lzb-202110150000057131False00000571312021-10-152021-10-15
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
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| Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): | October 15, 2021 |
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LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
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Michigan | | 1-9656 | | 38-0751137 |
(State or other jurisdiction of | | (Commission | | (IRS Employer |
incorporation) | | File Number) | | Identification No.) |
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| One La-Z-Boy Drive, | Monroe, | Michigan | | 48162-5138 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip Code) | |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (734) 242-1444
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N/A |
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) |
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of each class | | Trading Symbol(s) | | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, $1.00 par value | | LZB | | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On October 15, 2021, La-Z-Boy Incorporated (the “Company”) entered into a new five-year unsecured Credit Agreement with the lenders signatory thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) in an aggregate principal amount of $200 million, which includes a $50 million letter of credit sub-limit. Borrowings under the Credit Facility may be used by the Company for general corporate purposes and working capital. The Credit Agreement provides that the Borrower may increase the size of the facility, either in the form of additional revolving commitments or new term loans, subject to the discretion of each lender to participate in such increase, up to an additional amount of $100 million. The Credit Facility will mature on October 15, 2026 and provides the Company with the right to request that the lenders extend the maturity date for two additional periods of one year each, subject to customary conditions. As of the effective date of the Credit Agreement, there were no borrowings outstanding thereunder.
The Credit Agreement replaces that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2017 (as amended, the “Existing Credit Agreement”), among the Company, as borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Company party thereto, as borrowers or guarantors, the lenders party thereto from time to time and Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as administrative agent. In connection therewith, on October 15, 2021, the Existing Credit Agreement was terminated and is no longer in effect.
Interest on outstanding indebtedness under the Credit Facility accrues at a rate equal to, at the Company’s option, (A) the highest of (i) Wells Fargo Bank, National Association’s prime rate, (ii) the federal funds rate plus 0.50% and (iii) except when LIBOR is unavailable, LIBOR plus 1.00%; plus an applicable margin based upon the Company’s consolidated net lease adjusted leverage ratio from time to time; or (B) if available, LIBOR plus an applicable margin based upon the Company’s consolidated net lease adjusted leverage ratio from time to time. The Credit Agreement includes customary LIBOR replacement language.
The Credit Facility requires compliance with conditions precedent that must be satisfied prior to any borrowing as well as ongoing compliance with certain affirmative and negative covenants to which the Company and certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries must adhere.
The affirmative covenants include, but are not limited to: maintenance of existence; insurance; accounting methods and financial records; payment of taxes; compliance with laws; visits and inspections; additional guarantors; and use of proceeds.
The negative covenants include, but are not limited to, restrictions on the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to: create, incur, assume or suffer to exist indebtedness except in certain circumstances; create, incur, assume or suffer to exist liens on properties except in certain circumstances; make or pay dividends or distributions on the Company’s stock except in certain circumstances; merge, liquidate, dissolve or dispose of substantially all of its assets subject to certain ordinary course and other exceptions; and transact with any affiliate except on arm’s length terms and other exceptions.
In addition, the Company is obligated to maintain (i) a consolidated net lease adjusted leverage ratio not greater than 3.50 to 1.00 (which may increase to 3.75 to 1.00 for four consecutive fiscal quarters upon the consummation of certain material acquisitions); and (ii) a consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio equal to or greater than 1.75 to 1.00; both as calculated in accordance with the terms and definitions determining such ratios contained in the Credit Agreement (together, the “Financial Covenants”). The Credit Agreement also contains various information and reporting requirements.
The Credit Agreement also contains customary events of default, including, but not limited to, a cross-default to certain other debt, breaches of representations and warranties, change in control events and breaches of covenants.
The obligations under the Credit Agreement are required to be guaranteed by certain of the Company’s wholly owned domestic subsidiaries (other than certain immaterial subsidiaries).
The lenders under the Credit Agreement and their affiliates have provided and may, from time to time, continue to provide investment banking, financial advisory and other services to the Company, for which they have received
customary fees and reimbursement of expenses, and for which they expect to receive customary fees and reimbursement of expenses, respectively.
The foregoing description of the Credit Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Credit Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.
Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.
The information set forth above under Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
The information set forth above under Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.
The Credit Agreement described under Item 1.01 allows the Company to pay dividends, repurchase its shares and make certain other distributions from time to time, so long as at the time of such dividend, repurchase or distribution, the Company is not in Default (and no Default or Event of Default would result from paying the dividend, repurchasing the shares or making the distribution) and it would be in compliance with the Financial Covenants (as of the date specified in the Credit Agreement). Currently, the Credit Agreement would not prohibit the Company from paying dividends. The future payment of dividends is within the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon, among other factors, our earnings, capital requirements, and operating and financial condition, as well as the Financial Covenants under the Credit Agreement.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) The following exhibits are furnished as part of this report:
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Description |
4.1 | | |
104 | | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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| LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED | |
| (Registrant) | |
Date: October 15, 2021
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| BY: /s/ Jennifer L. McCurry | |
| Jennifer L. McCurry Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer | |
Document
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CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of October 15, 2021, by and among LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, as the Borrower, THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO, and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender, and an Issuing Lender WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Co-Syndication Agents |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS | 1 |
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SECTION 1.1 | Definitions | 1 |
SECTION 1.2 | Other Definitions and Provisions | 38 |
SECTION 1.3 | Accounting Terms | 38 |
SECTION 1.4 | UCC Terms | 39 |
SECTION 1.5 | Rounding | 39 |
SECTION 1.6 | References to Agreements and Laws | 39 |
SECTION 1.7 | Times of Day | 39 |
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SECTION 1.8 | [Reserved] | 39 |
SECTION 1.9 | Covenant Compliance Generally | 39 |
SECTION 1.10 | Rates | 39 |
SECTION 1.11 | Divisions | 40 |
SECTION 1.12 | Blocking Laws | 40 |
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ARTICLE II REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY | 40 |
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SECTION 2.1 | Revolving Credit Loans | 40 |
SECTION 2.2 | Swingline Loans | 41 |
SECTION 2.3 | Procedure for Advances of Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans | 42 |
SECTION 2.4 | Repayment and Prepayment of Revolving Credit and Swingline Loans | 43 |
SECTION 2.5 | Permanent Reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment | 44 |
SECTION 2.6 | Termination of Revolving Credit Facility | 45 |
SECTION 2.7 | Extension of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date | 45 |
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ARTICLE III LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY | 47 |
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SECTION 3.1 | L/C Facility | 47 |
SECTION 3.2 | Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit | 48 |
SECTION 3.3 | Commissions and Other Charges | 49 |
SECTION 3.4 | L/C Participations | 49 |
SECTION 3.5 | Reimbursement | 50 |
SECTION 3.6 | Obligations Absolute | 51 |
SECTION 3.7 | Effect of Letter of Credit Documents | 52 |
SECTION 3.8 | Resignation of Issuing Lenders. | 52 |
SECTION 3.9 | Reporting of Letter of Credit Information and L/C Commitment | 53 |
SECTION 3.10 | Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries | 53 |
SECTION 3.11 | Letter of Credit Amounts | 53 |
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ARTICLE IV [RESERVED] | 54 |
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ARTICLE V GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS | 54 |
SECTION 5.1 | Interest | 54 |
SECTION 5.2 | Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of Loans | 55 |
SECTION 5.3 | Fees | 55 |
SECTION 5.4 | Manner of Payment | 56 |
SECTION 5.5 | Evidence of Indebtedness | 56 |
SECTION 5.6 | Sharing of Payments by Lenders | 57 |
SECTION 5.7 | Administrative Agent’s Clawback | 57 |
SECTION 5.8 | Changed Circumstances | 58 |
SECTION 5.9 | Indemnity | 61 |
SECTION 5.10 | Increased Costs | 61 |
SECTION 5.11 | Taxes | 63 |
SECTION 5.12 | Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders | 66 |
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SECTION 5.13 | Incremental Increases | 67 |
SECTION 5.14 | Cash Collateral | 70 |
SECTION 5.15 | Defaulting Lenders | 71 |
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ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING | 73 |
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SECTION 6.1 | Conditions to Closing and Initial Extensions of Credit | 73 |
SECTION 6.2 | Conditions to All Extensions of Credit | 75 |
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ARTICLE VII REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE CREDIT PARTIES | 76 |
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SECTION 7.1 | Organization; Power; Qualification | 76 |
SECTION 7.2 | Ownership | 76 |
SECTION 7.3 | Authorization; Enforceability | 77 |
SECTION 7.4 | Compliance of Agreement, Loan Documents and Borrowing with Laws, Etc | 77 |
SECTION 7.5 | Compliance with Law; Governmental Approvals | 77 |
SECTION 7.6 | Tax Returns and Payments | 77 |
SECTION 7.7 | Intellectual Property Matters | 78 |
SECTION 7.8 | Environmental Matters | 78 |
SECTION 7.9 | Employee Benefit Matters | 78 |
SECTION 7.10 | Margin Stock | 78 |
SECTION 7.11 | Government Regulation | 79 |
SECTION 7.12 | Financial Statements | 79 |
SECTION 7.13 | No Material Adverse Change | 79 |
SECTION 7.14 | Solvency | 79 |
SECTION 7.15 | Litigation | 79 |
SECTION 7.16 | Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Sanctions | 79 |
SECTION 7.17 | Absence of Defaults | 80 |
SECTION 7.18 | Disclosure | 80 |
SECTION 7.19 | Title to Properties | 80 |
SECTION 7.20 | Eligible Foreign Subsidiaries | 80 |
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ARTICLE VIII AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS | 81 |
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SECTION 8.1 | Financial Statements | 81 |
SECTION 8.2 | Certificates; Other Reports | 82 |
SECTION 8.3 | Notice of Litigation and Other Matters | 83 |
SECTION 8.4 | Preservation of Corporate Existence and Related Matters | 83 |
SECTION 8.5 | Maintenance of Property and Licenses | 84 |
SECTION 8.6 | Insurance | 84 |
SECTION 8.7 | Accounting Methods and Financial Records | 84 |
SECTION 8.8 | Payment of Taxes and Other Obligations | 84 |
SECTION 8.9 | Compliance with Laws and Approvals | 84 |
SECTION 8.10 | [Reserved] | 84 |
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SECTION 8.11 | Compliance with ERISA | 85 |
SECTION 8.12 | Visits and Inspections | 85 |
SECTION 8.13 | Additional Guarantors | 85 |
SECTION 8.14 | Use of Proceeds | 86 |
SECTION 8.15 | Compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws; Beneficial Ownership Regulation, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Sanctions | 87 |
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ARTICLE IX NEGATIVE COVENANTS | 87 |
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SECTION 9.1 | Indebtedness | 87 |
SECTION 9.2 | Liens | 88 |
SECTION 9.3 | Fundamental Changes | 91 |
SECTION 9.4 | Restricted Payments | 92 |
SECTION 9.5 | Transactions with Affiliates | 92 |
SECTION 9.6 | Accounting Changes; Organizational Documents | 93 |
SECTION 9.7 | No Further Negative Pledges | 93 |
SECTION 9.8 | Nature of Business | 94 |
SECTION 9.9 | Financial Covenants | 94 |
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ARTICLE X DEFAULT AND REMEDIES | 94 |
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SECTION 10.1 | Events of Default | 94 |
SECTION 10.2 | Remedies | 96 |
SECTION 10.3 | Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; Etc | 97 |
SECTION 10.4 | Crediting of Payments and Proceeds | 97 |
SECTION 10.5 | Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim | 98 |
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ARTICLE XI THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT | 99 |
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SECTION 11.1 | Appointment and Authority | 99 |
SECTION 11.2 | Rights as a Lender | 99 |
SECTION 11.3 | Exculpatory Provisions | 99 |
SECTION 11.4 | Reliance by the Administrative Agent | 101 |
SECTION 11.5 | Delegation of Duties | 101 |
SECTION 11.6 | Resignation of Administrative Agent | 101 |
SECTION 11.7 | Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders | 103 |
SECTION 11.8 | No Other Duties, Etc | 103 |
SECTION 11.9 | Guaranty Matters | 103 |
SECTION 11.10 | Guaranteed Hedge Obligations and Guaranteed Cash Management Obligations | 104 |
SECTION 11.11 | Certain ERISA Matters | 104 |
SECTION 11.12 | Erroneous Payments | 105 |
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ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS | 107 |
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SECTION 12.1 | Notices | 107 |
SECTION 12.2 | Amendments, Waivers and Consents | 109 |
SECTION 12.3 | Expenses; Indemnity | 111 |
SECTION 12.4 | Right of Setoff | 113 |
SECTION 12.5 | Governing Law; Jurisdiction, Etc | 114 |
SECTION 12.6 | Waiver of Jury Trial | 115 |
SECTION 12.7 | Reversal of Payments | 115 |
SECTION 12.8 | Injunctive Relief | 115 |
SECTION 12.9 | Successors and Assigns; Participations | 115 |
SECTION 12.10 | Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality | 120 |
SECTION 12.11 | Performance of Duties | 121 |
SECTION 12.12 | All Powers Coupled with Interest | 121 |
SECTION 12.13 | Survival | 121 |
SECTION 12.14 | Titles and Captions | 122 |
SECTION 12.15 | Severability of Provisions | 122 |
SECTION 12.16 | Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution | 122 |
SECTION 12.17 | Term of Agreement | 123 |
SECTION 12.18 | USA PATRIOT Act; Anti-Money Laundering Laws | 123 |
SECTION 12.19 | Independent Effect of Covenants | 123 |
SECTION 12.20 | No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility | 123 |
SECTION 12.21 | Inconsistencies with Other Documents | 124 |
SECTION 12.22 | Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions | 124 |
SECTION 12.23 | Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs | 125 |
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EXHIBITS | | |
Exhibit A-1 | - | Form of Revolving Credit Note |
Exhibit A-2 | - | Form of Swingline Note |
Exhibit B | - | Form of Notice of Borrowing |
Exhibit C | - | Form of Notice of Account Designation |
Exhibit D | - | Form of Notice of Prepayment |
Exhibit E | - | Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation |
Exhibit F | - | Form of Compliance Certificate |
Exhibit G | - | Form of Assignment and Assumption |
Exhibit H-1 | - | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Non-Partnership Foreign Lenders) |
Exhibit H-2 | - | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Non-Partnership Foreign Participants) |
Exhibit H-3 | - | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Participant Partnerships) |
Exhibit H-4 | - | Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Lender Partnerships) |
Exhibit I | - | Form of Joinder Agreement |
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SCHEDULES |
Schedule 1.1 | - | Commitments and Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages |
Schedule 7.1 | - | Jurisdictions of Organization and Qualification; Subsidiary Guarantors |
Schedule 7.2 | - | Subsidiaries and Capitalization |
Schedule 9.1 | - | Existing Indebtedness |
Schedule 9.2 | - | Existing Liens |
Schedule 9.5 | - | Transactions with Affiliates |
Schedule 9.7 | - | Existing Negative Pledges |
CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of October 15, 2021, is by and among LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, a Michigan corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party hereto and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender, and an Issuing Lender.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Swingline Lender, and the Issuing Lenders have agreed to extend, certain credit facilities to the Borrower.
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, such parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Definitions. The following terms when used in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them below:
“Accession” has the meaning assigned thereto in Article 9 of the UCC.
“Account” has the meaning assigned thereto in Article 9 of the UCC.
“Acquired EBITDAR” means, with respect to any Person or business acquired pursuant to an Acquisition for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDAR of any such Person or business so acquired (determined using such definitions as if references to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries therein were to such Person or business), as calculated by the Borrower in good faith and which shall be factually supported by historical financial statements; provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, in determining Acquired EBITDAR for any Person or business that does not have historical financial accounting periods which coincide with that of the financial accounting periods of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (a) references to Reference Period in any applicable definitions shall be deemed to mean the same relevant period as the applicable period of determination for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (b) to the extent the commencement of any such Reference Period shall occur during a fiscal quarter of such acquired Person or business (such that only a portion of such fiscal quarter shall be included in such Reference Period), Acquired EBITDAR for the portion of such fiscal quarter so included in such Reference Period shall be deemed to be an amount equal to (i) Acquired EBITDAR otherwise attributable to the entire fiscal quarter (determined in a manner consistent with the terms set forth above) multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of months of such fiscal quarter included in the relevant Reference Period and the denominator of which shall be actual months in such fiscal quarter.
“Acquisition” means any acquisition, or any series of related acquisitions, consummated on or after the Closing Date, by which any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries (a) acquires any business or all or substantially all of the assets of any Person, or business unit, line of business or division thereof, whether through purchase of assets, exchange, issuance of stock or other equity or debt securities, merger, reorganization, amalgamation, division or otherwise or (b) directly or indirectly acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) at least (i) a majority (in number of votes) of the securities of a corporation which have ordinary voting power for the election of members of the board of directors or the equivalent governing body (other than securities having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency), or (ii) a majority (by percentage or voting power) of the outstanding ownership interests of a partnership or limited liability company.
“Additional Commitment Lender” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.7(d).
“Administrative Agent” means Wells Fargo, in its capacity as Administrative Agent hereunder, and any successor thereto appointed pursuant to Section 11.6.
“Administrative Agent’s Office” means the office of the Administrative Agent specified in or determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.1(c).
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an administrative questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
“Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.
“Agent Parties” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.1(e).
“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.
“All-In Yield” means, as to any Indebtedness, the effective all-in yield applicable thereto as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and reasonably acceptable to the Borrower in a manner consistent with generally accepted financial practices, taking into account (a) interest rate margins, (b) original issue discount (“OID”) and upfront or similar fees (which shall be deemed to constitute like amounts of OID) payable by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to all of the lenders under, or holders of, such Indebtedness in the initial primary syndication thereof (with OID and upfront fees being equated to interest based on assumed four-year life to maturity (or, if less, the stated weighted average life to maturity at the time of its incurrence of the applicable Indebtedness)), and (c) any interest rate floor, but excluding (i) any arrangement, commitment, structuring, agency, underwriting or other fees or amounts that are not paid to or shared with all relevant lenders generally in connection with the commitment, syndication, funding, purchase, sale or in connection with such Indebtedness, (ii) any ticking, unused line or similar fees or (iii) any other fee or amount that is not paid directly by the Borrower generally to all relevant lenders ratably in connection with such Indebtedness; provided, that, (A) to the extent that any interest rate specified for such Indebtedness that is subject to a floor (in each case, without giving effect to any such floor on the date on which the All-In Yield is being calculated) is less than such floor, the amount of such difference will be deemed added to the interest rate margin applicable to such Indebtedness for purposes of calculating the All-In Yield and (B) to the extent that any interest rate specified for such Indebtedness that is subject to a floor (in each case, without giving effect to any such floor on the date on which the All-In Yield is being calculated) is equal to or greater than such floor, the floor will be disregarded in calculating the All-In Yield.
“Announcements” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 1.10.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means any and all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption, including the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and the rules and regulations thereunder and the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 and the rules and regulations thereunder.
“Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means any and all laws, statutes, regulations or obligatory government orders, decrees, ordinances or rules related to terrorism financing, money laundering, any predicate crime to money laundering or any financial record keeping, including any applicable provision of the PATRIOT Act and The Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act (also known as the “Bank Secrecy Act,” 31 U.S.C. §§ 5311-5330 and 12 U.S.C. §§ 1818(s), 1820(b) and 1951-1959).
“Applicable Eligible Foreign Subsidiary Documents” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 7.20(a).
“Applicable Law” means all applicable provisions of constitutions, laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, treaties, regulations, interpretations and orders of Governmental Authorities and all orders and decrees of all courts and arbitrators.
“Applicable Margin” means the corresponding percentages per annum as set forth below based on the Consolidated Net Lease Adjusted Leverage Ratio:
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Pricing Level | Consolidated Net Lease Adjusted Leverage Ratio | Commitment Fee | LIBOR + | Base Rate + |
I | Less than or equal to 1.00 to 1.00 | 0.110% | 1.000% | 0.000% |
II | Greater than 1.00 to 1.00, but less than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00 | 0.125% | 1.125% | 0.125% |
III | Greater than 1.50 to 1.00, but less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00 | 0.150% | 1.250% | 0.250% |
IV | Greater than 2.00 to 1.00, but less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00 | 0.175% | 1.375% | 0.375% |
V | Greater than 2.50 to 1.00 | 0.225% | 1.625% | 0.625% |
The Applicable Margin shall be determined and adjusted quarterly on the date five (5) Business Days after the day on which the Borrower provides a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 8.2(a) for the most recently completed fiscal quarter of the Borrower (each such date, a “Calculation Date”); provided, that, (a) the Applicable Margin shall be based on Pricing Level II until the first Calculation Date occurring after the Closing Date and, thereafter the Pricing Level shall be determined by reference to the Consolidated Net Lease Adjusted Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently completed fiscal quarter of the Borrower preceding the applicable Calculation Date, and (b) if the Borrower fails to provide a Compliance Certificate when due as required by Section 8.2(a) for the most recently completed fiscal quarter of the Borrower preceding the applicable Calculation Date, the Applicable Margin from the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered shall be based on Pricing Level V until such time as such Compliance Certificate is delivered, at which time the Pricing Level shall be determined by reference to the Consolidated Net Lease Adjusted Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently completed fiscal quarter of the Borrower preceding such Calculation Date. The applicable Pricing Level shall be effective from one Calculation Date until the next Calculation Date. Any adjustment in the Pricing Level shall be applicable to all Extensions of Credit then existing or subsequently made or issued.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any financial statement or Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.1 or 8.2(a) is shown to be inaccurate (regardless of whether (a) this Agreement is in effect, (b) any Commitments are in effect, or (c) any Extension of Credit is outstanding when such inaccuracy is discovered or such financial statement or Compliance Certificate was delivered), and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Margin for any period (an “Applicable Period”) than the Applicable Margin applied for such Applicable Period, then (i) the Borrower shall promptly (and in any case within five (5) Business Days) deliver to the Administrative Agent a corrected Compliance Certificate for such Applicable Period, (ii) the Applicable Margin for such Applicable Period shall be determined as if the Consolidated Net Lease Adjusted Leverage Ratio in the corrected Compliance Certificate were applicable for such Applicable Period, and (iii) the Borrower shall promptly (and in any case within five (5) Business Days) and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent the accrued additional interest and fees owing as a result of such increased Applicable Margin for such Applicable Period, which payment shall be promptly applied by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 5.4. Nothing in this paragraph shall limit the rights of the Administrative Agent and Lenders with respect to Sections 5.1(b) and 10.2 nor any of their other
rights under this Agreement or any other Loan Document. The Borrower’s obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.
“Applicable Period” has the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of “Applicable Margin”.
“Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
“Arranger” means each of (a) Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, in its capacities as a joint lead arranger and a joint bookrunner and (b) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacities as a joint lead arranger and a joint bookrunner.
“Asset Disposition” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition of any Property (including any Sale and Leaseback Transaction, division, merger or disposition of Equity Interests), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and any issuance of Equity Interests by any Subsidiary to any Person that is not the Borrower or a Subsidiary.
“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 12.9) and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form attached as Exhibit G or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date of determination, (a) in respect of any Capital Lease Obligation of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease, the capitalized amount or principal amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were accounted for as a Capital Lease Obligation.
“Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, (a) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark or (b) otherwise, any payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, as applicable, that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period pursuant to this Agreement as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to Section 5.8(c)(iv).
“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.
“Bail-In Legislation” means (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation, rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).
“Bankruptcy Code” means 11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq.
“Base Rate” means, at any time, the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% and (c) LIBOR for an Interest Period of one month plus 1%; each change in the Base Rate shall take effect simultaneously with the corresponding change or changes in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or LIBOR (provided, that, clause (c) above shall not be applicable during any period in which LIBOR is unavailable or unascertainable).
“Base Rate Loan” means any Loan bearing interest at a rate based upon the Base Rate as provided in Section 5.1(a).
“Benchmark” means, initially, USD LIBOR; provided, that, if a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event, an Early Opt-in Election or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to USD LIBOR or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 5.8(c)(i).
“Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor: (a) with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event or Early Opt-in Election, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date: (i) the sum of (A) Term SOFR and (B) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; (ii) the sum of (A) Daily Simple SOFR and (B) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; and (iii) the sum of (A) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (1) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (2) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time and (B) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; or (b) with respect to any Term SOFR Transition Event, the sum of (i) Term SOFR and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; or (c) with respect to any Other Benchmark Rate Election, the sum of (i) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; provided, that, (x) in the case of clause (a)(i) above, if the Administrative Agent decides that Term SOFR is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then Term SOFR will be deemed unable to be determined for purposes of this definition and (y) in the case of clause (a)(i) or clause (b) above, the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion. If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to this definition would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor for any setting of such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement: (a) for purposes of clauses (a)(i) and (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” an amount equal to (i) 0.11448% (11.448 basis points) for an Available Tenor of one-month’s duration, (ii) 0.26161% (26.161 basis points) for an Available Tenor of three-months’ duration and (iii) 0.42826% (42.826 basis points) for an Available
Tenor of six-months’ duration; (b) for purposes of clause (a)(ii) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” an amount equal to 0.26161% (26.161 basis points); (c) for purposes of clause (a)(iii) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Available Tenor of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Available Tenor of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities; and (d) for purposes of clause (c) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Available Tenor of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities.
“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides in consultation with the Borrower may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).
“Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark: (a) in the case of clause (a) or clause (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (i) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein, and (ii) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); (b) in the case of clause (c) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein; (c) in the case of a Term SOFR Transition Event, the date that is thirty (30) days after the Administrative Agent has provided the Term SOFR Notice to the Lenders and the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.8(c)(i)(B); or (d) in the case of an Early Opt-in Election or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, the sixth (6th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election or Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, is provided to the Lenders, so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by 5:00 p.m. on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election or Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, is provided to the Lenders, written notice of objection to such Early Opt-in Election or Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders. For the avoidance of doubt, (A) if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same
day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination and (B) the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (a) or clause (b) above with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
“Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark: (a) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely; provided, that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); (b) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the FRB, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided, that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or (c) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer representative. For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
“Benchmark Unavailability Period” means the period (if any) (a) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clause (a) or clause (b) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 5.8(c) and (b) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 5.8(c).
“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 CFR § 1010.230.
“Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.
“Blocking Law” means (a) any provision of Council Regulation (EC) No 2271/96 of 22 November 1996 and Commission Delegated Regulation (EC) No 2018/1100 (or any law or regulation implementing such regulations in any member state of the European Union or the United Kingdom, (b) Section 7 of the German Foreign Trade Regulation (AWV) (Außenwirtschaftsverordnung) (in connection with Sections 4, 19 para 3 no 1a of the German Foreign Trade Act (AWG) (Außenwirtschaftsgesetz)) and Section 81 paragraph 1 no 1 AWV), (c) any provision of The Protecting Against the Effects of the Extraterritorial Application of Third Country Legislation (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 or (d) any similar blocking, anti-boycott or equivalent law or regulation.
“Borrower” has the meaning assigned thereto in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“Borrower Materials” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 8.2.
“Business Day” means (a) for all purposes other than as set forth in clause (b) below, any day (other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday) on which banks in New York, New York, are open for the conduct of their commercial banking business and (b) with respect to all notices and determinations in connection with, and payments of principal and interest on, any LIBOR Rate Loan, or any Base Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is determined by reference to LIBOR, any day that is a Business Day described in clause (a) above and that is also a London Banking Day.
“Calculation Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of “Applicable Margin.”
“Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as finance leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP.
“Cash Collateralize” means, to pledge and deposit with, or deliver to the Administrative Agent, or directly to the applicable Issuing Lender (with notice thereof to the Administrative Agent), for the benefit of one or more of the Issuing Lenders, the Swingline Lender or the Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations or obligations of the Lenders to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations or Swingline Loans, cash or deposit account balances or, if the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender shall agree, in their sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Lender and the Swingline 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 Equivalents” means, collectively, (a) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States or any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one (1) year from the date of acquisition thereof, (b) commercial paper maturing no more than two hundred seventy (270) days from the date of creation thereof and currently having the highest rating obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s (or, if at any time either S&P or Moody’s are not rating such fund, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency), (c) investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances, money market deposits and time deposits maturing within one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof that has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not
less than $500,000,000 and having a long-term debt rating of “A” or better by S&P or “A2” or better from Moody’s (or, if at any time either S&P or Moody’s are not rating the debt of such bank, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency), (d) investments in any money market fund or money market mutual fund that has (i) substantially all of its assets invested in the types of investments referred to in clauses (a) through (c) above, (ii) net assets of not less than $250,000,000 and (iii) a rating of at least A-2 from S&P or at least P-2 from Moody’s (or, if at any time either S&P or Moody’s are not rating such fund, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency), (e) solely with respect to any Subsidiary domiciled outside the United States, substantially equivalent investments to those outlined in clauses (a) through (d) above which are reasonably comparable in tenor and credit quality (taking into account the jurisdiction where such Subsidiary conducts business) and customarily used in the ordinary course of business by similar companies for cash management purposes in any jurisdiction in which such Person conducts business (it being understood that such investments may be denominated in the currency of any jurisdiction in which such Person conducts business) and (f) investments of the type described in the “La-Z-Boy Incorporated / UBS Investment Objectives and Guidelines” of the Borrower, dated as of January 19, 2021, together with any modifications thereto reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (it being understood that for any such investment described in this clause (f) to be classified as a “Cash Equivalent”, it shall be (or would be) classified as a “Cash Equivalent” on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP).
“Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card (including non-card electronic payables and purchasing cards), electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements.
“Cash on Hand” means, on any date of determination, the sum of the amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis as set forth on (or that would be set forth on) the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date in accordance with GAAP (it being understood that such amount shall exclude in any event any cash and Cash Equivalents identified on such balance sheet as “restricted” (other than cash or Cash Equivalents restricted in favor of the Administrative Agent or the other holders of the Obligations)).
“CFC” means a Foreign Subsidiary that is a “controlled foreign corporation” under Section 957 of the Code and any Subsidiary owned directly or indirectly by such Foreign Subsidiary.
“CFC Holdco” means a Subsidiary substantially all the assets of which consist of Equity Interests in Foreign Subsidiaries that each constitute a CFC and/or Indebtedness or accounts receivable owed by Foreign Subsidiaries that each constitute a CFC or are treated as owed by any such Foreign Subsidiaries for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
“Change in Control” means an event or series of events by which: (a) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its Subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a “person” or “group” shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all Equity Interests that such “person” or “group” has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or indirectly, of more than thirty-five percent (35%) of the Equity Interests of the Borrower entitled to vote in the election of members of the board of directors (or equivalent governing
body) of the Borrower; or (b) a majority of the members of the board of directors (or other equivalent governing body) of the Borrower shall not constitute Continuing Directors.
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the Closing Date, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty; (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority; or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided, that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, implemented or issued.
“Class” means, when used in reference to any Loan, whether such Loan is a Revolving Credit Loan, Swingline Loan or Incremental Term Loan and, when used in reference to any Commitment, whether such Commitment is a Revolving Credit Commitment or an Incremental Term Loan Commitment.
“Closing Date” means October 15, 2021.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“Commitment Fee” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.3(a).
“Commitments” means, collectively, as to all Lenders, the Revolving Credit Commitments and the Incremental Term Loan Commitments of such Lenders.
“Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.).
“Competitor” means (a) competitors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that have been specified by legal name by the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent prior to or following the Closing Date, or (b) any Affiliate of any competitor of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that is obviously (based solely on the similarity of the legal name of such Affiliate to the name of the competitor previously identified by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in writing) an Affiliate of any such competitor referred to in clause (a) above; provided, that, the foregoing shall not apply to retroactively disqualify any parties that have previously acquired an assignment or participation in the Loans or Commitments under the Credit Facility to the extent that any such party was not a Competitor at the time of the applicable assignment or participation.
“Competitor List” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.9(f)(iv).
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower substantially in the form attached as Exhibit F.
“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” means, when used with reference to financial statements or financial statement items of any Person, such statements or items on a consolidated basis in accordance with applicable principles of consolidation under GAAP.
