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Published: 2023-01-31 17:05:07 ET
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EX-10.1 2 tm234927d1_ex10-1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

FOURTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

This FOURTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of January 31, 2023 (this “Amendment”), is entered into by and among LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Guarantors, the Lenders party hereto, the Voting Participants party hereto and AGWEST FARM CREDIT, PCA (successor by merger to NORTHWEST FARM CREDIT SERVICES, PCA), as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2019 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Farm Credit Agreement” and as amended by this Amendment, the “Amended Credit Agreement”; capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Amended Credit Agreement) by and among the Borrower, the Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto and the Administrative Agent;

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that (a) the Lenders and the Voting Participants agree to certain amendments to the Existing Farm Credit Agreement as further described below and (b) certain Lenders (the “Term A-3 Lenders”) provide Commitments with respect to a new term loan (herein designated, and hereinafter referred to, as the “Term A-3 Loan”) to the Borrower in an aggregate amount equal to $450,000,000;

 

WHEREAS, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders (including the Term A-3 Lenders) party hereto and the Voting Participants party hereto are willing to agree to such amendments and, in the case of the Term A-3 Lenders, to establish the Term Loan A-3 Commitments and make its portion of the Term A-3 Loan, as applicable, upon the terms and conditions set forth herein;

 

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

 

Section 1.          Amendments to Existing Farm Credit Agreement.

 

(a)            The Existing Farm Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety to read in the form attached hereto as Annex A. The parties hereto agree that, on and as of the date hereof, all Obligations outstanding on and as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date (defined below) shall in all respects be continuing and shall be deemed to be Obligations pursuant to the Amended Credit Agreement. Except as expressly modified and amended in this Amendment, all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Loan Documents shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect. The Loan Documents and any and all other documents heretofore, now or hereafter executed and delivered pursuant to the terms of the Existing Farm Credit Agreement are hereby amended so that any reference to the Existing Farm Credit Agreement shall mean a reference to the Amended Credit Agreement. The Amended Credit Agreement is not a novation of the Existing Farm Credit Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Amendment or the Amended Credit Agreement to the contrary, to the extent any Loan bearing interest at the Eurodollar Rate (as defined in the Existing Farm Credit Agreement) is outstanding on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, such Loan shall continue to bear interest at the Eurodollar Rate until the end of the current Interest Period (as defined in the Existing Farm Credit Agreement) or payment period applicable to such Loan in accordance with the terms of the Existing Farm Credit Agreement.

 

 

 

 

(b)           Schedules 2.01 and 11.06(e) to the Existing Farm Credit Agreement are amended and restated in their entirety to read in the forms of Schedules 2.01 and 11.06(e) attached hereto.

 

(c)           Exhibit A-1 to the Existing Farm Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety to read in the form of Exhibit A-1 attached hereto.

 

Section 2.          Representations and Warranties. In order to induce the Lenders and the Voting Participants to consent to this Amendment, the Borrower represents and warrants to each of the Lenders party hereto, the Voting Participants party hereto and the Administrative Agent that on and as of the date hereof both before and after giving effect to this Amendment: (a) the representations and warranties of each Loan Party contained in Article VI of the Amended Credit Agreement and any other Loan Document are true and correct in all material respects (except when qualified as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case they shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such representations and warranties relate to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date in all material respects; (b) no Default exists as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date or will result from this Amendment; (c) this Amendment is within each Loan Party’s corporate, limited liability company or other organizational powers and has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company or other organizational action and, if required, stockholder action; and (d) this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable Debtor Relief Laws and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law.

 

Section 3.        Effect of Amendment. On and after the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, each reference in the Existing Farm Credit Agreement to “this Agreement”, “hereunder”, “hereof” or words of like import referring to the Existing Farm Credit Agreement, and each reference in each of the other Loan Documents to “the Credit Agreement”, “thereunder”, “thereof” or words of like import referring to the Existing Farm Credit Agreement, shall mean and be a reference to the Amended Credit Agreement. The Amended Credit Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, as specifically amended by this Amendment, are and shall continue to be in full force and effect and are hereby in all respects ratified and confirmed and shall not be impaired or limited by the execution or effectiveness of this Amendment. The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as an amendment or waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Lender or any Agent under any of the Loan Documents, nor constitute an amendment or waiver of any provision of any of the Loan Documents. This Amendment shall constitute a Loan Document for all purposes.

 

Section 4.         Conditions to Effectiveness. The effectiveness of Section 1 of this Amendment shall be subject solely to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions precedent (the first date upon which such conditions precedent are satisfied, the “Fourth Amendment Effective Date”):

 

(a)            receipt by the Administrative Agent of copies of this Amendment duly executed by the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders (including the Term A-3 Lenders) and Voting Participants constituting Required Lenders;

 

(b)            receipt by the Administrative Agent of opinions of legal counsel to the Loan Parties (as requested by the Administrative Agent), addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, dated as of the date hereof;

 

 

 

 

(c)            receipt by the Administrative Agent of such financial statements, budgets, forecasts, projections and other financial information as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date hereof;

 

(d)            receipt by the Administrative Agent of the following, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

 

(i)            copies of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party certified to be true and complete by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, where applicable, and certified by a secretary, assistant secretary or Responsible Officer of such Loan Party to be true and correct as of the date hereof;

 

(ii)           customary closing certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require evidencing the authority and capacity of the Loan Parties to enter into the transactions contemplated by this Amendment and of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Amendment; and

 

(iii)            such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and is validly existing, in good standing (to the extent applicable) and qualified to engage in business in its state of organization or formation.

 

(e)            receipt by the Administrative Agent of a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date: (i) since May 29, 2022, there has been no development or event which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) to the extent applicable, all necessary material governmental and third party consents, subordinations and waivers have been obtained and are in full force and effect, (iii) there are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing against the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (A) that could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (B) as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, that involve this Amendment or the transactions contemplated hereby, (iv) the representations and warranties of each Loan Party contained in Article VI of the Amended Credit Agreement and any other Loan Document are true and correct in all material respects (except when qualified as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case they shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such representations and warranties relate to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date in all material respects; and (v) no Default exists as of the Fourth Amendment Effective Date or will result from this Amendment;

 

(f)            upon the request by the Administrative Agent made at least ten (10) days prior to the date hereof, receipt by the Administrative Agent of the documentation and other information so requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act, in each case at least five (5) days prior to the date hereof; and

 

(g)            payment by the Borrower of all reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent in connection with this Amendment to the extent invoiced in writing to the Borrower at least one (1) Business Day prior to the date hereof (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent).

 

 

 

 

Section 5.          Acknowledgement and Affirmation.

 

(a)            Each Loan Party hereby expressly acknowledges the terms of this Amendment and affirms or reaffirms, as applicable, as of the date hereof the covenants and agreements contained in each Loan Document to which it is a party, including, in each case, such covenants and agreements as in effect immediately after giving effect to this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(b)           Each Loan Party, by its signature below, hereby affirms and confirms (i) its obligations under each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (ii) the pledge of and/or grant of a security interest in its assets as Collateral to secure such Obligations, all as provided in the Collateral Documents as originally executed, and acknowledges and agrees that such guarantee, pledge and/or grant continue in full force and effect in respect of, and to secure, such Obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

Section 6.         Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which, when taken together, shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Amendment by facsimile or other electronic imaging means (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Amendment.

 

Section 7.        Applicable Law. THIS AMENDMENT AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first written above.

 

  LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC., as Borrower
   
  By: /s/ Ken Barfuss
    Name: Ken Barfuss
    Title: Vice President and Treasurer

 

  Lamb Weston, Inc., as a Guarantor
   
  By: /s/ Ken Barfuss
    Name: Ken Barfuss
    Title: Vice President

 

  Lamb Weston Sales, Inc.,as a Guarantor
   
  By: /s/ Ken Barfuss
    Name: Ken Barfuss
    Title: Vice President

 

  Lamb Weston/Midwest, Inc.,as a Guarantor
   
  By: /s/ Ken Barfuss
    Name: Ken Barfuss
    Title: Vice President

 

  Lamb Weston BSW, llc, as a Guarantor
   
  By: /s/ Ken Barfuss
    Name: Ken Barfuss
    Title: Vice President

 

LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.

FOURTH AMENDMENT

 

 

 

 

 

  AGWEST FARM CREDIT, PCA, as Administrative Agent, as a Lender under the Existing Farm Credit Agreement and as a Term A-3 Lender
   
  By: /s/ Dennis Bigness
    Name: Dennis Bigness
    Title: Vice President

 

LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.

FOURTH AMENDMENT

 

 

 

 

 

FARM CREDIT MID-AMERICA, FLCA, as a Voting Participant under the Existing Farm Credit Agreement

   
  By: /s/ Tabatha Hamilton
    Name: Tabatha Hamilton
    Title: Vice President Food and Agribusiness

 

LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.

FOURTH AMENDMENT

 

 

 

 

 

COBANK, FCB, as a Voting Participant under the Existing Farm Credit Agreement

   
  By: /s/ John B. Trawick
    Name: John B. Trawick
    Title: Vice President

 

LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.

FOURTH AMENDMENT

 

 

 

 

 

AMERICAN AGCREDIT, FLCA, as a Voting Participant under the Existing Farm Credit Agreement

   
  By: /s/ Ben Leonard
    Name: Ben Leonard
    Title: Vice President

 

LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.

FOURTH AMENDMENT

 

 

 

 

 

FARM CREDIT SERVICES OF AMERICA, FLCA, as a Voting Participant under the Existing Farm Credit Agreement

   
  By: /s/ Dustin Oswald
    Name: Dustin Oswald
    Title: Vice President

 

LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.

FOURTH AMENDMENT

 

 

 

 

 

  AGRIBANK, FCB, as a Voting Participant under the Existing Farm Credit Agreement
   
  By: /s/ Blake Nelson
    Name: Blake Nelson
    Title: Lending Officer

 

LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.

FOURTH AMENDMENT

 

 

 

 

  GREENSTONE FARM CREDIT SERVICES, FLCA, as a Voting Participant under the Existing Farm Credit Agreement
   
  By: /s/ Curtis Flammini
    Name: Curtis Flammini
    Title: VP of Capital Markets Lending

 

LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.

FOURTH AMENDMENT

 

 

 

 

  FARM CREDIT BANK OF TEXAS, as a Voting Participant under the Existing Farm Credit Agreement
   
  By: /s/ Mike C. Hawkins
    Name: Mike C. Hawkins
    Title: Director – Capital Markets

 

LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.

FOURTH AMENDMENT

 

 

 

 

  FARM CREDIT EAST, ACA, as a Voting Participant under the Existing Farm Credit Agreement
   
  By: /s/ Eric W. Pohlman
    Name: Eric W. Pohlman
    Title: Vice President

 

LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.

FOURTH AMENDMENT

 

 

 

 

  AGCOUNTRY FARM CREDIT SERVICES, FLCA, as a Voting Participant under the Existing Farm Credit Agreement
   
  By: /s/ Eric Born
    Name: Eric Born
    Title: Vice President Capital Markets

 

LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.

FOURTH AMENDMENT

 

 

 

 

  FARM CREDIT OF NEW MEXICO, FLCA, as a Voting Participant under the Existing Farm Credit Agreement
   
  By: /s/ Mitch Selking
    Name: Mitch Selking
    Title: Director of Corporate Agribusiness Lending

 

LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.

FOURTH AMENDMENT

 

 

 

 

  CAPITAL FARM CREDIT, FLCA, as a Voting Participant under the Existing Farm Credit Agreement
   
  By: /s/ Amy Draznin
    Name: Amy Draznin
    Title: Vice President

 

LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.

FOURTH AMENDMENT

 

 

 

 

  AGFIRST FARM CREDIT BANK, as a Voting Participant under the Existing Farm Credit Agreement
   
  By: /s/ Brandon Waring
    Name: Brandon Waring
    Title: AVP

 

LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.

FOURTH AMENDMENT

 

 

 

 

  FRESNO-MADERA FEDERAL LAND BANK ASSOCIATION, FLCA, as a Voting Participant under the Existing Farm Credit Agreement
   
  By: /s/ Dan Kiggens
    Name: Dan Kiggens
    Title: SVP

 

LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.

FOURTH AMENDMENT

 

 

 

 

  HORIZON FARM CREDIT, ACA (successor by merger to AgChoice Farm Credit, ACA) for itself and/or nominee for Horizon Farm Credit, FLCA, as a Voting Participant under the Existing Farm Credit Agreement
   
  By: /s/ Joshua L. Larock
    Name: Joshua L. Larock
    Title: Managing Director – Capital Markets

 

LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.

FOURTH AMENDMENT

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 2.01

 

Commitments and Applicable Percentages

 

Term A Lender  Term A Loan
Commitment
   Applicable Percentage of
Term A Loan
 
AgWest Farm Credit, PCA (successor by merger to Northwest Farm Credit Services, PCA)  $300,000,000.00    100.0000000000%
Total  $300,000,000.00    100.0000000000%

 

Term A-2 Lender  Term A-2 Loan
Commitment
   Applicable Percentage of
Term A-2 Loan
 
AgWest Farm Credit, PCA (successor by merger to Northwest Farm Credit Services, PCA)  $325,000,000.00    100.000000000%
Total  $325,000,000.00    100.000000000%

 

Term A-3 Lender  Term A-3 Loan
Commitment
   Applicable Percentage of
Term A-3 Loan
 
AgWest Farm Credit, PCA (successor by merger to Northwest Farm Credit Services, PCA)  $450,000,000.00    100.000000000%
Total  $450,000,000.00    100.000000000%

 

 

 

 

Schedule 11.06(e)

 

Voting Participants

 

Lender  Voting
Participant
  Term A Loan
Commitment
   Resulting Term
A Loan
Commitment/
Participation
   Resulting
Applicable
Percentage of Term
A Loan
 
AgWest Farm Credit, PCA (successor by merger to Northwest Farm Credit Services, PCA)     $300,000,000.00   $45,000,000.00    15.000000000%
   CoBank, FCB       $45,000,000.00    15.000000000%
   American AgCredit, FLCA       $40,000,000.00    13.333333333%
   Farm Credit Services of America, FLCA       $35,000,000.00    11.666666667%
   Farm Credit East, ACA       $30,000,000.00    10.000000000%
   Farm Credit West, FLCA       $30,000,000.00    10.000000000%
   Capital Farm Credit, FLCA       $20,000,000.00    6.666666667%
   GreenStone Farm Credit Services, FLCA       $18,000,000.00    6.000000000%
   Farm Credit Mid-America, FLCA       $18,000,000.00    6.000000000%
   AgCountry Farm Credit Services, FLCA       $15,000,000.00    5.000000000%
   Horizon Farm Credit ACA (successor by merger to AgChoice Farm Credit, ACA) for itself and/or agent/nominee for Horizon Farm Credit, FLCA       $4,000,000.00    1.333333333%
Total     $300,000,000.00   $300,000,000.00    100.0000000000%

 

 

 

 

Lender  Voting
Participant
  Term A-2 Loan
Commitment
   Resulting Term
A-2 Loan
Commitment/
Participation
   Resulting
Applicable
Percentage of Term
A-2 Loan
 
AgWest Farm Credit, PCA (successor by merger to Northwest Farm Credit Services, PCA)     $325,000,000.00   $17,000,000.00    5.230769231%
   Farm Credit Mid-America, FLCA       $49,000,000.00    15.076923077%
   CoBank, FCB       $20,000,000.00    6.153846154%
   American AgCredit, FLCA       $17,000,000.00    5.230769231%
   Farm Credit Services of America, FLCA       $19,000,000.00    5.846153846%
   AgriBank, FCB       $50,000,000.00    15.384615385%
   GreenStone Farm Credit Services, FLCA       $30,000,000.00    9.230769231%
   Farm Credit East, ACA       $11,000,000.00    3.384615385%
   Farm Credit West, FLCA       $11,000,000.00    3.384615385%
   AgCountry Farm Credit Services, FLCA       $21,000,000.00    6.461538462%
   Farm Credit Of New Mexico, FLCA (APP)       $35,000,000.00    10.769230769%
   Capital Farm Credit, FLCA       $10,000,000.00    3.076923077%
   AgFirst, FCB       $20,000,000.00    6.153846152%
   Fresno Madera Federal Land Bank Association, FLCA       $10,000,000.00    3.076923077%
   Horizon Farm Credit ACA (successor by merger to AgChoice Farm Credit, ACA) for itself and/or agent/nominee for Horizon Farm Credit, FLCA       $5,000,000.00    1.538461538%
Total     $325,000,000.00   $325,000,000.00    100.0000000000%

 

 

 

 

Lender  Voting
Participant
  Term A-3 Loan
Commitment
   Resulting Term
A-3 Loan
Commitment/
Participation
   Resulting
Applicable
Percentage of Term
A-3 Loan
 
AgWest Farm Credit, PCA (successor by merger to Northwest Farm Credit Services, PCA)     $450,000,000.00   $24,500,000.00    5.444444444%
   Farm Credit Mid-America, FLCA       $30,000,000.00    6.666666667%
  CoBank, FCB       $53,000,000.00    11.777777778%
   American AgCredit, FLCA       $17,500,000.00    3.888888889%
   Farm Credit Services of America, FLCA       $50,000,000.00    11.111111111%
   AgriBank, FCB       $20,000,000.00    4.444444444%
   GreenStone Farm Credit Services, FLCA       $20,000,000.00    4.444444444%
   Farm Credit Bank of Texas       $65,000,000.00    14.444444444%
   Farm Credit East, ACA       $17,500,000.00    3.888888889%
   AgCountry Farm Credit Services, FLCA       $50,000,000.00    11.111111111%
   Farm Credit Of New Mexico, FLCA (APP)       $17,500,000.00    3.888888889%
   Capital Farm Credit, FLCA       $5,000,000.00    1.111111111%
   AgFirst, FCB       $49,000,000.00    10.888888889%
   Fresno Madera Federal Land Bank Association, FLCA       $6,000,000.00    1.333333333%
   Horizon Farm Credit ACA (successor by merger to AgChoice Farm Credit, ACA) for itself and/or agent/nominee for Horizon Farm Credit, FLCA       $25,000,000.00    5.555555556%
Total     $450,000,000.00   $450,000,000.00    100.0000000000%

 

 

 

 

ANNEX A

 

(Amended Credit Agreement)

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX A

 

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

dated as of June 28, 2019,

as amended by

First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of April 17, 2020,

Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 23, 2020,

Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of August 11, 2021 and

Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2023

 

by and among

 

LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.,
as the Borrower,

 

the Lenders referred to herein,

 

and

 

AGWEST FARM CREDIT, PCA

(successor by merger to

NORTHWEST FARM CREDIT SERVICES, PCA),
as Administrative Agent,
Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner

 

 

 

 

 

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS 1

 

1.01Defined Terms 1
1.02Other Interpretive Provisions 37
1.03Accounting Terms 38
1.04Rounding 39
1.05Times of Day 39
1.06Limited Condition Acquisitions 39
1.07Interest Rates 40

 

ARTICLE II THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS 40

 

2.01Term Loans 40
2.02Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans 42
2.03[Reserved] 43
2.04[Reserved] 43
2.05Prepayments 44
2.06[Reserved] 46
2.07Repayment of Loans 46
2.08Interest 46
2.09Fees 47
2.10Computation of Interest and Fees 47
2.11Evidence of Debt 48
2.12Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback 48
2.13Sharing of Payments by Lenders 50
2.14[Reserved] 50
2.15Defaulting Lenders 50

 

ARTICLE III TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY 51

 

3.01Taxes 51
3.02Illegality 55
3.03Inability to Determine Rates 56
3.04Increased Costs 59
3.05Compensation for Losses 60
3.06Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders 60
3.07Survival 61

 

ARTICLE IV GUARANTY 61

 

4.01The Guaranty 61
4.02Obligations Unconditional 61
4.03Reinstatement 62
4.04Certain Additional Waivers 62
4.05Remedies 63
4.06Rights of Contribution 63
4.07Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee 64
4.08Keepwell 64

 

ARTICLE V CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS 64

 

5.01Conditions of Initial Credit Extension 64
5.02Conditions to all Credit Extensions 67

 

i 

 

 

ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 68

 

6.01Organization; Powers 68
6.02Authorization; Enforceability 68
6.03Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts 68
6.04Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change 68
6.05Properties 69
6.06Litigation and Environmental Matters 69
6.07Compliance with Laws 69
6.08Investment Company Status 69
6.09Taxes 69
6.10ERISA 70
6.11Disclosure 70
6.12Solvency 70
6.13Security Interests in Collateral 70
6.14Labor Disputes 71
6.15No Default 71
6.16Federal Reserve Regulations 71
6.17OFAC; Anti-Corruption Laws 71
6.18Insurance 71
6.19EEA Financial Institutions 71
6.19EEA Financial Institutions 71

 

ARTICLE VII AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS 72

 

7.01Financial Statements and Other Information 72
7.02Notices of Material Events 74
7.03Existence; Conduct of Business 74
7.04Payment of Obligations 74
7.05Maintenance of Properties 75
7.06Books and Records; Inspection Rights 75
7.07Compliance with Laws 75
7.08Use of Proceeds 75
7.09Insurance 75
7.10Subsidiary Guarantors; Pledges; Collateral; Further Assurances 76
7.11Farm Credit Equities and Security 77
7.12Post-Closing 78

 

ARTICLE VIII NEGATIVE COVENANTS 78

 

8.01Indebtedness 78
8.02Liens 81
8.03Fundamental Changes 84
8.04Investments, Loans, Advances and Acquisitions 85
8.05Asset Sales 87
8.06Sale and Leaseback Transactions 88
8.07Restricted Payments 89
8.08Transactions with Affiliates 90
8.09Restrictive Agreements 91
8.10Prepayments of Specified Indebtedness and Amendments to Specified Indebtedness and Organizational Documents 93
8.11Financial Covenants 94
8.12Sanctions; Anti-Corruption Laws 94

 

ii 

 

 

ARTICLE IX EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES 95

 

9.01Events of Default 95
9.02Remedies Upon Event of Default 97
9.03Application of Funds 98

 

ARTICLE X ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT 98

 

10.01Appointment and Authority 98
10.02Rights as a Lender 99
10.03Exculpatory Provisions 99
10.04Reliance by Administrative Agent 100
10.05Delegation of Duties 101
10.06Resignation of Administrative Agent 101
10.07Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders 102
10.08No Other Duties; Etc. 102
10.09Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim; Credit Bidding 102
10.10Collateral and Guaranty Matters 104
10.11Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements 104
10.12Recovery of Erroneous Payments 105
10.13Intercreditor Agreement 105

 

ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS 104

 

11.01Amendments, Etc. 105
11.02Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications 107
11.03No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement 109
11.04Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver 110
11.05Payments Set Aside 112
11.06Successors and Assigns 112
11.07Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality 117
11.08Rights of Setoff 118
11.09Interest Rate Limitation 118
11.10Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness 118
11.11Survival of Representations and Warranties 119
11.12Severability 119
11.13Replacement of Lenders 119
11.14Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc. 120
11.15Waiver of Jury Trial 121
11.16No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility 121
11.17Electronic Execution; Electronic Records; Counterparts 122
11.18USA PATRIOT Act Notice 123
11.19[Reserved] 123
11.20Release of Collateral and Guaranty Obligations 124
11.21Entire Agreement 125
11.22Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions 125
11.23Waiver of Borrower Rights 125

 

iii 

 

 

SCHEDULES

 

2.01             Commitments and Applicable Percentages
6.01             Subsidiaries
6.18            Insurance
7.12             Post-Closing
8.01             Indebtedness Existing on the Closing Date
8.02             Liens Existing on the Closing Date
8.04             Investments Existing on the Closing Date
8.09             Restrictive Agreements Existing on the Closing Date
11.02             Certain Addresses for Notices
11.06(e)             Voting Participants

 

EXHIBITS

 

A-1 Form of Loan Notice
B Form of Note
C Forms of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates
D Form of Compliance Certificate
E Form of Joinder Agreement
F Form of Assignment and Assumption
G-1 Form of Permitted Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement
G-2 Form of Junior Priority Intercreditor Agreement
H Form of Voting Participant Notification

 

iv 

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

This CREDIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of June 28, 2019 among LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Guarantors (defined herein), the Lenders (as defined herein) and AGWEST FARM CREDIT, PCA (successor by merger to NORTHWEST FARM CREDIT SERVICES, PCA), as Administrative Agent.

 

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide credit facilities for the purposes set forth herein, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

 

1.01Defined Terms.

 

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

Acquisition Period” means any period commencing on the date that a Material Acquisition is consummated through and including the last day of the fourth (4th) full fiscal quarter following the date on which such acquisition is consummated.

 

Additional Credit Extension Amendment” means any amendment to this Agreement and, if applicable, the other Loan Documents establishing any Incremental Term Loan Commitment entered into by the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.01(b) (which shall not require the consent of any Lender other than each Lender providing a Commitment or Loan thereunder).

