right (but not the obligation) to bring suit or otherwise commence any action or proceeding in the name of any Grantor, the Collateral Agent or otherwise, in the Collateral Agent’s sole discretion, to enforce or maintain any of such Grantor’s Intellectual Property, in which event such Grantor shall, at the request of the Collateral Agent, do any and all lawful acts and execute any and all documents required by the Collateral Agent in aid of such enforcement and such Grantor shall promptly, upon demand, reimburse and indemnify the Collateral Agent as provided in the Credit Agreement in connection with the exercise of its rights under this Section, and, to the extent that the Collateral Agent shall elect not to bring suit to enforce any Intellectual Property of a Grantor as provided in this Section 7.5, each Grantor agrees to, consistent with its reasonable business judgment, use all commercially reasonable measures, whether by action, suit, proceeding or otherwise, to prevent the infringement or other violation of any of such Grantor’s rights in the Intellectual Property by others and for that purpose agrees to diligently maintain any action, suit or proceeding against any Person so infringing as shall be necessary to prevent such infringement or violation; (ii) upon Collateral Agent’s request, each Grantor shall grant, assign, convey or otherwise transfer to the Collateral Agent or such Collateral Agent’s designee all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in and to its Intellectual Property to the extent permissible thereunder and shall execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent such documents as are necessary or appropriate to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement; (iii) within five Business Days after written notice from the Collateral Agent, each Grantor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to make available to the Collateral Agent, to the extent within such Grantor’s power and authority under applicable law and contracts, such personnel in such Grantor’s employ as may be necessary to permit such Grantor to continue, directly or indirectly, to produce, advertise and sell, or have done so on its behalf, the products and services made, used, sold, offered for sale, distributed or delivered by such Grantor under or in connection with the Intellectual Property, such persons to be available to perform their prior functions on the Collateral Agent’s behalf and to be compensated by the Collateral Agent at such Grantor’s expense on a per diem, pro-rata basis consistent with the salary and benefit structure applicable to each as of the date of such Event of Default; and (iv) the Collateral Agent has the right to notify, or require each Grantor to notify, any obligors with respect to amounts due or to become due to such Grantor in respect of such Grantor’s Intellectual Property, of the existence of the security interest created herein, to direct such obligors to make payment of all such amounts directly to the Collateral Agent, and, upon such notification and at the expense of such Grantor, to enforce collection of any such amounts and to adjust, settle or compromise the amount or payment thereof, in the same manner and to the same extent as such Grantor might have done; provided , (A) all amounts and proceeds (including checks and other instruments) received by a Grantor in respect of amounts due to such Grantor in respect of its Intellectual Property or any portion thereof shall, solely upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, be received in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent hereunder, shall be segregated from other funds of such Grantor and, upon the Collateral Agent’s instruction, shall be forthwith paid over or delivered to the Collateral Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement) to be held as cash Collateral and applied as provided by Section 7.7; and (B) each Grantor shall not adjust, settle or compromise the amount or payment of any such amount or release wholly or partly any obligor with respect thereto or allow any credit or discount thereon.

 

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(b) Non-Exclusive License . If needed and for the purpose of enabling the Collateral Agent, during the continuance of an Event of Default, to exercise rights and remedies under this Section 7 solely at such time as the Collateral Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, and for no other purpose, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, to the extent assignable, a non-exclusive license to use, assign, license or sublicense any of the Intellectual Property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor, wherever the same may be located, consistent with such Grantor’s ordinary course of business. Such license shall include access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer programs used for the maintenance, compilation or printout thereof.

 

(c) Reassignment to Grantor . If (i) an Event of Default has occurred and, by reason of cure, waiver, modification, amendment or otherwise, no longer be continuing, (ii) no other Event of Default has occurred and be continuing, (iii) an assignment or other transfer to the Collateral Agent of any rights, title and interests in and to the Intellectual Property has been previously made and has become absolute and effective, and (iv) the Secured Obligations shall not have become immediately due and payable, upon the written request of any Grantor, the Collateral Agent shall promptly execute and deliver to such Grantor, at such Grantor’s sole cost and expense, such assignments or other transfer as may be necessary or appropriate to reassign and otherwise return to such Grantor any such rights, title and interests as may have been assigned to the Collateral Agent as aforesaid, subject to any disposition thereof that may have been made by the Collateral Agent; provided , after giving effect to such reassignment, the Collateral Agent’s security interest granted pursuant hereto, as well as all other rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent granted hereunder, shall continue to be in full force and effect; provided further , the rights, title and interests so reassigned shall be free and clear of any other Liens granted by or on behalf of the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties.

 

7.6. Marshalling. The Collateral Agent shall not be under any obligation to marshal any assets in favor of any Grantor or any other Person or against or in payment of any or all of the Secured Obligations.

 

7.7. Application of Proceeds. If the Secured Obligations shall have been accelerated pursuant to Section 8.2 of the Credit Agreement, all payments and proceeds received by the Collateral Agent hereunder in respect of any of the Secured Obligations shall be applied, subject to any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, in accordance with Section 8.3 of the Credit Agreement.

 

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7.8. Specific Performance. Each Grantor further agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in this Section 7 will cause irreparable injury to the Collateral Agent, that the Collateral Agent has no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breach and, as a consequence, that each and every covenant contained in this Section 7 shall be specifically enforceable against such Grantor, and such Grantor hereby waives and agrees not to assert any defenses against an action for specific performance of such covenants except for a defense that no default has occurred giving rise to the Secured Obligations becoming due and payable prior to their stated maturities; provided , nothing in this Section 7.8 shall in any way limit the rights of the Collateral Agent under this Agreement or under any other Credit Document.

 

SECTION 8. TERMINATION AND RELEASE.

 

Upon the payment in full of all Secured Obligations (other than any Remaining Obligations), the cancellation or termination of the Commitments and the cancellation, expiration, posting of backstop letters of credit with respect to or Cash Collateralization of all outstanding Letters of Credit, the security interest granted hereby shall automatically terminate hereunder and of record and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to Grantors. Upon any such termination the Collateral Agent shall, at Grantors’ expense, execute and deliver to Grantors or otherwise authorize the filing of such documents as Grantors shall reasonably request, including financing statement amendments to evidence such termination. Upon any disposition of property permitted by the Credit Agreement, the Liens granted herein shall be deemed to be automatically released and such property shall automatically revert to the applicable Grantor with no further action on the part of any Person (including, without limitation, with respect to all Collateral of any Grantor upon the sale of such Grantor (other than to another Grantor) in compliance with the Credit Agreement). The Collateral Agent shall, at the Grantors’ expense, execute and deliver or otherwise authorize the filing of such documents as any Grantor shall reasonably request, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, including, without limitation, financing statement amendments to evidence such release.

 

SECTION 9. COLLATERAL AGENT.

 

9.1. Appointment, Etc. The Collateral Agent has been appointed to act as Collateral Agent hereunder by Lenders and, by their acceptance of the benefits hereof, the other Secured Parties. The Collateral Agent shall be obligated, and has the right hereunder, to make demands, to give notices, to exercise or refrain from exercising any rights, and to take or refrain from taking any action (including the release or substitution of Collateral), solely in accordance with this Agreement and the Credit Agreement; provided , the Collateral Agent shall, after payment in full of all Secured Obligations (other than any Remaining Obligations) and the cancellation, expiration, posting of backstop letters of credit with respect to or Cash Collateralization of all outstanding Letters of Credit, exercise, or refrain from exercising, any remedies provided for herein in accordance with the instructions of the holders of a majority of the aggregate notional amount (or, with respect to any Secured Swap Contract or Cash Management Agreement that has been terminated in accordance with its terms, the amount then due and payable (exclusive of expenses and similar payments but including any early termination payments then due) under such Secured Swap Contract or Cash Management Agreement) under all Secured Swap Contracts and Cash Management Agreements. In furtherance of the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Secured Party, by its acceptance of the benefits hereof, agrees that it has no right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral hereunder, it being understood and agreed by such Secured Party that all rights and remedies hereunder may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of Secured Parties. The provisions of the Credit Agreement relating to the Collateral Agent, including the provisions relating to resignation of the Collateral Agent and the powers, duties and immunities thereof, are incorporated herein by this reference and shall survive any termination of the Credit Agreement.

 

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9.2. Standard of Care. The powers conferred on the Collateral Agent hereunder are solely to protect its interest in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon it to exercise any such powers. Except for the exercise of reasonable care in the custody of any Collateral in its possession and the accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder, the Collateral Agent has no duty as to any Collateral or as to the taking of any necessary steps to preserve rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining to any Collateral. The Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of Collateral in its possession if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Collateral Agent accords its own property. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon all or any part of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any Grantor or otherwise. If any Grantor fails to perform any agreement contained herein, the Collateral Agent may itself perform, or cause performance of, such agreement, and the expenses of the Collateral Agent incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by each Grantor under Section 10.2.

 

SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS.

 

10.1. Notices. Any notice or other communication herein required or permitted to be given to a Grantor or to the Collateral Agent shall be given pursuant to Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement.

 

10.2. Expenses. Each Grantor agrees to pay promptly all costs and expenses of the Collateral Agent as set forth in Section 10.2 of the Credit Agreement.

 

10.3. Indemnity. Each Grantor agrees to indemnify the Collateral Agent as set forth in Section 10.3 of the Credit Agreement.

 

10.4. Amendments and Waivers. Any amendment, modification, termination or waiver of this Agreement shall be effective only if made in accordance with Section 10.5 of the Credit Agreement.

 

10.5. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and the successors and permitted assigns of the Secured Parties. No Grantor’s rights or obligations hereunder nor any interest therein may be assigned or delegated by such Grantor without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby and, to the extent expressly contemplated by the Credit Agreement, Affiliates of each of the Agents and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

10.6. Independence of Covenants. All covenants hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is not permitted by any of such covenants, the fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or would otherwise be within the limitations of, another covenant shall not avoid the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default if such action is taken or condition exists.

 

10.7. Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. All representations, warranties and agreements made herein shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and the making of any Credit Extension.

 

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10.8. No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative. No failure or delay on the part of the Collateral Agent in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall impair such power, right or privilege or be construed to be a waiver of any default or acquiescence therein, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right or privilege. The rights, powers and remedies given to the Collateral Agent hereby are cumulative and shall be in addition to and independent of all rights, powers and remedies existing by virtue of any statute or rule of law or in any of the other Credit Documents, any Secured Swap Contracts or any Cash Management Agreements. Any forbearance or failure to exercise, and any delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder shall not impair any such right, power or remedy or be construed to be a waiver thereof, nor shall it preclude the further exercise of any such right, power or remedy.

 

10.9. Severability. In case any provision in or obligation hereunder shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

10.10. Headings. Section headings herein are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part hereof for any other purpose or be given any substantive effect.

 

10.11. Governing Law. This Agreement and any claims, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

10.12. Consent to Jurisdiction. Each Grantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that it will not commence any action, litigation or proceeding of any kind or description, whether in law or equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, against the Collateral Agent in any way relating to this Agreement or the transactions relating hereto, in any forum other than the courts of the State of New York sitting in New York County, and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, and each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the jurisdiction of such courts and agrees that all claims in respect of any such action, litigation or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in such federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action, litigation or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Collateral Agent may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement against any Grantor or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction. Each Grantor irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to herein. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court. Each party hereto irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.1. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable law.

 

10.13. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IF LITIGATION OCCURS, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

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10.14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic ( i.e. , “pdf” or “tif”) format shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

10.15. No Strict Construction . The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Agreement.

 

10.16. INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, THE PRIORITY OF THE LIEN AND SECURITY INTEREST GRANTED TO THE COLLATERAL AGENT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHT OR REMEDY BY THE COLLATERAL AGENT HEREUNDER ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ANY APPLICABLE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT (IT BEING UNDERSTOOD THAT AS OF THE CLOSING DATE NO INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT IS IN EFFECT). IN THE EVENT OF ANY CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TERMS OF ANY SUCH INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT AND THIS AGREEMENT GOVERNING THE PRIORITY OF THE SECURITY INTERESTS GRANTED TO THE COLLATERAL AGENT OR THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHT OR REMEDY, THE TERMS OF SUCH INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT SHALL GOVERN AND CONTROL.

 

10.17. Jones Act Restrictions. Any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, it is the intention of the parties hereto that nothing contained herein shall create or permit to exist any interest in, control over, or right to vote, the Collateral that would make it unlawful for any U.S.-flag Vessel included in the Collateral to be documented under the laws of the United States with a coastwise endorsement, or cause any US-flag Vessel included in the Collateral to lose such endorsement (a “Prohibited Controlling Interest” ). Any provision of this Agreement which, in the absence of this restriction, would create a Prohibited Controlling Interest is null and void.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , each Grantor and the Collateral Agent have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written above.

 

  NRC US HOLDING COMPANY, LLC , as a Grantor
       
  By: /s/ Glenn M. Shor
    Name: Glenn M. Shor
    Title: Secretary
       
  SPRINT ENERGY SERVICES, LLC , as a Grantor
       
  By: /s/ Philip Bowman
    Name: Philip Bowman
    Title: Chief Financial Officer
       
  NRC GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC
       
  By: /s/ Glenn M. Shor
    Name: Glenn M. Shor
    Title: Assistant Secretary
       
  JFL-NRC HOLDINGS, LLC
  NATIONAL RESPONSE CORPORATION
  NRC ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC.
  OSRV HOLDINGS, INC.
  NRC PAYROLL MANAGEMENT LLC
  NRC ALASKA, LLC
  SPECIALIZED RESPONSE SOLUTIONS, L.P.
  NATL RESPONSE CORPORATION OF PUERTO RICO, as Grantors
       
  By: /s/ Glenn M. Shor
    Name: Glenn M. Shor
    Title: Secretary

 

Signature Page to Pledge and Security Agreement

 

 

  SES HOLDCO, LLC
  SPRINT KARNES COUNTY DISPOSAL LLC , as Grantors
       
  By: /s/ Glenn M. Shor
    Name: Glenn M. Shor
    Title: Vice President
       
  ENPRO HOLDINGS GROUP, INC.
  ENPRO SERVICES OF MAINE, INC.
  ENPRO SERVICES OF VERMONT, INC.
  TMC SERVICES, INC. , as Grantors
       
  By: /s/ Paul Taveira
    Name: Paul Taveira
    Title: President
       
  PROGRESSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
  SOUTHERN WASTE, INC.
  EAGLE CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, LLC , as Grantors
       
  By: /s/ Glenn M. Shor
    Name: Glenn M. Shor
    Title: Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
       
  NRC NY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
  NRC EAST ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. ,
  TERRALINK SYSTEMS INC. , as Grantors
       
  By: /s/ Paul Taveira
    Name: Paul Taveira
    Title: President and CEO

 

Signature Page to Pledge and Security Agreement

 

 

  BNP PARIBAS , as Collateral Agent
       
  By: /s/ Michael Colias
    Name: Michael Colias
    Title: Managing Director
       
  By: /s/ Davin Engelson
    Name: Davin Engelson
    Title: Director

 

Signature Page to Pledge and Security Agreement

 

 

EXHIBIT A
TO PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

PLEDGE SUPPLEMENT

 

This PLEDGE SUPPLEMENT , dated [mm/dd/yy] , is delivered by [NAME OF GRANTOR] (the “Grantor” ) pursuant to the Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of June 11, 2018 (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Security Agreement ”), among NRC US HOLDING COMPANY, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (the “NRC Borrower” ), SPRINT ENERGY SERVICES, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sprint Borrower” , and collectively with the NRC Borrower, the “Borrowers” and each a “Borrower” ), JFL-NRC HOLDINGS, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company ( “NRC Holdings” ), SES HOLDCO, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company, as Holdings Companies, NRC GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company ( “Parent” ), the other Grantors named therein, and BNP PARIBAS , as the Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used herein not otherwise defined herein has the meanings ascribed thereto in the Security Agreement.

 

Grantor hereby confirms the grant to the Collateral Agent set forth in the Security Agreement of, and does hereby grant to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of Grantor’s right, title and interest in and to all Collateral to secure the Secured Obligations, in each case whether now or hereafter existing or in which Grantor now has or hereafter acquires an interest and wherever the same may be located. Grantor represents and warrants that the attached supplements to Schedules to the Security Agreement accurately and completely set forth all additional information required to be provided pursuant to the Security Agreement and hereby agrees that such supplements to Schedules to the Security Agreement shall constitute part of the Schedules to the Security Agreement.

 

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

  Exhibit A- 1  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , Grantor has caused this Pledge Supplement to be duly executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer as of the date first written above.

 

  [NAME OF GRANTOR]
     
  By:             
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

  Exhibit A- 2  

 

 

EXHIBIT B
TO PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

This INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement” ) is made as of [mm/dd/yy] between each of the signatories hereto (collectively, the “Grantors” ) in favor of BNP PARIBAS , as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent” ) (as defined in the Pledge and Security Agreement referred to below).

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS , reference is made to that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of June 11, 2018 (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Pledge and Security Agreement” ), by and among the Grantors, the other grantors party thereto and the Collateral Agent; and

 

WHEREAS , under the terms of the Pledge and Security Agreement, the Grantors have (i) as collateral security for the Secured Obligations, granted to the Collateral Agent a security interest in and continuing lien on all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under the Collateral (as defined in the Pledge and Security Agreement), including, without limitation, certain Intellectual Property of the Grantors and (ii) agreed to execute this Agreement for recording with [the United States Patent and Trademark Office][the United States Copyright Office], and other applicable Governmental Authorities.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the agreements, provisions and covenants herein contained, each Grantor and the Collateral Agent agree as follows:

 

Section 1. Grant of Security . As collateral security for the prompt and complete payment or performance in full when due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, acceleration, demand or otherwise of the Secured Obligations, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent a security interest in and continuing lien on all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under the following:

 

[(a) All United States copyrights (including Community designs), including but not limited to copyrights in software and all rights in and to databases, and all Mask Works (as defined under 17 USC 901 of the United States Copyright Act), whether registered or unregistered, moral rights, reversionary interests, termination rights, and, with respect to any and all of the foregoing: (i) all registrations and applications therefor including, without limitation, the registrations and applications referred to in Schedule 1 hereto; (ii) all extensions and renewals thereof; (iii) all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world; (iv) all rights in any material which is copyrightable under, or which is protected by United States federal laws or the law of any state thereof; (v) all rights to sue for past, present and future infringements thereof; and (vi) all Proceeds of the foregoing, including any royalties or income from the Copyright Licenses and any and all payments, claims, damages and proceeds of suit (collectively, the “Copyrights” ) and all exclusive Copyright Licenses including, without limitation, any such licenses identified in Schedule 1 hereto.]

 

[(b) All United States patents and certificates of invention, or similar industrial property, design or plant rights, for any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to: (i) all registrations, provisional and applications referred to in Schedule 1 hereto; (ii) all reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, extensions, renewals, and reexaminations therefor; (iii) all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world; (iv) all inventions and improvements described therein; (v) all rights to sue for past, present and future infringements thereof; and (vi) all Proceeds of the foregoing, including any royalties or income from the Patent Licenses and any and all payments, claims, damages and proceeds of suit (collectively, the “Patents” ).]

 

  Exhibit B- 1  

 

 

[(c) All United States trademarks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, Internet domain names, service marks, certification marks, collective marks, logos, other source or business identifiers, designs and general intangibles of a like nature, all registrations and applications for any of the foregoing including, but not limited to (i) the registrations and applications referred to in Schedule 1 hereto, (ii) all extensions or renewals of any of the foregoing, (iii) all of the goodwill of the business associated with the use of and symbolized by the foregoing, (iv) the right to sue for past, present and future infringement or dilution of any of the foregoing or for any injury to goodwill, and (v) all Proceeds of the foregoing, including any royalties or income from the Trademark Licenses and any and all payments, claims, damages, and proceeds of suit (collectively, the “Trademarks” ).]

 

Section 2. Recordation . Each Grantor authorizes and requests that [the Register of Copyrights][the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks] and any other applicable government officer record this Agreement.

 

Section 3. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic ( i.e. , “pdf” or “tif”) format shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

Section 4. Governing Law . This Agreement and any claims, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

Section 5. Conflict Provision . This Agreement has been entered into in conjunction with the provisions of the Pledge and Security Agreement and the Credit Agreement. The rights and remedies of each party hereto with respect to the security interest granted herein are without prejudice to, and are in addition to those set forth in the Pledge and Security Agreement and the Credit Agreement, all terms and provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference. If any provisions of this Intellectual Property Security Agreement are in conflict with the Pledge and Security Agreement or the Credit Agreement, the provisions of the Pledge and Security Agreement or the Credit Agreement shall govern.

 

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

  Exhibit B- 2  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , each Grantor and the Collateral Agent have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written above.

 

  [NAME OF GRANTOR],
  as a Grantor
     
  By:             
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

  Exhibit B- 3  

 

 

  BNP PARIBAS , as Collateral Agent
     
  By:             
  Name:  
  Title:  
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

  Exhibit B- 4  

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

JOINDER AGREEMENT

 

THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT , dated as of October 2, 2018 (this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among BNP PARIBAS (the “ Incremental Lender ”), NRC US HOLDING COMPANY, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Borrower Representative ” and a “ Borrower ”), SPRINT ENERGY SERVICES, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (a “ Borrower ”), the Guarantors party hereto and BNP PARIBAS , as Administrative Agent.

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS , reference is hereby made to that certain Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of June 11, 2018 (as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”; the terms defined therein and not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined), by and among each Borrower, NRC Group Holdings, LLC ( “Parent” ), the Guarantors party thereto from time to time, the Lenders party thereto from time to time, and BNP Paribas, as Administrative Agent and as Collateral Agent; and

 

WHEREAS , subject to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, the Borrowers may request Incremental Term Loan Commitments by entering into one or more Joinder Agreements with one or more Incremental Lenders.

 

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

 

1. Commitment . Subject to the conditions set forth in Section 5 below, the Incremental Lender hereby commits to provide its Commitments for the Incremental Term Loans to be provided hereunder (the “ Incremental Term Loans ”) as set forth on Schedule A annexed hereto (the “ Incremental Facility ”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

 

2. Confirmation . The Incremental Lender (i) confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents, together with copies of the financial statements referred to therein and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement; (ii) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or Agent and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement; (iii) appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, as the case may be, by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (iv) agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

 

 

 

 

3. Certain Terms . The Incremental Term Loans shall be treated as, and shall have identical terms as, the Initial Term Loans made on the Closing Date for all purposes under the Credit Agreement, including, without limitation, with respect to maturity, prepayments, repayments, interest rate and other economic terms and any other provisions restricting the rights, or regarding the obligations, of the Credit Parties, or any provisions regarding the rights of the Lenders. The Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to take all actions with respect to Interest Periods as may be reasonably necessary to ensure that all Incremental Term Loans are included in each outstanding Initial Term Loan on a pro rata basis, and the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to mark the Register accordingly to reflect the amendments and adjustments set forth herein. The Administrative Agent shall record the Incremental Term Loans as being of the same “Class” as the Initial Term Loans. To further effectuate the foregoing, the parties hereto hereby agree that, as of the Incremental Closing Date, the Credit Agreement shall, in accordance with Section 2.25(j) of the Credit Agreement, be amended as follows:

 

(a) Principal Payments . Section 2.12(a) of the Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

(b) The principal amount of the Initial Term Loans (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Incremental Term Loans) shall be repaid in installments in the aggregate amounts set forth below on the date correlative thereto; provided , such installments shall be reduced in connection with any voluntary or mandatory prepayments of the Initial Term Loans (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Incremental Term Loans) in accordance with Section 2.15:

 

  Installment Date   Installment
  Each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 (beginning with December 31, 2018 and ending prior to the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date   $857,719.30
  Initial Term Loan Maturity Date   Outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Initial Term Loans (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Incremental Term Loans)

 

(c) Prepayment Fees. For purposes of Section 2.11(h) of the Credit Agreement, the Incremental Term Loans shall be considered Initial Term Loans and the words “the Closing Date” therein shall be deleted and replaced with “April 2, 2019” (and the Credit Agreement shall be deemed so amended).

 

(d) MFN Protection . For purposes of Section 2.25(h)(iv) of the Credit Agreement, the Incremental Term Loans shall be considered Initial Term Loans.

 

4. Proposed Borrowing . This Agreement represents Borrowers’ request to borrow the Incremental Term Loans set out below from the Incremental Lender as follows (the “Proposed Borrowing” ):

 

(a) Incremental Term Loan: $35,000,000.00

 

(b) Business Day of Proposed Borrowing: October 2, 2018 (the “ Incremental Closing Date ”)

 

(c) Interest rate option: ☐  i. Base Rate Loans
           
      ý ii. Eurodollar Loans with Interest Periods coterminous with those for the Initial Term Loans

 

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5. Conditions . The effectiveness of this Agreement shall be subject to the prior or concurrent satisfaction of each of the conditions precedent set forth in this Section 5:

 

(a) This Agreement, duly executed by the Incremental Lender, the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent.

 

(b) A certificate of the secretary or assistant secretary (or other officer reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) of each Borrower dated the Incremental Closing Date, certifying (A) that (i) attached thereto is a true and complete copy of each Organizational Document (or its equivalent) of such Borrower certified (to the extent applicable) as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the state of its organization or (ii) there have been no changes to the Organizational Documents of such Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent on the Closing Date, and (B) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Managers of such Borrower establishing that all necessary organizational action on the part of such Borrower has been taken, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement contemplated to be entered into by such Borrower and that such resolutions and other actions have not been modified, rescinded, supplemented, or amended and are in full force and effect.

 

(c) A certificate as to the good standing of each Borrower as of a recent date, from the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

(d) A Counterpart Agreement under the Credit Agreement executed and delivered by Quail Run Services, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (the “Target” ).

 

(e) A certificate of the secretary or assistant secretary (or other officer reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) of the Target dated the Incremental Closing Date, certifying (A) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of each Organizational Document (or its equivalent) of the Target certified (to the extent applicable) as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the state of its organization, (B) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Target or equivalent body or Person of the Target authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents to which such Person is a party and (C) as to the incumbency and specimen signature of each officer executing any Credit Document or any other document delivered in connection herewith on behalf of the Target (together with a certificate of another officer as to the incumbency and specimen signature of the secretary or assistant secretary or other officer executing the certificate in this clause (i)).

 

(f) A certificate as to the good standing of the Target as of a recent date, from the Secretary of State of the State of Texas.

 

(g) The Collateral Agent shall have received:

 

i. a UCC financing statement with respect to the Target in appropriate form for filing under the UCC in the State of Texas;

 

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ii. certified copies of UCC, tax and judgment lien searches, bankruptcy and pending lawsuit searches or equivalent reports or searches, each of a recent date listing all effective financing statements, lien notices or comparable documents that name the Target as debtor and that are filed in those state and county jurisdictions in which the Target is organized and such other searches that the Collateral Agent deems necessary or appropriate, none of which encumber the Collateral covered or intended to be covered by the Collateral Documents (other than Permitted Liens); and

 

iii. payoff letters in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent with respect to, or other reasonably satisfactory confirmation of arrangements for the repayment of, any existing material third-party Indebtedness of the Target (except for Indebtedness permitted to be outstanding without any consent from the Borrowers or their affiliates under the QRS Acquisition Agreement (as defined below) or other Indebtedness permitted to be outstanding under the Credit Agreement), together with any necessary release instruments with respect to the Liens granted as security therefor, including UCC-3 termination statements and intellectual property security agreement releases;

 

in addition, for the avoidance of doubt, the Credit Parties shall comply with the requirements of Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement with respect to the Target within the time periods set forth therein.

 

(h) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from the Borrowers’ insurance broker or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to Section 5.5(a) of the Credit Agreement is in full force and effect with respect to the Target and that the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, has been named as additional insured and loss payee thereunder to the extent required under Section 5.5(b) of the Credit Agreement.

 

(i) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from an Authorized Officer of the Borrower Representative reasonably satisfactory to it certifying and demonstrating (a) as to the Borrowers’ Certifications in Section 7 hereof, (b) that all of the requirements set forth in Section 2.25 of the Credit Agreement have been satisfied with respect to the Incremental Facility, such certificate to be accompanied by calculations shown in reasonable detail to that effect and (c) that all of the requirements under the definition of “Permitted Acquisition” set forth in the Credit Agreement have been satisfied with respect to the QRS Acquisition (as defined below).

 

(j) The Administrative Agent shall have received, on behalf of itself, the other Agents, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, a favorable written opinion of Jones Day, special counsel for the Credit Parties, (A) dated the Incremental Closing Date, (B) addressed to the Agents, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders and (C) covering such matters relating to this Agreement, the Credit Documents and the Joinder Agreements as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.

 

  4  

 

 

(k) The QRS Acquisition shall have been consummated or shall be consummated substantially concurrently on the Incremental Closing Date, in each case in all material respects in accordance with the terms of the QRS Acquisition Agreement, which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and all conditions precedent to the consummation of the QRS Acquisition, as set forth in the QRS Acquisition Agreement, shall have been satisfied in all material respects without any waiver, amendment, supplement or modification that is materially adverse to the Incremental Lenders unless the Administrative Agent has consented thereto, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. As used herein, “QRS Acquisition” shall mean the acquisition by Sprint Energy Services, LLC of the Equity Interests of the Target, pursuant to that certain Purchase Agreement (the “QRS Acquisition Agreement” ) dated on or about the Incremental Closing Date by and between Sprint Energy Services, LLC and the members of the Target.

 

(l) The Administrative Agent shall have received payment of all fees due to it and the Incremental Lender, as separately agreed, and all amounts due and payable under Section 10.2 of the Credit Agreement, including, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses that are specifically required to be paid on the Incremental Closing Date (which includes the reasonable and documented legal fees and expenses of counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent), in each case, to the extent invoiced at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Incremental Closing Date.

 

(m) Solely to the extent specifically requested by the Administrative Agent of the Borrower Representative at least ten (10) days prior to the Incremental Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the Incremental Closing Date all documentation and other information required under Anti-Terrorism Laws and applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering Laws.

 

(n) The Administrative Agent shall have received (x) pro forma balance sheet and income statements of Parent as of and for the twelve-month period ending on the last day of the most recently completed four fiscal quarters for which financial statements thereof have been delivered pursuant to the Credit Agreement, prepared after giving effect to the QRS Acquisition as if the QRS Acquisition had occurred as of such date (in the case of the balance sheet) or at the beginning of such period (in the case of such statement of income); and (y) financial projections prepared by the Sponsor for Parent and its subsidiaries on a quarterly basis for the first eight fiscal quarters after the Closing Date and on an annual basis thereafter to and including 2024.

 

(o) The Administrative Agent shall have received a Solvency Certificate duly executed and delivered by Parent, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

6. Incremental Lender . The Incremental Lender acknowledges and agrees that upon its execution of this Agreement and the making of the Incremental Term Loans that such Incremental Lender shall become a “Lender” under, and for all purposes of, the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and shall be subject to and bound by the terms thereof, and shall perform all the obligations of and shall have all rights of a Lender thereunder.