“Consolidated Adjusted Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as of such date, plus (b) the aggregate amount of operating lease liabilities required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated EBITDAR” means, for any period, the sum of the following determined on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries: (a) Consolidated Net Income for such period; plus (b) the sum of the following, without duplication, to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period (or, in the case of clause (b)(ix) below, to the extent not already included in Consolidated Net Income for such period): (i) Consolidated Interest Expense; (ii) expense for Taxes measured by net income, profits or capital (or any similar measures), paid or accrued, including federal and state and local income Taxes, foreign income Taxes and franchise Taxes; (iii) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles) and other non-cash charges, losses or expenses, excluding (x) any non-cash charge or expense relating to write-offs, write-downs or reserves with respect to accounts or inventory and (y) any non-cash charge or expense which represents a cash item in such period or any other period; (iv) unusual and non-recurring losses (excluding losses from discontinued operations); (v) all transaction fees, charges and other amounts related to the execution and delivery of or the administration of this Agreement and any other Loan Document, and any amendment, consent, waiver or other modification to the Loan Documents; (vi) all transaction fees, charges and other amounts (including any financing fees, merger and acquisition fees, legal fees and expenses, due diligence fees or any other fees and expenses in connection therewith) in connection with any Acquisition permitted pursuant to this Agreement, any other investment permitted pursuant to this Agreement, any Asset Disposition permitted pursuant to this Agreement, any issuance or repurchase of Equity Interests permitted pursuant to this Agreement, or the incurrence, amendment or waiver of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to this Agreement, in each case, whether or not consummated; (vii) Consolidated Rent Expense, plus (without duplication) any rent or lease expenses or costs, in each case, for such period; (viii) any costs or expenses for such period pursuant to any equity plan, stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, in each case, to the extent that such costs or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Borrower or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower (other than Disqualified Equity Interests); (ix) (A) other unusual and non-recurring cash expenses or charges (including one-time non-recurring severance charges and cash restructuring charges) or business optimization expenses or expenses or charges related to any cost savings initiative or other similar initiative taken after the Closing Date and (B) the amount of any “run rate” synergies, operating expense reductions and other net cost savings and operating improvements, business optimization activities and/or restructuring initiatives, in each case, taken after the Closing Date, for such period (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such synergies, expense reductions, cost savings, business optimization, restructuring initiatives and operating improvements had been realized on the first day of the period for which Consolidated EBITDAR is being determined), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions; provided, that, (x) in the Compliance Certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8.2(a) for such period, the Borrower shall certify that such items (1) are reasonably identifiable, factually supportable, expected to have a continuing impact on the operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and have been determined by the Borrower in good faith to be reasonably anticipated to be realizable within twelve (12) months following any such action, (2) no such amounts shall be added pursuant to this clause to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges otherwise added to Consolidated EBITDAR or included in
Consolidated Net Income, whether through a pro forma adjustment or otherwise and (3) projected amounts (that are not yet realized) may no longer be added in calculating Consolidated EBITDAR pursuant to this clause (b)(ix) to the extent occurring more than four (4) full fiscal quarters after the specified action taken in order to realize such projected synergies, expense reductions, cost savings or operating improvements and (y) the aggregate amount added pursuant to this clause (b)(ix)(B) for any period shall in no event exceed ten percent (10%) of Consolidated EBITDAR for such period (calculated prior to any such add-backs pursuant to this clause (b)(ix)(B); and (x) to the extent covered by insurance or any third party and to the extent by insurance or such third party actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Borrower has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurance or such third party, expenses, charges or losses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption, indemnity or other transactions (to the extent not reflected as revenue or income in Consolidated Net Income and to the extent that the related loss was deducted in the determination of Consolidated Net Income); and minus (c) the sum of the following, without duplication, to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period: (i) interest income; (ii) federal, state, local and foreign income Tax credits of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period (to the extent not netted from income Tax expense); (iii) any unusual and non-recurring gains; (iv) non-cash gains or non-cash items; and (v) any cash payment made during such period to the extent such payment relates to a non-cash charge or expense added back to Consolidated Net Income in any other period. For purposes of this Agreement, Consolidated EBITDAR shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.
“Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDAR for the most recently completed Reference Period, to (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for the most recently completed Reference Period.
“Consolidated Fixed Charges” means, for any period, the sum of the following determined on a Consolidated basis for such period, without duplication, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP: (a) Consolidated Interest Expense paid or payable in cash; plus (b) Consolidated Rent Expense paid or payable in cash.
“Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, the sum of, without duplication: (a) all liabilities, obligations and indebtedness for borrowed money including, but not limited to, obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments of any such Person; (b) all purchase money Indebtedness; (c) all obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services of any such Person (including all payment obligations under non-competition, earn-out or similar agreements, solely to the extent any such payment obligation under non-competition, earn-out or similar agreements becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP) (and in the amount such obligation is reflected on the balance sheet of such Person), except trade payables and accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business not more than ninety (90) days past due, or that are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided for on the books of such Person; (d) the Attributable Indebtedness of such Person with respect to such Person’s Capital Lease Obligations, Synthetic Leases and Sale and Leaseback Transaction Indebtedness (regardless of whether accounted for as indebtedness under GAAP); (e) all drawn and unreimbursed obligations, contingent or otherwise, of any such Person relative to letters of credit, including any Reimbursement Obligation, and banker’s acceptances issued for the account of any such Person; (f) all obligations of any such Person in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests which shall be valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference; (g) all Guarantees of any such Person with respect to any of the foregoing; and (h)
all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or joint venturer, unless and to the extent such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” shall exclude and shall be calculated without giving effect to (i) the payment of any “guaranteed payments” as specified in the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 10, 2018, among the Borrower, HF Merger Subsidiary, Inc., Stitch Industries, Inc. and the other parties thereto or (ii) the payment of deferred purchase price installments specified in that certain Asset Purchase Agreement, dated June 8, 2020, among LZB Retail, Inc., Sunshine Furniture, LLC and Chris Washko; provided, that (x) such “guaranteed payments” excluded from “Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” pursuant to clause (i) shall not exceed $10,000,000 and (y) such deferred purchase price installments excluded from “Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” pursuant to clause (ii) shall not exceed $9,500,000.
“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, the sum of the following determined on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, interest expense (including amortization or write-off of debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with Indebtedness and interest expense attributable to Capital Lease Obligations and all net payment obligations pursuant to Hedge Agreements) for such period.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP; provided, that, in calculating Consolidated Net Income for any period, there shall be excluded (a) the net income (or loss) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary which shall be subject to clause (c) below), in which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has a joint interest with a third party, except to the extent such net income is actually paid in cash to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries by dividend or other distribution during such period, (b) the net income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or that Person’s assets are acquired by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries except to the extent included pursuant to the foregoing clause (a), (c) the net income (if positive), of any Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of such net income is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such Subsidiary, (d) the net income (or loss) of any Subsidiary that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary to the extent such net income (or loss) is attributable to the minority interest in such Subsidiary and (e) any gain or loss from Asset Dispositions during such period.
“Consolidated Net Lease Adjusted Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) the total of (i) Consolidated Adjusted Funded Indebtedness on such date, minus (ii) the lesser of (A) $50,000,000 and (B) the amount of Cash on Hand in excess of customer deposits, to (b) Consolidated EBITDAR for the most recently completed Reference Period.
“Consolidated Rent Expense” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, all rent and lease expense relating to real properties for such period.
“Consolidated Tangible Assets” means, as of any date of determination, with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the aggregate amount of assets as of such date (determined on a Consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP) after deducting therefrom all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, licenses, unamortized debt discount and expense, treasury stock, right-of-use lease
assets and other like intangibles (in each case, determined on a Consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP).
“Continuing Directors” means the directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Borrower on the Closing Date and each other director (or equivalent) of the Borrower, if, in each case, such other Person’s nomination for election to the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Borrower is approved by at least a majority of the then-Continuing Directors.
“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.
“Corresponding Tenor” with respect to any Available Tenor means, as applicable, either a tenor (including overnight) or an interest payment period having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.
“Credit Facility” means, collectively, the Revolving Credit Facility, the Swingline Facility, the L/C Facility and any Incremental Term Loans.
“Credit Party” means each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor.
“Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day, SOFR, with the conventions for this rate (which will include a lookback) being established by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining “Daily Simple SOFR” for syndicated business loans; provided, that, if the Administrative Agent decides that any such convention is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may establish another convention in its reasonable discretion.
“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, 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.
“Default” means any of the events specified in Section 10.1 which with the passage of time, the giving of notice or any other condition, would constitute an Event of Default.
“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 5.15(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of the Revolving Credit Loans, participations in Letters of Credit, participations in Swingline Loans or, if applicable, any Incremental Term Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date such Loans or participations were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans) within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition
precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided, that, such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) 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 FDIC or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided, that, a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 5.15(b)) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower, each Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender and each Lender.
“Disposed EBITDAR” means, with respect to any Person or business that is sold or disposed of in an Asset Disposition during any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDAR of any such Person or business subject to such Asset Disposition (determined using such definitions as if references to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries therein were to such Person or business), as calculated by the Borrower in good faith.
“Disqualified Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, any Equity Interests of such Person that, by their terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interest into which they are convertible or for which they are exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event or condition, (a) mature or are mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior Payment in Full of the Obligations and the termination of the Commitments), (b) are redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests) (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior Payment in Full of the Obligations and the termination of the Commitments), in whole or in part, (c) provide for the scheduled payment of dividends in cash or (d) are or become convertible into, or exchangeable for, Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case of clauses (a) through (d), prior to the date that is 91 days after the latest scheduled maturity date of the Loans and Commitments; provided, that, if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such officers or employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.
“Dollars” or “$” means, unless otherwise qualified, dollars in lawful currency of the United States.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States.
“Early Opt-in Election” means, if the then-current Benchmark is USD LIBOR, the occurrence of: (a) a notification by the Administrative Agent to (or the request by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to notify) each of the other parties hereto that at least five (5) currently outstanding Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time contain (as a result of amendment or as originally executed) a SOFR-based rate (including SOFR, a term SOFR or any other rate based upon SOFR) as a benchmark rate (and such syndicated credit facilities are identified in such notice and are publicly available for review); and (b) the joint election by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to trigger a fallback from USD LIBOR and the provision by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Lenders.
“EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clause (a) or clause (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.
“EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
“EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
“Electronic Record” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 15 U.S.C. 7006.
“Electronic Signature” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 15 U.S.C. 7006.
“Eligible Assignee” means (a) a Lender, (b) a commercial bank, insurance company or company primarily engaged in making commercial loans or a commercial finance company, (c) any Affiliate of a Lender under common control with such Lender or (d) an Approved Fund of a Lender. For the avoidance of doubt, any Competitor is subject to Section 12.9(f).
“Eligible Foreign Subsidiary” means any Foreign Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United Kingdom, Canada or any other jurisdiction approved in writing by the Administrative Agent; provided, that, in no event shall any Foreign Subsidiary of the type described in clause (d) of the definition of “Excluded Subsidiary” be deemed to be an “Eligible Foreign Subsidiary”.
“Employee Benefit Plan” means (a) any employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA that is maintained for employees of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate or (b) any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan that has at any time within the preceding five (5) years been maintained, funded or administered for the employees of any Credit Party or any current or former ERISA Affiliate.
“Environmental Claims” means any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, accusations, allegations, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations (other than internal reports prepared by any Person in the ordinary course of business and not in response to any third party action or request of any kind) or proceedings relating in any way to any actual or alleged violation of or liability under any Environmental Law or relating to any permit issued, or any approval given, under any such Environmental Law, including any and all claims by Governmental Authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to public health (with respect to Hazardous Materials) or the environment.
“Environmental Laws” means any and all federal, foreign, state, provincial and material local laws, statutes, ordinances, codes, rules, standards and regulations, permits, licenses, and binding approvals, interpretations and orders of courts or Governmental Authorities, relating to the protection of public health (with respect to Hazardous Materials) or the environment, including, but not limited to, requirements pertaining to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transportation, handling, reporting, licensing, permitting, investigation or remediation of Hazardous Materials.
“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) the violation of any Environmental Law, (b) any Environmental Law with respect to the generation, use handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Equity Interests” means (a) in the case of a corporation, capital stock, (b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, (c) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited), (d) in the case of a limited liability company, membership interests, (e) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person and (f) any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any Person who together with any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries is treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001(b) of ERISA.
“Erroneous Payment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.12(a).
“Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.12(d).
“Erroneous Payment Impacted Class” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.12(d).
“Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.12(d).
“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor thereto), as in effect from time to time.
“Eurodollar Reserve Percentage” means, for any day, the percentage which is in effect for such day as prescribed by the FRB for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any basic, supplemental or emergency reserves) in respect of eurocurrency liabilities or any similar category of liabilities for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York City.
“Event of Default” means any of the events specified in Section 10.1; provided, that, any requirement for passage of time, giving of notice, or any other condition, has been satisfied.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. § 77 et seq.).
“Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) each Foreign Subsidiary, (b) each CFC Holdco, (c) each Subsidiary that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of a CFC Holdco or a Foreign Subsidiary, (d) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by Applicable Law or by any contractual obligation existing on the Closing Date or existing at the time of acquisition of such Subsidiary after the Closing Date (and not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition), in each case from Guaranteeing the Obligations, but only so long as such prohibition exists, (e) any Immaterial Subsidiary, and (f) any other Subsidiary with respect to which the Administrative Agent and the Borrower mutually agree that the cost of providing a Guarantee would be excessive in relation to the benefit to be afforded thereby; provided, that, in no event shall any Eligible Foreign Subsidiary that has become a Subsidiary Guarantor thereafter be deemed to be, or be classified as, an ”Excluded Subsidiary” for any purpose under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
“Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Credit Party, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the liability of such Credit Party for or the guarantee of such Credit Party of, or the grant by such Credit Party of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any liability or guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Credit Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the liability for or the guarantee of such Credit Party or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation (such determination being made after giving effect to any applicable keepwell, support or other agreement for the benefit of the applicable Credit Party, including under the keepwell provisions in the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement). 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 for the reasons identified in the immediately preceding sentence of this definition.
“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, United States 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 under Section 5.12(b)) or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 5.11, 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 5.11(g) and (d) any United States federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, “Excluded Taxes” shall not include any withholding tax, other than taxes described in clauses (a)(i) and (ii) above, imposed at any time on payments made by or on behalf of an Eligible Foreign Subsidiary to any Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document; provided, that, such Lender shall have complied with Section 5.11(g).
“Existing Revolving Credit Maturity Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.7(a).
“Extension Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.7(a).
“Extensions of Credit” means, as to any Lender at any time, (a) an amount equal to the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans made by such Lender then outstanding, (ii) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the L/C Obligations then outstanding, (iii) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the Swingline Loans then outstanding and (iv) the aggregate principal amount of the Incremental Term Loans made by such Lender then outstanding, or (b) the making of any Loan or participation in any Letter of Credit by such Lender, as the context requires.
“FASB ASC” means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.
“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 and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.
“FCA” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 1.10.
“FDIC” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day, provided, that, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average of the quotation for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Federal Funds Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
“Fee Letters” means (a) the separate fee letter agreement dated September 3, 2021 among the Borrower, Wells Fargo and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and (b) any letter between the Borrower and any Issuing Lender (other than Wells Fargo) relating to certain fees payable to such Issuing Lender in its capacity as such.
“Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries ending on the last Saturday of April.
“Floor” means the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in this Agreement initially (as of the execution of this Agreement, the modification, amendment or renewal of this Agreement or otherwise) with respect to USD LIBOR.
“Foreign Lender” means (a) if the Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the Borrower is not a U.S. Person, a Lender that is resident or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
“Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to any Issuing Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender, other than such L/C 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 (b) with respect to the Swingline Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of outstanding Swingline Loans other than Swingline 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, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.
“Governmental Approvals” means all authorizations, consents, approvals, permits, licenses and exemptions of, and all registrations and filings with or issued by, any Governmental Authorities.
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States 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).
“Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease
property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (d) for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (whether in whole or in part); provided, that, the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit, in each case, in the ordinary course of business, or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in connection with any disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement (other than any such obligations with respect to Indebtedness). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be the lesser of (i) an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guarantee is made or (ii) the maximum amount for which the guarantor may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument evidencing such Guarantee, unless the amount of the primary obligation or the maximum amount for which such guarantor may be liable are not stated or determinable, in which case the amount of such Guarantee shall be the guarantor’s maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as reasonably determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith.
“Guaranteed Cash Management Agreement” means (a) any Cash Management Agreement in effect on the Closing Date between or among any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries and a counterparty that is (i) a Lender, (ii) the Administrative Agent or (iii) an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent, in each case as determined as of the Closing Date or (b) any Cash Management Agreement entered into after the Closing Date between or among any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries and a counterparty that is (i) a Lender, (ii) the Administrative Agent or (iii) an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent, in each case as determined at the time such Cash Management Agreement is entered into.
“Guaranteed Cash Management Obligations” means all existing or future payment and other obligations owing by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries under any Guaranteed Cash Management Agreement.
“Guaranteed Hedge Agreement” means (a) any Hedge Agreement in effect on the Closing Date between or among any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries and a counterparty that is (i) a Lender, (ii) the Administrative Agent or (iii) an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent, in each case as determined as of the Closing Date or (b) any Hedge Agreement entered into after the Closing Date between or among any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries and a counterparty that is (i) a Lender, (ii) the Administrative Agent or (iii) an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent, in each case as determined at the time such Hedge Agreement is entered into.
“Guaranteed Hedge Obligations” means all existing or future payment and other obligations owing by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries under any Guaranteed Hedge Agreement; provided, that, the “Guaranteed Hedge Obligations” of a Credit Party shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Credit Party.
“Guaranteed Obligations” means, collectively, (a) the Obligations, (b) any Guaranteed Hedge Obligations and (c) any Guaranteed Cash Management Obligations.
“Guaranteed Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders, the holders of any Guaranteed Hedge Obligations, the holders of any Guaranteed Cash Management Obligations, each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to
time pursuant to Section 11.5, any other holder from time to time of any of any Guaranteed Obligations and, in each case, their respective successors and permitted assigns.
“Hazardous Materials” means any substances or materials (a) which are or become defined as hazardous wastes, hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, chemical substances or mixtures or toxic substances under any Environmental Law, (b) which are toxic, explosive, corrosive, infectious, radioactive, carcinogenic, mutagenic or otherwise harmful to public health or the environment and are or become regulated by any Governmental Authority, (c) the presence of which require investigation or remediation under any Environmental Law or common law, (d) the discharge or emission or release of which requires a permit or license under any Environmental Law or other Governmental Approval, or (e) which contain, without limitation, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, petroleum hydrocarbons, petroleum derived substances or waste, crude oil, nuclear fuel, natural gas or synthetic gas.
“Hedge Agreement” means (a) 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 (b) 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.
“Hedge Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Hedge Agreements, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Hedge Agreements, (a) for any date on or after the date such Hedge Agreements have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Hedge Agreements, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Hedge Agreements (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).
“IBA” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 1.10.
“Immaterial Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower (a) the value of whose assets is less than five percent (5%) individually, and less than fifteen percent (15%) in the aggregate for all such Subsidiaries, of the aggregate value of the assets of the Borrower and all of its Subsidiaries, and (b) the amount of whose annual revenue is less than five percent (5%) individually, and less than fifteen percent (15%) in the aggregate for all such Subsidiaries, of the aggregate amount of the annual revenue of the Borrower and all of its Subsidiaries.
“Increase Effective Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.13(c).
“Incremental Amendment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.13(f).
“Incremental Facilities Limit” means $100,000,000 less the total aggregate initial principal amount (as of the date of incurrence thereof) of all previously incurred Incremental Increases.
“Incremental Increase” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.13(a).
“Incremental Lender” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.13(b).
“Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increase” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.13(a).
“Incremental Term Loan” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.13(a).
“Incremental Term Loan Commitment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.13(a).
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person at any date and without duplication, the sum of the following:
(a) all liabilities, obligations and indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, including obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, of such Person;
(b) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services of such Person (including all payment obligations under non-competition, earn-out or similar agreements, solely to the extent any such payment obligation under non-competition, earn-out or similar agreements becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP), except trade payables and accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business not more than ninety (90) days past due, or that are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided for on the books of such Person;
(c) the Attributable Indebtedness of such Person with respect to such Person’s Capital Lease Obligations, Synthetic Leases and Sale and Leaseback Transaction Indebtedness (regardless of whether accounted for as indebtedness under GAAP);
(d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property purchased by such Person to the extent of the value of such property (other than customary reservations or retentions of title under agreements with suppliers entered into in the ordinary course of business);
(e) all Indebtedness of any other Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements except trade payables arising in the ordinary course of business), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;
(f) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person relative to the face amount of letters of credit, whether or not drawn, including any Reimbursement Obligation, and banker’s acceptances issued for the account of such Person;
(g) all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests;
(h) all net obligations of such Person under any Hedge Agreements; and
(i) all Guarantees of such Person with respect to any of the foregoing.
provided, however, that, the term “Indebtedness” shall exclude and shall be calculated without giving effect to (A) deferred or prepaid revenues, and (B) deferred taxes incurred and paid in the ordinary course of business (unless such deferred taxes would be included as indebtedness or liabilities of such Person in accordance with GAAP).
For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. In respect of Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on the assets of the specified Person, if such Indebtedness shall not have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse to the assets securing such Lien, the amount of such Indebtedness as of any date of determination will be the lesser of (x) the fair market value of such assets as of such date (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) and (y) the amount of such Indebtedness as of such date. The amount of any net obligation under any Hedge Agreement on any date shall be deemed to be the Hedge Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of obligations in respect of any Disqualified Equity Interests shall be valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends that are past due.
“Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Credit Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.
“Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.3(b).
“Information” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.10.
“Initial Issuing Lender” means Wells Fargo.
“Interest Period” means, as to each LIBOR Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such LIBOR Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a LIBOR Rate Loan and ending on the date one (1), three (3), or six (6) months or, if agreed by all of the relevant Lenders twelve (12) months thereafter, in each case as selected by the Borrower in its Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation and subject to availability; provided, that:
(a) the Interest Period shall commence on the date of advance of or conversion to any LIBOR Rate Loan and, in the case of immediately successive Interest Periods, each successive Interest Period shall commence on the date on which the immediately preceding Interest Period expires;
(b) if any 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; provided, that, if any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Rate Loan would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day but is a day of the month after which no further Business Day occurs in such month, such Interest Period shall expire on the immediately preceding Business Day;
(c) any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Rate Loan 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 end on the last Business Day of the relevant calendar month at the end of such Interest Period;
(d) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Revolving Credit Maturity Date; and
(e) there shall be no more than ten (10) Interest Periods in effect at any time.
“Inventory” has the meaning assigned thereto in Article 9 of the UCC.
“Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. § 80(a)(1), et seq.).
“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“ISP” means the International Standby Practices, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time).
“Issuing Lender” means (a) the Initial Issuing Lender and (b) any other Revolving Credit Lender to the extent it has agreed in its sole discretion to act as an “Issuing Lender” hereunder and that has been approved in writing by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (such approval by the Administrative Agent not to be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld) as an “Issuing Lender” hereunder, in each case in its capacity as issuer of any Letter of Credit.
“Joinder Agreement” means a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.
“L/C Commitment” means, as to any Issuing Lender, the obligation of such Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower or one or more of its Subsidiaries from time to time in an aggregate amount equal to (a) for the Initial Issuing Lender, the amount set forth opposite the name of the Initial Issuing Lender on Schedule 1.1 and (b) for any other Issuing Lender becoming an Issuing Lender after the Closing Date, such amount as separately agreed to in a written agreement between the Borrower and such Issuing Lender (which such agreement shall be promptly delivered to the Administrative Agent upon execution), in each case of clauses (a) and (b) above, any such amount may be changed after the Closing Date in a written agreement between the Borrower and such Issuing Lender (which such agreement shall be promptly delivered to the Administrative Agent upon execution); provided, that, the L/C Commitment with respect to any Person that ceases to be an Issuing Lender for any reason pursuant to the terms hereof shall be $0 (subject to the Letters of Credit of such Person remaining outstanding in accordance with the provisions hereof).
“L/C Facility” means the letter of credit facility established pursuant to Article III.
“L/C Obligations” means at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn and unexpired amount of the then outstanding Letters of Credit and (b) the aggregate amount of drawings under Letters of Credit which have not then been reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.5.
“L/C Participants” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the collective reference to all the Revolving Credit Lenders other than the applicable Issuing Lender.
“L/C Sublimit” means the lesser of (a) $50,000,000 and (b) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments.
“Lender” means each Person executing this Agreement as a Lender on the Closing Date and any other Person that shall have become a party to this Agreement as a Lender pursuant to an Assignment and
Assumption or pursuant to Section 5.13, other than any Person that ceases to be a party hereto as a Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender.
“Lending Office” means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender maintaining such Lender’s Extensions of Credit, which office may, to the extent the applicable Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing, include an office of any Affiliate of such Lender or any domestic or foreign branch of such Lender or Affiliate.
“Letter of Credit Application” means an application requesting the applicable Issuing Lender to issue a Letter of Credit in the form specified by the applicable Issuing Lender from time to time.
“Letter of Credit Documents” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, a letter of credit agreement or reimbursement agreement and any other document, agreement and instrument required by the applicable Issuing Lender and relating to such Letter of Credit, in each case in the form specified by the applicable Issuing Lender from time to time.
“Letters of Credit” means the collective reference to letters of credit issued pursuant to Section 3.1.
“Leverage Ratio Increase” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 9.9(a).
“LIBOR” means, subject to the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement in accordance with Section 5.8(c),
(a) for any interest rate calculation with respect to a LIBOR Rate Loan, the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in Dollars for a period equal to the applicable Interest Period as published by the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, a United Kingdom company, or a comparable or successor quoting service approved by the Administrative Agent, at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) London Banking Days prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Period. If, for any reason, such rate is not so published then “LIBOR” shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) London Banking Days prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Period for a period equal to such Interest Period, and
(b) for any interest rate calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan, the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in Dollars for an Interest Period equal to one month (commencing on the date of determination of such interest rate) as published by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, a United Kingdom company, or a comparable or successor quoting service approved by the Administrative Agent, at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such date of determination, or, if such date is not a Business Day, then the immediately preceding Business Day. If, for any reason, such rate is not so published then “LIBOR” for such Base Rate Loan shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such date of determination for a period equal to one month commencing on such date of determination.
Each calculation by the Administrative Agent of LIBOR shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) in no event shall LIBOR (including any Benchmark Replacement with respect thereto) be less than 0% and (y) unless otherwise specified in any amendment to this Agreement entered into in accordance with Section 5.8(c), in the event that a Benchmark Replacement with respect to LIBOR is implemented then all references herein to LIBOR shall be deemed references to such Benchmark Replacement.
“LIBOR Rate” means a rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the following formula:
| | | | | |
LIBOR Rate = | LIBOR |
| 1.00-Eurodollar Reserve Percentage |
“LIBOR Rate Loan” means any Loan bearing interest at a rate based upon the LIBOR Rate as provided in Section 5.1(a).
“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset or (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset.
“Loan Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, each Note, the Letter of Credit Documents, the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement, each Joinder Agreement, each guaranty or guaranty supplement delivered by an Eligible Foreign Subsidiary pursuant to Section 8.13, the Fee Letters and each other document, instrument, certificate and agreement executed and delivered by the Credit Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries in favor of or provided to the Administrative Agent or any Guaranteed Party in connection with this Agreement or otherwise referred to herein or contemplated hereby (excluding any Guaranteed Hedge Agreement and any Guaranteed Cash Management Agreement).
“Loans” means the collective reference to the Revolving Credit Loans, any Incremental Term Loans and the Swingline Loans, and “Loan” means any of such Loans.
“London Banking Day” means any day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market.
“Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect on, the operations, business, assets, properties or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Credit Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents to which they are party, (c) a material impairment of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document or (d) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Credit Party of any Loan Document to which it is a party.
“Material Subsidiary” means (a) any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not an Immaterial Subsidiary and (b) any Eligible Foreign Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor.
“Minimum Collateral Amount” means, at any time, (a) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances provided to reduce or eliminate Fronting Exposure during the
existence of a Defaulting Lender, an amount equal to 103% of the Fronting Exposure of the Issuing Lenders with respect to Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time, (b) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances provided in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.2(b), an amount equal to 103% of the aggregate outstanding amount of all L/C Obligations and (c) otherwise, an amount reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and each of the applicable Issuing Lenders that is entitled to Cash Collateral hereunder at such time in their sole discretion.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
“Multiemployer Plan” means a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate is making, or is accruing an obligation to make, or has accrued an obligation to make contributions within the preceding five (5) years, or to which any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate has any liability (contingent or otherwise).
“Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver, amendment, modification or termination that (a) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 12.2 and (b) has been approved by the Required Lenders.
“Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.
“Non-Extending Revolving Credit Lender” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.7(b).
“Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor.
“Non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not Wholly-Owned.
“Notes” means the collective reference to the Revolving Credit Notes and the Swingline Note.
“Notice Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.7(b).
“Notice of Account Designation” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.3(b).
“Notice of Borrowing” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.3(a).
“Notice of Conversion/Continuation” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.2.
“Notice of Prepayment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.4(c).
“Obligations” means, in each case, whether now in existence or hereafter arising: (a) the principal of and interest on (including interest accruing after the filing of any bankruptcy or similar petition) the Loans, (b) the L/C Obligations and (c) all other fees and commissions (including attorneys’ fees), charges, indebtedness, loans, liabilities, financial accommodations, obligations, covenants and duties owing by the Credit Parties to the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders or the Administrative Agent, in each case under any Loan Document, with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit of every kind, nature and description, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, contractual or tortious, liquidated or unliquidated, and whether or not evidenced by any note and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Credit Party of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws,
naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.
“OFAC” means the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
“OID” has the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of “All-In Yield”.
“Organizational Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement or limited liability company agreement (or equivalent or comparable documents); and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.
“Other Benchmark Rate Election” means, if the then-current Benchmark is USD LIBOR, the occurrence of:
(a) a notification by the Administrative Agent to (or the request by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to notify) each of the other parties hereto that at least five (5) currently outstanding Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time contain (as a result of amendment or as originally executed), in lieu of a USD LIBOR-based rate, a term benchmark rate that is not a SOFR-based rate as a benchmark rate (and such syndicated credit facilities are identified in such notice and are publicly available for review), and
(b) the joint election by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to trigger a fallback from USD LIBOR and the provision by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Lenders.
“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court, documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 5.12).
“Paid in Full” or “Payment in Full” means that all Obligations (other than contingent obligations for which no claim has been asserted) have been paid and satisfied in full in cash, all Letters of Credit have been terminated or expired (or been Cash Collateralized or otherwise satisfied in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Lenders) and the Commitments have been terminated.
“Participant” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.9(d).
“Participant Register” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.9(d).
“PATRIOT Act” means the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).
“Payment Recipient” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.12(a).
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor agency.
“Pension Plan” means any Employee Benefit Plan, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code and which (a) is maintained, funded or administered for the employees of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate, (b) has at any time within the preceding five (5) years been maintained, funded or administered for the employees of any Credit Party or any current or former ERISA Affiliates or (c) any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate has any liability (contingent or otherwise).
“Permitted Liens” means the Liens permitted pursuant to Section 9.2.
“Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness (the “Refinancing Indebtedness”), the proceeds of which are used to refinance, refund, renew, extend or replace outstanding Indebtedness (such outstanding Indebtedness, the “Refinanced Indebtedness”); provided, that, (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Refinancing Indebtedness (including any unused commitments thereunder) is not greater than the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Refinanced Indebtedness at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal, extension or replacement, except by an amount equal to any original issue discount thereon and the amount of unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon plus other reasonable amounts paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing, refunding, renewal, extension or replacement, and by an amount equal to any existing commitments thereunder that have not been utilized at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal, extension or replacement; (b) the final stated maturity and Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be prior to or shorter than that applicable to the Refinanced Indebtedness and such Refinancing Indebtedness does not require any scheduled payment of principal, mandatory repayment, redemption or repurchase that is more favorable to the holders of the Refinancing Indebtedness than the corresponding terms (if any) of the Refinanced Indebtedness (including by virtue of such Refinancing Indebtedness participating on a greater basis in any mandatory repayment, redemption or repurchase as compared to the Refinanced Indebtedness, but excluding any scheduled payment of principal, mandatory repayment, redemption or repurchase occurring on or after the date that is 91 days after the latest scheduled maturity date of the Loans and Commitments); (c) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be secured by (i) Liens on assets other than assets securing the Refinanced Indebtedness at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal, extension or replacement or (ii) Liens having a higher priority than the Liens, if any, securing the Refinanced Indebtedness at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal, extension or replacement; (d) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be guaranteed by or otherwise recourse to any Person other than the Person(s) to whom the Refinanced Indebtedness is recourse or by whom it is guaranteed, in each case as of the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal, extension or replacement; (e) to the extent such Refinanced Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such refinancing, refunding, renewal, extension or replacement is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms (taken as a whole) at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing such Refinanced Indebtedness or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (in each case, as determined in the reasonable business judgment of the Borrower); and (f) no Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing at the time of, or would immediately result from, such refinancing, refunding, renewal, extension or replacement.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Plan of Reorganization” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.9(f)(iii).
“Platform” means Debt Domain, Intralinks, SyndTrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system.
“Prime Rate” means, at any time, the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate. Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the day such change in such prime rate occurs. The parties hereto acknowledge that the rate announced publicly by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate is an index or base rate and shall not necessarily be its lowest or best rate charged to its customers or other banks.