 

Adjusted Term SOFR Rate” means, for purposes of any calculation, the rate per annum equal to (a) the Term SOFR Rate for such calculation plus (b) the SOFR Adjustment; provided that if the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate as so determined shall ever be less than the Floor, then the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate shall be deemed to be the Floor.

 

Administrative Agent” means AgWest Farm Credit, PCA (successor by merger to Northwest Farm Credit Services, PCA) in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

 

Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form approved (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) by the Administrative Agent.

 

Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.

 

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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.

 

Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

 

Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time, with respect to such Lender’s Term Loans of any Class at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the outstanding principal amount of Term Loan of such Class held by such Lender at such time. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable. The Applicable Percentages shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.15.

 

Applicable Rate” means, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.01(c):

 

(a)         with respect to the Term A Loan and the Term A-2 Loan:

 

Pricing
Tier
  Consolidated Net Leverage
Ratio
  Term SOFR
Loans
   Base Rate
Loans
 
1  ≥ 4.75:1.00   2.600%   1.600%
2  < 4.75:1.00 and ≥ 4.00:1.00   2.350%   1.350%
3  < 4.00:1.00 and ≥ 3.25:1.00   1.975%   0.975%
4  < 3.25:1.00   1.850%   0.850%

 

(b)            with respect to the Term A-3 Loan:

 

Pricing
Tier
  Consolidated Net Leverage
Ratio
  Term SOFR
Loans
   Base Rate
Loans
 
1  ≥ 4.75:1.00   2.75%   1.75%
2  < 4.75:1.00 and ≥ 4.00:1.00   2.50%   1.50%
3  < 4.00:1.00 and ≥ 3.25:1.00   2.15%   1.15%
4  < 3.25:1.00   2.00%   1.00%

 

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(c); provided, however, that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then, upon the request of the Required Lenders, Pricing Tier 1 shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and shall continue to apply until the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered in accordance with Section 7.01(c), whereupon the Applicable Rate shall be adjusted based upon the calculation of the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio contained in such Compliance Certificate. The Applicable Rate in effect from the Fourth Amendment Effective Date through the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(c) for the Fiscal Quarter ending in February 2023 shall be determined based upon Pricing Tier 4.

 

2

 

 

 

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 AgWest Farm Credit, PCA (successor by merger to Northwest Farm Credit Services, PCA), in its capacity as sole lead arranger and sole bookrunner.

 

Asset Sale” means any sale, transfer or other disposition (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction) of any property or asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, pursuant to Section 8.05(h).

 

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 11.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit F or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Attributable Indebtedness” means with respect to any lease arising from a sale and leaseback transaction pursuant to Section 8.06 (i) with respect to any such lease that creates a Capital Lease Obligation, the Capitalized Lease Obligation thereunder and (ii) with respect to any lease that does not result in a Capital Lease, the principal amount of the Capitalized Lease Obligation that would result if such lease was treated as a Capital Lease (assuming an interest rate for such lease equal to the interest rate applicable to Term SOFR Loans denominated in Dollars with a three month Interest Period commencing on the date such lease is entered into).

 

Attributed Principal Amount” means, on any day, with respect to any Permitted Receivables Financing entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, the aggregate amount (with respect to any such transaction, the “Invested Amount”) paid to, or borrowed by, such Person as of such date under such Permitted Receivables Financing, minus the aggregate amount received by the applicable Receivables Financier and applied to the reduction of the Invested Amount under such Permitted Receivables Financing.

 

Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Year ended May 31, 2020, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, including the notes thereto.

 

Available Amount” means, at any time, an amount equal to the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(a)            $677,000,000, plus

 

3

 

 

(b)           50% of Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower for the period (taken as a single accounting period but excluding any Fiscal Quarter occurring solely during a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period) commencing June 1, 2020 and ending on the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements of the Borrower have been delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b); plus

 

(c)           100% of the net cash proceeds received by the Borrower (other than from a Subsidiary of the Borrower) from the sale of Qualified Equity Interests subsequent to May 31, 2020 and prior to such time to the extent such proceeds have not been utilized as the basis for any other transaction pursuant to Article VIII hereof; plus

 

(d)           100% of the net cash proceeds received by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than from the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower) from the issuance or sale of Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary subsequent to May 31, 2020 and prior to such time to the extent such Indebtedness has been converted into Qualified Equity Interests prior to such time; plus

 

(e)            the aggregate amount of cash returns received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from any investments made pursuant to Section 8.04(q) prior to such time (including upon the disposition of any such interest); plus

 

(f)             the fair market value of the Borrower’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ investments in any Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time it is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary was made pursuant to Section 8.04(q); minus

 

(g)            the aggregate amount of (i) investments made pursuant to Section 8.04(q), (ii) Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 8.07(i) and (iii) payments made in respect of Specified Indebtedness pursuant to Section 8.10(a)(ii), in each case, prior to such time.

 

Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, (x) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period or (y) otherwise, any payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof), as applicable, pursuant to this Agreement, in each case, as of such date and not including any tenor for such Benchmark that is then removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to Section 3.03(b)(iv).

 

AWFC” means AgWest Farm Credit, PCA and its successors.

 

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, rule, regulation or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

 

4

 

 

Base Rate” means, at any time, the highest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such day plus 0.50%, and (c) the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for an Interest Period of one month in effect on such day plus 1.00%. Any change in the Base Rate shall take effect simultaneously with the corresponding change or changes in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, as applicable (provided that clause (c) shall not be applicable during any period in which the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate is unavailable or unascertainable).

 

Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

 

Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Term SOFR Rate.”

 

Benchmark” means, initially, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or any then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement for the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or any then-current Benchmark to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 3.03(b). Any reference to a “Benchmark” shall include, as applicable, the published component used in the calculation thereof.

 

Benchmark Replacement” means, with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event for (x) the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the first alternative set forth below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent and (y) for all other Benchmarks, clause (b) below:

 

(a)the sum of (i) the Daily Simple SOFR Rate and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; or

 

(b)the sum of (i) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to (A) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (B) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement to the then-current Benchmark for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

 

provided that, if the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to (a) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body or (b) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time.

 

5

 

 

Benchmark Replacement Date” means a date and time determined by the Administrative Agent, which date shall be no later than the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

 

(a)            in the case of clause (a) or (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (i) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (ii) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

 

(b)            in the case of clause (c) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the first date on which all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) have been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be non-representative; provided that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (c) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (a) or (b) 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 Replacement Conforming Changes means, with respect to either the use or administration of any Benchmark or the use, administration, adoption or implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “U.S. Government Securities Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period” or any similar or analogous definition (or the addition of a concept of “interest period”), timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, the applicability and length of lookback periods, the applicability of Section 3.05 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 any such rate or to permit the use and administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent reasonably decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that no market practice for the administration of any such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

 

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);

 

6

 

 

(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 not, or as of a specified future date will not be, 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 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 3.03(b) 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 3.03(b).

 

Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.

 

Board of Directors” means, with respect to any Person, the board of directors of such Person (or equivalent governing body) or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board of directors (or equivalent governing body).

 

Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.

 

Borrower Rights” means all statutory or regulatory rights of a borrower to disclosure of effective interest rates, differential interest rates, review of credit decisions, distressed loan restructuring, rights of first refusal, and such other rights and privileges as may be provided by the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987, 12 U.S.C. §§ 2199-2202e, and the implementing regulations of the Farm Credit Administration, 12 C.F.R. § 617.7000, et seq.

 

Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Loans of the same Class and Type and, in the case of Term SOFR Loans, having the same Interest Period made by the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.

 

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office with respect to Obligations denominated in Dollars is located and if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Term SOFR Loan, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in respect of any such Term SOFR Loan, or any other dealings to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Term SOFR Loan, means any such day that is also a U.S. Government Securities Business Day.

 

7

 

 

Capital Lease” means any lease of property, real or personal, the obligations with respect to which are required to be capitalized on a balance sheet of the lessee in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capital Lease Obligations” means the aggregate principal component of capital lease obligations relating to a Capital Lease determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Cash Equivalents” means:

 

(a)            direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(b)            investments in (1) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by (A) any domestic commercial bank of recognized standing having capital and surplus in excess of $250,000,000 or (B) any bank whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least A-1 or from Moody’s is at least P-1 (any such bank described in this clause (b) being an “Approved Bank”) (or by the parent company thereof) or (2) any commercial paper or variable rate notes issued by, or guaranteed by any domestic corporation rated A-1 or better by S&P or P-1 or better by Moody’s, and in each case maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(c)            investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any Approved Bank;

 

(d)            repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (b) above;

 

(e)            money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000; and

 

(f)             other investments made for cash management purposes in any jurisdiction outside the United States where the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries conduct business that are classified as “cash equivalents” in accordance with GAAP.

 

Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement to provide treasury or cash management services, including deposit accounts, overnight draft, credit cards, debit cards, p-cards (including purchasing cards and commercial cards), funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement, lockbox, account reconciliation and reporting and trade finance services and other cash management services and any Designated Foreign Subsidiary Guarantee Obligations.

 

8

 

 

Cash Management Bank” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender or Voting Participant (or Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, a Lender or Voting Participant) that is a party to a Cash Management Agreement with a Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary on the Closing Date or at the time such Cash Management Agreement is entered into (whether such Person thereafter ceases to be the Administrative Agent, a Lender or a Voting Participant or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, a Lender or a Voting Participant).

 

CFC” means a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

CFC Holdco” means a Domestic Subsidiary that has no material assets other than the capital stock of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs.

 

Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the Closing Date, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, (b) any change in any Law 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 or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

 

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of more than 35% of the voting power of the capital stock of the Borrower, entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Borrower on a fully diluted basis; or (2) a “change of control” or similar event occurs with respect to the Borrower under the documentation evidencing any Material Indebtedness. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Person shall not be deemed to have beneficial ownership of capital stock subject to a stock purchase agreement, merger agreement or similar agreement until the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such agreement unless such Person has the right to vote or direct the voting of such capital stock.

 

Class”, when used in reference to any Loan, Borrowing, Lender or Commitment, (a) refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Term A Loans, Term A-2 Loans, Term A-3 Loans or any other Class of Loans established after the Closing Date, (b) refers to whether such Commitment is a Term A Loan Commitment, Term Loan A-2 Commitment, Term A-3 Commitment or any other Class of Commitments established after the Closing Date, and (c) refers to whether such Lender is a Term A Lender, Term A-2 Lender, Term A-3 Lender or any other Lender established under any Class of Commitments or Loans established after the Closing Date, as applicable.

 

Closing Date” means June 28, 2019.

 

Collateral” means a collective reference to all property with respect to which Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of itself and the other holders of the Obligations, is or is purported to be granted pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Collateral Documents. In no event shall “Collateral” include any Excluded Property.

 

9

 

 

Collateral Agent” means the Applicable Collateral Agent (as such term is defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).

 

Collateral Documents” means a collective reference to the Security Agreement and other security documents as may be executed and delivered by the Borrower or any Guarantor pursuant to the terms of Section 5.01, Section 7.10 or any of the Loan Documents.

 

Collateral Reinstatement Date” has the meaning specified in Section 7.10(d).

 

Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period” means any period (a) starting on the date on which (i) no Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) the Borrower has an Investment Grade Rating from any two (2) of the Rating Agencies and (iii) a Responsible Officer of the Borrower has delivered a certificate to the Administrative Agent stating that the forgoing conditions are satisfied and requesting that a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period commence and (b) ending on the date the Borrower ceased to have an Investment Grade Rating from at least two (2) of the Rating Agencies.

 

Commitment” means, as to each Lender, the Term A Loan Commitment, the Term A-2 Loan Commitment, the Term A-3 Commitment of such Lender and/or any other Commitment of an additional Class established following the Closing Date of such Lender.

 

Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.).

 

Communication” means this Agreement, any Loan Document and any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice, certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to any Loan Document.

 

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

 

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 EBITDA” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to:

 

(a)            Consolidated Net Income for such period plus

 

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(b)            other than with respect to clause (iv) below, an amount which, in the determination of Consolidated Net Income for such period, has been deducted for, without duplication: (i) Consolidated Interest Expense, (ii) provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, federal, state, franchise, excise and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes paid or accrued during such period including penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from any tax examinations, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense and all other non-cash charges (including impairment charges), expenses or losses (except for any such expense that (x) requires accrual of a reserve for anticipated future cash payments for any period or (y) represents a write-down of current assets), (iv) (1) pro forma costs savings permitted to be reflected in pro forma financial statements prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and (2) the amount of pro forma cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies (collectively, “Cost Savings”) that are reasonably expected by the Borrower to result over the next succeeding four Fiscal Quarter period (calculated as though such Cost Savings had been realized on the first day of such period) as a result of, or in connection with, actions (including Permitted Acquisitions or Dispositions outside the ordinary course of business) consummated during such period or expected to be taken within twelve months, provided that (A) such Cost Savings are reasonably identifiable, quantifiable and factually supportable, (B) the aggregate amount of such Cost Savings added pursuant to this clause (iv)(2) during such period shall not exceed an amount equal to 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (calculated without giving effect to any amounts added back pursuant to this clause (iv)(2)) and (C) such pro forma Cost Savings shall only be added back for quarters ending on or prior to the last day of the fourth full Fiscal Quarter following the applicable action, and in each case described in this clause (iv), no Cost Savings shall be added pursuant to this clause (iv) to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges otherwise added to Consolidated EBITDA, whether through a pro forma adjustment or otherwise, for such period, (v) non-recurring, extraordinary or unusual cash charges, expenses or losses, (vi) any contingent or deferred payments (including earn-out payments, non-compete payments and consulting payments but excluding ongoing royalty payments) made in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, (vii) the amount of write-offs or amortization of deferred financing fees, commissions, fees and expenses (including any write-offs or amortization of fees and expenses related to Permitted Receivables Financings), (viii) losses from foreign exchange translation adjustments or Swap Contracts during such period, (ix) losses associated with discontinued operations (but only after such operations are no longer owned or operated by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary); (x) acquisition integration costs and fees, including cash severance payments made in connection with acquisitions; (xi) any costs or expenses incurred pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or stockholders agreement 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 issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower; (provided that such net cash proceeds shall not increase the Available Amount) and (xii) the fees and expenses paid to third parties during such period that directly arise out of and are incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, investment, asset disposition, issuance or repayment of debt, issuance of equity securities, refinancing transaction or amendment or other modification of any debt instrument (in each case, including any such transaction consummated prior to the Closing Date and any such transaction undertaken but not completed, and including transaction expenses incurred in connection therewith) or early extinguishment of Indebtedness to the extent such items were subject to capitalization prior to the effectiveness of Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 141R “Business Combinations” but are required under such statement to be expensed currently, minus

 

(c)            the following to the extent included in the determination of Consolidated Net Income for such period, without duplication: (i) non-cash credits, income or gains, including non-cash gains from foreign exchange translation adjustments or Swap Contracts during such period (but excluding any non-cash credits, income or gains that represent an accrual in the ordinary course), (ii) any extraordinary or unusual income or gains (including amounts received on early terminations of Swap Contracts), (iii) any federal, state, local and foreign income tax credits and (iv) income associated with discontinued operations (but only after such operations are no longer owned or operated by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary).

 

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Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination with respect to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, without duplication, the sum of: (a) the outstanding principal amount of all obligations for borrowed money, whether current or long-term (including the Loans) and all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments or upon which interest payments are customarily made; (b) all obligations arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), but only to the extent consisting of unpaid reimbursement obligations in respect of drawn amounts under letters of credit; (c) all Capital Lease Obligations; (d) all obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of assets or services purchased (other than contingent earn-out payments and other contingent deferred payments, and trade debt incurred in the ordinary course of business) which would appear as liabilities on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP; (e) all Disqualified Equity Interests of such Persons; (f) all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the type specified in clauses (a) through (e) above of another Person; and (g) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation, limited liability company or similar limited liability entity) in which the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a general partner or joint venturer, except to the extent that Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person.

 

Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio” means, the ratio, determined as of the end of each Fiscal Quarter of the Borrower for the most-recently ended four Fiscal Quarters, of (a) Consolidated EBITDA to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense paid or payable in cash (and, to the extent not otherwise included in Consolidated Interest Expense, the loss or discount on the sale of Transferred Assets to any Receivables Financier in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing), all calculated for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis without duplication, the following (in each case as determined in accordance with GAAP): (a) all interest in respect of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness (including the interest component of synthetic leases, account receivables securitization programs, off-balance sheet loans or similar off-balance sheet financing products) accrued during such period (whether or not actually paid during such period) determined after giving effect to any net payments made or received under interest rate Swap Contracts minus (b) the sum of (i) all interest income during such period and (ii) to the extent included in clause (a) above, the amount of write-offs or amortization of deferred financing fees, commissions, fees and expenses (including write-offs or amortization of fees and expenses related to Permitted Receivables Financings), and amounts paid (or plus any amounts received) on early terminations of Swap Contracts plus (c) the loss or discount on the sale of Transferred Assets to any Receivables Financier in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing.

 

Consolidated Net Income” for any period means the consolidated net income (or loss) attributable to the Borrower for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded from such net income (to the extent otherwise included therein), without duplication:

 

(1)            the net income (or loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary, except (i) to the extent such income has actually been distributed in cash to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period and (ii) in the case of the Existing Joint Ventures, for other equity of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the earnings of the Existing Joint Ventures in excess of the amount included pursuant to clause (1)(i) so long as the amount included in this clause (1)(ii) for any period does not exceed 6.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period;

 

(2)            gains and losses due solely to fluctuations in currency values and the related tax effects according to GAAP;

 

(3)            the cumulative effect of any change in accounting principles; and

 

(4)            gains and losses from dispositions of assets outside the ordinary course of business or upon early retirement of Indebtedness.

 

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Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio” means, on any date, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness on such date, minus (i) unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of Loan Parties (it being agreed that cash or Cash Equivalents (x) placed on deposit with a trustee to discharge or defease Indebtedness or (y) to the extent proceeds of Indebtedness incurred to finance an acquisition and held in escrow pending the consummation of such acquisition to consummate such acquisition or prepay such Indebtedness shall be considered unrestricted to the extent the related Indebtedness is included in Consolidated Funded Indebtedness) and (ii) to the extent not prohibited from being distributed to a Loan Party pursuant to any Law, Contractual Obligation or Organization Document, 100% of the amount of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties (it being agreed that cash or Cash Equivalents segregated or held in escrow to prepay Indebtedness or to consummate an acquisition shall be considered unrestricted) to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ended on such date (or, if such date is not the last day of a Fiscal Quarter, ended on the last day of the Fiscal Quarter most recently ended prior to such date for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b)).

 

Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio” means, on any date, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness on such date (other than any Consolidated Funded Indebtedness that is unsecured), minus (i) unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of Loan Parties (it being agreed that cash or Cash Equivalents (x) placed on deposit with a trustee to discharge or defease Indebtedness or (y) to the extent proceeds of Indebtedness incurred to finance an acquisition and held in escrow pending the consummation of such acquisition to consummate such acquisition or prepay such Indebtedness shall be considered unrestricted to the extent the related Indebtedness is included in Consolidated Funded Indebtedness) and (ii) to the extent not prohibited from being distributed to a Loan Party pursuant to any Law, Contractual Obligation or Organization Document, 100% of the amount of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties (it being agreed that cash or Cash Equivalents segregated or held in escrow to prepay Indebtedness or to consummate an acquisition shall be considered unrestricted) to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ended on such date (or, if such date is not the last day of a Fiscal Quarter, ended on the last day of the Fiscal Quarter most recently ended prior to such date for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b)).

 

Consolidated Total Assets” means the total assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

 

Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

 

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.

 

Covered Entity” means any of the following: (a) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (b) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (c) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

 

Credit Extension” means a Borrowing.

 

Daily Simple SOFR Rate” 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 Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time; 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.

 

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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 event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

 

Default Rate” means an interest rate equal to (a) the Base Rate plus (b) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (c) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Term SOFR Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum.

 

Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.15(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans 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 reasonable good faith 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 or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent 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 reasonable good faith 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 or a Bail-In Action or (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 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 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, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.15(b)) as of the date established therefor by the Administrative Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower and each Lender promptly following such determination.

 

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Designated Foreign Subsidiary Guarantee Obligations” means any agreement providing for a Guarantee by the Borrower of the obligations of one or more Restricted Subsidiaries (that are not Domestic Subsidiaries) designated in writing by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent as a “Designated Foreign Subsidiary Guarantee Obligation”; provided that the Borrower shall not permit the aggregate principal amount of Guarantees of Indebtedness constituting Designated Foreign Subsidiary Guarantee Obligations to exceed the greater of $525,000,000 and 12.5% of Consolidated Total Assets (as shown on or determined in accordance with the most recent financial statements of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b) prior to the date of the making thereof).

 

Designated Jurisdiction” means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory itself is the subject of any Sanction.

 

Designated Non-Cash Consideration” means the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) of non-cash consideration received by the Borrower or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with a Disposition that is so designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent, setting forth such valuation, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than from the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) in connection with a subsequent Disposition of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration.

 

Disposition” has the meaning specified in Section 8.05.

 

Disqualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments), (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests and other than 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 repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments), or (c) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case, prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of issuance of such Equity Interests, but only with respect to that portion of the Equity Interests that would satisfy clauses (a) through (c) prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of issuance of such Equity Interests; provided that (x) if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of employees of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations and (y) if such Equity Interest is held by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager, member of management or consultant (or their respective Affiliates or immediate family members) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests because such stock is redeemable or subject to repurchase pursuant to any management equity subscription agreement, stock option, stock appreciation right or other stock award agreement, stock ownership plan, put agreement, stockholder agreement or similar agreement that may be in effect from time to time.

 

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Dollar” and “$” mean lawful currency of the United States.

 

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia.

 

EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a Subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

 

EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

 

EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

 

Electronic Copy” shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.17.

 

Electronic Record” and “Electronic Signature” shall have the meanings assigned to them. respectively, by 15 USA § 7006, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Sections 11.06(b)(iii) and (v) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 11.06(b)(iii)).

 

Environment” means ambient air, indoor air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, land surface, sediments, and subsurface strata and natural resources such as wetlands, flora and fauna.

 

Environmental Laws” means all applicable laws (including the common law), rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the Environment, to human health and safety, or the management, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material.

 

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment 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, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

 

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ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Internal Revenue Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

ERISA Event” means (a) the occurrence of any “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30 day notice period is waived); (b) the failure of any Plan to satisfy the “minimum funding standard” (as defined in Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

 

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

 

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01.

 

Excluded Property” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

 

Excluded Subsidiary” means (i) any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (ii) any Foreign Subsidiary, (iii)  any Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC, (iv) any CFC Holdco, (v) any Subsidiary that is not a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary, (vi) any Subsidiary that is subject to regulation as an insurance company, (vii) any Receivables Financing SPC, (viii) any Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date that is prohibited by applicable Law or by any contractual obligation existing at the time of such acquisition thereof (so long as such prohibition is not created in contemplation of such acquisition) from guaranteeing the Obligations, or which would require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to provide a guaranty and such consent, approval, license or authorization not has been received after such Subsidiary’s commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such consent, approval, license or authorization and (ix) not-for-profit Subsidiaries.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and only to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guaranty of such Guarantor of, or the grant under a Loan Document by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act (or the application or official interpretation thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (determined after giving effect to Section 4.08 and any and all guarantees of such Guarantor’s Swap Obligations by other Loan Parties and any keepwell, support or other agreement for the benefit of such Guarantor) at the time the Guaranty of such Guarantor, or grant by such Guarantor of a security interest, becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a Master Agreement governing more than one Swap Contract, such exclusion shall apply to only the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Swap Contracts for which such Guaranty or security interest is or becomes illegal.

 

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Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any 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 Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 11.13) or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(ii) or 3.01(c), 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 3.01(e) and (d) any withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA.

 

Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of November 9, 2016 (as amended, modified, extended, restated, amended and restated, replaced or supplemented from time to time, including on or prior to the date hereof) by and among the Borrower, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent for such lenders.

 

Existing Joint Ventures” means Lamb Weston/Meijer v.o.f., Lamb Weston/RDO Frozen, LW Hydro, LLC and Lamb Weston Alimentos Modernos S.A.

 

Farm Credit Equities” has the meaning specified in Section 7.11(a).

 

Farm Credit Lender” means a federally-chartered Farm Credit System lending institution organized under the Farm Credit Act of 1971.

 

FASB ASC” means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

 

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code, as of the Closing Date (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future Treasury regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or official practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.

 

Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the federal funds effective rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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Fee Letter” means the fee letter dated as of May 28, 2019 by and between the Borrower and AWFC (successor by merger to Northwest Farm Credit Services, PCA).