 

  5  

 

 

7. Borrowers’ Certifications . By its execution of this Agreement, each Borrower hereby certifies that:

 

(a) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to the Incremental Facility and the borrowings thereunder, no Event of Default under Sections 8.1(a), 8.1(g) or 8.1(h) shall have occurred and be continuing on such date; and

 

(b) each of the representations made by the Target in the QRS Acquisition Agreement as are material to the interests of the Incremental Lenders (but only to the extent that Parent has the right to terminate its obligations under the QRS Acquisition Agreement or decline to consummate the QRS Acquisition as a result of a breach of such representations and warranties) (the “Acquired Business Representations” ) and the Specified Representations (as defined below) are true and correct in all material respects (provided, to the extent that any Acquired Business Representation or any Specified Representation is qualified by or subject to a “material adverse effect”, “material adverse change” or similar term or qualification, (x) the definition thereof shall be the definition of “Material Adverse Effect” (as defined in the QRS Acquisition Agreement) for purposes of any Acquired Business Representation or any Specified Representation and (y) the same shall be true and correct in all respects (as used herein, “Specified Representations” means the representations in the Credit Agreement and this Agreement relating to (a) organizational power and authority to enter into this Agreement; (b) due execution, delivery and enforceability of this Agreement; (c) solvency; (d) no conflicts of this Agreement with charter documents (limited to the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, incurrence of the Incremental Term Loans and the granting of the security interests in respect thereof); (e) Federal Reserve margin regulations; (f) the Investment Company Act; (g) use of proceeds of the Incremental Facility not violating laws against sanctioned persons (including OFAC), anti-terrorism laws (including the PATRIOT Act), anti-bribery laws (including the FCPA) and anti-money laundering laws; (h) status of the Incremental Facility as senior debt (subject to customary Permitted Liens); and (i) the perfection and required priority of the security interests granted in the proposed collateral (subject to permitted liens in the Credit Documents) as set out in Section 5(g) of this Agreement)).

 

8. Notice Address . For purposes of the Credit Agreement, the notice address of the Incremental Lender shall be as set forth in the Credit Agreement.

 

9. Recordation of the New Loans . Upon execution and delivery hereof, Administrative Agent will record the Incremental Term Loans made by the Incremental Lender in the Register.

 

10. Amendment, Modification and Waiver . This Agreement may not be amended, modified or waived except by an instrument or instruments in writing signed and delivered on behalf of each of the parties hereto.

 

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11. Entire Agreement . This Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and verbal, among the parties or any of them with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

12. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

13. THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION PROVISION SET FORTH IN SECTION 10.15 (CONSENT TO JURISDICTION) OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY THE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A JURY TRIAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 10.16 (WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL) OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT.

 

14. Severability . In case any provision in or obligation hereunder shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

15. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) format shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

16. Credit Document . This Agreement constitutes a Credit Document for all purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

 

17. Reaffirmation; Other Agreements . Each Credit Party (i) reaffirms each Lien granted by each Credit Party to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the Collateral Documents and (ii) acknowledges and agrees that the grants of security interests by the Credit Parties contained in the Credit Agreement and the Collateral Documents are, and shall remain, in full force and effect after giving effect to this Agreement. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as substitution or novation of the obligations outstanding under the Credit Agreement or the other Credit Documents, which shall remain in full force and effect, except to any extent modified hereby. Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that (i) notwithstanding the conditions to effectiveness set forth in this Agreement, such Guarantor is not required by the terms of the Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document to consent to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) nothing in the Credit Agreement, this Agreement or any other Credit Document shall be deemed to require the consent of such Guarantor to any future amendments to the Credit Agreement or the other Credit Documents.

 

18. Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitments . The Administrative Agent acknowledges that it has received notice under Section 2.13(b) of the Credit Agreement to the effect that the Borrowers wish to reduce the Revolving Credit Commitments under the Credit Agreement by $5,000,000 and upon the occurrence of the Incremental Closing Date, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be $35,000,000. The Administrative Agent shall be authorized to mark the Register accordingly to reflect the reduction set forth herein.

 

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

  7  

 

 

IN WITNESS HEREOF , each of the undersigned has caused its duly authorized officer to execute and deliver this Incremental Joinder.

 

  BNP PARIBAS,
  as Administrative Agent and Incremental Lender
     
  By: /s/ Michael Colias
  Name: Michael Colias
  Title: Managing Director
     
  By: /s/ David Engelson
  Name: David Engelson
  Title: Director

 

[Signature page to Joinder Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  NRC US HOLDING COMPANY, LLC,
  as a Borrower and Borrower Representative
     
  By: /s/ Glenn M. Shor
  Name: Glenn M. Shor
  Title: Secretary
     
  SPRINT ENERGY SERVICES, LLC,
  as a Borrower
   
  By: /s/ Philip Bowman
  Name: Philip Bowman
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature page to Joinder Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  ENPRO HOLDINGS GROUP, INC.
  ENPRO SERVICES OF MAINE, INC.
  ENPRO SERVICES OF VERMONT, INC.
  TMC SERVICES, INC.
   
  By: /s/ Paul Taveira
  Name: Paul Taveira
  Title: President
     
  PROGRESSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL
 

SERVICES, INC.

SOUTHERN WASTE, INC.

  EAGLE CONSTRUCTION AND
  ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, LLC
   
  By: /s/ Glenn M. Shor
  Name: Glenn M. Shor
  Title: Treasurer and Assistant Secretary

 

[Signature page to Joinder Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  GUARANTORS:
   
  NRC GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC
   
  By: /s/ Glenn M. Shor
  Name: Glenn M. Shor
  Title: Assistant Secretary
     
  JFL-NRC HOLDINGS, LLC
  NATIONAL RESPONSE CORPORATION
  NRC ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC.
  OSRV HOLDINGS, INC.
  NRC PAYROLL MANAGEMENT LLC
  NRC ALASKA, LLC
  SPECIALIZED RESPONSE SOLUTIONS, L.P.
   
  By: /s/ Glenn M. Shor
  Name: Glenn M. Shor
  Title: Secretary
     
  SES HOLDCO, LLC
  SPRINT KARNES COUNTY DISPOSAL LLC
   
  By: /s/ Glenn M. Shor
  Name: Glenn M. Shor
  Title: Vice President

 

[Signature page to Joinder Agreement]

 

 

 

 

  NRC NY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
  NRC EAST ENVIRONMENT AL SERVICES, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Paul Taveira
  Name: Paul Taveira
  Title: President and CEO

 

[Signature page to Joinder Agreement]

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE A

TO JOINDER AGREEMENT

 

Name of Incremental Lender   Type of Commitment   Amount
BNP Paribas   Incremental Term Loan Commitment   $35,000,000.00
        Total: $35,000,000.00

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Solvency Certificate

 

October [ ], 2018

 

This certificate (this “ Solvency Certificate ”) is delivered pursuant the Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of June 11, 2018, among NRC Group Holdings, LLC, as Parent (“ Parent ”), NRC US Holding Company, LLC and Sprint Energy Services, LLC, as borrowers (the “ Borrowers ”), NRC Group Holdings, LLC and certain of the Borrowers’ subsidiaries party thereto, as Guarantors, the lenders party thereto, and BNP Paribas, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (the “ Credit Agreement ”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement. The undersigned hereby certifies, solely in such undersigned’s capacity as [Chief Financial Officer/equivalent officer] of NRC US Holding Company, LLC, acting as Borrower Representative, and not individually, as follows:

 

As of the date hereof, immediately after giving effect to the consummation of the Transaction and the making of the Incremental Loans under the Credit Agreement on the date hereof, and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such Incremental Loans:

 

a. The sum of the debt (including contingent liabilities) of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, does not exceed the fair value of the assets of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

 

b. The capital of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, is not unreasonably small in relation to the business of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted following the Incremental Closing Date;

 

c. Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, do not intend to incur, or believe that they will incur, debts (including current obligations and contingent liabilities) beyond their ability to pay such debts as they mature; and

 

d. The present fair saleable value of the assets (on a going concern basis) of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liabilities of Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on their debts as they become absolute and matured.

 

For purposes of this Solvency Certificate, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Solvency Certificate in such undersigned’s capacity as [chief financial officer] of NRC Group Holdings, LLC and not individually, as of the date first stated above.

 

NRC GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC

 

By:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.4

  

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of July 18, 2018 (the “ Effective Date ”), between NRC Group Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and Christian T. Swinbank (“ Executive ”) and supersedes and replaces in its entirety that certain employment agreement executed by Executive and Sprint Energy Services, LLC on May 5, 2015 (the “ Prior Employment Agreement ”).

 

In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Certain Definitions . Certain words or phrases used herein with initial capital letters shall have the meanings set forth in Section 8 .

 

2. Employment . The Company shall employ Executive, and Executive accepts such employment with the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement for the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending as provided in Section 5 hereof (the “ Employment Period ”). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Executive will be an at-will employee of the Company and Executive or the Company may terminate Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason or no reason at any time.

 

3. Position and Duties .

 

(a) During the Employment Period, Executive shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and shall have the normal duties, responsibilities and authority of an executive serving in such position, subject to the power of the Board of Managers of JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC (the “ Board ”) to expand or limit such duties, responsibilities and authority, either generally or in specific instances. Executive’s duties shall also include providing services to the Company’s direct and indirect subsidiaries in addition to the Company. For so long as Executive holds the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the Company shall use its good faith efforts to nominate Executive for election to the Board and procure his election to the Board at any applicable meeting of stockholders held for the purpose of electing directors, and Executive agrees to serve on the Board. Executive will not receive additional compensation for service as a member of the Board. Effective as of the date of any termination of employment, Executive hereby agrees to tender his resignation from, will be deemed to have automatically resigned from, all offices and directorships held at the Company and any of its subsidiaries or affiliates at the date of such termination, including the position of Chief Executive Officer and any position Executive may hold on the Board.

 

(b) During the Employment Period, Executive shall report to the Board.

 

(c) During the Employment Period, Executive shall devote Executive’s reasonable best efforts and Executive’s full business time and attention (except for permitted paid time off periods and reasonable periods of illness or other incapacity) to the business and affairs of the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates; provided , however , that Executive may (i) engage in charitable and civic activities, (ii) manage his personal and family finances and passive investments, and (iii) subject to the approval of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board which shall not be unreasonably withheld, serve on at least one board of directors for other public or private companies, so long as such activities do not compete with the Company’s Business or materially interfere, individually or in the aggregate, with the performance of his duties hereunder.

 

 

 

  

(d) Executive shall perform Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the best of Executive’s abilities in a diligent, trustworthy, businesslike and efficient manner.

 

4. Compensation and Benefits .

 

(a) Salary . During the Employment Period, the Company agrees to pay Executive a salary in installments based on the Company’s practices as may be in effect from time to time. Executive’s initial salary shall be at the rate of $412,000 per year (the “ Base Salary ”). The Base Salary shall be reviewed by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “ Compensation Committee ”) in accordance with the Company’s policies and practices, but not less frequently than once annually, and may be increased but not decreased (unless agreed to in writing by Executive). To the extent applicable, the term “Base Salary” shall include any such increases (or decreases agreed to in writing by Executive) to the Base Salary provided above.

 

(b) Annual Bonus . During the Employment Period, Executive will be eligible for discretionary annual bonus compensation, with the actual payout to be determined based on the achievement of goals determined by the Compensation Committee annually. For calendar year 2019, the target annual bonus amount shall equal 100% of Executive’s Base Salary and for years subsequent to calendar year 2019 the target annual bonus amount shall be determined by the Compensation Committee based on its review of the competitive market and other relevant considerations, and the actual payout may be less than or greater than the target annual bonus amount based on the achievement of the annual performance goals established by the Compensation Committee. To the extent applicable, the term “Target Annual Bonus” shall mean the target annual bonus established by the Compensation Committee with respect to a particular year. Except as otherwise provided herein, Executive will be required to be employed by the Company through the date on which the annual bonus is paid in order to be eligible to receive the annual bonus payment under this Section 4(b) . The annual bonus, if any, will be paid by no later than March 15 th of the year following the year to which it relates.

 

(c) Paid Time Off . During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to 20 days of paid time off during each calendar year. Any accrued paid time off that is not used in the calendar year in which it is earned will not be eligible to be carried forward to, or otherwise used in, any subsequent calendar year.

 

(d) Holidays . During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to holidays consistent with the Company’s current policy, which may be amended from time to time.

 

(e) Standard Benefits Package . Executive shall be entitled during the Employment Period to participate, on the same basis as other senior executive employees of the Company, in the Company’s Standard Benefits Package. The Company’s “ Standard Benefits Package ” means those benefits (including insurance and other benefits, but excluding, except as hereinafter provided in Sections 6(b) , 6(c) , 6(d) , if applicable, any severance pay program or policy of the Company) for which substantially all similarly situated employees of the Company are from time to time generally eligible, as determined from time to time by the Board and/or Compensation Committee.

 

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(f) Incentive Compensation . With respect to each calendar year during the Employment Period, Executive shall be eligible to participate in any incentive compensation programs generally made available to senior executives of the Company at a level commensurate with his position in accordance with and subject to the terms of such plan.

 

(g) Expense Reimbursement . The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable expenses incurred by Executive during the Employment Period in the course of performing Executive’s duties under this Agreement that are incurred in accordance with the Company’s policies as in effect from time to time with respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses, subject to the Company’s requirements applicable generally with respect to reporting and documentation of such expenses. Any such reimbursement of expenses shall be made by the Company upon or as soon as practicable following receipt of such documentation (but in any event not later than the close of the taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense is incurred by Executive).

 

5. Employment Period .

 

(a) Except as hereinafter provided, the Employment Period shall continue until, and shall end upon, the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Initial Term ”).

 

(b) On the third anniversary of the Effective Date and, after the Initial Term, on such third anniversary and each annual anniversary of such date thereafter, unless the Employment Period shall have ended pursuant to Section 5(c) below or the Company or Executive shall have given the other party at least 60 days’ written notice that the Employment Period will not be extended, the Employment Period shall be extended for an additional one-year period.

 

(c) Notwithstanding Sections 5(a) or 5(b) above, the Employment Period shall end early upon the first to occur of any of the following events:

 

(i) Executive’s death;

 

(ii) the Company’s termination of Executive’s employment due to Permanent Disability;

 

(iii) a Termination For Cause;

 

(iv) a Termination Without Cause;

 

(v) a Termination With Good Reason; or

 

(vi) a Voluntary Termination.

 

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6. Post-Employment Payments .

 

(a) At the end of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive shall cease to have any ongoing rights to salary, equity awards, expense reimbursements or other benefits, except that Executive shall be entitled to (i) any Base Salary which has accrued but is unpaid, (ii) any reimbursable expenses which have been incurred but are unpaid, (iii) and any paid time off days which have accrued pursuant to the Company’s paid time off policy, as in effect from time to time, but are unused, as of the end of the Employment Period, (iv) any option or other equity-grant rights or plan benefits which by their terms extend beyond termination of Executive’s employment (but only to the extent provided in any option or equity grant theretofore granted to Executive or any other benefit plan in which Executive has participated as an employee of the Company and excluding, except as hereinafter provided in Sections 6(b) , 6(c) , 6(d) , if applicable, and any severance pay program or policy of the Company) and (vi) any benefits to which Executive is entitled under Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ COBRA ”). In addition, Executive shall be entitled to the additional amounts described in Sections 6(b) , 6(c) , and 6(d) , if applicable, in the circumstances described in such Sections.

 

(b) If the Employment Period ends pursuant to Section 5 on account of a Termination Without Cause or a Termination With Good Reason, and such termination is not in connection with or following a Change in Control, as provided in Section 6(c) , the Company shall pay Executive an amount equal to 150% of the sum of his Base Salary plus 100% of his Target Annual Bonus at the time of such termination. Such amount shall be paid in equal installments over the 18 month period following Executive’s termination of employment in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices; provided , however , that any amount due under this sentence during the 60-day period following such termination shall not be paid during such 60-day period but instead shall be paid on the 60th day following such termination of employment.

 

(c) If, (i) during the 24-month period following a Change in Control the Employment Period ends pursuant to Section 5 on account of a Termination Without Cause or a Termination With Good Reason or (ii) during the 3-month period preceding a Change in Control, the Employment Period ends pursuant to Section 5 on account of a Termination Without Cause, then the Company shall pay Executive an amount equal to 200% of the sum of his Base Salary plus 100% of his Target Annual Bonus at the time of such termination. Such amount shall be paid in equal installments over the 24-month period following Executive’s termination of employment in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices; provided , however , that any amount due under this sentence during the 60-day period following such termination shall not be paid during such 60-day period but instead shall be paid on the 60th day following such termination of employment; provided further that, if the Employment Period ends pursuant to Section 5 on account of a Termination Without Cause prior to a Change in Control, payments shall be made under Section 6(b) above but with benefit levels increased to reflect the amounts provided for in this section and with the additional severance benefits for the months preceding the Change in Control to be made within 30 days after the date the Change in Control is ultimately consummated.

 

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(d) If the Employment Period ends pursuant to Section 5 on account of a Termination Without Cause or Termination With Good Reason, regardless of whether such termination occurs in connection with or following a Change in Control, if Executive elects continuation coverage under the Company’s medical plan pursuant to COBRA, the Company shall reimburse Executive for the full amount of Executive’s COBRA premium payments for such coverage and his eligible dependents until the earlier of (x) Executive’s eligibility for any such coverage under another employer’s or any other medical plan, (y) the date that is 18 months following the termination of Executive’s employment or (z) the date Executive is no longer eligible to receive COBRA continuation coverage. The Company shall make any such reimbursement within 30 days following receipt of evidence from Executive of Executive’s payment of the COBRA premium, provided that Executive has submitted evidence of the payment within 60 days following the date on which the payment is made.

 

(e) It is expressly understood that the Company’s payment obligations under Sections 6(b) , 6(c) or 6(d) , if applicable, shall cease in the event Executive breaches in any material respect any of the agreements in Section 7 . Each payment under Sections 6(b) , 6(c) or 6(d) , if applicable, shall be considered a separate payment and not one of a series of payments for purposes of Section 409A.

 

(f) Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Agreement by seeking other employment and such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not Executive obtains other employment. Any severance payments payable under this Agreement shall not be reduced or offset by any claim the Company may have against Executive.

 

(g) Release . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be obligated to make any payment under Sections 6(b) , 6(c) or 6(d) , if applicable, unless (i) prior to the 60 th day following the Termination Without Cause or Termination With Good Reason, Executive executes a release of all current or future claims, known or unknown, arising on or before the date of the release against the Company and its subsidiaries and the directors, officers, employees and affiliates of any of them, in a form provided by the Company, and (ii) any applicable revocation period has expired during such 60-day period without Executive revoking such release.

 

7. Competitive Activity; Confidentiality; Non-solicitation .

 

(a) Acknowledgements and Agreements . Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that in the performance of Executive’s duties to the Company during the Employment Period, Executive will be brought into frequent contact with existing and potential customers of the Company throughout the world. Executive also agrees that trade secrets and Confidential Information of the Company, more fully described in Section 7(e)(i) , gained by Executive during Executive’s association with the Company, have been developed by the Company through substantial expenditures of time, effort and money and constitute valuable and unique property of the Company. Executive further understands and agrees that the foregoing makes it necessary for the protection of the Company’s Business that Executive not compete with the Company during his employment with the Company, and not compete with the Company for a reasonable period thereafter, as further provided in the following Sections.

 

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(b) Covenants .

 

(i) Covenants During Employment . While employed by the Company, Executive will not compete with the Company anywhere in the world. In accordance with this restriction, but without limiting its terms, while employed by the Company, Executive will not:

 

(A) perform services for, enter into or engage in any business which competes with, engages in or proposes to engage in the Company’s Business;

 

(B) solicit customers, business, patronage or orders for, or sell any products or services in competition with, any business that competes with, engages in or proposes to engage in the Company’s Business;

 

(C) solicit, divert, entice or otherwise take away any customers, business, patronage or orders of the Company, or attempt to do so; or

 

(D) promote or assist, financially or otherwise, any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation or other entity engaged in any business which competes with, engages in or proposes to engage in the Company’s Business.

 

(ii) Covenants Following Termination . For a period of 18 months following the termination of Executive’s employment (for any reason), Executive shall not:

 

(A) perform services for, enter into or engage in any business which competes with, engages in or proposes to engage in the Company’s Business within the Restricted Territory;

 

(B) solicit customers, business, patronage or orders for, or sell any products and services in competition with, any business, wherever located, that competes with, engages in or proposes to engage in the Company’s Business within the Restricted Territory;

 

(C) solicit, divert, entice or otherwise take away any customers, business, patronage or orders of the Company within the Restricted Territory, or attempt to do so; or

 

(D) promote or assist, financially or otherwise, any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation or other entity engaged in any business which competes with, engages in or proposes to engage in the Company’s Business within the Restricted Territory.

 

(iii) Indirect Competition . For the purposes of Sections 7(b)(i) and (ii) inclusive, but without limitation thereof, Executive will be in violation thereof if Executive engages in any or all of the activities set forth therein directly as an individual on Executive’s own account, or indirectly as a partner, joint venturer, employee, agent, salesperson, consultant, officer and/or director of any firm, association, partnership, corporation or other entity, or as a stockholder of any corporation (or owner of any other type of equity interest in any entity) in which Executive or Executive’s spouse, child or parent owns, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, more than 1% of the outstanding stock or other equity interests.

 

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(iv) If it is judicially determined that Executive has violated this Section 7(b) , then the period applicable to each obligation that Executive has been determined to have violated shall be automatically extended by a period of time equal in length to the period during which such violation(s) occurred, subject to applicable law.

 

(c) The Company . For purposes of this Section 7 , the Company shall include any and all direct and indirect subsidiary, parent, affiliated, or related companies of the Company for which Executive worked or had responsibility at the time of termination of his employment and at any time during the two-year period prior to such termination.

 

(d) Non-Solicitation; Non-Association . Executive will not directly or indirectly at any time during the period of Executive’s employment, or for a period of 18 months following a termination of Executive’s employment (for any reason), attempt to disrupt, damage, impair or interfere with the Company’s Business by raiding or attempting to raid any of the Company’s employees, soliciting, inducing or attempting to persuade any of them to resign from their employment by the Company or associating with any of them for the purpose of encouraging them to resign from their employment by the Company, or by disrupting or attempting to impede the relationship between the Company and any of its consultants, agents, representatives or vendors. Executive acknowledges that this covenant is necessary to enable the Company to maintain a stable workforce and remain in business.

 

(e) Further Covenants .

 

(i) Executive will keep in strict confidence, and will not, directly or indirectly, at any time, during or after Executive’s employment with the Company, disclose, furnish, disseminate, make available or, except in the course of performing Executive’s duties of employment, use any trade secrets or confidential business and technical information of the Company or its customers or vendors, without limitation as to when or how Executive may have acquired such information (“ Confidential Information ”), except (A) as required in the performance of his duties to the Company, (B) to the extent that Executive is required by law, or requested by subpoena, court order or governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory body with apparent authority to disclose any Confidential Information (provided that in such case, Executive shall (x) provide the Board, to the extent legally permitted, with notice as soon as practicable following such request that such disclosure has been requested or is or may be required, (y) reasonably cooperate with the Company, at the Company’s expense, in protecting, to the maximum extent legally permitted, the confidential or proprietary nature of such Confidential Information, and (z) disclose only that Confidential Information which he is legally required to disclose), (C) disclosing information that has been or is hereafter made public through no act or omission of Executive in violation of this Agreement or any other confidentiality obligation or duty owed to the Company, (D) disclosing information and documents to his attorney or tax adviser for the purpose of securing legal or tax advice (provided that such advisors agree to keep such information confidential), or (E) disclosing information and documents to the extent reasonably appropriate (and subject to a protective order to the extent applicable) in connection with any litigation between Executive and the Company. Such Confidential Information shall include, without limitation, the Company’s unique selling, manufacturing and servicing methods and business techniques, training, service and business manuals, promotional materials, training courses and other training and instructional materials, vendor and product information, customer and prospective customer lists, other customer and prospective customer information and other business information. Executive specifically acknowledges that all such Confidential Information, whether reduced to writing, maintained on any form of electronic media, or maintained in the mind or memory of Executive and whether compiled by the Company, and/or Executive, derives independent economic value from not being readily known to or ascertainable by proper means by others who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use, that reasonable efforts have been made by the Company to maintain the secrecy of such information, that such information is the sole property of the Company and that any retention and use of such information by Executive during Executive’s employment with the Company (except in the course of performing Executive’s duties and obligations to the Company) or after the Termination of Executive’s employment shall constitute a misappropriation of the Company’s trade secrets. Nothing in this Agreement prevents Executive from providing, without prior notice to the Company, information to governmental or administrative authorities regarding possible violations of law or otherwise testifying or participating in any investigation or proceeding by any governmental or administrative authorities regarding possible violations of law, and for purpose of clarity, Executive is not prohibited from providing information voluntarily to the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 21F of the Exchange Act.

 

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(ii) Executive agrees that upon termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, for any reason, Executive shall return to the Company, in good condition, all property of the Company, including the originals and all copies of any materials which contain, reflect, summarize, describe, analyze or refer or relate to any items of information listed in Section 7(e)(i) . In the event that such items are not so returned, the Company will have the right to charge Executive for all reasonable damages, costs, attorneys’ fees and other expenses incurred in searching for, taking, removing and/or recovering such property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall be permitted to retain or copy (A) his personal contacts, calendar and personal correspondence, and (B) any documents or information related to his compensation or reasonably needed for Executive’s tax purposes.

 

(iii) U.S. Defend Trade Secrets Act Notice of Immunity . The U.S. Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (“ DTSA ”) provides that an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (A) is made (1) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (2) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. In addition, the DTSA provides that an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (x) files any document containing the trade secret under seal and (y) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

 

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(f) Discoveries and Inventions; Work Made for Hire .

 

(i) Executive agrees that upon conception and/or development of any idea, discovery, invention, improvement, software, writing or other material or design that: (A) relates to the business of the Company, or (B) relates to the Company’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (C) results from any work performed by Executive for the Company, Executive will assign to the Company the entire right, title and interest in and to any such idea, discovery, invention, improvement, software, writing or other material or design. Executive has no obligation to assign any idea, discovery, invention, improvement, software, writing or other material or design that Executive conceives and/or develops entirely on Executive’s own time without using the Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities, or trade secret information unless the idea, discovery, invention, improvement, software, writing or other material or design either: (x) relates to the business of the Company, or (y) relates to the Company’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (2) results from any work performed by Executive for the Company. Executive agrees that any idea, discovery, invention, improvement, software, writing or other material or design that relates to the business of the Company or relates to the Company’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development which is conceived or suggested by Executive, either solely or jointly with others, within one year following termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement or any successor agreements shall be presumed to have been so made, conceived or suggested in the course of such employment with the use of the Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities, and/or trade secrets.

 

(ii) In order to determine the rights of Executive and the Company in any idea, discovery, invention, improvement, software, writing or other material, and to insure the protection of the same, Executive agrees that during Executive’s employment, and, to the extent related to the Company’s Business, for one year after termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement or any successor agreement, Executive will disclose immediately and fully to the Company any idea, discovery, invention, improvement, software, writing or other material or design conceived, made or developed by Executive solely or jointly with others. The Company agrees to keep any such disclosures confidential. Executive also agrees during Executive’s employment, and, to the extent related to the Company’s Business, for one year after termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement or any successor agreement, to record descriptions of all work in the manner directed by the Company and agrees that all such records and copies, samples and experimental materials will be the exclusive property of the Company. Executive agrees that at the request of and without charge to the Company, but at the Company’s expense, Executive will execute a written assignment of the idea, discovery, invention, improvement, software, writing or other material or design to the Company and will assign to the Company any application for letters patent or for trademark registration made thereon, and to any common-law or statutory copyright therein; and that Executive will do whatever may be necessary or desirable to enable the Company to secure any patent, trademark, copyright, or other property right therein in the United States and in any foreign country, and any division, renewal, continuation, or continuation in part thereof, or for any reissue of any patent issued thereon. In the event the Company is unable, after reasonable effort, and in any event after ten business days, to secure Executive’s signature on a written assignment to the Company of any application for letters patent or to any common-law or statutory copyright or other property right therein, whether because of Executive’s physical or mental incapacity or for any other reason whatsoever, Executive irrevocably designates and appoints the Corporate Secretary of the Company as Executive’s attorney-in-fact to act on Executive’s behalf to execute and file any such application and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the prosecution and issuance of such letters patent, copyright or trademark.

 

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(iii) Executive acknowledges that, to the extent permitted by law, all work papers, reports, documentation, drawings, photographs, negatives, tapes and masters therefor, prototypes and other materials (hereinafter, “ items ”), including any and all such items generated and maintained on any form of electronic media, generated by Executive during Executive’s employment with the Company shall be considered a “work made for hire” and that ownership of any and all copyrights in any and all such items shall belong to the Company. The item will recognize the Company as the copyright owner, will contain all proper copyright notices, e.g., “(creation date) NRC Group Holdings, LLC, All Rights Reserved,” and will be in condition to be registered or otherwise placed in compliance with registration or other statutory requirements throughout the world.

 

(g) Communication of Contents of Agreement . While employed by the Company and during the period of time Executive is bound by the non-compete obligation in Section 7(b)(ii) , Executive will communicate the contents of Section 7 to any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation or other entity that Executive intends to be employed by, associated with, or represent.

 

(h) Confidentiality Agreements . Executive agrees that Executive shall not disclose to the Company or induce the Company to use any secret or confidential information belonging to Executive’s former employers. Except as indicated, Executive warrants that Executive is not bound by the terms of a confidentiality agreement or other agreement with a third party that would preclude or limit Executive’s right to work for the Company and/or to disclose to the Company any ideas, inventions, discoveries, improvements or designs or other information that may be conceived during employment with the Company. Executive agrees to provide the Company with a copy of any and all agreements with a third party that preclude or limit Executive’s right to make disclosures or to engage in any other activities contemplated by Executive’s employment with the Company.

 

(i) Relief . Executive acknowledges and agrees that the remedy at law available to the Company for breach of any of Executive’s obligations under this Agreement would be inadequate. Executive therefore agrees that, in addition to any other rights or remedies that the Company may have at law or in equity, temporary and permanent injunctive relief may be granted in any proceeding which may be brought to enforce any provision contained in Sections 7(b) , 7(d) , 7(e) , 7(f) , 7(g) and 7(h) inclusive, without the necessity of proof of actual damage.

 

(j) Reasonableness . Executive acknowledges that Executive’s obligations under this Section 7 are reasonable in the context of the nature of the Company’s Business and the competitive injuries likely to be sustained by the Company if Executive were to violate such obligations. Executive further acknowledges that this Agreement is made in consideration of, and is adequately supported by the agreement of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement and by other consideration, which Executive acknowledges constitutes good, valuable and sufficient consideration. It is the desire and intent of the parties hereto that the provisions of this Agreement shall be enforced to the fullest extent legally-permissible. Accordingly, if any particular provision(s) of this Agreement shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, the court may, in its discretion, modify or sever such provision(s), such modification or deletion to apply only with respect to the operation of such provision(s) in the particular jurisdiction in which such adjudication is made. In addition, if any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be excessively broad as to duration, geographical scope, activity or subject, it shall be construed by limiting and reducing it, so as to be enforceable to the extent compatible with the applicable law as it shall then appear. The remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

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8. Definitions .

 

(a) “ Affiliate ” means any Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Company. The term “control” (including with the correlative meaning, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting or other securities, by contract, or otherwise.