“Pro Forma Basis” means:
(a) for purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDAR for any period during which one or more Specified Transactions occurs, that (i) such Specified Transaction (and all other Specified Transactions that have been consummated during the applicable period) shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement, (ii) there shall be included in determining Consolidated EBITDAR for such period, without duplication, the Acquired EBITDAR of any Person or business, or attributable to any property or asset, acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary during such period (but not the Acquired EBITDAR of any related Person or business or any Acquired EBITDAR attributable to any assets or property, in each case to the extent not so acquired) in connection with an Acquisition permitted under this Agreement to the extent not subsequently sold, transferred, abandoned or otherwise disposed of by the Borrower or such Subsidiary during such period, based on the actual Acquired EBITDAR of such acquired entity or business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) and (iii) there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDAR for such period, without duplication, the Disposed EBITDAR of any Person or business, or attributable to any property or asset, disposed of by the Borrower or any Subsidiary during such period in connection with a Specified Disposition or discontinuation of operations, based on the Disposed EBITDAR of such disposed entity or business or discontinued operations for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such disposition or discontinuation); provided, that, the foregoing amounts shall be without duplication of any adjustments that are already included in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDAR; and
(b) in the event that the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurs (including by assumption or guarantees) or repays (including by redemption, repayment, retirement, discharge, defeasance or extinguishment) any Indebtedness included in the calculations of any financial ratio or test (in each case, other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility in the ordinary course of business for working capital purposes), (i) during the applicable measurement period or (ii) subsequent to the end of the applicable measurement period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of any such ratio is made, then such financial ratio or test shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, to the extent required, as if the same had occurred on the first day of the applicable measurement period and any such Indebtedness that is incurred (including by assumption or guarantee) that has a floating or formula rate of interest shall have an implied
rate of interest for the applicable period determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as of the relevant date of determination.
“Proceeds” has the meaning assigned thereto in Article 9 of the UCC.
“Property” means any right or interest in or to property of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, including Equity Interests.
“PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
“Public Lenders” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 8.2.
“Qualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.
“Recipient” means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) any Issuing Lender, as applicable.
“Reference Period” means, as of any date of determination, the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ended on or immediately prior to such date for which financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have been delivered to the Administrative Agent hereunder.
“Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is USD LIBOR, 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the day that is two (2) London Banking Days preceding the date of such setting, and (2) if such Benchmark is not USD LIBOR, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.
“Register” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.9(c).
“Reimbursement Obligation” means the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse any Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.5 for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender.
“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.
“Relevant Governmental Body” means the FRB or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the FRB or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto.
“Removal Effective Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.6(b).
“Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Total Credit Exposure representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the Total Credit Exposure of all Lenders; provided, that, at any time when there are two or fewer Lenders who are not Affiliates of one another, “Required Lenders” shall mean each Lender. The Total Credit Exposure of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time.
“Resignation Effective Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 11.6(a).
“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
“Responsible Officer” means, as to any Person, the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, controller, treasurer or assistant treasurer of such Person or any other officer of such Person designated in writing by the Borrower or such Person and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; provided, that, to the extent reasonably requested thereby, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of such Person certifying as to the incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each such officer. Any document delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Person shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Person and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Person.
“Restricted Payment” means any dividend on, or the making of any payment or other distribution on account of, or the purchase, redemption, retirement or other acquisition (directly or indirectly) of, or the setting apart of assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for the purchase, redemption, retirement or other acquisition of, any Equity Interests of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary, or the making of any distribution of cash, property or assets to the holders of any Equity Interests of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary on account of such Equity Interests.
“Revolving Credit Commitment” means (a) as to any Revolving Credit Lender, the obligation of such Revolving Credit Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans to, and to purchase participations in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans for the account of, the Borrower hereunder in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Revolving Credit Lender’s name on the Register, as such amount may be modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof (including Section 5.13) and (b) as to all Revolving Credit Lenders, the aggregate commitment of all Revolving Credit Lenders to make Revolving Credit Loans, as such amount may be modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof (including Section 5.13). The aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment of all the Revolving Credit Lenders on the Closing Date shall be $200,000,000. The Revolving Credit Commitment of each Revolving Credit Lender on the Closing Date is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 1.1.
“Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage” means, with respect to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the percentage of the total Revolving Credit Commitments of all the Revolving Credit Lenders represented by such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. If the Revolving Credit Commitments have terminated or expired, the Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages shall be determined based upon the Revolving Credit Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments. The Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of each Revolving Credit Lender on the Closing Date is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 1.1.
“Revolving Credit Exposure” means, as to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the aggregate principal amount at such time of its outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and such Revolving Credit Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans at such time.
“Revolving Credit Facility” means the revolving credit facility established pursuant to Article II (including any increase in such revolving credit facility pursuant to Section 5.13).
“Revolving Credit Lenders” means, collectively, all of the Lenders with a Revolving Credit Commitment or if the Revolving Credit Commitment has been terminated, all Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposure.
“Revolving Credit Loan” means any revolving loan made to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1, and all such revolving loans collectively as the context requires.
“Revolving Credit Maturity Date” means the earliest to occur of (a) October 15, 2026, (b) the date of termination of the entire Revolving Credit Commitment by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.5, and (c) the date of termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant to Section 10.2(a).
“Revolving Credit Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Revolving Credit Lender evidencing the Revolving Credit Loans made by such Revolving Credit Lender, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A-1, and any substitutes therefor, and any replacements, restatements, renewals or extension thereof, in whole or in part.
“Revolving Credit Outstandings” means the sum of (a) with respect to Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; plus (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the aggregate outstanding amount thereof on such date after giving effect to any Extensions of Credit occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements of outstanding unpaid drawings under any Letters of Credit or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Rating Service, a division of S&P Global Inc. and any successor thereto.
“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means, with respect to any Person, any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any other Person whereby such Person (or a Subsidiary of such Person) shall sell or transfer any property used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred.
“Sale and Leaseback Transaction Indebtedness” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 9.3(c).
“Sanctioned Country” means at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself (or whose government is) the subject or target of any Sanctions (including, as of the Closing Date, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and Crimea).
“Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC (including OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List and OFAC’s Consolidated Non-SDN List), the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European member state, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (c) any Person owned or controlled by, or acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any such Person or Persons described in clauses (a) and (b), including a Person that is deemed by OFAC to be a Sanctions target based on the ownership of such legal entity by Sanctioned
Person(s) or (d) any Person otherwise a target of Sanctions, including vessels and aircraft, that are designated under any Sanctions program.
“Sanctions” means any and all economic or financial sanctions, sectoral sanctions, secondary sanctions, trade embargoes and restrictions and anti-terrorism laws, including but not limited to those imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the U.S. government (including those administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European member state, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority in any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. § 77 et seq.).
“SOFR” means, with respect to any Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate for such Business Day published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website on the immediately succeeding Business Day.
“SOFR Administrator” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).
“SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.
“Solvent” and “Solvency” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the Property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature, (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital, and (e) such Person is able to pay its debts and liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the ordinary course of business. For purposes of this definition, the amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
“Specified Collateral” means, with respect to any Credit Party, the Accounts of such Credit Party, the Inventory of such Credit Party, all Accessions thereto, and all Proceeds thereof.
“Specified Collateral Creditor” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 9.7(b).
“Specified Collateral Event” means the granting by any Credit Party of a Lien (whether by creation, assumption or otherwise) on any Specified Collateral of such Credit Party, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to secure the Guaranteed Obligations.
“Specified Collateral MFN” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 9.7(b).
“Specified Disposition” means any Asset Disposition having gross sales proceeds in excess of $100,000,000.
“Specified Event of Default” means any Event of Default pursuant to Section 10.1(a), (b), (h) or (i).
“Specified Transactions” means (a) any Specified Disposition and (b) any Acquisition permitted under this Agreement.
“Subsidiary” means as to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Equity Interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) or other managers of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity is at the time owned by (directly or indirectly) or the management is otherwise controlled by (directly or indirectly) such Person (irrespective of whether, at the time, Equity Interests of any other class or classes of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency). Unless otherwise qualified, references to “Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” herein shall refer to those of the Borrower.
“Subsidiary Guarantors” means, collectively, (a) subject to Section 11.9, the Subsidiaries of the Borrower listed on Schedule 7.1 that are identified as a “Guarantor” and (b) each other Subsidiary of the Borrower that has executed and delivered a guaranty (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement), a Joinder Agreement or a guaranty supplement pursuant to this Agreement.
“Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement” means the unconditional guaranty agreement of even date herewith executed by the Subsidiary Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Guaranteed Parties, which shall be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
“Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Credit Party, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
“Swingline Commitment” means the lesser of (a) $15,000,000 and (b) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments.
“Swingline Facility” means the swingline facility established pursuant to Section 2.2.
“Swingline Lender” means Wells Fargo in its capacity as swingline lender hereunder or any successor thereto.
“Swingline Loan” means any swingline loan made by the Swingline Lender to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.2, and all such swingline loans collectively as the context requires.
“Swingline Loan Maturity Date” means, with respect to any Swingline Loan, the earlier of (a) the date that is fourteen (14) days after the making of such Swingline Loan and (b) the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.
“Swingline Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of the Swingline Lender evidencing the Swingline Loans made by the Swingline Lender, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A-2, and any substitutes therefor, and any replacements, restatements, renewals or extension thereof, in whole or in part.
“Swingline Participation Amount” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.2(b)(iii).
“Synthetic Lease” means any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product where such transaction is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an operating lease in accordance with GAAP.
“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, fines, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Term SOFR” means, for the applicable Corresponding Tenor as of the applicable Reference Time, the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.
“Term SOFR Notice” means a notification by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders and the Borrower of the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event.
“Term SOFR Transition Event” means the determination by the Administrative Agent that (a) Term SOFR has been recommended for use by the Relevant Governmental Body, (b) the administration of Term SOFR is administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent and (c) a Benchmark Transition Event, an Early Opt-in Election or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, has previously occurred resulting in the replacement of the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 5.8(c) with a Benchmark Replacement the Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement component of which is not Term SOFR.
“Termination Event” means the occurrence of any of the following which, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Credit Parties in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount: (a) a “Reportable Event” described in Section 4043 of ERISA (other than those events as to which the notice period referred to in Section 4043(a) of ERISA has been waived), or (b) the withdrawal of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA, or (c) the termination of a Pension Plan, the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan or the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination, under Section 4041 of ERISA, if the plan assets are not sufficient to pay all plan liabilities, or (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate, or the appointment of a trustee with respect to, any Pension Plan by the PBGC, or (e) any other event or condition which would constitute grounds under Section 4042(a) of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan, or (f) the imposition of a Lien pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA, or (g) the determination that any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan is considered an at-risk plan or plan in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 430, 431 or 432 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 or 305 of ERISA or (h) the partial or complete withdrawal of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan if withdrawal liability is asserted by such plan, or (i) any event or condition which results in the insolvency of a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4245 of ERISA, or (j) any event or condition which results in the termination of a Multiemployer Plan
under Section 4041A of ERISA or the institution by PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA, or (k) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate.
“Threshold Amount” means $30,000,000.
“Total Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the unused Commitments, Revolving Credit Exposure and outstanding Incremental Term Loans of such Lender at such time.
“Trade Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.9(f)(i).
“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York.
“UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.
“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.
“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
“United States” means the United States of America.
“USD LIBOR” means the London interbank offered rate for Dollars.
“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 thereto in Section 5.11(g).
“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) 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 (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness, in each case of clauses (a) and (b), without giving effect to the application of any prior prepayment to such installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payment of principal.
“Wells Fargo” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association.
“Wholly-Owned” means, with respect to a Subsidiary, that all of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary are, directly or indirectly, owned or controlled by the Borrower and/or one or more of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries (except for directors’ qualifying shares or other shares required by
Applicable Law to be owned by a Person other than the Borrower and/or one or more of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries).
“Withholding Agent” means the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.
SECTION 1.2 Other Definitions and Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document: (a) the definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined, (b) whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms, (c) the words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”, (d) the word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”, (e) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (f) 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, (g) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (h) 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, (i) the term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form and (j) in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including”.
SECTION 1.3 Accounting Terms.
(a) All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with GAAP, applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time and in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the audited financial statements required by Section 8.1(a), except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in connection with the incurrence of any Indebtedness by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, the identifiable proceeds of such Indebtedness shall not be counted as cash in connection with any calculation of the Consolidated Net Lease Adjusted Leverage
Ratio for purposes of determining the permissibility of the incurrence of such Indebtedness under this Agreement other than any such proceeds consisting of cash used to satisfy, redeem or discharge any Indebtedness within forty-five (45) days of incurrence thereof.
(b) If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower 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, that, 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 shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.
SECTION 1.4 UCC Terms. Terms defined in the UCC in effect on the Closing Date and not otherwise defined herein shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, have the meanings provided by those definitions.
SECTION 1.5 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 or percentage is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
SECTION 1.6 References to Agreements and Laws. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) any definition or reference to formation documents, governing documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual documents or instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are not prohibited by any Loan Document; and (b) any definition or reference to any Applicable Law, including Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, the Bankruptcy Code, the Code, the Commodity Exchange Act, ERISA, the Exchange Act, the PATRIOT Act, the Securities Act, the UCC, the Investment Company Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act of the United States or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department, shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Applicable Law.
SECTION 1.7 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
SECTION 1.8 [Reserved].
SECTION 1.9 Covenant Compliance Generally. For purposes of determining compliance by the Credit Parties and their respective Subsidiaries hereunder, any amount in a currency other than Dollars will be converted to Dollars in accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with Sections 9.1 and 9.2, with respect to any amount of Indebtedness in a currency other than Dollars, no breach of any basket contained in such Sections shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of exchange occurring after the time such Indebtedness is
incurred; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.9 shall otherwise apply to such Sections, including with respect to determining whether any Indebtedness may be incurred at any time under such Sections.
SECTION 1.10 Rates. The interest rate on LIBOR Rate Loans and Base Rate Loans (when determined by reference to clause (c) of the definition of Base Rate) may be determined by reference to LIBOR, which is derived from the London interbank offered rate. The London interbank offered rate is intended to represent the rate at which contributing banks may obtain short-term borrowings from each other in the London interbank market. On March 5, 2021, ICE Benchmark Administration (“IBA”), the administrator of the London interbank offered rate, and the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”), the regulatory supervisor of IBA, announced in public statements (the “Announcements”) that the final publication or representativeness date for the London interbank offered rate for Dollars for: (a) 1-week and 2-month tenor settings will be December 31, 2021 and (b) overnight, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month and 12-month tenor settings will be June 30, 2023. No successor administrator for IBA was identified in such Announcements. As a result, it is possible that commencing immediately after such dates, the London interbank offered rate for such tenors may no longer be available or may no longer be deemed a representative reference rate upon which to determine the interest rate on LIBOR Rate Loans or Base Rate Loans (when determined by reference to clause (c) of the definition of Base Rate). There is no assurance that the dates set forth in the Announcements will not change or that IBA or the FCA will not take further action that could impact the availability, composition or characteristics of any London interbank offered rate. Public and private sector industry initiatives have been and continue, as of the date hereof, to be underway to implement new or alternative reference rates to be used in place of the London interbank offered rate. In the event that the London interbank offered rate or any other then-current Benchmark is no longer available or in certain other circumstances set forth in Section 5.8(c), such Section 5.8(c) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent will notify the Borrower, pursuant to Section 5.8(c), of any change to the reference rate upon which the interest rate on LIBOR Rate Loans and Base Rate Loans (when determined by reference to clause (c) of the definition of Base Rate) is based. However, the Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, (i) the continuation of, administration of, submission of, calculation of or any other matter related to the London interbank offered rate or other rates in the definition of “LIBOR” or with respect to any alternative, successor or replacement rate thereto (including any then-current Benchmark or any Benchmark Replacement), including whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement), as it may or may not be adjusted pursuant to Section 5.8(c), will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, LIBOR or any other Benchmark, or have the same volume or liquidity as did the London interbank offered rate or any other Benchmark prior to its discontinuance or unavailability, or (ii) the effect, implementation or composition of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. The Administrative Agent and its Affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of a Benchmark, any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) or any relevant adjustments thereto and such transactions may be adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any Benchmark, any component definition thereof or rates referenced in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.
SECTION 1.11 Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.
SECTION 1.12 Blocking Laws. Any provision of Section 7.16, Section 8.14(c) or Section 8.15(a) shall not apply to, or in favor of, any Person if and to the extent that it would result in a breach or violation by, or in respect of, such Person of, or would conflict with, any applicable Blocking Law, or would expose such Person to any liability under any applicable Blocking Law.
ARTICLE II
REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY
SECTION 2.1 Revolving Credit Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans in Dollars to the Borrower from time to time from the Closing Date to, but not including, the Revolving Credit Maturity Date as requested by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 2.3; provided, that, (a) the Revolving Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment and (b) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Revolving Credit Lender shall not at any time exceed such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Each Revolving Credit Loan by a Revolving Credit Lender shall be in a principal amount equal to such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans requested on such occasion. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow Revolving Credit Loans hereunder until the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.
SECTION 2.2 Swingline Loans.
(a) Availability. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the Swingline Lender shall, if the applicable conditions specified in Article VI are then met, make Swingline Loans in Dollars to the Borrower from time to time from the Closing Date to, but not including, the Revolving Credit Maturity Date; provided, that, (i) after giving effect to any amount requested, the Revolving Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Swingline Loans (after giving effect to any amount requested) shall not exceed the Swingline Commitment.
(b) Refunding.
(i) The Swingline Lender, at any time and from time to time in its sole and absolute discretion may, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably directs the Swingline Lender to act on its behalf), by written notice given no later than 12:00 noon on any Business Day request each Revolving Credit Lender to make, and each Revolving Credit Lender hereby agrees to make, a Revolving Credit Loan as a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the aggregate amount of the Swingline Loans outstanding on the date of such notice, to repay the Swingline Lender. Each
Revolving Credit Lender shall make the amount of such Revolving Credit Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 2:00 p.m. on the day specified in such notice. The proceeds of such Revolving Credit Loans shall be immediately made available by the Administrative Agent to the Swingline Lender for application by the Swingline Lender to the repayment of the Swingline Loans. No Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to fund its respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of a Swingline Loan shall be affected by any other Revolving Credit Lender’s failure to fund its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of a Swingline Loan, nor shall any Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage be increased as a result of any such failure of any other Revolving Credit Lender to fund its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of a Swingline Loan.
(ii) The Borrower shall pay to the Swingline Lender on the applicable Swingline Loan Maturity Date, and in any event on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, in immediately available funds the amount of such Swingline Loans to the extent amounts received from the Revolving Credit Lenders are not sufficient to repay in full the outstanding Swingline Loans requested or required to be refunded. If any portion of any such amount paid to the Swingline Lender shall be recovered by or on behalf of the Borrower from the Swingline Lender in bankruptcy or otherwise, the loss of the amount so recovered shall be ratably shared among all the Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages.
(iii) If for any reason any Swingline Loan cannot be refinanced with a Revolving Credit Loan pursuant to Section 2.2(b)(i), each Revolving Credit Lender shall, on the date such Revolving Credit Loan was to have been made pursuant to the notice referred to in Section 2.2(b)(i), purchase for cash an undivided participating interest in the then outstanding Swingline Loans by paying to the Swingline Lender an amount (the “Swingline Participation Amount”) equal to such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Swingline Loans then outstanding. Each Revolving Credit Lender will immediately transfer to the Swingline Lender, in immediately available funds, the amount of its Swingline Participation Amount. Whenever, at any time after the Swingline Lender has received from any Revolving Credit Lender such Revolving Credit Lender’s Swingline Participation Amount, the Swingline Lender receives any payment on account of the Swingline Loans, the Swingline Lender will distribute to such Revolving Credit Lender its Swingline Participation Amount (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s participating interest was outstanding and funded and, in the case of principal and interest payments, to reflect such Revolving Credit Lender’s pro rata portion of such payment if such payment is not sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on all Swingline Loans then due); provided, that, in the event that such payment received by the Swingline Lender is required to be returned, such Revolving Credit Lender will return to the Swingline Lender any portion thereof previously distributed to it by the Swingline Lender.
(iv) Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make the Revolving Credit Loans referred to in Section 2.2(b)(i) and to purchase participating interests pursuant to Section 2.2(b)(iii) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Revolving Credit Lender or the Borrower may have against the Swingline Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or an Event of Default or the failure to satisfy any of the other conditions specified in Article VI, (C) any
adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower, (D) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by the Borrower, any other Credit Party or any other Revolving Credit Lender or (E) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.
(v) If any Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, any amount required to be paid by such Revolving Credit Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.2(b) by the time specified in Section 2.2(b)(i) or 2.2(b)(iii), as applicable, the Swingline Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Revolving Credit Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swingline Lender at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Federal Funds Rate, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swingline Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such Revolving Credit Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Loan or Swingline Participation Amount, as the case may be. A certificate of the Swingline Lender submitted to any Revolving Credit Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (v) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(c) Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, this Section 2.2 shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 5.14 and Section 5.15.
SECTION 2.3 Procedure for Advances of Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans.
(a) Requests for Borrowing. The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable prior written notice substantially in the form of Exhibit B (a “Notice of Borrowing”) not later than (i) 12:00 noon on the same Business Day as each Base Rate Loan, (ii) 2:00 p.m. on the same Business Day as each Swingline Loan and (iii) 12:00 noon at least three (3) Business Days before each LIBOR Rate Loan, of its intention to borrow, specifying (A) the date of such borrowing, which shall be a Business Day, (B) the amount of such borrowing, which shall be, (x) with respect to Base Rate Loans (other than Swingline Loans) in an aggregate principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof, (y) with respect to LIBOR Rate Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (z) with respect to Swingline Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof (or, in each case, the remaining amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment or the Swingline Commitment, as applicable), (C) whether such Loan is to be a Revolving Credit Loan or Swingline Loan, (D) in the case of a Revolving Credit Loan whether such Revolving Credit Loan is to be a LIBOR Rate Loan or a Base Rate Loan, and (E) in the case of a LIBOR Rate Loan, the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto; provided, that, if the Borrower wishes to request LIBOR Rate Loans having an Interest Period of twelve months in duration, the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Revolving Credit Lenders of such request and determine whether the requested Interest Period is acceptable to all of them. If the Borrower fails to specify a type of Loan in a Notice of Borrowing, then the applicable Loans shall be made as Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a borrowing of LIBOR Rate Loans in any such Notice of Borrowing, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. A Notice of Borrowing received after 12:00 noon shall be deemed received on the next Business Day. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Revolving Credit Lenders of each Notice of Borrowing.
(b) Disbursement of Revolving Credit and Swingline Loans. Not later than 2:00 p.m. (or 4:00 p.m. in the case of Swingline Loans) on the proposed borrowing date, (i) each Revolving Credit Lender will make available to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Borrower, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent, such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Credit Loans to be made on such borrowing date and (ii) the Swingline Lender will make available to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Borrower, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Loans to be made on such borrowing date. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of each borrowing requested pursuant to this Section 2.3 in immediately available funds by crediting or wiring such proceeds to the deposit account of the Borrower identified in the most recent notice substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C (a “Notice of Account Designation”) delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or as may be otherwise agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent from time to time. Subject to Section 5.7 hereof, the Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to disburse the portion of the proceeds of any Revolving Credit Loan requested pursuant to this Section 2.3 to the extent that any Revolving Credit Lender has not made available to the Administrative Agent its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of such Loan. Revolving Credit Loans to be made for the purpose of refunding Swingline Loans shall be made by the Revolving Credit Lenders as provided in Section 2.2(b).
SECTION 2.4 Repayment and Prepayment of Revolving Credit and Swingline Loans.
(a) Repayment on Termination Date. The Borrower hereby agrees to repay the outstanding principal amount of (i) all Revolving Credit Loans in full on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, and (ii) all Swingline Loans in accordance with Section 2.2(b) (but, in any event, no later than the Revolving Credit Maturity Date), together, in each case, with all accrued but unpaid interest thereon.
(b) Mandatory Prepayments. If at any time the Revolving Credit Outstandings exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment, the Borrower agrees to repay immediately upon written notice from the Administrative Agent, by payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders, Extensions of Credit in an amount equal to such excess with each such repayment applied first, to the principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans, second to the principal amount of outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and third, with respect to any Letters of Credit then outstanding, a payment of Cash Collateral into a Cash Collateral account opened by the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders, in an amount equal to such excess (such Cash Collateral to be applied in accordance with Section 10.2(b)).
(c) Optional Prepayments. The Borrower may at any time and from time to time prepay Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, with irrevocable prior written notice to the Administrative Agent substantially in the form attached as Exhibit D (a “Notice of Prepayment”) given not later than 12:00 noon (i) on the same Business Day as each Base Rate Loan and each Swingline Loan and (ii) at least three (3) Business Days (or such shorter period as agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) before each LIBOR Rate Loan, specifying the date and amount of prepayment and whether the prepayment is of LIBOR Rate Loans, Base Rate Loans, Swingline Loans or a combination thereof, and, if of a combination thereof, the amount allocable to each. Upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender. If any such notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date set forth in such notice. Partial prepayments shall be in an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof with respect to Base Rate Loans (other than Swingline Loans), $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof with respect to LIBOR Rate Loans
and $100,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof with respect to Swingline Loans. A Notice of Prepayment received after 12:00 noon shall be deemed received on the next Business Day. Each such repayment shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 5.9 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Notice of Prepayment delivered in connection with any refinancing of all of the Credit Facility with the proceeds of such refinancing or of any incurrence of Indebtedness or the occurrence of some other identifiable event or condition, may be, if expressly so stated to be, contingent upon the consummation of such refinancing or incurrence or occurrence of such other identifiable event or condition and may be revoked by the Borrower in the event such contingency is not met (provided, that, the failure of such contingency shall not relieve the Borrower from its obligations in respect thereof under Section 5.9).
(d) Limitation on Prepayment of LIBOR Rate Loans. The Borrower may not prepay any LIBOR Rate Loan on any day other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto unless such prepayment is accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 5.9 hereof.
(e) Hedge Agreements. No repayment or prepayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall affect any of the Borrower’s obligations under any Hedge Agreement entered into with respect to the Loans.
SECTION 2.5 Permanent Reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment.
(a) Voluntary Reduction. The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time, upon at least five (5) Business Days (or such shorter period as agreed to by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) prior irrevocable written notice to the Administrative Agent, to permanently reduce, without premium or penalty, (i) the entire Revolving Credit Commitment at any time or (ii) portions of the Revolving Credit Commitment, from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not less than $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Any reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment shall be applied to the Revolving Credit Commitment of each Revolving Credit Lender according to its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage. All Commitment Fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment shall be paid on the effective date of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any notice to reduce the Revolving Credit Commitment delivered in connection with any refinancing of all of the Credit Facility with the proceeds of such refinancing or of any incurrence of Indebtedness or the occurrence of some other identifiable event or condition, may be, if expressly so stated to be, contingent upon the consummation of such refinancing or incurrence or occurrence of such identifiable event or condition and may be revoked by the Borrower in the event such contingency is not met (provided, that, the failure of such contingency shall not relieve the Borrower from its obligations in respect thereof under Section 5.9).
(b) Corresponding Payment. Each permanent reduction permitted pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be accompanied by a payment of principal sufficient to reduce the aggregate outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations, as applicable, after such reduction to the Revolving Credit Commitment as so reduced, and if the aggregate amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit exceeds the Revolving Credit Commitment as so reduced, the Borrower shall be required to deposit Cash Collateral in a Cash Collateral account opened by the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to such excess. Such Cash Collateral shall be applied in accordance with Section 10.2(b). Any reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment to zero shall be accompanied by payment of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans (and furnishing of Cash Collateral reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent for all L/C Obligations or other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the respective Issuing Lenders) and shall result in the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment and
the Swingline Commitment and the Revolving Credit Facility. If the reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment requires the repayment of any LIBOR Rate Loan, such repayment shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 5.9 hereof.
SECTION 2.6 Termination of Revolving Credit Facility. The Revolving Credit Facility and the Revolving Credit Commitments shall terminate on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.
SECTION 2.7 Extension of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.
(a) Requests for Extension. Up to two (2) times during the term of the Revolving Credit Facility, the Borrower may, by notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly notify the Lenders), request that the Revolving Credit Maturity Date then in effect hereunder (the “Existing Revolving Credit Maturity Date”) be extended for one (1) additional year from the Existing Revolving Credit Maturity Date; provided, that, (i) in the case of the first such extension, such request shall not be made earlier than the first anniversary of the Closing Date and, (ii) in the case of the second such extension, such request shall not be made earlier than the second anniversary of the Closing Date (in each case, the date of such request, the “Extension Date”); provided, further, that, in no event shall the time period between the applicable Extension Date and the Revolving Credit Maturity Date exceed five (5) years.
(b) Lender Elections to Extend. Each Revolving Credit Lender, acting in its sole and individual discretion, shall, by notice to the Administrative Agent given not later than thirty (30) days after receipt of the notice from the Administrative Agent described in clause (a) above (the “Notice Date”), advise the Administrative Agent whether or not such Revolving Credit Lender agrees to such extension (and each Revolving Credit Lender that determines not to so extend its Revolving Credit Maturity Date (a “NonExtending Revolving Credit Lender”) shall notify the Administrative Agent of such fact promptly after such determination (but in any event no later than the Notice Date)) and any Revolving Credit Lender that does not so advise the Administrative Agent on or before the Notice Date shall be deemed to be a NonExtending Revolving Credit Lender. The election of any Revolving Credit Lender to agree to such extension shall not obligate any other Revolving Credit Lender to so agree.
(c) Notification by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of each Revolving Credit Lender’s determination under this Section 2.7 no later than the date fifteen (15) days after the Notice Date. If all the Revolving Credit Lenders have agreed to such extension, then the Revolving Credit Maturity Date shall be extended to the date falling one (1) year after the Existing Revolving Credit Maturity Date (except that, if such date is not a Business Day, such Revolving Credit Maturity Date as so extended shall be the preceding Business Day).
(d) Additional Commitment Lenders. If any of the Revolving Credit Lenders constitute Non-Extending Revolving Credit Lenders, the Borrower shall have the right on or before the Existing Revolving Credit Maturity Date to replace each NonExtending Revolving Credit Lender with, and add as “Revolving Credit Lenders” under this Agreement in place thereof, one or more Eligible Assignees (each, an “Additional Commitment Lender”) with the approval of the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender(s) (which approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), each of which Additional Commitment Lenders shall have entered into an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent pursuant to which such Additional Commitment Lender shall undertake a Revolving Credit Commitment (and, if any such Additional Commitment Lender is already a Revolving Credit Lender, its Revolving Credit Commitment shall be in addition to such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder on such date).
(e) Minimum Extension Requirement. If (and only if) the total of the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Revolving Credit Lenders that have agreed so to extend their Revolving Credit Maturity Date and the additional Revolving Credit Commitments of the Additional Commitment Lenders shall be more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments in effect immediately prior to the Existing Revolving Credit Maturity Date, then the Revolving Credit Maturity Date of each Lender that determines to extend its Revolving Credit Maturity Date and of each Additional Commitment Lender shall be extended to the date falling one (1) year after the Existing Revolving Credit Maturity Date (except that, if such date is not a Business Day, such Revolving Credit Maturity Date as so extended shall be the preceding Business Day) and each Additional Commitment Lender shall thereupon become a “Revolving Credit Lender” for all purposes of this Agreement.
(f) Conditions to Effectiveness of Extensions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the extension of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date pursuant to this Section 2.7 shall not be effective with respect to any Revolving Credit Lender unless:
(i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such extension and immediately after giving effect thereto; and
(ii) the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent any such representation and warranty is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, in which case, such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such extension and after immediately giving effect thereto, as though made on and as of such date (or, if any such representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date).
(g) Non-Extending Revolving Credit Lenders. To the extent the Revolving Credit Commitments of any Non-Extending Revolving Credit Lender shall not be replaced with Revolving Credit Commitments from one or more Additional Commitment Lenders on the applicable Extension Date as provided for in Section 2.7(d), and thus there shall be no change in the applicable Revolving Credit Maturity Date for such Non-Extending Revolving Credit Lender, it is understood and agreed that (x) the Borrower shall repay the principal of and interest on all Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on the applicable Revolving Credit Maturity Date of any such Non-Extending Revolving Credit Lender (and pay all other amounts owing to such Revolving Credit Lender hereunder (including any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 5.9)) to the extent necessary to repay, nonratably, the Revolving Credit Loans of all Non-Extending Revolving Credit Lenders and the pro rata shares of the remaining Revolving Credit Lenders shall be revised effective as of such date, (y) on such applicable Revolving Credit Maturity Date, the Revolving Credit Commitments (and, if applicable, any L/C Commitment) of the Non-Extending Revolving Credit Lenders will be permanently terminated and the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment of all Revolving Credit Lenders on and after such date will be equal to the Revolving Credit Commitments of the remaining Revolving Credit Lenders (and, if applicable, the L/C Sublimit on and after such date will be equal to the L/C Commitments of the remaining Revolving Credit Lenders that are Issuing Lenders) and (z) to the extent that the Revolving Credit Outstandings as of such date (after giving effect to the repayment in full of each such Non-Extending Revolving Credit Lender) exceed the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment of all Revolving Credit Lenders then in effect (after giving effect to the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments of all Non-Extending Revolving Credit Lenders), the Borrower shall immediately prepay Revolving Credit Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.