 

Financial Officer” means the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower (or any other officer reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent).

 

First Amendment Effective Date” means April 20, 2020.

 

Fiscal Quarter” means a fiscal quarter of a Fiscal Year.

 

Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, which period shall be the annual period ending on the last Sunday in May of each year, as may be changed in accordance with Section 8.03(b).

 

Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc., and its successors.

 

Floor” means a rate of interest equal to 0.00% per annum.

 

Foreign Asset Sale” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(iii).

 

Foreign Lender” means a Lender that is not a U.S. Person. For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

 

Foreign Recovery Event” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(iii).

 

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not organized under the laws of any State of the United States or the District of Columbia.

 

Fourth Amendment Effective Date” means January 31, 2023.

 

FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

 

Fund” means any Person (other than a natural Person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

 

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, consistently applied and as in effect from time to time.

 

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) and any group or body charged with setting regulatory capital rules or standards (including, without limitation, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision or any successor or similar authority thereto).

 

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Guarantee” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, any obligations of such Person (other than endorsements in the ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection) guaranteeing or intended to guarantee any Indebtedness of any other Person in any manner, whether direct or indirect, and including without limitation any obligation, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such Indebtedness or any property constituting security therefor, (b) to advance or provide funds or other support for the payment or purchase of any such Indebtedness or to maintain working capital, solvency or other balance sheet condition of such other Person (including without limitation keep well agreements, maintenance agreements or similar agreements or arrangements) for the benefit of any holder of Indebtedness of such other Person, (c) to lease or purchase assets, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the holder of such Indebtedness, or (d) to otherwise assure or hold harmless the holder of such Indebtedness against loss in respect thereof. The amount of any Guarantee hereunder shall (subject to any limitations set forth therein) be deemed to be an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount (or maximum principal amount, if larger) of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith.

 

Guarantors” means, collectively, (a) each Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower identified as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages hereto, (b) each Person that joins as a Guarantor pursuant to Section 7.10 or otherwise, and (c) with respect to (i) obligations under any Secured Hedge Agreement, (ii) obligations under any Secured Cash Management Agreement and (iii) any Swap Obligation of a Specified Loan Party (determined before giving effect to Sections 4.01 and 4.08) under the Guaranty, the Borrower (to the extent not the direct obligor with respect thereto).

 

Guaranty” means the Guaranty made by the Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent and the other holders of the Obligations pursuant to Article IV.

 

Hazardous Materials” means all substances, materials or wastes of any nature, which can give rise to liability under or that is regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

 

Hedge Bank” means a party to a Swap Contract with a Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary that is the Administrative Agent, a Lender or a Voting Participant or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, a Lender or a Voting Participant on the Closing Date or at the time such Swap Contract is entered into (whether such Person thereafter ceases to be the Administrative Agent, a Lender or a Voting Participant or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, a Lender or a Voting Participant).

 

IFRS” means international accounting standards within the meaning of IAS Regulation 1606/2002 to the extent applicable to the relevant financial statements delivered under or referred to herein.

 

Impacted Loans” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(a).

 

Incremental Term Loan” means any loans made pursuant to any Incremental Term Loan Commitment.

 

Incremental Term Loan Commitment” means, as to any Lender, its obligation to make its portion of an Incremental Term Loan to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(b) in the principal amount set forth in the applicable Additional Credit Extension Amendment.

 

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Incremental Term Loan Lenders” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b).

 

Incremental Term Loan Maturity Date” means the final maturity date for such Incremental Term Loan as set forth in the applicable Additional Credit Extension Amendment.

 

Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination with respect to any Person, without duplication: (a) the outstanding principal amount of all obligations for borrowed money, whether current or long-term and all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments or upon which interest payments are customarily made; (b) the maximum amount available to be drawn under letters of credit (including standby and commercial) and bankers’ acceptances, including unpaid reimbursement obligations in respect of drawn amounts under letters of credit or bankers’ acceptance facilities; (c) all Attributable Indebtedness and Capital Lease Obligations and attributable indebtedness under synthetic leases, account receivables securitization programs, off-balance sheet loans or similar off-balance sheet financing products; (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to assets purchased by such Person (other than customary reservations or retentions of title under agreements with suppliers entered into in the ordinary course of business); (e) all obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of assets or services purchased (other than contingent earn-out payments and other contingent deferred payments, and trade debt incurred in the ordinary course of business) which would appear as liabilities on a balance sheet; (f) all Disqualified Equity Interests issued by such Person; (g) all net obligations of such Person under Swap Contracts; (h) all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the type specified in clauses (a) through (g) above of another person; (i) all Indebtedness of the type specified in clauses (a) through (h) above of another Person secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on, or payable out of the proceeds of production from, assets owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed; provided that, if such Person has not assumed such obligations, then the amount of Indebtedness of such Person for purposes of this clause (i) shall be equal to the lesser of the amount of the obligations of the holder of such obligations and the fair market value of the assets of such Person which secure such obligations; and (j) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (i) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation, limited liability company or similar limited liability entity) in which such Person is a general partner or joint venturer, except to the extent that Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person.

 

Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.

 

Indemnitee” has the meaning specified in Section 11.04(b).

 

Information” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07.

 

Inside Maturity Basket” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01(f).

 

Intellectual Property” means the Copyrights, Trademarks and Patents (each with the meaning specified in the Security Agreement).

 

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Intercreditor Agreement” means the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among Bank of America, N.A., as collateral agent and administrative agent for the Credit Agreement Secured Parties (as defined therein), AWFC (successor by merger to Northwest Farm Credit Services, PCA), as the Additional First Lien Agent, as Authorized Representative (as defined therein) for the Initial Additional First Lien Secured Parties (as defined therein), and acknowledged and agreed by the Borrower and the other Grantors (as defined therein) party thereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

Interest Payment Date” means (a) as to any Term SOFR Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the applicable Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Term SOFR Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the applicable Maturity Date.

 

Interest Period” means, as to each Term SOFR Loan, the period commencing on the date such Term SOFR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Term SOFR Loan and ending on the date one, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided that:

 

(a)            any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Term SOFR Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

(b)            any Interest Period pertaining to a Term SOFR 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 calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

 

(c)            no Interest Period shall extend beyond the applicable Maturity Date.

 

Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Investment Grade Rating” shall exist at any time that the Borrower’s long-term non-credit enhanced debt is rated at least BBB- or Baa3 by two of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch (or, if any such Rating Agency shall cease to provide such a rating, an equivalent rating from a replacement Rating Agency).

 

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

Joinder Agreement” means a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E executed and delivered by a Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.10 or any other documents as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate for such purpose.

 

Latest Maturity Date” means, at any time, the then latest Maturity Date of any Loan or Commitment hereunder.

 

Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case having the force of law.

 

LCA Election” has the meaning specified in Section 1.06.

 

LCA Test Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.06.

 

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Lenders” means the Term A Lenders, Term A-2 Lenders, Term A-3 Lenders and/or the Incremental Term Loan Lenders, as the context may require.

 

Lending Office” means, as to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, the office or offices, branch or Affiliate of such Person described as such in such Person’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as such Person may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, which office may include any Affiliate of such Person or any domestic or foreign branch of such Person or such Affiliate. Unless the context otherwise requires each reference to any such Person shall include its applicable Lending Office.

 

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, (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 and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

 

Limited Condition Acquisition” means any acquisition, including by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation, by the Borrower or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries, the consummation of which is not conditioned upon the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing or in connection with which any fee or expense would be payable by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries to the seller or target if financing to consummate the acquisition is not obtained as contemplated by the definitive acquisition agreement in respect thereof.

 

Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of the Term A Loan, the Term A-2 Loan, the Term A-3 Loan or an Incremental Term Loan.

 

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the Perfection Certificate, each Joinder Agreement, each Note, the Collateral Documents, each Additional Credit Extension Amendment, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Fee Letter.

 

Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Borrowing of a Term Loan, (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Term SOFR Loans, in each case pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent) appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

 

Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor.

 

Master Agreement” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Swap Contract.”

 

Material Acquisition” means an acquisition or a series of related acquisitions of any Person, property, business or assets for which the aggregate consideration payable by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary is not less than $350,000,000.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means (A) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect on, the operations, business, assets, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent) or financial condition of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (B) a material impairment of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under the Loan Documents, taken as a whole, or of the ability of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents taken as a whole; or (C) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Loan Party of any Loan Document to which it is a party.

 

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Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Contracts, of any one or more of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $200,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “obligations” of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Contract at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Contract were terminated at such time.

 

Material Restricted Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Receivables Financing SPC) with assets of $10,000,000 or more; provided that if the aggregate amount of assets of all Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables Financing SPC) that would not be Material Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of the foregoing threshold would exceed $50,000,000, the Borrower will designate such of such Restricted Subsidiaries as selected by the Borrower to be Material Restricted Subsidiaries so that such aggregate threshold for all Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables Financing SPC) is not exceeded.

 

Maturity Date” means the Term A Maturity Date, the Term A-2 Maturity Date, the Term A-3 Maturity Date and/or the Incremental Term Loan Maturity Date, as the context may require; provided, however, that, in each case, if such date is not a Business Day, the applicable Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

Maximum Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 11.09.

 

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

 

Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

 

Net Cash Proceeds” means, with respect to any Asset Sale, (a) the cash proceeds received in respect of such Asset Sale including (i) any cash received in respect of any non-cash proceeds (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise, but excluding any interest payments), but only as and when received, net of (b) the sum of (i) all fees and out-of-pocket expenses paid or payable to third parties (other than Affiliates) in connection with such Asset Sale, (ii) the amount of all payments required to be made as a result of such Asset Sale to repay Indebtedness (other than Loans and Indebtedness secured on a pari passu or junior basis to the Loans) secured by such asset and (iii) the amount of all taxes paid (or reasonably estimated to be payable) and the amount of any reserves established to fund contingent liabilities reasonably estimated to be payable, in each case during the year that such Asset Sale occurred or the next succeeding year and that are directly attributable to such Asset Sale (as determined reasonably and in good faith by a Financial Officer).

 

Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (a) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 11.01 and (b) has been approved by the Required Lenders.

 

Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender to the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

 

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Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, (a) any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan and (b) any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary under any Secured Cash Management Agreement or Secured Hedge Agreement, in all cases, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof 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; provided, however, that the “Obligations” of a Loan Party shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Loan Party.

 

OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.

 

Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; 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 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 or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 3.06).

 

Outstanding Amount” means with respect to any Loans on any date, the amount of the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of any Loans occurring on such date.

 

Overnight Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Rate and (b) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(d).

 

Participant Register” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(d).

 

PATRIOT Act” has the meaning specified in Section 11.18.

 

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Perfection Certificate” means the Perfection Certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, delivered to the Administrative Agent by the Loan Parties in connection with this Agreement.

 

Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Term SOFR Rate.”

 

Permitted Acquisition” means (i) any acquisition of all or substantially all the assets or a business unit of any Person by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) any acquisition of Equity Interests of any Person (including any Existing Joint Venture) that, following such acquisition, will be a Restricted Subsidiary so long as (x) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately after giving effect thereto or would result therefrom; (y) the Borrower shall be in compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with Section 8.11 immediately after giving effect to such acquisition or investment and any related transactions and (z) the aggregate consideration in respect of all such acquisitions and investments by Loan Parties in assets that are not owned by Loan Parties or in Equity Interests in persons that are not Guarantors or will not become Guarantors in compliance with Section 7.10 (excluding any such investments in connection with acquisitions of Equity Interests of Existing Joint Ventures), shall not exceed the greater of $850,000,000 and 20.0% of Consolidated Total Assets for any acquisition consummated after the Third Amendment Effective Date (as shown on or determined in accordance with the most recent financial statements of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b)).

 

Permitted Encumbrances” means:

 

(a)            Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet delinquent or are being contested in compliance with Section 7.04;

 

(b)            carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, landlord’s and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested in compliance with Section 7.04;

 

(c)            pledges and deposits under workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

 

(d)            deposits or pledges to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(e)            judgment liens in respect of judgments (or appeal or surety bond relating to such judgments) that do not constitute an Event of Default under Section 9.01(k);

 

(f)             easements, zoning restrictions, licenses, title restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or incurred or granted by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any material monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

 

(g)            minor imperfections in title that do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of Borrower or any Subsidiary; and

 

(h)            with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, other Liens arising mandatorily by Law under the laws of the jurisdiction under which such Foreign Subsidiary is organized;

 

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provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness for borrowed money.

 

Permitted Intercreditor Agreement” means with respect to any Refinancing Debt (or Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) that (i) is intended to be secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations, an intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G-1, or otherwise in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, between the Administrative Agent, such other holders of pari passu Indebtedness party thereto and the holders of such Refinancing Debt (or Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) or collateral agent therefor and (ii) is intended to be secured on a junior priority basis to the Obligations, an intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G-2, or otherwise in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, between the Administrative Agent and the holders of such Refinancing Debt (or Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) or collateral agent therefor, in each case, with such changes thereto as may be reasonably agreed between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

Permitted Liens” means, at any time, Liens in respect of property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary permitted to exist at such time pursuant to the terms of Section 8.02.

 

Permitted Receivables Financing” means any one or more receivables financings in which (a) any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (i) conveys or sells any accounts (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York), payment intangibles (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York), notes receivable or residuals (collectively, together with certain property relating thereto and the right to collections thereon and any proceeds thereof, being the “Transferred Assets”) to any Person that is not a Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Borrower (with respect to any such transaction, the “Receivables Financier”), (ii) borrows from such Receivables Financier and secures such borrowings by a pledge of such Transferred Assets and/or (iii) otherwise finances its acquisition of such Transferred Assets and, in connection therewith, conveys an interest in such Transferred Assets to the Receivables Financier or (b) any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary sells, transfers, conveys or otherwise contributes any Transferred Assets to a Receivables Financing SPC, which Receivables Financing SPC then (i) conveys or sells any such Transferred Assets (or an interest therein) to another Receivables Financier, (ii) borrows from such Receivables Financier and secures such borrowings by a pledge of such Transferred Assets or (iii) otherwise finances its acquisition of such Transferred Assets and, in connection therewith, conveys an interest in such Transferred Assets to such Receivables Financier; provided that, as to either clause (a) or (b), (A) the aggregate Attributed Principal Amount for all such financings shall not at any one time exceed the greater of (1) $335,000,000 and (2) 8.0% of Consolidated Total Assets (as shown on or determined in accordance with the most recent financial statements of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b)) and (B) such financings shall not involve any recourse to any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Receivables Financing SPC) for any reason other than (1) repurchases of non-eligible assets, (2) indemnifications for losses or dilution other than credit losses related to the Transferred Assets, (3) any obligations not constituting Indebtedness under servicing arrangements for the receivables, (4) any interest rate swaps or currency swaps permitted hereunder and entered into in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing on a “back to back” basis with swaps entered into by a Receivables Financing SPC or (5) representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary which the Borrower has determined in good faith to be customary in a “non-recourse” receivables financing.

 

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Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means (x) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary which serves to extend, replace, refund, refinance, renew or defease (“Refinance”) any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, including any previously issued Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, so long as:

 

(1)            the principal amount of such new Indebtedness does not exceed (a) the principal amount of Indebtedness being so Refinanced (such Indebtedness, the “Refinanced Debt”), plus (b) any accrued and unpaid interest on such Refinanced Debt, plus (c) the amount of any reasonable tender or redemption premium paid thereof or any penalty or premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument or documents governing such Refinanced Debt and any reasonable costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of such new Indebtedness and the Refinancing of such Refinanced Debt;

 

(2)            such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a:

 

(a)                Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred that is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the applicable Refinanced Debt; and

 

(b)                final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the final scheduled maturity date of the Refinanced Debt (or, if earlier, the date that is 91 days after the then Latest Maturity Date) (other than in respect of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Inside Maturity Basket);

 

(3)            to the extent such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (a) Refinances Indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations (other than Indebtedness assumed or acquired in an acquisition and not created in contemplation thereof), such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated to the Obligations at least to the same extent as the applicable Refinanced Debt, (b) is secured by Liens that are subordinated to the Liens securing the Obligations, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is (i) unsecured or (ii) secured by Liens that are subordinated to the Liens that secure the Obligations at least to the same extent as the applicable Refinanced Debt or (c) is secured by Liens that are pari passu with the Liens securing the Obligations, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is (i) unsecured or (ii) secured by Liens that are pari passu or subordinated to the Liens that secure the Obligations on no less favorable terms (taken as a whole) to the Lenders than the terms applicable to the Liens securing the Refinanced Debt (taken as a whole);

 

(4)            such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be secured by any assets or property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that does not secure the Refinanced Debt being Refinanced (plus improvements and accessions thereon and proceeds in respect thereof); and

 

(5)            in the case of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to clause (f) or (s) of Section 8.01, the covenants and events of default contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are not, taken as a whole, materially more restrictive on the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower) than the terms of this Agreement unless the Borrower enters into an amendment to this Agreement with the Administrative Agent (which amendment shall not require the consent of any other Lender) to add such more restrictive terms for the benefit of the Lenders;

 

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provided that (a) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness will not include Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Guarantor that Refinances Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Guarantor, and (b) clause (2) of this definition will not apply to any Refinancing of any Indebtedness under Section 8.01(d).

 

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

 

Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.

 

Prime Rate” means, at any time, the rate of interest per annum equal to the “prime rate” as published from time to time in the Eastern Edition of The Wall Street Journal as the average prime lending rate for 75% of the United States’ 30 largest commercial banks, or if the Eastern Edition of The Wall Street Journal or such rate is not published on such day, such rate as last published in the Eastern Edition of The Wall Street Journal. In the event the Eastern Edition of The Wall Street Journal ceases to publish such rate or an equivalent on a regular basis, the term “Prime Rate” shall be determined on any day by reference to such other regularly published average prime rate for such date applicable to such commercial banks as is acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion. Any change in Prime Rate shall be automatic, without the necessity of notice provided to any Borrower or any other Loan Party.

 

Pro Forma Basis” means, with respect to compliance with any test or covenant hereunder, that all Specified Transactions occurring prior to the end of the applicable measurement period (and, except for purposes of determining whether an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under Section 8.11, following the last day of such measurement period and on or prior to the applicable date of determination) and the following transactions in connection therewith shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement in such test or covenant and: (a) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Specified Transaction, (i) in the case of a Disposition of all or substantially all Equity Interests in any Subsidiary of the Borrower owned by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any division or line of business, shall be excluded, and (ii) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or investment described in the definition of “Specified Transaction,” shall be included, (b) any retirement of Indebtedness and (c) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries in connection therewith and if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination; provided that, any cost savings adjustments in connection therewith shall be subject to the limitations set forth in clause (b)(iv) of the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA.”

 

Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.

 

Qualified ECP Guarantor” means, at any time, each Loan Party with total assets exceeding $10,000,000 or that qualifies at such time as an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act and can cause another Person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

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Qualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.

 

Rating Agency” means each of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch; provided that if any such agency shall cease to provide ratings of the Borrower’s long-term non-credit enhanced debt, then such term shall also include any replacement credit ratings agency that is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

Receivables Financier” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Receivables Financing.”

 

Receivables Financing SPC” means (1) a wholly-owned direct Subsidiary of a Loan Party which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of Transferred Assets pursuant to a Permitted Receivables Financing that meets the following criteria: (a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Indebtedness)) pursuant to customary securitization undertakings, (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower in any way (other than pursuant to customary securitization undertakings) or (iii) subjects any property or asset (other than the Transferred Assets) of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to customary securitization undertakings, (b) with which neither the Borrower nor any of its other Subsidiaries has any contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than pursuant to the Permitted Receivables Financing documentation (including with respect to the servicing of the accounts receivable and related assets and the administration of the Receivables Financing SPC)) on terms less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from persons that are not Affiliates of the Borrower (as determined by the Borrower in good faith), and (c) to which neither the Borrower nor any other Subsidiary of the Borrower has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results and (2) each general partner of any such Subsidiary described in clause (1) that meets all of the criteria set forth in clause (1).

 

Recipient” means the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder.

 

Recovery Event” means the receipt by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any cash insurance proceeds or condemnation award payable by reason of theft, loss, physical destruction or damage, taking or similar event with respect to any of their respective property or assets.

 

Refinancing Debt” means any Indebtedness of the Borrower (which may be guaranteed by the Guarantors) issued for cash consideration to the extent that the net cash proceeds therefrom (after payment of fees and expenses in connection with the offering or issuance) are applied to prepay Term Loans within three Business Days of receipt thereof; provided that (i) Indebtedness shall not provide for scheduled amortization in excess of 5% per annum of the original principal amount thereof prior to the 91st day following the Latest Maturity Date at such time, (ii) the covenants and events of default contained in the agreements governing such Indebtedness are not, taken as a whole, materially more restrictive on the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower) than the terms of this Agreement unless the Borrower enters into an amendment to this Agreement with the Administrative Agent (which amendment shall not require the consent of any other Lender) to add such more restrictive terms for the benefit of the Lenders, (iii) such Indebtedness shall not be guaranteed by any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Loan Party and (iv) such Indebtedness shall either be unsecured or, pursuant to a Permitted Intercreditor Agreement, shall be secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations or a junior priority basis to the Obligations.

 

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Refinancing Term Loans” means Incremental Term Loans that are designated as “Refinancing Term Loans” in the applicable Additional Credit Extension Amendment; provided that the Borrower applies an amount equal to the net cash proceeds therefrom within three Business Days of receipt to prepay Term Loans.

 

Register” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(c).

 

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.

 

Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into or through the Environment or within, from or into any building structure, facility or fixture.

 

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 specified in Section 10.06(b).

 

Request for Credit Extension” means a Loan Notice.

 

Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having more than 50% of the Commitments or, if the Commitments have been terminated, the outstanding Term Loans; provided, however, with respect to economic changes affecting only one Term Loan, “Required Lenders” for such Term Loan shall be calculated with respect to Lenders of such Term Loan only. The portion of the outstanding Term Loans held or deemed held by any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders. With respect to any matter requiring the approval of the Required Lenders, it is understood that Voting Participants shall have the voting rights specified in Section 11.06(e) as to such matter.

 

Rescindable Amount” has the meaning defined in Section 2.12(b)(ii).

 

Resignation Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(a).

 

Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.

 

Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of a Loan Party (or any other officer reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), and, solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates, the secretary or any assistant secretary of a Loan Party (or any other officer reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

 

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Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Restricted Subsidiaries” means the Subsidiaries of the Borrower other than the Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

RMB” means lawful currency of the People’s Republic of China.

 

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business, and any successor thereto.

 

Sanction(s)” means any international economic sanction administered or enforced by the United States government (including OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant governmental sanctions authority.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

 

Secured Cash Management Agreement” means any Cash Management Agreement between any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Cash Management Bank.

 

Secured Hedge Agreement” means any interest rate, currency, foreign exchange, or commodity Swap Contract between any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Hedge Bank.

 

Security Agreement” means the security agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, executed by the Borrower and the Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations, as amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time; provided that at all times after a Collateral Reinstatement Date, “ Security Agreement” shall be deemed to refer to any new security agreement required to be delivered with respect to such Collateral Reinstatement Date pursuant to Section 7.10.

 

Senior Notes” means up to $2,166,000,000 aggregate principal amount of (i) 4.625% senior notes due 2024 issued by the Borrower on the Closing Date, (ii) 4.875% senior notes due 2026 issued by the Borrower on November 9, 2016 and (iii) 4.875% senior notes due 2028 issued by the Borrower on May 12, 2020.

 

SOFR” means a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.

 

SOFR Adjustment” means (a) with respect to an Interest Period of one month, 0.10% per annum, (b) with respect to an Interest Period of three months, 0.15% per annum and (c) with respect to an Interest Period of six months, 0.25% per annum.

 

SOFR Administrator” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

 

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Solvent” means, in reference to the Loan Parties, that the fair value of all assets of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole), measured on a going concern basis, exceeds all probable liabilities of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole), including those to be incurred pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Specified Event of Default” means an Event of Default under Section 9.01(a), (b), (h), or (i).

 

Specified Indebtedness” means (i) Subordinated Indebtedness (other than Subordinated Indebtedness owing to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary), (ii) the Senior Notes, (iii) any Indebtedness issued pursuant to Section 8.01(f) and (iv) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Indebtedness referred to in clauses (i) through (iii) above.

 

Specified Loan Party” has the meaning specified in Section 4.08.

 

Specified Representations” means the representations and warranties with respect to the Borrower and the Guarantors set forth in the first sentence of Section 6.01 and Sections 6.02, 6.03, 6.12, 6.13, 6.16 and 6.17.

 

Specified Sales” means Dispositions of (a) inventory and materials in the ordinary course of business, (b) surplus, obsolete or worn-out property or assets, (c) cash or Cash Equivalents, (d) Equity Interests or Indebtedness of Unrestricted Subsidiaries, (e) accounts receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof in the ordinary course of business and (f) property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are applied substantially concurrently with such Disposition to the purchase price of similar replacement property.