 

(b) “ Change in Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(i) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a “ Person ”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 35% or more of either: (A) the then-outstanding common equity interests of the Company (the “ Common Shares ”); or (B) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or managers, as applicable (“ Voting Shares ”); provided , however , that for purposes of this subsection (i), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (1) any acquisition directly from the Company; (2) any acquisition by the Company or any Affiliates; (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliates; or (4) any acquisition by any Person pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of subsection (iii); or

 

(ii) individuals who, as of the Effective Date (or, in the event the HCAC Transaction is consummated, as of immediately following the consummation of the HCAC Transaction), constitute the Board (the “ Incumbent Board ”) cease for any reason (other than death or disability) to constitute at least a majority of the Board during any 12-month period; provided , however , that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date (or, in the event the HCAC Transaction is consummated, as of immediately following the consummation of the HCAC Transaction) whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s equityholders, was approved by a vote or the approval of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (either by a specific vote or written action or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination) shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or

 

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(iii) consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “ Business Combination ”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the Persons who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Common Shares and Voting Shares immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 66-2/3% of, respectively, the then-outstanding common shares and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including an entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions relative to each other as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the Common Shares and Voting Shares of the Company, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any entity resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate or such entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding common equity securities of the entity resulting from such Business Combination, or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such entity except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or

 

(iv) approval by the equityholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event will (i) the HCAC Transaction or entry into any definitive transaction agreement related thereto be deemed to be a Change in Control or (ii) the disposition of any portion of JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC’s ownership interest in the Company be deemed to be a Change in Control.

 

(c) “ Company’s Business ” means providing comprehensive environmental, compliance and waste management services to the marine and rail transportation, general industrial and upstream and midstream energy markets and any other business that the Company conducts (as advertised on the Company’s website or as described in any other marketing materials of the Company) from time to time during the Employment Period.

 

(d) “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as such laws, rules and regulations may be amended from time to time.

 

(e) “ HCAC ” means Hennessey Capital Acquisition Corp. III, a Delaware corporation.

 

(f) “ HCAC Transaction ” means the acquisition by HCAC of all of the equity securities of NRC Group Holdings, LLC.

 

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(g) “ Permanent Disability ” means that Executive, because of accident, injury, disability, or physical or mental illness, is incapable of performing Executive’s duties to the Company or any subsidiary, as determined by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive will be deemed to have become incapable of performing Executive’s duties to the Company or any subsidiary, if Executive is incapable of so doing for (i) a continuous period of 120 days and remains so incapable at the end of such 120 day period or (ii) periods amounting in the aggregate to 180 days within any one period of 365 days and remains so incapable at the end of such aggregate period of 180 days.

 

(h) “ Restricted Territory ” means: (i) the United States; and/or (ii) locations where services were provided for all of the specific customer accounts, whether within or outside of the geographic area described in (i) above, with which Executive had any contact or for which Executive had any responsibility (either direct or supervisory) at the time of termination of Executive’s employment and at any time during the two year period prior to such termination.

 

(i) “ Termination For Cause ” means the termination by the Company of Executive’s employment as a result of: (i) Executive’s indictment (or other criminal charge against Executive) for a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude, or Executive’s commission of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, theft, embezzlement or crime against the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company or any customer of the Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates, (ii) conduct by Executive that brings the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company into public disgrace or disrepute, (iii) Executive’s gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company or in the performance of Executive’s duties and services required for Executive’s position with the Company, which, if curable, is not cured within 10 days after written notice thereof to Executive, (iv) Executive’s insubordination to, or failure to follow, the lawful directions of the Board, which, if curable, is not cured within 10 days after written notice thereof to Executive, (v) Executive’s material violation of Section 7 , (vi) Executive’s breach of a material employment policy of the Company which, if curable, is not cured within ten days after written notice thereof to Executive (including, without limitation, the Company’s code of ethics and insider trading policy), (vii) the abuse of any controlled substance or of alcohol or any other non-controlled substance which the Company determines renders Executive unfit to serve in Executive’s capacity as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, or (viii) any other material breach by Executive of this Agreement or any other agreement with the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate, which, if curable, is not cured within 30 days after written notice thereof to Executive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no termination by the Company shall constitute a “ Termination For Cause ” unless (A) the Company provides Executive reasonable written notice of its intent to terminate Executive by reason of a Termination For Cause, which such notice must include a statement that a majority of the Board has determined in good faith that an event described in clause (i) , (ii) , (iii) , (iv) , (v) , (vi) , (vii) or (viii) exists and (B) Executive is given reasonable opportunity during the 30 day period after receiving the notice described in the preceding clause to be heard by the Board with Executive’s legal counsel.

 

(j) “ Termination With Good Reason ” means a termination by Executive of Executive’s employment with the Company after: (i) a decrease of 10% or more in either the Base Salary or the Target Annual Bonus, other than as part of an across-the-board reduction applicable to all Company executives, (ii) the material diminution in Executive’s position, duties, authority, reporting or responsibilities, (iii) any material breach of this Agreement or any equity agreement by the Company (including the failure of the Company to satisfy the last sentence of Section 16 ), or (iv) the involuntary relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment to a location more than 35 miles beyond Executive’s principal place of employment as of the Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no termination of employment by Executive shall constitute a “Termination With Good Reason” unless (A) Executive gives the Company notice of the existence of an event described in clause (i) , (ii) , (iii) or (iv) above, within 60 days following the occurrence thereof, (B) the Company does not remedy such event described in clause (i) , (ii) , or (iv) above, as applicable, within 30 days of receiving the notice described in the preceding clause (A) , and (C) Executive terminates employment within 30 days of the end of the cure period specified in clause (B) , above.

 

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(k) “ Termination Without Cause ” means the termination by the Company or any subsidiary of Executive’s employment with the Company or any subsidiary for any reason other than a termination for death, Permanent Disability or a Termination For Cause and shall not include the Company’s giving notice pursuant to Section 5(b) that the Employment Period will not be extended.

 

(l) “ Voluntary Termination ” means Executive’s Termination of Executive’s employment with the Company or any subsidiary for any reason, other than a Termination With Good Reason (it being understood that Executive may voluntarily resign his employment at any period after the Effective Date).

 

9. Non-Disparagement . Executive agrees not to disparage the Company, any of its products or practices, or any of its directors, officers, agents, representatives, partners, members, or affiliates, either orally or in writing, at any time, and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to not disparage, and shall instruct its directors and executive officers not to disparage, Executive, either orally or in writing, at any time; provided , however , that Executive and the Company (and its directors and executive officers) may confer in confidence with their respective legal representatives and make truthful statements as required by law, or by governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory investigations or as truthful testimony in connection with any litigation involving Executive and the Company. During the Employment Period, this Section 9 shall only apply to public statements or private statements that are reasonably likely to become public as a result of publication by the Company via the internet or via communication by the Company to any person or entity that is a member of, employed or engaged by, or directly connected to any broadcast or other media.

 

10. Survival . Subject to any limits on applicability contained therein, Section 7 shall survive and continue in full force in accordance with its terms notwithstanding any termination of the Employment Period.

 

11. Taxes . The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as the Company is required to withhold pursuant to any applicable law, regulation or ruling. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated to guarantee any particular tax result for Executive with respect to any payment provided to Executive hereunder, and Executive shall be responsible for any taxes imposed on Executive with respect to any such payment.

 

12. Notices . Any notice provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be either personally delivered, sent by reputable overnight carrier or mailed by first class mail, return receipt requested, to the recipient at the address below indicated:

 

Notices to Executive :

 

At the address contained in the Company’s payroll records

 

Notices to the Company :

 

NRC Group Holdings, LLC
3500 Sunrise Highway
Suite 200, Building 200
Great River, New York 11739

 

or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any notice under this Agreement will be deemed to have been given when so delivered.

 

13. 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 invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced as if such invalid or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

 

14. Complete Agreement . This Agreement embodies the complete agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or between the parties, written or oral which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way, including the Prior Employment Agreement.

 

15. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and both of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

16. Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive, the Company and their respective heirs, executors, personal representatives, successors and assigns, except that neither party may assign any rights or delegate any obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party. Executive hereby consents to the assignment by the Company of all of its rights and obligations hereunder to any successor to the Company by merger or consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, provided such transferee or successor assumes the liabilities of the Company hereunder. The Company shall require any successor to all or substantially all of its assets (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Upon consummation of the HCAC Transaction, this Agreement shall be assigned by the Company to HCAC and all references to (a) the “Company” shall refer to HCAC or its successors and (b) the “Board” shall be to the Board of Directors of HCAC.

 

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17. Choice of Law/Dispute Resolution . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal, substantive laws of the State of Texas. Any dispute or controversy arising under, out of, or in connection with this Agreement (other than Section 7 ) shall, at the election and upon written demand of either party, be finally determined and settled by binding arbitration in the City of Houston, Texas, in accordance with the Labor Arbitration rules and procedures of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment upon the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The Company and Executive shall share the costs of the arbitration and each party shall bear its own attorneys’ and accountants’ fees in connection therewith, including as incurred in any litigation to enforce any arbitration award.

 

18. Amendment and Waiver . The provisions of this Agreement may be amended or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and Executive, and no course of conduct or failure or delay in enforcing the provisions of this Agreement shall affect the validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement.

 

19. Section 409A Compliance .

 

(a) The parties intend for this Agreement to either comply with, or be exempt from, Section 409A, and all provisions of this Agreement will be interpreted and applied accordingly. For purposes of this Agreement, each installment payment provided under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment. If any compensation or benefits provided by this Agreement may result in the application of Section 409A, the Company shall, in consultation with Executive, modify the Agreement in the least restrictive manner necessary in order to exclude such compensation from the definition of “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of such Section 409A or in order to comply with the provisions of Section 409A and without any diminution in the value of the payments or benefits to Executive. In no event, however, shall this Section 19 or any other provisions of this Agreement be construed to require the Company to provide any gross-up for the tax consequences of any provisions of, or payments under, this Agreement and the Company shall have no responsibility for tax consequences to Executive (or his beneficiary) resulting from the terms or operation of this Agreement. Any payments or reimbursements of any expenses provided for under this Agreement shall be made in accordance with Treas. Reg. §l.409A-3(i)(1)(iv).

 

(b) To the extent that any payment or benefit pursuant to this Agreement constitutes a “deferral of compensation” subject to Section 409A (after taking into account to the maximum extent possible any applicable exemptions) (a “ 409A Payment ”) treated as payable upon Separation from Service, then, if on the date of Executive’s Separation from Service, Executive is a Specified Employee, then to the extent required for Executive not to incur additional taxes pursuant to Section 409A, no such 409A Payment shall be made to Executive earlier than the earlier of (i) six months after Executive’s Separation from Service or (ii) the date of his death. Should this Section 19 result in payments or benefits to Executive at a later time than otherwise would have been made under this Agreement, on the first day any such payments or benefits may be made without incurring additional tax pursuant to Section 409A, the Company shall make such payments and provide such benefits as provided for in this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 19 , the terms “Specified Employee” and “Separation from Service” shall have the meanings ascribed to them in Section 409A. Further, to the extent that any amount is a 409A Payment and such payment is conditioned upon Executive’s execution of a release and which is to be paid or provided during a designated period that begins in one taxable year and ends in a second taxable year, then such payment shall be paid or provided in the later of the two taxable years.

 

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20. Indemnification . Upon consummation of the HCAC Transaction, Executive and the Company shall enter into an indemnification agreement in the form previously agreed by the parties and from and after such date Executive shall be entitled to the protections afforded in such indemnification agreement.

 

21. Section 280G of the Code . In the event that any payments, distributions, benefits or entitlements of any type payable to Executive, whether or not payable upon a termination of employment (“ Payments ”), (i) constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (ii) but for this Section 21 would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “ Excise Tax ”), then the Payments shall be reduced to such lesser amount (the “ Reduced Amount ”) that would result in no portion of the Payments being subject to the Excise Tax; provided , however , that such Payments shall not be so reduced if a nationally recognized accounting firm selected by the Company in good faith (the “ Accountants ”) determines that without such reduction Executive would be entitled to receive and retain, on a net after-tax basis (including any excise taxes payable under Section 4999 of the Code, federal, state and local income taxes, social security and Medicare taxes and all other applicable taxes, determined by applying the highest marginal rate under Section 1 of the Code and under state and local tax laws which applied (or is likely to apply) to Executive’s taxable income for the tax year in which the transaction which causes the application of Section 280G of the Code occurs, or such other rate(s) as the Accountants determine to be likely to apply to Executive in the relevant tax year(s) in which any of the Payments are expected to be made), an amount that is greater than the amount, on a net after-tax basis, that Executive would be entitled to retain upon receipt of the Reduced Amount. Unless the Company and Executive otherwise agree in writing, any determination required under this Section 21 shall be made in good faith by the Accountants in a timely manner and shall be binding on the parties absent manifest error. In the event of a reduction of Payments hereunder, the Payments shall be reduced in the order determined by the Accountants that results in the greatest economic benefit to Executive in a manner that would not result in subjecting Executive to additional taxation under Section 409A. For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section 21 , the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of the Code, and other applicable legal authority. The Company and Executive shall furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably require in order to make a determination under this Section 21 , and the Company shall bear the cost of all fees charged by the Accountants in connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section 21 . To the extent requested by Executive, the Company shall cooperate with Executive in good faith in valuing, and the Accountants shall value, services to be provided by Executive (including Executive refraining from performing services pursuant to a covenant not to compete) before, on or after the date of the transaction which causes the application of Section 280G of the Code such that Payments in respect of such services may be considered to be “reasonable compensation” within the meaning of the regulations under Section 280G of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the transaction which causes the application of Section 280G of the Code occurs at a time during which the Company qualifies under Section 2(a)(i) of Q&A-6 of Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G, upon the request of Executive, the Company shall use reasonable efforts to obtain the vote of equity holders described in Q&A-7 of Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G. If a reduced payment or benefit is made or provided and through error or otherwise that payment or benefit, when aggregated with other payments and benefits from the Company or any of its affiliates used in determining if a “parachute payment” exists, exceeds one dollar ($1.00) less than three times Executive’s base amount, then Executive shall immediately repay such excess to the Company upon notification that an overpayment has been made. Nothing in this Section 21 shall require the Company to be responsible for, or have any liability or obligation with respect to, Executive’s excise tax liabilities under Section 4999 of the Code.

 

22. Clawback . To the extent required by applicable law, any applicable securities exchange listing standards or any clawback policy adopted by the Company, the annual bonus and any incentive compensation granted to Executive (whether under this Agreement or otherwise) shall be subject to the provisions of any applicable clawback policies or procedures, which clawback policies or procedures may provide for forfeiture and/or recoupment of such amounts paid or payable under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

[ SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  NRC Group Holdings, LLC
   
  By: /s/ David L. Rattner
  Name: David L. Rattner
  Title: Secretary
   
  /s/ Christian T. Swinbank
  Christian T. Swinbank

 

 

Exhibit 10.5

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of June 22, 2018 (the “ Effective Date ”), between NRC Group Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and Joseph Peterson (“ Executive ”) and supersedes and replaces in its entirety that certain employment agreement executed by Executive and JFL-NRC Holdings, LLC on October 10, 2017 (the “ Prior Employment Agreement ”).

 

In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Certain Definitions . Certain words or phrases used herein with initial capital letters shall have the meanings set forth in Section 8 .

 

2. Employment . The Company shall employ Executive, and Executive accepts such employment with the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement for the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending as provided in Section 5 hereof (the “ Employment Period ”). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Executive will be an at-will employee of the Company and Executive or the Company may terminate Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason or no reason at any time.

 

3. Position and Duties .

 

(a) During the Employment Period, Executive shall serve as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and shall have the normal duties, responsibilities and authority of an executive serving in such position, subject to the power of the Board of Managers of JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC (the “ Board ”) to expand or limit such duties, responsibilities and authority, either generally or in specific instances. Executive’s duties shall also include providing services to the Company’s direct and indirect subsidiaries in addition to the Company. Effective as of the date of any termination of employment, Executive hereby agrees to tender his resignation from, will be deemed to have automatically resigned from, all offices and directorships held at the Company and any of its subsidiaries or affiliates at the date of such termination, including the position of Chief Financial Officer and any position Executive may hold on the Board.

 

(b) During the Employment Period, Executive shall report to the Chief Executive Officer.

 

(c) During the Employment Period, Executive shall devote Executive’s reasonable best efforts and Executive’s full business time and attention (except for permitted paid time off periods and reasonable periods of illness or other incapacity) to the business and affairs of the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates; provided , however , that Executive may (i) engage in charitable and civic activities, (ii) manage his personal and family finances and passive investments, and (iii) subject to the approval of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board which shall not be unreasonably withheld, serve on at least one board of directors for other public or private companies, so long as such activities do not compete with the Company’s Business or materially interfere, individually or in the aggregate, with the performance of his duties hereunder.

 

 

 

 

(d) Executive shall perform Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the best of Executive’s abilities in a diligent, trustworthy, businesslike and efficient manner.

 

4. Compensation and Benefits .

 

(a) Salary . During the Employment Period, the Company agrees to pay Executive a salary in installments based on the Company’s practices as may be in effect from time to time. Executive’s initial salary shall be at the rate of $330,000 per year (the “ Base Salary ”). The Base Salary shall be reviewed by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “ Compensation Committee ”) in accordance with the Company’s policies and practices, but not less frequently than once annually, and may be increased but not decreased (unless agreed to in writing by Executive). To the extent applicable, the term “ Base Salary ” shall include any such increases (or decreases agreed to in writing by Executive) to the Base Salary provided above.

 

(b) Annual Bonus . During the Employment Period, Executive will be eligible for discretionary annual bonus compensation, with the actual payout to be determined based on the achievement of goals determined by the Compensation Committee annually. For calendar year 2018, the target annual bonus amount shall equal 65% of Executive’s Base Salary and for years subsequent to calendar year 2018 the target annual bonus amount shall be determined by the Compensation Committee based on its review of the competitive market and other relevant considerations. To the extent applicable, the term “Target Annual Bonus” shall mean the target annual bonus established by the Compensation Committee with respect to a particular year. Executive will be required to be employed by the Company through the date on which the annual bonus is paid in order to be eligible to receive the annual bonus payment under this Section 4(b) . The annual bonus, if any, will be paid by no later than March 15 th of the year following the year to which it relates.

 

(c) Paid Time Off . During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to 20 days of paid time off during each calendar year. Any accrued paid time off that is not used in the calendar year in which it is earned will not be eligible to be carried forward to, or otherwise used in, any subsequent calendar year.

 

(d) Holidays . During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to holidays consistent with the Company’s current policy, which may be amended from time to time.

 

(e) Standard Benefits Package . Executive shall be entitled during the Employment Period to participate, on the same basis as other employees of the Company, in the Company’s Standard Benefits Package. The Company’s “ Standard Benefits Package ” means those benefits (including insurance and other benefits, but excluding, except as hereinafter provided in Sections 6(b) , 6(c) , and 6(d) , if applicable, any severance pay program or policy of the Company) for which substantially all similarly situated employees of the Company are from time to time generally eligible, as determined from time to time by the Board and/or Compensation Committee.

 

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(f) Incentive Compensation . With respect to each calendar year during the Employment Period, Executive shall be eligible to participate in any incentive compensation programs generally made available to senior executives of the Company at a level commensurate with his position in accordance with and subject to the terms of such plan.

 

(g) Expense Reimbursement . The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable expenses incurred by Executive during the Employment Period in the course of performing Executive’s duties under this Agreement that are incurred in accordance with the Company’s policies as in effect from time to time with respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses, subject to the Company’s requirements applicable generally with respect to reporting and documentation of such expenses. Any such reimbursement of expenses shall be made by the Company upon or as soon as practicable following receipt of such documentation (but in any event not later than the close of the Employee’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense is incurred by Executive).

 

5. Employment Period .

 

(a) Except as hereinafter provided, the Employment Period shall continue until, and shall end upon, the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Initial Term ”).

 

(b) On the third anniversary of the Effective Date and, after the Initial Term, on such third anniversary and each annual anniversary of such date thereafter, unless the Employment Period shall have ended pursuant to Section 5(c) below or the Company or Executive shall have given the other party at least 60 days’ written notice that the Employment Period will not be extended, the Employment Period shall be extended for an additional one-year period.

 

(c) Notwithstanding Sections 5(a) or 5(b) above, the Employment Period shall end early upon the first to occur of any of the following events:

 

(i) Executive’s death;

 

(ii) the Company’s termination of Executive’s employment due to Permanent Disability;

 

(iii) a Termination For Cause;

 

(iv) a Termination Without Cause;

 

(v) a Termination With Good Reason; or

 

(vi) a Voluntary Termination.

  

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6. Post-Employment Payments .

 

(a) At the end of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive shall cease to have any rights to salary, equity awards, expense reimbursements or other benefits, except that Executive shall be entitled to (i) any Base Salary which has accrued but is unpaid, (ii) any reimbursable expenses which have been incurred but are unpaid, (iii) and any paid time off days which have accrued pursuant to the Company’s paid time off policy, as in effect from time to time, but are unused, as of the end of the Employment Period, (iv) any option or other equity-grant rights or plan benefits which by their terms extend beyond termination of Executive’s employment (but only to the extent provided in any option or equity grant theretofore granted to Executive or any other benefit plan in which Executive has participated as an employee of the Company and excluding, except as hereinafter provided in Sections 6(b) , 6(c) , and 6(d) , if applicable, and any severance pay program or policy of the Company) and (vi) any benefits to which Executive is entitled under Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ COBRA ”). In addition, Executive shall be entitled to the additional amounts described in Sections 6(b) , 6(c) and 6(d) , if applicable, in the circumstances described in such Sections.

 

(b) If the Employment Period ends pursuant to Section 5 on account of a Termination Without Cause or a Termination With Good Reason, and such termination is not in connection with or following a Change in Control as provided in Section 6(c) the Company shall pay Executive an amount equal to 150% of the sum of his Base Salary plus his Target Annual Bonus at the time of such termination. Such amount shall be paid in equal installments over the 18 month period following Executive’s termination of employment in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices; provided , however , that any amount due under this sentence during the 60-day period following such termination shall not be paid during such 60-day period but instead shall be paid on the 60th day following such termination of employment.

 

(c) If, (i) during the 24-month period following a Change in Control the Employment Period ends pursuant to Section 5 on account of a Termination Without Cause or a Termination With Good Reason or (ii) during the 3-month period preceding a Change in Control, the Employment Period ends pursuant to Section 5 on account of a Termination Without Cause in anticipation of a Change in Control transaction that the Board is actively considering and that is ultimately consummated, then the Company shall pay Executive an amount equal to 200% of the sum of his Base Salary plus his Target Annual Bonus at the time of such termination. Such amount shall be paid in equal installments over the 24-month period following Executive’s termination of employment in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices; provided , however , that any amount due under this sentence during the 60-day period following such termination shall not be paid during such 60-day period but instead shall be paid on the 60th day following such termination of employment; provided further that, if the Employment Period ends pursuant to Section 5 on account of a Termination Without Cause in anticipation of a Change in Control transaction that the Board is actively considering, payments shall be made under Section 6(b) above but with benefit levels increased to reflect the amounts provided for in this section and with the additional severance benefits for the months preceding the Change in Control to be made within 30 days after the date the Change in Control is ultimately consummated.

 

(d) If the Employment Period ends pursuant to Section 5 on account of a Termination Without Cause or Termination With Good Reason, regardless of whether such termination occurs in connection with or following a Change in Control, if Executive elects continuation coverage under the Company’s medical plan pursuant to COBRA, the Company shall reimburse Executive for the full amount of Executive’s COBRA premium payments for such coverage and his eligible dependents until the earlier of (x) Executive’s eligibility for any such coverage under another employer’s or any other medical plan, (y) the date that is 18 months following the termination of Executive’s employment or (z) the date Executive is no longer eligible to receive COBRA continuation coverage. The Company shall make any such reimbursement within 30 days following receipt of evidence from Executive of Executive’s payment of the COBRA premium, provided that Executive has submitted evidence of the payment within 60 days following the date on which the payment is made.

 

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(e) It is expressly understood that the Company’s payment obligations under Sections 6(b) , 6(c) or 6(d) , if applicable, shall cease in the event Executive breaches in any material respect any of the agreements in Section 7 . Each payment under Sections 6(b) , 6(c) or 6(d) , if applicable, shall be considered a separate payment and not one of a series of payments for purposes of Section 409A.

 

(f) Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Agreement by seeking other employment and such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not Executive obtains other employment, except as provided in Section 6(d) . Any severance payments payable under this Agreement shall not be reduced or offset by any claim the Company may have against Executive.

 

(g) Release . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be obligated to make any payment under Sections 6(b) , 6(c) or 6(d) , if applicable, unless (i) prior to the 60 th day following the Termination Without Cause or Termination With Good Reason, Executive executes a release of all current or future claims, known or unknown, arising on or before the date of the release against the Company and its subsidiaries and the directors, officers, employees and affiliates of any of them, in a form provided by the Company, and (ii) any applicable revocation period has expired during such 60-day period without Executive revoking such release.

 

7. Competitive Activity Confidentiality; Non-solicitation .

 

(a) Acknowledgements and Agreements . Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that in the performance of Executive’s duties to the Company during the Employment Period, Executive will be brought into frequent contact with existing and potential customers of the Company throughout the world. Executive also agrees that trade secrets and Confidential Information of the Company, more fully described in Section 7(e)(i) , gained by Executive during Executive’s association with the Company, have been developed by the Company through substantial expenditures of time, effort and money and constitute valuable and unique property of the Company. Executive further understands and agrees that the foregoing makes it necessary for the protection of the Company’s Business that Executive not compete with the Company during his employment with the Company, and not compete with the Company for a reasonable period thereafter, as further provided in the following Sections.

 

(b) Covenants .

 

(i) Covenants During Employment . While employed by the Company, Executive will not compete with the Company anywhere in the world. In accordance with this restriction, but without limiting its terms, while employed by the Company, Executive will not:

 

(A) perform services for, enter into or engage in any business which competes with, engages in or proposes to engage in the Company’s Business;

 

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(B) solicit customers, business, patronage or orders for, or sell any products or services in competition with, any business that competes with, engages in or proposes to engage in the Company’s Business;

 

(C) solicit, divert, entice or otherwise take away any customers, business, patronage or orders of the Company, or attempt to do so; or

 

(D) promote or assist, financially or otherwise, any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation or other entity engaged in any business which competes with, engages in or proposes to engage in the Company’s Business.

 

(ii) Covenants Following Termination . For a period of 18 months following the termination of Executive’s employment (for any reason), Executive shall not:

 

(A) perform services for, enter into or engage in any business which competes with, engages in or proposes to engage in the Company’s Business within the Restricted Territory;

 

(B) solicit customers, business, patronage or orders for, or sell any products and services in competition with, any business, wherever located, that competes with, engages in or proposes to engage in the Company’s Business within the Restricted Territory;

 

(C) solicit, divert, entice or otherwise take away any customers, business, patronage or orders of the Company within the Restricted Territory, or attempt to do so; or

 

(D) promote or assist, financially or otherwise, any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation or other entity engaged in any business which competes with, engages in or proposes to engage in the Company’s Business within the Restricted Territory.

 

(iii) Indirect Competition . For the purposes of Sections 7(b)(i) and (ii) inclusive, but without limitation thereof, Executive will be in violation thereof if Executive engages in any or all of the activities set forth therein directly as an individual on Executive’s own account, or indirectly as a partner, joint venturer, employee, agent, salesperson, consultant, officer and/or director of any firm, association, partnership, corporation or other entity, or as a stockholder of any corporation (or owner of any other type of equity interest in any entity) in which Executive or Executive’s spouse, child or parent owns, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, more than 1% of the outstanding stock or other equity interests.

 

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(iv) If it is judicially determined that Executive has violated this Section 7(b) , then the period applicable to each obligation that Executive has been determined to have violated shall be automatically extended by a period of time equal in length to the period during which such violation(s) occurred, subject to applicable law.

 

(c) The Company . For purposes of this Section 7 , the Company shall include any and all direct and indirect subsidiary, parent, affiliated, or related companies of the Company for which Executive worked or had responsibility at the time of termination of his employment and at any time during the two-year period prior to such termination.

 

(d) Non-Solicitation; Non-Association . Executive will not directly or indirectly at any time during the period of Executive’s employment, or for a period of 18 months following a termination of Executive’s employment (for any reason), attempt to disrupt, damage, impair or interfere with the Company’s Business by raiding or attempting to raid any of the Company’s employees, soliciting, inducing or attempting to persuade any of them to resign from their employment by the Company or associating with any of them for the purpose of encouraging them to resign from their employment by the Company, or by disrupting or attempting to impede the relationship between the Company and any of its consultants, agents, representatives or vendors. Executive acknowledges that this covenant is necessary to enable the Company to maintain a stable workforce and remain in business.

 

(e) Further Covenants .

 

(i) Executive will keep in strict confidence, and will not, directly or indirectly, at any time, during or after Executive’s employment with the Company, disclose, furnish, disseminate, make available or, except in the course of performing Executive’s duties of employment, use any trade secrets or confidential business and technical information of the Company or its customers or vendors, without limitation as to when or how Executive may have acquired such information (“ Confidential Information ”), except (A) as required in the performance of his duties to the Company, (B) to the extent that Executive is required by law, or requested by subpoena, court order or governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory body with apparent authority to disclose any Confidential Information (provided that in such case, Executive shall (x) provide the Board, to the extent legally permitted, with notice as soon as practicable following such request that such disclosure has been requested or is or may be required, (y) reasonably cooperate with the Company, at the Company’s expense, in protecting, to the maximum extent legally permitted, the confidential or proprietary nature of such Confidential Information, and (z) disclose only that Confidential Information which he is legally required to disclose), (C) disclosing information that has been or is hereafter made public through no act or omission of Executive in violation of this Agreement or any other confidentiality obligation or duty owed to the Company, (D) disclosing information and documents to his attorney or tax adviser for the purpose of securing legal or tax advice (provided that such advisors agree to keep such information confidential), or (E) disclosing information and documents to the extent reasonably appropriate (and subject to a protective order to the extent applicable) in connection with any litigation between Executive and the Company. Such Confidential Information shall include, without limitation, the Company’s unique selling, manufacturing and servicing methods and business techniques, training, service and business manuals, promotional materials, training courses and other training and instructional materials, vendor and product information, customer and prospective customer lists, other customer and prospective customer information and other business information. Executive specifically acknowledges that all such Confidential Information, whether reduced to writing, maintained on any form of electronic media, or maintained in the mind or memory of Executive and whether compiled by the Company, and/or Executive, derives independent economic value from not being readily known to or ascertainable by proper means by others who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use, that reasonable efforts have been made by the Company to maintain the secrecy of such information, that such information is the sole property of the Company and that any retention and use of such information by Executive during Executive’s employment with the Company (except in the course of performing Executive’s duties and obligations to the Company) or after the termination of Executive’s employment shall constitute a misappropriation of the Company’s trade secrets. Nothing in this Agreement prevents Executive from providing, without prior notice to the Company, information to governmental or administrative authorities regarding possible violations of law or otherwise testifying or participating in any investigation or proceeding by any governmental or administrative authorities regarding possible violations of law, and for purpose of clarity, Executive is not prohibited from providing information voluntarily to the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 21F of the Exchange Act.

 

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(ii) Executive agrees that upon termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, for any reason, Executive shall return to the Company, in good condition, all property of the Company, including the originals and all copies of any materials which contain, reflect, summarize, describe, analyze or refer or relate to any items of information listed in Section 7(e)(i) . In the event that such items are not so returned, the Company will have the right to charge Executive for all reasonable damages, costs, attorneys’ fees and other expenses incurred in searching for, taking, removing and/or recovering such property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall be permitted to retain or copy (A) his personal contacts, calendar and personal correspondence, and (B) any documents or information related to his compensation or reasonably needed for Executive’s tax purposes.