ARTICLE III
LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY
SECTION 3.1 L/C Facility.
(a) Availability. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Issuing Lender, in reliance on the agreements of the Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in Section 3.4(a), agrees to issue standby Letters of Credit in an aggregate amount not to exceed its L/C Commitment for the account of the Borrower or, subject to Section 3.10, any Subsidiary. Letters of Credit may be issued on any Business Day from the Closing Date to, but not including the fifteenth (15th) Business Day prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date in such form as may be approved from time to time by the applicable Issuing Lender; provided, that, no Issuing Lender shall issue any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, (i) the aggregate amount of the outstanding Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender would exceed its L/C Commitment, (ii) the L/C Obligations would exceed the L/C Sublimit or (iii) the Revolving Credit Outstandings would exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment. Letters of Credit issued hereunder shall constitute utilization of the Revolving Credit Commitments.
(b) Terms of Letters of Credit. Each Letter of Credit shall (i) be denominated in Dollars in a minimum amount of $25,000 (or such lesser amount as agreed to by the applicable Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent), (ii) expire on a date no more than twelve (12) months after the date of issuance or last renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit (subject to automatic renewal or extension for additional one (1) year periods (but not to a date later than the date set forth below) pursuant to the terms of the Letter of Credit Documents or other documentation acceptable to the applicable Issuing Lender), which date shall be no later than the fifth (5th) Business Day prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date (unless otherwise agreed to by the applicable Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent), and (iii) unless otherwise expressly agreed by the applicable Issuing Lender and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued by it, be subject to the ISP as set forth in the Letter of Credit Documents or as determined by the applicable Issuing Lender and, to the extent not inconsistent therewith, the laws of the State of New York. No Issuing Lender shall at any time be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit hereunder if (A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such Issuing Lender from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Applicable Law applicable to such Issuing Lender or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Issuing Lender shall prohibit, or request that such Issuing Lender refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Issuing Lender with respect to letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular any restriction or reserve or capital requirement (for which such Issuing Lender is not otherwise compensated) not in effect on the Closing Date, or any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense that was not applicable, in effect or known to such Issuing Lender as of the Closing Date and that such Issuing Lender in good faith deems material to it, (B) the conditions set forth in Section 6.2 are not satisfied, (C) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such Issuing Lender applicable to letters of credit generally, (D) the proceeds of which would be made available to any Person (x) to fund any activity or business of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country or (y) in any manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by any party to this Agreement or (E) any Revolving Credit Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless such Issuing Lender has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, reasonably satisfactory to such Issuing Lender with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate such Issuing Lender’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 5.15(a)(iv)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations
as to which such Issuing Lender has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion. References herein to “issue” and derivations thereof with respect to Letters of Credit shall also include extensions or modifications of any outstanding Letters of Credit, unless the context otherwise requires.
If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Documents (or the amendment of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the applicable Issuing Lender may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided, that, any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit shall permit such Issuing Lender to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon by the Borrower and the applicable Issuing Lender at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the applicable Issuing Lender, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to such Issuing Lender for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable Issuing Lender to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiration date not later than the date permitted pursuant to this Section 3.1(b); provided, that, such Issuing Lender shall not (i) permit any such extension if (A) such Issuing Lender has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its extended form under the terms hereof (except that the expiration date may be extended to a date that is no more than one year from the then-current expiration date) or (B) it has received notice (which may be in writing or by telephone (if promptly confirmed in writing)) on or before the day that is seven (7) Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (ii) be obligated to permit such extension if it has received notice (which may be in writing or by telephone (if promptly confirmed in writing)) on or before the day that is seven (7) Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 6.2 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing such Issuing Lender not to permit such extension.
(c) Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Article III shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section 5.14 and Section 5.15.
SECTION 3.2 Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit. The Borrower may from time to time request that any Issuing Lender issue, amend, renew or extend a Letter of Credit by delivering to such Issuing Lender at its applicable office (with a copy to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office) a Letter of Credit Application therefor, completed to the reasonable satisfaction of such Issuing Lender, and such other certificates, documents and other Letter of Credit Documents and information as such Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two (2) Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and such Issuing Lender may agree in their reasonable discretion) prior to the proposed date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, as the case may be. Such notice shall specify (a) the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), (b) the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with Section 3.1(b)), (c) the amount of such Letter of Credit, (d) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof, (e) the purpose and nature of such Letter of Credit and (f) such other information as shall be necessary to issue, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. Upon receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the applicable Issuing Lender shall, process such Letter of Credit Application and the certificates, documents and other Letter of Credit Documents and information delivered to it in connection therewith in accordance with its customary procedures and shall,
subject to Section 3.1 and Article VI, promptly issue, amend, renew or extend the Letter of Credit requested thereby (subject to the timing requirements set forth in this Section 3.2) by issuing the original of such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof or as otherwise may be agreed by such Issuing Lender and the Borrower. Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the applicable Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, renewal or extension, including any Letter of Credit Documents, as the applicable Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent may reasonably require. The applicable Issuing Lender shall promptly furnish to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a copy of such Letter of Credit and the related Letter of Credit Documents and the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender of the issuance and upon request by any Revolving Credit Lender, furnish to such Revolving Credit Lender a copy of such Letter of Credit and the amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s participation therein.
SECTION 3.3 Commissions and Other Charges.
(a) Letter of Credit Commissions. Subject to Section 5.15(a)(iii)(B), the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Issuing Lender and the L/C Participants, a letter of credit commission with respect to each Letter of Credit in the amount equal to the daily amount available to be drawn under such standby Letters of Credit times the Applicable Margin with respect to Revolving Credit Loans that are LIBOR Rate Loans (determined, in each case, on a per annum basis). Such commission shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter (commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit), on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and thereafter on demand of the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, distribute to the applicable Issuing Lender and the L/C Participants all commissions received pursuant to this Section 3.3 in accordance with their respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages.
(b) Issuance Fee. In addition to the foregoing commission, the Borrower shall pay directly to the applicable Issuing Lender, for its own account, an issuance fee with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender in such amount as set forth in the applicable Fee Letter or as otherwise agreed upon between such Issuing Lender and the Borrower. Such issuance fee shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and thereafter on demand of the applicable Issuing Lender.
(c) Other Fees, Costs, Charges and Expenses. In addition to the foregoing fees and commissions, the Borrower shall pay or reimburse each Issuing Lender for such normal and customary fees, costs, charges and expenses as are incurred or charged by such Issuing Lender in issuing, effecting payment under, amending or otherwise administering any Letter of Credit issued by it. Such customary fees, costs, charges and expenses are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.
SECTION 3.4 L/C Participations.
(a) Each Issuing Lender irrevocably agrees to grant and hereby grants to each L/C Participant, and, to induce each Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit hereunder, each L/C Participant irrevocably agrees to accept and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from each Issuing Lender, on the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, for such L/C Participant’s own account and risk an undivided interest equal to such L/C Participant’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage in each Issuing Lender’s obligations and rights under and in respect of each Letter of Credit issued by it hereunder and
the amount of each draft paid by such Issuing Lender thereunder. Each L/C Participant unconditionally and irrevocably agrees with each Issuing Lender that, if a draft is paid under any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender for which such Issuing Lender is not reimbursed in full by the Borrower through a Revolving Credit Loan or otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such L/C Participant shall pay to such Issuing Lender upon demand at such Issuing Lender’s address for notices specified herein an amount equal to such L/C Participant’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the amount of such draft, or any part thereof, which is not so reimbursed.
(b) Upon becoming aware of any amount required to be paid by any L/C Participant to any Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.4(a) in respect of any unreimbursed portion of any payment made by such Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit, issued by it, such Issuing Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent of such unreimbursed amount and the Administrative Agent shall notify each L/C Participant (with a copy to the applicable Issuing Lender) of the amount and due date of such required payment and such L/C Participant shall pay to the Administrative Agent (which, in turn shall pay such Issuing Lender) the amount specified on the applicable due date. If any such amount is paid to such Issuing Lender after the date such payment is due, such L/C Participant shall pay to the Administrative Agent, which in turn shall pay such Issuing Lender on demand, in addition to such amount, the product of (i) such amount, times (ii) the daily average Federal Funds Rate as determined by the Administrative Agent during the period from and including the date such payment is due to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such Issuing Lender, times (iii) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse during such period and the denominator of which is 360, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by such Issuing Lender in connection with the foregoing. A certificate of such Issuing Lender with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 3.4 shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. With respect to payment to such Issuing Lender of the unreimbursed amounts described in this Section 3.4, if the L/C Participants receive notice that any such payment is due (A) prior to 1:00 p.m. on any Business Day, such payment shall be due that Business Day, and (B) after 1:00 p.m. on any Business Day, such payment shall be due on the following Business Day.
(c) Whenever, at any time after any Issuing Lender has made payment under any Letter of Credit issued by it and has received from any L/C Participant its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of such payment in accordance with this Section 3.4, such Issuing Lender receives any payment related to such Letter of Credit (whether directly from the Administrative Agent or otherwise), or any payment of interest on account thereof, such Issuing Lender will distribute to such L/C Participant its pro rata share thereof; provided, that, in the event that any such payment received by such Issuing Lender shall be required to be returned by such Issuing Lender, such L/C Participant shall return to the Administrative Agent, which shall in turn pay to such Issuing Lender, the portion thereof previously distributed by such Issuing Lender to it.
(d) Each L/C Participant’s obligation to make the Revolving Credit Loans referred to in Section 3.4(b) and to purchase participating interests pursuant to Section 3.4(a) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Revolving Credit Lender or the Borrower may have against the applicable Issuing Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or an Event of Default or the failure to satisfy any of the other conditions specified in Article VI, (iii) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower, (iv) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by the Borrower, any other Credit Party or any other Revolving Credit Lender or (v) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.
SECTION 3.5 Reimbursement. In the event of any drawing under any Letter of Credit, the Borrower agrees to reimburse (either with the proceeds of a Revolving Credit Loan as provided for in this Section 3.5 or with funds from other sources), in same day funds, the applicable Issuing Lender by paying to the Administrative Agent the amount of such drawing not later than 2:00 p.m. on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice of such drawing, if such notice is received by the Borrower prior to 10:00 a.m., or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time, for the amount of (x) such draft so paid and (y) any amounts referred to in Section 3.3(c) incurred by such Issuing Lender in connection with such payment. Unless the Borrower shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and such Issuing Lender that the Borrower intends to reimburse such Issuing Lender for such drawing from other sources or funds, the Borrower shall be deemed to have timely given a Notice of Borrowing to the Administrative Agent requesting that the Revolving Credit Lenders make a Revolving Credit Loan as a Base Rate Loan on the applicable repayment date in the amount (without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.3(a)) of (i) such draft so paid and (ii) any amounts referred to in Section 3.3(c) incurred by such Issuing Lender in connection with such payment, and the Revolving Credit Lenders shall make a Revolving Credit Loan as a Base Rate Loan in such amount, the proceeds of which shall be applied to reimburse such Issuing Lender for the amount of the related drawing and such fees and expenses. Each Revolving Credit Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to fund a Revolving Credit Loan in accordance with this Section 3.5 to reimburse such Issuing Lender for any draft paid under a Letter of Credit issued by it is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including non-satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.3(a) or Article VI. If the Borrower has elected to pay the amount of such drawing with funds from other sources and shall fail to reimburse such Issuing Lender as provided above, or if the amount of such drawing is not fully refunded through a Base Rate Loan as provided above, the unreimbursed amount of such drawing shall bear interest at the rate which would be payable on any outstanding Base Rate Loans which were then overdue from the date such amounts become payable (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) until paid in full.
SECTION 3.6 Obligations Absolute.
(a) The Borrower’s obligations under this Article III (including the Reimbursement Obligation) shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable under any and all circumstances whatsoever, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and irrespective of:
(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit, any Letter of Credit Document or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein or herein;
(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the Borrower may have or have had against the applicable Issuing Lender or any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the applicable Issuing Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;
(iii) the validity or genuineness of documents or of any endorsements thereon, even though such documents shall in fact prove to be invalid, fraudulent, forged or insufficient in any respect or any statement in such draft or other document being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;
(iv) any payment by the applicable Issuing Lender under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or
(v) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section 3.6, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower’s obligations hereunder.
(b) The Borrower also agrees that the applicable Issuing Lender and the L/C Participants shall not be responsible for, and the Borrower’s Reimbursement Obligation under Section 3.5 shall not be affected by, among other things, the validity or genuineness of documents or of any endorsements thereon, even though such documents shall in fact prove to be invalid, fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between or among the Borrower and any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other party to which such Letter of Credit may be transferred or any claims whatsoever of the Borrower against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit or any such transferee. The applicable Issuing Lender, the L/C Participants and their respective Related Parties shall not have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit, or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the applicable Issuing Lender; provided, that, the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse an Issuing Lender from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by Applicable Law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by such Issuing Lender’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the applicable Issuing Lender (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), such Issuing Lender shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination.
(c) In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that (i) with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Lender may, in its sole discretion, in good faith, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit, (ii) an Issuing Lender may act upon any instruction or request relative to a Letter of Credit or requested Letter of Credit that such Issuing Lender in good faith believes to have been given by a Person authorized to give such instruction or request and (iii) an Issuing Lender may replace a purportedly lost, stolen, or destroyed original Letter of Credit or missing amendment thereto with a certified true copy marked as such or waive a requirement for its presentation. The responsibility of any Issuing Lender to the Borrower in connection with any draft presented for payment under any Letter of Credit issued by it shall, in addition to any payment obligation expressly provided for in such Letter of Credit, be limited to determining that the documents (including each draft) delivered under such Letter of Credit in connection with such presentment substantially conforms to the requirements under such Letter of Credit.
SECTION 3.7 Effect of Letter of Credit Documents. To the extent that any provision of any Letter of Credit Document related to any Letter of Credit is inconsistent with the provisions of this Article III, the provisions of this Article III shall apply.
SECTION 3.8 Resignation of Issuing Lenders.
(a) Any Issuing Lender may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior notice to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower. After the resignation of an Issuing Lender hereunder, the retiring Issuing Lender shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such resignation, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit or to extend, renew or increase the outstanding Letter of Credit.
(b) Any resigning Issuing Lender shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of an Issuing Lender hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit issued by it that are outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an Issuing Lender and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Revolving Credit Lenders to take such actions as are required under Section 3.4). Without limiting the foregoing, upon the resignation of a Lender as an Issuing Lender hereunder, the Borrower may, or at the request of such resigned Issuing Lender the Borrower shall, use commercially reasonable efforts to, arrange for one or more of the other Issuing Lenders to issue Letters of Credit hereunder in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, issued by such resigned Issuing Lender and outstanding at the time of such resignation, or make other arrangements satisfactory to the resigned Issuing Lender to effectively cause another Issuing Lender to assume the obligations of the resigned Issuing Lender with respect to any such Letters of Credit.
SECTION 3.9 Reporting of Letter of Credit Information and L/C Commitment. At any time that there is an Issuing Lender that is not also the financial institution acting as Administrative Agent, then (a) no later than the fifth Business Day following the last day of each calendar month, (b) on each date that a Letter of Credit is amended, terminated or otherwise expires, (c) on each date that a Letter of Credit is issued or the expiry date of a Letter of Credit is extended, and (d) upon the request of the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender (or, in the case of clauses (b), (c) or (d) of this Section 3.9, the applicable Issuing Lender) shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a report setting forth in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent information (including any reimbursement, Cash Collateral, or termination in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender) with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender that is outstanding hereunder. In addition, each Issuing Lender shall provide notice to the Administrative Agent of its L/C Commitment, or any change thereto, promptly upon it becoming an Issuing Lender or making any change to its L/C Commitment. No failure on the part of any Issuing Lender to provide such information pursuant to this Section 3.9 shall limit the obligations of the Borrower or any Revolving Credit Lender hereunder with respect to its reimbursement and participation obligations hereunder.
SECTION 3.10 Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, or states that a Subsidiary is the “account party,” “applicant,” “customer,” “instructing party,” or the like of or for such Letter of Credit, and without derogating from any rights of the applicable Issuing Lender (whether arising by contract, at law, in equity or otherwise) against such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit, the Borrower (a) shall be obligated to reimburse, or to cause the applicable Subsidiary to reimburse, the applicable Issuing Lender hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit as if such Letter of Credit had been issued solely for the account of the Borrower and (b) irrevocably
waives any and all defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of any or all of the obligations of such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of any of its Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.
SECTION 3.11 Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to mean the maximum face amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all increases thereof contemplated by such Letter of Credit or the Letter of Credit Documents therefor (at the time specified therefor in such applicable Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit Documents and as such amount may be reduced by (a) any permanent reduction of such Letter of Credit or (b) any amount which is drawn, reimbursed and no longer available under such Letter of Credit).
ARTICLE IV
[RESERVED]
ARTICLE V
GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS
SECTION 5.1 Interest.
(a) Interest Rate Options. Subject to the provisions of this Section 5.1, at the election of the Borrower, (i) Revolving Credit Loans shall bear interest at (A) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin or (B) the LIBOR Rate plus the Applicable Margin (provided, that, the LIBOR Rate shall not be available until three (3) Business Days after the Closing Date unless the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a letter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent indemnifying the Lenders in the manner set forth in Section 5.9 of this Agreement) and (ii) any Swingline Loan shall bear interest at the Base Rate (or at such other rate as the Borrower and the Swingline Lender may from time to time agree (including, without limitation, the Loan Market Index Rate)) plus the Applicable Margin. The Borrower shall select the rate of interest and Interest Period, if any, applicable to any Loan at the time a Notice of Borrowing is given or at the time a Notice of Conversion/Continuation is given pursuant to Section 5.2.
(b) Default Rate. Subject to Section 10.3, (i) immediately upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Specified Event of Default or (ii) at the written election of the Required Lenders (or the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders), upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any other Event of Default, (A) the Borrower shall no longer have the option to request LIBOR Rate Loans, Swingline Loans or Letters of Credit, (B) all outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans shall bear interest at a rate per annum of two percent (2%) in excess of the rate (including the Applicable Margin) then applicable to LIBOR Rate Loans until the end of the applicable Interest Period and thereafter at a rate equal to two percent (2%) in excess of the rate (including the Applicable Margin) then applicable to Base Rate Loans, (C) all outstanding Base Rate Loans and other Obligations arising hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%) in excess of the rate (including the Applicable Margin) then applicable to Base Rate Loans or such other Obligations arising hereunder or under any other Loan Document and (D) all accrued and unpaid interest shall be due and payable on demand of the Administrative Agent. Interest shall continue to accrue
on the Obligations after the filing by or against the Borrower of any petition seeking any relief in bankruptcy or under any Debtor Relief Law.
(c) Interest Payment and Computation. Interest on each Base Rate Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter commencing December 31, 2021; and interest on each LIBOR Rate Loan shall be due and payable on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto, and if such Interest Period extends over three (3) months, at the end of each three (3) month interval during such Interest Period. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by the Prime Rate shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest provided hereunder shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365/366-day year).
(d) Maximum Rate. In no contingency or event whatsoever shall the aggregate of all amounts deemed interest under this Agreement charged or collected pursuant to the terms of this Agreement exceed the highest rate permissible under any Applicable Law which a court of competent jurisdiction shall, in a final determination, deem applicable hereto. In the event that such a court determines that the Lenders have charged or received interest hereunder in excess of the highest applicable rate, the rate in effect hereunder shall automatically be reduced to the maximum rate permitted by Applicable Law and the Lenders shall at the Administrative Agent’s option (i) promptly refund to the Borrower any interest received by the Lenders in excess of the maximum lawful rate or (ii) apply such excess to the principal balance of the Obligations. It is the intent hereof that the Borrower not pay or contract to pay, and that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender receive or contract to receive, directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever, interest in excess of that which may be paid by the Borrower under Applicable Law.
SECTION 5.2 Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of Loans. Provided that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, the Borrower shall have the option to (a) convert at any time all or any portion of any outstanding Base Rate Loans (other than Swingline Loans) in a principal amount equal to $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof (or such lesser amount as shall represent all of the Base Rate Loans then outstanding) into one or more LIBOR Rate Loans and (b) upon the expiration of any Interest Period, (i) convert all or any part of its outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans in a principal amount equal to $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof (or such lesser amount as shall represent all of the LIBOR Rate Loans then outstanding) into Base Rate Loans (other than Swingline Loans) or (ii) continue such LIBOR Rate Loans as LIBOR Rate Loans. Whenever the Borrower desires to convert or continue Loans as provided above, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable prior written notice in substantially the form attached as Exhibit E (a “Notice of Conversion/Continuation”) not later than 12:00 noon three (3) Business Days before the day on which a proposed conversion or continuation of such Loan is to be effective specifying (A) the Loans to be converted or continued, and, in the case of any LIBOR Rate Loan to be converted or continued, the last day of the Interest Period therefor, (B) the effective date of such conversion or continuation (which shall be a Business Day), (C) the principal amount of such Loans to be converted or continued, and (D) the Interest Period to be applicable to such converted or continued LIBOR Rate Loan; provided, that, if the Borrower wishes to request LIBOR Rate Loans having an Interest Period of twelve months in duration, the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the applicable Lenders of such request and determine whether the requested Interest Period is acceptable to all of them. If the Borrower fails to give a timely Notice of Conversion/Continuation prior to the end of the Interest Period for any LIBOR Rate Loan, then the applicable LIBOR Rate Loan shall be continued as a LIBOR Rate Loan with an Interest Period of one month. Any such automatic continuation of a LIBOR
Rate Loan with an Interest Period of one month shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable LIBOR Rate Loan. If the Borrower requests a conversion to, or continuation of, LIBOR Rate Loans, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Swingline Loan may not be converted to a LIBOR Rate Loan. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the affected Lenders of such Notice of Conversion/Continuation.
SECTION 5.3 Fees.
(a) Commitment Fee. Commencing on the Closing Date, subject to Section 5.15(a)(iii)(A), the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders, a non-refundable commitment fee (the “Commitment Fee”) at a rate per annum equal to the applicable amount for Commitment Fees as set forth in the definition of Applicable Margin on the average daily unused portion of the Revolving Credit Commitment of the Revolving Credit Lenders (other than the Defaulting Lenders, if any); provided, that, the amount of outstanding Swingline Loans shall not be considered usage of the Revolving Credit Commitment for the purpose of calculating the Commitment Fee. The Commitment Fee shall be payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter during the term of this Agreement commencing December 31, 2021 and ending on the date upon which all Obligations have been Paid in Full and the Revolving Credit Commitment has been terminated. The Commitment Fee shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Credit Lenders (other than any Defaulting Lender) pro rata in accordance with such Revolving Credit Lenders’ respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages.
(b) Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Arrangers, the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lenders for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letters. The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.
SECTION 5.4 Manner of Payment. Each payment by the Borrower on account of the principal of or interest on the Loans or of any fee, commission or other amounts (including the Reimbursement Obligation) payable to the Lenders under this Agreement shall be made not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified for payment under this Agreement to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s Office for the account of the Lenders entitled to such payment in Dollars, in immediately available funds and shall be made without any setoff, counterclaim or deduction whatsoever. Any payment received after such time but before 3:00 p.m. on such day shall be deemed a payment on such date for the purposes of Section 10.1, but for all other purposes shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day. Any payment received after 3:00 p.m. shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day for all purposes. Upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of each such payment, the Administrative Agent shall distribute to each such Lender at its address for notices set forth herein its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment and shall wire advice of the amount of such credit to each Lender. Each payment to the Administrative Agent on account of the principal of or interest on the Swingline Loans or of any fee, commission or other amounts payable to the Swingline Lender shall be made in like manner, but for the account of the Swingline Lender. Each payment to the Administrative Agent of any Issuing Lender’s fees or L/C Participants’ commissions shall be made in like manner, but for the account of such Issuing Lender or the L/C Participants, as the case may be. Each payment to the Administrative Agent of the Administrative Agent’s fees or expenses shall be made for the account of the Administrative Agent and any amount payable to any Lender under Sections 5.9, 5.10, 5.11 or 12.3 shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lender. Subject to the definition of Interest Period,
if any payment under this Agreement shall be specified to be made upon a day which is not a Business Day, it shall be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day and such extension of time shall in such case be included in computing any interest if payable along with such payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if there exists a Defaulting Lender each payment by the Borrower to such Defaulting Lender hereunder shall be applied in accordance with Section 5.15(a)(ii).
SECTION 5.5 Evidence of Indebtedness.
(a) Extensions of Credit. The Extensions of Credit made by each Lender and each Issuing Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender or such Issuing Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender or the applicable Issuing Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Extensions of Credit made by the Lenders or such Issuing Lender to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender or any Issuing Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Revolving Credit Note and/or Swingline Note, as applicable, which shall evidence such Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans and/or Swingline Loans, as applicable, in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Notes and endorse thereon the date, amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
(b) Participations. In addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section 5.5(a), each Revolving Credit Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Revolving Credit Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Revolving Credit Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.
SECTION 5.6 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. 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’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon or other such obligations (other than pursuant to Sections 5.9, 5.10, 5.11 or 12.3) 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, that:
(i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and
(ii) the provisions of this Section 5.6 shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by the Borrower 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 a Competitor), (B) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in Section 5.14 or (C) 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 Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates (as to which the provisions of this Section 5.6 shall apply).
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.
SECTION 5.7 Administrative Agent’s Clawback.
(a) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender (i) in the case of Base Rate Loans, not later than 12:00 noon on the date of any proposed borrowing and (ii) otherwise, prior to the proposed date of any borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.3(b) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the daily average Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower 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 Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
(b) Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders or the Swingline Lender hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders or the Swingline Lender, as the case maybe, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater
of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
(c) Nature of Obligations of Lenders. The obligations of the Lenders under this Agreement to make the Loans, to issue or participate in Letters of Credit and to make payments under this Section 5.7, Section 5.11(e), Section 11.12, Section 12.3(c) or Section 12.7, as applicable, are several and are not joint or joint and several. The failure of any Lender to make available its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of any Loan requested by the Borrower shall not relieve it or any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of such Loan available on the borrowing date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of such Loan available on the borrowing date.
SECTION 5.8 Changed Circumstances.
(a) Circumstances Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability. Subject to clause (c) below, in connection with any request for a LIBOR Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof or otherwise, if for any reason (i) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Loan, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that reasonable and adequate means do not exist for the ascertaining the LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBOR Rate Loan or (iii) the Required Lenders shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the LIBOR Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining such Loans during such Interest Period, then the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower. Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer exist, the obligation of the Lenders to make LIBOR Rate Loans and the right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to or continue any Loan as a LIBOR Rate Loan shall be suspended, and the Borrower shall either (A) repay in full (or cause to be repaid in full) the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Rate Loan together with accrued interest thereon (subject to Section 5.1(d)), on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Rate Loan; or (B) convert the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Rate Loan to a Base Rate Loan as of the last day of such Interest Period.
(b) Laws Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability. If, after the date hereof, the introduction of, or any change in, any Applicable Law or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Lending Offices) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency, shall make it unlawful or impossible for any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Lending Offices) to honor its obligations hereunder to make or maintain any LIBOR Rate Loan, such Lender shall promptly give notice thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice to the Borrower and the other Lenders. Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer exist, (i) the obligations of the Lenders to make LIBOR Rate Loans, and the right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to a LIBOR Rate Loan or continue any Loan as a LIBOR Rate Loan shall be suspended and thereafter the Borrower may select only Base Rate Loans and (ii) if any of the Lenders may not lawfully continue to maintain a LIBOR Rate Loan to the end of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto,
the applicable Loan shall immediately be converted to a Base Rate Loan for the remainder of such Interest Period.
(c) Benchmark Replacement Setting.
(i) (A) Benchmark Replacement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document (and any Hedge Agreement shall be deemed not to be a “Loan Document” for purposes of this Section 5.8(c)) if a Benchmark Transition Event, an Early Opt-in Election or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (a)(iii) or clause (c) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders. If an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is Daily Simple SOFR, all interest payments will be payable on a quarterly basis.
(B) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, if a Term SOFR Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then the applicable Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder or under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided, that, this clause (B) shall not be effective unless the Administrative Agent has delivered to the Lenders and the Borrower a Term SOFR Notice. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to deliver a Term SOFR Notice after a Term SOFR Transition Event and may elect or not elect to do so in its sole discretion.
(ii) Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right in consultation with the Borrower to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
(iii) Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (A) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event, an Early Opt-in Election or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date, (B) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (C) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (D) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Section 5.8(c)(iv) below and (E) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 5.8(c), including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 5.8(c).
(iv) Unavailability of Tenor of Benchmark. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (A) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including Term SOFR or USD LIBOR) and either (1) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (2) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is or will be no longer representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (B) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (A) above either (1) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (2) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is or will no longer be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.
(v) Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of LIBOR Rate Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of the Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of the Base Rate.
(vi) London Interbank Offered Rate Benchmark Transition Event. On March 5, 2021, the IBA, the administrator of the London interbank offered rate, and the FCA, the regulatory supervisor of the IBA, made the Announcements that the final publication or representativeness date for Dollars for (I) 1-week and 2-month London interbank offered rate tenor settings will be December 31, 2021 and (II) overnight, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month and 12-month London interbank offered rate tenor settings will be June 30, 2023. No successor administrator for the
IBA was identified in such Announcements. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that the Announcements resulted in the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event with respect to the London interbank offered rate pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and that any obligation of the Administrative Agent to notify any parties of such Benchmark Transition Event pursuant to clause (iii) of this Section 5.8(c) shall be deemed satisfied.
SECTION 5.9 Indemnity. The Borrower hereby indemnifies each of the Lenders against any actual loss or expense (including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain a LIBOR Rate Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained, but not any loss of anticipated profits) which may arise or be attributable to each Lender’s obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits or other funds acquired to effect, fund or maintain any Loan (a) as a consequence of any failure by the Borrower to make any payment when due of any amount due hereunder in connection with a LIBOR Rate Loan, (b) due to any failure of the Borrower (for any reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan required to be funded hereunder) to borrow or continue a LIBOR Rate Loan or convert to a LIBOR Rate Loan on a date specified therefor in a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation or (c) due to any payment, prepayment or conversion of any LIBOR Rate Loan on a date other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor. The amount of such actual loss or expense shall be determined, in the applicable Lender’s reasonable discretion, based upon the assumption that such Lender funded its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the LIBOR Rate Loans in the London interbank market and using any reasonable attribution or averaging methods which such Lender deems appropriate and practical. A certificate of such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail the factual basis for, and calculations used in, determining such amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender shall be forwarded to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent and shall be conclusively presumed to be correct save for manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within thirty (30) days after receipt thereof. All of the obligations of the Credit Parties under this Section 5.9 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
SECTION 5.10 Increased Costs.
(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or advances, loans or other credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the LIBOR Rate) or any Issuing Lender;
(ii) subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or
(iii) impose on any Lender or any Issuing Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or LIBOR Rate 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, any Issuing Lender or such other Recipient of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender, such Issuing Lender or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, such Issuing Lender or such other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon written request of such Lender, such Issuing Lender or other Recipient, the Borrower shall promptly pay to any such Lender, such Issuing Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, such Issuing Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender or any Issuing Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or such Issuing Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’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 Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Issuing Lender or such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time upon written request of such Lender or such Issuing Lender the Borrower shall promptly pay to such Lender or such Issuing Lender, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Lender or such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender, or an Issuing Lender or such other Recipient setting forth in reasonable detail the factual basis for, and calculations used in determining, the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such Issuing Lender, such other Recipient or any of their respective holding companies, as the case may be, as specified in clause (a) or (b) of this Section 5.10 and delivered to the Borrower, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or such Issuing Lender or such other Recipient, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within thirty (30) days after receipt thereof.
(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Lender or such other Recipient to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 5.10 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s or such other Recipient’s right to demand such compensation; provided, that, the Borrower shall not be required to compensate any Lender or an Issuing Lender or any other Recipient pursuant to this Section 5.10 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine (9) months prior to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Lender or such other Recipient, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions, and of such Lender’s or such Issuing Lender’s or such other Recipient’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
(e) Survival. All of the obligations of the Credit Parties under this Section 5.10 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
SECTION 5.11 Taxes.
(a) Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section 5.11, the term “Lender” includes any Issuing Lender 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 Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by Applicable Law. If any Applicable Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable 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 5.11), 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 Credit Parties. The 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 Credit Parties. The Credit Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, within ten (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 5.11) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Recipient (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Recipient, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(e) Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within ten (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 12.9(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 Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to setoff and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such
Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (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 5.11, 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 Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 5.11(g)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from United States federal backup withholding tax;
(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:
(1) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, United States federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments
under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, United States federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;
(2) executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable; or
(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided, that, if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;
(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by Applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by Applicable Law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and
(D) if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to United States federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by Applicable Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such 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 and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
(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 5.11 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 5.11), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 5.11with 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 clause (h) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this clause (h), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this clause (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 clause (h) 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 5.11 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
SECTION 5.12 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 5.10, or requires the Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.11, then such Lender shall, at the request of the Borrower, use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 5.10 or Section 5.11, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all documented and reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 5.10, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 5.11, and, in each case, such
Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different Lending Office in accordance with Section 5.12(a), or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 12.9), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 5.10 or Section 5.11) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided, that:
(i) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 12.9;
(ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and funded participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 5.9) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);
(iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 5.10 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 5.11, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;
(iv) such assignment does not conflict with Applicable Law; and
(v) in the case of any assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent.