 

Specified Transaction” means any of the following: (i) any investment by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Person (including any Permitted Acquisition) other than a Person that was a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary on the first day of such period involving (w) an investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (x) the acquisition of a new Restricted Subsidiary or interest in a joint venture, (y) an increase in the Borrower’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ consolidated economic ownership of a Restricted Subsidiary or (z) the acquisition of a product line or business unit, (ii) any Disposition involving (x) the disposition of Equity Interests of a Subsidiary or joint venture (other than to the Borrower or a Subsidiary) or (y) the disposition of a product line or business unit, (iii) any incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness (in each case, other than revolving indebtedness in the ordinary course of business under revolving credit facilities), (iv) any Restricted Payment in respect of the Borrower’s Equity Interests, (v) any designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary and (vi) any other transaction specifically required to be given effect to on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

Subordinated Indebtedness” of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary means any Indebtedness of such Person the payment and priority of which is contractually subordinated to payment of the Obligations with customary payment blockage and other provisions and having a maturity no earlier than the date which is ninety-one (91) days after the latest Maturity Date.

 

Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of Voting Stock is at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower. It is understood that no Existing Joint Venture (i) is a Subsidiary as of the Closing Date or (ii) shall be deemed a Subsidiary until such time as (x) the Borrower gains greater control over and/or ownership of such Existing Joint Venture and (y) it meets the test set forth above.

 

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Swap Contract” 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 (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

 

Swap Obligation” means with respect to any Guarantor any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

 

Term A Lender” means any Person that has a Term A Loan Commitment or portion of the Outstanding Amount of the Term A Loan, each other Person that becomes a “Term A Lender” in accordance with this Agreement and their successors and assigns.

 

Term A Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a)(i).

 

Term A Loan Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make its portion of the Term A Loan to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(i), in the principal amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01. The aggregate principal amount of the Term A Loan Commitments of all of the Lenders as in effect on the Closing Date is $300,000,000.

 

Term A Maturity Date” means June 28, 2026.

 

Term A-2 Lender” means any Person that has a Term A-2 Loan Commitment or portion of the Outstanding Amount of the Term A-2 Loan, each other Person that becomes a “Term A-2 Lender” in accordance with this Agreement and their successors and assigns.

 

Term A-2 Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a)(ii).

 

Term A-2 Loan Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make its portion of the Term A-2 Loan to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(ii), in the principal amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01. The aggregate principal amount of the Term A-2 Loan Commitments of all of the Lenders as in effect on the First Amendment Effective Date is $325,000,000.

 

Term A-2 Maturity Date” means April 20, 2025.

 

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Term A-3 Lender” means any Person that has a Term A-3 Loan Commitment or portion of the Outstanding Amount of the Term A-3 Loan, each other Person that becomes a “Term A-3 Lender” in accordance with this Agreement and their successors and assigns.

 

Term A-3 Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a)(iii).

 

Term A-3 Loan Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make its portion of the Term A-3 Loan to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(iii), in the principal amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01. The aggregate principal amount of the Term A-3 Loan Commitments of all of the Lenders as in effect on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date is $450,000,000.

 

Term A-3 Maturity Date” means January 31, 2030.

 

Term Loan” means the Term A Loan, the Term A-2 Loan, Term A-3 Loan and/or any Incremental Term Loan, as the case may be.

 

Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Reference Rate selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).

 

Term SOFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of “Term SOFR Rate”.

 

Term SOFR Rate” means,

 

(a) for any calculation with respect to a Term SOFR Loan, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period on the day (such day, the “Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. on any Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Transition Event with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then the Term SOFR Rate will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day; and

 

(b) for any calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any day, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor of one month on the day (such day, the “Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. on any Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Transition Event with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR Rate will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day.

 

Term SOFR Reference Rate” means the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.

 

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Third Amendment Effective Date” means August 11, 2021.

 

Transactions” means collectively (a) the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement, (b) the Borrowing of Loans and other Credit Extensions on the Closing Date and (c) the repayment of $300,000,000 in principal of the Term A Loan outstanding under (and as defined in) the Existing Credit Agreement on the Closing Date.

 

Transferred Assets” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Receivables Financing.”

 

Type” means, with respect to any Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Term SOFR Loan.

 

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York.

 

UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person subject to 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” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiaries” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower designated by the Borrower as such in writing in accordance with Section 7.10(e); it being understood and agreed that (i) the term “Unrestricted Subsidiary” shall include all Subsidiaries of any such designated Subsidiary, and (ii) any Unrestricted Subsidiary may subsequently be designated by the Borrower as a Restricted Subsidiary subject to the terms of Section 7.10(e).

 

U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (a) a Saturday, (b) a Sunday or (c) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.

 

U.S. Person” means any Person that is a “United States Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(B)(3).

 

Voting Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(e).

 

Voting Participant Notification” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(e).

 

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Voting Stock” means, with respect to any Person, Equity Interests issued by such Person the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, even though the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency. For purposes of clarification, Indebtedness which by its terms is convertible into Equity Interests is not “Voting Stock.”

 

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (i) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness into (ii) the product obtained by multiplying (x) the amount of each then remaining installment or other required scheduled payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (y) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment.

 

Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary 100% of the Equity Interests of which (other than director’s qualifying shares) are directly or indirectly owned by the Borrower.

 

Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined under Title IV of ERISA.

 

Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.

 

1.02        Other Interpretive 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. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “hereto,” “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all assets and properties, tangible and intangible, real and personal, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

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(b)            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.”

 

(c)            Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

(d)            Any reference herein to a merger, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability company (or the unwinding of such a division or allocation), as if it were a merger, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, as applicable, to, of or with a separate Person. Any division of a limited liability company shall constitute a separate Person hereunder (and each division of any limited liability company that is a Subsidiary, joint venture or any other like term shall also constitute such a Person or entity).

 

1.03        Accounting Terms.

 

(a)            Generally. 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, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, 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 Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

 

(b)            Changes in GAAP. Except to the extent disclosed in the footnotes to the financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01, the Borrower will provide a written summary of material changes in GAAP applicable to it and in the consistent application thereof with each annual and quarterly Compliance Certificate delivered in accordance with Section 7.01. If at any time any change in GAAP (including the adoption of IFRS) 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. Without limiting the foregoing, leases shall continue to be classified and accounted for on a basis consistent with that under GAAP as of the Closing Date for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding any change in GAAP relating thereto, unless the parties hereto shall enter into a mutually acceptable amendment addressing such changes, as provided for above.

 

(c)            Calculations. Notwithstanding the above, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that all calculations of the financial ratios (including for purposes of determining the Applicable Rate) shall be made on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

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1.04        Rounding.

 

Any financial ratios pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

 

1.05        Times of Day.

 

Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

 

1.06        Limited Condition Acquisitions.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary, when calculating any applicable ratio or determining other compliance with this Agreement (including the determination of compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom) in connection with a transaction undertaken in connection with the consummation of a Limited Condition Acquisition, the date of determination of such ratio and determination of whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom and whether any representations or warranties are true and correct (other than the Specified Representations), at the option of the Borrower (the Borrower’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Acquisition, an “LCA Election”), be deemed to be the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Acquisition are entered into (the “LCA Test Date”) and if, after such ratios and other provisions are measured on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such Limited Condition Acquisition and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) as if they occurred at the beginning of the four consecutive Fiscal Quarter period for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b) prior to the LCA Test Date, the Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCA Test Date in compliance with such ratios and provisions, such ratios and provisions shall be deemed to have been complied with. For the avoidance of doubt, (x) if any of such ratios are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in such ratio (including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower) at or prior to the consummation of the relevant Limited Condition Acquisition, such ratios and other provisions will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the Limited Condition Acquisition is permitted hereunder and (y) such ratios and other provisions shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition or related specified transactions. If the Borrower has made an LCA Election for any Limited Condition Acquisition, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or basket availability with respect to any other transaction on or following the relevant LCA Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Acquisition (other than for purposes of determining whether an Event of Default has occurred under Section 8.11) is consummated or the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Acquisition is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition, any such ratio or basket shall be calculated (1) on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition Acquisition and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated and (2) on a Pro Forma Basis but without giving effect to such Limited Condition Acquisition and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and use of proceeds thereof).

 

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1.07        Interest Rates .

 

The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept responsibility for, and each of the parties to this Agreement hereby acknowledge and agree (for the benefit of the Administrative Agent) that the Administrative Agent shall not have any liability with respect to (a) the continuation of, administration of, submission of, calculation of or any other matter related to the Base Rate, any Benchmark, or any component definition thereof or rates referred to in the definition thereof, or any alternative, successor or replacement rate thereto (including any Benchmark Replacement), including whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, or have the same volume or liquidity as, the Base Rate, any initial Benchmark or any other Benchmark or Benchmark Replacement prior to its discontinuance or unavailability, or (b) 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 the Base Rate, or any Benchmark, any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain the Base Rate, any initial Benchmark or any other Benchmark or Benchmark Replacement, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

 

ARTICLE II

 

THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

2.01        Term Loans.

 

(a)            Term A Loan, Term A-2 Loan and Term A-3 Loan.

 

(i)            Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Term A Lender severally agrees to make a portion of a term loan (the “Term A Loan”) to the Borrower in Dollars on the Closing Date in an amount equal to such Lender’s Term A Loan Commitment. Amounts repaid on the Term A Loan may not be reborrowed. The Term A Loan may consist of Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Loans, as further provided herein. The Term A Loan Commitments shall terminate upon the funding of the Term A Loan and, if not previously terminated, shall in any event terminate no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Closing Date.

 

(ii)            Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Term A-2 Lender severally agrees to make a portion of a term loan (the “Term A-2 Loan”) to the Borrower in Dollars on the First Amendment Effective Date in an amount equal to such Lender’s Term A-2 Loan Commitment. Amounts repaid on the Term A-2 Loan may not be reborrowed. The Term A-2 Loan shall initially consist of Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Loans, as further provided herein. The Term A-2 Loan Commitments shall terminate upon the funding of the Term A-2 Loan and, if not previously terminated, shall in any event terminate no later than 5:00 p.m. on the First Amendment Effective Date.

 

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(iii)            Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Term A-3 Lender severally agrees to make a portion of a term loan (the “Term A-3 Loan”) to the Borrower in Dollars on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date in an amount equal to such Lender’s Term A-3 Loan Commitment. Amounts repaid on the Term A-3 Loan may not be reborrowed. The Term A-3 Loan shall consist of Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Loans, as further provided herein. The Term A-3 Loan Commitments shall terminate upon the funding of the Term A-3 Loan and, if not previously terminated, shall in any event terminate no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date.

 

(b)            Incremental Commitments.

 

(1)           The Borrower may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent from time to time, request Incremental Term Loan Commitments not to exceed $100,000,000 from one or more Eligible Assignees, in each case, that is a Farm Credit Lender (which, in each case, may include any existing Lender (but no such Lender shall be required to participate in any such Incremental Term Loan without its consent) and shall be subject to such consents, if any, as would be required in connection with an assignment of a Term Loan to such Person) willing to provide such Incremental Term Loans in their sole discretion (such Lenders, the “Incremental Term Loan Lenders”). Such notice shall set forth (i) the amount of the Incremental Term Loan Commitments being requested (which shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000 and minimum increments of $10,000,000, or remaining permitted amount or, in each case, such lesser amount approved by the Administrative Agent), (ii) whether the Incremental Term Loans to be borrowed pursuant to such Incremental Term Loan Commitments are to be an increase in any existing Class of Term Loans or a new Class of Term Loans and (iii) the date on which such Incremental Term Loan Commitments are requested to become effective (which shall, unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, be not less than ten Business Days after the date such notice is delivered).

 

(2)            The Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and any other Person whose consent is required as provided above shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Additional Credit Extension Amendment and such other documentation as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably specify to evidence the Incremental Term Loan Commitment. Each Additional Credit Extension Amendment pursuant to this clause (d) shall specify the terms of the applicable Incremental Term Loans; provided that:

 

(i)            the Incremental Term Loans shall not be guaranteed by any Subsidiaries of the Borrower that do not guarantee the existing Loans and shall be secured on a pari passu basis by the same Collateral (and no additional collateral) securing the then existing Obligations;

 

(ii)            (A) the Maturity Date of any Incremental Term Loans shall be no earlier than the then Latest Maturity Date and (B) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Incremental Term Loans shall be no shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any then outstanding Class of Term Loans;

 

(iii)            no Incremental Term Loan shall participate on a greater than pro rata basis with the then outstanding Term Loans in any mandatory prepayment;

 

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(iv)            Incremental Term Loans shall have such interest rates, optional prepayment provisions and fees as may be agreed between the Lenders providing the applicable Incremental Term Loan Commitments and the Borrower (except that any Incremental Term Loans forming an addition to an existing Class of Term Loans shall have the same interest rates, optional prepayment provisions and fees (other than upfront fees) as the applicable existing Class of Term Loans);

 

(v)            subject to the above, any Incremental Term Loans shall be on terms and pursuant to documentation to be determined by the Borrower and the Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loan; provided that, the terms applicable to any such Incremental Term Loans (except as expressly permitted above and except for covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the then Latest Maturity Date) are not, taken as a whole, materially more restrictive to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, than the terms applicable to the then outstanding Commitments and Loans, as reasonably determined by the Borrower (except to the extent that this Agreement is amended (which shall not require the consent of any Lender) to incorporate such more restrictive provisions for the benefit of the then existing Lenders); and

 

(vi)            subject to Section 1.06, no Incremental Term Loan Commitment shall become effective under this Section 2.01(b) unless (w) no Default or Event of Default shall exist giving pro forma effect to such Incremental Term Loan Commitment and the incurrence of Indebtedness thereunder and use of proceeds therefrom; (x) the conditions set forth in clauses (a) and (b) of Section 5.02 are satisfied whether or not a Credit Extension is made on such date (and, only to the extent a Borrowing is made on such date, clause (c) is required to be complied with); (y) on a Pro Forma Basis, giving effect to such Incremental Term Loans and the incurrence of Indebtedness thereunder (assuming that such commitments are fully drawn on such date) and use of proceeds therefrom, the Borrower would be in compliance with Section 8.11 and (z) the Administrative Agent shall have received documents and legal opinions as to such matters as are reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

Upon any increase of any existing Class of Term Loans, the Lenders shall take any action as may be reasonably required by the Administrative Agent to ensure that the Borrowings of such Class are held by the Lenders of such Class on a pro rata basis in accordance with the respective amount of Term Loans of such Class held by each Lender.

 

2.02        Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.

 

(a)            Each Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Term SOFR Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by (A) telephone, or (B) a Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Loan Notice. Each such Loan Notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of, Term SOFR Loans or of any conversion of Term SOFR Loans to Base Rate Loans and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term SOFR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof. Each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof. Each Loan Notice shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Class and Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of a Loan in a Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Term SOFR Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Term SOFR Loans in any Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.

 

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(b)            Following receipt of a Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans as described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. (or, if later, two hours after delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of the applicable Loan Notice), on the Business Day specified in the applicable Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 5.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent by wire transfer of such funds in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower.

 

(c)            Except as otherwise provided herein, a Term SOFR Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of the Interest Period for such Term SOFR Loan. During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Term SOFR Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders, and the Required Lenders may demand that any or all of the then outstanding Term SOFR Loans denominated in Dollars be converted immediately to Base Rate Loans, on the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto.

 

(d)            The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Term SOFR Loans upon determination of such interest rate.

 

(e)            After giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than fifteen Interest Periods in effect with respect to the Loans.

 

(f)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Lender may exchange, continue or rollover all of the 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.

 

2.03        [Reserved].

 

2.04        [Reserved].

 

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2.05        Prepayments.

 

(a)            Voluntary Prepayments of Loans. The Borrower may, upon notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Term Loans of any Class in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Term SOFR Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (ii) any such prepayment of Term SOFR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding); (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding); (iv) any prepayment of the Term Loans shall be in such proportions as the Borrower shall elect and each such prepayment shall be applied as directed by the Borrower and, absent such direction, shall be applied in direct order of maturity to the remaining principal amortization payments of the applicable Term Loan; and (v) any such notice may be conditioned on the effectiveness of other financing arrangements or one or more other transactions. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Class and Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid and, if Term SOFR Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein, subject to the occurrence of any condition(s) specified therein. Any prepayment of a Term SOFR Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Subject to Section 2.15, each such prepayment shall be applied to the applicable Class of Loans being prepaid of the applicable Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages for such Class.

 

(b)            Mandatory Prepayments of Loans.

 

(i)            Asset Sales and Recovery Events. (A) Promptly following any Asset Sale or series of Asset Sales which causes the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received from all Asset Sales during such Fiscal Year to exceed $20,000,000, the Borrower shall prepay Term Loans in an aggregate amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Net Cash Proceeds in excess of $20,000,000 derived from all such Asset Sales (such prepayment to be applied as set forth in clause (ii) below); provided, however, that such Net Cash Proceeds shall not be required to be so applied to the extent (1) the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent a certificate stating that it intends to use such Net Cash Proceeds to acquire assets used or useful in its business or to make Permitted Acquisitions, and (2) such reinvestment or Permitted Acquisition is consummated within three hundred and sixty-five (365) days (or if the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has entered into a binding agreement to make such Permitted Acquisition within such 365 day period, such period shall be extended for an additional 180 days with respect to the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds so committed to be reinvested or applied in such acquisition) of receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds, it being expressly agreed that any Net Cash Proceeds not so reinvested shall be applied to repay the Loans immediately thereafter and (B) to the extent of cash proceeds received in connection with a Recovery Event which are in excess of $20,000,000 in the aggregate and which are not used to acquire fixed or capital assets used or useful in its business within three hundred sixty-five (365) days (as such period may be extended pursuant to the foregoing clause (A)(2) above) of the receipt of such cash proceeds, the Borrower shall prepay Term Loans in an aggregate amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of such cash proceeds net of all third-party costs incurred to obtain such cash proceeds (such prepayment to be applied as set forth in clause (ii) below); provided, further, that in the event that any Indebtedness (including Refinancing Debt) is then outstanding that is secured on a pari passu basis, up to a pro rata portion of such Net Cash Proceeds (based on the respective principal amount of Term Loans and other Indebtedness, respectively, then outstanding), may be applied to prepay such Indebtedness to the extent required hereby.

 

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(ii)            Application of Mandatory Prepayments. All amounts required to be paid pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) shall be applied, ratably to the Term Loans of each Class (and to the remaining principal amortization payments thereof as directed by the Borrower and, absent such direction, shall be applied in direct order of maturity to the remaining principal amortization payments of the applicable Term Loan).

 

Within the parameters of the applications set forth above, prepayments shall be applied first to Base Rate Loans and then to Term SOFR Loans in direct order of Interest Period maturities. All prepayments under this Section 2.05(b) shall be subject to Section 3.05, but otherwise without premium or penalty, and shall be accompanied by interest on the principal amount prepaid through the date of prepayment.

 

(iii)            Limitation of Prepayment Obligations. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 2.05(b), (i) to the extent that any or all of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Asset Sale by a Foreign Subsidiary (each such Asset Sale a “Foreign Asset Sale”) or the Net Cash Proceeds of any Recovery Event received by a Foreign Subsidiary (each such Recovery Event a “Foreign Recovery Event”) are prohibited or delayed by applicable foreign Law of such Foreign Subsidiary from being repatriated to the Borrower, the prepayment otherwise required hereunder will not be required in respect of any amount equal to the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds so affected at the time provided in Section 2.05(b)(i), but may be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary so long, but only so long, as the applicable local law of such Foreign Subsidiary will not permit repatriation to the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary (the Borrower hereby agreeing to use, and cause its Subsidiaries to use, commercially reasonable efforts to overcome or eliminate any such restrictions on repatriation), and if within one year following the date on which the respective prepayment would otherwise have been required such repatriation of any of such affected Net Cash Proceeds is permitted under the applicable local Law, such repatriation will be promptly effected and such repatriated Net Cash Proceeds will be promptly (and in any event not later than five Business Days after such repatriation) applied (net of additional taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof and additional costs relating to such repatriation) to the repayment of Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05 or (ii) to the extent that the Borrower has determined in good faith, after consultation with the Administrative Agent, that repatriation to the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary of any of or all the Net Cash Proceeds of any Foreign Asset Sale or Net Cash Proceeds of any Foreign Recovery Event attributable to Foreign Subsidiaries would have material (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) adverse tax consequences (including by way of reduction in tax attributes) with respect to such Net Cash Proceeds, the prepayment otherwise required hereunder will not be required in respect of any amount equal to the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds so affected at the time provided in Section 2.05(b)(i), but may be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary so long, but only so long, as the applicable adverse tax consequences with respect to such Net Cash Proceeds remain (the Borrower hereby agreeing to use commercially reasonable efforts to overcome or eliminate any adverse tax consequences), and if within one year following the date on which the respective prepayment would otherwise have been required such repatriation of any of such affected Net Cash Proceeds would no longer have material (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) adverse tax consequences, such repatriation will be promptly effected and such repatriated Net Cash Proceeds will be promptly (and in any event not later than five Business Days after such repatriation) applied (net of additional taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof and additional costs relating to such repatriation) to the repayment of the Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05.

 

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2.06        [Reserved].

 

2.07        Repayment of Loans.

 

(a)            The Borrower shall repay the outstanding principal amount of the Term A Loan in equal quarterly installments of $3,750,000 on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, beginning with September 30, 2019 (as such installments may hereafter be adjusted as a result of prepayments made pursuant to Section 2.05), with the outstanding principal balance of the Term A Loan due on the Term A Maturity Date, unless accelerated sooner pursuant to Section 9.02.

 

(b)            The Borrower shall repay the outstanding principal amount of the Term A-2 Loan in equal quarterly installments of $4,062,500 on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, beginning with September 30, 2020 (as such installments may hereafter be adjusted as a result of prepayments made pursuant to Section 2.05), with the outstanding principal balance of the Term A-2 Loan due on the Term A-2 Maturity Date, unless accelerated sooner pursuant to Section 9.02.

 

(c)            The Borrower shall repay the outstanding principal amount of the Term A-3 Loan in equal quarterly installments of $5,625,000 on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, beginning with June 30, 2023 (as such installments may hereafter be adjusted as a result of prepayments made pursuant to Section 2.05), with the outstanding principal balance of the Term A-3 Loan due on the Term A-3 Maturity Date, unless accelerated sooner pursuant to Section 9.02

 

2.08        Interest.

 

(a)            Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Term SOFR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; and (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Base Rate Loans.

 

(b)          (i)          If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

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(ii)        If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

(iii)       Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

 

(c)            Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

 

2.09        Fees.

 

(a)            The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times separately agreed in writing. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(b)            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. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

2.10        Computation of Interest and Fees.

 

All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans based on 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 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-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Borrower or for any other reason, the Borrower or the Lenders determine that (i) the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Borrower as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders, as the case may be, promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent, any Lender), an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period. This paragraph shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, as the case may be, under 2.08(b) or under Article IX. The Borrower’s obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the aggregate Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

 

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2.11        Evidence of Debt.

 

The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower 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 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 Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Class, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

 

2.12        Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

 

(a)            General. All payments to be made by the Loan Parties shall be made free and clear of and without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent may require that any payments due under this Agreement be made in the United States. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall, at the option of the Administrative Agent, be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

 

(b)     (i)     Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing of Term SOFR Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such 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 2.02 (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) 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 in immediately available funds 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 Overnight Rate, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, 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.

 

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(ii)            Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the time at which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders 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 amount due. With respect to any payment that the Administrative Agent makes for the account of the Lenders hereunder as to which the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that any of the following applies (such payment referred to as the “Rescindable Amount”): (1) the Borrower has not in fact made such payment; (2) the Administrative Agent has made a payment in excess of the amount so paid by the Borrower (whether or not then owed); or (3) the Administrative agent has for any reason otherwise erroneously made such payment:, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender in immediately available funds 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 Overnight Rate.

 

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

(c)            Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article V are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

(d)            Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 11.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 11.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 11.04(c).

 

(e)            Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

 

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2.13        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 the Loans made by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Loans and accrued interest thereon 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 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 shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by or on behalf of 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 (B) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).

 

Each Loan 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 such Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Loan Party in the amount of such participation.

 

2.14        [Reserved].

 

2.15        Defaulting Lenders.

 

(a)            Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that 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 11.01.

 

(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 IX or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 11.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement; fourth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth, so long as no 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 sixth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction. 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 pursuant to this Section 2.15(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

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(iii)            Certain Fees. No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee payable under Sections 2.09(a)(i), 2.09(a)(ii) or 2.09(b) 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)           Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrower and the Administrative Agent 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, that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders, 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 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 III

 

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

 

3.01        Taxes.

 

(a)            Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable Laws. If any applicable Laws (as determined in the good faith discretion of the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, as applicable) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Administrative Agent, a Loan Party or other applicable 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 the applicable Laws and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the Borrower 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 3.01) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.