 

(iii) U.S. Defend Trade Secrets Act Notice of Immunity . The U.S. Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (“ DTSA ”) provides that an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that (A) is made (1) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney; and (2) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law or (B) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. In addition, the DTSA provides that an individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual (x) files any document containing the trade secret under seal and (y) does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

 

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(f) Discoveries and Inventions; Work Made for Hire .

 

(i) Executive agrees that upon conception and/or development of any idea, discovery, invention, improvement, software, writing or other material or design that: (A) relates to the business of the Company, or (B) relates to the Company’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (C) results from any work performed by Executive for the Company, Executive will assign to the Company the entire right, title and interest in and to any such idea, discovery, invention, improvement, software, writing or other material or design. Executive has no obligation to assign any idea, discovery, invention, improvement, software, writing or other material or design that Executive conceives and/or develops entirely on Executive’s own time without using the Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities, or trade secret information unless the idea, discovery, invention, improvement, software, writing or other material or design either: (x) relates to the business of the Company, or (y) relates to the Company’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (z) results from any work performed by Executive for the Company. Executive agrees that any idea, discovery, invention, improvement, software, writing or other material or design that relates to the business of the Company or relates to the Company’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development which is conceived or suggested by Executive, either solely or jointly with others, within one year following termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement or any successor agreements shall be presumed to have been so made, conceived or suggested in the course of such employment with the use of the Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities, and/or trade secrets.

 

(ii) In order to determine the rights of Executive and the Company in any idea, discovery, invention, improvement, software, writing or other material, and to insure the protection of the same, Executive agrees that during Executive’s employment, and, to the extent related to the Company’s Business, for one year after termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement or any successor agreement, Executive will disclose immediately and fully to the Company any idea, discovery, invention, improvement, software, writing or other material or design conceived, made or developed by Executive solely or jointly with others. The Company agrees to keep any such disclosures confidential. Executive also agrees during Executive’s employment, and, to the extent related to the Company’s Business, for one year after termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement or any successor agreement, to record descriptions of all work in the manner directed by the Company and agrees that all such records and copies, samples and experimental materials will be the exclusive property of the Company. Executive agrees that at the request of and without charge to the Company, but at the Company’s expense, Executive will execute a written assignment of the idea, discovery, invention, improvement, software, writing or other material or design to the Company and will assign to the Company any application for letters patent or for trademark registration made thereon, and to any common-law or statutory copyright therein; and that Executive will do whatever may be necessary or desirable to enable the Company to secure any patent, trademark, copyright, or other property right therein in the United States and in any foreign country, and any division, renewal, continuation, or continuation in part thereof, or for any reissue of any patent issued thereon. In the event the Company is unable, after reasonable effort, and in any event after ten business days, to secure Executive’s signature on a written assignment to the Company of any application for letters patent or to any common-law or statutory copyright or other property right therein, whether because of Executive’s physical or mental incapacity or for any other reason whatsoever, Executive irrevocably designates and appoints the Corporate Secretary of the Company as Executive’s attorney-in-fact to act on Executive’s behalf to execute and file any such application and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the prosecution and issuance of such letters patent, copyright or trademark.

 

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(iii) Executive acknowledges that, to the extent permitted by law, all work papers, reports, documentation, drawings, photographs, negatives, tapes and masters therefor, prototypes and other materials (hereinafter, “items”), including any and all such items generated and maintained on any form of electronic media, generated by Executive during Executive’s employment with the Company shall be considered a “work made for hire” and that ownership of any and all copyrights in any and all such items shall belong to the Company. The item will recognize the Company as the copyright owner, will contain all proper copyright notices, e.g., “(creation date) NRC Group Holdings, LLC, All Rights Reserved,” and will be in condition to be registered or otherwise placed in compliance with registration or other statutory requirements throughout the world.

 

(g) Communication of Contents of Agreement . While employed by the Company and during the period of time Executive is bound by the non-compete obligation in Section 7(b)(ii) , Executive will communicate the contents of Section 7 to any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation or other entity that Executive intends to be employed by, associated with, or represent.

 

(h) Confidentiality Agreements . Executive agrees that Executive shall not disclose to the Company or induce the Company to use any secret or confidential information belonging to Executive’s former employers. Except as indicated, Executive warrants that Executive is not bound by the terms of a confidentiality agreement or other agreement with a third party that would preclude or limit Executive’s right to work for the Company and/or to disclose to the Company any ideas, inventions, discoveries, improvements or designs or other information that may be conceived during employment with the Company. Executive agrees to provide the Company with a copy of any and all agreements with a third party that preclude or limit Executive’s right to make disclosures or to engage in any other activities contemplated by Executive’s employment with the Company.

 

(i) Relief . Executive acknowledges and agrees that the remedy at law available to the Company for breach of any of Executive’s obligations under this Agreement would be inadequate. Executive therefore agrees that, in addition to any other rights or remedies that the Company may have at law or in equity, temporary and permanent injunctive relief may be granted in any proceeding which may be brought to enforce any provision contained in Sections 7(b) , 7(d) , 7(e) , 7(f) , 7(g) and 7(h) inclusive, without the necessity of proof of actual damage.

 

(j) Reasonableness . Executive acknowledges that Executive’s obligations under this Section 7 are reasonable in the context of the nature of the Company’s Business and the competitive injuries likely to be sustained by the Company if Executive were to violate such obligations. Executive further acknowledges that this Agreement is made in consideration of, and is adequately supported by the agreement of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement and by other consideration, which Executive acknowledges constitutes good, valuable and sufficient consideration. It is the desire and intent of the parties hereto that the provisions of this Agreement shall be enforced to the fullest extent legally-permissible. Accordingly, if any particular provision(s) of this Agreement shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, the court may modify or sever such provision(s), such modification or deletion to apply only with respect to the operation of such provision(s) in the particular jurisdiction in which such adjudication is made. In addition, if any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be excessively broad as to duration, geographical scope, activity or subject, it shall be construed by limiting and reducing it, so as to be enforceable to the extent compatible with the applicable law as it shall then appear. The remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

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8. Definitions .

 

(a) “ Affiliate ” means any Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Company. The term “control” (including with the correlative meaning, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting or other securities, by contract, or otherwise.

 

(b) “ Change in Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(i) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a “ Person ”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 35% or more of either: (A) the then-outstanding common equity interests of the Company (the “ Common Shares ”); or (B) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or managers, as applicable (“ Voting Shares ”); provided , however , that for purposes of this subsection (i), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (1) any acquisition directly from the Company; (2) any acquisition by the Company or any Affiliates; (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliates; or (4) any acquisition by any Person pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of subsection (iii); or

 

(ii) individuals who, as of the Effective Date (or, in the event the HCAC Transaction is consummated, as of immediately following the consummation of the HCAC Transaction), constitute the Board (the “ Incumbent Board ”) cease for any reason (other than death or disability) to constitute at least a majority of the Board during any 12-month period; provided , however , that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date (or, in the event the HCAC Transaction is consummated, as of immediately following the consummation of the HCAC Transaction) whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s equityholders, was approved by a vote or the approval of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (either by a specific vote or written action or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination) shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or

 

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(iii) consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “ Business Combination ”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the Persons who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Common Shares and Voting Shares immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 66-2/3% of, respectively, the then-outstanding common shares and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including an entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions relative to each other as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the Common Shares and Voting Shares of the Company, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any entity resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate or such entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding common equity securities of the entity resulting from such Business Combination, or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such entity except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or

 

(iv) approval by the equityholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event will (i) the HCAC Transaction or entry into any definitive transaction agreement related thereto be deemed to be a Change in Control or (ii) the disposition of any portion of JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC’s ownership interest in the Company be deemed to be a Change in Control.

 

(c) “ Company’s Business ” means providing comprehensive environmental, compliance and waste management services to the marine and rail transportation, general industrial and upstream and midstream energy markets and any other business that the Company conducts (as advertised on the Company’s website or as described in any other marketing materials of the Company) from time to time during the Employment Period.

 

(d) “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as such laws, rules and regulations may be amended from time to time.

 

(e) “ HCAC ” means Hennessey Capital Acquisition Corp. III, a Delaware corporation.

 

(f) “ HCAC Transaction ” means the acquisition by HCAC of all of the equity securities of NRC Group Holdings, LLC.

 

(g) “ Permanent Disability ” means that Executive, because of accident, disability, or physical or mental illness, is incapable of performing Executive’s duties to the Company or any subsidiary, as determined by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive will be deemed to have become incapable of performing Executive’s duties to the Company or any subsidiary, if Executive is incapable of so doing for (i) a continuous period of 120 days and remains so incapable at the end of such 120 day period or (ii) periods amounting in the aggregate to 180 days within any one period of 365 days and remains so incapable at the end of such aggregate period of 180 days.

 

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(h) “ Restricted Territory ” means: (i) the United States; and/or (ii) locations where services were provided for all of the specific customer accounts, whether within or outside of the geographic area described in (i) above, with which Executive had any contact or for which Executive had any responsibility (either direct or supervisory) at the time of termination of Executive’s employment and at any time during the two year period prior to such termination.

 

(i) “ Termination For Cause ” means the termination by the Company of Executive’s employment as a result of: (i) Executive’s indictment (or other criminal charge against Executive) for a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude, or Executive’s commission of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, theft, embezzlement or crime against the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company or any customer of the Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates, (ii) conduct by Executive that brings the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company into public disgrace or disrepute, (iii) Executive’s gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company or in the performance of Executive’s duties and services required for Executive’s position with the Company, which, if curable, is not cured within 10 days after written notice thereof to Executive, (iv) Executive’s insubordination to, or failure to follow, the lawful directions of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, which, if curable, is not cured within ten days after written notice thereof to Executive, (v) Executive’s material violation of Section 7 , (vi) Executive’s breach of a material employment policy of the Company which, if curable, is not cured within ten days after written notice thereof to Executive (including, without limitation, the Company’s code of ethics and insider trading policy), (vii) the abuse of any controlled substance or of alcohol or any other non-controlled substance which the Company determines renders Executive unfit to serve in Executive’s capacity as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, or (viii) any other material breach by Executive of this Agreement or any other agreement with the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate, which, if curable, is not cured within 30 days after written notice thereof to Executive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no termination by the Company shall constitute a “ Termination For Cause ” unless (A) the Company provides Executive reasonable written notice of its intent to terminate Executive by reason of a Termination For Cause, which such notice must include a statement that a majority of the Board has determined in good faith that an event described in clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii) or (viii) exists and (B) Executive is given reasonable opportunity during the 30 day period after receiving the notice described in the preceding clause (A) to be heard by the Board with Executive’s legal counsel.

 

(j) “ Termination With Good Reason ” means a termination by Executive of Executive’s employment with the Company after: (i) a decrease of greater than 10% in either the Base Salary or the Target Annual Bonus, other than as part of an across-the-board reduction applicable to all Company executives, (ii) the material diminution in Executive’s position, duties, authority, reporting or responsibilities, (iii) any material breach of this Agreement or any equity agreement by the Company (including the failure of the Company to satisfy the last sentence of Section 16 ), or (iv) the involuntary relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment to a location more than 35 miles beyond Executive’s principal place of employment as of the Effective Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no termination of employment by Executive shall constitute a “Termination With Good Reason” unless (A) Executive gives the Company notice of the existence of an event described in clause (i), (iii) or (iv) above, within 60 days following the occurrence thereof, (B) the Company does not remedy such event described in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above, as applicable, within 30 days of receiving the notice described in the preceding clause (A), and (C) Executive terminates employment within 30 days of the end of the cure period specified in clause (B), above.

 

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(k) “ Termination Without Cause ” means the termination by the Company or any subsidiary of Executive’s employment with the Company or any subsidiary for any reason other than a termination for Permanent Disability or a Termination For Cause and shall not include the Company’s giving notice pursuant to Section 5(b) that the Employment Period will not be extended.

 

(l) “ Voluntary Termination ” means Executive’s termination of Executive’s employment with the Company or any subsidiary for any reason, other than a Termination With Good Reason (it being understood that Executive may voluntarily resign his employment at any period after the Effective Date).

 

9. Non-Disparagement . Executive agrees not to disparage the Company, any of its products or practices, or any of its directors, officers, agents, representatives, partners, members, or affiliates, either orally or in writing, at any time, and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to not disparage, and shall instruct its directors and executive officers not to disparage, Executive, either orally or in writing, at any time; provided , however , that Executive and the Company (and its directors and executive officers) may confer in confidence with their respective legal representatives and make truthful statements as required by law, or by governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory investigations or as truthful testimony in connection with any litigation involving Executive and the Company. During the Employment Period, this Section 9 shall only apply to public statements or private statements that are reasonably likely to become public as a result of communication to any person or entity that is a member of, employed or engaged by, or directly connected to any broadcast or other media.

 

10. Survival . Subject to any limits on applicability contained therein, Section 7 shall survive and continue in full force in accordance with its terms notwithstanding any termination of the Employment Period.

 

11. Taxes . The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as the Company is required to withhold pursuant to any applicable law, regulation or ruling. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated to guarantee any particular tax result for Executive with respect to any payment provided to Executive hereunder, and Executive shall be responsible for any taxes imposed on Executive with respect to any such payment.

 

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12. Notices . Any notice provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be either personally delivered, sent by reputable overnight carrier or mailed by first class mail, return receipt requested, to the recipient at the address below indicated:

 

Notices to Executive

At the address contained in the Company’s payroll records

 

Notices to the Company :

NRC Group Holdings, LLC
3500 Sunrise Highway
Suite 200, Building 200
Great River, New York 11739

 

or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any notice under this Agreement will be deemed to have been given when so delivered.

 

13. 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 invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced as if such invalid or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

 

14. Complete Agreement . This Agreement embodies the complete agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or between the parties, written or oral which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way, including the Prior Employment Agreement.

 

15. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and both of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

16. Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive, the Company and their respective heirs, executors, personal representatives, successors and assigns, except that neither party may assign any rights or delegate any obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party. Executive hereby consents to the assignment by the Company of all of its rights and obligations hereunder to any successor to the Company by merger or consolidation or purchase of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, provided such transferee or successor assumes the liabilities of the Company hereunder. The Company shall require any successor to all or substantially all of its assets (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Upon consummation of the HCAC Transaction, this Agreement shall be assigned by the Company to HCAC and all references to (a) the “Company” shall refer to HCAC or its successors and (b) the “Board” shall be to the Board of Directors of HCAC.

 

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17. Choice of Law/Dispute Resolution . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal, substantive laws of the State of Pennsylvania. Any dispute or controversy arising under, out of, or in connection with this Agreement (other than Section 7 ) shall, at the election and upon written demand of either party, be finally determined and settled by binding arbitration in the City of Great River, New York, in accordance with the Labor Arbitration rules and procedures of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment upon the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The Company and Executive shall share the costs of the arbitration and each party shall bear its own attorneys’ and accountants’ fees in connection therewith, including as incurred in any litigation to enforce any arbitration award.

 

18. Amendment and Waiver . The provisions of this Agreement may be amended or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and Executive, and no course of conduct or failure or delay in enforcing the provisions of this Agreement shall affect the validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement.

 

19. Section 409A Compliance .

 

(a) The parties intend for this Agreement to either comply with, or be exempt from, Section 409A, and all provisions of this Agreement will be interpreted and applied accordingly. For purposes of this Agreement, each installment payment provided under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment. If any compensation or benefits provided by this Agreement may result in the application of Section 409A, the Company shall, in consultation with Executive, modify the Agreement in the least restrictive manner necessary in order to exclude such compensation from the definition of “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of such Section 409A or in order to comply with the provisions of Section 409A and without any diminution in the value of the payments or benefits to Executive. In no event, however, shall this Section 19 or any other provisions of this Agreement be construed to require the Company to provide any gross-up for the tax consequences of any provisions of, or payments under, this Agreement and the Company shall have no responsibility for tax consequences to Executive (or his beneficiary) resulting from the terms or operation of this Agreement. Any payments or reimbursements of any expenses provided for under this Agreement shall be made in accordance with Treas. Reg. §1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv).

 

(b) To the extent that any payment or benefit pursuant to this Agreement constitutes a “deferral of compensation” subject to Section 409A (after taking into account to the maximum extent possible any applicable exemptions) (a “ 409A Payment ”) treated as payable upon Separation from Service, then, if on the date of Executive’s Separation from Service, Executive is a Specified Employee, then to the extent required for Executive not to incur additional taxes pursuant to Section 409A, no such 409A Payment shall be made to Executive earlier than the earlier of (i) six months after Executive’s Separation from Service or (ii) the date of his death. Should this Section 19 result in payments or benefits to Executive at a later time than otherwise would have been made under this Agreement, on the first day any such payments or benefits may be made without incurring additional tax pursuant to Section 409A, the Company shall make such payments and provide such benefits as provided for in this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 19 , the terms “Specified Employee” and “Separation from Service” shall have the meanings ascribed to them in Section 409A. Further, to the extent that any amount is a 409A Payment and such payment is conditioned upon Executive’s execution of a release and which is to be paid or provided during a designated period that begins in one taxable year and ends in a second taxable year, then such payment shall be paid or provided in the later of the two taxable years.

 

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20. Indemnification . Upon consummation of the HCAC Transaction, Executive and the Company shall enter into an indemnification agreement in the form previously agreed by the parties and from and after such date Executive shall be entitled to the protections afforded in such indemnification agreement.

 

21. Section 280G of the Code . In the event that any payments, distributions, benefits or entitlements of any type payable to Executive, whether or not payable upon a termination of employment (“ Payments ”), (i) constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (ii) but for this Section 21 would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “ Excise Tax ”), then the Payments shall be reduced to such lesser amount (the “ Reduced Amount ”) that would result in no portion of the Payments being subject to the Excise Tax; provided , however , that such Payments shall not be so reduced if a nationally recognized accounting firm selected by the Company in good faith (the “ Accountants ”) determines that without such reduction Executive would be entitled to receive and retain, on a net after-tax basis (including any excise taxes payable under Section 4999 of the Code, federal, state and local income taxes, social security and Medicare taxes and all other applicable taxes, determined by applying the highest marginal rate under Section 1 of the Code and under state and local tax laws which applied (or is likely to apply) to Executive’s taxable income for the tax year in which the transaction which causes the application of Section 280G of the Code occurs, or such other rate(s) as the Accountants determine to be likely to apply to Executive in the relevant tax year(s) in which any of the Payments are expected to be made), an amount that is greater than the amount, on a net after-tax basis, that Executive would be entitled to retain upon receipt of the Reduced Amount. Unless the Company and Executive otherwise agree in writing, any determination required under this Section 21 shall be made in good faith by the Accountants in a timely manner and shall be binding on the parties absent manifest error. In the event of a reduction of Payments hereunder, the Payments shall be reduced in the order determined by the Accountants that results in the greatest economic benefit to Executive in a manner that would not result in subjecting Executive to additional taxation under Section 409A. For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section 21 , the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of the Code, and other applicable legal authority. The Company and Executive shall furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably require in order to make a determination under this Section 21 , and the Company shall bear the cost of all fees charged by the Accountants in connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section 21 . To the extent requested by Executive, the Company shall cooperate with Executive in good faith in valuing, and the Accountants shall value, services to be provided by Executive (including Executive refraining from performing services pursuant to a covenant not to compete) before, on or after the date of the transaction which causes the application of Section 280G of the Code such that Payments in respect of such services may be considered to be “reasonable compensation” within the meaning of the regulations under Section 280G of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the transaction which causes the application of Section 280G of the Code occurs at a time during which the Company qualifies under Section 2(a)(i) of Q&A-6 of Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G, upon the request of Executive, the Company shall use reasonable efforts to obtain the vote of equity holders described in Q&A-7 of Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G. If a reduced payment or benefit is made or provided and through error or otherwise that payment or benefit, when aggregated with other payments and benefits from the Company or any of its affiliates used in determining if a “parachute payment” exists, exceeds one dollar ($1.00) less than three times Executive’s base amount, then Executive shall immediately repay such excess to the Company upon notification that an overpayment has been made. Nothing in this Section 21 shall require the Company to be responsible for, or have any liability or obligation with respect to, Executive’s excise tax liabilities under Section 4999 of the Code.

 

22. Clawback . To the extent required by applicable law, any applicable securities exchange listing standards or any clawback policy adopted by the Company, the annual bonus and any incentive compensation granted to Executive (whether under this Agreement or otherwise) shall be subject to the provisions of any applicable clawback policies or procedures, which clawback policies or procedures may provide for forfeiture and/or recoupment of such amounts paid or payable under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

[ SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  NRC Group Holdings, LLC
   
  By: /s/ David Rattner
  Name: David Rattner
  Title: Secretary

 

  /s/ Joseph Peterson
  Joseph Peterson

 

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Exhibit 10.6

 

Sprint Energy Services, LLC

950 Echo Lane, Suite 357

Houston, Texas 77024

 

August 29, 2016

 

Robert V. Nelson III

2190 Briarglen Drive

Houston, Texas 77027

 

Dear Robby,

 

We are pleased to confirm and memorialize our agreement with you as Chief Operating Officer (“ COO ”) of Sprint Energy Services, LLC (the “ Company ”), as follows:

 

1. Offices and Duties; Transition; Term

 

You shall serve as the COO of the Company during the Term (as defined below) and shall devote your full business time and attention and best efforts to the performance of your duties as the COO of the Company consistent with past practice and as is customary and reasonable for such position; provided that you shall be permitted to continue to devote time to and engage in the Permitted Activities without breaching or otherwise violating any provision of this letter agreement.

 

The Company is managed by its sole member, SES Holdco, LLC. Unless the Board of Managers of SES Holdco, LLC (the “ Board ”) shall otherwise direct, you shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of JFL-SES Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or its successors or assigns (“ JFL-SES ”), as may be amended or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

The term of this letter agreement shall be the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on such date as your employment with the Company terminates for any reason (the “ Term ”). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, you will be an employee of the Company and you or the Company may terminate your employment with the Company for any reason or no reason at any time, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

2. Compensation

 

During the Term, you will be entitled to receive the following:

 

(a) Annual Base Salary : Your annual salary compensation as COO of the Company will be $240,000 (the “ Annual Base Salary ”). The Annual Base Salary shall be paid in conformance with the Company’s regular payroll practices and dates for salaried personnel and shall be subject to annual review, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “ Compensation Committee ”).

 

 

 

 

(b) Annual Bonus : Commencing in calendar year 2016 and pro rata for term worked, as COO of the Company, you shall be entitled to receive an annual cash bonus (“ Annual Bonus ”) based on a target percentage of your Annual Base Salary (“ Target Percentage ”) in accordance with the bonus plan set by the Compensation Committee. Your initial Target Percentage will be 50%. The bonus plan is described in Exhibit A .

 

(c) Employee Benefit Plans : As COO of the Company, you shall be entitled to participate in, to the extent you are otherwise eligible under the terms thereof and subject to applicable required employee contributions, the Company’s benefit plans offered to all employees.

 

(d) Expense Reimbursement : The Company will reimburse you for all reasonable, documented business expenses incurred by you in the course of performing your duties for the Company.

 

(e) Performance Payment : Upon the achievement of the ROICR thresholds set forth in the table below by JFL Equity Investors III, L.P., its Affiliates or related holding companies or vehicles, other than JFL-SES and its Subsidiaries and their respective successors and assigns (the “ JFL Parties ”), subject to the vesting and forfeiture terms contained herein, you will be paid the performance payments corresponding to each ROICR (“ Performance Payment ”):

 

  ROICR   Performance Payment
       
  1.0x to 2.0x   2.0% of distributions made to the unitholders of JFL-SES in excess of 1.0x ROICR and up to and including 2.0x
       
  Over 2.0x to 2.5x   2.25% of distributions made to the unitholders of JFL-SES in excess of 2.0x ROICR and up to and including 2.5x
       
  Over 2.5x to 3.0x   2.5% of distributions made to the unitholders of JFL-SES in excess of 2.50x ROICR and up to and including 3.0x
       
  Over to 3.0x   3.0% of distributions made to the unitholders of JFL-SES in excess of 3.0x ROICR

 

(f) Entire Compensation : The compensation provided for in this Section II shall be the full consideration for the services to be rendered by you to the Company and its affiliates hereunder, and, except as otherwise provided herein, under any subsequent written agreement between you and the Company or under the terms of any plan or policy applicable to you, you shall have no right to receive any other compensation from the Company, or to participate in any other plan, arrangement or benefit provided by the Company, with respect to any future period after any termination or resignation.

 

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(g) Definitions .

 

(i) Cause ” shall mean: (a) your willful misconduct, fraud, usurpation of business opportunity or gross negligence; (b) your failure to materially adhere to the policies of JFL-SES, the Company or any Affiliate or Subsidiary thereof or to materially perform assigned duties (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to your Disability); (c) a material breach by you of this letter agreement or in any other written agreement between you and the Company or any Affiliate or Subsidiary thereof; (d) the commitment of an act of dishonesty or breach of trust or fiduciary duty; or (e) the conviction of or entering of a guilty plea or a plea of no contest with respect to (i) a felony, (ii) any crime involving fraud, larceny or embezzlement or (iii) any other crime involving moral turpitude.

 

(ii) Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to a Performance Payment, the fair market value of the Company as determined by the Manager in good faith in its sole discretion (giving effect to the distribution priorities set forth in the LLC Agreement).

 

(iii) Good Reason ” means (a) a material breach by JFL-SES, the Company or any Affiliate or Subsidiary thereof, as applicable, of this letter agreement or any other written agreement between any such entity or you, (b) JFL-SES’ or the Company’s assignment of you, without your consent, to a position, responsibilities, authority or duties of a materially lesser status or degree of responsibility than your then-current position, responsibilities, authority or duties; (c) a reduction of your Annual Base Salary by at least 25% of your then-current Annual Base Salary or (d) you have been required to take actions that are illegal. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Good Reason shall only occur if you notify the Company within 30 days of the event causing Good Reason, and the Company does not cure such event causing Good Reason within 30 days after receiving such notice; provided that no such notice obligation, time period or cure right shall apply to the foregoing subclause (d).

 

(iv) Permitted Activities ” means activities related to your service on the board of directors of Sanchez Energy Corporation.

 

(v) ROICR ” means, at the time at which it is calculated, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate distributions directly attributable to the Company received by the JFL Parties from JFL-SES divided by (b) the aggregate amount of capital contributions made by the JFL Parties to JFL-SES.

 

(vi) Sale of the Company ” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the LLC Agreement.

 

(vii) Termination Event ” means the termination your employment with the Company or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries or your death or Disability.

 

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(h) Vesting .

 

(i) You may be required to forfeit or liquidate all or a portion of your entitlement to certain Performance Payments upon the occurrence of certain events described in this letter agreement in accordance with the vesting, forfeiture and liquidation provisions set forth herein. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2(h) , seventy-five percent (75%) of the unvested Performance Payments will become Vested Performance Payments under this letter agreement and shall carry all of the rights conferred on Vested Performance Payments under this letter agreement as follows: on each of the first three (3) anniversaries of the date hereof (each, a “ Vesting Date ”), an incremental twenty-five percent (25%) of the unvested Performance Payments will become vested Performance Payments (“ Vested Performance Payments ”) on each Vesting Date so long as you have continuously remained employed by the Company or its Affiliates from the date hereof through such Vesting Date and an event which constitutes Cause has not occurred with respect to you.

 

(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this letter agreement or this letter agreement, (A) all unvested Performance Payments that have not previously become Vested Performance Payments according to the terms of Section 2(h)(ii) will fully vest upon the occurrence of a Sale of the Company; provided that you have continuously remained employed by the Company or its Affiliates from the date hereof through such Vesting Date and an event which constitutes Cause has not occurred with respect to you.

 

(i) Forfeiture and Purchase of Performance Payments .

 

(i) If an event which constitutes Cause occurs with respect to you during your period of employment or if you resign as an employee of the Company without Good Reason, then on the earlier of the date of such Cause event or Termination Event, as applicable, you shall be deemed to have immediately forfeited to the Company without consideration all of your entitlement to receive Performance Payments, whether vested or unvested, and all rights arising from such Performance Payments, without further action required by the Company.

 

(ii) If a Termination Event occurs due to the Company’s termination of your employment or your termination of your employment for Good Reason and an event which constitutes Cause has not occurred with respect to you as of or prior to the time of such Termination Event, then (i) after giving effect to any applicable provision of Section 2(h)(ii) , on the date of such Termination Event, you shall forfeit to the Company without consideration all of your entitlement to receive unvested Performance Payments and your entitlement to receive Performance Payments shall be proportionately reduced by such forfeited amount and (ii) an Exercising Party (as defined below) will have the option (but not the obligation) to liquidate any or all of your Vested Performance Payments at Fair Market Value, which option shall be exercisable, subject to the terms of Section 2(h)(iv) , at any time within ninety (90) days after such Termination Event.

 

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(iii) Any of the JFL Parties (an “ Exercising Party ”) shall, for a period of ninety (90) days following the date of the applicable Termination Event, have the right to require you to liquidate all of your entitlement to receive unforfeited Performance Payments (a “ Liquidated Performance Payment ”) at a price equal to the Fair Market Value of such Liquidated Performance Payment (the “ Liquidation Price ”) in accordance with the terms of this Section 2(h) .

 

(iv) Procedures . If such Exercising Party desires to exercise its right to liquidate all of the Liquidated Performance Payment pursuant to this Section 2(h) , such Exercising Party shall deliver to you a written notice (the “ Liquidation Notice ”) specifying the amount of Liquidated Performance Payments to be liquidated by such Exercising Party and the price therefor in accordance with Section 2(h) .

 

(v) Timing . The consummation of any liquidation of Liquidated Performance Payments pursuant to this Section 2(h) shall take place on the later to occur of the 10 th day following the date the Exercising Party delivers the Liquidation Notice or the 10 th day after the Fair Market Value of the Liquidated Performance Payment is finally determined pursuant to Section 2(h) . The applicable Exercising Party shall pay the Liquidation Price to you. Such Exercising Party shall give you at least five (5) days’ written notice of the date of closing, which notice shall include the method of payment selected by such Exercising Person.

 

(vi) Fair Market Value . The Liquidation Price shall be the Fair Market Value of the Liquidated Performance Payment, as determined by the Board as of the date of the Liquidation Notice.

 

(vii) Cooperation . You shall take all actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the liquidation contemplated by this Section 2(h) , including, without limitation, entering into agreements and delivering certificates and instruments and consents as may be deemed necessary or appropriate.

 

(viii) Consummation . Following your receipt of the full Liquidation Price in connection with any liquidation under this Section 2(h) , you shall deliver to the Company a written acknowledgement of your receipt thereof and of the reduction of your entitlement to performance payments based on the liquidation of the applicable Liquidated Performance Payments.

 

(ix) Payments with respect to the Performance Payments shall be paid concurrently with the applicable payments of the Unitholders under the LLC Agreement to the degree the ROICR thresholds have been met.

 

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3. Withholding

 

All payments to be made to you under this letter agreement will be subject to required income and payroll tax withholdings and other legally required or customary deductions, all of which shall be consistent with the policies and practices of the Company.