A Lender shall not 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 Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
Each party hereto agrees that (x) an assignment required pursuant to this Section 5.12 may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee and (y) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided, that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender or the Administrative Agent, provided, further, that, any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.
(c) Selection of Lending Office. Subject to Section 5.12(a), each Lender may make any Loan to the Borrower through any Lending Office; provided, that, the exercise of this option shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower to repay the Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or otherwise alter the rights of the parties hereto.
SECTION 5.13 Incremental Increases.
(a) Request for Incremental Increase. At any time after the Closing Date, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower may, from time to time, request (i) one or more incremental term loan commitments (an “Incremental Term Loan Commitment”) to make one or more term loans (any such additional term loan, an “Incremental Term Loan”) and/or (ii) one or more increases in the Revolving Credit Commitments (each, an “Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increase” and, together with the Incremental Term Loan Commitments and Incremental Term Loans, the “Incremental Increases”); provided, that, (A) the aggregate initial principal amount of such requested Incremental Increase shall not exceed the Incremental Facilities Limit, (B) any such Incremental Increase shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 and whole multiples of $1,000,000 (or, in each case, such lesser amount as agreed to by the Administrative Agent) or, if less, the remaining amount of the Incremental Facilities Limit and (C) no Lender will be required or otherwise obligated to provide any portion of any such Incremental Increase.
(b) Incremental Lenders. Each notice from the Borrower pursuant to this Section 5.13 shall set forth the requested amount and proposed terms of the relevant Incremental Increase. Incremental Increases may be provided by any existing Lender or by any other Persons (each such Lender or other Person, an “Incremental Lender”); provided, that, the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of any Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increase, each Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender) shall have consented (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) to such Incremental Lender’s providing such Incremental Increases to the extent any such consent would be required under Section 12.9(b) for an assignment of Loans or Commitments, as applicable, to such Incremental Lender. At the time of sending such notice, the Borrower (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each proposed Incremental Lender is requested to respond, which shall in no event be less than ten (10) Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the proposed Incremental Lenders (or such shorter period as agreed to by the Administrative Agent). Each proposed Incremental Lender may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, and shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether it agrees, to provide an Incremental Increase and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than or less than requested. Any Person not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to provide an Incremental Increase.
(c) Increase Effective Date and Allocations. The Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “Increase Effective Date”) and the final allocation of such Incremental Increase (limited in the case of the Incremental Lenders to their own respective allocations thereof). The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Incremental Lenders of the final allocation of such Incremental Increases and the Increase Effective Date.
(d) Terms of Incremental Increases. The terms of each Incremental Increase (which shall be set forth in the relevant Incremental Amendment) shall be determined by the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Lenders; provided, that:
(i) in the case of each Incremental Term Loan:
(A) the maturity of any such Incremental Term Loan shall not be earlier than the then latest scheduled maturity date of the Loans and Commitments in effect as of the Increase Effective Date and the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any such Incremental Term Loan shall not be shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such latest maturing Incremental Term Loans;
(B) the All-In Yield, amortization schedule (subject to clause (A) above) and pricing grid, if applicable, for such Incremental Term Loan shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, the applicable Incremental Lenders and the Borrower on the applicable Increase Effective Date; and
(C) except as provided above, all other terms and conditions applicable to any Incremental Term Loan shall be substantially similar to the terms and conditions applicable to any then-existing Incremental Term Loan or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (provided, that, such other terms and conditions, taken as a whole, shall not be more favorable to the Lenders under any Incremental Term Loans than such other terms and conditions, taken as a whole, under any then-existing Incremental Term Loans);
(ii) in the case of each Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increase:
(A) each such Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increase shall have the same terms, including maturity, Applicable Margin and Commitment Fees, as the Revolving Credit Facility; provided, that, (x) any upfront fees payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under any Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increases may differ from those payable under the then existing Revolving Credit Commitments and (y) the Applicable Margins or Commitment Fees or interest rate floor applicable to any Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increase may be higher than the Applicable Margins or Commitment Fees or interest rate floor applicable to the Revolving Credit Facility if the Applicable Margins or Commitment Fees or interest rate floor applicable to the Revolving Credit Facility are increased to equal the Applicable Margins and Commitment Fees and interest rate floor applicable to such Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increase; and
(B) the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages of Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations will be reallocated by the Administrative Agent on the applicable Increase Effective Date among the Revolving Credit Lenders (including the Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increase) in accordance with their revised Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages (and the Revolving Credit Lenders (including the Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increase) agree to make all payments and adjustments necessary to effect such reallocation and the Borrower shall pay any and all costs required pursuant to Section 5.9 in connection with such reallocation as if such reallocation were a repayment); and
(iii) each Incremental Increase shall constitute Obligations of the Borrower and will be guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors.
(e) Conditions to Effectiveness of Incremental Increases. Any Incremental Increase shall become effective as of such Increase Effective Date and shall be subject to the following conditions precedent:
(i) no Default or Event of Default shall exist on such Increase Effective Date immediately prior to or immediately after giving effect to (A) such Incremental Increase or (B) the making of the initial Extensions of Credit pursuant thereto;
(ii) all of the representations and warranties set forth in Article VII shall be true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent any such representation and warranty is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, in which case, such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such Increase Effective Date, or if such representation speaks as of an earlier date, as of such earlier date;
(iii) the Credit Parties shall have executed an Incremental Amendment in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Lenders; and
(iv) the Administrative Agent shall have received from the Borrower, any customary legal opinions (other than, in the case of any Subsidiary Guarantor (other than any Eligible Foreign Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor), local counsel legal opinions) or other documents (including a resolution duly adopted by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body)) of each Credit Party authorizing such Incremental Increase.
(f) Incremental Amendments. Each such Incremental Increase shall be effected pursuant to an amendment (an “Incremental Amendment”) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Credit Parties, the Administrative Agent and the applicable Incremental Lenders, which Incremental Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 5.13.
(g) Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of any Incremental Increase may be used by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including the financing of Acquisitions or other investments, making Restricted Payments and any other use not prohibited by this Agreement.
SECTION 5.14 Cash Collateral. At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within one Business Day following the written request of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) or the Swingline Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the Fronting Exposure of such Issuing Lender and/or the Swingline Lender, as applicable, with respect to such Defaulting Lender (determined after giving effect to Section 5.15(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by such Defaulting Lender) in an amount not less than the Minimum Collateral Amount.
(a) Grant of Security Interest. The Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of each Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender, and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such Cash Collateral as security for the Defaulting Lender’s obligation to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans, to be applied pursuant to Section 5.14(b) below. If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the Minimum Collateral Amount, the Borrower 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 any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).
(b) Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, Cash Collateral provided under this Section 5.14 or Section 5.15 in respect of
Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans shall be applied to the satisfaction of the Defaulting Lender’s obligation to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans (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.
(c) Termination of Requirement. Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce the Fronting Exposure of any Issuing Lender and/or the Swingline Lender, as applicable, shall no longer be required to be held as Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 5.14 following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender), or (ii) the determination by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided, that, subject to Section 5.15, the Person providing Cash Collateral, the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender may agree that Cash Collateral shall be held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations.
SECTION 5.15 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” and Section 12.2.
(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 Article X or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 12.4 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Issuing Lenders or the Swingline Lender hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize the Fronting Exposure of the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 5.14; fourth, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan or funded participation in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (A) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans and funded participations under this Agreement and (B) Cash Collateralize the Issuing Lenders’ future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 5.14; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders or the Swingline Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting 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, that, if (1) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or funded participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (2) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 6.2 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and funded participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or funded participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Revolving Credit Commitments under the applicable Revolving Credit Facility without giving effect to Section 5.15(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 5.15(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 Fee for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).
(B) Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of Credit commissions pursuant to Section 3.3 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 5.14.
(C) With respect to any Commitment Fee or Letter of Credit commission not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (A) or (B) above, the Borrower shall (1) 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 L/C Obligations or Swingline Loans that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv) below, (2) pay to each applicable Issuing Lender and Swingline Lender, as applicable, the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such Issuing Lender’s or Swingline Lender’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (3) 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 L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment) but only to the extent that 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. Subject to Section 12.22, no reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.
(v) Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swingline Loans. If the reallocation described in clause (iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under law, (x) first, repay Swingline Loans in an amount equal to the Swingline Lenders’ Fronting Exposure and (y) second, Cash Collateralize the Issuing Lenders’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 5.14.
(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender 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 may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans to be held pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with the Commitments under the applicable Credit Facility (without giving effect to Section 5.15(a)(iv)), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided, that, no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that, except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Non-Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.
ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING
SECTION 6.1 Conditions to Closing and Initial Extensions of Credit. The obligation of the Lenders to close this Agreement and to make the initial Loans or issue or participate in the initial Letter of Credit, if any, is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of each of the following conditions:
(a) Executed Loan Documents. This Agreement, a Revolving Credit Note in favor of each Revolving Credit Lender requesting a Revolving Credit Note, a Swingline Note in favor of the Swingline Lender (in each case, if requested thereby) and the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement, together with any other applicable Loan Documents, shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent by the parties thereto, and shall be in full force and effect.
(b) Closing Certificates; Etc. The Administrative Agent shall have received each of the following in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:
(i) Officer’s Certificate. A certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to the effect that (A) all representations and warranties of the Credit Parties contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (except to
the extent any such representation and warranty is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, in which case, such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects) as of the date hereof (or, if such representation speaks as of an earlier date, as of such earlier date); (B) immediately after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; (C) since April 24, 2021, no event has occurred or condition arisen, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (D) each of the Credit Parties has satisfied each of the conditions set forth in Section 6.1(c).
(ii) Certificate of Secretary of each Credit Party. A certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Credit Party certifying as to the incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each officer of such Credit Party executing Loan Documents to which it is a party and certifying that attached thereto is a true, correct and complete copy of (A) the articles or certificate of incorporation or formation (or equivalent), as applicable, of such Credit Party and all amendments thereto, certified as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority in its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation (or equivalent), as applicable, (B) the bylaws or governing documents of such Credit Party as in effect on the Closing Date, (C) resolutions duly adopted by the board of directors (or other governing body) of such Credit Party authorizing and approving the transactions contemplated hereunder and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (D) each certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii).
(iii) Certificates of Good Standing. Certificates as of a recent date of the good standing of each Credit Party under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation (or equivalent), as applicable.
(iv) Opinions of Counsel. Opinions of counsel to the Credit Parties, including opinions of special counsel and local counsel as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the Credit Parties, the Loan Documents and such other matters as the Administrative Agent shall request.
(v) Property and Liability Insurance. Evidence of property, business interruption and liability insurance covering each Credit Party, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(c) Consents; Defaults.
(i) Governmental and Third Party Approvals. The Credit Parties shall have received all material governmental, shareholder and third party consents and approvals necessary (or any other material consents as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent) in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, which shall be in full force and effect.
(ii) No Injunction, Etc. No action, suit, proceeding or investigation shall be pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or any Governmental Authority that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Financial Matters.
(i) Financial Statements. The Administrative Agent shall have received (A) the audited Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of April 24, 2021 and the related audited statements of income and retained earnings and cash flows for the Fiscal Year then ended and (B) unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of July 24, 2021 and related unaudited interim statements of income and retained earnings.
(ii) Financial Projections. The Administrative Agent shall have received pro forma Consolidated financial statements for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and projections prepared by management of the Borrower, of balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements on a quarterly basis for the first year following the Closing Date and on an annual basis for each year thereafter during the term of the Credit Facility (for the avoidance of doubt, without giving effect to any extension pursuant to Section 2.7).
(iii) Payment at Closing. The Borrower shall have paid or made arrangements to pay contemporaneously with closing (A) to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders the fees set forth or referenced in Section 5.3 and any other accrued and unpaid fees or commissions due hereunder, (B) all reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced one Business Day prior to the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided, that, such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) and (C) to any other Person such amount as may be due thereto in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including all taxes, fees and other charges in connection with the execution, delivery, recording, filing and registration of any of the Loan Documents.
(e) Miscellaneous.
(i) Notice of Account Designation. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Account Designation specifying the account or accounts to which the proceeds of any Loans made on or after the Closing Date are to be disbursed.
(ii) Existing Indebtedness. All existing Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (excluding Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 9.1) shall be, or substantially concurrently with the occurrence of the Closing Date will be, repaid in full, all commitments (if any) in respect thereof shall have been terminated and all guarantees therefor and security therefor shall be released, and the Administrative Agent shall have received pay-off letters in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it evidencing such repayment, termination and release.
(iii) PATRIOT Act, etc.
(A) The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received all documentation and other information reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or required by regulatory authorities in order for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to comply with requirements of any Anti-Money Laundering Laws,
including the PATRIOT Act and any applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations.
(B) The Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, and directly to any Lender requesting the same, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to it (or evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that such Borrower qualifies for an express exclusion from the “legal entity customer” definition under the Beneficial Ownership Regulations).
(iv) Other Documents. All opinions, certificates and other instruments and all proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall have received copies of all other documents, certificates and instruments reasonably requested thereby, with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 11.3(c) and Section 11.4, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 6.1, the Administrative Agent and each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
SECTION 6.2 Conditions to All Extensions of Credit. The obligations of the Lenders to make or participate in any Extensions of Credit (including the initial Extension of Credit) and/or any Issuing Lender to issue or extend any Letter of Credit are subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the following conditions precedent on the relevant borrowing, issuance or extension date:
(a) Continuation of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects, except for any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, which such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects, on and as of such borrowing, issuance or extension date with the same effect as if made on and as of such date (except for any such representation and warranty that by its terms is made only as of an earlier date, which representation and warranty shall remain true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, except for any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, which such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects as of such earlier date).
(b) No Existing Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) on the borrowing date with respect to such Loan or immediately after giving effect to the Loans to be made on such date or (ii) on the issuance or extension date with respect to such Letter of Credit or immediately after giving effect to the issuance or extension of such Letter of Credit on such date.
(c) Notices. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing or Letter of Credit Application, as applicable, from the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.3(a) or Section 3.2, as applicable.
(d) New Swingline Loans/Letters of Credit. So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, (i) the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loans unless it is satisfied that it will
have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect to such Swingline Loan and (ii) the Issuing Lenders shall not be required to issue, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.
Each Notice of Borrowing or Letter of Credit Application, as applicable, submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty as to the matters set forth in Sections 6.2(a) and (b) on and as of the date of the applicable Extension of Credit.
ARTICLE VII
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE CREDIT PARTIES
To induce the Administrative Agent and Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make Extensions of Credit, the Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, which representations and warranties shall be deemed made on the Closing Date and as otherwise set forth in Section 6.2, that:
SECTION 7.1 Organization; Power; Qualification. Each Credit Party and each Material Subsidiary (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent the concept is applicable in such jurisdiction) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, (b) has the power and authority to own its Properties and to carry on its business as now being and hereafter proposed to be conducted, except where the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) is duly qualified and authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of its Properties or the nature of its business requires such qualification and authorization except in jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The jurisdictions in which each Credit Party and each Subsidiary are organized as of the Closing Date are described on Schedule 7.1. Schedule 7.1 identifies each Subsidiary Guarantor as of the Closing Date. No Credit Party nor any Subsidiary is an Affected Financial Institution or a Covered Entity. As of the Closing Date, no Credit Party nor any Subsidiary is a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulations.
SECTION 7.2 Ownership. Each Subsidiary of each Credit Party as of the Closing Date is listed on Schedule 7.2. As of the Closing Date, the capitalization of each Subsidiary consists of the number of shares, authorized, issued and outstanding of such classes and series, with or without par value, described on Schedule 7.2. All outstanding shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and (to the extent such concepts are applicable) are fully paid and nonassessable and, other than with respect to the Borrower, not subject to any preemptive or similar rights, except as described in Schedule 7.2. As of the Closing Date, there are no outstanding stock purchase warrants, subscriptions, options, securities, instruments or other rights of any type or nature whatsoever, which are convertible into, exchangeable for or otherwise provide for or require the issuance of Equity Interests of any Subsidiary, except as described on Schedule 7.2.
SECTION 7.3 Authorization; Enforceability. Each Credit Party has the right, power and authority and has taken all necessary corporate and other action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party in accordance with their respective terms. This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents have been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of each Credit Party that is a party thereto, and each such document constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of each Credit Party that is a party
thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar state or federal Debtor Relief Laws from time to time in effect which affect the enforcement of creditors’ rights in general and the availability of equitable remedies.
SECTION 7.4 Compliance of Agreement, Loan Documents and Borrowing with Laws, Etc. The execution, delivery and performance by each Credit Party of the Loan Documents to which each such Person is a party, in accordance with their respective terms, the Extensions of Credit hereunder and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby do not and will not, by the passage of time, the giving of notice or otherwise, (a) require any Governmental Approval or violate any Applicable Law relating to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary where the failure to obtain such Governmental Approvals or such violation, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (b) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a default under the Organizational Documents of any Credit Party, (c) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument to which such Person is a party or by which any of its properties may be bound or any Governmental Approval relating to such Person, which could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (d) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Person other than Permitted Liens or (e) require any consent or authorization of, filing with, or other act in respect of, an arbitrator or Governmental Authority and no consent of any other Person is required in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement other than consents, authorizations, filings or other acts or consents obtained or for which the failure to obtain or make would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 7.5 Compliance with Law; Governmental Approvals. Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary (a) has all Governmental Approvals required by any Applicable Law for it to conduct its business, each of which is in full force and effect, is final and not subject to review on appeal and is not the subject of any pending or, to its knowledge, threatened attack by direct or collateral proceeding, (b) is in compliance with each Governmental Approval applicable to it and in compliance with all other Applicable Laws relating to it or any of its respective properties and (c) has timely filed all material reports, documents and other materials required to be filed by it under all Applicable Laws with any Governmental Authority and has retained all material records and documents required to be retained by it under Applicable Law, except in each case of clauses (a), (b) or (c) where the failure to have, comply or file would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 7.6 Tax Returns and Payments. Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary has duly filed or caused to be filed all federal, state and other material income tax and other material tax returns required by Applicable Law to be filed, and has paid, or made adequate provision for the payment of, all federal, state and other material income taxes and other material taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it and its property, income, profits and assets which are due and payable (other than (i) any amount the validity of which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided for on the books of the relevant Credit Party or Subsidiary or (ii) to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect).
SECTION 7.7 Intellectual Property Matters. Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary owns or possesses rights to use all franchises, licenses, copyrights, copyright applications, patents, patent rights or licenses, patent applications, trademarks, trademark rights, service mark, service mark rights, trade
names, trade name rights, copyrights and other rights with respect to the foregoing which are reasonably necessary to conduct its business, except where the failure to own or possess such rights would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except for matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, no event has occurred which permits, or after notice or lapse of time or both would permit, the revocation or termination of any such rights, and no Credit Party nor any Subsidiary is liable to any Person for infringement under Applicable Law with respect to any such rights as a result of its business operations.
SECTION 7.8 Environmental Matters. Except for matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (a) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law or (b) has become subject to any Environmental Liability.
SECTION 7.9 Employee Benefit Matters.
(a) As of the Closing Date the Borrower is not nor will be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments.
(b) Except where the failure of any of the following representations to be correct could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, no Credit Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has: (i) engaged in a nonexempt prohibited transaction described in Section 406 of the ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, (ii) incurred any liability to the PBGC which remains outstanding other than the payment of premiums and there are no premium payments which are due and unpaid, (iii) failed to make a required contribution or payment to a Multiemployer Plan, or (iv) failed to make a required installment or other required payment under Sections 412 or 430 of the Code;
(c) No Termination Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur;
(d) Except where the failure of any of the following representations to be correct could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, no proceeding, claim (other than a benefits claim in the ordinary course of business), lawsuit and/or investigation is existing or, to its knowledge, threatened concerning or involving (i) any employee welfare benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) currently maintained or contributed to by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate, (ii) any Pension Plan or (iii) any Multiemployer Plan.
SECTION 7.10 Margin Stock. No Credit Party nor any Subsidiary is engaged principally or as one of its activities in the business of extending credit for the purpose of “purchasing” or “carrying” any “margin stock” (as each such term is defined or used, directly or indirectly, in Regulation U of the FRB). Following the application of the proceeds of each Extension of Credit, not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the value of the assets (either of the Borrower only or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis) subject to the provisions of Section 9.2 or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between the Borrower and any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender relating to Indebtedness in excess of the Threshold Amount will be “margin stock”.
SECTION 7.11 Government Regulation. No Credit Party nor any Subsidiary is an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” (as each such term is defined or used in the Investment Company Act).
SECTION 7.12 Financial Statements. The audited and unaudited financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(d)(i) are complete and correct and fairly present, in all material respects, on a Consolidated basis the assets, liabilities and financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as at such dates, and the results of the operations and changes of financial position for the periods then ended (other than customary year-end adjustments for unaudited financial statements and the absence of footnotes from unaudited financial statements). All such financial statements, including the related schedules and notes thereto, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP in all material respects.
SECTION 7.13 No Material Adverse Change. Since April 24, 2021, there has been no material adverse change in the properties, business, operations, assets or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and no event has occurred or condition arisen, either individually or in the aggregate, that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 7.14 Solvency. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a Consolidated basis, are Solvent.
SECTION 7.15 Litigation. There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending nor, to its knowledge, threatened against or in any other way relating adversely to or affecting any Credit Party or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties in any court or before any arbitrator of any kind or before or by any Governmental Authority that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 7.16 Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Sanctions.
(a) None of (i) the Borrower, any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, any of their respective directors, officers, employees or Affiliates, or (ii) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent or representative of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the Credit Facility, (A) is a Sanctioned Person or currently the subject or target of any Sanctions, (B) has its assets located in a Sanctioned Country, (C) to the knowledge of the Borrower is under administrative, civil or criminal investigation for an alleged violation of, or received notice from or made a voluntary disclosure to any governmental entity regarding a possible violation of, Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Sanctions by a governmental authority that enforces Sanctions or any Anti-Corruption Laws or Anti-Money Laundering Laws, or (D) directly or to the knowledge of the Borrower, indirectly derives revenues from investments in, or transactions with, Sanctioned Persons, except, in each of clauses (a)(ii)(B) and (a)(ii)(D), as permitted by applicable Sanctions or other Applicable Law related to Sanctions applicable to all the parties to this Agreement.
(b) Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in their reasonable business judgment has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and Affiliates with all Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and applicable Sanctions.
(c) Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and to the knowledge of the Borrower, director, officer, employee, agent and Affiliate of Borrower and each such Subsidiary, is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws in all material respects and applicable Sanctions.
(d) No proceeds of any Extension of Credit have been used, directly or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, indirectly, by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, any of its or their respective agents (when acting in their capacity as agents for the Borrower or its Subsidiaries) directors, officers and employees in violation of Section 8.14(c).
SECTION 7.17 Absence of Defaults. No event has occurred or is continuing which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default.
SECTION 7.18 Disclosure. No financial statement, material report, material certificate or other material written information (other than projected financial information, pro forma financial information and information of a general economic or industry specific nature) furnished by or on behalf of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), taken together as a whole, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; provided, that, with respect to projected financial information, pro forma financial information, estimated financial information and other projected or estimated information, such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time (it being recognized by the Lenders that projections are not to be viewed as facts and that the actual results during the period or periods covered by such projections may vary from such projections). As of the Closing Date, all of the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification, if any, is true and correct.
SECTION 7.19 Title to Properties. Each Credit Party has such title to the real property owned or leased by it as is necessary or desirable to the conduct of its business and valid and legal title to all of its personal property and assets, except where any such failure would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 7.20 Eligible Foreign Subsidiaries.
(a) Each Eligible Foreign Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor is subject to civil and commercial laws with respect to its obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party (collectively as to such Eligible Foreign Subsidiary, the “Applicable Eligible Foreign Subsidiary Documents”), and the execution, delivery and performance by such Eligible Foreign Subsidiary of the Applicable Eligible Foreign Subsidiary Documents constitute and will constitute private and commercial acts and not public or governmental acts. Neither such Eligible Foreign Subsidiary nor any of its property has any immunity from jurisdiction of the courts or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) under the laws of the jurisdiction in which such Eligible Foreign Subsidiary is organized or incorporated and existing in respect of its obligations under the Applicable Eligible Foreign Subsidiary Documents.
(b) The Applicable Eligible Foreign Subsidiary Documents are in all material respects in proper legal form under the laws of the jurisdiction in which such Eligible Foreign Subsidiary is organized or incorporated and existing for the enforcement thereof against such Eligible Foreign Subsidiary under the laws of such jurisdiction (except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or other Applicable Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity), and to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability, priority or admissibility in evidence of the Applicable Eligible Foreign Subsidiary
Documents. It is not necessary to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability, priority or admissibility in evidence of the Applicable Eligible Foreign Subsidiary Documents that the Applicable Eligible Foreign Subsidiary Documents be filed, registered or recorded with, or executed or notarized before, any court or other authority in the jurisdiction in which such Eligible Foreign Subsidiary is organized or incorporated and existing or that any registration charge or stamp or similar tax be paid on or in respect of the Applicable Eligible Foreign Subsidiary Documents or any other document, except for (i) any such filing, registration, recording, execution or notarization as has been made or is not required to be made until the Applicable Eligible Foreign Subsidiary Document or any other document is sought to be enforced and (ii) any charge or tax as has been timely paid.
(c) There is no tax, levy, impost, duty, fee, assessment or other governmental charge, or any deduction or withholding, imposed by any Governmental Authority in or of the jurisdiction in which such Eligible Foreign Subsidiary is organized or incorporated and existing either (i) on or by virtue of the execution or delivery of the Applicable Eligible Foreign Subsidiary Documents or (ii) on any payment to be made by such Eligible Foreign Subsidiary pursuant to the Applicable Eligible Foreign Subsidiary Documents, except in either case as has been disclosed to the Administrative Agent.
(d) The execution, delivery and performance of the Applicable Eligible Foreign Subsidiary Documents executed by such Eligible Foreign Subsidiary are, under applicable foreign exchange control regulations of the jurisdiction in which such Eligible Foreign Subsidiary is organized or incorporated and existing, not subject to any notification or authorization except (i) such as have been made or obtained or (ii) such as cannot be made or obtained until a later date; provided, that, any notification or authorization described in clause (ii) shall be made or obtained as soon as is reasonably practicable.
ARTICLE VIII
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Until all of the Obligations have been Paid in Full and the Commitments terminated, each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries (or, in the case of Section 8.4, its Material Subsidiaries) to:
SECTION 8.1 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly make such information available to the Lenders in accordance with its customary practice):
(a) Annual Financial Statements. Within ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year (commencing with the Fiscal Year ending April 30, 2022), an audited Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such Fiscal Year and audited Consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows including the notes thereto, all in reasonable detail setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures as of the end of and for the preceding Fiscal Year and prepared in accordance with GAAP and, if applicable, containing disclosure of the effect on the financial position or results of operations of any change in the application of accounting principles and practices during the year. Such annual financial statements shall be audited by an independent certified public accounting firm of recognized national standing reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and accompanied by a report and opinion thereon by such certified public accountants prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards that is not subject to any “going concern” or similar qualification or exception or any qualification as to the scope of such audit or with respect to accounting principles followed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries not in accordance with GAAP.
(b) Quarterly Financial Statements. Within forty-five (45) days after the end of the first three fiscal quarters of each Fiscal Year (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending October 23, 2021), an unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal quarter and unaudited Consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows for the fiscal quarter then ended and that portion of the Fiscal Year then ended, including the notes thereto, all in reasonable detail setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures as of the end of and for the corresponding period in the preceding Fiscal Year and prepared by the Borrower in accordance with GAAP and, if applicable, containing disclosure of the effect on the financial position or results of operations of any change in the application of accounting principles and practices during the period, and certified by the chief financial officer of the Borrower to present fairly in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis as of their respective dates and the results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the respective periods then ended, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
SECTION 8.2 Certificates; Other Reports. Deliver to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly make such information available to the Lenders in accordance with its customary practice):
(a) at each time financial statements are delivered pursuant to Sections 8.1(a) or (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate that, among other things, (i) states that no Default or Event of Default is continuing as of the date of delivery of such Compliance Certificate or, if a Default or Event of Default is continuing, states the nature thereof and the action that the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto and (ii) demonstrates compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 9.9 as of the last day of the applicable Reference Period ending on the last day of the Reference Period covered by such financial statements;
(b) promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or with any national securities exchange, and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;
(c) promptly upon the request thereof, such other information and documentation required under applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations, the PATRIOT Act or any applicable Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Anti-Corruption Laws, in each case as from time to time reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender; and
(d) such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(a) or (b) or Section 8.2(b) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided, that: the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent
or such Lender. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide copies of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 8.2 to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 12.1. Except for such Compliance Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.
The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arrangers will make available to the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on the Platform and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each, a “Public Lender”). The Borrower hereby agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of the Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, means that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Issuing Lenders and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that, to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 12.10); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor.”
SECTION 8.3 Notice of Litigation and Other Matters. Promptly (but in no event later than ten (10) days after any Responsible Officer of any Credit Party obtains knowledge thereof) notify the Administrative Agent in writing of (which shall promptly make such information available to the Lenders in accordance with its customary practice):
(a) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;
(b) any matter that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) the commencement of all proceedings and investigations by or before any Governmental Authority and all actions and proceedings in any court or before any arbitrator against or involving any Credit Party or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties, assets or businesses in each case that is reasonably expected to be determined adversely and if adversely determined would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and
(d) any notice of any violation received by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary from any Governmental Authority including any notice of violation of Environmental Laws, which in any such case would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Each notice pursuant to Section 8.3 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the
Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 8.3(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.
SECTION 8.4 Preservation of Corporate Existence and Related Matters. Do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect (a) its legal existence (in the case of the Borrower, in its state of organization) and (b) the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business; provided, that, the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 9.3; and provided further that this Section 8.4 shall not require the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary to preserve or maintain any rights, licenses, permits, privileges or franchises or require any Material Subsidiary to maintain its legal existence, in each case, if the Borrower shall reasonably determine that the failure to maintain and preserve the same would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 8.5 Maintenance of Property and Licenses.
(a) Except as such action or inaction would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) protect and preserve all Properties necessary in and material to its business, including copyrights, patents, trade names, service marks and trademarks necessary in and material to its business; maintain in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear, obsolescence and casualty and condemnation excepted, all buildings, equipment and other tangible real and personal property and (ii) from time to time make or cause to be made all repairs, renewals and replacements thereof and additions to such Property necessary for the conduct of its business, so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be conducted in a commercially reasonable manner.
(b) Maintain, in full force and effect in all material respects, each license, permit, certification, qualification, approval or franchise issued by any Governmental Authority required for each of them to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 8.6 Insurance. Maintain insurance with financially sound and reputable insurance companies against at least such risks and in at least such amounts as are customarily maintained by similar businesses and as may be required by Applicable Law (including hazard and business interruption insurance). On the Closing Date and from time to time thereafter deliver to the Administrative Agent upon its reasonable request information in reasonable detail as to the insurance then in effect, stating the names of the insurance companies, the amounts and rates of the insurance, the dates of the expiration thereof and the properties and risks covered thereby.
SECTION 8.7 Accounting Methods and Financial Records. Maintain a system of accounting, and keep proper books, records and accounts (which shall be accurate and complete in all material respects) as may be required or as may be necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance in all material respects with GAAP and in compliance with the regulations of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over it or any of its Properties.
SECTION 8.8 Payment of Taxes and Other Obligations. Pay and perform (a) all taxes, assessments and other governmental charges that may be levied or assessed upon it or any of its Property and (b) all other Indebtedness, obligations and liabilities in accordance with customary trade practices;
provided, that, the Borrower or such Subsidiary may contest any item described in clause (a) of this Section 8.8 in good faith so long as adequate reserves are maintained with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP, except where the failure to pay or perform such items described in clauses (a) or (b) of this Section 8.8 would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 8.9 Compliance with Laws and Approvals. Observe and remain in compliance with all Applicable Laws (including Environmental Laws) and maintain in full force and effect all Governmental Approvals, in each case applicable to the conduct of its business, except where the failure to do so would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 8.10 [Reserved].
SECTION 8.11 Compliance with ERISA. In addition to and without limiting the generality of Section 8.9, except where the failure to so comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) comply with applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to all Employee Benefit Plans, (b) not take any action or fail to take action the result of which could reasonably be expected to result in a liability to the PBGC or to a Multiemployer Plan, (c) not participate in any prohibited transaction that could result in any civil penalty under ERISA or tax under the Code and (d) operate each Employee Benefit Plan in such a manner that will not incur any tax liability under Section 4980B of the Code or any liability to any qualified beneficiary as defined in Section 4980B of the Code.