 

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(b)            Payment of Other Taxes by the Loan Parties. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Loan Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

 

(c)            Tax Indemnifications. (i) Each of the Loan Parties shall, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, and shall make payment in respect thereof within ten days after written 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 3.01) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(ii)            Each Lender shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, (x) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (y) the Administrative Agent against any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 11.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (z) the Administrative Agent against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender, as the case may be, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii).

 

(d)            Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by such Loan Party or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01, such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to such Loan Party, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

 

(e)            Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation.

 

(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 prescribed by applicable Law or the taxing authorities of a jurisdiction pursuant to such applicable Law or 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 either (1) set forth in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(A), 3.01(e)(ii)(B) and 3.01(e)(ii)(D) below or (2) required by applicable Law other than the Internal Revenue Code or the taxing authorities of the jurisdiction pursuant to such applicable Law to comply with the requirements for exemption or reduction of withholding tax in that jurisdiction) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

 

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(ii)            Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,

 

(A)            any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower 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 U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

(B)            any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower 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-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) or applicable successor form establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) or applicable successor form establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

 

(2)            executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI or applicable successor form;

 

(3)            in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) or applicable successor form; or

 

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(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-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) or applicable successor form, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C-2 or Exhibit C-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 C-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

(C)            any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Law to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

 

(D)            if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Internal Revenue 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 Internal Revenue 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 Closing Date.

 

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(iii)            Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered pursuant to this Section 3.01 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.

 

(f)            Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any Recipient 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 by any Loan Party or with respect to which any Loan Party has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall pay to the Loan Party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by a Loan Party under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) incurred by such Recipient, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Loan Party, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Loan Party (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority, other than penalties, interest, or charges attributable to bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Recipient) to the Recipient in the event the Recipient is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection, in no event will the applicable Recipient be required to pay any amount to the Loan Party pursuant to this subsection the payment of which would place the Recipient in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such Recipient 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 subsection shall not be construed to require any Recipient to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to any Loan Party or any other Person.

 

(g)           Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 3.01 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 other Obligations.

 

3.02        Illegality.

 

If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable lending office to make, maintain or fund any Loans (other than Base Rate Loans) or to determine or charge interest based upon any Benchmark, then, upon notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower (through the Administrative Agent), (a) any obligation of the Lenders to make such Loans, and any right of the Borrower to continue such Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to such Loans, shall be suspended, and (b), if necessary to avoid such illegality, the interest rate on the Base Rate Loans shall be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to clause (c) of the definition of “Base Rate”, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice,

 

(i)            the Borrower shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, upon demand from any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all such Loans to Base Rate Loans (if necessary to avoid such illegality, the interest rate on the Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to clause (c) of the definition of “Base Rate”),

 

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(A)          if such Loans are not subject to an Interest Period, immediately, or

 

(B)           if such Loans are subject to an Interest Period, on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if all affected Lenders may lawfully continue to maintain such Loans to such day, or immediately, if any Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Loans to such day, and

 

(ii)            if necessary to avoid such illegality, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate without reference to clause (c) of the definition of “Base Rate,”

 

in each case until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by each affected Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon such Benchmark. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued and unpaid interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.

 

3.03        Inability to Determine Rates.

 

(a)            Subject to Section 3.03(b) below, if, on or prior to the commencement of any Interest Period (or, in the case of any Benchmark that is not subject to an Interest Period, on any Business Day):

 

(i)            the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that for any reason (other than a Benchmark Transition Event) any Benchmark cannot be determined pursuant to the definition thereof;

 

(ii)           the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a Loan that is subject to an Interest Period or a conversion thereto or a continuation thereof that the Benchmark for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making and maintaining such Loan, and the Required Lenders have provided notice of such determination to the Administrative Agent; or

 

(iii)          the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a Loan that is not subject to an Interest Period (other than a Base Rate Loan) or a conversion thereto or a continuation thereof or the maintaining thereof that the Benchmark with respect to a proposed Loan or outstanding Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making and maintaining such Loan, and the Required Lenders have provided notice of such determination to the Administrative Agent,

 

then the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Upon notice thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower,

 

(1) any obligation of the Lenders to make such Loans that are subject to an Interest Period, and any right of the Borrower to continue such Loans or to convert to such Loans, shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Loans or affected Interest Periods) until the Administrative Agent (with respect to clause (ii), at the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice;

 

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(2) any obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain such Loans that are not subject to an Interest Period (other than Base Rate Loans), and any right of the Borrower to continue such Loans or to convert to such Loans (other than Base Rate Loans), shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Loans) until the Administrative Agent (with respect to clause (iii), at the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice;

 

(3) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of such Loans (to the extent of the affected Loans or affected Interest Periods) or, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein;

 

(4) any outstanding affected Loans will be deemed to have been converted into Base Rate Loans at the end of the applicable Interest Period (or if such Loans are not subject to an Interest Period, immediately) and, upon any such conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05; and

 

(5) in the case of any such notice under Section 3.03(a)(i) regarding any Benchmark used as a component of the Base Rate, such component will not be used in any determination of Base Rate Loans until such notice is revoked.

 

(b)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document:

 

(i)            Replacing Benchmarks. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the setting of a Benchmark Replacement to the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (a) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 3:00 p.m. on the fifth 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 the Benchmark Replacement is Daily Simple SOFR, all interest payments will be payable on a quarterly basis.

 

(ii)            Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Borrower will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

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(iii)           Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement and (ii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes in connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement. The Administrative Agent will notify the Borrower of (x) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Section 3.03(b)(iv) and (v) the commencement 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 3.03(b), 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 3.03(b).

 

(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), (i) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including the Term SOFR Reference Rate) and either (A) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (B) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is not or will not be representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (ii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is not or will not be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.

 

(iv)          Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, (i) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of loans bearing interest at the then-current Benchmark 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 and (ii) any outstanding affected loans will be deemed to have been converted to Base Rate Loans at the end of the applicable Interest Period. During a Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of Base Rate.

 

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3.04        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 credit extended or participated in by, any 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 any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement made by such Lender or participation therein;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender, the Borrower will pay to such Lender, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)            Capital Requirements. If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such 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 capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

(c)            Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)            Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than six months prior to the date that such Lender, 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 intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the six-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

 

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3.05        Compensation for Losses

 

Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense (other than any loss of Applicable Rate or other profit) incurred by it as a result of:

 

(a)            any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan that is subject to an Interest Period on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);

 

(b)            any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan subject to an Interest Period on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or

 

(c)            any assignment of a Loan subject to an Interest Period on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 11.13;

 

including any foreign exchange losses and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained or from the performance of any foreign exchange contract. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

 

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Term SOFR Loan made by it at the Term SOFR Rate used in determining the Term SOFR Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in Dollars for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Term SOFR Loan was in fact so funded.

 

3.06        Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

 

(a)            Designation of a Different Lending Office. Each Lender may make any Credit Extension to the Borrower through any Lending Office, provided that the exercise of this option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Credit Extension in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then at the request of the Borrower such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable and documented out of pocket costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

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(b)           Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, 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 3.01 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different lending office in accordance with Section 3.06(a), the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.13.

 

3.07        Survival.

 

All of the Loan Parties’ obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

GUARANTY

 

4.01        The Guaranty.

 

Each of the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally guarantees to each Lender and each other holder of the Obligations as hereinafter provided, as primary obligor and not as surety, the prompt payment of the Obligations in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) strictly in accordance with the terms thereof. The Guarantors hereby further agree that if any of the Obligations are not paid in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise), the Guarantors will, jointly and severally, promptly pay the same, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.

 

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other of the Loan Documents or the other documents relating to the Obligations, the obligations of each Guarantor under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not exceed an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render such obligations subject to avoidance under applicable Debtor Relief Laws.

 

4.02        Obligations Unconditional.

 

The obligations of the Guarantors under Section 4.01 are joint and several, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or other documents relating to the Obligations, or any substitution, release, impairment or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Obligations, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor (other than payment in full of the Obligations, other than contingent indemnification, tax gross up, expense reimbursement or yield protection obligations, in each case, for which no claim has been made), it being the intent of this Section 4.02 that the obligations of the Guarantors hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances. Each Guarantor agrees that such Guarantor shall have no right of subrogation, indemnity, reimbursement or contribution against the Borrower or any other Guarantor for amounts paid under this Article IV until such time as the Obligations have been paid in full and the Commitments have expired or terminated. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of any Guarantor hereunder, which shall remain absolute and unconditional as described above:

 

(a)            at any time or from time to time, without notice to any Guarantor, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;

 

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(b)            any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of any of the Loan Documents or other documents relating to the Obligations shall be done or omitted;

 

(c)            the maturity of any of the Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Obligations shall be modified, supplemented or amended in any respect, or any right under any of the Loan Documents or other documents relating to the Obligations shall be waived or any other guarantee of any of the Obligations or any security therefor shall be released, impaired or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;

 

(d)            any Lien granted to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent or any other holder of the Obligations as security for any of the Obligations shall fail to attach or be perfected; or

 

(e)            any of the Obligations shall be determined to be void or voidable (including, without limitation, for the benefit of any creditor of any Guarantor) or shall be subordinated to the claims of any Person (including, without limitation, any creditor of any Guarantor).

 

With respect to its obligations hereunder, each Guarantor hereby expressly waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that the Administrative Agent or any other holder of the Obligations exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against any Person under any of the Loan Documents or any other document relating to the Obligations, or against any other Person under any other guarantee of, or security for, any of the Obligations.

 

4.03        Reinstatement.

 

The obligations of each Guarantor under this Article IV shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of any Person in respect of the Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Obligations, whether as a result of any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, and each Guarantor agrees that it will indemnify the Administrative Agent and each other holder of the Obligations on demand for all reasonable and documented out of pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel) incurred by the Administrative Agent or such holder of the Obligations in connection with such rescission or restoration, including any such costs and expenses incurred in defending against any claim alleging that such payment constituted a preference, fraudulent transfer or similar payment under any Debtor Relief Law.

 

4.04        Certain Additional Waivers.

 

Each Guarantor agrees that such Guarantor shall have no right of recourse to security for the Obligations, except through the exercise of rights of subrogation pursuant to Section 4.02 and through the exercise of rights of contribution pursuant to Section 4.06.

 

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4.05        Remedies.

 

The Guarantors agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the other holders of the Obligations, on the other hand, the Obligations may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as specified in Section 9.02 (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances specified in Section 9.02) for purposes of Section 4.01 notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such declaration (or preventing the Obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as against any other Person and that, in the event of such declaration (or the Obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), the Obligations (whether or not due and payable by any other Person) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for purposes of Section 4.01. The Guarantors acknowledge and agree that their obligations hereunder are secured in accordance with the terms of the Collateral Documents and that the holders of the Obligations may exercise their remedies thereunder in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

4.06        Rights of Contribution.

 

The Guarantors hereby agree as among themselves that, if any Guarantor shall make an Excess Payment (as defined below), such Guarantor shall have a right of contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s Contribution Share (as defined below) of such Excess Payment. The payment obligations of any Guarantor under this Section 4.06 shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the Obligations until such time as the Obligations (other than contingent obligations for which no claim has been asserted) have been paid-in-full and the Commitments have terminated, and none of the Guarantors shall exercise any right or remedy under this Section 4.06 against any other Guarantor until such Obligations have been paid-in-full and the Commitments have terminated. For purposes of this Section 4.06, (a) “Excess Payment” shall mean the amount paid by any Guarantor in excess of its Ratable Share of any Guaranteed Obligations; (b) “Ratable Share” shall mean, for any Guarantor in respect of any payment of Obligations, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) as of the date of such payment of Guaranteed Obligations of (i) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value of all of its assets and properties exceeds the amount of all debts and liabilities of such Guarantor (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder) to (ii) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value of all assets and other properties of all of the Loan Parties exceeds the amount of all of the debts and liabilities (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of the Loan Parties hereunder) of the Loan Parties; provided, however, that, for purposes of calculating the Ratable Shares of the Guarantors in respect of any payment of Obligations, any Guarantor that became a Guarantor subsequent to the date of any such payment shall be deemed to have been a Guarantor on the date of such payment and the financial information for such Guarantor as of the date such Guarantor became a Guarantor shall be utilized for such Guarantor in connection with such payment; (c) “Contribution Share” shall mean, for any Guarantor in respect of any Excess Payment made by any other Guarantor, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) as of the date of such Excess Payment of (i) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value of all of its assets and properties exceeds the amount of all debts and liabilities of such Guarantor (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder) to (ii) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value of all assets and other properties of the Loan Parties other than the maker of such Excess Payment exceeds the amount of all of the debts and liabilities (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of the Loan Parties) of the Loan Parties other than the maker of such Excess Payment; provided, however, that, for purposes of calculating the Contribution Shares of the Guarantors in respect of any Excess Payment, any Guarantor that became a Guarantor subsequent to the date of any such Excess Payment shall be deemed to have been a Guarantor on the date of such Excess Payment and the financial information for such Guarantor as of the date such Guarantor became a Guarantor shall be utilized for such Guarantor in connection with such Excess Payment; and (d) “Guaranteed Obligations” shall mean the Obligations guaranteed by the Guarantors pursuant to this Article IV. This Section 4.06 shall not be deemed to affect any right of subrogation, indemnity, reimbursement or contribution that any Guarantor may have under Law against the Borrower in respect of any payment of Guaranteed Obligations.

 

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4.07        Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee.

 

The guarantee in this Article IV is a guaranty of payment and not of collection, is a continuing guarantee, and shall apply to the Obligations whenever arising.

 

4.08        Keepwell.

 

Each Loan Party that is a Qualified ECP Guarantor at the time the Guaranty in this Article IV by any Guarantor that is not then an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act (a “Specified Loan Party”) or the grant of a security interest under the Loan Documents by any such Specified Loan Party, in either case, becomes effective with respect to any Swap Obligation, hereby jointly and severally, absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support to each Specified Loan Party with respect to such Swap Obligation as may be needed by such Specified Loan Party from time to time to honor all of its obligations under the Loan Documents in respect of such Swap Obligation (but, in each case, only up to the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering such Qualified ECP Guarantor’s obligations and undertakings under this Article IV voidable under applicable Debtor Relief Laws, and not for any greater amount). The obligations and undertakings of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section shall remain in full force and effect until the Obligations (other than contingent obligations for which no claim has been asserted) have been paid in full. Each Guarantor intends this Section to constitute, and this Section shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each Specified Loan Party for all purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

ARTICLE V

 

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

5.01        Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.

 

The obligation of each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)            Receipt by the Administrative Agent (or in the case of possessory Collateral, Bank of America, N.A., as bailee) of the following, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

 

(i)            Executed Loan Documents. Executed counterparts of this Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and such other Loan Documents as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, in each case, properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party and each Lender.

 

(ii)           Security Documents. Counterparts of the Security Agreement executed by a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party together with:

 

(A)            UCC financing statements for each appropriate jurisdiction as is necessary, in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion, to perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Collateral, perfection in which is effectuated through the filing of a UCC financing statement;

 

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(B)             all certificates evidencing any certificated Equity Interests and all promissory notes evidencing Indebtedness, in each case, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and to the extent pledged to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement, together with duly executed in blank, undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer attached thereto (unless, with respect to the pledged Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary, such stock powers are deemed unnecessary by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion);

 

(C)             duly executed notices of grant of security interest in the form required by the Security Agreement as are necessary, in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion, to perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the United States registered and applied for Intellectual Property of the Loan Parties; and

 

(D)             a duly executed Perfection Certificate and copies of UCC, United States Patent and Trademark Office and United States Copyright Office, tax and judgment lien searches, each of a recent date listing all effective financing statements, lien notices or comparable documents that name any Loan Party as debtor and that are filed in those state and county jurisdictions in which any Loan Party is organized or maintains its principal place of business and such other searches that are required by the Perfection Certificate or that the Administrative Agent reasonably deems necessary or appropriate, none of which encumber the Collateral covered or intended to be covered by the security documents (other than Permitted Liens).

 

(iii)          Evidence of Insurance. Copies of insurance policies or certificates of insurance of the Loan Parties evidencing liability and casualty insurance meeting the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents, including, but not limited to, endorsements naming the Administrative Agent as additional insured (in the case of liability insurance) or lender loss payee (in the case of hazard insurance) on behalf of the Lenders.

 

(iv)          Closing Certificate. A certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that the conditions specified in Sections 5.02(a) and 5.02(b) have been satisfied.

 

(v)           Opinions of Counsel. Favorable opinions of (i) Jones Day and (ii) Carney Badley Spellman, P.S., addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, dated as of the Closing Date.

 

(vi)          Organization Documents, Resolutions, Etc.

 

(A)            copies of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party certified to be true and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, where applicable, and certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of such Loan Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date;

 

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(B)             such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party; and

 

(C)             such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and is validly existing, in good standing (to the extent applicable) and qualified to engage in business in its state of organization or formation.

 

(b)           The Lenders shall have received the Audited Financial Statements and the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Quarters ended August 26, 2018, November 25, 2018 and February 24, 2019 and the related statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarters.

 

(c)            Receipt by the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders of any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date.

 

(d)           The Borrower shall have paid all reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced at least two (2) Business Days 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).

 

(e)            The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that the Transactions shall have been consummated (or shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the funding of the Loans on the Closing Date).

 

(f)            The Borrower and each of the Guarantors shall have provided documentation and other information reasonably requested in writing at least 10 Business Days prior to the Closing Date by the Lenders as they reasonably determine is required by regulatory authorities in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act, in each case at least five Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

 

(g)           The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that the Borrower shall have entered into a membership agreement with AWFC that obligates the Borrower to acquire at least $1,000 of equity in AgWest Farm Credit, PCA (successor by merger to Northwest Farm Credit Services, PCA).

 

(h)           The Administrative Agent shall have received such consents, amendments or waivers, if any, that are necessary to prevent a default or event of default under the Existing Credit Agreement as a result of entering into this Agreement and the Loan Documents.

 

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Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 5.01, each Lender 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.

 

5.02        Conditions to all Credit Extensions.

 

The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)            The representations and warranties of each Loan Party contained in Article VI or any other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects (except when qualified as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case they shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date in all material respects (except when qualified as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in which case they shall be true and correct in all respects) (provided that this clause (a) shall apply to (x) any extensions of credit pursuant to an Incremental Term Loan only to the extent provided in Section 2.01(b) and the applicable Additional Credit Extension Amendment and (y) any Incremental Term Loan to be used to consummate a Limited Condition Acquisition as provided in Section 1.06).

 

(b)           No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof (provided that this clause (b) shall apply to (x) any extensions of credit pursuant to an Incremental Term Loan only to the extent provided in Section 2.01(b) and the applicable Additional Credit Extension Amendment and (y) any Incremental Term Loan to be used to consummate a Limited Condition Acquisition as provided in Section 1.06).

 

(c)            The Administrative Agent shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 5.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

The Loan Parties represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

6.01        Organization; Powers.

 

(a) (i) Each Loan Party and (ii) each other Restricted Subsidiary, except, in the case of clause (ii), where the failure, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent applicable) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) each of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and (c) except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required. Schedule 6.01 sets forth, as of the Closing Date, (i) a correct and complete list of the name and relationship to the Borrower of each and all of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries, (ii) a true and complete listing of each class of each Loan Party (other than the Borrower) and each Subsidiary’s authorized Equity Interests, of which all of such issued shares are (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such ownership interests) validly issued, outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable, and owned beneficially and of record by the Persons identified on Schedule 6.01, and (iii) the type of entity of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries. All of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests owned by any Loan Party have been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such ownership interests) duly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

6.02        Authorization; Enforceability.

 

The Transactions are within each Loan Party’s corporate, limited liability company or other organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company or other organizational action and, if required, stockholder action. The Loan Documents to which each Loan Party is a party have been duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party and constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable Debtor Relief Laws and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law.

 

6.03        Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts.

 

The Transactions (a) except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and except for filings necessary to perfect Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents and the filing of one or more current reports on Form 8-K with respect to the Transactions, (b) except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, will not violate any Law applicable to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (c) except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or its assets (except those as to which waivers or consents have been obtained), and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, except Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents and/or other Permitted Liens.

 

6.04        Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change.

 

(a)            The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders the Audited Financial Statements. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP.

 

(b)           Since May 30, 2021, there has been no development or event which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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6.05       Properties.

 

(a)            Each of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property, in each case, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and all such property is free of all Liens other than Permitted Liens.

 

(b)            The Borrower and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries owns, has the legal right to use or is licensed to use, Intellectual Property used or held for use in or otherwise necessary to its business as currently conducted except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, the operation of their respective businesses by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries does not infringe upon or violate the rights of any other Person except for such infringements or violations that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.06       Litigation and Environmental Matters.

 

(a)            There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing against the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) that could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) as of the Closing Date, that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.

 

(b)            Except for any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) none of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has received any written or actual notice of any claim or legal action with respect to any Environmental Liability or has knowledge or reason to believe that any such notice will be received or is threatened and (ii) none of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) 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 (2) has become subject to any Environmental Liability.

 

6.07       Compliance with Laws.

 

Each of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries is in compliance with all Laws applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.08       Investment Company Status.

 

Neither the Borrower nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

6.09       Taxes.

 

Each of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves to the extent required by GAAP or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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6.10       ERISA.

 

No ERISA Event has occurred within the previous five (5) years or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.11       Disclosure.

 

None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) or delivered hereunder, taken as a whole, contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed, when taken as a whole, to be reasonable at the time delivered. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 6.11, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that uncertainty is inherent in any forecasts and projections and that such forecasts and projections do not constitute guarantees of future performance and that actual results may differ from projected results and that such differences may be material.

 

6.12       Solvency.

 

(a)            As of the Closing Date, immediately after the consummation of the Transactions to occur on the Closing Date, the Loan Parties, taken as a whole on a consolidated basis, are and will be Solvent.

 

(b)            The Loan Parties on a consolidated basis, will not (i) have unreasonably small capital in relation to the business in which they are engaged or (ii) have incurred, or believe that they will have incurred after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Indebtedness beyond their ability to pay such Indebtedness as it becomes due.

 

6.13       Security Interests in Collateral.

 

As of the Closing Date and at all times thereafter except during a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period (and subject to the time period provided in Section 7.10(d)), the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents create legal and valid Liens on all the Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations, and, upon the filing of appropriate financing statements, the recordation of the applicable mortgages and, with respect to any Intellectual Property, filings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, or taking such other action as may be required for perfection under applicable Law, such Liens will constitute, to the extent required by the Loan Documents, perfected and continuing Liens on the Collateral, securing the Obligations, enforceable against the Borrower and/or Guarantors, as applicable, and all third parties, and having priority over all other Liens on the Collateral except (a) for Permitted Liens, (b) in the case of Liens perfected only by possession (including possession of any certificate of title) to the extent the Administrative Agent has not obtained or does not maintain possession of such Collateral and (c) to the extent that perfection of such security interests and Liens are not required by the Loan Documents. No representation or warranty is made under or with respect to the Laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction with respect to the perfection or priority of any security interest in the Equity Interests issued by any Foreign Subsidiary or any other Collateral located in any non-U.S. jurisdiction.

 

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6.14       Labor Disputes.

 

There are no labor controversies, strikes, lockouts or slowdowns pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) which could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.

 

6.15       No Default.

 

No Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

6.16       Federal Reserve Regulations.

 

No part of the proceeds of any Credit Extension have been used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the regulations of the FRB, including Regulations T, U, and X.

 

6.17       OFAC; Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

No Loan Party nor any Subsidiary of a Loan Party, nor to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any director, officer, employee or Affiliate thereof is currently the subject of any Sanctions or located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction in violation of Sanctions. No Credit Extension, nor the proceeds from any Credit Extension, has been used, directly or indirectly, to lend, contribute, provide or has otherwise made available to fund any activity or business of any Person who is the subject of any Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in any violation by any Person (including any Lender, the Arranger or the Administrative Agent) of Sanctions. The Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and other applicable anti-corruption laws in all material respects and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures intended to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

 

6.18       Insurance.

 

The properties of the Loan Parties and their Restricted Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as the Borrower believes appropriate in the exercise of its reasonable business judgment (including the use of self-insurance plans). The property and general liability insurance coverage of the Borrower and the Guarantors as in effect on the Closing Date is outlined as to carrier, policy number, expiration date, type and amount on Schedule 6.18.

 

6.19       Affected Financial Institutions.

 

No Loan Party is an Affected Financial Institution.

 

6.20       Covered Entities.

 

No Loan Party is a Covered Entity.