 

4. Non-disclosure; Non-solicitation; Non-disparagement

 

You and the Company recognize that, due to the nature of your employment and relationship with the Company, you have had and will have access to and have developed and will develop confidential business information, proprietary information, and trade secrets relating to the business and operations of the Company and its Affiliates. “ Affiliate ” has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b2 of the regulations promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. You acknowledge that such information is valuable to the business of the Company and its Affiliates, and that disclosure to, or use for the benefit of, any person or entity other than the Company or its Affiliates, could cause substantial damage to the Company and its Affiliates. You further acknowledge that your duties for the Company include the duty to develop and maintain client, customer, employee, and other business relationships on behalf of the Company and its Affiliates. In recognition that the goodwill and business relationships described herein are assets of the Company and its Affiliates and that loss of or damage to those relationships would destroy or diminish the value of the Company and its Affiliates, you agree as follows:

 

(a) Confidential Information :

 

(i) You shall at all times maintain the confidentiality of Confidential Information of the Company and its Affiliates, and shall not disclose any such information to any third person, nor shall you use Confidential Information for any purpose except for the benefit of the Company and its Affiliates. “ Confidential Information ” shall mean the following with respect to the Company and its Affiliates: trade secret information; client or customer lists, including their identities, contacts, business and financial needs and information; pricing information; survey information; computer software, passwords, programs, data or other information; marketing plans, projections and presentations; financial and budget information; and all other business related information which has not been publicly disclosed by the Company or its Affiliates. The restrictions contained in this provision shall apply regardless of whether such Confidential Information is in written, graphic, recorded, photographic or any machine readable form or is orally conveyed to, or memorized by, you.

 

(ii) Your duty of confidentiality with regard to the Confidential Information shall not extend to: (A) any Confidential Information that, at the time of disclosure, had been previously published and was part of the public domain; (B) any Confidential Information that is published after disclosure, unless such publication is a breach of this letter agreement by you; and (C) any Confidential Information that is obtained by you other than in connection with the performance of your duties hereunder from a third person who: (x) is lawfully in possession of that Confidential Information; (y) is not in violation of any contractual, legal, or fiduciary obligation to the Company or its Affiliates with respect to the Confidential Information; and (z) does not prohibit you from disclosing the Confidential Information to others.

 

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(iii) In the event that you are requested or required (by oral questions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena or other process or legal obligation) to disclose any Confidential Information (including the terms of this letter agreement), you agree to: (A) give prompt written notice to the Company and its Affiliates of such request or subpoena in order to allow the Company or its Affiliates an opportunity to seek an appropriate protective order or to waive compliance with the provisions of this letter agreement; and (B) cooperate with the Company and its Affiliates and with counsel for the Company and its Affiliates in responding to such request or subpoena as provided below. If the Company or its Affiliates fail to obtain a protective order and does not waive its rights to confidential treatment under this letter agreement, you may disclose only that portion of any Confidential Information which your counsel reasonably advises is compelled to disclose pursuant to law. You further agree that in no event will you oppose action by the Company or its Affiliates to obtain an appropriate protective order or other reliable promises that confidential treatment will be accorded to the Confidential Information.

 

(b) Confidentiality and Surrender of Records : Without the prior written consent of the Company, you shall not, at any time, except as required by law, publish, make known or in any fashion disclose any Confidential Records to, or permit any inspection or copying of Confidential Records by, any individual or entity other than in the course of such individual’s or entity’s employment by or contract with the Company or its Affiliates. For purposes hereof, “ Confidential Records ” means those portions of correspondence, memoranda, files, manuals, books, lists, financial, operating or marketing records, magnetic tape, or electronic or other media or equipment of any kind in your possession or under your control or accessible to you which contain any Confidential Information. All Confidential Records shall be and remain the sole property of the Company and its Affiliates.

 

(c) Non-solicitation : During the Term of this letter agreement and for a period of twelve (12) months after termination of your employment hereunder for any reason, including without limitation the expiration of this letter agreement, you shall not, and you shall not permit and shall cause your Affiliates not to, engage in any of the following activities, either directly or indirectly (individually, or through or on behalf of another entity, as owner, partner, agent, employee, consultant, or in any other capacity) hire, solicit, encourage, or engage in any activity to induce any employee of the Company or its affiliates to terminate his or her employment with the Company or its affiliates, or to become employed by, or to enter into a business relationship with, any other Person; provided, however , that the foregoing restriction shall not include general solicitations of employment or hiring of persons responding to general solicitations of employment (including general advertising via periodicals, the Internet and other media) not specifically directed towards employees of the Company or its affiliates. For purposes of this provision, the term “employee” includes any individual who is an employee, agent of or consultant to the Company or its affiliates during the twelve (12) month period prior to the date your employment is terminated.

 

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(d) Non-disparagement : No party shall not at any time disparage in any material respect the other party, any Affiliate thereof, any of their respective businesses, any of their respective officers, managers, members, directors or employees, or the reputation of any of the foregoing persons or entities.

 

(e) No Other Obligations : You represent that you are not precluded or limited in your ability to undertake or perform the duties described herein by any contract, agreement or restrictive covenant. You covenant that you shall not employ the trade secrets or proprietary information of any other person or entity in connection with your employment by the Company.

 

(f) Enforcement : You acknowledge and agree that, by virtue of your position, services and access to and use of Confidential Records and Confidential Information, any violation by you of any of the undertakings contained in this Section 4 could cause the Company or its Affiliates immediate, substantial and irreparable injury for which the Company or its Affiliates have no adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, you agree and consent to the entry of an injunction or other equitable relief by a court of competent jurisdiction restraining any violation or threatened violation of any undertaking contained in this Section 4 . Rights and remedies provided for in this Section 4 are cumulative and shall be in addition to rights and remedies otherwise available to the Company and its Affiliates hereunder or under any other agreement or applicable law.

 

(g) Survival and Independent Covenants : The provisions of this Section 4 shall survive the termination of your employment with the Company. The covenants of this Section 4 shall be enforceable regardless of (i) the reason for your termination, (ii) any breach of this letter agreement by the Company, or (iii) whether you have a claim against the Company or any Affiliate thereof based on this letter agreement or otherwise to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

(h) Cooperation with Regard to Litigation : Except to the extent that you have or intend to assert in good faith an interest or position adverse to or inconsistent with the interest or position of the Company or its Affiliates, you agree to cooperate reasonably with the Company and its Affiliates, during the term of this letter agreement and thereafter (including following your termination of employment for any reason), by making yourself available to testify on behalf of the Company or its Affiliates in any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, and to assist the Company or its Affiliates in any such action, suit, or proceeding, by providing information and meeting and consulting with the Company, its Affiliates or their respective representatives or counsel, or representatives or counsel to the Company or its Affiliates, in each case, as reasonably requested by the Company or its Affiliates. The Company shall reimburse your out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with your cooperation, travel or other performance undertaken pursuant to this Section 4(h) .

 

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5. Severance

 

(a) Termination in the Absence of an Event Which Constitutes Cause or Upon Resignation for Good Reason . If your employment shall be terminated by the Company in the absence of an event which constitutes Cause or if you shall terminate due to your resignation for Good Reason, then, subject to you signing a customary release of claims on or following the date of the applicable Termination Event, you shall receive:

 

(i) a cash amount equal to one times your Annual Base Salary as of the date of the applicable Termination Event payable over the next 12 months consistent with current payroll practices.

 

(b) Survival . The expiration or termination of this letter agreement shall not impair the rights or obligations of any Party hereto, which shall have accrued on or prior to such expiration or termination.

 

(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this letter agreement, no severance payments shall be made unless you incur a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1-409A-1(h).

 

6. Miscellaneous

 

(a) Governing Law : This letter agreement is made under, and shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, the law of the State of Texas, applicable to agreements made and to be performed solely therein, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.

 

(b) Venue : In any action between or among any of you and the Company or its Affiliates arising out of this letter agreement (i) each of you and the Company and its Affiliates irrevocably consents to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal and state courts located in Harris County, Texas, (ii) if any such action is commenced in a state court, then, subject to applicable law, no party hereto shall object to the removal of such action to any federal court located in Harris County, Texas, (iii) each of you and the Company and its Affiliates irrevocably agrees to designate a service company located in the United States as its agent for service of process and consents to service of process by first class certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the address at which such party is located, and (iv) the prevailing parties shall be entitled to recover their reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements from the other parties (in addition to any other relief to which the prevailing parties may be entitled).

 

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(c) Waiver of a Jury Trial : You and the Company and its Affiliates herby waive any right to trial by jury in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this letter agreement, whether now existing or hereafter arising, and whether sounding in contract, tort or otherwise. You and the Company and its Affiliates agree that either may file a copy of this paragraph with any court as written evidence of the knowing, voluntary and bargained-for agreement irrevocably to waive trial by jury and that any action or proceeding whatsoever relating to this letter agreement shall instead be tried in a court of competent jurisdiction by a judge sitting without a jury.

 

(d) Binding Agreement : This letter agreement and all rights and obligations hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributes, devisees and legatees and assigns.

 

(e) Notices : All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally (notice deemed given upon receipt), emailed (notice deemed given upon confirmation of receipt) or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, such as Federal Express (notice deemed given upon delivery), to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

 

If to you: To your home address as listed in Company records at the time notice is given;

 

If to the Company: To its corporate headquarters at the time notice of given; or to such other address as the parties may furnish to each other in writing.

 

(f) Modification : No provision of this letter agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is in writing signed by the parties hereto.

 

(g) Severability : The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this letter agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this letter agreement; and, in the event that any one or more of the words, phrases, sentences, clauses, provisions, sections or articles contained in this letter agreement shall be declared invalid, this letter agreement shall be construed as if such invalid word or words, phrase or phrases, sentence or sentences, clause or clauses, provision or provisions, section or sections or article or articles had not been inserted and the remainder of this letter agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(h) Counterparts : This letter agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. A photocopy or electronic transmission (including .pdf format) of this letter agreement or of any signature hereon shall be deemed and original for all purposes.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

  10  

 

 

This letter agreement supersedes any prior understandings, agreements, letters, or representations by or among the parties with respect to your employment by the Company or any Affiliate thereof, whether written or oral, to the extent they are related in any way to the subject matter hereof.

 

Sincerely,  
   
Sprint Energy Services, LLC  
       
By: /s/ David Rattner  
  Name: David Rattner  
  Title: Secretary  

 

  Agreed:
   
  /s/ Robert V. Nelson III
  Robert V. Nelson III
  Date: 08/29/16

 

  11  

 

 

Exhibit A

 

Your Annual Bonus for each calendar year will be set by the Compensation Committee and will be based upon attaining the annual budget targets set by the Board, as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion. Your Annual Bonus is contingent upon your continued employment with the Company at the time of payment.

 

The Annual Bonus may be earned as follows: (i) 70% of the Target Percentage will be earned based on achieving target EBITDA performance, and (ii) 30% of the Target Percentage will be earned based on achieving target free cash flow (defined as cash generated excluding any financing activities – e.g., the borrowing or repayment of debt). EBITDA and free cash flow will be determined based upon the audited financial results of the Company. The figures below outline the scale that will be used to develop your Base Annual Bonus.

 

Drivers     0 %
EBITDA     70 %
Free Cash Flow   30 %
Total     100 %

 

Range for EBITDA and Free Cash Flow
    Payout of Target Percentage  
< 90% of Target =     0 %
90% of Target =     75 %
100% of Target =     100 %
125% of Target =     150 %
> 125% of Target =     150 %

 

Payouts between 90% and 100% performance and between 100% and 150% performance will be linear.

 

 

Exhibit 10.7

 

JFL-NRC Holdings, LLC

3500 Sunrise Highway, Suite T103

Great River, NY 11739

 

May 28, 2015

 

STRICTLY PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL

 

Paul Taveira

202 Topwater Lane

Greensboro, NC 27455

 

Dear Paul,

 

We are pleased to confirm and memorialize our agreement with you as President and Chief Executive Officer of JFL-NRC Holdings, L.L.C. (together with its subsidiaries and successors and assigns, the “Company”), as follows:

 

I. Offices and Duties

 

You shall serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and be employed by National Response Corporation (“NRC”) starting by July 1, 2015. You shall devote your full business time and attention and best efforts to the performance of your duties to the Company hereunder without commitment to other business endeavors, provided however you may undertake and discharge such civic or charitable responsibilities as you may assume from time-to-time during your employment with NRC. You shall perform such duties as are consistent with your positions or as reasonably assigned to you by the Board of Directors, or equivalent, of the Company (the “Board”) from time to time, as long as such assigned duties are reasonably consistent with your positions. You will be the most senior officer of the Company. All other senior officers of the Company shall report directly to you (unless otherwise determined by the Board, or as required by applicable law or the principles of good corporate governance).

 

Your employment with NRC is at will, which means that either you or NRC can terminate your employment at any time for any reason, with or without cause and with or without notice. This agreement as to at-will employment status sets forth the complete and exclusive agreement between you and NRC regarding your employment status, and it supersedes any prior express or implied agreement or understanding between you and NRC regarding that status, whether oral or in writing. You understand that your status as an at-will employee can be modified only in a written agreement signed by an officer of NRC. Any notice of termination by NRC shall be communicated in writing.

 

 

May 28, 2015
Page 2 of 14
   

 

II. Compensation

 

(a) Annual Base Salary:

 

Your annual salary compensation will be set by the Compensation Committee of the Board and will initially be $325,000. Salary shall be payable in equal installments in conformance with NRC’s regular payroll practices and dates for salaried personnel but no less frequently than monthly.

 

(b) Annual Bonus:

 

Your annual bonus for each calendar year (“Annual Bonus”) will be set by the Compensation Committee of the Board and will be based upon attaining the annual budget targets set by the Board. Your Annual Bonus will be paid within 15 days of completion of that year’s audit or at any earlier time approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board, but in no event later than December 31 of the calendar year subsequent to the calendar year to which such bonus relates. Your Annual Bonus is contingent upon your continued employment with NRC at the time of payment (except as otherwise expressly provided for in this letter agreement).

 

The current Annual Bonus has two components. The first component is based on the Company’s calendar year performance excluding the contribution of the U.S. marine spill response business (“Base Annual Bonus”). The second component is based on the calendar year performance of the U.S. marine spill response business (“NRC Response Annual Bonus”).

 

(i) Base Annual Bonus:

 

Your Base Annual Bonus will be calculated as a percentage of your base salary (“Base Bonus Amount”), which Base Bonus Amount will be set by the Compensation Committee of the Board and will be no less than 60% of your base salary. This percent is based 100% on the Company’s calendar year performance (excluding the contribution of the U.S. marine spill response business) unless otherwise set by the Compensation Committee of the Board. The applicable percentage of the Base Bonus Amount will be based (i) 60% on EBITDA performance, (ii) 30% on free cash flow (defined as cash generated excluding any financing activities ¾ e.g., the borrowing or repayment of debt), and (iii) 10% on the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board. EBITDA and free cash flow will be determined based upon the audited financial results of the Company, consistently applied. The figures below outline the scale that will be used to develop your Base Annual Bonus.

 

 

May 28, 2015
Page 3 of 14
   

 

  Drivers      
         
  Committee’s Discretionary     10 %
  EBITDA     60 %
  Free Cash Flow     30 %
  Total     100 %

 

Range for EBITDA and Free Cash Flow

 

          Payout Percentage  
  < 85% of Target   =     0 %
  85% of Target   =     60 %
  100% of Target   =     100 %
  125% of Target   =     150 %
  > 125% of Target   =     150 %

 

Payouts between 85% and 100% performance and between 100% and 125% performance will be linear.

 

(ii) NRC Response Annual Bonus:

 

Your NRC Response Annual Bonus will be calculated as a percentage of your salary (“NRC Response Bonus Amount”), which NRC Response Bonus Amount will be set by the Compensation Committee of the Board and will be no less than 20% of your base salary. This percent is based 100% on the Company’s U.S. marine spill response business performance unless otherwise set by the Compensation Committee of the Board. The applicable percentage of the NRC Response Bonus Amount will be based (i) 60% on EBITDA performance, (ii) 30% on free cash flow (defined as cash generated excluding any financing activities — e.g., the borrowing or repayment of debt), and (iii) 10% on the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board. EBITDA and free cash flow will be determined based upon the audited financial results of the Company, consistently applied. The figures below outline the scale that will be used to develop your NRC Response Annual Bonus.

 

 

May 28, 2015
Page 4 of 14
   

 

  Drivers      
         
  Committee’s Discretionary     10 %
  EBITDA     60 %
  Free Cash Flow     30 %
  Total     100 %

 

Range for EBITDA and Free Cash Flow

 

          Payout Percentage  
  < 85% of Target   =     0 %
  85% of Target   =     60 %
  100% of Target   =     100 %
  2,000% of Target   =     850 %
  > 2,000% of Target   =     850 %

 

Payouts between 85% and 100% performance and between 100% and 2,000% performance will be linear.

 

The Annual Bonus for 2015 will be pro-rated for the portion of 2015 that you are employed.

 

(c) Relocation Allowance:

 

You will be reimbursed for reasonable, documents out-of-pocket expense associated directly with your relocation up to $35,000. This amount will be repaid by you (on an after-tax basis) if you voluntary leave (other than for Good Reason (as defined below)) with one year of your start date.

 

(d) Equity Interests:

 

Within 60 days of your start date, you will be granted as a profits interests a number of Class B Common Units initially equivalent, on the date you commence employment, to 2.0% of the Class A Common Units and Class 13 Common Units in the aggregate of JFL-NRC Partners, LLC (the parent of JFL-NRC Holdings, LLC, “JFL-NRC”) (“Equity Interests”). Your Equity Interests will be subject to the following vesting schedule: twenty-five percent (25%) on the first anniversary of the date on which the Class B common interests were issued to you; (ii) twenty-five percent (25%) on the second anniversary of the date on which the Class B common interests were issued to you; (iii) twenty-five percent (25%) on the third anniversary of the date on which the Class B common interests were issued to you; and (iv) twenty-five percent (25%) on the fourth anniversary of the date on which the Class B common interests were issued to you. Your Equity Interests are further subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Limited Liability Company Agreement of JFL-NRC, dated as of March 16, 2012, and as amended (the “LLC Agreement”) and subscription documents. Upon a Change of Control (as defined below), all of the unvested Equity Interests shall immediately vest. The anticipated Distribution Threshold (as defined under the LLC Agreement) applicable to the Equity Interests will be approximately $2.1 million.

 

 

May 28, 2015
Page 5 of 14
   

 

(e) Transaction Bonus:

 

Upon any Change of Control resulting in JFL Equity Investors III, L.P. and its affiliates realizing the return on invested capital ratio (“ROICR”) set out below, subject to your continued employment at the time of a Change of Control, you will be paid the transaction bonus corresponding to such ROICR (after giving effect to any transaction bonuses, including yours) (“Transaction Bonus”), which will be paid in a single lump sum in cash on the closing date of such Change of Control:

 

  ROICR   Transaction Bonus  
  2.0x or Under   $ 0  
  Up to 2.5x   $ 250,000  
  Up to 3.0x   $ 500,000  
  Up to 3.5x   $ 1,000,000  
  Up to 4.0x   $ 1,500,000  
  Up to 4.5x   $ 2,000,000  
  Up to 5.0x   $ 3,000,000  

 

Transaction Bonus payments in between tiers will be prorated.

 

“Change of Control” shall mean a Qualifying Liquidity Event (as defined in the LLC Agreement).

 

(f) Employee Benefit Plans:

 

You shall be entitled to participate in, to the extent you are eligible under the terms thereof and subject to applicable required employee contributions, NRC’s current benefit plans offered to all employees. During the term of your employment with NRC, you shall be entitled to 20 business days of paid vacation per calendar year, with up to 20 business days of carryover accumulation, which shall accrue in equal installments on a monthly basis.

 

(g) Expense Reimbursement:

 

NRC will reimburse you for all reasonable, authorized business expenses consistent with NRC policies, incurred by you in the course of performing your duties for the Company. You will also be provided with a Company-owned laptop and cell phone.

 

 

May 28, 2015
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(h) Entire Compensation:

 

The compensation provided for in this Section II shall be the full consideration for the services to be rendered by you to the Company hereunder, and, except as otherwise provided in this letter agreement, under any subsequent written agreement between you and the Company or under the terms of any plan or policy applicable to you, you shall have no right to receive any other compensation from the Company, or to participate in any other plan, arrangement or benefit provided by the Company, with respect to any future period after any termination or resignation.

 

III. Severance

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this letter agreement, if (i) NRC terminates your employment other than for Cause (as defined below) or (ii) you resign for Good Reason (as defined below), subject to the execution, delivery and non-revocation of a general release of all claims arising either from your employment or from the termination of your employment within 30 days of your termination date, NRC shall pay to you or provide you with: a severance of twelve months current base salary, which shall be paid in periodic installments on NRC’s regular payroll dates, beginning with the next payroll date immediately following the expiration of the 30 th day following your termination date.

 

“Cause” shall mean: (a) fraud, usurpation of business opportunities, willful misconduct or gross negligence but only to the extent such willful misconduct or gross negligence results in (or is reasonably likely to result in) material damage to the Company; provided that (1) no act or failure to act on your part shall be deemed to constitute willful misconduct or gross negligence unless done or omitted by you in bad faith and without reasonable belief that the act or omission was in the best interests of the Company and (2) you shall first be given written notice and twenty (20) days in which to cure any alleged willful misconduct or gross negligence; (b) the failure to materially (1) adhere to the reasonable written and lawful policies of the Company or other policies set by the Board and communicated to you in advance or (2) to materially perform reasonably assigned duties of your position as President and Chief Executive Officer where such failure results in (or is reasonably likely to result in) material damage to the Company; provided that, in each case of clauses (1) and (2), you shall first be given twenty (20) days following written notice from the Company to commence compliance with such policies or performance of such duties; (c) an uncured material breach by you of the agreements and covenants contained in the this Agreement or the LLC Agreement or in any other written agreement between you and the Company, provided that you shall first be given twenty (20) days written notice to cure any such material breach; (d) the commitment of a material act of dishonesty or breach of trust or breach of fiduciary duty; (e) except for the limited consumption of alcohol for social business-related events or marketing, your use of alcohol or any controlled substance while working or during working hours, repeated use of alcohol or use of any controlled substance after working hours that interferes with your duties under this Agreement, or violation of the Company’s alcohol or controlled substances policies (as modified by this provision with respect to limited alcohol use); or (f) the conviction of or entering of a guilty plea or a plea of no contest with respect to (i) a felony, (ii) any crime involving fraud, larceny or embezzlement or (iii) any other crime involving moral turpitude which is injurious to the reputation of the Company or which subjects, or if generally known, would subject, the Company or any of their directors, managers, officers, members, stockholders or partners to public ridicule or embarrassment.

 

 

May 28, 2015
Page 7 of 14
   

 

“Good Reason” shall mean a termination by you of your employment under this letter agreement if (i) any of the following events occur without your express prior written consent; (ii) within 180 days after you learn of the occurrence of such event, you give written notice to NRC describing such event and demanding cure; and (iii) such event is not fully cured within 30 days after such notice is given: (a) a material reduction in your annual base salary or Base Bonus Amount or NRC Response Bonus Amount, (b) a material change in your position or responsibilities to a position or set of responsibilities materially less than your then current position or responsibilities, (c) the Company’s material breach of the agreements and covenants contained in the LLC Agreement, or (d) the relocation of the headquarters of the Company outside of Long Island, New York.

 

If your employment is terminated for any reason during the term of your employment with NRC (except as otherwise specified in clause (b) of this paragraph), NRC shall pay to you or provide you with: (a) any earned but unpaid base salary and accrued and unused vacation days, which will be paid in the next NRC payroll cycle following such termination; (b) (i) if the Company terminates your employment other than for Cause or (ii) if you resign for Good Reason, any unpaid bonus for the year immediately preceding the year that includes your termination date if not previously paid, which will be paid in the next NRC payroll cycle following such termination; (c) any vested 401(k) or other vested benefits with the Company and its subsidiaries, if any, which shall be payable in accordance with the applicable plan or program; (d) reimbursement of reasonable business expenses properly incurred by you during the term of your employment with NRC, which shall be paid in accordance with NRC’s expense policy; and (e) the right to elect benefit coverage continuation under COBRA in accordance with applicable law.

 

IV. Non-competition; Non-solicitation; Non-disclosure; Non-disparagement

 

You and the Company recognize that, due to the nature of your employment and relationship with the Company, you have had and will have access to and have developed and will develop confidential business information, proprietary information, and trade secrets relating to the business and operations of the Company. You acknowledge that such information is valuable to the business of the Company, and that disclosure to, or use for the benefit of any person or entity other than the Company, could cause substantial damage to the Company and its affiliates. You further acknowledge that your duties for the Company include the duty to develop and maintain client, customer, employee, and other business relationships on behalf of the Company. In recognition that the goodwill and business relationships described herein are assets of the Company and that loss of or damage to those relationships would destroy or diminish the value of the Company, you agree as follows:

 

 

May 28, 2015
Page 8 of 14
   

 

(a) Confidential Information :

 

(i) You shall at all times maintain the confidentiality of Confidential Information of the Company, and shall not disclose any such information to any third person, nor shall you use Confidential Information for any purpose except for the benefit of the Company. “Confidential Information” shall mean the following: trade secret information; client or customer lists, including their identities, contacts, business and financial needs and information; Company pricing information; survey information; computer software, passwords, programs, data or other information; Company marketing plans, projections and presentations; Company financial and budget information; and all other business related information which has not been publicly disclosed by the Company. The restrictions contained in this provision shall apply regardless of whether such Confidential Information is in written, graphic, recorded, photographic or any machine readable form or is orally conveyed to, or memorized by, you.

 

(ii) Your duty of confidentiality with regard to the Confidential Information shall not extend to: (A) any Confidential Information that, at the time of disclosure, had been previously published and was part of the public domain; (B) any Confidential Information that is published after disclosure, unless such publication is a breach of this letter agreement by you; and (C) any Confidential Information that is obtained by you other than in connection with the performance of your duties hereunder from a third person who: (x) is lawfully in possession of that Confidential Information; (y) is not in violation of any contractual, legal, or fiduciary obligation to the Company with respect to the Confidential Information; and (z) does not prohibit you from disclosing the Confidential Information to others.

 

(iii) In the event that you are requested or required (by oral questions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena or other process or legal obligation) to disclose any Confidential Information (including the terms of this letter agreement), you agree to: (A) give prompt written notice to the Company of such request or subpoena in order to allow the Company an opportunity to seek an appropriate protective order or to waive compliance with the provisions of this letter agreement; and (B) cooperate with the Company and with counsel for the Company in responding to such request or subpoena as provided below. If the Company fails to obtain a protective order and does not waive its rights to confidential treatment under this letter agreement, you may disclose only that portion of any Confidential Information which your counsel reasonably advises is compelled to disclose pursuant to law. You further agree that in no event will you oppose action by the Company to obtain an appropriate protective order or other reliable promises that confidential treatment will be accorded to the Confidential Information.

 

 

May 28, 2015
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(b) Confidentiality and Surrender of Records . Without the prior written consent of the Company, you shall not, at any time, except as required by law, publish, make known or in any fashion disclose any Confidential Records to, or permit any inspection or copying of Confidential Records by, any individual or entity other than in the course of such individual’s or entity’s employment by or contract with the Company. For purposes hereof, “Confidential Records” means those portions of correspondence, memoranda, files, manuals, books, lists, financial, operating or marketing records, magnetic tape, or electronic or other media or equipment of any kind in your possession or under your control or accessible to you which contain any Confidential Information. All Confidential Records shall be and remain the sole property of the Company.

 

(c) Non-Competition . During the term of this letter agreement and for a period of one year following the termination of your employment, you will not, and will not permit any of your affiliates to, engage in any of the following activities, either directly or indirectly (individually, or through or on behalf of another entity, as owner, partner, agent, employee, consultant, or in any other capacity) in the United States or Canada in which the Company conducts operations (the “Business”):

 

(i) on behalf of any person that competes with the Business (a “Company Competitor”), seek, solicit, or attempt to establish a business relationship with a person who (A) was a client, customer, supplier, employee, salesman, agent or representative of the Business during the 24 months preceding your termination of employment and as to whom you or a person under your direct supervision was aware of or had access to confidential information relating to such client, customer, supplier, employee, salesman, agent or representative’s relationship with the Business, or (B) was solicited during the 12 months preceding your termination of employment to become a client, customer, supplier, employee, salesman, agent or representative of the Business by you or a person under your direct supervision (each a “Company Client”);

 

(ii) establish, engage, own, manage, operate, join or control, or participate in the establishment, ownership, management, operation or control of, or be a director, officer, employee, salesman, agent or representative of, or be a consultant to, any Company Competitor, now or in the future; or

 

(iii) except as required in the normal course of duties for the Company, request, induce or attempt to limit or influence any Company Client, employee, supplier or other business entity to limit, curtail, cancel or terminate any business it transacts with, or products it provides to or receives from, the Company.

 

The restrictions in this Section IV(c) shall not apply to your ownership of less than five percent of the issued and outstanding equity of a publicly-traded entity.

 

 

May 28, 2015
Page 10 of 14
   

 

(d) Non-Solicitation . During the term of this letter agreement and for a period of three years following the termination of your employment, you will not directly or indirectly at any time during the Term or thereafter, attempt to disrupt, damage, impair or interfere with the Company by raiding any of the Company’s employees or soliciting any of them to resign from their employment by the Company, or by disrupting the relationship between the Company and any of its consultants, agents or representatives. You acknowledge that this covenant is necessary to enable the Company to maintain a stable workforce and remain in business.

 

(e) Non-Disparagement . You shall not at any time disparage in any material respect the Company, any of their respective businesses, any of their respective officers, managers, members, directors or employees, or the reputation of any of the foregoing persons or entities, in each case, except to the extent required by law, and then only after consultation with the Company to the extent possible. The Company’s officers and directors shall not at any time disparage in any material respect you or your reputation, except to the extent required by law, and then only after consultation with the Company to the extent possible.

 

(f) Consideration . You expressly acknowledge that the covenants in this Section IV are a material part of the consideration bargained for by the Company and, without the agreement of you to be bound by these covenants, the Company would not have agreed to enter into this letter agreement.

 

(g) No Other Obligations . You represent that you are not precluded or limited in your ability to undertake or perform the duties described herein by any contract, agreement or restrictive covenant. You covenant that you shall not employ the trade secrets or proprietary information of any other person or entity in connection with your employment by NRC.

 

(h) Enforcement . You acknowledge and agree that, by virtue of your position, services and access to and use of Confidential Records and Confidential Information, any violation by you of any of the undertakings contained in this Section IV could cause the Company immediate, substantial and irreparable injury for which the Company have no adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, you agree and consent that the Company may seek to obtain the entry of an injunction or other equitable relief by a court of competent jurisdiction restraining any violation or threatened violation of any undertaking contained in this Section IV. Rights and remedies provided for in this Section IV are cumulative and shall be in addition to rights and remedies otherwise available to the Company hereunder or under any other agreement or applicable law.

 

(i) Survival and Independent Covenants . The provisions of this Section IV shall survive the termination of your employment with NRC. The covenants of this Section IV shall be enforceable regardless (i) of the reason for your termination, (ii) any breach of this letter agreement by the Company, or (iii) whether you have a claim against the Company thereof based on this letter agreement or otherwise to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

 

May 28, 2015
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(j) Cooperation with Regard to Litigation . Except to the extent that you have or intend to assert in good faith an interest or position adverse to or inconsistent with the interest or position of the Company, you agree to cooperate reasonably with the Company, during the term of this letter agreement and thereafter (including following your termination of employment for any reason), by making yourself available to testify on behalf of the Company in any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, and to assist the Company in any such action, suit, or proceeding, by providing information and meeting and consulting with the Company or their respective representatives or counsel, or representatives or counsel to the Company, in each case, as reasonably requested by the Company.