SECTION 8.12 Visits and Inspections. Permit representatives of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, from time to time upon reasonable prior written notice and at such times during normal business hours, all at the expense of the Borrower, to visit and inspect its properties; inspect, audit and make extracts from its books, records and files, including, but not limited to, management letters prepared by independent accountants; and discuss with its principal officers, and its independent accountants, its business, assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations and business prospects; provided, that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than one (1) time during any calendar year at the Borrower’s expense; provided, further, that, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent or any Lender may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower during normal business hours at any time without advance notice; provided, further, that, advance notice of any discussion with such independent accountants shall be given to the Borrower and, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrower shall have the opportunity to be present at any such discussion. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall have no obligation to discuss or disclose to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their officers, directors, employees or agents, materials protected by attorney-client privilege (including any attorney work product) or materials that the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries may not disclose without violation of a material confidentiality obligation binding upon it (it being understood that the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall, following a reasonable request from the Administrative Agent or a Lender, use commercially reasonable efforts to request consent from the applicable contractual counterparty to disclose such information (but shall not be required to incur any cost or expense or pay any consideration of any type to such party in order to obtain such consent)).
SECTION 8.13 Additional Guarantors.
(a) Additional Subsidiaries. Promptly notify the Administrative Agent of (i) the creation or acquisition (including by division) of a Person that becomes a Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) and (ii) any Domestic Subsidiary that is an Excluded Subsidiary failing to constitute an Excluded Subsidiary and, within thirty (30) days after such event, as such time period may be extended by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, cause such Subsidiary to (A) become a Subsidiary Guarantor by delivering to the Administrative Agent a duly executed Joinder Agreement or such other document as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate for such purpose, (B) deliver to the Administrative Agent such customary opinions, documents and certificates of the type referred to in Section 6.1(b) as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, and (C) deliver to the Administrative Agent such other documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, all in form, detail and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(b) Merger Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any new Subsidiary is created solely for the purpose of consummating a merger transaction pursuant to an Acquisition permitted under this Agreement, and such new Subsidiary at no time holds any assets or liabilities other than any merger consideration contributed to it contemporaneously with the closing of such merger transaction, such new Subsidiary shall not be required to take the actions set forth in Section 8.13(a) until the consummation of such Acquisition (at which time, the surviving entity of the respective merger transaction shall be required to so comply with Section 8.13(a) within thirty (30) Business Days of the consummation of such Acquisition, as such time period may be extended by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion).
(c) The Borrower may designate any Eligible Foreign Subsidiary as a Subsidiary Guarantor, notwithstanding that such Subsidiary would otherwise constitute an Excluded Subsidiary, by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a duly executed guaranty or such other document(s) as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate for such purpose, together with (i) such customary opinions, documents and certificates of the type referred to in Section 6.1(b) as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and (ii) such other documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, all in form, detail and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided, that, in no event shall any Eligible Foreign Subsidiary become a Subsidiary Guarantor, (x) if the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall have not (A) completed all “know your customer” due diligence in relation to such Eligible Foreign Subsidiary, (B) received the documentation and other information requested by the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders in order to comply with Applicable Law, including the PATRIOT Act, Sanctions, Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, and any applicable act(s) and/or ordinance(s) of any applicable jurisdiction, and (C) received, to the extent that such Eligible Foreign Subsidiary qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent and/or any of the Lenders, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Eligible Foreign Subsidiary, (y) if it is unlawful under any Applicable Law for such Eligible Foreign Subsidiary to guaranty the Guaranteed Obligations or for the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders to do business with such Eligible Foreign Subsidiary as required by this Agreement, or (z) if the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders are restricted by operational or administrative procedures or other applicable internal policies from extending credit, or doing business with, Persons in the jurisdiction in which such Eligible Foreign Subsidiary is located or domiciled.
SECTION 8.14 Use of Proceeds.
(a) Use the proceeds of the Extensions of Credit (i) to refinance certain existing Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (ii) to pay fees, commissions and expenses incurred in connection with the foregoing, and (iii) for working capital and general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; provided, that, no part of the proceeds of any of the Loans or Letters of Credit shall be used for purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation T, U or X of the FRB) or for any purpose which violates the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of the FRB. If requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (through the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall promptly furnish to the Administrative Agent and each requesting Lender a statement in conformity with the requirements of Form G-3 or Form U-1, as applicable, under Regulation U of the FRB.
(b) Use the proceeds of any Incremental Term Loan and any Incremental Revolving Credit Facility Increase as permitted pursuant to Section 5.13, as applicable.
(c) Not request any Extension of Credit, and the Borrower shall not use, and shall not permit its Subsidiaries and its or their respective agents (when acting in their capacity as agents for the Borrower or its Subsidiaries) directors, officers and employees to use, the proceeds of any Extension of Credit (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any applicable Anti-Corruption Laws or Anti-Money Laundering Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.
SECTION 8.15 Compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws; Beneficial Ownership Regulation, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Sanctions. (a) Maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed in its reasonable business judgment to promote and achieve compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective agents (when acting in their capacity as agents for the Borrower or its Subsidiaries) directors, officers and employees with all applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and applicable Sanctions, (b) notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender that previously received a Beneficial Ownership Certification (or evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that the Borrower qualifies for an express exclusion to the “legal entity customer” definition under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation) of any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified therein (or, if applicable, the Borrower ceasing to fall within an express exclusion to the definition of “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation) and (c) promptly upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide the Administrative Agent or directly to such Lender, as the case may be, any information or documentation requested by it for purposes of complying with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
ARTICLE IX
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Until all of the Obligations have been Paid in Full and the Commitments terminated:
SECTION 9.1 Indebtedness. The Credit Parties will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness except:
(a) the Obligations;
(b) Indebtedness (i) owing under Hedge Agreements not for speculative purposes and (ii) in respect of Cash Management Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(c) Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 9.1, and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;
(d) Attributable Indebtedness with respect to Capital Lease Obligations and Indebtedness incurred in connection with purchase money Indebtedness, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed, when combined with the Indebtedness incurred in reliance on Section 9.1(g), an amount equal to the greater of (i) $60,000,000 and (ii) 5% of Consolidated Tangible Assets as of the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter;
(e) Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person became a Subsidiary, or Indebtedness with respect to assets acquired in connection with an acquisition not prohibited by this Agreement, in each case, and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided, that, (i) such Indebtedness was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Subsidiary or the acquisition of such assets, (ii) neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary (other than such Person or any other Person that such Person merges with or that acquires the assets of such Person) shall have any liability or other obligation with respect to such Indebtedness and (iii) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness at any time outstanding does not exceed an amount equal to the greater of (i) $60,000,000 and (ii) 5% of Consolidated Tangible Assets as of the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter;
(f) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or other similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business;
(g) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary not otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section 9.1 in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed, when combined with the Indebtedness incurred in reliance on Section 9.1(d), an amount equal to the greater of (i) $60,000,000 and (ii) 5% of Consolidated Tangible Assets as of the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter;
(h) Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the financing of insurance premiums;
(i) Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business consisting of obligations under take or pay contracts entered into with suppliers and manufacturers;
(j) Indebtedness under performance bonds, surety bonds, release, appeal and similar bonds, statutory obligations or with respect to workers’ compensation claims, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business, and reimbursement obligations in respect of any of the foregoing;
(k) letters of credit in a face amount not to exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding;
(l) Indebtedness of any Credit Party or Subsidiary owing to a Credit Party or Subsidiary;
(m) Sale and Leaseback Transaction Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.3(c);
(n) Indebtedness constituting payment obligations under non-competition, earn-out or similar agreements;
(o) Indebtedness of any Credit Party; provided, that, (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness or would immediately result therefrom, and (ii) upon giving effect to such Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis, the Credit Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 9.9 as of the most recent fiscal quarter end for which the Borrower was required to deliver financial statements pursuant to Section 8.1(a) or (b); and
(p) Guarantees by any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary of Indebtedness of any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary.
SECTION 9.2 Liens. The Credit Parties will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist, any Lien on or with respect to any of its Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:
(a) Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents (including Liens in favor of the Swingline Lender and/or the Issuing Lenders, as applicable, on Cash Collateral granted pursuant to the Loan Documents);
(b) Liens in existence on the Closing Date and described on Schedule 9.2, and the replacement, renewal or extension thereof (including Liens incurred, assumed or suffered to exist in connection with any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 9.1(c)); provided, that, the scope of any such Lien shall not be increased, or otherwise expanded, to cover any additional property or type of asset, as applicable, beyond that in existence on the Closing Date, except for products and proceeds of the foregoing;
(c) Liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or levies (excluding any Lien imposed pursuant to any of the provisions of ERISA) (i) not yet due, (ii) if due, not yet more than sixty (60) days past due and not subject to penalties for non-payment or (iii) which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings if adequate reserves are maintained to the extent required by GAAP;
(d) the claims of materialmen, mechanics, carriers, warehousemen, processors or landlords for labor, materials, supplies or rentals incurred in the ordinary course of business, which are not overdue for a period of more than sixty (60) days, or if more than sixty (60) days overdue, no action has been taken to enforce such Liens and such Liens are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings if adequate reserves are maintained to the extent required by GAAP;
(e) deposits or pledges made in the ordinary course of business in connection with, or to secure payment of, obligations under workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security or similar legislation, or to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(f) encumbrances in the nature of zoning restrictions, easements and rights or restrictions of record on the use of real property, which in the aggregate are not substantial in amount and which do not, in any case, materially detract from the value of such property or materially impair the use thereof in the ordinary conduct of business;
(g) Liens arising from the filing of precautionary UCC financing statements relating solely to personal property leased pursuant to operating leases entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(h) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.1(d); provided, that, (i) such Liens shall be created prior to or within 180 days after the acquisition, repair, construction, improvement or lease, as applicable, of the related Property, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the Property financed or improved by such Indebtedness and accession and improvements thereto, and (iii) the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by any such Lien shall at no time exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the original price for the purchase, repair, construction, improvement or lease amount (as applicable) of such Property at the time of purchase, repair, construction, improvement or lease (as applicable);
(i) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 10.1(l) or securing appeal or other surety bonds relating to such judgments;
(j) (i) Liens of a collecting bank arising in the ordinary course of business under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the relevant jurisdiction, (ii) Liens of any depositary bank in connection with statutory, common law and contractual rights of setoff and recoupment with respect to any deposit account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (iii) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of any assets or property in the ordinary course of business;
(k) (i) Liens of landlords arising in the ordinary course of business to the extent relating to the property and assets relating to any lease agreements with such landlord, and (ii) Liens of suppliers (including sellers of goods) or customers arising in the ordinary course of business to the extent limited to the property or assets relating to such contract;
(l) (i) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others which do not (A) interfere in any material respect with the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or materially detract from the value of the relevant assets of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or (B) secure any Indebtedness and (ii) any interest or title of a licensor, sub-licensor, lessor or sub-lessor under leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses entered into by any of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as licensee, sub-licensee, lessee or sub-lessee in the ordinary course of business or any customary restriction or encumbrance with respect to the Property subject to any such lease, license, sublease or sublicense;
(m) (i) Liens on Equity Interests of joint ventures securing capital contributions thereto and (ii) customary rights of first refusal and tag, drag and similar rights in joint venture agreements and agreements with respect to Non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries;
(n) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.1(h); provided that (i) such Liens are limited to securing only the unpaid premiums under the applicable insurance policy and (ii) such Liens only encumber the proceeds of the applicable insurance policy;
(o) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;
(p) Liens on cash collateral (and any deposit account established solely for the purposes of holding such cash collateral) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $11,000,000 supporting Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 9.1(k);
(q) Liens under any Sale and Leaseback Transaction permitted under Section 9.3(c);
(r) pledges and deposits made (i) to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for payment of Indebtedness), government contracts, leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), statutory obligations (other than Liens imposed by ERISA), surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business and limited to the property that is the subject of the applicable agreement or (ii) in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees or similar instruments issued for the account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business supporting obligations of the type set forth in clause (i) above);
(s) Liens imposed by ERISA which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside in accordance with GAAP, provided that the aggregate amount of obligations secured by such Liens shall not at any time exceed $10,000,000;
(t) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off;
(u) Liens on cash and Cash Equivalents made to defease or to satisfy and discharge any debt securities;
(v) Liens on earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement with respect to an Acquisition or other investment permitted hereunder;
(w) customary Liens arising under sale agreements related to any disposition permitted hereunder, provided that such Liens extend only to the property to be disposed of; and
(x) Liens not otherwise permitted hereunder securing Indebtedness or other obligations in the aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed an amount equal to the greater of (i) $90,000,000 and (ii) 7.5% of Consolidated Tangible Assets as of the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter.
SECTION 9.3 Fundamental Changes. The Credit Parties will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, (x) merge, consolidate, amalgamate or enter into any similar combination with (including by way division), or consummate any Asset Disposition of all or substantially all of its assets (whether in a single transaction or a series of transactions) with, any other Person, (y) liquidate, wind-up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation, wind-up or dissolution) or (z) consummate any Sale and Leaseback Transaction, except:
(a) (i) any Subsidiary may be merged, amalgamated, liquidated, dissolved, wound up or consolidated with or into the Borrower (provided, that, the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person), (ii) any Subsidiary may be merged, amalgamated, liquidated, dissolved, wound up or consolidated with or into any Subsidiary Guarantor (provided, that, a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving Person), (iii) any Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party may be merged, amalgamated, liquidated, dissolved, wound up or consolidated with or into any other Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party and (iv) any Subsidiary that is not a Material Subsidiary may be liquidated, wound up or dissolved;
(b) (i) any Subsidiary may dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation, dissolution, winding up, division or otherwise) to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor; provided, that, with respect to any such disposition by any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary, the consideration for such disposition shall not exceed the fair value of such assets; and (ii) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary may dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation, dissolution, winding up, division or otherwise) to any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary;
(c) the Borrower or any Subsidiary may enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction; provided, that, the aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding in connection with all such Sale and Leaseback Transactions (determined, with respect to each such Sale and Leaseback Transaction, by reference to the present value (discounted in accordance with GAAP at the debt rate implied in the applicable lease) of the obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the term of such lease) shall not exceed an amount equal to 5% of Consolidated Tangible Assets as of the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter (such amounts being “Sale and Leaseback Indebtedness”);
(d) any Person (other than any Credit Party or any Subsidiary) may merge with or into the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with an Acquisition not prohibited hereunder; provided, that, (i) if the Borrower is a party thereto, the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person and (ii) if a Subsidiary Guarantor is a party thereto either (x) such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving Person or (y) the survivor shall be or become a Credit Party substantially contemporaneously with the consummation of such Acquisition; and
(e) the Credit Parties and their respective Subsidiaries may consummate any Asset Disposition so long as (i) no Default or Event of Default shall exist, or would immediately result from such Asset Disposition, (ii) after giving effect to such Asset Disposition, the Credit Parties would be in compliance with Section 9.9 on a Pro Forma Basis as of the most recent fiscal quarter end for which the Borrower was required to deliver financial statements pursuant to Section 8.1(a) or (b) and (iii) the assets sold, transferred, leased or otherwise disposed of in all such Asset Dispositions do not constitute all or substantially all of the assets of (A) the Borrower or (B) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
SECTION 9.4 Restricted Payments. The Credit Parties will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, declare or make any Restricted Payments; provided, that:
(a) with respect to any class of Equity Interests of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions solely in such class of Equity Interests of such Person;
(b) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower and to any Subsidiary that owns Equity Interests of such Subsidiary (and, if applicable, to other holders of its outstanding Equity Interests on a pro rata basis);
(c) the Borrower may make any Restricted Payment; provided, that, after giving effect to such Restricted Payment on a Pro Forma Basis, (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would immediately result therefrom, and (ii) the Credit Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 9.9 as of the most recent fiscal quarter end for which the
Borrower was required to deliver financial statements pursuant to Section 8.1(a) or (b); provided, that, the foregoing shall not operate to prevent the making of any Restricted Payment previously declared by the Borrower so long as (i) at the declaration date, such Restricted Payment was permitted by the foregoing and (ii) such Restricted Payment is made within the earlier of (A) sixty (60) days thereafter and (B) any date under Applicable Law on which such Restricted Payment must be consummated; and
(d) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may pay cash in lieu of fractional Equity Interests in connection with any dividend, split or combination thereof or any Acquisition permitted under this Agreement.
SECTION 9.5 Transactions with Affiliates. The Credit Parties will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly enter into any transaction, including any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of Property, the rendering of any service or the payment of any management, advisory or similar fees, with any Affiliate of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, other than:
(a) transactions permitted by Sections 9.1, 9.3, and 9.4;
(b) transactions existing on the Closing Date and described on Schedule 9.5;
(c) transactions solely among the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries;
(d) other transactions in the ordinary course of business on terms taken as a whole substantially no less favorable to the Credit Parties and their respective Subsidiaries as would be obtained by it on a comparable arm’s-length transaction with an independent, unrelated third party as determined in good faith by the Borrower (or, if in the good faith judgment of the Borrower’s board of directors, no comparable transaction is available with which to compare any such transaction, such transaction, taken as a whole, is otherwise fair to the Borrower or such Subsidiary);
(e) employment, severance and other similar compensation arrangements (including equity incentive plans and employee benefit plans and arrangements) with their respective officers and employees in the ordinary course of business; and
(f) any transaction (or series of related transactions) in which the consideration therefor is less than $1,000,000.
SECTION 9.6 Accounting Changes; Organizational Documents.
(a) The Credit Parties will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, change its Fiscal Year end, or make (without the consent of the Administrative Agent) any material change in its accounting treatment and reporting practices except as required or permitted by GAAP, in each case, other than changes with respect to a Subsidiary made in order to conform to the fiscal year or principles of the Borrower.
(b) The Credit Parties will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, amend, modify or change its Organizational Documents in any manner materially adverse to the rights or interests of the Lenders.
SECTION 9.7 No Further Negative Pledges.
(a) The Credit Parties (excluding, solely with respect to its own assets and property, any Eligible Foreign Subsidiary that shall have become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Section 8.13(c)) will not enter into, assume, be subject to, or permit to exist any agreement prohibiting or otherwise restricting the occurrence of a Specified Collateral Event, except for (i) pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) pursuant to any agreement governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 9.1(d) (provided, that, any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets financed thereby), (iii) pursuant to any agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of the Equity Interests of a Subsidiary or the assets of any Credit Party or Subsidiary pending the closing of such sale or disposition, in either case, to the extent permitted by Section 9.3, and relating solely to the assets or Person subject to such sale or dispositions, (iv) solely during the period between the execution of the definitive documentation for any Acquisition or investment and the earlier of (x) the closing of such Acquisition or investment and (y) the termination, abandonment or lapse of such definitive documentation, pursuant to any agreement entered into in connection with an Acquisition or investment pending the closing of such transaction, (v) pursuant to any agreement in effect at the time any Person becomes a Subsidiary or any instrument governing Indebtedness is assumed in connection with any Acquisition, in each case, not prohibited by the terms of the Loan Documents (but not any modification or amendment expanding the scope of any such restriction or condition), so long as such agreement or instrument was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary or such Acquisition and provided such agreement does not apply to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary or any other assets of such Person, as applicable, (vi) prohibitions and restrictions that exist pursuant to agreements in effect as of the Closing Date and identified on Schedule 9.7, (vii) prohibitions and restrictions imposed by applicable law, and (viii) prohibitions and restrictions imposed pursuant to any amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, supplement, replacement or refinancing of any agreement referred to in this Section 9.7(a) (except for any agreement referred to in clause (a)(vii)) (provided, that, no such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, supplement, replacement or refinancing is more restrictive with respect to any such prohibition or restriction than the corresponding prohibition or restriction in existence prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, supplement, replacement or refinancing).
(b) The Credit Parties will not enter into, assume, be subject to, or permit to exist any agreement that would require any Credit Party, upon the occurrence of a Specified Collateral Event, to grant to any Person (and such Person, a “Specified Collateral Creditor”) a Lien on the Specified Collateral of such Credit Party that is secured on a pari passu basis with the Lien on the Specified Collateral granted in connection with such Specified Collateral Event (and such requirement, a “Specified Collateral MFN”); provided, that, this Section 9.7(b) shall not prohibit a Specified Collateral MFN so long as the exercise by the Specified Collateral Creditor to which the Specified Collateral MFN was granted of its rights under such Specified Collateral MFN would not cause the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to violate Section 9.2.
SECTION 9.8 Nature of Business. The Credit Parties will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, engage in any material line of business other than the businesses conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date and businesses and business activities reasonably related or ancillary thereto or that are reasonable extensions thereof.
SECTION 9.9 Financial Covenants.
(a) Consolidated Net Lease Adjusted Leverage Ratio. The Credit Parties will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, permit the Consolidated Net Lease Adjusted Leverage Ratio to be greater than 3.50 to 1.00; provided, that, in connection with any Acquisition having aggregate cash consideration (including assumed debt, cash, Cash Equivalents and other deferred payment obligations) in excess of $50,000,000, the Borrower may, at its election, in connection with such Acquisition and upon prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, increase the required Consolidated Net Lease Adjusted Leverage Ratio pursuant to this Section 9.9(a) to 3.75 to 1.00, which such increase shall be applicable for the fiscal quarter in which such acquisition is consummated and the three (3) immediately consecutive quarterly test periods thereafter (each, a “Leverage Ratio Increase”), it being understood and agreed that (i) such increase shall apply solely with respect to compliance with the financial maintenance covenant set forth in this Section 9.9(a) as of the last day of any fiscal quarter and not for any other purpose, (ii) there shall be at least two (2) full fiscal quarters immediately following the cessation of each such Leverage Ratio Increase during which no Leverage Ratio Increase shall then be in effect and (iii) there shall be no more than three (3) Leverage Ratio Increases exercised during the term of this Agreement.
(b) Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Credit Parties will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, permit the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio to be less than 1.75 to 1.00.
ARTICLE X
DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
SECTION 10.1 Events of Default. Each of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:
(a) Default in Payment of Principal of Loans and Reimbursement Obligations. The Borrower or any other Credit Party shall default in any payment of principal of any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation when and as due (whether at maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise) or fail to provide Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.4(b), Section 2.5(b), Section 3.1, Section 5.14 or Section 5.15(a)(v).
(b) Other Payment Default. The Borrower or any other Credit Party shall default in the payment when and as due (whether at maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise) of interest on any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation or the payment of any other Obligation, and such default shall continue for a period of three (3) Business Days.
(c) Misrepresentation. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary in this Agreement, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith that is subject to materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications, shall be incorrect or misleading in any respect when made or deemed made or any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary in this Agreement, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith that is not subject to materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications, shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made.
(d) Default in Performance of Certain Covenants. Any Credit Party or any Subsidiary shall default in the performance or observance of any covenant or agreement contained in Sections 8.1, 8.3(a), 8.4 (solely with respect to the Credit Parties), 8.13, 8.14 or 8.15 or Article IX.
(e) Default in Performance of Other Covenants and Conditions. Any Credit Party or any Subsidiary shall default in the performance or observance of any term, covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than as specifically provided for in this Section 10.1) or any other Loan Document and such default shall continue for a period of thirty (30) days after the earlier of (i) the Administrative Agent’s delivery of written notice thereof to the Borrower and (ii) a Responsible Officer of any Credit Party becoming aware thereof.
(f) Indebtedness Cross-Default. Any Credit Party or any Subsidiary shall (i) default in the payment of any Indebtedness (other than the Loans or any Reimbursement Obligation) the aggregate principal amount, or with respect to any Hedge Agreement, the Hedge Termination Value, of which is in excess of the Threshold Amount beyond the period of grace if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Indebtedness was created, or (ii) default in the observance or performance of any other agreement or condition relating to any Indebtedness (other than the Loans or any Reimbursement Obligation) the aggregate principal amount, or with respect to any Hedge Agreement, the Hedge Termination Value, of which is in excess of the Threshold Amount or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, with the giving of notice and/or lapse of time, if required, any such Indebtedness to become due, or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity (any applicable grace period having expired); provided, however, that, this clause (f) shall not apply to any secured Indebtedness becoming due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, so long as (A) such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness and (B) such secured Indebtedness is so paid as due when required under the documents providing for such Indebtedness.
(g) Change in Control. Any Change in Control shall occur.
(h) Voluntary Bankruptcy Proceeding. Any Credit Party or any Material Subsidiary shall (i) commence a voluntary case under any Debtor Relief Laws, (ii) file a petition seeking to take advantage of any Debtor Relief Laws, (iii) consent to or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner any petition filed against it in an involuntary case under any Debtor Relief Laws, (iv) apply for or consent to, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, the appointment of, or the taking of possession by, a receiver, custodian, trustee, or liquidator of itself or of a substantial part of its property, domestic or foreign, (v) admit in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, (vi) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (vii) take any corporate action for the purpose of authorizing any of the foregoing.
(i) Involuntary Bankruptcy Proceeding. A case or other proceeding shall be commenced against any Credit Party or any Material Subsidiary in any court of competent jurisdiction seeking (i) relief under any Debtor Relief Laws, or (ii) the appointment of a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or the like for any Credit Party or any Material Subsidiary or for all or any substantial part of its assets, domestic or foreign, and such case or proceeding shall continue without dismissal or stay for a period of
sixty (60) consecutive days, or an order granting the relief requested in such case or proceeding under such Debtor Relief Laws shall be entered.
(j) Failure of Agreements. Any material provision of this Agreement or any material provision of any other Loan Document at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or all Obligations have been Paid in Full shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on any Credit Party or any Subsidiary party thereto or any such Person shall so state in writing other than in accordance with the express terms hereof or thereof.
(k) ERISA Events. The occurrence of any of the following events: (i) any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate fails to make full payment when due of all amounts which, under the provisions of any Pension Plan or Sections 412 or 430 of the Code, any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate is required to pay as contributions thereto and such unpaid amounts are in excess of the Threshold Amount, (ii) a Termination Event that would reasonably be expected to result in a liability to a Credit Party in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (iii) any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate makes a complete or partial withdrawal from any Multiemployer Plan and the Multiemployer Plan notifies such Credit Party or ERISA Affiliate that such entity has incurred a withdrawal liability requiring payments in an amount exceeding the Threshold Amount.
(l) Judgment. One or more judgments, orders or decrees shall be entered against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary by any court and continues without having been discharged, vacated or stayed for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days (or sixty (60) consecutive days in the case of judgments rendered in foreign jurisdictions outside of the United States of America, any State thereof and the District of Columbia) after the entry thereof and such judgments, orders or decrees (i) in the case of the payment of money, are individually or in the aggregate (to the extent not paid or covered by insurance as to which the relevant insurance company has acknowledged the claim and has not denied coverage), in excess of the Threshold Amount or (ii) in the case of injunctive or other non-monetary relief, would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 10.2 Remedies. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, with the consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower:
(a) Acceleration; Termination of Credit Facility. Terminate the Commitments and declare the principal of and interest on the Loans and the Reimbursement Obligations at the time outstanding, and all other amounts owed to the Lenders and to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents (including all L/C Obligations, whether or not the beneficiaries of the then outstanding Letters of Credit shall have presented or shall be entitled to present the documents required thereunder) and all other Obligations, to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by each Credit Party, anything in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, and terminate the Credit Facility and any right of the Borrower to request borrowings or Letters of Credit thereunder; provided, that, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 10.1(h) or (i), the Credit Facility shall be automatically terminated and all Obligations shall automatically become due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by each Credit Party, anything in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding.
(b) Letters of Credit. With respect to all Letters of Credit with respect to which presentment for honor shall not have occurred at the time of an acceleration pursuant to the preceding clause (a), demand that the Borrower shall at such time deposit in a Cash Collateral account opened by the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the Minimum Collateral Amount of the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such Letter of Credit. Amounts held in such Cash Collateral account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to the payment of drafts drawn under such Letters of Credit, and the unused portion thereof after all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, if any, shall be applied to repay the other Guaranteed Obligations in accordance with Section 10.4. After all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, the Reimbursement Obligation shall have been satisfied and all other Guaranteed Obligations shall have been Paid in Full, the balance, if any, in such Cash Collateral account shall be returned to the Borrower.
(c) General Remedies. Exercise on behalf of the Guaranteed Parties all of its other rights and remedies under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and Applicable Law, in order to satisfy all of the Guaranteed Obligations.
SECTION 10.3 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; Etc.
(a) The enumeration of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders set forth in this Agreement is not intended to be exhaustive and the exercise by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of any right or remedy shall not preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies, all of which shall be cumulative, and shall be in addition to any other right or remedy given hereunder or under the other Loan Documents or that may now or hereafter exist at law or in equity or by suit or otherwise. No delay or failure to take action on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power or privilege shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege or shall be construed to be a waiver of any Event of Default. No course of dealing between the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders or their respective agents or employees shall be effective to change, modify or discharge any provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or to constitute a waiver of any Event of Default.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Credit Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 10.2 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders; provided, that, the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as an Issuing Lender or Swingline Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 12.4 (subject to the terms of Section 5.6), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Credit Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that, if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.2 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 5.6, any Lender may, with the consent of the
Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.
SECTION 10.4 Crediting of Payments and Proceeds. In the event that the Obligations have been accelerated pursuant to Section 10.2 or the Administrative Agent or any Lender has exercised any remedy set forth in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, all payments received on account of the Guaranteed Obligations and all net proceeds from the enforcement of the Guaranteed Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Sections 5.14 and 5.15, be applied by the Administrative Agent as follows:
First, to payment of that portion of the Guaranteed Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts, including attorney fees, payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;
Second, to payment of that portion of the Guaranteed Obligations constituting fees (other than Commitment Fees and Letter of Credit fees payable to the Revolving Credit Lenders), indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender under the Loan Documents, including attorney fees, ratably among the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;
Third, to payment of that portion of the Guaranteed Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Commitment Fees, Letter of Credit fees payable to the Revolving Credit Lenders and interest on the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations, ratably among the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;
Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Guaranteed Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and Guaranteed Hedge Obligations and Guaranteed Cash Management Obligations then owing and to Cash Collateralize any L/C Obligations then outstanding, ratably among the holders of such obligations in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth payable to them; and
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Guaranteed Obligations have been Paid in Full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Applicable Law.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Guaranteed Cash Management Obligations and Guaranteed Hedge Obligations shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable holders thereof following such acceleration or exercise of remedies and at least three (3) Business Days prior to the application of the proceeds thereof. Each holder of Guaranteed Cash Management Obligations or Guaranteed Hedge Obligations that, in either case, is not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article XI for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.
SECTION 10.5 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 L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the
Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on any Credit Party) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Guaranteed Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 3.3, 5.3 and 12.3) 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;
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 Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders, 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 3.3, 5.3 and 12.3.
ARTICLE XI
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
SECTION 11.1 Appointment and Authority.
(a) Each of the Lenders and each Issuing Lender hereby irrevocably appoints, designates and authorizes Wells Fargo to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article XI are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and their respective Related Parties (except for the approval rights of the Borrower set forth in Section 11.6), and neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall have rights as a third-party beneficiary of any of such provisions.
(b) It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any Applicable Law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.
SECTION 11.2 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative 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 banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting, capital markets or other business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or to provide notice to or consent of the Lenders with respect thereto.
SECTION 11.3 Exculpatory Provisions.
(a) The Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their respective Related Parties shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder and thereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their respective Related Parties:
(i) shall not be subject to any agency, trust, fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
(ii) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise 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 Loan Documents); provided, that, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan 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;
(iii) shall not, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose to any Lender, any Issuing Lender or any other Person, any credit or other information relating concerning the business, prospects, operations, properties, assets, financial or other condition or creditworthiness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates that is communicated to, obtained by or otherwise in the possession of the Person serving as the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or their respective Related Parties in any capacity, except for notices, reports and other documents that are required to be furnished by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders pursuant to the express provisions of this Agreement; and
(iv) shall not be required to account to any Lender or any Issuing Lender for any sum or profit received by the Administrative Agent for its own account.
(b) The Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their respective Related Parties shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (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 the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Section 12.2 and Section 10.2) or (ii) in the absence of its own bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final non-appealable judgment. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until notice describing such Default or Event of Default and indicating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an Issuing Lender.
(c) The Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their respective Related Parties shall not be responsible for or have any duty or obligations to any Lender or Participant or any other Person to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith (including any report provided to it by an Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.9), (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article VI or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or (vi) the utilization of any Issuing Lender’s L/C Commitment (it being understood and agreed that each Issuing Lender shall monitor compliance with its own L/C Commitment without any further action by the Administrative Agent).
(d) The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Competitors. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (x) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Competitor or (y) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Competitors.