 

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ARTICLE VII

 

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation (other than contingent obligations for which no claim has been asserted) hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

7.01       Financial Statements and Other Information.

 

The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent (for delivery to each Lender):

 

(a)            by no later than the date which occurs 90 days (or 100 days if permitted by SEC requirements) after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, (i) the Borrower’s audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous Fiscal Year, all reported on by independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception (except for qualifications or exceptions resulting from pending maturity of Indebtedness or actual or prospective breach of a financial covenant)) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; and (ii) at any time that the Borrower has any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, a consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case as at the end of such Fiscal Year, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding consolidated figures for the preceding Fiscal Year, accompanied by a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower, which certificate shall state that such financial statements fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in accordance with GAAP (except, in the case of the financial statements of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, for the exclusion of Unrestricted Subsidiaries), as at the end of and for such Fiscal Year.

 

(b)            by no later than the date which occurs 45 days (or 50 days if permitted by SEC requirements) after the end of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters of the Borrower, the unaudited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income and cash flows for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such Fiscal Quarter and the then elapsed portion of the Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case, in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous Fiscal Year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end and audit adjustments and the absence of certain footnotes;

 

(c)            concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a Compliance Certificate executed by a Financial Officer of the Borrower (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred during the period covered thereby and is continuing and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Section 8.11, and (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 6.04 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate (which delivery may, unless the Administrative Agent requests executed originals, be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes);

 

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(d)            promptly after the same become publicly available, to the extent not available by electronic or other readily accessible means, copies of all periodic and other material reports, proxy statements and other non-confidential materials filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the SEC, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be;

 

(e)            promptly (in any event, within 30 days, or such later date as determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) thereafter, written notice of any change in a Loan Party’s name, jurisdiction of formation or form of organization; and

 

(f)            promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary as the Administrative Agent or any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) may reasonably request, including, without limitation, pursuant to the PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation (provided that no such information shall be required to be provided if providing such information would violate confidentiality agreements or result in a loss of attorney-client privilege or a claim of attorney work product with respect to such information so long as the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that such information is being withheld and the reason therefor).

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a), 7.01(b) or 7.01(d) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 11.02; 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 upon its request to the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above.

 

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on Debt Domain, IntraLinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar, or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean 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 Arranger and the Lenders to treat the Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent the Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger shall be entitled to treat the Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated as “Public Side Information.”

 

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7.02       Notices of Material Events.

 

The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent prompt written notice (in any event, within five Business Days) upon any Responsible Officer of the Borrower obtaining actual knowledge thereof, of the following:

 

(a)            the occurrence of any Default;

 

(b)            the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(c)            the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(d)            the occurrence any casualty or other insured damage to any material portion of the Collateral or the commencement of any action or proceeding for the taking of any material portion of the Collateral or interest therein under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding; and

 

(e)            any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

 

7.03       Existence; Conduct of Business.

 

The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, (a) do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, maintain, renew and keep in full force and effect (i) its legal existence and (ii) the rights, qualifications, licenses, permits, franchises, governmental authorizations, Intellectual Property rights, licenses and permits necessary in the conduct of its business, except, in each case, where failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 8.03 and (b) carry on and conduct its business in substantially the same manner and in substantially the same fields of enterprise as it is presently conducted (and those ancillary, complementary or reasonably related thereto).

 

7.04       Payment of Obligations.

 

The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, pay or discharge all Material Indebtedness and all other material liabilities and obligations, including material Taxes, before the same shall become delinquent or in default (subject, where applicable, to specified grace periods), except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto to the extent required by GAAP or (b) the failure to make payment could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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7.05       Maintenance of Properties.

 

Except as would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, the Borrower will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

 

7.06       Books and Records; Inspection Rights.

 

The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, (i) keep proper books of record and account in which complete entries in accordance with GAAP are made of all material dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities and (ii) permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers, all upon reasonable prior notice at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested and at the expense of the Borrower; provided that, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no more than one such inspection shall be conducted in any Fiscal Year. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7.06, none of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries will be required to disclose or permit the inspection or discussion of, any document, information or other matter (i) that constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) is prohibited by Law or any binding agreement or (iii) that is subject to attorney client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product.

 

7.07       Compliance with Laws.

 

The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, comply with all Laws applicable to it or its property (including, without limitation, ERISA and Environmental Laws), except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.08       Use of Proceeds.

 

The proceeds of the Credit Extension of (a) the Term A Loan will be used to repay $300,000,000 in principal of the Term A Loan outstanding under (and as defined in) the Existing Credit Agreement on the Closing Date, (b) the Term A-2 Loan will be used to finance ongoing working capital needs, capital expenditures and other general business purposes and (c) the Term A-3 Loan will be used to finance ongoing working capital needs, capital expenditures, Permitted Acquisitions and other general business purposes No part of the proceeds of any Credit Extension will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the regulations of the FRB, including Regulations T, U and X.

 

7.09       Insurance.

 

The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, maintain with financially sound and reputable carriers insurance in such amounts and against such risks (including loss or damage by fire and other normally insured perils and loss in transit; business interruption; and general liability) and such other hazards, as the Borrower believes appropriate in the exercise of its reasonable business judgment (including the use of self-insurance plans). The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent, upon request thereof, information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained. Except during a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period (and subject to the time period provided in Section 7.10(d)), the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent endorsements (x) to all “All Risk” physical damage insurance policies on all of the Borrower’s and Guarantors’ tangible personal property and assets and business interruption insurance policies naming the Administrative Agent lender loss payee, and (y) to all general liability and other liability policies naming the Administrative Agent an additional insured.

 

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7.10       Subsidiary Guarantors; Pledges; Collateral; Further Assurances.

 

(a)            Except during a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period, no later than thirty (30) days (or such later date as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent) after any Person (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) becomes a Material Restricted Subsidiary or any Material Restricted Subsidiary that was an Excluded Subsidiary ceases to be an Excluded Subsidiary, the Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with written notice thereof and shall cause each such Subsidiary to deliver to the Administrative Agent a Joinder Agreement pursuant to which such Subsidiary agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement as a Guarantor and the Collateral Documents, such Joinder Agreement to be accompanied by appropriate corporate resolutions, other corporate documentation and legal opinions to the extent reasonably requested by, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)            Except during a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period (and subject to the time period provided in clause (d) below), the Borrower will cause, and will cause each Guarantor to cause, all existing and newly-acquired owned property other than Excluded Property to be subject at all times (subject to the time periods in clause (a) above and (d) below) to first priority, perfected Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations to secure the Obligations to the extent required by and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Collateral Documents, subject in any case to Permitted Liens.

 

(c)            Without limiting the foregoing, except during a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period (and subject to the time period provided in clause (d) below), the Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Administrative Agent such documents, agreements and instruments, and will take or cause to be taken such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements and other documents and such other actions or deliveries of the type required by Section 5.01, as applicable), which may be required by law or which the Administrative Agent may, from time to time, reasonably request to carry out the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to ensure perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Collateral Documents, all at the reasonable expense of the Borrower.

 

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(d)            If a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period shall terminate, all Liens granted or purported to be granted in any Loan Document shall be automatically and immediately reinstated and the Loan Parties shall, within 30 days following termination of such Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period (or within such longer period as to which the Administrative Agent may consent) (the “Collateral Reinstatement Date”) take all actions as are reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to establish the Guarantees and secure the Obligations (and perfect such security interest) by first priority Liens (subject in any case to Permitted Liens) in favor of the Administrative Agent on all assets of the Loan Parties other than Excluded Property and the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to enter into any new Collateral Documents in connection with any Collateral Reinstatement Date.

 

(e)            Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7.10 to the contrary, so long as no Default has occurred and is then continuing or would result therefrom and the Borrower has demonstrated compliance on a Pro Forma Basis (after giving effect to such redesignation) with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.11, the Borrower may from time to time designate or change any of its Subsidiaries’ status as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date shall constitute an investment by the Borrower therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the fair market value as determined in good faith by the Borrower of the Borrower’s or its Subsidiary’s (as applicable) investment therein.

 

7.11       Farm Credit Equities and Security.

 

(a)            So long as (i) any Farm Credit Lender is a Lender hereunder and (ii) such Farm Credit Lender has notified the Borrower that it is eligible to receive patronage distributions directly from such Farm Credit Lender or one of its Affiliates on account of the Loans made by such Farm Credit Lender hereunder, the Borrower may acquire equity in such Farm Credit Lender in such amounts and at such times as such Farm Credit Lender may require in accordance with such Farm Credit Lender’s bylaws and capital plan (as each may be amended from time to time), except that the maximum amount of equity that the Borrower shall be required pursuant to this sentence to purchase in such Farm Credit Lender in connection with the Loans made by such Farm Credit Lender shall not exceed the maximum amount required by such bylaws and capital plan on the Closing Date (or, if applicable, at the time such Farm Credit Lender becomes a Lender hereunder via assignment to the extent the Borrower has consented to such Farm Credit Lender becoming a Lender). The Borrower acknowledges receipt, as of the Closing Date and to the extent applicable, of a copy of (i) each such Farm Credit Lender’s most recent annual report, (ii) each such Farm Credit Lender’s Notice to Prospective Stockholders (or the applicable notice document) and (iii) each such Farm Credit Lender’s bylaws and capital plan (and, if applicable, any related loan or membership application), which describe the nature of all of the Borrower’s equity in each such Farm Credit Lender acquired in connection with its patronage loan from such Farm Credit Lenders (the “Farm Credit Equities”) as well as capitalization requirements, and agrees to be bound by the terms thereof.

 

(b)            Each party hereto acknowledges that each relevant Farm Credit Lender’s bylaws and capital plan (as each may be amended from time to time) shall govern (i) the rights and obligations of the parties with respect to the Farm Credit Equities and any patronage refunds or other distributions made on account thereof or on account of the Borrower’s patronage with such Farm Credit Lender, (ii) the Borrower’s eligibility for patronage distributions from such Farm Credit Lender (in the form of Farm Credit Equities and cash) and (iii) patronage distributions, if any, in the event of a sale of a participation interest. Each Farm Credit Lender reserves the right to assign or sell participations in all or any part of its Commitments or outstanding Loans hereunder on a non-patronage basis.

 

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(c)            Each party hereto acknowledges that each Farm Credit Lender has a statutory first Lien pursuant to the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (as amended from time to time) on all Farm Credit Equities that the Borrower may now own or hereafter acquire in such Farm Credit Lender, which statutory Lien shall be for such Farm Credit Lender’s sole and exclusive benefit. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, the Farm Credit Equities shall not constitute security for the Obligations due to any other holder thereof. To the extent that any of the Loan Documents create a Lien on the Farm Credit Equities or on patronage accrued by the relevant Farm Credit Lender for the account of the Borrower (including, in each case, proceeds thereof), such Lien shall be for such Farm Credit Lender’s sole and exclusive benefit and shall not be subject to pro rata sharing hereunder. Neither the Farm Credit Equities nor any accrued patronage shall be offset against the Obligations except that, in the event of an Event of Default, the relevant Farm Credit Lender may elect, solely at its discretion, to apply the cash portion of any patronage distribution or retirement of equity to amounts owed to such Farm Credit Lender under this Agreement, whether or not such amounts are currently due and payable. The Borrower acknowledges that any corresponding income or capital gains tax liability associated with such application is the sole responsibility of the Borrower. No Farm Credit Lender shall have any obligation to retire its Farm Credit Equities upon any Default or any other default by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, or at any other time, either for application to the Obligations or otherwise.

 

7.12       Post-Closing.

 

Take all necessary actions to satisfy the items described on Schedule 7.12 (as may be updated pursuant to this Agreement) within the applicable period of time specified in such Schedule (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion).

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (other than contingent obligations for which no claim has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

 

8.01       Indebtedness.

 

The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, incur or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a)            Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

 

(b)            Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date and set forth in Schedule 8.01 and Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

 

(c)            Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Restricted Subsidiary and of any Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any Indebtedness owing by a Loan Party to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party shall be subordinated to the Obligations on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(d)            Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets (whether or not constituting purchase money Indebtedness), including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any of the foregoing; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this clause (d) after the Third Amendment Effective Date shall not exceed the greater of (i) $425,000,000 and (ii) 10.0% of Consolidated Total Assets (as shown on or determined in accordance with the most recent financial statements of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b) prior to the date of incurrence thereof) at any time outstanding;

 

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(e)            obligations in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing;

 

(f)            (i) Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that (x) both immediately before and after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, to the extent (A) such Indebtedness is secured, the pro forma Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 3.50 to 1.00 and (B) such Indebtedness is unsecured, the Borrower shall be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.11 on a Pro Forma Basis, (y) other than in respect of an aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness outstanding at any one time after the Third Amendment Effective Date not to exceed the greater of (A) $650,000,000 and (B) 100.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period (the “Inside Maturity Basket”), such indebtedness shall have a maturity date no earlier than 91 days following the then Latest Maturity Date (as of the date such Indebtedness was incurred); and (z) such Indebtedness either (A) does not contain any financial maintenance covenants or (B) any financial maintenance covenants contained in such Indebtedness either (I) do not apply prior to the Latest Maturity Date or (II) are not, taken as a whole, materially more restrictive on the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower) than those set forth in Section 8.11 unless the Borrower enters into an amendment to this Agreement with the Administrative Agent (which amendment shall not require the consent of any other Lender) to add such more restrictive financial maintenance covenants for the benefit of the Lenders and (ii) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the foregoing; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness incurred after the Third Amendment Effective Date pursuant to this clause (f) and outstanding at any one time by Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are not Loan Parties shall not exceed the greater of (x) $650,000,000 and (y) 100.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period;

 

(g)            Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition (provided that such Indebtedness was not incurred by such Person in connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary) so long as, immediately after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition, the Borrower shall be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.11 on a Pro Forma Basis and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the foregoing;

 

(h)            Indebtedness in respect of Swap Contracts; provided that such Swap Contracts are (or were) entered into in for the purpose of mitigating risks associated with fluctuations in interest rates, foreign exchange rates or commodity prices, and not for purposes of speculation;

 

(i)            Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are not Loan Parties after the Third Amendment Effective Date in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any one time not to exceed the greater of (i) $525,000,000 and (ii) 12.5% of Consolidated Total Assets (as shown on or determined in accordance with the most recent financial statements of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b) prior to the date of incurrence thereof);

 

(j)            to the extent constituting Indebtedness, indemnification and non-compete obligations or adjustments in respect of the purchase price (including earn-outs and other contingent deferred payments) in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or sale or disposition permitted by Section 8.05;

 

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(k)            Indebtedness in respect of workers’ compensation claims, property casualty or liability insurance, take-or-pay obligations in supply arrangements, self-insurance obligations, performance, bid and surety bonds and completion guaranties and similar arrangements, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(l)            Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business against insufficient funds, so long as such Indebtedness is promptly repaid;

 

(m)           other Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred after the Third Amendment Effective Date in a principal amount up to but not exceeding in the aggregate outstanding on the date such Indebtedness is incurred the greater of (i) $525,000,000 and (ii) 12.5% of Consolidated Total Assets (as shown on or determined in accordance with the most recent financial statements of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b) prior to the date of incurrence thereof) at such time;

 

(n)            the Senior Notes and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the foregoing;

 

(o)            Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(p)            Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with cash pooling arrangements and cash management incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of netting services and similar arrangements in each case in connection with cash management and deposit accounts, but only to the extent, with respect to any such arrangements, that the total amount of deposits subject to such arrangements equals or exceeds the total amount of overdrafts or similar obligations subject thereto;

 

(q)            Indebtedness consisting of unpaid insurance premiums owing to insurance companies and insurance brokers incurred in connection with the financing of insurance premiums in the ordinary course of business;

 

(r)            Guarantees of Indebtedness otherwise permitted by this Section 8.01 and of other obligations otherwise permitted hereunder;

 

(s)            $1,000,000,000 plus the principal amount of any “Incremental Equivalent Debt”, “Incremental Revolving Commitments”, “Incremental Term Loan Commitments” and/or “Revolving Commitment Increase” (as such terms are defined in the Existing Credit Agreement as in effect on the Third Amendment Effective Date) funded pursuant to Section 2.01(d) of the Existing Credit Agreement as in effect on the Third Amendment Effective Date without waiver of any requirements thereof (and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness with respect thereto);

 

(t)            Incremental Equivalent Debt in an aggregate principal amount measured at the time of incurrence not to exceed the then remaining Incremental Amount; provided that to the extent (A) such Indebtedness is secured, the pro forma Consolidated Secured Net Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 3.50 to 1.00 and (B) such Indebtedness is unsecured, the Borrower shall be in compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with Section 8.11 immediately after giving effect to such incurrence (in each case, excluding the cash proceeds of such Incremental Commitments from cash and cash equivalents and treating any Incremental Revolving Commitments (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) as fully drawn);

 

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(u)            any Refinancing Debt Securities and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the foregoing; and

 

(v)            Indebtedness under tri-party guarantee agreements (guaranteeing Indebtedness of third-party suppliers) in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any one time not to exceed the greater of (i) $150,000,000 and (ii) 25.0% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period.

 

The accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness, the payment of dividends on Disqualified Equity Interests in the form of additional shares of Disqualified Equity Interests, accretion or amortization of original issue discount or liquidation preferences and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the applicable amount of any Indebtedness will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 8.01. The principal amount of any non-interest bearing Indebtedness or other discount security constituting Indebtedness at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

This Agreement will not treat (1) unsecured Indebtedness as subordinated or junior in right of payment to secured Indebtedness merely because it is unsecured or (2) senior Indebtedness as subordinated or junior in right of payment to any other senior Indebtedness merely because it has a junior priority with respect to the same collateral.

 

Further, for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 8.01, if an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) permitted by this Section 8.01, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, classify or divide such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 8.01 and will be entitled to only include the amount and type of such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in one of the above clauses (or any portion thereof) and such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) shall be treated as having been incurred pursuant to only such clause or clauses (or any portion thereof); provided, that all Indebtedness outstanding under this Agreement shall at all times be deemed to have been incurred pursuant to clause (a) of this Section 8.01.

 

8.02       Liens.

 

The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, except:

 

(a)            Liens created pursuant to any Loan Document to secure Obligations;

 

(b)            Permitted Encumbrances;

 

(c)            any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary existing on the Closing Date and set forth in Schedule 8.02; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any replacements of such property or assets and accessions thereto and proceeds thereof, and in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary, after-acquired property of such Restricted Subsidiary of the same type and consistent with that contemplated at the time such original Lien was created) and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the Closing Date and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

 

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(d)            any Farm Credit Lender’s statutory Lien in its Farm Credit Equities;

 

(e)            Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.01(d), (ii) except in the case of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (iii) except in the case of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and the financing thereof and (iv) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(f)            any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date prior to the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary (other than any replacements of such property or assets and accessions thereto and proceeds thereof, and in the case of any acquired Restricted Subsidiary, after-acquired property of such Restricted Subsidiary of the same type and consistent with that contemplated at the time such original Lien was created) and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

 

(g)            Liens upon real or personal property leased under operating leases in the ordinary course of business by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in favor of the lessor created at the inception of the lease transaction, securing obligations of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries under or in respect of such lease and extending to or covering only the property subject to such lease and improvements thereon;

 

(h)            Liens of sellers or creditors of sellers of farm products encumbering such farm products when sold to any of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the Food Security Act of 1985 or pursuant to similar state laws to the extent such Liens may be deemed to extend to the assets of such Person;

 

(i)            protective Uniform Commercial Code filings with respect to personal property leased by, or consigned to, any of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(j)            Liens upon Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

 

(k)            Liens in favor of a Receivables Financing SPC or Receivables Financier created or deemed to exist in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing (including, without limitation, any related filings of any financing statements, any Liens on deposit and securities accounts maintained in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing and any Liens on the Equity Interests of a Receivables Financing SPC), but only to the extent that any such Lien relates to the applicable Transferred Assets actually sold, contributed, financed or otherwise conveyed or pledged pursuant to such transaction;

 

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(l)             Liens on Collateral securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.01(f)(i)(x)(a), (t), and (u); provided that such Liens are subject to a Permitted Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(m)            normal and customary rights of setoff upon deposits of cash in favor of banks or other depository institutions;

 

(n)            Liens of sellers of goods to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries arising under Article 2 of the UCC or similar provisions of applicable law in the ordinary course of business, covering only the goods sold and securing only the unpaid purchase price for such goods and related expenses;

 

(o)            Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure the payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

 

(p)            Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made in connection with an investment permitted by Section 8.04;

 

(q)            transfer restrictions, purchase options, calls or similar rights of third-party joint venture partners with respect to Equity Interests of joint venture entities;

 

(r)            leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses and Liens on the property covered thereby, in each case, granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not (i) interfere in any material respect with the business of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, taken as a whole, or (ii) secure any Indebtedness;

 

(s)            Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business permitted by this Agreement;

 

(t)            Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(u)            Liens that are contractual rights of set-off or rights of pledge (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks or other deposit-taking financial institutions and not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

 

(v)            Liens on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder;

 

(w)            Liens consisting of an agreement to dispose of any property in a Disposition permitted hereunder, to the extent that such Disposition would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

 

(x)             Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;

 

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(y)            Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and the proceeds thereof securing such Person’s obligations in respect of documentary letters of credit or banker’s acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or goods;

 

(z)            Liens on property subject to any sale and leaseback transaction permitted hereunder and general intangibles related thereto;

 

(aa)          other Liens on assets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries securing other obligations of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of $525,000,000 and 12.5% of Consolidated Total Assets (as shown on or determined in accordance with the most recent financial statements of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b) prior to the date of creation thereof) at any time outstanding;

 

(bb)          Liens on assets of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.01(i);

 

(cc)          Liens securing Swap Contracts in a net amount not to exceed $50,000,000; and

 

(dd)          Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.01(s), so long as the Liens securing such Indebtedness are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 8.02, if a Lien meets, in whole or in part, the criteria of one or more of the categories of Liens (or any portion thereof) permitted in this Section 8.02, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, classify or divide such Lien (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 8.02 and will be entitled to only include the amount and type of such Lien or liability secured by such Lien (or any portion thereof) in one of the above clauses and such Lien will be treated as being incurred pursuant to only such clause or clauses (or any portion thereof).

 

8.03       Fundamental Changes.

 

(a)            The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be continuing: (i) any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge into a Loan Party in a transaction in which such Loan Party is the surviving entity, (ii) any Guarantor may merge into or consolidate with any Person in a transaction in which the surviving entity is or becomes a Guarantor; provided that any such merger or consolidation involving a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by Section 8.04, (iii) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor may (x) liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders or (y) merge or consolidate with any other Person (other than a Loan Party), provided that (1) a Restricted Subsidiary is the surviving Person and (2) any such merger or consolidation involving a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by Section 8.04; (iv) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may merge with any other Person in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, provided that (x) if the Borrower is a party to such transaction, the Borrower is the continuing or surviving corporation and (y) if a Guarantor is a party to such transaction, such Guarantor is the surviving Person; and (v) any permitted sale or disposition under Section 8.05 may be effectuated pursuant to a merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution.

 

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(b)            The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, (i) engage to any substantial extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the Closing Date and ancillary, complementary or reasonably related thereto or (ii) change its Fiscal Year from the basis in effect on the Closing Date or with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary that was acquired or formed after the Closing Date, from the basis in effect on the date such entity became a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (x) any Restricted Subsidiary may change its fiscal year to conform to the Fiscal Year of the Borrower and (y) with the consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may change their Fiscal Year to end on December 31 so long as, if requested by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have entered into an amendment to this Agreement with the Administrative Agent (which amendment shall not require the consent of any other Lender) to ensure that such change in Fiscal Year does not materially adversely affect the rights of the Lenders or the Borrower under this Agreement and to otherwise appropriately update the terms hereof in light of such change in Fiscal Year and fiscal periods.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 8.03 shall prohibit the consummation of the Transaction.