 

V. Withholding

 

All payments to be made to you under this letter agreement will be subject to required income and payroll tax withholdings and other legally required or customary deductions, all of which shall be consistent with the policies and practices of the Company.

 

VI. Miscellaneous

 

(a) Indemnification . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and the Company’s organizational documents, the Company shall promptly indemnify you for all amounts (including, without limitation, judgments, fines, settlement payments, losses, damages, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees)) incurred or paid by you in connection with any action, proceeding, suit or investigation arising out of or relating to your employment classification or the performance by you of services for the Company, including as a contractor, officer or employee of the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the provisions of this Section shall survive any termination of your employment. In addition, you will be entitled to be covered by the Company’s directors and officers liability policy, in the same manner and to the same extent as other current and former officers and directors of the Company.

 

(b) Term . This Agreement shall be effective as of the date written above (the “Effective Date”) and shall continue until terminated under Section III.

 

(c) Governing Law . This letter agreement is made under, and shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, the law of the State of New York, applicable to agreements made and to be performed solely therein, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.

 

(d) Venue . In any action between or among any of you and the Company arising out of this letter agreement (a) each of you and the Company irrevocably consents to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal and state courts located in (1) the City, County and State of New York, including the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, (collectively, the “New York City Courts”) and (2) Great River, New York, including the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (collectively, the “Long Island Courts”), (b) if any such action is commenced in a state court, then, subject to applicable law, no party hereto shall object to the removal of such action to any federal court located in the New York City Courts or Long Island Courts, (c) each of you and the Company irrevocably agrees to designate a service company located in the United States as its agent for service of process and consents to service of process by first class certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the address at which such party is located, and (d) the prevailing parties shall be entitled to recover their reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements from the other parties (in addition to any other relief to which the prevailing parties may be entitled). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Company initiates an action against you, the Company shall do so in the Long Island Courts and if you initiate an action against the Company, you shall do so in the New York Courts.

 

 

May 28, 2015
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(e) Waiver of a Jury Trial . You and the Company herby waive any right to trial by jury in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this letter agreement, whether now existing or hereafter arising, and whether sounding in contract, tort or otherwise. You and the Company agree that either may file a copy of this paragraph with any court as written evidence of the knowing, voluntary and bargained-for agreement irrevocably to waive trial by jury and that any action or proceeding whatsoever relating to this letter agreement shall instead be tried in a court of competent jurisdiction by a judge sitting without a jury.

 

(f) Binding Agreement . This letter agreement and all rights and obligations hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributes, devisees and legatees and assigns.

 

(g) Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally (notice deemed given upon receipt), telecopied (notice deemed given upon confirmation of receipt), emailed (notice deemed given upon confirmation of receipt) or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, such as Federal Express (notice deemed given upon delivery), to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

 

If to you: To your home address as listed in Company records at the time notice is given;

 

If to the Company: To its corporate headquarters at the time notice of given; or to such other address as the parties may furnish to each other in writing.

 

(h) Modification . No provision of this letter agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is in writing signed by the parties hereto.

 

 

May 28, 2015
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(i) Severability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this letter agreement; and, in the event that any one or more of the words, phrases, sentences, clauses, provisions, sections or articles contained in this letter agreement shall be declared invalid, this letter agreement shall be construed as if such invalid word or words, phrase or phrases, sentence or sentences, clause or clauses, provision or provisions, section or sections or article or articles had not been inserted and the remainder of this letter agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(j) Counterparts . This letter agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. A photocopy or electronic facsimile of this letter agreement or of any signature hereon shall be deemed and original for all purposes.

 

(k) Section 409A . The parties intend that any amounts payable hereunder comply with or are exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”) (including under Treasury Regulation §§ 1.409A-1(b)(4) (“short-term deferrals”) and (b)(9) (“separation pay plans,” including the exceptions under subparagraph (iii) and subparagraph (v)(D)) and other applicable provisions of Treasury Regulation §§ 1.409A-1 through A-6). For purposes of Section 409A, each of the payments that may be made under this Agreement shall be deemed to be a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A. This Agreement shall be administered, interpreted and construed in a manner that does not result in the imposition of additional taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A. The Company and you agree to negotiate in good faith to make amendments to the Agreement, as the parties mutually agree are necessary or desirable to avoid the imposition of taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A. Neither the Company nor you shall have the right to accelerate or defer the delivery of any such payments or benefits except to the extent specifically permitted or required by Section 409A. With respect to the time of payments of any amounts under the Agreement that are “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A, references in the Agreement to “termination of employment” (and substantially similar phrases) shall mean “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A. For the avoidance of doubt, it is intended that any expense reimbursement made to you hereunder shall be exempt from Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any expense reimbursement made hereunder shall be determined to be “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A, then (i) the amount of the indemnification payment or expense reimbursement during one taxable year shall not affect the amount of the expense reimbursement during any other taxable year, (ii) the expense reimbursement shall be made on or before the last day of your taxable year following the year in which the expense was incurred and (iii) the right to expense reimbursement hereunder shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 

-Signature Page Follows-

 

 

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This letter agreement supersedes any prior understandings, agreements, letters, or representations by or among the parties with respect to the employment of Paul Taveira by the NRC, whether written or oral, to the extent they are related in any way to the subject matter hereof.

 

Sincerely,  
   
JFL-NRC Holdings, LLC, on behalf of itself and the other members of the Company:  
     
By: /s/ C. Alexander Harman  
Name: C. Alexander Harman  
Title: Chairman  

 

  Agreed:    
       
  /s/ Paul Taveira   5/28/15
  Paul Taveira   Date:

 

Solely for purposes of Section II(d):    
   
JFL-NRC Partners, LLC  
     
By: /s/ C. Alexander Harman  
Name: C. Alexander Harman  
Title: Chairman  

 

 

 Exhibit 10.8

 

FORM OF

 

DIRECTOR AND OFFICER INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement, dated as of _____________ (this “ Agreement ”), is made by and between NRC Group Holdings Corp. (f/k/a Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III), a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and _____________________ (“ Indemnitee ”).

 

RECITALS:

 

A. Section 141 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that the business and affairs of a corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of its board of directors.

 

B. Pursuant to Sections 141 and 142 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, significant authority with respect to the management of the Company has been delegated to the officers of the Company.

 

C. By virtue of the managerial prerogatives vested in the directors and officers of a Delaware corporation, directors and officers act as fiduciaries of the corporation and its stockholders.

 

D. Thus, it is critically important to the Company and its stockholders that the Company be able to attract and retain the most capable persons reasonably available to serve as directors and officers of the Company.

 

E. In recognition of the need for corporations to be able to induce capable and responsible persons to accept positions in corporate management, Delaware law authorizes (and in some instances requires) corporations to indemnify their directors and officers, and further authorizes corporations to purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of their directors and officers.

 

F. The Delaware courts have recognized that indemnification by a corporation serves the dual policies of (1) allowing corporate officials to resist unjustified lawsuits, secure in the knowledge that, if vindicated, the corporation will bear the expense of litigation and (2) encouraging capable women and men to serve as corporate directors and officers, secure in the knowledge that the corporation will absorb the costs of defending their honesty and integrity.

 

G. The number of lawsuits challenging the judgment and actions of directors and officers of Delaware corporations, the costs of defending those lawsuits, and the threat to directors’ and officers’ personal assets have all materially increased over the past several years, chilling the willingness of capable women and men to undertake the responsibilities imposed on corporate directors and officers.

 

H. Federal legislation and rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the national securities exchanges have imposed additional disclosure and corporate governance obligations on directors and officers of public companies and have exposed such directors and officers to new and substantially broadened civil liabilities.

 

 

 

 

I. These legislative and regulatory initiatives have also exposed directors and officers of public companies to a significantly greater risk of criminal proceedings, with attendant defense costs and potential criminal fines and penalties.

 

J. Under Delaware law, a director’s or officer’s right to be reimbursed for the costs of defense of criminal actions, whether such claims are asserted under state or federal law, does not depend upon the merits of the claims asserted against the director or officer and is separate and distinct from any right to indemnification the director or officer may be able to establish, and indemnification of the director or officer against criminal fines and penalties is permitted if the director or officer satisfies the applicable standard of conduct.

 

K. Indemnitee is a director or officer of the Company and his or her willingness to serve in such capacity is predicated, in substantial part, upon the Company’s willingness to indemnify him or her in accordance with the principles reflected above, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the state of Delaware, and upon the other undertakings set forth in this Agreement.

 

L. Therefore, in recognition of the need to provide Indemnitee with substantial protection against personal liability, in order to procure Indemnitee’s continued service as a director or officer of the Company and to enhance Indemnitee’s ability to serve the Company in an effective manner, and in order to provide such protection pursuant to express contract rights (intended to be enforceable irrespective of, among other things, any amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws (collectively, the “ Constituent Documents ”), any change in the composition of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) or any change-in-control or business combination transaction relating to the Company), the Company wishes to provide in this Agreement for the indemnification of and the advancement of Expenses (as defined in Section 1(f) ) to Indemnitee as set forth in this Agreement and for the continued coverage of Indemnitee under the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies.

 

M. In light of the considerations referred to in the preceding recitals, it is the Company’s intention and desire that the provisions of this Agreement be construed liberally, subject to their express terms, to maximize the protections to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder.

 

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AGREEMENT:

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Certain Definitions . In addition to terms defined elsewhere herein, the following terms have the following meanings when used in this Agreement with initial capital letters:

 

(a) Change in Control :

 

(i) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (a “ person ”), including any “person” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of either (A) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “ Outstanding Common Stock ”) or (B) the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “ Outstanding Voting Securities ”); excluding, however, the following: (1) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding any acquisition resulting from the exercise of an exercise, conversion or exchange privilege unless the security being so exercised, converted or exchanged was acquired directly from the Company), (2) any acquisition by the Company, (3) any acquisition by an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of subsection (iii) of this Section 1(a) ; provided further, that for purposes of clause (2), if any person (other than the Company or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company) shall become the beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Outstanding Common Stock or 20% or more of the Outstanding Voting Securities by reason of an acquisition by the Company, and such person shall, after such acquisition by the Company, become the beneficial owner of any additional shares of the Outstanding Common Stock or any additional Outstanding Voting Securities and such beneficial ownership is publicly announced, such additional beneficial ownership shall constitute a Change in Control; or

 

(ii) the cessation of Incumbent Directors to comprise at least a majority of the Board; or

 

(iii) the consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “ Corporate Transaction ”); excluding, however, a Corporate Transaction pursuant to which (A) all or substantially all of the individuals or entities who are the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Common Stock and the Outstanding Voting Securities immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock, and the combined voting power of the outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns, directly or indirectly, the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets) in substantially the same proportions relative to each other as their ownership, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of the Outstanding Common Stock and the Outstanding Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no person (other than: the Company; any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction; and any person which beneficially owned, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of the Outstanding Common Stock or the Outstanding Voting Securities, as the case may be) will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction or the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (C) Incumbent Directors will constitute at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction; or

 

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(iv) the consummation of a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

(b) “ Claim ” means (i) any threatened, asserted, pending or completed claim, demand, arbitration, action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative, investigative or other, including any appeal therefrom, and whether made pursuant to federal, state or other law; and (ii) any threatened, pending or completed inquiry or investigation, whether made, instituted or conducted by the Company or any other person, including any federal, state or other governmental entity, that Indemnitee determines might lead to the institution of any such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding.

 

(c) “ Controlled Affiliate ” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity or enterprise, whether or not for profit, that is directly or indirectly controlled by the Company. For purposes of this definition, “ control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of an entity or enterprise, whether through the ownership of voting securities, through other voting rights, by contract or otherwise; provided that direct or indirect beneficial ownership of capital stock or other interests in an entity or enterprise entitling the holder to cast 20% or more of the total number of votes generally entitled to be cast in the election of directors (or persons performing comparable functions) of such entity or enterprise shall be deemed to constitute control for purposes of this definition.

 

(d) “ Disinterested Director ” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Claim in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(e) “ ERISA Losses ” means any taxes, penalties or other liabilities under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

(f) “ Expenses ” means attorneys’ and experts’ fees and expenses and all other costs and expenses paid or payable in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to investigate, defend, be a witness in or participate in (including on appeal), any Claim.

 

(g) “ Incumbent Directors ” means the individuals who, as of the date hereof, are directors of the Company and any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, or appointment, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the then Incumbent Directors (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination); provided, however, that an individual shall not be an Incumbent Director if such individual’s election or appointment to the Board occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest (as described in Rule 14a-12(c) of the Exchange Act) with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board.

 

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(h) “ Indemnifiable Claim ” means any Claim based upon, arising out of or resulting from (i) any actual, alleged or suspected act or failure to act by Indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity or enterprise, whether or not for profit (including any employee benefit plan or related trust), as to which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent, (ii) any actual, alleged or suspected act or failure to act by Indemnitee in respect of any business, transaction, communication, filing, disclosure or other activity of the Company or any other entity or enterprise referred to in clause (i) of this sentence, or (iii) Indemnitee’s status as a current or former director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a current or former director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of any other entity or enterprise referred to in clause (i) of this sentence or any actual, alleged or suspected act or failure to act by Indemnitee in connection with any obligation or restriction imposed upon Indemnitee by reason of such status. In addition to any service at the actual request of the Company, for purposes of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be deemed to be serving or to have served at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of another entity or enterprise if Indemnitee is or was serving as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of such entity or enterprise and (i) such entity or enterprise is or at the time of such service was a Controlled Affiliate, (ii) such entity or enterprise is or at the time of such service was an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or a Controlled Affiliate, or (iii) the Company or a Controlled Affiliate directly or indirectly caused or authorized Indemnitee to be nominated, elected, appointed, designated, employed, engaged or selected to serve in such capacity.

 

(i) “ Indemnifiable Losses ” means any and all Losses relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Indemnifiable Claim.

 

(j) “ Independent Counsel ” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent (i) the Company (or any Subsidiary) or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements) or (ii) any other named (or, as to a threatened matter, reasonably likely to be named) party to the Indemnifiable Claim giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

(k) “ Losses ” means any and all Expenses, damages, losses, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties (whether civil, criminal or other), ERISA Losses and amounts paid in settlement, including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of any of the foregoing.

 

(l) “ Subsidiary ” means an entity in which the Company directly or indirectly beneficially owns 50% or more of the outstanding Voting Stock.

 

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(m) “ Voting Stock ” means securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (or similar governing bodies).

 

2. Indemnification Obligation . Subject to Section 8 , the Company shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted or required by the laws of the State of Delaware in effect on the date hereof or as such laws may from time to time hereafter be amended to increase the scope of such permitted or required indemnification, against any and all Indemnifiable Claims and Indemnifiable Losses; provided , however , that (a) except as provided in Sections 4 and 22 , Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement in connection with any Claim initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or any director or officer of the Company unless the Company has joined in or consented to the initiation of such Claim and (b) no repeal or amendment of any law of the State of Delaware shall in any way diminish or adversely affect the rights of Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any occurrence or matter arising prior to any such repeal or amendment.

 

3. Advancement of Expenses . Indemnitee shall have the right to advancement by the Company prior to the final disposition of any Indemnifiable Claim of any and all Expenses relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Indemnifiable Claim paid or incurred by Indemnitee or which Indemnitee determines are reasonably likely to be paid or incurred by Indemnitee. Indemnitee’s right to such advancement is not subject to the satisfaction of any standard of conduct and is not conditioned upon any prior determination that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement with respect to the Indemnifiable Claim or the absence of any prior determination to the contrary. Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, within five business days after any request by Indemnitee, the Company shall, in accordance with such request (but without duplication), (a) pay such Expenses on behalf of Indemnitee, (b) advance to Indemnitee funds in an amount sufficient to pay such Expenses, or (c) reimburse Indemnitee for such Expenses; provided that Indemnitee shall repay, without interest any amounts actually advanced to Indemnitee that, at the final disposition of the Indemnifiable Claim to which the advance related, were in excess of amounts paid or payable by Indemnitee in respect of Expenses relating to, arising out of or resulting from such Indemnifiable Claim. In connection with any such payment, advancement or reimbursement, if delivery of an undertaking is a legally required condition precedent to such payment, advance or reimbursement, Indemnitee shall execute and deliver to the Company an undertaking in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (subject to Indemnitee filling in the blanks therein and selecting from among the bracketed alternatives therein), which need not be secured and shall be accepted without reference to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses. In no event shall Indemnitee’s right to the payment, advancement or reimbursement of Expenses pursuant to this Section 3 be conditioned upon any undertaking that is less favorable to Indemnitee than, or that is in addition to, the undertaking set forth in Exhibit A .

 

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4. Indemnification for Additional Expenses . Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall reimburse Indemnitee for, or advance to Indemnitee, within five business days of such request, any and all Expenses paid or incurred by Indemnitee or which Indemnitee determines are reasonably likely to be paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Claim made, instituted or conducted by Indemnitee for (a) indemnification or payment, advancement or reimbursement of Expenses by the Company under any provision of this Agreement, or under any other agreement or provision of the Constituent Documents now or hereafter in effect relating to Indemnifiable Claims, and/or (b) recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless in each case of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, reimbursement, advance or insurance recovery, as the case may be; provided , however , that Indemnitee shall return, without interest, any such advance of Expenses (or portion thereof) which remains unspent at the final disposition of the Claim to which the advance related.

 

5. Contribution . To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law in effect on the date hereof or as such law may from time to time hereafter be amended to increase the scope of permitted or required indemnification, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the payment of any and all Indemnifiable Claims or Indemnifiable Losses, in such proportion as is fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its other directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s); provided that such contribution shall not be required where it is determined, pursuant to a final disposition of such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss in accordance with Section 8 , that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification by the Company with respect to such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss.

 

6. Partial Indemnity . If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of any Indemnifiable Loss, but not for all of the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

7. Procedure for Notification . To obtain indemnification under this Agreement in respect of an Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request therefor, including a brief description (based upon information then available to Indemnitee) of such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss. If, at the time of the receipt of such request, the Company has directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in effect under which coverage for such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss is potentially available, the Company shall give prompt written notice of such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss to the applicable insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the applicable policies. The Company shall provide to Indemnitee a copy of such notice delivered to the applicable insurers, and copies of all subsequent correspondence between the Company and such insurers regarding the Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss, in each case substantially concurrently with the delivery or receipt thereof by the Company. The failure by Indemnitee to timely notify the Company of any Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss shall not relieve the Company from any liability hereunder unless, and only to the extent that, the Company did not otherwise learn of such Indemnifiable Claim or Indemnifiable Loss and such failure results in forfeiture by the Company of substantial defenses, rights or insurance coverage.

 

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8. Determination of Right to Indemnification .

 

(a) To the extent that Indemnitee shall have been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Indemnifiable Claim or any portion thereof or in defense of any issue or matter therein, including dismissal without prejudice, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against Indemnifiable Losses relating to, arising out of or resulting from such Indemnifiable Claim in accordance with Section 2 and no Standard of Conduct Determination (as defined in Section 8(c) ) shall be required.

 

(b) After a Change in Control (other than a Change in Control approved by a majority of the Board (including a majority of Incumbent Directors), the determination of whether Indemnitee has satisfied any applicable standard of conduct under Delaware law that is a legally required condition precedent to indemnification of Indemnitee hereunder shall be made by Independent Counsel, selected by the Board, subject to the consent of Indemnitee, which consent shall only be withheld if Independent Counsel selected by the Board does not meet the requirements set forth in the definition of “ Independent Counsel .” With respect to all matters arising from such a Change in Control concerning the rights of the Indemnitee to indemnity payments and Expense advances under this agreement or any other agreement or under applicable law or the Constituent Documents now or hereafter in effect relating to indemnification for purported Indemnifiable Claims, the Company shall seek legal advice only from Independent Counsel. Such counsel, among other things, shall render its written opinion to the Board and Indemnitee as to whether and to what extent the Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable law.

 

(c) To the extent that the provisions of Section 8(a) and Section 8(b) are inapplicable to an Indemnifiable Claim that shall have been finally disposed of, any determination of whether Indemnitee has satisfied any applicable standard of conduct under Delaware law that is a legally required condition precedent to indemnification of Indemnitee hereunder against Indemnifiable Losses relating to, arising out of or resulting from such Indemnifiable Claim (a “ Standard of Conduct Determination ”) shall be made as follows: (i) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even if less than a quorum of the Board; (ii) if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by a majority vote of a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of all Disinterested Directors; or (iii) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or if Indemnitee so requests, by Independent Counsel, selected by the Indemnitee and approved by the Board (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), in a written opinion addressed to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee. Indemnitee will cooperate with the person or persons making such Standard of Conduct Determination, including providing to such person or persons, upon reasonable advance request, any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall reimburse Indemnitee for, or advance to Indemnitee, within five business days of such request, any and all costs and expenses (including attorneys’ and experts’ fees and expenses) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person or persons making such Standard of Conduct Determination.

 

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(d) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause any Standard of Conduct Determination required under Section 8(c) to be made as promptly as practicable. If (i) the person or persons empowered or selected under Section 8(c) to make the Standard of Conduct Determination shall not have made a determination within 30 days after the later of (A) receipt by the Company of written notice from Indemnitee advising the Company of the final disposition of the applicable Indemnifiable Claim (the date of such receipt being the “ Notification Date ”) and (B) the selection of an Independent Counsel, if such determination is to be made by Independent Counsel, and (ii) Indemnitee shall have fulfilled his or her obligations set forth in the second sentence of Section 8(c) , then Indemnitee shall be deemed to have satisfied the applicable standard of conduct; provided that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional 30 days, if the person or persons making such determination in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluation or documentation and/or information relating thereto.

 

(e) If (i) Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification hereunder against any Indemnifiable Losses pursuant to Section 8(a) , (ii) no determination of whether Indemnitee has satisfied any applicable standard of conduct under Delaware law is a legally required condition precedent to indemnification of Indemnitee hereunder against any Indemnifiable Losses, or (iii) Indemnitee has been determined or deemed pursuant to Section 8(c) or (d) to have satisfied any applicable standard of conduct under Delaware law which is a legally required condition precedent to indemnification of Indemnitee hereunder against any Indemnifiable Losses, then the Company shall pay to Indemnitee, within five business days after the later of (x) the Notification Date in respect of the Indemnifiable Claim or portion thereof to which such Indemnifiable Losses are related, out of which such Indemnifiable Losses arose or from which such Indemnifiable Losses resulted, and (y) the earliest date on which the applicable criterion specified in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above shall have been satisfied, an amount equal to the amount of such Indemnifiable Losses.

 

9. Presumption of Entitlement .

 

(a) In making any Standard of Conduct Determination, the person or persons making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee has satisfied the applicable standard of conduct, and the Company may overcome such presumption only by its adducing clear and convincing evidence to the contrary. Any Standard of Conduct Determination that is adverse to Indemnitee may be challenged by Indemnitee in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. No determination by the Company (including by its directors or any Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not satisfied any applicable standard of conduct shall be a defense to any Claim by Indemnitee for indemnification or reimbursement or advance payment of Expenses by the Company hereunder or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard of conduct.

 

(b) Without limiting the generality or effect of Section 9(a) , (i) to the extent that any Indemnifiable Claim relates to any entity or enterprise referred to in clause (i) of the first sentence of the definition of “ Indemnifiable Claim ,” Indemnitee shall be deemed to have satisfied the applicable standard of conduct if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the interests of such entity or enterprise (or the owners or beneficiaries thereof, including in the case of any employee benefit plan the participants and beneficiaries thereof) and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful, and (ii) in all cases, any belief of Indemnitee that is based on the records or books of account of the Company, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or officers of the Company in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Company, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director, or on information or records given or reports made to the Company, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected by or on behalf of the Company, its Board, any committee of the Board or any director shall be deemed to be reasonable.

 

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10. No Adverse Presumption . For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any Claim by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, will not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any applicable standard of conduct or that indemnification hereunder is otherwise not permitted.

 

11. Non-Exclusivity . The rights of Indemnitee hereunder will be in addition to any other rights Indemnitee may have under the Constituent Documents, or the substantive laws of the Company’s jurisdiction of incorporation, any other contract or otherwise (collectively, “ Other Indemnity Provisions ”); provided , however , that (a) to the extent that Indemnitee otherwise would have any greater right to indemnification under any Other Indemnity Provision, Indemnitee will be deemed to have such greater right hereunder and (b) to the extent that any change is made to any Other Indemnity Provision which permits any greater right to indemnification than that provided under this Agreement as of the date hereof, Indemnitee will be deemed to have such greater right hereunder. If the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under certain agreements containing indemnity provisions with another entity or protections under the organization documents of such other entity, the Company is still wholly liable for making any indemnification payments for all Indemnifiable Claims or Indemnifiable Losses notwithstanding the payment obligation of such amounts by a third party to the Indemnitee. The Company will not adopt any amendment to any of the Constituent Documents the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber Indemnitee’s right to indemnification under this Agreement or any Other Indemnity Provision.

 

12. Liability Insurance and Funding . For the duration of Indemnitee’s service as a director and/or officer of the Company, and thereafter for so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any pending or possible Indemnifiable Claim, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts (taking into account the scope and amount of coverage available relative to the cost thereof) to cause to be maintained in effect policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing coverage for directors and/or officers of the Company that is at least substantially comparable in scope and amount to that provided by the Company’s current policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. The Company shall provide Indemnitee with a copy of all directors’ and officers’ liability insurance applications, binders, policies, declarations, endorsements and other related materials, and shall provide Indemnitee with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the same. Without limiting the generality or effect of the two immediately preceding sentences, the Company shall not discontinue or significantly reduce the scope or amount of coverage from one policy period to the next (a) without the prior approval thereof by a majority vote of the Incumbent Directors, even if less than a quorum, or (b) if at the time that any such discontinuation or significant reduction in the scope or amount of coverage is proposed there are no Incumbent Directors, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). In all policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance obtained by the Company, Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and benefits, subject to the same limitations, as are accorded to the Company’s directors and officers most favorably insured by such policy. The Company may, but shall not be required to, create a trust fund, grant a security interest or use other means, including a letter of credit, to ensure the payment of such amounts as may be necessary to satisfy its obligations to indemnify and advance expenses pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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13. Subrogation . In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the related rights of recovery of Indemnitee against other persons or entities (other than Indemnitee’s successors), including any entity or enterprise referred to in clause (i) of the definition of “ Indemnifiable Claim ” in Section 1(h) . Indemnitee shall execute all papers reasonably required to evidence such rights (all of Indemnitee’s reasonable Expenses, including attorneys’ fees and charges, related thereto to be reimbursed by or, at the option of Indemnitee, advanced by the Company).

 

14. No Duplication of Payments . The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment to Indemnitee in respect of any Indemnifiable Losses to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment (net of any Expenses incurred in connection therewith and any repayment by Indemnitee made with respect thereto) under any insurance policy, the Constituent Documents and Other Indemnity Provisions or otherwise (including from any entity or enterprise referred to in clause (i) of the definition of “ Indemnifiable Claim ” in Section 1(h) ) in respect of such Indemnifiable Losses otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.

 

15. Defense of Claims . The Company shall be entitled to participate in the defense of any Indemnifiable Claim or to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee; provided that if Indemnitee believes, after consultation with counsel selected by Indemnitee, that (a) the use of counsel chosen by the Company to represent Indemnitee would present such counsel with an actual or potential conflict, (b) the named parties in any such Indemnifiable Claim (including any impleaded parties) include both the Company and Indemnitee and Indemnitee shall conclude that there may be one or more legal defenses available to him or her that are different from or in addition to those available to the Company, or (c) any such representation by such counsel would be precluded under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to retain separate counsel (but not more than one law firm plus, if applicable, local counsel in respect of any particular Indemnifiable Claim) at the Company’s expense. The Company shall not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any threatened or pending Indemnifiable Claim effected without the Company’s prior written consent. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee, effect any settlement of any threatened or pending Indemnifiable Claim to which Indemnitee is, or could have been, a party unless such settlement solely involves the payment of money and includes a complete and unconditional release of Indemnitee from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such Indemnifiable Claim. Neither the Company nor Indemnitee shall unreasonably withhold its consent to any proposed settlement; provided that Indemnitee may withhold consent to any settlement that does not provide a complete and unconditional release of Indemnitee.

 

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16. Liability of Company . Indemnitee agrees that neither the stockholders nor the directors nor any officer, employee, representative or agent of the Company shall be personally liable for the satisfaction of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement and Indemnitee shall look solely to the assets of the Company for satisfaction of any claims hereunder.

 

17. Successors and Binding Agreement .

 

(a) The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee and his or her counsel, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor to the Company, including any person acquiring directly or indirectly all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise (and such successor will thereafter be deemed the “ Company ” for purposes of this Agreement), but shall not otherwise be assignable or delegable by the Company.

 

(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Indemnitee’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, legatees and other successors.

 

(c) This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the parties hereto shall, without the consent of the other, assign or delegate this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder except as expressly provided in Sections 17(a) and 17(b) . Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, Indemnitee’s right to receive payments hereunder shall not be assignable, whether by pledge, creation of a security interest or otherwise, other than by a transfer by Indemnitee’s will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and, in the event of any attempted assignment or transfer contrary to this Section 17(c) , the Company shall have no liability to pay any amount so attempted to be assigned or transferred.

 

18. Notices . For all purposes of this Agreement, all communications, including notices, consents, requests or approvals, required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when hand delivered or on the date sent if delivered by email so long as such communication is furnished to a nationally recognized overnight courier for next business day delivery or five business days after having been mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid or one business day after having been sent for next-day delivery by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Company (to the attention of the secretary of the Company) and to Indemnitee at the applicable address shown on the signature page hereto, or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing and in accordance herewith, except that notices of changes of address will be effective only upon receipt.

 

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19. Governing Law . The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws of such State. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware for all purposes in connection with any action or proceeding which arises out of or relates to this Agreement and agree that any action instituted under this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware.

 

20. Validity . If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any provision hereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected, and the provision so held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal shall be reformed to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to make it enforceable, valid or legal. In the event that any court or other adjudicative body shall decline to reform any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal as contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence, the parties thereto shall take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate to replace the provision so held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal with one or more alternative provisions that effectuate the purpose and intent of the original provisions of this Agreement as fully as possible without being invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal.

 

21. Miscellaneous . No provision of this Agreement may be waived, modified or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by Indemnitee and the Company. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto or compliance with any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, expressed or implied with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party that are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. References to Sections are references to Sections of this Agreement.

 

22. Legal Fees and Expenses; Interest .

 

(a) It is the intent of the Company that Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees and/or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to Indemnitee hereunder. Accordingly, without limiting the generality or effect of any other provision hereof, if it should appear to Indemnitee that the Company has failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 3 ) or in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, the Company irrevocably authorizes Indemnitee from time to time to retain counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, at the expense of the Company as hereafter provided, to advise and represent Indemnitee in connection with any such interpretation, enforcement or defense, including the initiation or defense of any litigation or other legal action, whether by or against the Company or any director, officer, stockholder or other person affiliated with the Company, in any jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any existing or prior attorney-client relationship between the Company and such counsel, the Company irrevocably consents to Indemnitee’s entering into an attorney-client relationship with such counsel, and in that connection the Company and Indemnitee agree that a confidential relationship shall exist between Indemnitee and such counsel. Without respect to whether Indemnitee prevails, in whole or in part, in connection with any of the foregoing, the Company will pay and be solely financially responsible for any and all attorneys’ and related fees and expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any of the foregoing to the fullest extent permitted or required by the laws of the State of Delaware in effect on the date hereof or as such laws may from time to time hereafter be amended to increase the scope of such permitted or required payment of such fees and expenses.