SECTION 11.4 Reliance by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, shall be fully protected in relying and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, communication, 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, including any certification pursuant to Section 11.9. The Administrative 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 be fully protected in relying 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 Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or such Issuing Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or such Issuing Lender prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), 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. Each Lender or Issuing Lender that has signed this Agreement or a signature page to an Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it is to become a Lender or Issuing Lender hereunder shall be deemed to have consented to, approved and accepted and shall deemed satisfied with each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to, approved or accepted by such Lender or Issuing Lender or that is to be acceptable or satisfactory to such Lender or Issuing Lender.
SECTION 11.5 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article XI shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their
respective activities in connection with the syndication of the Credit Facility as well as activities as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not 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 the Administrative Agent acted with bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such subagents.
SECTION 11.6 Resignation of Administrative Agent.
(a) The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower and subject to the consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of the Borrower (provided, that, no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such resignation), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank or financial institution reasonably experienced in serving as administrative agent on syndicated bank facilities with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank or financial institution with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to), on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided, that, in no event shall any such successor Administrative Agent be a Defaulting Lender or a Competitor. 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 Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person, remove such Person as Administrative Agent and appoint a successor (which shall be a bank with an office in the United States of America, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States of America) approved by the Borrower (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided, that, no approval of the Borrower shall be necessary if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such removal). If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.
(c) With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable), (i) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (ii) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and each Issuing Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring or removed Administrative Agent (other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent
shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article XI and Section 12.3 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent or relating to its duties as Administrative Agent that are carried out following its retirement or removal, including, without limitation, in respect of any actions taken in connection with the transfer of agency to a replacement or successor Administrative Agent.
(d) Any resignation by, or removal of, Wells Fargo as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 11.6 shall also constitute its resignation as an Issuing Lender and Swingline Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Issuing Lender, if in its sole discretion it elects to, and Swingline Lender, (ii) the retiring Issuing Lender and Swingline Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (iii) the successor Issuing Lender, if in its sole discretion it elects to, shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring Issuing Lender to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring Issuing Lender with respect to such Letters of Credit.
SECTION 11.7 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and each Issuing Lender expressly acknowledges that none of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any of their respective Related Parties has made any representations or warranties to it and that no act taken or failure to act by the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any of their respective Related Parties, including any consent to, and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or Affiliates shall be deemed to constitute a representation or warranty of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any of their respective Related Parties to any Lender, any Issuing Lender or any other Guaranteed Party as to any matter, including whether the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any of their respective Related Parties have disclosed material information in their (or their respective Related Parties’) possession. Each Lender and each Issuing Lender expressly acknowledges, represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Arranger that (a) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility, (b) it is engaged in making, acquiring, purchasing or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course and is entering into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party as a Lender for the purpose of making, acquiring, purchasing and/or holding the commercial loans set forth herein as may be applicable to it, and not for the purpose of making, acquiring, purchasing or holding any other type of financial instrument, (c) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire, purchase or hold the commercial loans applicable to it and either it or the Person exercising discretion in making its decisions to make, acquire, purchase or hold such commercial loans is experienced in making, acquiring, purchasing or holding commercial loans, (d) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any other Lender or any of their respective Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and appraisal of, and investigations into, the business, prospects, operations, property, assets, liabilities, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, all applicable bank or other regulatory Applicable Laws relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (e) it has made its own independent decision to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party and to extend credit hereunder and thereunder. Each Lender and each Issuing Lender also acknowledges that (i) it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender or
any of their respective Related Parties (A) continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate and its own independent investigations and (B) continue to make such investigations and inquiries as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (ii) it will not assert any claim in contravention of this Section 11.7.
SECTION 11.8 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the syndication agents, documentation agents, co-agents, arrangers or bookrunners listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an Issuing Lender hereunder, but each such Person shall have the benefit of the indemnities and exculpatory provisions hereof.
SECTION 11.9 Guaranty Matters. Each of the Lenders (including in its or any of its Affiliate’s capacities as a holder of Guaranteed Hedge Obligations and Guaranteed Cash Management Obligations) irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion to release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under any Loan Documents if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary or has become an Excluded Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted under the Loan Documents, as certified by the Borrower; provided, that, the release of Subsidiary Guarantors comprising substantially all of the credit support for the Guaranteed Obligations shall be subject to Section 12.2(g).
Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement pursuant to this Section 11.9. In each case as specified in this Section 11.9, the Administrative Agent will, at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Credit Party such documents as such Credit Party may reasonably request to release such Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 11.9 as certified by the Borrower.
SECTION 11.10 Guaranteed Hedge Obligations and Guaranteed Cash Management Obligations. No holder of any Guaranteed Hedge Obligations or Guaranteed Cash Management Obligations that obtains the benefits of Section 10.4 shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or to notice of or to consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of the provisions hereof or of any Guarantee, other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents. Except as expressly provided in Section 10.4, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Guaranteed Hedge Obligations and Guaranteed Cash Management Obligations.
SECTION 11.11 Certain ERISA Matters.
(a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments or this Agreement;
(ii) the prohibited transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable so as to exempt from the prohibitions of Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement;
(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement; or
(iii) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.
(b) In addition, unless either (1) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Credit Party, that none of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger and their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).
SECTION 11.12 Erroneous Payments.
(a) Each Lender, each Issuing Lender, each other Guaranteed Party and any other party hereto hereby severally agrees that if (i) the Administrative Agent notifies (which such notice shall be conclusive absent manifest error) such Lender or Issuing Lender or any other Guaranteed Party (or the Affiliate of a Guaranteed Party) or any other Person that has received funds from the Administrative
Agent or any of its Affiliates, either for its own account or on behalf of a Lender, Issuing Lender or other Guaranteed Party (each such recipient, a “Payment Recipient”) that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Payment Recipient were erroneously transmitted to, or otherwise erroneously or mistakenly received by, such Payment Recipient (whether or not known to such Payment Recipient) or (ii) any Payment Recipient receives any payment from the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment, as applicable, (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment, as applicable, or (z) that such Payment Recipient otherwise becomes aware was transmitted or received in error or by mistake (in whole or in part) then, in each case, an error in payment shall be presumed to have been made (any such amounts specified in clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 11.12(a), whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise; individually and collectively, an “Erroneous Payment”), then, in each case, such Payment Recipient is deemed to have knowledge of such error at the time of its receipt of such Erroneous Payment; provided, that, nothing in this Section 11.12 shall require the Administrative Agent to provide any of the notices specified in clauses (i) or (ii) above. Each Payment Recipient agrees that it shall not assert any right or claim to any Erroneous Payment, and hereby waives any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Erroneous Payments, including without limitation waiver of any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine.
(b) Without limiting the immediately preceding clause (a), each Payment Recipient agrees that, in the case of clause (a)(ii) above, it shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent in writing of such occurrence.
(c) In the case of either clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above, such Erroneous Payment shall at all times remain the property of the Administrative Agent and shall be segregated by the Payment Recipient and held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, and upon demand from the Administrative Agent such Payment Recipient shall (or, shall cause any Person who received any portion of an Erroneous Payment on its behalf to), promptly, but in all events no later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in immediately available funds and in the currency so received, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Payment Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the daily average Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
(d) In the event that an Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) is not recovered by the Administrative Agent for any reason, after demand therefor by the Administrative Agent in accordance with immediately preceding clause (c), from any Lender that is a Payment Recipient or an Affiliate of a Payment Recipient (such unrecovered amount as to such Lender, an “Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency”), then at the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and upon the Administrative Agent’s written notice to such Lender (i) such Lender shall be deemed to have made a cashless assignment of the full face amount of the portion of its Loans (but not its Commitments) of the relevant Class with respect to which such Erroneous Payment was made (the “Erroneous Payment Impacted Class”) to the Administrative Agent or, at the option of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent’s applicable lending affiliate in an amount that is equal to the Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency (or such lesser
amount as the Administrative Agent may specify) (such assignment of the Loans (but not Commitments) of the Erroneous Payment Impacted Class, the “Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment”) plus any accrued and unpaid interest on such assigned amount, without further consent or approval of any party hereto and without any payment by the Administrative Agent or its applicable lending affiliate as the assignee of such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment. Without limitation of its rights hereunder, the Administrative Agent may cancel any Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment at any time by written notice to the applicable assigning Lender and upon such revocation all of the Loans assigned pursuant to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment shall be reassigned to such Lender without any requirement for payment or other consideration. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (1) any assignment contemplated in this clause (d) shall be made without any requirement for any payment or other consideration paid by the applicable assignee or received by the assignor, (2) the provisions of this clause (d) shall govern in the event of any conflict with the terms and conditions of Section 12.9 and (3) the Administrative Agent may reflect such assignments in the Register without further consent or action by any other Person.
(e) Each party hereto hereby agrees that (x) in the event an Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) is not recovered from any Payment Recipient that has received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent (1) shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Payment Recipient with respect to such amount and (2) is authorized to set off, net and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Payment Recipient under any Loan Document, or otherwise payable or distributable by the Administrative Agent to such Payment Recipient from any source, against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this Section 11.12 or under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement, (y) the receipt of an Erroneous Payment by a Payment Recipient shall not for the purpose of this Agreement be treated as a payment, prepayment, repayment, discharge or other satisfaction of any Obligations owed by the Borrower or any other Credit Party, except, in each case, to the extent such Erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such Erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower or any other Credit Party or any of their Subsidiaries or any other Person on their behalf for the purpose of making for a payment on the Obligations and (z) to the extent that an Erroneous Payment was in any way or at any time credited as payment or satisfaction of any of the Obligations, the Obligations or any part thereof that were so credited, and all rights of the Payment Recipient, as the case may be, shall be reinstated and continue in full force and effect as if such payment or satisfaction had never been received.
(f) Each party’s obligations under this Section 11.12 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of right or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations (or any portion thereof) under any Loan Document.
(g) Nothing in this Section 11.12 will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from any Payment Recipient’s receipt of an Erroneous Payment.
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 12.1 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 clause (b) below), all notices and other
communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile or electronic mail as follows:
If to the Borrower:
La-Z-Boy Incorporated
One La-Z-Boy Drive
Monroe, Michigan 48162
Attention: Treasurer
Telephone No.: 734-242-1444
Facsimile No.: 734-240-2422
E-mails: lbarnes@la-z-boy.com and treasury@la-z-boy.com
With copies to:
La-Z-Boy Incorporated
One La-Z-Boy Drive
Monroe, Michigan 48162
Attention: General Counsel
Telephone No.: 734-242-1444
Facsimile No.: 734-240-2422
E-mail: Legal.Department@la-z-boy.com
and
Jones Day
North Point
901 Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44114-1190
Attention: Kevin M. Samuels
Telephone No.: 216-586-7196
Email: kmsamuels@jonesday.com
If to Wells Fargo, as Administrative Agent:
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
MAC D1109-019
1525 West W.T. Harris Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28262
Attention of: Syndication Agency Services
Telephone No.: (704) 590-2706
Facsimile No.: (844) 879-5899
E-mail Address: Agencyservices.requests@wellsfargo.com
With copies to:
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
90 S 7th Street
Floor 15
Minneapolis, MN 55402-3903
Attention of: Mark Holm
Telephone No.: (612) 667-5657
E-mail Address: mark.holm@wellsfargo.com
If to any Lender:
To the address of such Lender set forth on the Register with respect to deliveries of notices and other documentation that may contain material non-public information.
Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications 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 and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in clause (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said clause (b).
(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided, that, the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or any Issuing Lender pursuant to Article II or III if such Lender or such Issuing Lender, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, that, approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. 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 therefor; provided, that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or other communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient.
(c) Administrative Agent’s Office. The Administrative Agent hereby designates its office located at the address set forth above, or any subsequent office which shall have been specified for such purpose by written notice to the Borrower and Lenders, as the Administrative Agent’s Office referred to herein, to which payments due are to be made and at which Loans will be disbursed and Letters of Credit requested.
(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender may change its address or other contact information for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Any Lender may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender.
(e) Platform.
(i) Each Credit Party, each Lender and each Issuing Lender agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make the Borrower Materials available to the Issuing Lenders and the other Lenders by posting the Borrower Materials on the Platform.
(ii) The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the Borrower Materials or the adequacy of the Platform, and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Borrower Materials. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Borrower Materials or the Platform. Although the Platform is secured pursuant to generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent and its Related Parties, each of the Lenders, the Issuing Lenders and the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that distribution of information through an electronic means is not necessarily secure in all respects, the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) are not responsible for approving or vetting the representatives, designees or contacts of any Lender or Issuing Lender that are provided access to the Platform and that there may be confidentiality and other risks associated with such form of distribution. Each of the Borrower, each Lender and each Issuing Lender party hereto understands and accepts such risks. In no event shall the Agent Parties have any liability to any Credit Party, any Lender or any other Person or entity for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Credit Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of communications through the Internet (including the Platform), except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, that, in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to any Credit Party, any Lender, any Issuing Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages, losses or expenses (as opposed to actual damages, losses or expenses).
SECTION 12.2 Amendments, Waivers and Consents. Except as set forth below or as specifically provided in any Loan Document (including Section 5.8(c)), any term, covenant, agreement or condition of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents may be amended or waived by the Lenders, and any consent given by the Lenders, if, but only if, such amendment, waiver or consent is in writing and approved by the Required Lenders (or by the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) and delivered to the Administrative Agent and, in the case of an amendment, signed by the Borrower; provided, that, no amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(a) increase or extend the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 10.2) or increase the amount of Loans of any Lender, in any case, without the written consent of such Lender;
(b) waive, extend or postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;
(c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation, or (subject to clauses (iv) and (vii) of the proviso set forth in the paragraph below) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby; provided, that, (i) only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the rate set forth in Section 5.1(b) during the continuance of an Event of Default and (ii) only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C Obligation or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;
(d) change Section 5.6 or Section 10.4 (or amend any other term of the Loan Documents that would have the effect of changing Section 5.6 or Section 10.4) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments or order of application required thereby without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;
(e) change any provision of this Section 12.2 or reduce the percentages specified in the definitions of “Required Lenders,” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;
(f) consent to the assignment or transfer by any Credit Party of such Credit Party’s rights and obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party (except as permitted pursuant to Section 9.3), in each case, without the written consent of each Lender; or
(g) release (i) all of the Subsidiary Guarantors or (ii) Subsidiary Guarantors comprising all or substantially all of the credit support for the Guaranteed Obligations, in any case, from the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement, without the written consent of each Lender;
provided further, that, (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by each affected Issuing Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of such Issuing Lender under this Agreement or any Letter of Credit Documents relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swingline Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swingline Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or modify Section 12.1(e), Section 12.20 or Article XI hereof; (iv) each Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto, (v) each Letter of Credit Document may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto; provided, that, a copy of such amended Letter of Credit Document shall be promptly delivered to the Administrative Agent upon such amendment or waiver, (vi) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall be permitted to amend any provision of the Loan Documents (and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document) if the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall have jointly identified an obvious error or any error, ambiguity, defect or inconsistency or omission of a technical or immaterial nature in any such provision and (vii) the Administrative Agent (and, if applicable, the Borrower) may, without the consent of any Lender, enter into amendments or modifications to this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or to enter into additional Loan Documents in order to implement any Benchmark Replacement or any
Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes or otherwise effectuate the terms of Section 5.8(c) in accordance with the terms of Section 5.8(c). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that (A) the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender, and (B) any amendment, waiver, or consent hereunder which requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms disproportionately and adversely affects any such Defaulting Lender relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each Lender hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent on its behalf, and without further consent of any Lender (but with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent), to (x) amend and restate this Agreement and the other Loan Documents if, upon giving effect to such amendment and restatement, such Lender shall no longer be a party to this Agreement (as so amended and restated), the Commitments of such Lender shall have terminated, such Lender shall have no other commitment or other obligation hereunder and shall have been paid in full all principal, interest and other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (y) enter into amendments or modifications to this Agreement (including amendments to this Section 12.2) or any of the other Loan Documents or to enter into additional Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent reasonably deems appropriate in order to effectuate the terms of Section 5.13 (including as applicable, (1) to permit the Incremental Increases to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (2) to include an Incremental Increase, as applicable, in any determination of (i) Required Lenders or (ii) similar required lender terms applicable thereto); provided, that, no amendment or modification shall result in any increase in the amount of any Lender’s Commitment or any increase in any Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage, in each case, without the written consent of such affected Lender.
SECTION 12.3 Expenses; Indemnity.
(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrower and any other Credit Party, jointly and severally, shall pay (i) all reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of one primary law firm and if reasonably necessary, one local or foreign counsel in each relevant material jurisdiction), in connection with the syndication of the Credit Facility, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses incurred by any Issuing Lender in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Lender (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Lender), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section 12.3, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out of pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.
(b) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and each Issuing Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, and shall pay or reimburse any such Indemnitee for, any and all losses, claims (including any Environmental Claims), penalties, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the
reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of one primary law firm and if reasonably necessary, one local or foreign counsel in each relevant material jurisdiction (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where the Indemnitee affected by such conflict informs the Borrower of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, of another firm of primary counsel for such affected Indemnitee and, if reasonably necessary, of one local or foreign counsel in each material jurisdiction for such affected Indemnitee)), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any Person (including the Borrower or any other Credit Party), arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including the transactions contemplated hereby), (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any Issuing Lender 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 any Credit Party or any Subsidiary in violation of any Environmental Law, or any Environmental Claim related in any way to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary, (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, or (v) any claim (including any Environmental Claims), investigation, litigation or other proceeding (whether or not the Administrative Agent or any Lender is a party thereto) and the prosecution and defense thereof, arising out of or in any way connected with the Loans, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including reasonable and documented attorneys and consultant’s fees; provided, that, such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (A) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee, (B) result from a claim brought by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith or any material breach of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if such Credit Party or such Subsidiary has obtained a final and non-appealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or (C) relate to any dispute solely among Indemnitees, other than any claims against the Administrative Agent or any Arranger in its respective capacity or in fulfilling its role as an Administrative Agent or Arranger or any similar role hereunder or under the Credit Facility. This Section 12.3(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.
(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to pay any amount required under clause (a) or (b) of this Section 12.3 to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), any Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Issuing Lender, the Swingline 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 based on each Lender’s share of the Total Credit Exposure at such time, or if the Total Credit Exposure has been reduced to zero, then based on such Lender’s share of the Total Credit Exposure immediately prior to such reduction) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender); provided, that, with respect to such unpaid amounts owed to any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender solely in its capacity as such, only the Revolving Credit Lenders shall be required to pay such unpaid amounts, such payment to be made severally among them
based on such Revolving Credit Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought or, if the Revolving Credit Commitment has been reduced to zero as of such time, determined immediately prior to such reduction); provided, further, that, the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 5.7.
(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Borrower and each other Credit Party shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan 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 referred to in clause (b) above 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 Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except to the extent such liability (i) is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (ii) results from a claim brought by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith or any material breach of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if such Credit Party or such Subsidiary has obtained a final and non-appealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section 12.3 shall be payable promptly after demand therefor.
(f) Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 12.3 shall survive the termination of the Loan Documents and payment of the obligations hereunder.
SECTION 12.4 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, each Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender 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 setoff and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, such Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Credit Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Credit Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender, such Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender or any of their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender, such Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or any such Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Credit Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender, such Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or such Affiliate different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that, in the event that any Defaulting Lender or any Affiliate thereof shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so setoff shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the
provisions of Section 5.15 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender or Affiliate of a Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender or its Affiliate shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Guaranteed Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender or any of its Affiliates as to which such right of setoff was exercised. The rights of each Lender, each Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section 12.4 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, such Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender, such Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender agree to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided, that, the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.
SECTION 12.5 Governing Law; Jurisdiction, Etc.
(a) Governing Law. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any claim, 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 Loan Document (except, as to any other Loan 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.
(b) Submission to Jurisdiction. The Borrower 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 the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender, or any Related Party of the foregoing in any way relating to this Agreement or any other Loan 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 exclusive 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 Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against the Borrower or any other Credit Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(c) Waiver of Venue. 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 Loan Document in any court referred to in clause (b) of this Section 12.5. 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.
(d) Service of Process. Each party hereto irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 12.1. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by Applicable Law.
SECTION 12.6 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 LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 12.6.
SECTION 12.7 Reversal of Payments. To the extent any Credit Party makes a payment or payments to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of any of the Guaranteed Parties or to any Guaranteed Party directly or the Administrative Agent or any Guaranteed Party receives any payment or any Guaranteed Party exercises its right of setoff, which payments or proceeds (including any proceeds of such 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, other Applicable Law or equitable cause, then, to the extent of such payment or proceeds repaid, the Guaranteed Obligations or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by the Administrative Agent, and each Lender and each Issuing Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its (or its applicable Affiliate’s) applicable ratable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent plus interest thereon at a per annum rate equal to the Federal Funds Rate from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made to the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 12.8 Injunctive Relief. The Borrower recognizes that, in the event the Borrower fails to perform, observe or discharge any of its obligations or liabilities under this Agreement, any remedy of law may prove to be inadequate relief to the Lenders. Therefore, the Borrower agrees that the Lenders, at the Lenders’ option, shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages.
SECTION 12.9 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 neither the Borrower nor any other Credit Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of clause (b) of this Section 12.9, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of clause (d) of this Section 12.9 or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of clause (e) of this Section 12.9 (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 clause (d) of this Section 12.9 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 Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Credit Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided, that, in each case with respect to any Credit Facility, any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i) Minimum Amounts.
(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and/or the Loans at the time owing to it (in each case with respect to any Credit Facility) or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds (determined after giving effect to such assignments) that equal at least the amount specified in clause (b)(i)(B) of this Section 12.9 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 clause (b)(i)(A) of this Section 12.9, 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 $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, that, the Borrower shall be deemed to have given its consent ten (10) Business Days after the date written notice thereof has been delivered by the assigning Lender (through the Administrative Agent) unless such consent is expressly refused by the Borrower prior to such tenth (10th) Business Day;
(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;
(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by clause (b)(i)(B) of this Section 12.9 and, in addition:
(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (y) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided, that, the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof;
(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 Facility or any unfunded Incremental Term Loan Commitments if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Revolving Credit Commitment or an Incremental Term Loan Commitment, as applicable, an Affiliate of such Lender or an
Approved Fund with respect to such Lender or (ii) the Incremental Term Loans to a Person who is not a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; and
(C) the consents of the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender (such consents not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility.
(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 for each assignment; provided, that, (A) only one such fee will be payable in connection with simultaneous assignments to two or more related Approved Funds by a Lender and (B) 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.
(v) No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made to (A) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, (B) a natural Person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person), (C) any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (v) or (D) any Competitor.
(vi) 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 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 (A) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lenders, the Swingline Lender and each other Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (B) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans in accordance with its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that 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 12.9, 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 clause (c) of this Section 12.9, 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 of Sections 5.8,
5.9, 5.10, 5.11 and 12.3 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided, that, except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s 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 12.9 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 clause (d) of this Section 12.9 (other than a purported assignment to a natural Person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries or Affiliates or a Competitor, which shall be null and void).
(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in Charlotte, North Carolina, 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 Borrower, 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 and any Lender (but only to the extent of entries in the Register that are applicable to such Lender), at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender, 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 Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries or Affiliates) (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, that, (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 Borrower, the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 12.3(c) 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, that, such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in Section 12.2(a), (b), (c) or (d) that directly and adversely affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 5.9, 5.10 and 5.11 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 5.11(g) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 5.11(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 12.9; provided, that, such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 5.12 as if it were an assignee under clause (b) of this Section 12.9; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 5.10 or 5.11, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after
the Participant acquired the applicable participation. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 5.12(b) with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 12.4 as though it were a Lender; provided, that, such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 5.6 and Section 12.4 as though it were a Lender.
Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts of (and stated interest on) each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided, that, no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) or Proposed Section 1.163-5(b) of the United States Treasury Regulations (or, in each case, any amended or successor version). The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
(e) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided, that, no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
(f) Competitors. (i) No assignment or participation shall be made to any Person that was a Competitor as of the date (the “Trade Date”) on which the assigning Lender entered into a binding agreement to sell and assign or participate all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to such Person (unless the Borrower has consented to such assignment or participation in writing in its sole and absolute discretion, in which case such Person will not be considered a Competitor for the purpose of such assignment or participation). For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any assignee that becomes a Competitor 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 “Competitor”), the execution by the Borrower of an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignee will not by itself result in such assignee no longer being considered a Competitor. Any assignment in violation of this clause (f)(i) shall not be void, but the other provisions of this clause (f) shall apply.
(ii) If any assignment or participation is made to any Competitor without the Borrower’s prior written consent in violation of clause (i) above, or if any Person becomes a Competitor after the applicable Trade Date, the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to the applicable Competitor and the Administrative Agent, (A) terminate any Revolving Credit Commitment of such Competitor and repay all obligations of the Borrower owing to such Competitor in connection with such Revolving Credit Commitment, (B) in the case of outstanding Incremental Term Loans held by Competitors, purchase or prepay such Incremental Term Loan by paying the lesser of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Competitor paid to acquire such Incremental 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 Competitor to assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in this Section 12.9), 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 Competitor paid to acquire such interests, rights and obligations, in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Competitors (A) will not (x) have the right to receive information, reports or other materials provided to Lenders by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, (y) attend or participate in meetings attended by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, or (z) access any electronic site established for the Lenders or confidential communications from counsel to or financial advisors of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders and (B) (x) for purposes of any consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of, or any action under, and for the purpose of any direction to the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, each Competitor will be deemed to have consented in the same proportion as the Lenders that are not Competitors consented to such matter, and (y) for purposes of voting on any plan of reorganization or plan of liquidation pursuant to any Debtor Relief Laws (each, a “Plan of Reorganization”), each Competitor party hereto hereby agrees (1) not to vote on such Plan of Reorganization, (2) if such Competitor does vote on such Plan of Reorganization notwithstanding the restriction in the foregoing clause (1), such vote will be deemed not to be in good faith and shall be “designated” pursuant to Section 1126(e) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws), and such vote shall not be counted in determining whether the applicable class has accepted or rejected such Plan of Reorganization in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other 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 Borrower hereby expressly authorizes the Administrative Agent, to (A) post the list of Competitors provided by the Borrower and any updates thereto from time to time (collectively, the “Competitor List”) on the Platform, including that portion of the Platform that is designated for “public side” Lenders and/or (B) provide the Competitor List to each Lender requesting the same.
(g) Cashless Settlement. 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, the Administrative Agent and such Lender.
SECTION 12.10 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and each Issuing Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective Related Parties in connection with the Credit Facility, this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or in connection with marketing of services by such Affiliate or Related Party to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information
confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by, or required to be disclosed to, any regulatory or similar authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners) or in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s, such Issuing Lender’s or any Lender’s regulatory compliance policy if the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Lender or such Lender, as applicable, deems such disclosure to be necessary for the mitigation of claims by those authorities against the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Lender or such Lender, as applicable, or any of its Related Parties (in which case, the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Lender or such Lender, as applicable, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to, except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by bank accountants or any governmental bank regulatory authority exercising examination or regulatory authority, promptly notify the Borrower, in advance, to the extent practicable and otherwise permitted by Applicable Law), (c) as to the extent required by Applicable Laws or regulations or in any legal, judicial, administrative proceeding or other compulsory process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under this Agreement, under any other Loan Document or under any Guaranteed Hedge Agreement or Guaranteed Cash Management Agreement, or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any Guaranteed Hedge Agreement or Guaranteed Cash Management Agreement, or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 12.10, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and, in each case, their respective financing sources, excluding any Competitor or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder (it being understood that the Competitor List may be disclosed to any assignee or Participant, or prospective assignee or Participant, in reliance on this clause (f)), (g) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the Credit Facility or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the Credit Facility, (h) with the consent of the Borrower, (i) deal terms and other information customarily reported to Thomson Reuters, other bank market data collectors and similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration of the Loan Documents, (j) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 12.10 or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Lender or any of their respective Affiliates from a third party that is not, to such Person’s knowledge, subject to confidentiality obligations to the Borrower, (k) to the extent that such information is independently developed by such Person or (l) for purposes of establishing a “due diligence” defense. For purposes of this Section 12.10, “Information” means all information received from any Credit Party or any Subsidiary relating to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 12.10 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
SECTION 12.11 Performance of Duties. Each of the Credit Party’s obligations under this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents shall be performed by such Credit Party at its sole cost and expense.
SECTION 12.12 All Powers Coupled with Interest. All powers of attorney and other authorizations granted to the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and any Persons designated by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to any provisions of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents shall be deemed coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable so long as any of the Obligations remain unpaid or unsatisfied (other than contingent obligations not then due), any of the Commitments remain in effect or the Credit Facility has not been terminated.
SECTION 12.13 Survival.
(a) All representations and warranties set forth in Article VII and all representations and warranties contained in any certificate, or any of the Loan Documents (including, but not limited to, any such representation or warranty made in or in connection with any amendment thereto) shall constitute representations and warranties made under this Agreement. All representations and warranties made under this Agreement shall be made or deemed to be made at and as of the Closing Date (except those that are expressly made as of a specific date), shall survive the Closing Date and shall not be waived by the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any investigation made by or on behalf of the Lenders or any borrowing hereunder.
(b) Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the indemnities to which the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are entitled under the provisions of this Article XII and any other provision of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall continue in full force and effect and shall protect the Administrative Agent and the Lenders against events arising after such termination as well as before.
SECTION 12.14 Titles and Captions. Titles and captions of Articles, Sections and subsections in, and the table of contents of, this Agreement are for convenience only, and neither limit nor amplify the provisions of this Agreement.
SECTION 12.15 Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions hereof or thereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. In the event that any provision is held to be so prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such provision to preserve the original intent thereof in such jurisdiction (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders).
SECTION 12.16 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution.
(a) Counterparts; Integration; 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. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender and/or any Arranger, constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 6.1, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. 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.
(b) Electronic Execution. The words “execute,” “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery” and words of like import in or related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any document, amendment, approval, consent, waiver, modification, information, notice, certificate, report, statement, disclosure, or authorization to be signed or delivered in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures or execution in the form of an Electronic Record, and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature 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. Each party hereto agrees that any Electronic Signature or execution in the form of an Electronic Record shall be valid and binding on itself and each of the other parties hereto to the same extent as a manual, original signature. For the avoidance of doubt, the authorization under this clause (b) may include, without limitation, use or acceptance by the parties of a manually signed paper which has been converted into electronic form (such as scanned into PDF format), or an electronically signed paper converted into another format, for transmission, delivery and/or retention. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent is under no obligation to accept an Electronic Signature in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Administrative Agent pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, that, without limiting the foregoing, (i) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept such Electronic Signature from any party hereto, the Administrative Agent and the other parties hereto shall be entitled to rely on any such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the executing party without further verification and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by an original manually executed counterpart thereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby (A) agrees that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and any of the Credit Parties, electronic images of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (in each case, including with respect to any signature pages thereto) shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, and (B) waives any argument, defense or right to contest the validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents based solely on the lack of paper original copies of any Loan Documents, including with respect to any signature pages thereto.
SECTION 12.17 Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall remain in effect from the Closing Date through and including the date upon which all Obligations shall have been Paid in Full and the Commitments terminated. No termination of this Agreement shall affect the rights and obligations of the parties hereto arising prior to such termination or in respect of any provision of this Agreement which survives such termination.
SECTION 12.18 USA PATRIOT Act; Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the PATRIOT Act or any other Anti-Money Laundering Laws, each of them is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Credit Party, which information includes the name and address of each Credit Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify each Credit Party in accordance with the PATRIOT Act or such Anti-Money Laundering Laws.
SECTION 12.19 Independent Effect of Covenants. The Borrower expressly acknowledges and agrees that each covenant contained in Articles VIII or IX hereof shall be given independent effect.
Accordingly, the Borrower shall not engage in any transaction or other act otherwise permitted under any covenant contained in Articles VIII or IX, before or after giving effect to such transaction or act, the Borrower shall or would be in breach of any other covenant contained in Articles VIII or IX.
SECTION 12.20 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.
(a) In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, each Credit Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that (i) the facilities provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, and the Borrower is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or thereof), (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, each of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person, (iii) none of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or the Lenders has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether any Arranger or Lender has advised or is currently advising the Borrower or any of its Affiliates on other matters) and none of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or the Lenders has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the financing transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, (iv) the Arrangers and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from, and may conflict with, those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and none of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or the Lenders has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship and (v) the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and the Credit Parties have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they have deemed appropriate.
(b) Each Credit Party acknowledges and agrees that each Lender, the Arrangers and any Affiliate thereof may lend money to, invest in, and generally engage in any kind of business with, any of the Borrower, any Affiliate thereof or any other person or entity that may do business with or own securities of any of the foregoing, all as if such Lender, Arranger or Affiliate thereof were not a Lender or Arranger or an Affiliate thereof (or an agent or any other person with any similar role under the Credit Facilities) and without any duty to account therefor to any other Lender, the Arrangers, the Borrower or any Affiliate of the foregoing. Each Lender, the Arrangers and any Affiliate thereof may accept fees and other consideration from the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof for services in connection with this Agreement, the Credit Facilities or otherwise without having to account for the same to any other Lender, the Arrangers, the Borrower or any Affiliate of the foregoing.