 

8.04        Investments, Loans, Advances and Acquisitions.

 

The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a Loan Party and a wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger) any Equity Interests, evidences of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, make or permit to exist any investment (including by way of Guarantees) or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit (whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise), except:

 

(a)            investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;

 

(b)            investments in existence on the Closing Date and described in Schedule 8.04 and amendments, extensions and renewals thereof that do not increase the amount thereof and investments reflected on Schedule 6.01;

 

(c)            operating deposit accounts with depository institutions and other ordinary course cash management;

 

(d)            investments received in connection with a disposition permitted under Section 8.05(h) or (i);

 

(e)            purchases of inventory and other assets to be sold or used in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(f)             investments by (i) any Loan Party in any Loan Party, (ii) any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary and (iii) any Loan Party in any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party; provided that the aggregate principal amount of investments made after the Third Amendment Effective Date pursuant to this clause (iii) shall not exceed the greater of $525,000,000 and 12.5% of Consolidated Total Assets (as shown on or determined in accordance with the most recent financial statements of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b) prior to the date of the making thereof) at any time outstanding;

 

(g)            loans and advances to employees in the ordinary course of business not exceeding $10,000,000 in the aggregate;

 

(h)            investments in the form of Swap Contracts permitted by Section 8.01(h);

 

(i)             deposits to secure bids, tenders, utilities, vendors, leases, licenses, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other deposits of like nature arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(j)            investments by any Receivables Financing SPC, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in a Receivables Financing SPC in each case made in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing, and loans permitted by the applicable Permitted Receivables Financing that are made by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary to a Receivables Financing SPC or by a Receivables Financing SPC to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection therewith;

 

(k)            the Farm Credit Equities and any other stock or securities of, or investments in, a Farm Credit Lender or its investment services or programs;

 

(l)             investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors or other disputes with customers or suppliers and investments consisting of the prepayment of suppliers and service providers on customary terms in the ordinary course of business;

 

(m)           Guarantees of Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.01 and of other obligations otherwise permitted hereunder;

 

(n)            investments in prepaid expenses, utility and workers’ compensation, performance and other similar deposits, each as entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(o)            investments consisting of the licensing, sublicensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

 

(p)            investments to the extent made with (i) Qualified Equity Interests of the Borrower or (ii) the cash proceeds of any issuance of Equity Interests by the Borrower so long as such investment is consummated within 90 days of such issuance of Equity Interests (provided that such cash proceeds shall not be included in the Available Amount);

 

(q)            additional investments made after the Third Amendment Effective Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of $525,000,000 and 12.5% of Consolidated Total Assets (as shown on or determined in accordance with the most recent financial statements of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b) prior to the date of the making thereof) at any time outstanding;

 

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(r)             the Transactions and Permitted Acquisitions;

 

(s)            other investments so long as, on a Pro Forma Basis immediately after the making of any such investment, the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio does not exceed 4.50 to 1.00;

 

(t)             subject to the absence of any continuing Event of Default and compliance by the Borrower on a Pro Forma Basis with the covenants set forth in Section 8.11 (each in accordance with Section 1.06, if applicable), investments from the Available Amount; and

 

(u)            investments made during a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period.

 

For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any investment shall be the amount actually invested (with respect to any investment made other than in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents, valued at the fair market value thereof (as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith) at the time of the making thereof), without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such investment, less any amount repaid, returned, distributed or otherwise received in respect of any investment, in each case, in cash, and the amount of any investment constituting a Guarantee shall be determined as stated in the definition of “Guarantee.”

 

Any investment in any Person other than a Loan Party that is otherwise permitted by this Section 8.04 may be made through intermediate investments in Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties and such intermediate investments shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the outstanding amount of investments pursuant to any clause set forth above.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 8.04, if an investment meets, in whole or in part, the criteria of one or more of the categories of investments (or any portion thereof) permitted in this Section 8.04, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, classify or divide such investment (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 8.04 and will be entitled to only include the amount and type of such investment (or any portion thereof) in one of the above clauses and such investment will be treated as being incurred pursuant to only such clause or clauses (or any portion thereof).

 

8.05        Asset Sales.

 

The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, sell, transfer, lease, license otherwise dispose of any asset, including any Equity Interest of any Restricted Subsidiary owned by it, involving aggregate consideration in excess of $1,000,000 (any such transaction a “Disposition”), except:

 

(a)            any Specified Sale;

 

(b)            Dispositions of assets (i) among the Borrower and the Guarantors and (ii) from any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor to any Loan Party or another Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(c)            any sale of Transferred Assets by such Person to a Receivables Financing SPC and subsequently to a Receivables Financier in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing;

 

(d)            sale and leaseback transactions permitted by Section 8.06;

 

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(e)            to the extent constituting a Disposition, the creation of Liens, the making of investments, the consummation of fundamental changes and the making of Restricted Payments permitted by Sections 8.02, 8.03 (other than Section 8.03(a)(iv)), 8.04 and 8.07, respectively;

 

(f)             to the extent constituting a Disposition, the unwinding of any Swap Contract pursuant to its terms;

 

(g)            transfers of condemned real property as a result of the exercise of “eminent domain” or other similar policies to the respective Governmental Authority or agency that has condemned such property (whether by deed in lieu of condemnation or otherwise), and transfers of properties that have been subject to a casualty to the respective insurer of such property as part of an insurance settlement;

 

(h)            Dispositions of other assets so long as the aggregate amount thereof sold or otherwise disposed of in any single Fiscal Year by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall not have a book value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) in excess of ten percent (10%) (or fifteen percent (15%) during any Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period) of the Consolidated Total Assets owned on the later of the Closing Date or the last day of the immediately prior Fiscal Year; provided that to the extent any such Disposition or series of related Dispositions involve assets or property with an aggregate fair market value in excess of $10,000,000 (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such Disposition, (ii) such Disposition is for at least fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) and (iii) the consideration received by the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary for such Disposition shall consist of at least 75% cash and Cash Equivalent (it being understood that for purposes of this clause (iii) the following shall be deemed to be cash and Cash Equivalents (x) any liabilities relating to any asset or of any Restricted Subsidiary that is subject to such Disposition (other than liabilities that are expressly subordinated to the Obligations) to the extent that the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries are released from any liability thereunder, (y) any note or security that is sold for cash and Cash Equivalents by the Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary within 180 days following the date of receipt thereof and (z) Designated Non-Cash Consideration in an aggregate amount for all such Dispositions not to exceed $50,000,000 at any time outstanding (without giving effect to any write-down or write–off thereof));

 

(i)             non-exclusive licenses or sublicenses of Intellectual Property in the ordinary course of business and abandonment or lapse of Intellectual Property that is, in the reasonable business judgment of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiary, no longer used in or useful in the conduct of their respective businesses; and

 

(j)             sales of non-core assets acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition.

 

8.06        Sale and Leaseback Transactions.

 

The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or 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 sold or transferred, except for (i) any such transactions consummated within 180 days of the acquisition by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the asset subject to such sale and leaseback and (ii) other such transactions involving assets with an aggregate fair market value not to exceed $150,000,000.

 

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8.07        Restricted Payments.

 

The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, make any Restricted Payment, except:

 

(a)            Restricted Payments payable solely in Qualified Equity Interests;

 

(b)            Restricted Payments made by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower to any Loan Party (directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries) and, in the case of dividends or other distributions paid by Subsidiaries, ratably (or on a more favorable basis from the perspective of the Borrower) to other Persons that own the applicable class of Equity Interests in such Subsidiary;

 

(c)            in the case of a Receivables Financing SPC, to make Restricted Payments to its owners to the extent of net income or other assets available therefor under applicable law;

 

(d)            the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may redeem or repurchase Equity Interests or other stock-based awards under any stock option plan, incentive plan, compensation plan or other benefit plan from officers, employees and directors of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (or their estates, spouses or former spouses) upon the death, permanent disability, retirement or termination of employment of any such Person or otherwise, so long as (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (ii) the aggregate amount of cash used to effect Restricted Payments pursuant to this clause (d) in any Fiscal Year of the Borrower does not exceed the sum of (y) $15,000,000 plus (z) the net cash proceeds of any “key-man” life insurance policies of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that have not been used to make any repurchases, redemptions or payments under this Section 8.07(d);

 

(e)            repurchases of Equity Interests or other stock-based awards under any stock option plan, incentive plan, compensation plan or other benefit plan that occur or are deemed to occur upon the exercise of any such awards to the extent representing a portion of the exercise price of such award or the withholding taxes applicable to such award;

 

(f)            to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may enter into and consummate transactions expressly permitted by Section 8.04;

 

(g)            the Borrower may purchase fractional shares of its Equity Interests arising out of stock dividends, splits, combinations or business combinations (provided such transaction shall not be for the purpose of evading this limitation);

 

(h)            the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments to consummate the Transactions;

 

(i)            Restricted Payments made by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to any other Restricted Subsidiary and, in the case of dividends or other distributions paid by Subsidiaries, ratably (or on a more favorable basis from the perspective of the Borrower) to other Persons that own the applicable class of Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(j)            the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make other Restricted Payments from the Available Amount so long as immediately after giving effect thereto on a Pro Forma Basis, (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and/or be continuing or be directly or indirectly caused as a result thereof and (ii) the Borrower is in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.11;

 

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(k)            the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make other Restricted Payments using the proceeds of a substantially concurrent offering of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Borrower; provided that such proceeds shall not be included in the Available Amount;

 

(l)             the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make other Restricted Payments after the Third Amendment Effective Date in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $425,000,000 and (y) 10.0% of Consolidated Total Assets (as shown on or determined in accordance with the most recent financial statements of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b) prior to the date of the making thereof) so long as immediately after giving effect thereto on a Pro Forma Basis, no Event of Default shall have occurred and/or be continuing or be directly or indirectly caused as a result thereof;

 

(m)           the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make other Restricted Payments so long as at the time of the making thereof and after giving effect thereto on a Pro Forma Basis, (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and/or be continuing or be directly or indirectly caused as a result thereof and (ii) the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 4.25 to 1.00; and

 

(n)            the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make other Restricted Payments during a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and/or be continuing or be directly or indirectly caused as a result thereof.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the foregoing provisions of Section 8.07 will not prohibit the payment of any Restricted Payment or the consummation of any redemption, purchase, defeasance or other payment within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof or the giving of notice, as applicable, if at the date of declaration or the giving of such notice such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Section 8.07 (it being understood that such Restricted Payment shall be deemed to have been made on the date of declaration or notice for purposes of such provision).

 

8.08        Transactions with Affiliates.

 

Except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, the Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly enter into any transaction with any Affiliate (other than (x) transactions among the Borrower and/or one or more Restricted Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate and (y) transactions the terms of which are not in the good faith judgment of the Borrower materially less favorable to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as could reasonably be expected to be obtained in a comparable transaction with a Person not an Affiliate); provided that the foregoing will not prohibit:

 

(a)            employment, compensation, indemnification, reimbursement and severance arrangements for officers and directors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or that are approved by the Board of Directors of the Borrower;

 

(b)            transactions with any Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) that is an Affiliate of the Borrower solely as a result of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary having Control over such Person;

 

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(c)            ordinary course transactions with any Person that is an Affiliate solely as a result of the fact that a member of the Borrower’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s Board of Directors is a director, officer or employee of such Person;

 

(d)            transactions approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Borrower;

 

(e)            Restricted Payments permitted by Section 8.07;

 

(f)            Permitted Receivables Financings; and

 

(g)            transactions entered into during a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period.

 

8.09        Restrictive Agreements.

 

(a)            The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into, or permit to exist, any Contractual Obligation (including Organization Documents) that encumbers or restricts in any material respect the ability of any such Person to (i) in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary, pay dividends or make any other distributions to any Loan Party on its Equity Interests or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, (ii) pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed to any Loan Party, (iii) make loans or advances to any Loan Party, (iv) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to any Loan Party, or (v) in the case of any Domestic Subsidiary, act as a Guarantor pursuant to the Loan Documents or any renewals, refinancings, exchanges, refundings or extension thereof, except (in respect of any of the matters referred to in clauses (i)-(v) above) for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (A) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or the Existing Credit Agreement and the loan documents related thereto, (B) applicable Law, (C) any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 8.01(d); provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets constructed or acquired in connection therewith, (D) Indebtedness of a Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party which is permitted by Section 8.01, so long as the Borrower has determined that such restrictions do not materially impair the ability of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) to perform their obligations under this Agreement, (E) any restrictions regarding licenses or sublicenses by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries of Intellectual Property in the ordinary course of business (in which case such restriction shall relate only to such Intellectual Property), (F) customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary or assets pending such sale; provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary or assets that are to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (G) restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the assets securing such Indebtedness, (H) customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof, (I) customary restrictions contained in documents executed in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing, (J) any Lien permitted hereunder or any document or instrument governing any such Lien; provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Lien, (K) any indenture agreement, instrument or other arrangement relating to the assets or business of any Restricted Subsidiary and existing prior to the consummation of the Permitted Acquisition in which such Subsidiary was acquired; (L) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures permitted under Section 8.04 and applicable solely to such joint venture and/or Equity Interests therein, (M) restrictions contained in subordination provisions relating to intercompany Indebtedness, (N) any agreements existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 8.09, (O) restrictions in the indenture governing the Senior Notes as in effect on the Closing Date or contained in any agreements governing other Indebtedness issued following the Closing Date so long as not materially more restrictive (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) than the terms applicable under the indenture governing the Senior Notes as in effect on the Closing Date, (P) restrictions applicable to any Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary so long as such restriction applies to such Person and its Subsidiaries and was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary, (Q) restrictions entered into during a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period; (R) restrictions in the Existing Credit Agreement; (S) replacements, renewals, amendments and refinancings of any agreements described above so long as such replacement, renewals, amendments and refinancings are not materially more restrictive than the terms of the agreement being replaced, renewed, amended or refinanced; and (T) restrictions in respect of assets that, taken as a whole, are immaterial, provided that in good faith judgment of the Borrower, such conditions would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of any Loan Party to satisfy its Obligations hereunder.

 

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(b)            The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Guarantor to, enter into, assume or become subject to any agreement prohibiting or otherwise restricting the creation or assumption of any Lien upon its properties or assets to secure the Obligations pursuant to the Loan Documents, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or requiring the grant of any security for such obligation if security is given for the Obligations except (i) pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or the Existing Credit Agreement and the loan documents related thereto, (ii) pursuant to applicable Law, (iii) pursuant to any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 8.01(d); provided that in the case of Section 8.01(d) any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets constructed or acquired in connection therewith (and any accessions, products or proceeds thereof), (iv) customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary or assets pending such sale; provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary or assets that are to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (v) restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the assets securing such Indebtedness, (vi) customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof, (vii) pursuant to the documents executed in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing (but only to the extent that the related prohibitions against other encumbrances pertain to the applicable Transferred Assets actually sold, contributed, financed or otherwise conveyed or pledged pursuant to such Permitted Receivables Financing), (viii) restrictions in any document or instrument governing any Permitted Lien; provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Permitted Lien, (ix) software and other Intellectual Property licenses pursuant to which the Borrower or Subsidiary is the licensee of the relevant software or Intellectual Property, as the case may be (in which case, any prohibition or limitation shall relate only to the assets subject of the applicable license), (x) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures permitted under Section 8.04 and applicable solely to such joint venture and/or Equity Interests therein, (xi) any agreements existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 8.09, (xii) restrictions in the indenture governing the Senior Notes as in effect on the Closing Date or contained in any agreements governing other Indebtedness issued following the Closing Date so long as not materially more restrictive (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) than the terms applicable under the indenture governing the Senior Notes as in effect on the Closing Date, (xiii) restrictions entered into during any Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period, (xiv) pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement; (xv) replacements, renewals, amendments and refinancings of any agreements described above so long as such replacement, renewals, amendments and refinancings are not materially more restrictive than the terms of the agreement being replaced, renewed, amended or refinanced, and (xvi) restrictions in respect of assets that, taken as a whole, are immaterial, provided that in good faith judgment of the Borrower, such conditions would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of any Loan Party to satisfy its Obligations hereunder.

 

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8.10        Prepayments of Specified Indebtedness and Amendments to Specified Indebtedness and Organizational Documents.

 

(a)           The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, optionally make any prepayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or otherwise retire or acquire for value (collectively, “prepayments”) any principal of Specified Indebtedness other than:

 

(i)            prepayments in exchange for or from the proceeds of Qualified Equity Interests or Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (provided that such proceeds or reduction in Indebtedness shall not increase the Available Amount);

 

(ii)            the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make other prepayments from the Available Amount so long as immediately after giving effect thereto on a Pro Forma Basis, (x) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or be directly or indirectly caused as a result thereof and (y) the Borrower is in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.11;

 

(iii)            the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make other prepayments in lieu of Restricted Payments permitted by Section 8.07(l) (and which shall constitute usage of such provision for purposes of determining the amount of Restricted Payments permitted thereunder);

 

(iv)            the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make other prepayments so long as immediately after giving effect thereto on a Pro Forma Basis, (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or be directly or indirectly caused as a result thereof and (ii) the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 4.25 to 1.00; and

 

(v)            the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may make other prepayments during a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or be directly or indirectly caused as a result thereof.

 

(b)           Except during a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period, the Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, amend or modify (i) the Senior Notes or any of their Organization Documents, in either case, in a manner that is, taken as a whole, materially adverse to the Lenders or (ii) any other Specified Indebtedness in a manner that would result in such Indebtedness having terms that would not have been permitted at the time of issuance pursuant to the provision of Section 8.01 pursuant to which such Indebtedness was issued.

 

(c)           The Borrower will not permit the sum of (i) aggregate outstanding amount of revolving loan commitments under the Existing Credit Agreement plus (ii) the aggregate outstanding amount of term loans under the Existing Credit Agreement, to be less than $75,000,000, unless such Existing Credit Agreement has simultaneously been terminated in full (other than (a) with respect to any Letters of Credit issued under such Existing Credit Agreement but which are permitted to remain outstanding notwithstanding such termination and (b) customary provisions surviving the termination thereof).

 

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8.11        Financial Covenants.

 

(a)            Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio. The Borrower shall not permit the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio as of the end of any Fiscal Quarter (commencing as of the end of the first full Fiscal Quarter after the Third Amendment Effective Date) of the Borrower to be greater than (i) as of the end of any Fiscal Quarter during a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period, 3.50 to 1.00 and (ii) as of the end of any Fiscal Quarter during any other period, the applicable ratio set forth below:

 

Fiscal Quarter Ending: Maximum Permitted Level
After the Third Amendment Effective Date and prior to the last day of the Fiscal Quarter ending February 2025 5.00 to 1.00
On and after the last day of the Fiscal Quarter ending February 2025 4.75 to 1.00

 

; provided, that, the maximum permitted levels in clauses (i) and (ii) above (each, a “Maximum Permitted Level”) shall be deemed increased by 0.50x with respect to any Fiscal Quarter ended during an Acquisition Period.

 

(b)            Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio. The Borrower shall not permit the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio as of the end of any Fiscal Quarter (commencing as of the end of the first full Fiscal Quarter after the Third Amendment Effective Date) of the Borrower to be less than 2.75 to 1.00.

 

8.12       Sanctions; Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

The Loan Parties will not permit any Loan or use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, directly or indirectly, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiaries, joint venture partner or other individual or entity, or in any Designated Jurisdiction that at the time of such funding, (a) is the subject of any Sanctions; or (b) in any other manner that will result in any violation by any Person (including any Lender, the Arranger or the Administrative Agent) of any Sanctions.

 

The Loan Parties will not use the proceeds of any Credit Extension for any purpose which would breach the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions.

 

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ARTICLE IX

 

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

9.01        Events of Default.

 

Any of the following shall constitute an “Event of Default”:

 

(a)           Non-Payment of Principal. The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

 

(b)           Non-Payment of Other Amounts. The Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in Section 9.01(a)) payable under this Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five Business Days;

 

(c)           Representations and Warranties. Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in or in connection with this Agreement or any Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, shall prove to have been false or incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;

 

(d)           Non-Compliance with Specific Covenants. Any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 7.02(a), 7.03 (with respect to the Borrower’s existence), 7.08 or in Article VIII;

 

(e)           Other Non-Compliance. Any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than those which constitute a default under another Section of this Article IX), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent;

 

(f)            Payment Default. The Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment of principal or interest (regardless of amount) in respect of any (i) Material Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement) or (ii) Indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement (regardless of the principal amount outstanding thereunder), when and as the same shall become due and payable beyond the period of grace, if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Material Indebtedness was created or the Existing Credit Agreement, as applicable;

 

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(g)           Cross-Default.

 

(i)           Material Indebtedness. Any event or condition (other than (1) any required prepayment of Indebtedness secured by a Permitted Lien that becomes due as the result of the disposition of the assets subject to such Lien so long as such disposition is permitted by this Agreement or (2) any required repurchase, repayment or redemption of (or offer to repurchase, repay or redeem) any Indebtedness that was incurred for the specified purpose of financing all or a portion of the consideration for a merger or acquisition provided that (x) such repurchase, repayment or redemption (or offer to repurchase, repay or redeem) results solely from the failure of such merger or acquisition to be consummated, (y) such Indebtedness is repurchased, repaid or redeemed in accordance with its terms and (z) no proceeds of the Credit Extensions are used to make such repayment, repurchase or redemption) occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity;

 

(ii)          Indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement. Any event or condition occurs that results in any Indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement (or any Permitted Refinancing thereof) becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice) the holder or holders of any Indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement (or such Permitted Refinancing thereof) or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement (or such Permitted Refinancing thereof) to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity;

 

(h)           Involuntary Proceedings, Etc. An involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of any Loan Party or any Material Restricted Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar Debtor Relief Law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Loan Party or any Material Restricted Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 consecutive days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

 

(i)            Voluntary Proceedings, Etc. Any Loan Party or any Material Restricted Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar Debtor Relief Law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in Section 9.01(h), (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Loan Party or such Material Restricted Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

 

(j)            Inability to Pay Debts. The Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

 

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(k)           Judgments. One or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $200,000,000 (to the extent not covered by insurance or other creditworthy indemnitor) shall be rendered against the Borrower or any Material Restricted Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any material assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;

 

(l)            ERISA. An ERISA Event shall have occurred that, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(m)          Change of Control. A Change of Control shall occur;

 

(n)           Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any material provision of any Loan Document for any reason ceases to be valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms (or any Loan Party shall challenge the enforceability of any Loan Document or shall assert in writing, or engage in action or inaction based on such assertion, that any provision of any of the Loan Documents has ceased to be or otherwise is not valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms); or

 

(o)           other than as a result of the occurrence of a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period, any security interest and Lien purported to be created by any Collateral Document in respect of any material Collateral shall cease to be in full force and effect, or shall cease to give the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations, the Liens, rights, powers and privileges purported to be created and granted under such Collateral Document (including a perfected first priority security interest in and Lien on all of the Collateral thereunder (except for Permitted Liens and as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or in such Collateral Document)) in favor of the Administrative Agent, or shall be asserted by Borrower or any other Loan Party not to be a valid, perfected, first priority (except for Permitted Liens and as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or such Collateral Document) security interest in or Lien on Collateral with a fair market value in excess of $50,000,000 covered thereby.

 

9.02       Remedies Upon Event of Default.

 

If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

 

(a)           declare the Commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such Commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

(b)           declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;

 

(c)           direct the Collateral Agent in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement to exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to the Secured Parties (as defined in the respective Collateral Documents) under the Collateral Documents; and

 

(d)           exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders under the Loan Documents or applicable Law or at equity;

 

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate and the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

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9.03       Application of Funds.

 

After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 9.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Sections 2.14 and 2.15 and the Intercreditor Agreement, be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

 

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

 

Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

 

Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third held by them;

 

Fourth, to (a) payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, (b) payment of Obligations then owing under any Secured Hedge Agreements, and (c) payments of Obligations then owing under any Secured Cash Management Agreements, ratably among the Lenders, the Hedge Banks and the Cash Management Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them; and

 

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations (other than contingent obligations for which no claim has been asserted) have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

 

Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to any Guarantor shall not be paid with amounts received from such Guarantor or such Guarantor’s assets, but appropriate adjustments shall be made with respect to payments from other Loan Parties to preserve the allocation to Obligations otherwise set forth above in this Section.

 

Any amounts received by the Collateral Agent on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Collateral Agent as set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

ARTICLE X

 

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

10.01     Appointment and Authority.

 

Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints AWFC 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. Except as expressly provided in Section 10.06, the provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and no Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Document (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.

 

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The Administrative Agent shall also act as the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders (in its capacities as a Lender, potential Hedge Banks and potential Cash Management Banks) hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as the agent of such Lender for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Administrative Agent, as “collateral agent” and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.05 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Administrative Agent, shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article X and Article XI (including Section 11.04(c), as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto. The Lenders authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into any Permitted Intercreditor Agreement and one or more intercreditor agreements with a Receivables Financier in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing.

 

10.02     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 business with any Loan Party 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.

 

10.03     Exculpatory Provisions.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)           shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(b)           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 such 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 affect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

 

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(c)           shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (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 Sections 11.01 and 9.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct or material breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by a Loan Party or a Lender.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with 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, (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, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the Collateral Documents, (v) the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral, or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article V or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

10.04     Reliance by Administrative Agent.

 

The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. 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 not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Loan Parties), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

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10.05     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 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 facilities provided for herein 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 nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

10.06     Resignation of Administrative Agent.

 

(a)           The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the consent of the Borrower at all times other than during the existence of a Specified Event of Default (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States or a Farm Credit Lender. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty days after the retiring 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, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above. 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, with the consent of the Borrower at all times other than during the existence of a Specified Event of Default (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

 

(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 (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) 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 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 as provided in Section 3.01(g) and 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 (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). 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 and Section 11.04 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 (i) while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and (ii) after such resignation or removal for as long as any of them continues to act in any capacity hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, including (a) acting as collateral agent or otherwise holding any collateral security on behalf of any of the Lenders and (b) in respect of any actions taken in connection with transferring the agency to any successor Administrative Agent.