 

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(b) Any amount due to Indemnitee under this Agreement that is not paid by the Company by the date on which it is due will accrue interest at the maximum legal rate under Delaware law from the date on which such amount is due to the date on which such amount is paid to Indemnitee.

 

23. Certain Interpretive Matters . Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, (a) “it” or “its” or words of any gender include each other gender, (b) words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively, (c) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement, (d) the terms “Article,” “Section,” “Annex” or “Exhibit” refer to the specified Article, Section, Annex or Exhibit of or to this Agreement, (e) the terms “include,” “includes” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation” (whether or not so expressed), and (f) the word “or” is disjunctive but not exclusive. Whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, such number will refer to calendar days unless business days are specified and whenever action must be taken (including the giving of notice or the delivery of documents) under this Agreement during a certain period of time or by a particular date that ends or occurs on a non-business day, then such period or date will be extended until the immediately following business day. As used herein, “business day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or a United States federal holiday. Any reference to a law shall include any amendment thereof or any successor thereto and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Any reference to a contract is a reference to it as amended, modified and supplemented from time to time.

 

24. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

[Signatures Appear on Following Page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Indemnitee has executed and the Company has caused its duly authorized representative to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

  NRC GROUP HOLDINGS CORP.
     
  By:                         
  Name:                       
  Title:  

 

  Indemnitee:  
  Address:  
     
     
     
   
  Signature

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

UNDERTAKING

 

This Undertaking is submitted pursuant to the Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement, dated as of ________________, _________ (the “ Indemnification Agreement ”), between NRC Group Holdings Corp. (f/k/a Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III), a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and the undersigned. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indemnification Agreement.

 

The undersigned hereby requests [payment] , [advancement] , [reimbursement] by the Company of Expenses which the undersigned [has incurred] [reasonably expects to incur] in connection with ____________________ (the “ Indemnifiable Claim ”).

 

The undersigned hereby undertakes to repay the [payment] , [advancement ], [reimbursement] of Expenses made by the Company to or on behalf of the undersigned in response to the foregoing request if it is determined, following the final disposition of the Indemnifiable Claim and in accordance with Section 8 of the Indemnification Agreement, that the undersigned is not entitled to indemnification by the Company under the Indemnification Agreement with respect to the Indemnifiable Claim.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Undertaking as of this ________ day of ___________________, ______.

 

   
  [Indemnitee]

 

 

Exhibit 10.9

 

NRC GROUP HOLDINGS CORP.
2018 EQUITY AND INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

 

1. Purpose. The purpose of this Plan is to attract and retain non-employee Directors, officers and other employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and certain other service providers to the Company and its Subsidiaries, and to provide to such persons incentives and rewards for service and/or performance.

 

2. Definitions. As used in this Plan:

 

(a) “ Appreciation Right ” means a right granted pursuant to Section 5 of this Plan.

 

(b) “ Base Price ” means the price to be used as the basis for determining the Spread upon the exercise of an Appreciation Right.

 

(c) “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(d) “ Cash Incentive Award ” means a cash award granted pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan.

 

(e) “ Cause ” means, unless otherwise defined in the applicable Evidence of Award or the Participant’s employment agreement, (i) the indictment (or other criminal charge against the Participant) for a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude, or the Participant’s commission of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, theft, embezzlement or crime against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates or any of their customers, (ii) conduct by the Participant that brings the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates into public disgrace or disrepute, (iii) the Participant’s gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates or in the performance of Participant’s duties and services required for Participant’s position with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, which, if curable, is not cured within ten days after written notice thereof to Participant, (iv) the Participant’s insubordination to, or failure to follow, the lawful directions of the person to whom such person directly reports, which, if curable, is not cured within ten days after written notice thereof to the Participant, (v) the Participant’s material violation of any restrictive covenant agreement with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates, (vi) the Participant’s breach of any material agreement with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates or any material employment policy of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates which, if curable, is not cured within ten days after written notice thereof to the Participant (including, without limitation, the Company’s code of ethics and insider trading policy), or (vii) the abuse of any controlled substance or of alcohol or any other non-controlled substance which the Company determines renders the Participant unfit to serve in the Participant’s capacity as an employee or service provider of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates.

 

(f) “ Change in Control ” has the meaning set forth in Section 12 of this Plan.

 

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

 

 

 

(h) “ Committee ” means the Compensation Committee of the Board (or its successor(s)), or any other committee of the Board designated by the Board to administer this Plan pursuant to Section 10 of this Plan, and to the extent of any delegation by the Committee to a subcommittee pursuant to Section 10 of this Plan, such subcommittee, in each case, consisting of two or more members of the Board, each of whom is intended to be (i) a “Non-Employee Director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and (ii) “independent” within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE or, if the Common Stock is not listed on the NYSE, within the meaning of the rules of the principal stock exchange on which the Common Stock is then traded.

 

(i) “ Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company or any security into which such common stock may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type referred to in Section 11 of this Plan.

 

(j) “ Company ” means NRC Group Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

 

(k) “ Date of Grant ” means the date provided for by the Committee on which a grant of Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Cash Incentive Awards, or other awards contemplated by Section 9 of this Plan, or a grant or sale of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or other awards contemplated by Section 9 of this Plan, will become effective (which date will not be earlier than the date on which the Committee takes action with respect thereto).

 

(l) “ Director ” means a member of the Board.

 

(m) “ Disability ” means, unless otherwise defined in the applicable Evidence of Award or the Participant’s employment agreement, (i) the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or (ii) the Participant is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company or, if applicable, any Subsidiary.

 

(n) “ Effective Date ” means the date this Plan is approved by the Stockholders.

 

(o) “ Evidence of Award ” means an agreement, certificate, resolution or other type or form of writing or other evidence approved by the Committee that sets forth the terms and conditions of the awards granted under this Plan. An Evidence of Award may be in an electronic medium, may be limited to notation on the books and records of the Company and, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, need not be signed by a representative of the Company or a Participant.

 

(p) “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as such law, rules and regulations may be amended from time to time.

 

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(q) “ Incentive Stock Option ” means an Option Right that is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.

 

(r) “ Management Objectives ” means the performance objective or objectives established pursuant to this Plan, which shall be satisfied or met (i) as a condition to the grant or exercisability of all or a portion of an award or (ii) as a condition to the vesting of the holder’s interest in the shares of Common Stock subject to an award or of payment with respect to an award, which objectives shall include, but not be limited to, the following performance objectives measured on a Company, Subsidiary, business, operating unit or individual basis: cash flow; free cash flow; operating cash flow; earnings; market share; economic value added; achievement of annual operating budget; profits; profit contribution margins; profits before taxes; profits after taxes; operating profit; return on assets; return on investment; return on equity; return on invested capital; gross sales; net sales; sales volume; stock price; total stockholder return; dividend ratio; price-to-earnings ratio; expense targets; operating efficiency; customer satisfaction metrics; working capital targets; the achievement of certain target levels of innovation and/or development of products; measures related to acquisitions or divestitures or the formation or dissolution of joint ventures; corporate bond rating by credit agencies; debt to equity or leverage ratios; or other performance measures determined by the Committee. If the Committee determines that a change in the business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Company, or the manner in which it conducts its business, or other events or circumstances render the Management Objectives unsuitable, the Committee may in its discretion modify such Management Objectives or the acceptable levels of achievement, in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate and equitable.

 

(s) “ Market Value per Share ” s hall be based on the opening, closing, actual, high, low, or average selling prices of a Share reported on the NYSE or such other established stock exchange on which the Shares are principally traded on the applicable date, the preceding trading day, the next succeeding trading day, or an average of trading days, as determined by the Committee in its discretion. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be equal to the reported closing price of a Share on the date as of which such value is being determined or, if there shall be no reported transactions for such date, on the preceding date for which transactions were reported; provided, however, that if the Shares are not publicly traded at the time a determination of their value is required to be made hereunder, the determination of their Fair Market Value shall be made by the Committee in such manner as it deems appropriate and in accordance with Section 409A of the Code.

 

(t) “ NYSE ” means the New York Stock Exchange.

 

(u) “ Optionee ” means the optionee named in an Evidence of Award evidencing an outstanding Option Right.

 

(v) “ Option Price ” means the purchase price payable on exercise of an Option Right.

 

(w) “ Option Right ” means the right to purchase shares of Common Stock upon exercise of an award granted pursuant to Section 4 of this Plan.

 

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(x) “ Participant ” means a person who is selected by the Committee to receive benefits under this Plan and who is at the time (i) a non-employee Director, (ii) an officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, including a person who has agreed to commence serving in such capacity within 90 days of the Date of Grant, or (iii) a service provider, including a consultant, who provides services to the Company or any Subsidiary that are equivalent to those typically provided by an employee (provided that such person satisfies the Form S-8 definition of an “employee”).

 

(y) “ Performance Period ” means any period designated by the Committee during which (i) the Management Objectives applicable to an award shall be measured and (ii) the conditions to vesting applicable to an award shall remain in effect.

 

(z) “ Performance Share ” means a bookkeeping entry that records the equivalent of one share of Common Stock awarded pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan.

 

(aa) “ Performance Unit ” means a bookkeeping entry awarded pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan that records a unit equivalent to $1.00 or such other value as is determined by the Committee.

 

(bb) “ Person ” means any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act).

 

(cc) “ Plan ” means this NRC Group Holding Corp. 2018 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended or amended and restated from time to time.

 

(dd) “ Restricted Stock ” means shares of Common Stock granted or sold pursuant to Section 6 of this Plan as to which neither the substantial risk of forfeiture nor the prohibition on transfers has expired.

 

(ee) “ Restricted Stock Units ” means an award made pursuant to Section 7 of this Plan of the right to receive shares of Common Stock (or, to the extent specified in the Evidence of Award, cash or a combination thereof) at the end of the applicable Restriction Period.

 

(ff) “ Restriction Period ” means any period designated by the Committee during which (i) the Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or disposed of, except as provided in this Plan or the Evidence of Award, or (ii) the conditions to vesting applicable to an award shall remain in effect.

 

(gg) “ Spread ” means the excess of the Market Value per Share on the date when an Appreciation Right is exercised over the Base Price provided for with respect to the Appreciation Right.

 

(hh) “ Stockholder ” means an individual or entity that owns one or more shares of Common Stock.

 

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(ii) “ Subsidiary ” means a corporation, company or other entity (i) more than 50% of whose outstanding shares or securities (representing the right to vote for the election of directors or other managing authority) are, or (ii) which does not have outstanding shares or securities (as may be the case in a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, unincorporated association or other similar entity), but more than 50% of whose ownership interest representing the right generally to make decisions for such other entity is, now or hereafter, owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company; provided , however , that for purposes of determining whether any person may be a Participant for purposes of any grant of Incentive Stock Options, “Subsidiary” means any corporation in which the Company at the time owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the total combined Voting Power represented by all classes of stock issued by such corporation.

 

(jj) “ Voting Power ” means, at any time, the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors in the case of the Company or members of the board of directors or similar body in the case of another entity.

 

3. Shares Available Under this Plan.

 

(a) Maximum Shares Available Under this Plan .

 

(i) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 of this Plan and the share counting rules set forth in Section 3(b) of this Plan, the number of shares of Common Stock available under this Plan for awards will not exceed in the aggregate 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock. Such shares may be shares of original issuance or treasury shares or a combination of the foregoing.

 

(ii) The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan will be reduced by one share of Common Stock for every one share of Common Stock subject to an award granted under this Plan.

 

(b) Share Counting Rules .

 

(i) Except as provided in Section 22 of this Plan, if any award granted under this Plan is cancelled or forfeited, expires, is settled for cash (in whole or in part), or is unearned (in whole or in part), the shares of Common Stock subject to such award will, to the extent of such cancellation, forfeiture, expiration, cash settlement, or unearned amount, again be available under Section 3(a)(i) above.

 

(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan: (A) shares of Common Stock withheld by the Company, tendered or otherwise used in payment of the Option Price of an Option Right will not be added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan; (B) shares of Common Stock withheld by the Company, tendered or otherwise used to satisfy tax withholding will not be added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan; (C) shares of Common Stock subject to an Appreciation Right that are not actually issued in connection with the settlement of such Appreciation Right on the exercise thereof will not be added back to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan; and (D) shares of Common Stock reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise using cash proceeds from the exercise of Option Rights will not be added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan.

 

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(iii) If, under this Plan, a Participant has elected to give up the right to receive compensation in exchange for shares of Common Stock based on fair market value, such shares of Common Stock will not count against the aggregate limit under Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations.

 

(c) Limit on Incentive Stock Options . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 3 or elsewhere in this Plan, and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 of this Plan, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock actually issued or transferred by the Company upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will not exceed 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock.

 

(d) Non-Employee Director Compensation Limit . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 3 or elsewhere in this Plan, and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 of this Plan, in no event will any non-employee Director in any calendar year be granted compensation for such service having an aggregate maximum value (measured at the Date of Grant as applicable, and calculating the value of any awards based on the grant date fair value for financial reporting purposes) in excess of $600,000.

 

4. Option Rights. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting to Participants of Option Rights. Each such grant may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

 

(a) Each grant will specify the number of shares of Common Stock to which it pertains.

 

(b) Each grant will specify an Option Price per share of Common Stock, which Option Price (except with respect to awards under Section 22 of this Plan) may not be less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.

 

(c) Each grant will specify whether the Option Price will be payable (i) in cash, by check acceptable to the Company or by wire transfer of immediately available funds, (ii) by the actual or constructive transfer to the Company of shares of Common Stock owned by the Optionee having a value at the time of exercise equal to the total Option Price, (iii) subject to any conditions or limitations established by the Committee, by the withholding of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon exercise of an Option Right pursuant to a “net exercise” arrangement (it being understood that, solely for purposes of determining the number of treasury shares held by the Company, the shares of Common Stock so withheld will not be treated as issued and acquired by the Company upon such exercise), (iv) by a combination of such methods of payment, or (v) by such other methods as may be approved by the Committee.

 

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(d) To the extent permitted by law, any grant may provide for deferred payment of the Option Price from the proceeds of sale through a bank or broker on a date satisfactory to the Company of some or all of the shares of Common Stock to which such exercise relates.

 

(e) Successive grants may be made to the same Participant whether or not any Option Rights previously granted to such Participant remain unexercised.

 

(f) Each grant will specify the period or periods of continuous service by the Optionee with the Company or any Subsidiary, if any, that is necessary before any Option Rights or installments thereof will become exercisable. Option Rights may provide for continued vesting or the earlier exercise of such Option Rights, including in the event of the retirement, death or disability of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.

 

(g) Any grant of Option Rights may specify Management Objectives that must be achieved as a condition to the exercise of such rights.

 

(h) Option Rights granted under this Plan may be (i) options, including Incentive Stock Options, that are intended to qualify under particular provisions of the Code, (ii) options that are not intended to so qualify, or (iii) combinations of the foregoing. Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to Participants who meet the definition of “employees” under Section 3401(c) of the Code. Each Option Right, or portion thereof, that is not an Incentive Stock Option, shall be a nonstatutory Option Right.

 

(i) No Option Right will be exercisable more than 10 years from the Date of Grant. The Committee may provide in any Evidence of Award for the automatic exercise of an Option Right upon such terms and conditions as established by the Committee.

 

(j) Option Rights granted under this Plan may not provide for any dividends or dividend equivalents thereon.

 

(k) Each grant of Option Rights will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.

 

5. Appreciation Rights.

 

(a) The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting to any Participant of Appreciation Rights. An Appreciation Right will be the right of the Participant to receive from the Company an amount determined by the Committee, which will be expressed as a percentage of the Spread (not exceeding 100%) at the time of exercise.

 

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(b) Each grant of Appreciation Rights may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

 

(i) Each grant may specify that the amount payable on exercise of an Appreciation Right will be paid by the Company in cash, shares of Common Stock or any combination thereof.

 

(ii) Any grant may specify that the amount payable on exercise of an Appreciation Right may not exceed a maximum amount specified by the Committee on the Date of Grant.

 

(iii) Any grant may specify waiting periods before exercise and permissible exercise dates or periods.

 

(iv) Each grant will specify the period or periods of continuous service by the Participant with the Company or any Subsidiary, if any, that is necessary before the Appreciation Rights or installments thereof will become exercisable. Appreciation Rights may provide for continued vesting or the earlier exercise of such Appreciation Rights, including in the event of the retirement, death or disability of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.

 

(v) Any grant of Appreciation Rights may specify Management Objectives that must be achieved as a condition of the exercise of such Appreciation Rights.

 

(vi) Appreciation Rights granted under this Plan may not provide for any dividends or dividend equivalents thereon.

 

(vii) Successive grants of Appreciation Rights may be made to the same Participant regardless of whether any Appreciation Rights previously granted to the Participant remain unexercised.

 

(viii) Each grant of Appreciation Rights will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.

 

(c) Also, regarding Appreciation Rights:

 

(i) Each grant will specify in respect of each Appreciation Right a Base Price, which (except with respect to awards under Section 22 of this Plan) may not be less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.

 

(ii) No Appreciation Right granted under this Plan may be exercised more than 10 years from the Date of Grant. The Committee may provide in any Evidence of Award for the automatic exercise of an Appreciation Right upon such terms and conditions as established by the Committee.

 

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6. Restricted Stock. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the grant or sale of Restricted Stock to Participants. Each such grant or sale may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

 

(a) Each such grant or sale will constitute an immediate transfer of the ownership of shares of Common Stock to the Participant in consideration of the performance of services, entitling such Participant to voting, dividend and other ownership rights, but subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer hereinafter described.

 

(b) Each such grant or sale may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by such Participant that is less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.

 

(c) Each such grant or sale will provide that the Restricted Stock covered by such grant or sale will be subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” within the meaning of Section 83 of the Code for a period to be determined by the Committee on the Date of Grant or until achievement of Management Objectives referred to in Section 6(e) of this Plan.

 

(d) Each such grant or sale will provide that during or after the period for which such substantial risk of forfeiture is to continue, the transferability of the Restricted Stock will be prohibited or restricted in the manner and to the extent prescribed by the Committee on the Date of Grant (which restrictions may include rights of repurchase or first refusal of the Company or provisions subjecting the Restricted Stock to a continuing substantial risk of forfeiture while held by any transferee).

 

(e) Any grant of Restricted Stock may specify Management Objectives that, if achieved, will result in termination or early termination of the restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock.

 

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, Restricted Stock may provide for continued vesting or the earlier termination of restrictions on such Restricted Stock, including in the event of the retirement, death or disability of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.

 

(g) Any such grant or sale of Restricted Stock will require that any and all dividends or other distributions paid thereon during the period of such restrictions be automatically deferred and/or reinvested in additional Restricted Stock, which will be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying award. For the avoidance of doubt, any such dividends or other distributions on Restricted Stock will be deferred until, and paid contingent upon, the vesting of such Restricted Stock.

 

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(h) Each grant or sale of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve. Unless otherwise directed by the Committee, (i) all certificates representing Restricted Stock will be held in custody by the Company until all restrictions thereon will have lapsed, together with a stock power or powers executed by the Participant in whose name such certificates are registered, endorsed in blank and covering such shares or (ii) all Restricted Stock will be held at the Company’s transfer agent in book entry form with appropriate restrictions relating to the transfer of such Restricted Stock.

 

7. Restricted Stock Units. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting or sale of Restricted Stock Units to Participants. Each such grant or sale may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

 

(a) Each such grant or sale will constitute the agreement by the Company to deliver shares of Common Stock or cash, or a combination thereof, to the Participant in the future in consideration of the performance of services, but subject to the fulfillment of such conditions (which may include the achievement of Management Objectives) during the Restriction Period as the Committee may specify.

 

(b) Each such grant or sale may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by such Participant that is less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, Restricted Stock Units may provide for continued vesting or the earlier lapse or other modification of the Restriction Period, including in the event of the retirement, death or disability of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.

 

(d) During the Restriction Period, the Participant will have no right to transfer any rights under his or her award and will have no rights of ownership in the shares of Common Stock deliverable upon payment of the Restricted Stock Units and will have no right to vote them, but the Committee may, at or after the Date of Grant, authorize the payment of dividend equivalents on such Restricted Stock Units on a deferred and contingent basis, either in cash or in additional shares of Common Stock; provided , however , that dividend equivalents or other distributions on shares of Common Stock underlying Restricted Stock Units will be deferred until and paid contingent upon the vesting of such Restricted Stock Units.

 

(e) Each grant or sale of Restricted Stock Units will specify the time and manner of payment of the Restricted Stock Units that have been earned. Each grant or sale will specify that the amount payable with respect thereto will be paid by the Company in shares of Common Stock or cash, or a combination thereof.

 

(f) Each grant or sale of Restricted Stock Units will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.

 

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8. Cash Incentive Awards, Performance Shares and Performance Units. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the granting of Cash Incentive Awards, Performance Shares and Performance Units. Each such grant may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

 

(a) Each grant will specify the number or amount of Performance Shares or Performance Units, or amount payable with respect to a Cash Incentive Award, to which it pertains, which number or amount may be subject to adjustment to reflect changes in compensation or other factors.

 

(b) The Performance Period with respect to each Cash Incentive Award or grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units will be such period of time as will be determined by the Committee, which may be subject to continued vesting or earlier lapse or other modification, including in the event of the retirement, death or disability of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.

 

(c) Each grant of a Cash Incentive Award, Performance Shares or Performance Units will specify Management Objectives which, if achieved, will result in payment or early payment of the award, and each grant may specify in respect of such specified Management Objectives a minimum acceptable level or levels of achievement and may set forth a formula for determining the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units, or amount payable with respect to a Cash Incentive Award, that will be earned if performance is at or above the minimum or threshold level or levels, or is at or above the target level or levels, but falls short of maximum achievement of the specified Management Objectives.

 

(d) Each grant will specify the time and manner of payment of a Cash Incentive Award, Performance Shares or Performance Units that have been earned. Each grant will specify whether the amount payable with respect thereto shall be paid by the Company in cash, in shares of Common Stock, in Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units or in any combination thereof.

 

(e) Any grant of a Cash Incentive Award, Performance Shares or Performance Units may specify that the amount payable or the number of shares of Common Stock, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units payable with respect thereto may not exceed a maximum amount specified by the Committee on the Date of Grant.

 

(f) The Committee may, on the Date of Grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units, provide for the payment of dividend equivalents to the holder thereof either in cash or in additional shares of Common Stock, subject in all cases to deferral and payment on a contingent basis based on the Participant’s earning of the Performance Shares or Performance Units, as applicable, with respect to which such dividend equivalents are paid.

 

(g) Each grant of a Cash Incentive Award, Performance Shares or Performance Units will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to this Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.

 

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9. Other Awards.

 

(a) Subject to applicable law and the applicable limits set forth in Section 3 of this Plan, the Committee may authorize the grant to any Participant of shares of Common Stock or such other awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, shares of Common Stock or factors that may influence the value of such shares, including, without limitation, convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common Stock, purchase rights for shares of Common Stock, awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or specified Subsidiaries, affiliates or other business units thereof or any other factors designated by the Committee, and awards valued by reference to the book value of the shares of Common Stock or the value of securities of, or the performance of specified Subsidiaries or affiliates or other business units of the Company. The Committee will determine the terms and conditions of such awards. Shares of Common Stock delivered pursuant to an award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 9 will be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such time, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, shares of Common Stock, other awards, notes or other property, as the Committee determines.

 

(b) Cash awards, as an element of or supplement to any other award granted under this Plan, may also be granted pursuant to this Section 9 .

 

(c) The Committee may authorize the grant of shares of Common Stock as a bonus, or may authorize the grant of other awards in lieu of obligations of the Company or a Subsidiary to pay cash or deliver other property under this Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, subject to such terms as will be determined by the Committee in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code.

 

(d) The Committee may, at or after the Date of Grant, authorize the payment of dividends or dividend equivalents on awards granted under this Section 9 on a deferred and contingent basis, either in cash or in additional shares of Common Stock; provided , however , that dividend equivalents or other distributions on shares of Common Stock underlying awards granted under this Section 9 will be deferred until and paid contingent upon the earning of such awards.

 

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, awards under this Section 9 may provide for the earning or vesting of, or earlier elimination of restrictions applicable to, such award, including in the event of the retirement, death or disability of a Participant or in the event of a Change in Control.

 

10. Administration of this Plan.

 

(a) This Plan will be administered by the Committee. The Committee may from time to time delegate all or any part of its authority under this Plan to a subcommittee thereof. To the extent of any such delegation, references in this Plan to the Committee will be deemed to be references to such subcommittee.

 

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(b) The interpretation and construction by the Committee of any provision of this Plan or of any Evidence of Award (or related documents) and any determination by the Committee pursuant to any provision of this Plan or of any such agreement, notification or document will be final and conclusive. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any such action or determination made in good faith. In addition, the Committee is authorized to take any action it determines in its sole discretion to be appropriate subject only to the express limitations contained in this Plan, and no authorization in any Plan section or other provision of this Plan is intended or may be deemed to constitute a limitation on the authority of the Committee.

 

(c) The Committee may delegate some or all of its power and authority hereunder to the Board (or any members thereof) or, subject to applicable law, to a subcommittee of the Board, a member of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or other executive officer of the Company as the Committee deems appropriate; provided , however , that the Committee may not delegate its power and authority to a member of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or other executive officer of the Company with regard to the selection for participation in this Plan of an officer, director or other person subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or decisions concerning the timing, pricing or amount of an award to such an officer, director or other person.

 

11. Adjustments. The Committee shall make or provide for such adjustments in the number of and kind of shares of Common Stock covered by outstanding Option Rights, Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units granted hereunder and, if applicable, in the number of and kind of shares of Common Stock covered by other awards granted pursuant to Section 9 of this Plan, in the Option Price and Base Price provided in outstanding Option Rights and Appreciation Rights, respectively, in Cash Incentive Awards, and in other award terms, as the Committee, in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, determines is equitably required to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants that otherwise would result from (a) any extraordinary cash dividend, stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the Company, (b) any merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-off, spin-out, split-up, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets, issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities, or (c) any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing. Moreover, in the event of any such transaction or event or in the event of a Change in Control, the Committee may provide in substitution for any or all outstanding awards under this Plan such alternative consideration (including cash), if any, as it, in good faith, may determine to be equitable in the circumstances and shall require in connection therewith the surrender of all awards so replaced in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code. In addition, for each Option Right or Appreciation Right with an Option Price or Base Price, respectively, greater than the consideration offered in connection with any such transaction or event or Change in Control, the Committee may in its discretion elect to cancel such Option Right or Appreciation Right without any payment to the person holding such Option Right or Appreciation Right. The Committee shall also make or provide for such adjustments in the number of shares of Common Stock specified in Section 3 of this Plan as the Committee in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, determines is appropriate to reflect any transaction or event described in this Section 11 ; provided , however , that any such adjustment to the number specified in Section 3(c) of this Plan will be made only if and to the extent that such adjustment would not cause any Option Right intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option to fail to so qualify.

 

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12. Change in Control . For purposes of this Plan, a “ Change in Control ” will be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence (after the Effective Date) of any of the following events:

 

(a) the acquisition by any Person of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 35% or more of either: (i) the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock; or (ii) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or managers, as applicable (“ Voting Shares ”); provided , however , that for purposes of this Section 12(a) , the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company; (B) any acquisition by the Company or any of its affiliates; (C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its affiliates; or (D) any acquisition by any Person pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of Section 12(c) ;

 

(b) individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason (other than death or disability) to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided , however , that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Stockholders, was approved by a vote or the approval of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (either by a specific vote or written action or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination) shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

 

(c) consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the Persons who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the shares of Common Stock and Voting Shares immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 66-2/3% of, respectively, the then-outstanding common shares and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including an entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions relative to each other as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the shares of Common Stock and Voting Shares of the Company, as the case may be, (ii) no Person (excluding any entity resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its affiliates or such entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding common equity securities of the entity resulting from such Business Combination, or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such entity except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or

 

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(d) approval by the Stockholders of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event will the disposition of any portion of JFL-NRC-SES Partners, LLC’s ownership interest in the Company alone be deemed to be a Change in Control.

 

13. Detrimental Activity and Recapture Provisions . Any Evidence of Award may reference a clawback policy of the Company or provide for the cancellation or forfeiture of an award or the forfeiture and repayment to the Company of any gain related to an award, or other provisions intended to have a similar effect, upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee from time to time, if a Participant, either (a) during employment or other service with the Company or a Subsidiary, or (b) within a specified period after termination of such employment or service, engages in any detrimental activity, as described in the applicable Evidence of Award or such clawback policy. In addition, notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, any Evidence of Award or such clawback policy may also provide for the cancellation or forfeiture of an award or the forfeiture and repayment to the Company of any shares of Common Stock issued under and/or any other benefit related to an award, or other provisions intended to have a similar effect, upon such terms and conditions as may be required by the Committee or under Section 10D of the Exchange Act and any applicable rules or regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any national securities exchange or national securities association on which the shares of Common Stock may be traded.

 

14. Non-U.S. Participants. In order to facilitate the making of any grant or combination of grants under this Plan, the Committee may provide for such special terms for awards to Participants who are foreign nationals or who are employed by the Company or any Subsidiary outside of the United States of America or who provide services to the Company or any Subsidiary, as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of this Plan (including sub-plans) as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes, without thereby affecting the terms of this Plan as in effect for any other purpose, and the secretary or other appropriate officer of the Company may certify any such document as having been approved and adopted in the same manner as this Plan. No such special terms, supplements, amendments or restatements, however, will include any provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of this Plan as then in effect unless this Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by the Stockholders.

 

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15. Transferability.

 

(a) Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, no Option Right, Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Cash Incentive Award, award contemplated by Section 9 of this Plan or dividend equivalents paid with respect to awards made under this Plan will be transferable by the Participant except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. In no event will any such award granted under this Plan be transferred for value. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, Option Rights and Appreciation Rights will be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by him or her or, in the event of the Participant’s legal incapacity to do so, by his or her guardian or legal representative acting on behalf of the Participant in a fiduciary capacity under state law or court supervision.

 

(b) The Committee may specify on the Date of Grant that part or all of the shares of Common Stock that are (i) to be issued or transferred by the Company upon the exercise of Option Rights or Appreciation Rights, upon the termination of the Restriction Period applicable to Restricted Stock Units or upon payment under any grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units or (ii) no longer subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer referred to in Section 6 of this Plan, will be subject to further restrictions on transfer.

 

16. Withholding Taxes. To the extent that the Company is required to withhold federal, state, local or foreign taxes or other amounts in connection with any payment made or benefit realized by a Participant or other person under this Plan, and the amounts available to the Company for such withholding are insufficient, it will be a condition to the receipt of such payment or the realization of such benefit that the Participant or such other person make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for payment of the balance of such taxes or other amounts required to be withheld, which arrangements (in the discretion of the Committee) may include relinquishment of a portion of such benefit. If a Participant’s benefit is to be received in the form of shares of Common Stock, and such Participant fails to make arrangements for the payment of taxes or other amounts, then, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Company will withhold shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld. Notwithstanding the foregoing, when a Participant is required to pay the Company an amount required to be withheld under applicable income, employment, tax or other laws, the Participant may elect, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, to satisfy the obligation, in whole or in part, by having withheld, from the shares of Common Stock required to be delivered to the Participant, shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld or by delivering to the Company other shares of Common Stock held by such Participant. The shares of Common Stock used for tax or other withholding will be valued at an amount equal to the fair market value of such shares of Common Stock on the date the benefit is to be included in Participant’s income. In no event will the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock to be withheld and delivered pursuant to this Section 16 exceed the minimum amount required to be withheld, unless (i) an additional amount can be withheld and not result in adverse accounting consequences, (ii) such additional withholding amount is authorized by the Committee, and (iii) the total amount withheld does not exceed the Participant’s estimated tax obligations attributable to the applicable transaction. Participants will also make such arrangements as the Company may require for the payment of any withholding tax or other obligation that may arise in connection with the disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of Option Rights.