SECTION 12.21 Inconsistencies with Other Documents. In the event there is a conflict or inconsistency between this Agreement and any other Loan Document, the terms of this Agreement shall control.
SECTION 12.22 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and
(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or
(i) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.
SECTION 12.23 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Hedge Agreements or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support” and, each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the FDIC under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):
(a) In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties
with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.
(b) As used in this Section 12.23, the following terms have the following meanings:
“BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.
“Covered Entity” means any of the following:
(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);
(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or
(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).
[Signature pages to follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first written above.
LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, as Borrower
By: /s/ Lindsay A. Barnes
Name: Lindsay A. Barnes
Title: Vice President Finance & Treasurer
AGENTS AND LENDERS:
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender, Issuing Lender and Lender
By: /s/ Mark Holm
Name: Mark Holm
Title: Managing Director
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Lender
By: /s/ Zachary Blaner
Name: Zachary Blaner
Title: Vice President
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Lender
By: /s/ David Komrska
Name: David Komrska
Title: Senior Vice President
COMERICA BANK, as Lender
By: /s/ Mark L Lashbrook
Name: Mark L Lashbrook
Title: Asst. Vice President
EXHIBIT A-1
REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE
__________, 20___
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, a Michigan corporation (the “Borrower”), promises to pay to _______________ (the “Lender”), at the place and times provided in the Credit Agreement referred to below, the unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans of the Lender from time to time pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
The unpaid principal amount of this Revolving Credit Note from time to time outstanding is payable as provided in the Credit Agreement and shall bear interest as provided in Section 5.1 of the Credit Agreement. All payments of principal and interest on this Revolving Credit Note shall be payable in Dollars in immediately available funds as provided in the Credit Agreement.
This Revolving Credit Note is entitled to the benefits of, and evidences Obligations incurred under, the Credit Agreement, to which reference is made for a statement of the terms and conditions on which the Borrower is permitted and required to make prepayments and repayments of principal of the Obligations evidenced by this Revolving Credit Note and on which such Obligations may be declared to be immediately due and payable.
THIS REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
The Borrower hereby waives all requirements as to diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and (except as required by the Credit Agreement) notice of any kind with respect to this Revolving Credit Note.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Revolving Credit Note as of the day and year first above written.
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LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, |
a Michigan corporation |
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By: |
Name: |
Title: |
EXHIBIT A-2
SWINGLINE NOTE
__________, 20___
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, a Michigan corporation (the “Borrower”), promises to pay to WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (the “Lender”), at the place and times provided in the Credit Agreement referred to below, the unpaid principal amount of all Swingline Loans of the Lender from time to time pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
The unpaid principal amount of this Swingline Note from time to time outstanding is payable as provided in the Credit Agreement and shall bear interest as provided in Section 5.1 of the Credit Agreement. Swingline Loans refunded as Revolving Credit Loans in accordance with Section 2.2(b) of the Credit Agreement shall be payable by the Borrower as Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to the Revolving Credit Notes, and shall not be payable under this Swingline Note as Swingline Loans. All payments of principal and interest on this Swingline Note shall be payable in Dollars in immediately available funds as provided in the Credit Agreement.
This Swingline Note is entitled to the benefits of, and evidences Obligations incurred under, the Credit Agreement, to which reference is made for a statement of the terms and conditions on which the Borrower is permitted and required to make prepayments and repayments of principal of the Obligations evidenced by this Swingline Note and on which such Obligations may be declared to be immediately due and payable.
THIS SWINGLINE NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
The Borrower hereby waives all requirements as to diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and (except as required by the Credit Agreement) notice of any kind with respect to this Swingline Note.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Swingline Note as of the day and year first above written.
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LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, |
a Michigan corporation |
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By: |
Name: |
Title: |
EXHIBIT B
NOTICE OF BORROWING
Dated as of: _____________
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent
MAC D 1109-019
1525 West W.T. Harris Blvd.
Charlotte, North Carolina 28262
Attention: Syndication Agency Services
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This Notice of Borrowing is delivered to you pursuant to [Section 2.3][Section 5.13] of the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, a Michigan corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
1. The Borrower hereby requests that the Lenders make [a Revolving Credit Loan][a Swingline Loan][an Incremental Term Loan] to the Borrower in the aggregate principal amount of $___________. (Complete with an amount in accordance with Section 2.3 or Section 5.13, as applicable, of the Credit Agreement.)
2. The Borrower hereby requests that such Loan(s) be made on the following Business Day: _____________________. (Complete with a Business Day in accordance with Section 2.3 of the Credit Agreement for Revolving Credit Loans or Swingline Loans or Section 5.13 of the Credit Agreement for an Incremental Term Loan).
3. The Borrower hereby requests that such Loan(s) bear interest at the following interest rate, plus the Applicable Margin, as set forth below:
| | | | | | | | |
Component of Loan1 | Interest Rate | Interest Period (LIBOR Rate only) |
| [Base Rate or LIBOR Rate]2 | |
1 Complete with the Dollar amount of that portion of the overall Loan requested that is to bear interest at the selected interest rate and/or Interest Period (e.g., for a $20,000,000 loan, $5,000,000 may be requested at Base Rate, $8,000,000 may be requested at LIBOR with an interest period of three months and $7,000,000 may be requested at LIBOR with an interest period of one month).
2 Complete with (i) the Base Rate or the LIBOR Rate for Revolving Credit Loans or any Incremental Term Loan or (ii) the Base Rate for Swingline Loans.
4. The aggregate principal amount of all Loans and L/C Obligations outstanding as of the date hereof (including the Loan(s) requested herein) does not exceed the maximum amount permitted to be outstanding pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement.
5. Delivery of this Notice of Borrowing shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Borrower as to the matters set forth in Sections 6.2(a) and (b) of the Credit Agreement on and as of the date of the Loan(s) requested herein.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Notice of Borrowing as of the day and year first written above.
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LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, |
a Michigan corporation |
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By: |
Name: |
Title: |
EXHIBIT C
NOTICE OF ACCOUNT DESIGNATION
Dated as of: _________
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent
MAC D 1109-019
1525 West W.T. Harris Blvd.
Charlotte, North Carolina 28262
Attention: Syndication Agency Services
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This Notice of Account Designation is delivered to you pursuant to Section 2.3(b) of the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, a Michigan corporation, as Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
1. The Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to disburse all Loan proceeds into the following account(s):
____________________________
Bank Name: ____________
ABA Routing Number: _________
Account Number: _____________
2. This authorization shall remain in effect until revoked or until a subsequent Notice of Account Designation is provided to the Administrative Agent.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Notice of Account Designation as of the day and year first written above.
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LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, |
a Michigan corporation |
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By: |
Name: |
Title: |
EXHIBIT D
NOTICE OF PREPAYMENT
Dated as of: _____________
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent
MAC D 1109-019
1525 West W.T. Harris Blvd.
Charlotte, North Carolina 28262
Attention: Syndication Agency Services
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This Notice of Prepayment is delivered to you pursuant to Section 2.4(c) of the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, a Michigan corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
1. The Borrower hereby provides notice to the Administrative Agent that it shall repay the following [Base Rate Loans] and/or [LIBOR Rate Loans]: _______________. (Complete with an amount in accordance with Section 2.4 of the Credit Agreement.)
2. The Loan(s) to be prepaid consist of: [check each applicable box]
☐ a Swingline Loan
☐ a Revolving Credit Loan
☐ an Incremental Term Loan
3. The Borrower shall repay the above-referenced Loans on the following Business Day: _______________. (Complete with a date no earlier than (i) the same Business Day as of the date of this Notice of Prepayment with respect to any Swingline Loan or Base Rate Loan and (ii) three (3) Business Days subsequent to date of this Notice of Prepayment with respect to any LIBOR Rate Loan.)
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Notice of Prepayment as of the day and year first written above.
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LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, |
a Michigan corporation |
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By: |
Name: |
Title: |
EXHIBIT E
NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION
Dated as of: _____________
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,
as Administrative Agent
MAC D 1109-019
1525 West W.T. Harris Blvd.
Charlotte, North Carolina 28262
Attention: Syndication Agency Services
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This irrevocable Notice of Conversion/Continuation (this “Notice”) is delivered to you pursuant to Section 5.2 of the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, a Michigan corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
1. The Loan to which this Notice relates is [a Revolving Credit Loan] [an Incremental Term Loan]. (Delete as applicable.)
2. This Notice is submitted for the purpose of: (Check one and complete applicable information in accordance with the Credit Agreement.)
☐ Converting all or a portion of a Base Rate Loan into a LIBOR Rate Loan
Outstanding principal balance: $______________
Principal amount to be converted: $______________
Requested effective date of conversion: _______________
Requested new Interest Period: _______________
☐ Converting all or a portion of a LIBOR Rate Loan into a Base Rate Loan
Outstanding principal balance: $______________
Principal amount to be converted: $______________
Last day of the current Interest Period: _______________
Requested effective date of conversion: _______________
☐ Continuing all or a portion of a LIBOR Rate Loan as a LIBOR Rate Loan
Outstanding principal balance: $______________
Principal amount to be continued: $______________
Last day of the current Interest Period: _______________
Requested effective date of continuation: _______________
Requested new Interest Period: _______________
3. The aggregate principal amount of all Loans and L/C Obligations outstanding as of the date hereof does not exceed the maximum amount permitted to be outstanding pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Notice of Conversion/Continuation as of the day and year first written above.
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LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, |
a Michigan corporation |
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By: |
Name: |
Title: |
EXHIBIT F
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE3
Dated as of: _____________
The undersigned Responsible Officer, on behalf of LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, a Michigan corporation (the “Borrower”), hereby certifies to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, each as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below, as follows:
1. This certificate is delivered to you pursuant to Section 8.2 of the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
2. I have reviewed the financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries dated as of _______________ and for the _______________ period[s] then ended and such statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for the period[s] indicated.
3. I have reviewed the terms of the Credit Agreement, and the related Loan Documents and have made, or caused to be made under my supervision, a review in reasonable detail of the transactions and the condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during the accounting period covered by the financial statements referred to in Paragraph 2 above. Such review has not disclosed the existence as of the end of such accounting period of any condition or event that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, nor do I have any knowledge of the existence of any such condition or event as at the date of this certificate [except, if such condition or event existed or exists, describe the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Borrower has taken, is taking and proposes to take with respect thereto].
4. As of the date of this certificate, the Applicable Margin and calculations determining such figures are set forth on the attached Schedule 1, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the financial covenants contained in Section 9.9 of the Credit Agreement as shown on such Schedule 1.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]
3 The descriptions of the calculations set forth in this certificate are sometimes abbreviated for simplicity, but are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the calculations provided in the Credit Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Compliance Certificate as of the day and year first written above.
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LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, |
a Michigan corporation |
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By: |
Name: |
Title: |
Schedule 1
to
Compliance Certificate
For the Quarter/Year ended ______________________ (the “Statement Date”)
| | | | | | | | |
1. | Maximum Consolidated Net Lease Adjusted Leverage Ratio and Applicable Margin | |
| (a) Consolidated Adjusted Funded Indebtedness as of the Statement Date | $__________ |
| (b) The lesser of (i) $50,000,000 and (ii) the amount of Cash on Hand in excess of customer deposits | $__________ |
| (c) Consolidated EBITDAR for the Reference Period ending on the Statement Date (See Schedule 2) | $__________ |
| Consolidated Net Lease Adjusted Leverage Ratio ([1(a) minus 1(b)] divided by 1(c)) | ____ to 1.00 |
| Maximum permitted Consolidated Net Lease Adjusted Leverage Ratio as set forth in Section 9.9(a) of the Credit Agreement | ____ to 1.00 |
| In Compliance? | Yes/No |
| Applicable Margin | Pricing Level __ |
2. | Minimum Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio | |
| (a) Consolidated EBITDAR for the Reference Period ending on the Statement Date | $__________ |
| (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for the Reference Period ending on the Statement Date (See Schedule 3) | $__________ |
| Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (2(a) divided by 2(b)) | ____ to 1.00 |
| Minimum permitted Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as set forth in Section 9.9(b) of the Credit Agreement | ____ to 1.00 |
| In Compliance? | Yes/No |
Schedule 2
to
Compliance Certificate
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Consolidated EBITDAR | Quarter 1 ended __/__/__ | Quarter 2 ended __/__/__ | Quarter 3 ended __/__/__ | Quarter 4 ended __/__/__ | Total (Quarters 1-4) |
(a) | Consolidated Net Income | | | | | |
(b) | The following amounts, without duplication, to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income (or, in the case of clause (b)(ix) below, to the extent not already included in Consolidated Net Income for such period): | | | | | |
| (i) Consolidated Interest Expense | | | | | |
| (ii) expense for Taxes measured by net income, profits or capital (or any similar measures), paid or accrued, including federal and state and local income Taxes, foreign income Taxes and franchise Taxes | | | | | |
| (iii) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of intangibles) and other non-cash charges, losses or expenses, excluding (x) any non-cash charge or expense relating to write-offs, write-downs or reserves with respect to accounts or inventory and (y) any non-cash charge or expense which represents a cash item in such period or any other period | | | | | |
| (iv) unusual and non-recurring losses (excluding losses from discontinued operations) | | | | | |
| (v) all transaction fees, charges and other amounts related to the execution and delivery of or the administration of the Credit Agreement and any other Loan Document, and any amendment, consent, waiver or other modification to the Loan Documents | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Consolidated EBITDAR | Quarter 1 ended __/__/__ | Quarter 2 ended __/__/__ | Quarter 3 ended __/__/__ | Quarter 4 ended __/__/__ | Total (Quarters 1-4) |
| (vi) all transaction fees, charges and other amounts (including any financing fees, merger and acquisition fees, legal fees and expenses, due diligence fees or any other fees and expenses in connection therewith) in connection with any Acquisition permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement, any other investment permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement, any Asset Disposition permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement, any issuance or repurchase of Equity Interests permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement, or the incurrence, amendment or waiver of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement, in each case, whether or not consummated | | | | | |
| (vii) Consolidated Rent Expense, plus (without duplication) any rent or lease expenses or costs, in each case, for such period | | | | | |
| (viii) any costs or expenses for such period pursuant to any equity plan, stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, in each case, to the extent that such costs or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Borrower or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Consolidated EBITDAR | Quarter 1 ended __/__/__ | Quarter 2 ended __/__/__ | Quarter 3 ended __/__/__ | Quarter 4 ended __/__/__ | Total (Quarters 1-4) |
| (ix) (A) other unusual and non-recurring cash expenses or charges (including one-time non-recurring severance charges and cash restructuring charges) or business optimization expenses or expenses or charges related to any cost savings initiative or other similar initiative taken after the Closing Date and (B) the amount of any “run rate” synergies, operating expense reductions and other net cost savings and operating improvements, business optimization activities and/or restructuring initiatives, in each case, taken after the Closing Date, for such period (calculated on a pro forma basis as though such synergies, expense reductions, cost savings, business optimization, restructuring initiatives and operating improvements had been realized on the first day of the period for which Consolidated EBITDAR is being determined), net of the amount of actual benefits realized during such period from such actions 4 | | | | | |
| (x) to the extent covered by insurance or any third party and to the extent by insurance or such third party actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Borrower has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurance or such third party, expenses, charges or losses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption, indemnity or other transactions (to the extent not reflected as revenue or income in Consolidated Net Income and to the extent that the related loss was deducted in the determination of Consolidated Net Income) | | | | | |
4 provided, that, (x) the Borrower certifies that such items are (1) are reasonably identifiable, factually supportable, expected to have a continuing impact on the operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and have been determined by the Borrower in good faith to be reasonably anticipated to be realizable within twelve (12) months following any such action, (2) no such amounts are added pursuant to this clause (b)(ix) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges otherwise added to Consolidated EBITDAR or included in Consolidated Net Income, whether through a pro forma adjustment or otherwise and (3) projected amounts (that are not yet realized) are no longer added in calculating Consolidated EBITDAR pursuant to this clause (b)(ix) to the extent occurring more than four (4) full fiscal quarters after the specified action taken in order to realize such projected synergies, expense reductions, cost savings or operating improvements and (y) the aggregate amount added pursuant to this clause (b)(ix)(B) for any period in no event exceeds ten percent (10%) of Consolidated EBITDAR for such period (calculated prior to any such add-backs pursuant to this clause (b)(ix)(B)).
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Consolidated EBITDAR | Quarter 1 ended __/__/__ | Quarter 2 ended __/__/__ | Quarter 3 ended __/__/__ | Quarter 4 ended __/__/__ | Total (Quarters 1-4) |
(c) | Sum of (b)(i) through (b)(x) | | | | | |
(d) | The following amounts, without duplication, to the extent added in computing Consolidated Net Income for such period: | | | | | |
| (i) interest income | | | | | |
| (ii) Federal, state, local and foreign income Tax credits of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period (to the extent not netted from income Tax expense) | | | | | |
| (iii) any unusual and non-recurring gains | | | | | |
| (iv) non-cash gains or non-cash items | | | | | |
| (v) any cash payment made during such period to the extent such payment relates to a non-cash charge or expense added back to Consolidated Net Income in any other period | | | | | |
(e) | Sum of (d)(i) through (d)(v) | | | | | |
(f) | Pro Forma Basis Adjustments to Consolidated EBITDA, if applicable5 | | | | | |
(g) | Consolidated EBITDA ((a) plus (c) minus (e) plus or minus, as applicable, (f)) | | | | | |
5 See definition of “Pro Forma Basis” in the Credit Agreement.
Schedule 3
to
Compliance Certificate
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Consolidated Fixed Charges | Quarter 1 ended __/__/__ | Quarter 2 ended __/__/__ | Quarter 3 ended __/__/__ | Quarter 4 ended __/__/__ | Total (Quarters 1-4) |
(a) | Consolidated Interest Expense paid or payable in cash, | | | | | |
(b) | Consolidated Rent Expense paid or payable in cash, | | | | | |
| Consolidated Fixed Charges (sum of (a) and (b)) | | | | | |
EXHIBIT G
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
This Assignment and Assumption (the “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [INSERT NAME OF ASSIGNOR] (the “Assignor”) and the parties identified on the Schedules hereto and [the] [each]6 Assignee identified on the Schedules hereto as “Assignee” or as “Assignees” (collectively, the “Assignees” and each, an “Assignee”). [It is understood and agreed that the rights and obligations of the Assignees7 hereunder are several and not joint.]8 Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (the “Credit Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by [the] [each] Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.
For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the [Assignee] [respective Assignees], and [the] [each] Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below (including without limitation any letters of credit, guarantees, and swingline loans included in such facilities) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under Applicable Law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned to [the] [any] Assignee pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as, [the] [an] “Assigned Interest”). Each such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.
1. Assignor: [INSERT NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
2. Assignee(s): See Schedules attached hereto
3. Borrower: La-Z-Boy Incorporated, a Michigan corporation
4. Administrative Agent: Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement
6 For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignee(s), if the assignment is to a single Assignee, choose the first bracketed language. If the assignment is to multiple Assignees, choose the second bracketed language.
7 Select as appropriate.
8 Include bracketed language if there are multiple Assignees.
5. Credit Agreement: The Credit Agreement dated as of October 15, 2021 among the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified)
6. Assigned Interest: See Schedules attached hereto
[7. Trade Date: ______________]9
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]
9 To be completed if the Assignor and the Assignees intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of the Trade Date.
Effective Date: _____________ ___, 2____ [TO BE INSERTED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR]
The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:
| | |
ASSIGNOR |
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR] |
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By: |
Name: |
Title: |
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ASSIGNEES |
|
See Schedules attached hereto |
[Consented to and]10 Accepted:
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Administrative Agent[, Issuing Lender and Swingline Lender]
By:_________________________________
Name:
Title:
[Consented to:]11
[BORROWER]
By:________________________________
Name:
Title:
[Consented to:]12
[ISSUING LENDER]
By:________________________________
Name:
Title:
10 To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent and/or the Swingline Lender and Issuing Lender is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.
11 To be added only if the consent of the Borrower is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.
12 To be added only if the consent of the Issuing Lender(s) is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.
SCHEDULE 1
To Assignment and Assumption
By its execution of this Schedule, the Assignee identified on the signature block below agrees to the terms set forth in the attached Assignment and Assumption.
Assigned Interests:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Facility Assigned13 | Aggregate Amount of Commitment/ Loans for all Lenders14 | Amount of Commitment/ Loans Assigned15 | Percentage Assigned of Commitment/ Loans16 | CUSIP Number |
| $ | $ | % | |
| $ | $ | % | |
| $ | $ | % | |
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]17
[and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]18]
By:______________________________
Name:
Title:
13 Fill in the appropriate terminology for the types of facilities under the Credit Agreement that are being assigned under this Agreement (e.g. “Revolving Credit Commitment,” “Incremental Term Loan Commitment,” etc.)
14 Amount to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date.
15 Amount to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date.
16 Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.
17 Add additional signature blocks, as needed.
18 Select as appropriate.
ANNEX 1
to Assignment and Assumption
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
1. Representations and Warranties.
1.1 Assignor. The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of [the] [the relevant] Assigned Interest, (ii) [the] [such] Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim, (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and (iv) it is [not] a Defaulting Lender; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of [its][their respective] Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of [its][their respective] Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.
1.2. Assignee[s]. [The] [Each] Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets the requirements of an Eligible Assignee under the Credit Agreement (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 12.9(b)(iii) of the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of [the] [the relevant] Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by the Assigned Interest and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire [the] [such] Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, and has received or has been accorded the opportunity to receive copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 8.1 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it deems appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the] [such] Assigned Interest, (vi) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the] [such] Assigned Interest, and (vii) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by [the] [such] Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, [the] [any] Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.
2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of [the] [each] Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and
other amounts) to [the] [the relevant] Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to [the] [the relevant] Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.
3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
EXHIBIT H-1
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, a Michigan corporation (the “Borrower”), the lenders who are or may become a party thereto, as Lenders, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (a) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (b) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (c) it is not a ten percent (10%) shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code and (d) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (a) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (b) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two (2) calendar years preceding such payments.
| | | | | |
[NAME OF LENDER] |
By: |
| Name: |
| Title: |
Date: ________ __, 20__
EXHIBIT H-2
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, a Michigan corporation (the “Borrower”), the lenders who are or may become party a thereto, as Lenders, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (a) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (b) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (c) it is not a ten percent (10%) shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code and (d) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (a) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing and (b) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two (2) calendar years preceding such payments.
| | | | | |
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT] |
By: |
| Name: |
| Title: |
Date: ________ __, 20__
EXHIBIT H-3
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, a Michigan corporation (the “Borrower”), the lenders who are or may become party thereto, as Lenders, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (a) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (b) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (c) with respect to such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (d) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent (10%) shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code and (e) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (a) an IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (b) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (i) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (ii) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two (2) calendar years preceding such payments.
| | | | | |
[NAME OF PARTICIPANT] |
By: |
| Name: |
| Title: |
Date: ________ __, 20__
EXHIBIT H-4
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)
Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2021 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, a Michigan corporation (the “Borrower”), the lenders who are or may become party thereto, as Lenders, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (a) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (b) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (c) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (d) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent (10%) shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code and (e) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.
The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (a) an IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (b) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (i) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (ii) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two (2) calendar years preceding such payments.
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[NAME OF LENDER] |
By: |
| Name: |
| Title: |
Date: ________ __, 20__
EXHIBIT I
JOINDER AGREEMENT
THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT dated as of [_____] (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”) to the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement referred to below is entered into by and between [NAME OF NEW SUBSIDIARY], a [_____] (the “New Subsidiary”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (the “Administrative Agent”) under the Credit Agreement referred to below.
Statement of Purpose
Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2021, (as amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among LA-Z-BOY INCORPORATED, a Michigan corporation (the “Borrower”), certain banks and other financial institutions from time to time parties thereto (the “Lenders”) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Agent”). In connection with the Credit Agreement, the Borrower and certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower have entered into the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement referred to therein.
Pursuant to Section 8.13 of the Credit Agreement, the New Subsidiary is required to become a party to the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement as a guarantor thereunder. The New Subsidiary will obtain benefits as a result of the continued extension of credit to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement, which benefits are hereby acknowledged, and, accordingly, desire to execute and deliver this Agreement.
Therefore, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and to induce the Lenders to continue to extend credit to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement, the New Subsidiary hereby agrees as follows:
1. Supplement to Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement. The New Subsidiary hereby agrees that it is a Guarantor and a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement as if a signatory thereof on the Closing Date, and the New Subsidiary shall comply with, and be subject to, and have the benefit of, all of the terms, conditions, covenants, agreements and obligations set forth in the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement. Each reference to “Subsidiary Guarantor”, “Guarantor”, “Subsidiary Guarantors” or the “Guarantors” in the Credit Agreement, the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall include the New Subsidiary, and each reference to the “Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement” or “Agreement” as used therein shall mean the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement as supplemented hereby.
2. Acknowledgement and Consent. The New Subsidiary hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party and agrees for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Guaranteed Parties to be bound thereby and to comply with the terms thereof insofar as such terms are applicable to it.
3. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement shall be a Loan Document (within the meaning of such term under the Credit Agreement), shall be binding upon and enforceable against the New Subsidiary and its
successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each Guaranteed Party and its successors and assigns.
(b) The Borrower and each other Credit Party, jointly and severally, shall pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent for all of its out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel.
(c) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in different counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and shall be binding upon all parties, their successors and assigns, and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(d) All capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings given thereto in the Credit Agreement or the applicable Loan Document referred to therein.
(e) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(f) A facsimile, telecopy or other reproduction of this Agreement may be executed by one or more parties hereto, and an executed copy of this Agreement may be delivered by one or more parties hereto by facsimile or similar instantaneous electronic transmission device pursuant to which the signature of or on behalf of such party can be seen, and such execution and delivery shall be considered valid, binding and effective for all purposes. At the request of any party hereto, all parties hereto agree to execute an original of this Agreement as well as any facsimile, telecopy, pdf or other reproduction hereof.
[Signature Page to Follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Subsidiary has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer as of the date first above written.
[NAME OF NEW SUBSIDIARY]
By:
Name:
Title:
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent
By:
Name:
Title:
Schedule 1.1
Commitments and Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages
| | | | | | | | |
Lender | Revolving Credit Commitment | Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage |
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association | $73,333,333.33 | 36.666666667% |
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | $55,000,000.00 | 27.500000000% |
Bank of America, N.A. | $46,666,666.67 | 23.333333333% |
Comerica Bank | $25,000,000.00 | 12.500000000% |
Total | $200,000,000.00 | 100.000000000% |
| | | | | |
Initial Issuing Lender | L/C Commitment |
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association | $50,000,000.00 |
Schedule 7.1
Jurisdictions of Organizations and Qualification; Subsidiary Guarantors
| | | | | | | | |
Entity Name | Jurisdiction of Incorporation / Organization | Subsidiary Guarantor (Yes or No) |
La-Z-Boy Incorporated | Michigan | Borrower |
La-Z-Boy Canada Limited | Ontario | No |
La-Z-Boy Canada Retail, Ltd. | Alberta | No |
England, Inc. | Michigan | Yes |
La-Z-Boy Casegoods, Inc. | North Carolina | Yes |
Pennsylvania House, Inc. | North Carolina | No |
LZB Manufacturing, Inc. | Michigan | Yes |
La-Z-Boy Muebles, S. de R.L. de C.V. | Mexico | No |
La-Z-Boy Asia Co. Ltd. | Thailand | No |
La-Z-Boy (Thailand) Ltd. | Thailand | No |
La-Z-Boy Global Limited | Michigan | No |
La-Z-Boy UK, Ltd. | United Kingdom | No |
La-Z-Boy Hong Kong, Limited | Hong Kong | No |
La-Z-Boy Trading (Dongguan) Company, Limited | China | No |
LZB Retail, Inc. | Michigan | Yes |
LZBFG OF ARIZONA, INC. | Michigan | Yes |
La-Z-Boy Logistics, Inc. | Michigan | No |
LZB Finance, Inc. | Michigan | No |
LZB Delaware Valley Properties, Inc. | Michigan | No |
LZB Delaware Valley, Inc. | Delaware | No |
LZB Investments, Inc. | Michigan | No |
LZB Carolina Properties, Inc. | Michigan | No |
ELK Air Partners III, LLC | Michigan | No |
Stitch Industries Inc. | Delaware | Yes |
Nest Industries, S.A. de C.V. | Mexico | No |
Saltillo Mississippi Furniture, Inc. | Mississippi | No |
Notch Furniture, LLC | Michigan | No |
Schedule 7.2
Subsidiaries and Capitalization
(A) | | | | | | | | |
Entity | Owner | Equity Interests Issued and Outstanding and Class or Series of Equity Interests |
La-Z-Boy Canada Limited | La-Z-Boy Incorporated | 1,004,001 common shares / 1,000 preferred shares issued and outstanding |
La-Z-Boy Canada Retail, Ltd. | La-Z-Boy Canada Limited | 1,106.67 common shares |
England, Inc. | La-Z-Boy Incorporated | 1 share |
La-Z-Boy Casegoods, Inc. | La-Z-Boy Incorporated | 100 shares |
Pennsylvania House, Inc. | La-Z-Boy Casegoods, Inc. | 16,000 shares |
LZB Manufacturing, Inc. | La-Z-Boy Incorporated | 1 share |
La-Z-Boy Muebles, S. de R.L. de C.V. | LZB Manufacturing, Inc. (50%) | 1 equity interest |
La-Z-Boy Incorporated (50%) | 1 equity interest |
La-Z-Boy Asia Co. Ltd. | La-Z-Boy Incorporated (57.2%) | 87,500 shares issued and outstanding (50,050 shares held by La-Z-Boy Incorporated) |
La-Z-Boy (Thailand) Ltd. | La-Z-Boy Incorporated (51.05%) | 1,500,000 ordinary shares issued and outstanding (765,820 shares held by La-Z-Boy Incorporated) |
La-Z-Boy Global Limited | La-Z-Boy Incorporated | 1 share |
La-Z-Boy UK, Ltd. | La-Z-Boy Incorporated (99.989%) | 900,000 ordinary shares |
La-Z-Boy Global Limited (0.011%) | 100 ordinary shares |
La-Z-Boy Hong Kong, Limited | La-Z-Boy Incorporated | 100 shares |
La-Z-Boy Trading (Dongguan) Company, Limited | La-Z-Boy Hong Kong, Limited | N/A |
LZB Retail, Inc. | La-Z-Boy Incorporated | 127 shares |
LZBFG OF ARIZONA, INC. | LZB Retail, Inc. | 1 share |
La-Z-Boy Logistics, Inc. | La-Z-Boy Incorporated | 1,000 shares |
LZB Finance, Inc. | La-Z-Boy Incorporated | 1,000 shares |
LZB Delaware Valley Properties, Inc. | LZB Finance, Inc. | 100 shares |
LZB Delaware Valley, Inc. | LZB Finance, Inc. | 1 share |
LZB Investments, Inc. | La-Z-Boy Incorporated | 1 share |
LZB Carolina Properties, Inc. | La-Z-Boy Incorporated | 1 share |
ELK Air Partners III, LLC | La-Z-Boy Incorporated (60%) | 60% of Membership Interests |
Stitch Industries Inc. | La-Z-Boy Incorporated | 1 share, $0.01 par value |
Nest Industries, S.A. de C.V. | La-Z-Boy Incorporated (10%) | 2 Series A shares, par value of Pesos $500.00 Mex. Cy. each |
Stitch Industries Inc. (90%) | 18 Series A shares, par value of Pesos $500.00 Mex. Cy. each |
Saltillo Mississippi Furniture, Inc. | La-Z-Boy Incorporated | 2,500 shares |
Notch Furniture, LLC | La-Z-Boy Incorporated | 100% of Membership Interest |
Preemptive or similar rights as set forth in each of the following:
•Shareholders Agreement, dated as of December 17, 1998, by and among La-Z-Boy Incorporated, Globiz Venture Company Ltd., Morgan Enterprises Limited, and La-Z-Boy (Thailand) Ltd.
•Shareholders Agreement, dated as of March 2, 2007, by and among La-Z-Boy Incorporated, Inter Spec Furniture Co., Ltd. and Morgan Furniture International Limited.
Preemptive or similar rights arising under applicable law or statute.
(B) None.
Schedule 9.1
Existing Indebtedness
Indebtedness secured by the Liens described on Schedule 9.2.
Schedule 9.2
Existing Liens
•Liens in specific equipment and related assets associated with certain financing lease arrangements between England, Inc. and BMC Office Technology, dated as of October 26, 2020.
•Liens in specific equipment and related assets associated with certain financing lease arrangements between La-Z-Boy Casegoods, Inc. and Sharp Electronics Corporation, dated as of January 19, 2021.
Schedule 9.5
Transactions with Affiliates
None.
Schedule 9.7
Existing Negative Pledges
None.