 

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10.07     Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.

 

Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

10.08     No Other Duties; Etc.

 

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the bookrunners, arrangers, or other titles 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 or a Lender hereunder.

 

10.09     Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim; Credit Bidding.

 

In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(a)           to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations arising under the Loan Documents 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 and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04) 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;

 

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and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each 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, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04.

 

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

 

The holders of the Obligations hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, or any similar Laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, (b) at any other sale or foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable Law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the holders thereof shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that would vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) in the asset or assets so purchased (or in the Equity Interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are used to consummate such purchase). In connection with any such bid (i) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles to make a bid, (ii) to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or Equity Interests thereof shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by the vote of the Required Lenders, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in Section 11.01 of this Agreement), (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to assign the relevant Obligations to any such acquisition vehicle pro rata by the Lenders, as a result of which each of the Lenders shall be deemed to have received a pro rata portion of any Equity Interests and/or debt instruments issued by such an acquisition vehicle on account of the assignment of the Obligations to be credit bid, all without the need for any Lender or acquisition vehicle to take any further action, and (iv) to the extent that Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of debt credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Lenders pro rata and the Equity Interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of the Obligations that had been assigned to the acquisition vehicle shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Lender or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action.

 

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10.10     Collateral and Guaranty Matters.

 

Without limiting the provisions of Section 10.09, each of the Lenders (including in its capacities as a potential Cash Management Bank and a potential Hedge Bank) irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, but subject to Section 11.20,

 

(a)           to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon payment in full of the Obligations (other than (A) contingent indemnification obligations, tax gross-up, expense reimbursement or yield protection obligations, in each case, for which no claim has been made that is unsatisfied and (B) obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements), (ii) that is sold or otherwise disposed of as part of or in connection with any sale or other disposition permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (iii) as approved in accordance with Section 11.01, (iv) when such property is subject to Liens permitted under Section 8.02(e) (solely to the extent that the Administrative Agent’s Liens on such assets violate the terms of the documentation governing such Lien) and, to the extent relating to extensions, renewals or replacements of such Liens, Section 8.02(l) or Section 8.02(f) or (v) upon a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period;

 

(b)           to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 8.02(e); and

 

(c)           to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty (i) if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted under the Loan Documents, (ii) if such Person is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 7.10(e) or (iii) during a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period.

 

Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, pursuant to this Section 10.10.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Administrative Agent’s Lien thereon, or any certificate prepared by any Loan Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.

 

10.11     Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements.

 

No Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank that obtains the benefit of Section 9.03, the Guaranty or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or any Collateral Document 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 otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) (or to notice of or to consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of the provisions hereof or of the Guaranty or any Collateral Document) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents. The Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements in the case of a Maturity Date.

 

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10.12     Recovery of Erroneous Payments.

 

Without limitation of any other provision in this Agreement, if at any time the Administrative Agent makes a payment hereunder in error to any Lender, whether or not in respect of an Obligation due and owing by the Borrower at such time, where such payment is a Rescindable Amount, then in any such event, each Lender receiving a Rescindable Amount severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount received by such Lender in Same Day Funds in the currency so received, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such Rescindable Amount is received by 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. Each Lender irrevocably waives any and all defenses, including any “discharge for value” (under which a creditor might otherwise claim a right to retain funds mistakenly paid by a third party in respect of a debt owed by another) or similar defense to its obligation to return any Rescindable Amount.  The Administrative Agent shall inform each Lender promptly upon determining that any payment made to such Lender comprised, in whole or in part, a Rescindable Amount.

 

10.13     Intercreditor Agreement. Each of the Lenders from time to time party to this Agreement hereby confirms and reaffirms the irrevocable authority of the Administrative Agent to execute, deliver and act on its behalf in respect of the Intercreditor Agreement, and each duly executed supplement, modification, amendment, restatement or extension thereto. Each Lender agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. Anything contained in any of the Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby agree that no Lender shall have any right individually to enforce the Intercreditor Agreement, it being agreed that all powers, rights and remedies of the Lenders under the Intercreditor Agreement may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in accordance with the terms thereof. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS IS SUBJECT TO THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT. IN THE EVENT OF ANY CONFLICT BETWEEN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT, THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT SHALL GOVERN AND CONTROL.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

11.01     Amendments, Etc.

 

No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders (or the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that

 

(a)           no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

(i)           extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 9.02) without the written consent of such Lender whose Commitment is being extended or increased (it being understood and agreed that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Section 5.02 or of any Default, mandatory prepayment or a mandatory reduction in Commitments is not considered an extension or increase in Commitments of any Lender);

 

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(ii)           postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment (excluding mandatory prepayments) of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) or any scheduled reduction of the Commitments hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to receive such payment or whose Commitments are to be reduced;

 

(iii)          subject to Section 3.03(b), reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or (subject to clause (i) of the penultimate proviso to this Section 11.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to receive such amount; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary (A) to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate or (B) 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 to reduce any fee payable hereunder;

 

(iv)         change Section 9.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby;

 

(v)          [Reserved];

 

(vi)         change any provision of this Section 11.01(a) or the definition of “Required Lenders” without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

(vii)        except in connection with a transaction permitted under Section 8.05 or during a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period, release all or substantially all of the Collateral without the written consent of each Lender whose Obligations are secured by such Collateral;

 

(viii)        release the Borrower without the consent of each Lender or, except in connection with a transaction permitted under Section 8.02 or Section 8.05, all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranty without the written consent of each Lender whose Obligations are guaranteed thereby, except to the extent such release is permitted pursuant to Section 10.10 (in which case such release may be made by the Administrative Agent acting alone); or

 

(ix)          waive any condition set forth in Section 5.01 without the consent of each Lender; and

 

(b)           unless also signed by the Administrative Agent, no amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document;

 

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provided, further, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto, (ii) each Lender is entitled to vote as such Lender sees fit on any bankruptcy reorganization plan that affects the Loans, and each Lender acknowledges that the provisions of Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States supersedes the unanimous consent provisions set forth herein, and (iii) the Required Lenders shall determine whether or not to allow a Loan Party to use cash collateral in the context of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding and such determination shall be binding on all of the Lenders; provided, further, the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Borrower only, amend, modify or supplement this Agreement and any guarantees, collateral security documents and related documents executed by any Loan Party to (A) cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, in each case, of a technical or immaterial nature, (B) comply with local Law or advice of local counsel or (C) cause such guarantee, collateral security document or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, so long as (x) in each case, such amendment, modification or supplement does not directly adversely affect any right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, and (y) with respect to clause (A) above, the Required Lenders shall not have objected in writing within five (5) Business Days of such amendment, provided, further, that the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend the Agreement and the other Loan Documents as permitted pursuant to Section 3.03(b).

 

With respect to any matter requiring the approval of each Lender, each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby or other specified Lenders, it is understood that Voting Participants shall have the voting rights specified in Section 11.06(e) as to such matter.

 

No Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended nor any principal amount owed to such Lender reduced, or the maturity thereof extended, without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects such Defaulting Lender disproportionately adversely relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

 

11.02     Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications.

 

(a)           Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (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 as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

(i)           if to any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02; and

 

(ii)          if to any other Lender or any Voting Participant, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).

 

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 subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).

 

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(b)           Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Voting Participants hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail, FpML messaging, 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 Voting Participant pursuant to Article II if such Lender or Voting Participant, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent, any Voting Participant or the Borrower may each, 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), if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

(c)           The Platform. 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 IN OR OMISSIONS FROM 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. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Loan Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials or notices through the Platform, any other electronic platform or electronic messaging service, or through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party or such Agent Party’s material breach of its obligations hereunder; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

 

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(d)           Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, facsimile number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

 

(e)           Reliance by Administrative Agent and Lenders. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic or electronic Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of any Loan Party even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Loan Parties shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of a Loan Party, except to the extent that such losses, costs, expenses or liabilities are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent or such Lender or Related Party. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

11.03     No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.

 

No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document (including the imposition of the Default Rate) preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

 

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 Loan 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 9.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided, however, 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 Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13), or (c) 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 Loan 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 9.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13, 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.

 

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11.04     Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)           Costs and Expenses. The Borrower and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall pay (A) all reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (in the case of legal fees and expenses, limited to the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of one primary outside counsel for the Administrative Agent and if reasonably necessary or appropriate, one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction to the extent in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, 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)) and (B) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (in the case of legal fees and expenses, limited to the fees, charges and disbursements of one primary outside counsel for all such persons taken as a whole (and, solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel for all such persons taken as whole in each relevant jurisdiction) and if reasonably necessary or appropriate, one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction (and solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional conflicts counsel)) in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights to the extent (1) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (2) in connection with the Loans made, including all such out of pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans.

 

(b)           Indemnification by the Loan Parties. The Borrower and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (in the case of legal fees and expenses, limited to the fees, charges and disbursements of one primary outside counsel for all such persons taken as a whole (and, solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel for all such persons taken as whole in each relevant jurisdiction) and if reasonably necessary or appropriate, one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction (and solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional conflicts counsel)) incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any Person (including any Loan Party) other than such Indemnitee and its Related Parties to the extent arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (A) the execution, enforcement or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby (including, without limitation, the Indemnitee’s reliance on any Communication executed using an Electronic Signature, or in the form of an Electronic Record), the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (B) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (C) any actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials at, on, under or from any property currently or formerly owned or operated by a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or (D) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, IN ALL CASES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNITEE; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or such Indemnitee’s material breach of its obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document of such Indemnitee, or (y) arise out of any investigation, litigation or proceeding that does not involve an act or omission by the Borrower or any other Loan Party and arises solely from a dispute among Indemnitees (except when and to the extent that one of the parties to such dispute was acting in its capacity as an agent, arranger, bookrunner or other agency capacity and, in such case, excepting only such party). This Section 11.04(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

 

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(c)           Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Loan Parties for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by them to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lenders’ Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought), 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), 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), in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).

 

(d)           Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no party hereto shall assert, and each party hereto hereby waives, and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, 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 the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee 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 other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or a material breach of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(e)           Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after written (in reasonable detail) demand therefor.

 

(f)            Survival. The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 11.02(e) shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

 

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11.05     Payments Set Aside.

 

To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Loan Party is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, in Dollars. The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

11.06     Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)           Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and thereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that no Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder or thereunder (other than, except with respect to the Borrower, as a result of a transaction permitted under Section 8.03, 8.04 and 8.05) 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 subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section (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 subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)           Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)           Minimum Amounts.

 

(A)           in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the related Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds that equal at least the amount specified in subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section 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

 

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(B)            in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $1,000,000 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 such consent shall not be required if a Lender assigns to one or more of its Affiliates.

 

(ii)          Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s Loans and Commitments, and rights and obligations with respect thereto, assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations in respect of its outstanding Term Loans on a non-pro rata basis;

 

(iii)         Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:

 

(A)           the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) 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 written notice thereof in accordance with Section 11.02; and

 

(B)            the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of (1) any unfunded Incremental Term Loan Commitment if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment in respect of the applicable facility subject to such assignment, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender or (2) any Term Loan to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund.

 

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(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 in the amount of $3,500 (to be paid by the assignor or assignee); provided, however, that 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 shall not be 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 the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries, (B) 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 (B), or (C) a natural Person (or to a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of a natural Person).

 

(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 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 (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans in accordance with its Applicable 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 paragraph, 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 subsection (c) of this Section, 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 3.01 (subject to the requirements thereof, including Section 3.01(e)), 3.04, 3.05 and 11.04 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. Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection 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 subsection (d) of this Section.

 

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(c)           Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans 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 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 or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person, or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of a natural Person, a Defaulting Lender or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (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); 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 and the 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 11.04(c) without regard to the existence of any participation.

 

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, waiver or other modification described in Section 11.01(a) that affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 3.01(e), it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e) shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 3.06 and 11.13 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04, with respect to any participation, than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation 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 3.06 with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13- as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each 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 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 or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

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(e)           Voting Participants. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 11.06 to the contrary, any Farm Credit Lender that (i) has purchased a participation from any Lender that is a Farm Credit Lender in the minimum amount of $2,000,000 on or after the Closing Date, (ii) is, by written notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in substantially the form of Exhibit H (a “Voting Participant Notification”), designated by the selling Lender as being entitled to be accorded the rights of a voting participant hereunder (any Farm Credit Lender so designated being called a “Voting Participant”) and (iii) receives the prior written consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to become a Voting Participant (such consents to be required only to the extent and under the circumstances it would be required if such Voting Participant were to become a Lender pursuant to an assignment in accordance with Section 11.06(b), it being understood and agreed that such consent is not required in connection with the sale of any participation to an existing Voting Participant; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such sale of a participation unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof), shall be entitled to vote (and the voting rights of the selling Lender shall be correspondingly reduced), on a dollar for dollar basis, as if such Voting Participant were a Lender, on any matter requiring or allowing a Lender to provide or withhold its consent, or to otherwise vote on any proposed action, in each case, in lieu of the vote of the selling Lender; provided, however, that if such Voting Participant has at any time failed to fund any portion of its participation when required to do so and notice of such failure has been delivered by the selling Lender to the Administrative Agent, then until such time as all amounts of its participation required to have been funded have been funded and notice of such funding has been delivered by the selling Lender to the Administrative Agent, such Voting Participant shall not be entitled to exercise its voting rights pursuant to the terms of this clause (e), and the voting rights of the selling Lender shall not be correspondingly reduced by the amount of such Voting Participant’s participation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Farm Credit Lender designated as a Voting Participant on Schedule 11.06(e) as of the Closing Date shall be a Voting Participant without delivery of a Voting Participant Notification and without the prior written consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. To be effective, each Voting Participant Notification shall, with respect to any Voting Participant, (A) state the full name of such Voting Participant, as well as all contact information required of an assignee as set forth in the Administrative Questionnaire, (B) state the dollar amount of the participation purchased and (C) include such other information as may be required by the Administrative Agent. The selling Lender and the Voting Participant shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower within three Business Days of any termination of, or reduction or increase in the amount of, such participation and shall promptly upon request of the Administrative Agent update or confirm there has been no change in the information set forth in Schedule 11.06(e) or delivered in connection with any Voting Participant Notification (and for the avoidance of doubt the voting rights of any Voting Participant shall be appropriately reduced upon any reduction of such Voting Participant’s participation interest). The Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely on information provided by a Lender identifying itself or its participant as a Farm Credit Lender without verification thereof and may also conclusively rely on the information set forth in Schedule 11.06(e), delivered in connection with any Voting Participant Notification or otherwise furnished pursuant to this clause (e) and, unless and until notified thereof in writing by the selling Lender, may assume that there have been no changes in the identity of Voting Participants, the dollar amount of participations, the contact information of the participants or any other information furnished to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this clause (e). The voting rights hereunder are solely for the benefit of the Voting Participants and shall not inure to any assignee or participant of a Voting Participant (except to the extent of a sale of a participation otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Section 11.06(e)).

 

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(f)            Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

11.07     Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.

 

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its Related Parties (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 any regulatory 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), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to become a Lender pursuant to Section 2.01(b) 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, (g) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or an agreement referenced in clause (f) of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower (which source is not known by the recipient to be in breach of confidentiality obligations with the Borrower or any Subsidiary). In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the Commitments.

 

For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from a Loan Party or any Subsidiary relating to the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by such Loan Party or any Subsidiary (other than any such information received from a source that is known by the recipient to be in breach of confidentiality obligations with such Loan Party or any Subsidiary). Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

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Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning a Loan Party or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

 

11.08     Rights of Setoff.

 

If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each 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 set off 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 or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or such Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office or Affiliate of such Lender different from the branch or office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.15 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

11.09     Interest Rate Limitation.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

11.10     Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.

 

This Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 5.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.

 

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11.11     Survival of Representations and Warranties.

 

All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied (other than contingent indemnification, tax gross up, expense reimbursement or yield protection obligations, in each case, for which no claim has been made).

 

11.12     Severability.

 

If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.12, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

 

11.13     Replacement of Lenders.

 

If the Borrower is entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06, 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 11.06), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01 and 3.04) 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:

 

(a)           the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 11.06(b);

 

(b)           such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) 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);

 

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(c)           in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

 

(d)           such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws; and

 

(e)           in the case of an assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent;

 

provided that the failure by such Lender to execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption shall not impair the validity of the removal of such Lender and the mandatory assignment of such Lender’s Commitments and outstanding Loans pursuant to this Section 11.13 shall nevertheless be effective without the execution by such Lender of an Assignment and Assumption.

 

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.

 

11.14     Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

(a)           GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER 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. EACH LOAN 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 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 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 MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

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(c)           WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH OF THE PARTIES 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 PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. 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 11.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

11.15     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.

 

11.16     No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.

 

In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each of the Loan Parties acknowledges and agrees (on behalf of itself and its Affiliates), that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) each of the Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) each of the Loan Parties is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, the Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent, the Arranger nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates. Each of the Loan Parties hereby agrees that it will not claim that any of the Administrative Agent, the Arranger or Lenders and their respective affiliates owes a fiduciary duty or similar duty to it in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

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11.17     Electronic Execution; Electronic Records; Counterparts.

 

This Agreement, any Loan Document and any other Communication, including Communications required to be in writing, may be in the form of an Electronic Record and may be executed using Electronic Signatures. Each of the Loan Parties and each of the Administrative Agent and each Lender agrees that any Electronic Signature on or associated with any Communication shall be valid and binding on such Person to the same extent as a manual, original signature, and that any Communication entered into by Electronic Signature, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person enforceable against such Person in accordance with the terms thereof to the same extent as if a manually executed original signature was delivered.   Any Communication may be executed in as many counterparts as necessary or convenient, including both paper and electronic counterparts, but all such counterparts are one and the same Communication.  For the avoidance of doubt, the authorization under this paragraph may include, without limitation, use or acceptance of a manually signed paper Communication which has been converted into electronic form (such as scanned into PDF format), or an electronically signed Communication converted into another format, for transmission, delivery and/or retention. The Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders may, at its option, create one or more copies of any Communication in the form of an imaged Electronic Record (“Electronic Copy”), which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document.  All Communications in the form of an Electronic Record, including an Electronic Copy, shall be considered an original for all purposes, and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent, is not under any obligation to accept an Electronic Signature in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by such Person pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (a) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept such Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on any such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of any Loan Party and/or any Lender without further verification and (b) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by such manually executed counterpart.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative Agent’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed .pdf or any other electronic means). The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any Communication (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution or signed using an Electronic Signature) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).

 

Each of the Loan Parties and each Lender hereby waives (i) any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document, and (ii) waives any claim against the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Related Party for any liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Lender’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures, including any liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Loan Parties to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.

 

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11.18     USA PATRIOT Act Notice.

 

Each Lender that is subject to the PATRIOT Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “PATRIOT Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Loan Parties, which information includes the name and address of the Loan Parties and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Loan Parties in accordance with the PATRIOT Act. The Loan Parties shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender reasonably requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act.

 

11.19     Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs.

 

To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Swap Contract or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support,” and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

 

(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 11.19, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

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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.

 

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).

 

11.20     Release of Collateral and Guaranty Obligations.

 

(a)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, upon request of the Borrower in connection with any sale, disposition or Permitted Receivables Financing permitted by the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall (without notice to, or vote or consent of, any Lender), at the expense of the Borrower, take such actions as shall be reasonably required to release its security interest in any Collateral sold or disposed of (or sold, conveyed or contributed to any Permitted Receivables Financing, including, without limitation, entering into a customary intercreditor agreement with a Receivables Financier), and to release any Guaranty under any Loan Document of any Person sold or disposed of (and to release any Liens with respect to assets of such Person, release such Person from all Loan Documents such Person is a party to and release any other Obligations of such Person arising under the Loan Documents), upon consummation of such sale or disposition in accordance with the Loan Documents in each case, other than any sale or disposition to another Loan Party.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, at such time as (1) a Collateral and Guarantee Suspension Period is continuing or (2) (a) all principal of and interest accrued to such date which constitute Obligations shall have been paid in full in cash, (b) all fees, expenses and other amounts then due and payable which constitute Obligations (other than contingent obligations for which no claim has been asserted) shall have been paid in cash, and (c) the Commitments shall have expired or been terminated in full, the Administrative Agent’s Lien on the Collateral is automatically released and the Administrative Agent shall at the expense of the Borrower take such actions as shall be reasonably required to evidence the release of its security interest in all Collateral and to release any Guaranty under any Loan Document.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, upon request of the Borrower, (x) in connection with any Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.01(d) hereof (solely to the extent required in writing by the holder of any related Lien permitted pursuant to Section 8.02(e) hereof), the Administrative Agent shall (without notice to, or vote or consent of, any Lender), at the expense of the Borrower, take such actions as shall be reasonably required to release its security interest in any Collateral subject to such Lien, (y) upon designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 7.10(e) hereof, release the Guaranty under any Loan Document of any such designated Unrestricted Subsidiary and release any Liens granted by such designated Unrestricted Subsidiary and release such designated Unrestricted Subsidiary from all Loan Documents such designated Unrestricted Subsidiary is a party to and release all Obligations of such designated Unrestricted Subsidiary arising under the Loan Documents and (z) in connection with any Liens permitted by Section 8.02(f), the Administrative Agent shall release its Liens on any assets subject to such Liens permitted under Section 8.02(f), to the extent that the Administrative Agent’s Liens on such assets violate the express terms of the documentation governing such Lien.

 

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11.21     Entire Agreement.

 

THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

 

11.22     Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions.

 

Solely to the extent Affected Financial Institution is a party to this Agreement and 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 Lender that is an 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 Lender that is an Affected Financial Institution; and

 

(b)           the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

(i)           a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

(ii)          a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

 

(iii)         the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.

 

11.23     Waiver of Borrower Rights.

 

Each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that, to the extent the provisions of the Farm Credit Act of 1971, including 12 U.S.C §§ 2199 through 2202e, and the implementing Farm Credit Administration regulations, 12 C.F.R. § 617.7000, et seq. (collectively, the “Farm Credit Law”) apply to such Loan Party or to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, such Loan Party hereby irrevocably waives all Borrower Rights, including all statutory or regulatory rights of a borrower to disclosure of effective interest rates, differential interest rates, review of credit decisions, distressed loan restructuring, and rights of first refusal. Each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that the waiver of Borrower Rights provided by this Section 11.23 is knowingly and voluntarily made after such Loan Party has consulted with legal counsel of its choice and has been represented by counsel of its choice in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement and waiver of such Loan Party set forth in this Section 11.23. Each Loan Party acknowledges that its waiver of Borrower Rights set forth in this Section 11.23 is based on its recognition that such waiver is material to induce commercial banks and other non-Farm Credit System institutions to participate in the extensions of credit contemplated by this Agreement and to provide extensions of credit to such Loan Party. Nothing contained in this Section 11.23, nor the delivery to any Loan Party of any summary of any rights under, or any notice pursuant to, the Farm Credit Law shall be deemed to be, or be constructed to indicate the determination or agreement by any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent, or any Lender that the Farm Credit Law, or any rights thereunder, are or will be applicable to any Loan Party or to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. It is the intent of the Loan Parties that the waiver of Borrower Rights contained in this Section 11.23 complies with and meets all of the requirements of 12 C.F.R § 617.7010(c).

 

[END]

 

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EXHIBIT A-1

 

FORM OF LOAN NOTICE

 

Date: ___________, _____

 

To:     AgWest Farm Credit, PCA (successor by merger to Northwest Farm Credit Services, PCA), as Administrative Agent

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2019 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and AgWest Farm Credit, PCA (successor by merger to Northwest Farm Credit Services, PCA), as Administrative Agent.

 

The undersigned hereby requests (select one):

 

¨ A Borrowing of [the Term A Loan][the Term A-2 Loan][the Term A-3 Loan][Incremental Term Loans]

 

¨ A conversion or continuation of [the Term A Loan][ the Term A-2 Loan][the Term A-3 Loan][Incremental Term Loans]

 

1.           On                                                                                    (a Business Day).

 

2.           In the amount of                                                            

 

3.           Comprised of [Base Rate][Term SOFR] Loans

 

4.For Term SOFR Loans: with an Interest Period of ____[month[s]].

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

 

 

[The Borrower hereby represents and warrants that the conditions specified in Sections 5.02(a) and (b) of the Credit Agreement shall be satisfied on and as of the date of the Borrowing.]1

 

  LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.
   
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:

 

 

1 To be included only for new Borrowings.

 

LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS, INC.

LOAN NOTICE (EXHIBIT A-1)