 

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17. Compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

 

(a) To the extent applicable, it is intended that this Plan and any grants made hereunder comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, so that the income inclusion provisions of Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code do not apply to the Participants. This Plan and any grants made hereunder will be administered in a manner consistent with this intent. Any reference in this Plan to Section 409A of the Code will also include any regulations or any other formal guidance promulgated with respect to such section by the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service.

 

(b) Neither a Participant nor any of a Participant’s creditors or beneficiaries will have the right to subject any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) payable under this Plan and grants hereunder to any anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment. Except as permitted under Section 409A of the Code, any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) payable to a Participant or for a Participant’s benefit under this Plan and grants hereunder may not be reduced by, or offset against, any amount owed by a Participant to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(c) If, at the time of a Participant’s separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code), (i) the Participant will be a specified employee (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time) and (ii) the Company makes a good faith determination that an amount payable hereunder constitutes deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) the payment of which is required to be delayed pursuant to the six-month delay rule set forth in Section 409A of the Code in order to avoid taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code, then the Company will not pay such amount on the otherwise scheduled payment date but will instead pay it, without interest, on the earlier to occur of (i) the fifth business day of the seventh month after such separation from service and (ii) the Participant’s death.

 

(d) Solely with respect to any award that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code and that is payable on account of a Change in Control (including any installments or stream of payments that are accelerated on account of a Change in Control), a Change in Control shall occur only if such event also constitutes a “change in the ownership,” “change in effective control,” and/or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of assets” of the Company as those terms are defined under Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5), but only to the extent necessary to establish a time and form of payment that complies with Section 409A of the Code, without altering the definition of Change in Control for any purpose in respect of such award.

 

(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan and grants hereunder to the contrary, in light of the uncertainty with respect to the proper application of Section 409A of the Code, the Company reserves the right to make amendments to this Plan and grants hereunder as the Company deems necessary or desirable to avoid the imposition of taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code. In any case, a Participant will be solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on a Participant or for a Participant’s account in connection with this Plan and grants hereunder (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A of the Code), and neither the Company nor any of its affiliates will have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold a Participant harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties.

 

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18. Amendments.

 

(a) The Board may at any time and from time to time amend this Plan in whole or in part; provided , however , that no amendment to the Plan shall be effective without the approval of the Company’s stockholders if (i) stockholder approval is required by applicable law, rule or regulation, including any rule of the NYSE, or any other stock exchange on which the Common Stock is then traded, or (ii) such amendment seeks to modify the non-employee Director compensation limits set forth in Section 3(d) .

 

(b) Except in connection with a corporate transaction or event described in Section 11 of this Plan or in connection with a Change in Control, the terms of outstanding awards may not be amended to reduce the Option Price of outstanding Option Rights or the Base Price of outstanding Appreciation Rights, or cancel outstanding “underwater” Option Rights or Appreciation Rights in exchange for cash, other awards or Option Rights or Appreciation Rights with an Option Price or Base Price, as applicable, that is less than the Option Price of the original Option Rights or Base Price of the original Appreciation Rights, as applicable, without Stockholder approval. This Section 18(b) is intended to prohibit the repricing of “underwater” Option Rights and Appreciation Rights and will not be construed to prohibit the adjustments provided for in Section 11 of this Plan. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, this Section 18(b) may not be amended without approval by the Stockholders.

 

(c) If permitted by Section 409A of the Code, but subject to the paragraph that follows, including in the case of termination of employment or service, or in the case of unforeseeable emergency or other circumstances or in the event of a Change in Control, to the extent a Participant holds an Option Right or Appreciation Right not immediately exercisable in full, or any Restricted Stock as to which the substantial risk of forfeiture or the prohibition or restriction on transfer has not lapsed, or any Restricted Stock Units as to which the Restriction Period has not been completed, or any Cash Incentive Awards, Performance Shares or Performance Units which have not been fully earned, or any dividend equivalents or other awards made pursuant to Section 9 of this Plan subject to any vesting schedule or transfer restriction, or who holds shares of Common Stock subject to any transfer restriction imposed pursuant to Section 15(b) of this Plan, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for continued vesting or accelerate the time at which such Option Right, Appreciation Right or other award may be exercised or the time at which such substantial risk of forfeiture or prohibition or restriction on transfer will lapse or the time when such Restriction Period will end or the time at which such Cash Incentive Awards, Performance Shares or Performance Units will be deemed to have been fully earned or the time when such transfer restriction will terminate or may waive any other limitation or requirement under any such award.

 

18

 

 

(d) Subject to Section 18(b) of this Plan, the Committee may amend the terms of any award theretofore granted under this Plan prospectively or retroactively. Except for adjustments made pursuant to Section 11 of this Plan, no such amendment will materially impair the rights of any Participant without his or her consent. The Board may, in its discretion, terminate this Plan at any time. Termination of this Plan will not affect the rights of Participants or their successors under any awards outstanding hereunder and not exercised in full on the date of termination.

 

19. Governing Law. This Plan and all grants and awards and actions taken hereunder will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal substantive laws of the State of Delaware.

 

20. Effective Date/Termination. This Plan will be effective as of the Effective Date. No grant will be made under this Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, but all grants made prior to such date will continue in effect thereafter subject to the terms thereof and of this Plan. Awards hereunder may be made at any time prior to the termination of this Plan, provided that no Incentive Stock Options may be granted later than ten years after the date on which the Plan was approved by the Board.

 

21. Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

(a) The Company will not be required to issue any fractional shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Plan. The Committee may provide for the elimination of fractions or for the settlement of fractions in cash.

 

(b) This Plan will not confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary, nor will it interfere in any way with any right the Company or any Subsidiary would otherwise have to terminate such Participant’s employment or other service at any time.

 

(c) Except with respect to Section 21(e) of this Plan, to the extent that any provision of this Plan would prevent any Option Right that was intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option from qualifying as such, that provision will be null and void with respect to such Option Right. Such provision, however, will remain in effect for other Option Rights and there will be no further effect on any provision of this Plan.

 

(d) No award under this Plan may be exercised by the holder thereof if such exercise, and the receipt of cash or stock thereunder, would be, in the opinion of counsel selected by the Company, contrary to law or the regulations of any duly constituted authority having jurisdiction over this Plan.

 

(e) Subject to Section 409A of the Code or the extent otherwise provided for in an Evidence of Award, absence on leave approved by a duly constituted officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will not be considered interruption or termination of service of any employee for any purposes of this Plan or awards granted hereunder.

 

(f) No Participant will have any rights as a Stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock subject to awards granted to him or her under this Plan prior to the date as of which he or she is actually recorded as the holder of such shares of Common Stock upon the stock records of the Company.

 

19

 

 

(g) Subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may condition the grant of any award or combination of awards authorized under this Plan on the surrender or deferral by the Participant of his or her right to receive a cash bonus or other compensation otherwise payable by the Company or a Subsidiary to the Participant.

 

(h) Except with respect to Option Rights and Appreciation Rights, the Committee may permit Participants to elect to defer the issuance of shares of Common Stock under this Plan pursuant to such rules, procedures or programs as it may establish for purposes of this Plan and which are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The Committee also may provide that deferred issuances and settlements include the crediting of dividend equivalents or interest on the deferral amounts.

 

(i) If any provision of this Plan is or becomes invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify this Plan or any award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision will be construed or deemed amended or limited in scope to conform to applicable laws or, in the discretion of the Committee, it will be stricken and the remainder of this Plan will remain in full force and effect. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan or an Evidence of Award to the contrary, nothing in this Plan or in an Evidence of Award prevents a Participant from providing, without prior notice to the Company, information to governmental authorities regarding possible legal violations or otherwise testifying or participating in any investigation or proceeding by any governmental authorities regarding possible legal violations, and for purpose of clarity a Participant is not prohibited from providing information voluntarily to the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 21F of the Exchange Act.

 

22. Stock-Based Awards in Substitution for Awards Granted by Another Company. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary:

 

(a) Awards may be granted under this Plan in substitution for or in conversion of, or in connection with an assumption of, stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units or other stock or stock-based awards held by awardees of an entity engaging in a corporate acquisition or merger transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary. Any conversion, substitution or assumption will be effective as of the close of the merger or acquisition, and, to the extent applicable, will be conducted in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code. The awards so granted may reflect the original terms of the awards being assumed or substituted or converted for and need not comply with other specific terms of this Plan, and may account for shares of Common Stock substituted for the securities covered by the original awards and the number of shares subject to the original awards, as well as any exercise or purchase prices applicable to the original awards, adjusted to account for differences in stock prices in connection with the transaction.

 

20

 

 

(b) In the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary merges has shares available under a pre-existing plan previously approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or merger, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, to reflect such acquisition or merger) may be used for awards made after such acquisition or merger under this Plan; provided , however , that awards using such available shares may not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan absent the acquisition or merger, and may only be made to individuals who were not employees or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary prior to such acquisition or merger.

 

(c) Any shares of Common Stock that are issued or transferred by, or that are subject to any awards that are granted by, or become obligations of, the Company under Sections 22(a) or  22(b) of this Plan will not reduce the shares of Common Stock available for issuance or transfer under this Plan or otherwise count against the limits contained in Section 3 of this Plan. In addition, no shares of Common Stock subject to an award that is granted by, or becomes an obligation of, the Company under Sections 22(a) or 22(b) of this Plan will be added to the aggregate limit contained in Section 3(a)(i) of this Plan.

 

21

Exhibit 10.10

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

This INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement” ) is made as of June 11, 2018 between each of the signatories hereto (collectively, the “Grantors” ) in favor of BNP PARIBAS , as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent” ) (as defined in the Pledge and Security Agreement referred to below).

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS , reference is made to that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of June 11, 2018 (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Pledge and Security Agreement” ), by and among the Grantors, the other grantors party thereto and the Collateral Agent; and

 

WHEREAS , under the terms of the Pledge and Security Agreement, the Grantors have (i) as collateral security for the Secured Obligations, granted to the Collateral Agent a security interest in and continuing lien on all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under the Collateral (as defined in the Pledge and Security Agreement), including, without limitation, certain Intellectual Property of the Grantors and (ii) agreed to execute this Agreement for recording with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and other applicable Governmental Authorities.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the agreements, provisions and covenants herein contained, each Grantor and the Collateral Agent agree as follows:

 

Section 1. Grant of Security . As collateral security for the prompt and complete payment or performance in full when due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, acceleration, demand or otherwise of the Secured Obligations, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent a security interest in and continuing lien on all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under the following:

 

(a) All United States trademarks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, Internet domain names, service marks, certification marks, collective marks, logos, other source or business identifiers, designs and general intangibles of a like nature, all registrations and applications for any of the foregoing including, but not limited to (i) the registrations and applications referred to in Schedule 1 hereto, (ii) all extensions or renewals of any of the foregoing, (iii) all of the goodwill of the business associated with the use of and symbolized by the foregoing, (iv) the right to sue for past, present and future infringement or dilution of any of the foregoing or for any injury to goodwill, and (v) all Proceeds of the foregoing, including any royalties or income from the Trademark Licenses and any and all payments, claims, damages, and proceeds of suit (collectively, the “Trademarks” ).

 

Section 2. Recordation . Each Grantor authorizes and requests that the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks and any other applicable government officer record this Agreement.

 

Section 3. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic ( i.e. , “pdf” or “tif”) format shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

Section 4. Governing Law . This Agreement and any claims, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

Section 5. Conflict Provision . This Agreement has been entered into in conjunction with the provisions of the Pledge and Security Agreement and the Credit Agreement. The rights and remedies of each party hereto with respect to the security interest granted herein are without prejudice to, and are in addition to those set forth in the Pledge and Security Agreement and the Credit Agreement, all terms and provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference. If any provisions of this Intellectual Property Security Agreement are in conflict with the Pledge and Security Agreement or the Credit Agreement, the provisions of the Pledge and Security Agreement or the Credit Agreement shall govern. 

 

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

  2  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , each Grantor and the Collateral Agent have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written above.

 

  NATIONAL RESPONSE CORPORATION,
  as a Grantor
     
  By: /s/ Glenn M. Shor
  Name: Glenn M. Shor
  Title: Secretary
     
  NRC NY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.,
  as a Grantor
     
  By: /s/ Paul Taveira
  Name: Paul Taveira
  Title: President and CEO
     
  PROGRESSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.,
  as a Grantor
     
  By: /s/ Glenn M. Shor
  Name: Glenn M. Shor
  Title: Treasurer and Assistant Secretary

 

[Signature Page to IP Security Agreement (Trademarks)]

 

  3  

 

 

  BNP PARIBAS , as Collateral Agent
     
  By: /s/ Michael Colias
    Name: Michael Colias
    Title:  Managing Director
     
  By: /s/ Davin Engelson
    Name: Davin Engelson
    Title:  Director

 

[Signature Page to IP Security Agreement (Trademarks)]

 

  4  

 

 

Exhibit 10.11

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

This INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement” ) is made as of June 11, 2018 between each of the signatories hereto (collectively, the “Grantors” ) in favor of BNP PARIBAS , as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent” ) (as defined in the Pledge and Security Agreement referred to below).

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS , reference is made to that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of June 11, 2018 (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Pledge and Security Agreement” ), by and among the Grantors, the other grantors party thereto and the Collateral Agent; and

 

WHEREAS , under the terms of the Pledge and Security Agreement, the Grantors have (i) as collateral security for the Secured Obligations, granted to the Collateral Agent a security interest in and continuing lien on all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under the Collateral (as defined in the Pledge and Security Agreement), including, without limitation, certain Intellectual Property of the Grantors and (ii) agreed to execute this Agreement for recording with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and other applicable Governmental Authorities.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the agreements, provisions and covenants herein contained, each Grantor and the Collateral Agent agree as follows:

 

Section 1. Grant of Security . As collateral security for the prompt and complete payment or performance in full when due, whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, acceleration, demand or otherwise of the Secured Obligations, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent a security interest in and continuing lien on all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under the following:

 

(a) All United States patents and certificates of invention, or similar industrial property, design or plant rights, for any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to: (i) all registrations, provisional and applications referred to in Schedule 1 hereto; (ii) all reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, extensions, renewals, and reexaminations therefor; (iii) all rights corresponding thereto throughout the world; (iv) all inventions and improvements described therein; (v) all rights to sue for past, present and future infringements thereof; and (vi) all Proceeds of the foregoing, including any royalties or income from the Patent Licenses and any and all payments, claims, damages and proceeds of suit (collectively, the “Patents” ).

 

Section 2. Recordation . Each Grantor authorizes and requests that the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks and any other applicable government officer record this Agreement.

 

Section 3. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic ( i.e. , “pdf” or “tif”) format shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

Section 4. Governing Law . This Agreement and any claims, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

Section 5. Conflict Provision . This Agreement has been entered into in conjunction with the provisions of the Pledge and Security Agreement and the Credit Agreement. The rights and remedies of each party hereto with respect to the security interest granted herein are without prejudice to, and are in addition to those set forth in the Pledge and Security Agreement and the Credit Agreement, all terms and provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference. If any provisions of this Intellectual Property Security Agreement are in conflict with the Pledge and Security Agreement or the Credit Agreement, the provisions of the Pledge and Security Agreement or the Credit Agreement shall govern.

 

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , each Grantor and the Collateral Agent have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written above.

 

  NATIONAL RESPONSE CORPORATION,
  as a Grantor
   
  By: /s/ Glenn M. Shor            
  Name: Glenn M. Shor
  Title: Secretary

 

[Signature Page to IP Security Agreement (Trademarks)]

 

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  BNP PARIBAS , as Collateral Agent
     
  By: /s/ Michael Colias
    Name: Michael Colias
    Title:  Managing Director
     
  By: /s/ Davin Engelson
    Name: Davin Engelson
    Title:  Director

 

  3  

 

 

Exhibit 14.1

 

NRC Group Holdings Corp.

CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS

 

Introduction

 

This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (this “ Code ”) describes the basic principles of conduct that we share as officers and employees of NRC Group Holdings Corp. (the “ Company ”) and its subsidiaries. This Code also applies to our directors and should be provided to and followed by our agents and representatives. Violation of this Code may result in disciplinary action, varying from reprimand to dismissal.

 

This Code is intended to provide a broad overview of basic ethical principles that guide our conduct. In some circumstances, we maintain more specific policies on the topics referred to in this Code. Should you have any questions regarding these policies, please review your employee handbook or contact your supervisor or a member of the Human Resources Department.

 

Compliance with Laws, Rules and Regulations

 

We comply with all laws, rules and regulations of the places where we do business. If a law, rule or regulation is unclear, or conflicts with a provision of this Code, you should seek advice from supervisors or the Company’s compliance officer, but always seek to act in accordance with the ethical standards described in this Code.

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

We conduct our business affairs in the best interest of our Company and should therefore avoid situations where our private interests interfere in any way with our Company’s interests. We need to be especially sensitive to situations that have even the appearance of impropriety and promptly report them to a supervisor, or if appropriate, a more senior manager. If you believe that a transaction, relationship or other circumstance creates or may create a conflict of interest, you should promptly report this concern. It is our policy that circumstances that pose a conflict of interest for our employees are prohibited unless a waiver is obtained from an appropriate Company officer. Consistent with the NYSE American LLC (the “ NYSE American ”) rules and as further described below, any waiver of this conflict of interest policy for a director or executive officer may only be made by our Board, and any such waiver should be promptly disclosed to the Company’s stockholders in a manner required by the NYSE American or other applicable rules and regulations.

 

Company Opportunities

 

Subject to our certificate of incorporation as currently in effect, officers and employees owe a duty to the Company to advance its legitimate interests when the opportunity to do so arises. You may not take for yourself, personally, opportunities that are discovered through the use of Company property, information or position or use Company property, information or position for personal gain. Nor may you compete with the Company in any manner if doing so would breach your fiduciary obligations to the Company.

 

 

 

 

Record-Keeping

 

We require honest and accurate recording and reporting of information in order to make responsible business decisions. We document and record our business expenses accurately. Questionable expenses should be discussed with the appropriate personnel in our accounting department.

 

All of our books, records, accounts and financial statements are maintained in reasonable detail, appropriately reflect our transactions and conform both to applicable legal requirements and to our system of internal controls.

 

We avoid exaggeration, derogatory remarks, guesswork or inappropriate characterizations of people and companies in our business records and communications. We maintain our records according to our record retention policies. In accordance with those policies, in the event of litigation or governmental investigation, please consult the Company’s compliance officer.

 

Public Reporting

 

We are a public company and, as a result, file reports and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) and the NYSE American, on which our common stock trades. As well, we issue press releases and make other public statements that include financial and other information about our business, financial condition and results of operations. We endeavor to make full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents we file with, or submit to, the SEC and in our press releases and public communications.

 

We require cooperation and open communication with our internal and outside auditors. It is illegal to take any action to fraudulently influence, coerce, manipulate or mislead any internal or external auditor engaged in the performance of an audit of our financial statements.

 

The laws and regulations applicable to filings made with the SEC, including those applicable to accounting matters, are complex. While the ultimate responsibility for the information included in these reports rests with senior management, numerous other employees participate in the preparation of these reports or provide information included in these reports. We maintain disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that the information included in the reports that we file or submit to the SEC is collected and communicated to senior management in order to permit timely disclosure of the required information.

 

If you are requested to provide, review or certify information in connection with our disclosure controls and procedures, you must provide the requested information or otherwise respond in a full, accurate and timely manner. Moreover, even in the absence of a specific request, you should report any significant information that you believe should be considered for disclosure in our reports to the SEC.

 

If you have questions or are uncertain as to how our disclosure controls and procedures may apply in a specific circumstance, promptly contact your supervisor or a more senior manager. We want you to ask questions and seek advice. Additional information regarding how to report your questions or concerns (including on a confidential, anonymous basis) is included below in this Code under the heading “Reporting Illegal or Unethical Behavior.”

 

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Insider Trading

 

We do not trade in Company stock on the basis of material, non-public information concerning the Company, nor do we “tip” others who may trade in Company securities. Insider trading is both unethical and illegal and will be dealt with decisively. For more information on our insider trading policy, see the “NRC Group Holdings Corp. Insider Trading Policy.”

 

Competition and Fair Dealing

 

We compete fairly and honestly. We do not engage in unethical or illegal business practices such as stealing proprietary information, possessing trade secret information that was obtained without the owner’s consent or inducing disclosure of this type of information by past or present employees of other companies.

 

Lobbying Activities

 

The laws and regulations of certain jurisdictions require registration and reporting by anyone who engages in a lobbying activity. Generally, lobbying activities include: (1) communicating with any member or employee of a legislative branch of government for the purpose of influencing legislation; (2) communicating with certain government officials for the purpose of influencing government action; or (3) engaging in research or other activities to support or prepare for such communication. Employees, officers and directors must notify the Company’s compliance officer before engaging in any activity on behalf of the Company that might be considered a “lobbying activity” as described above.

 

Business Entertainment and Gifts

 

We recognize that business entertainment and gifts are meant to create goodwill and sound working relationships, not to gain unfair advantage. Neither we nor our family members offer, give or accept any gift or entertainment unless it: (a) is not a cash gift, (b) is consistent with customary business practices, (c) is not excessive in value, (d) cannot be construed as a bribe or payoff and (e) does not violate any laws or regulations. Any questionable gift or invitation should be discussed with a supervisor, or, if appropriate, the Company’s compliance officer.

 

Discrimination and Harassment

 

The diversity of our employees is a tremendous asset. We provide equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind. Derogatory comments based on racial or ethnic characteristics, unwelcome sexual advances and similar behavior are prohibited.

 

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Health and Safety

 

We are committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment. We ensure a safe and healthy work environment by following safety and health rules and practices and promptly reporting accidents, injuries and unsafe equipment, practices or conditions to a supervisor or more senior manager.

 

We do not permit violence or threatening behavior in our workplaces. We report to work in condition to perform our duties at our best, free from the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol. We do not tolerate the use of illegal drugs in the workplace.

 

Confidentiality

 

We protect confidential information. Confidential information includes proprietary information such as our trade secrets, patents, trademarks, copyrights, business, marketing plans, sales forecasts, designs, databases, records, salary information and unpublished financial data and reports, as well as any non-public information that might be of use to competitors or harmful to us or our customers and stockholders if disclosed. It also includes information that suppliers, customers and stockholders have entrusted to us on a confidential basis. Our personal obligation not to disclose confidential information continues even after employment ends.

 

Protection and Proper Use of Company Assets

 

Theft, carelessness, and waste of Company assets have a direct impact on our profitability and should be avoided. Any suspected incident of fraud or theft should be immediately reported to a supervisor or, if appropriate, a more senior manager for investigation. We carefully safeguard our confidential information. Unauthorized use or distribution of confidential information is prohibited and could also be illegal, resulting in civil or even criminal penalties.

 

Payments to Government Personnel

 

In compliance with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, we do not give anything of value, directly or indirectly, to officials of foreign governments or foreign political candidates in order to obtain or retain business. We do not promise, offer or deliver to any foreign or domestic government employee or official any gift, favor or other gratuity that would be illegal. The Company’s compliance officer can provide guidance in this area.

 

The laws or customs of other countries in which we operate may be less clear. It is our policy to comply with those laws or customs; however, if a local law or custom seems to contradict the principles described in this Code, contact a supervisor or the Company’s compliance officer for guidance.

 

Political Contributions and Activities

 

Laws and regulations of certain jurisdictions prohibit the use of Company funds, assets, services or facilities on behalf of a political party or candidate. Payments of corporate funds to any political party, candidate or campaign may be made only if permitted under applicable law and approved in writing and in advance by the Company’s compliance officer.

 

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Work time may be considered the equivalent of a contribution by the Company. Therefore, employees and officers will not be paid by the Company for any time spent running for public office, serving as an elected official or campaigning for a political candidate. Nor will the Company compensate or reimburse you, in any form, for a political contribution that you intend to make or have made.

 

Waivers

 

Consistent with NYSE American rules, only our Board may waive a provision of this Code for our executive officers or directors, and any waiver should be promptly disclosed to the Company’s stockholders. Waivers of this Code for any other employee may be made only by the Company’s compliance officer, and then only under special circumstances.

 

Reporting Illegal or Unethical Behavior

 

In order to encourage reports of illegal or unethical behavior (including violations of this Code), we keep all reports confidential and do not allow retaliation for good faith reports of possible misconduct by others. It is also our duty to cooperate in internal investigations of alleged misconduct.

 

We must all work to ensure prompt and consistent action against unethical or illegal behavior. Oftentimes a violation of this Code will be easy to recognize and should be promptly reported to a supervisor or, if appropriate, a more senior manager. However, in some situations it is difficult to know right from wrong. Since none of us can anticipate every situation that will arise, it is important that we have a way to approach a new or sensitive question or concern. Here are some questions that can be asked:

 

1. What do I need to know? In order to reach the right solutions, we must be as fully informed as possible.

 

2. What specifically am I being asked to do? Does it seem unethical or improper? This will focus the inquiry on the specific action in question and the available alternatives. Use judgment and common sense. If something seems unethical or improper, it probably is.

 

3. What is my responsibility? In most situations, there is shared responsibility. Should colleagues be informed? It may help to get others involved and discuss the issue.

 

4. Have I discussed the issue with a supervisor? This is the basic guidance for all situations. In many cases, a supervisor will be more knowledgeable about the question and will appreciate being brought into the decision-making process. Remember that it is the supervisor’s responsibility to help solve problems.

 

5. Should I seek help from Company management? In the case in which it may not be appropriate to discuss an issue with a supervisor, or where you would not be comfortable approaching a supervisor with your question, discuss it with a manager, a member of the Human Resources Department or the Company’s compliance officer. If for some reason you do not believe that your concerns have been appropriately addressed, you should seek advice from the Company’s compliance officer. Alternatively, we have established procedures to permit confidential, anonymous submissions of concerns regarding alleged violations of this Code, including concerns with respect to questionable accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters. Confidential anonymous submissions can be mailed directly to the Company’s compliance officer at the principal executive offices of the Company as indicated on its website.

 

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6. What if I have a complaint or concern about an accounting matter? If you have a complaint or concern about an accounting matter such as questionable accounting, internal accounting controls or audit matters, you can report your complaint or concern on a confidential and anonymous basis at the following website or telephone number.

 

Website: https://irdirect.net/nrcgrp/whistleblower_iframe
Phone Numbers:

 

A. United States: 800-916-7037
B. United States (ES): 855-765-7249
C. United States (FR): 877-591-3211
D. Canada: 800-916-7037
E. Canada (FR): 877-591-3211
F. UK: 800-652-3673
G. Sweden: 020-793-030
H. Germany: 800-180-2137
I. France: 080-091-4677
J. China: 400-120-0690
K. Japan: 053-112-2792

* Company Identifier: 672477

 

All complaints and concerns regarding accounting matters will be collected by an independent service and then forwarded to the Company’s compliance officer. The Company’s compliance officer will summarize the complaints and concerns for the Audit Committee. As appropriate, the Audit Committee or, at the direction of the Audit Committee, the Company’s compliance officer will (1) determine whether the complaint actually pertains to accounting matters; (2) for complaints regarding accounting matters, initiate an appropriate investigation under the supervision and direction of the Audit Committee; and (3) for complaints regarding all other matters, refer the matter to the appropriate Company executive for investigation and resolution. We follow appropriate procedures governing the retention and disposition of complaints consistent with applicable laws, regulations, business needs, and ongoing litigation or governmental investigation.

 

Conclusion

 

The Company’s good name and reputation depend, to a very large extent, upon you taking personal responsibility for maintaining and adhering to the policies and guidelines set forth in this Code. Your business conduct on behalf of the Company must be guided by the policies and guidelines set forth in this Code.

 

Approved and Adopted: October 17, 2018

 

  6  

Exhibit 16.1

 

October 23, 2018

 

Office of the Chief Accountant

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have read NRC Group Holdings Corp.’s statements included under Item 4.01 of its Form 8-K dated October 23, 2018, and we agree with such statements, except that we are not in a position to agree or disagree with the Company’s statements that the audit committee decided to engage Grant Thornton LLP to serve as the Company’s new independent registered public accounting firm, and the statements made in paragraph (b) under Item 4.01.

 

 

/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC

New York, New York

 

 

cc: Mr. James R. Baumgardner
    Audit Chair
    NRC Group Holdings Corp.

Exhibit 21.1  

 

NRC Group Holdings Corp.

 

Subsidiaries

 

Company   State or Jurisdiction of Incorporation
NRC Group Holdings, LLC   Delaware
SES Holdco, LLC   Delaware
Sprint Energy Services, LLC   Delaware
Quail Run Services, LLC   Texas
Sprint Karnes County Disposal LLC   Texas
JFL-NRC Holdings, LLC   Delaware
NRC US Holding Company, LLC   Delaware
Progressive Environmental Services, Inc. d/b/a SWS Environmental Services   Delaware
Eagle Construction and Environmental Services, LLC   Delaware
Southern Waste Services, Inc.   Florida
NRC NY Environmental Services, Inc. d/b/a NRC Environmental Services   Delaware
ENPRO Holdings Group, Inc.   Delaware
National Response Corporation   Delaware
National Response Corporation Mexico NRC   Mexico
TMC Services, Inc. d/b/a TMC Environmental   Massachusetts
NRC East Environmental Services, Inc.   Massachusetts
ENPRO Services of Maine, Inc.   Maine
Terralink Systems Inc.   Maine
ENPRO Services of Vermont, Inc.   Maine
National Response Corp. Aruba N.V.   Aruba
NRC Payroll Management LLC   Delaware
NRC Environmental Services Inc.   Washington
OSRV Holdings, Inc.   Delaware
Natl Response Corporation of Puerto Rico   Delaware
Specialized Response Solutions, LP   Texas
NRC Alaska, LLC   Delaware
NRC Intermediate Int. Holding Company, LLC   Delaware
NRC (Asia Pacific) Ltd.   Thailand
NRC Int. Holding Company, LLC   Marshall Islands
NRC Environmental Protection Waste Management and Remediation Services A.S.   Turkey
CRN Denizcilik Anonim Sirketi a/k/a CRN Maritime S.A.   Turkey
NRC (Trinidad and Tobago) Ltd.   Trinidad & Tobago
NRC (B.V.I) Ltd.   British Virgins Islands
NRC Servicing Limited Company   England and Wales
Sureclean Holdco Limited   United Kingdom
NRC Environmental Services (UK) Limited   Scotland
Sureclean A.S.   Norway
Sureclean International Limited   Scotland
Clean Line Waste Water Solutions Limited Company   United Kingdom
NRC Eastern Mediterranean Ltd.   Israel
NRC (Malta) Limited   Marshall Islands
NRC International Services Ltd.   Marshall Islands
SESMEKE Çevre Koruma Hismetleri Ticaret Ltd. Sti.   Turkey
SESMEKE Ltd.   Marshall Islands