EX-10 2 dp164038_ex10.htm EXHIBIT 10

Exhibit 10

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1

to

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of December 22, 2021

 

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is made as of December 22, 2021 by and among Masco Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Masco Europe S.à r.l., a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company organized as a société à responsabilité limitée under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (together with the Company, the “Borrowers”), the “Lenders” (as defined below) signatory hereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Agent”), under that certain Credit Agreement dated as of March 13, 2019 by and among the Borrowers, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”) and the Administrative Agent (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified and in effect prior to the Amendment Effective Date (as defined below), the “Credit Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Lenders agree to certain modifications to the Credit Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the Borrowers, the Lenders party hereto and the Administrative Agent have agreed to amend the Credit Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, the terms and conditions contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Borrowers, the Lenders party hereto and the Administrative Agent hereby agree as follows.

 

1.  Amendments to Credit Agreement. Effective as of the Amendment Effective Date, the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as set forth in the marked terms on Annex I hereto (the “Amended Credit Agreement”). In Annex I hereto, deletions of text in the Amended Credit Agreement are indicated by struck-through text (indicated in the same manner as the following example: stricken text) and insertions of text are indicated by bold, double-underlined text (indicated in the same manner as the following example: double-underlined text) as set forth on Annex I hereto.

 

2.  Conditions of Effectiveness. This Amendment and the amendments to the Credit Agreement set forth in Section 1 above shall become effective on the first date (the “Amendment Effective Date”) on which each of the following conditions precedent is satisfied:

 

(a)  the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts of this Amendment duly executed by the Borrowers, each of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent; and

 

(b)  the Administrative Agent shall have received payment and/or reimbursement of all of the fees and expenses (including, to the extent invoiced, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses of counsel) due or payable to the Administrative Agent or its affiliates in connection with this Amendment.

 

 
 

3.  Representations and Warranties of the Borrowers. Each Borrower hereby represents and warrants as follows:

 

(a)  The execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment and the Credit Agreement (as amended hereby) are within each Borrower’s corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and, if required, member action. This Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by each Borrower, and this Amendment and the Credit Agreement (as amended hereby) constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Borrower, enforceable against such Person in accordance with their respective terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

(b)  The execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment and the Credit Agreement (as amended hereby) (i) 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, (ii) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of either Borrower or any order of any Governmental Authority, (iii) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon either Borrower or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by either Borrower, and (iv) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of either Borrower or its Subsidiaries.

 

(c)  As of the date hereof and after giving effect to the terms of this Amendment, (i) there exists no Default or Event of Default and (ii) the representations and warranties contained in Article III of the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, are true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of any such representation or warranty already qualified by “Material Adverse Effect” or materiality, in all respects), except for (x) the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.04(b) and 3.05, and (y) representations and warranties made with reference solely to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of any such representation or warranty already qualified by “Material Adverse Effect” or materiality, in all respects) as of such earlier date.

 

4.  Reference to and Effect on the Credit Agreement.

 

(a)  Upon the effectiveness hereof, each reference to the Credit Agreement in the Loan Documents shall mean and be a reference to the Amended Credit Agreement.

 

(b)  Each Borrower (i) agrees that this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby shall not limit or diminish the obligations of the Borrowers arising under or pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, (ii) reaffirms its obligations under the Credit Agreement and each and every other Loan Document to which it is a party, and (iii) acknowledges and agrees that, except as specifically modified above, the Credit Agreement and all other Loan Documents executed and/or delivered in connection therewith shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed.

 

(c)  The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of the Credit Agreement or any other documents, instruments and agreements executed and/or delivered in connection therewith.

 

(d)  Without in any way limiting the foregoing, this Amendment is not intended to

 

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and shall not constitute a novation of the Loan Documents or any obligations arising thereunder or in connection therewith.

 

(e)  This Amendment is a Loan Document, including for purposes of making the representations and warranties in Section 3(c) hereof.

 

5.  Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY LEGALLY DO SO, ITS RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT.

 

6.  Headings. Section headings in this Amendment are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Amendment for any other purpose.

 

7.  Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed by one or more of the parties hereto on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Amendment by telecopy, e-mailed.pdf or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of the actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to any document to be signed in connection with this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that nothing herein shall require the Administrative Agent to accept electronic signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

  MASCO CORPORATION, as the Company
     
     
  By  /s/ David A. Chaika
  Name: David A. Chaika
  Title: Vice President, Treasurer and Investor Relations
     
     
  MASCO EUROPE S.À R.L., as the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower
     
     
  By  /s/ John P. Lindow
  Name: John P. Lindow
  Title: Manager

Amendment No. 1 to

Masco Corporation Credit Agreement

 

 

  JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., individually as a Lender, as an Issuing Bank, as the Swingline Lender and as Administrative Agent
   
   
  By: /s/ Peter Predun
  Name: Peter Predun
  Title: Executive Director

Amendment No. 1 to

Masco Corporation Credit Agreement

 

 

  CITIBANK, N.A., as a Lender and as an Issuing Bank
     
  By: /s/ Piyush Choudhary
  Name: Piyush Choudhary
  Title: Managing Director
     
     
  PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender and as an Issuing Bank
     
  By: /s/ Scott Neiderheide
  Name: Scott Neiderheide
  Title: Senior Vice President
     
     
  DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as a Lender
     
  By: /s/ Ming K. Chu
  Name: Ming K. Chu
  Title: Director
     
  By: /s/ Marko Lukin
  Name: Marko Lukin
  Title: Vice President
     
     
  ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, as a Lender
     
  By: /s/ Brian Hueter
  Name: Brian Hueter
  Title: Authorized Signatory
     
     
  TRUIST BANK (formerly known as SunTrust Bank), as a Lender
     
  By: /s/ Johnetta Bush
  Name: Johnetta Bush
  Title: Director
     
     
  BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender
     
     
  By: /s/ Marc Maslanka
  Name: Marc Maslanka
  Title: Director
     
     

 

Amendment No. 1 to

Masco Corporation Credit Agreement

 

 

  FIFTH THIRD BANK, as a Lender
     
  By: /s/ Jonathan H. James
  Name: Johnathan H. James
  Title: Managing Director
     
     
  WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
     
  By: /s/ Kay Ready
  Name: Kay Ready
  Title: Managing Director
     
     
  COMERICA BANK, as a Lender
     
  By: /s/ Mark L. Lashbrook
  Name: Mark L. Lashbrook
  Title: Assistant Vice President
     
     
  THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY, as a Lender
     
  By: /s/ Will Hicks
  Name: Will Hicks
  Title: Vice President
     
     
  U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
     
  By: /s/ Joseph Harris
  Name: Joseph Harris
  Title: Officer
     
     
  HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a Lender
     
  By: /s/ Kyle Patterson
  Name: Kyle Patterson
  Title: Senior Vice President
     
     
  COMMERZBANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH, as a Lender
     
  By: /s/ Barbara Stacks
  Name: Barbara Stacks
  Title: Director
     
  By: /s/ Robert Sullivan
  Name: Robert Sullivan
  Title: Vice President
     
     

 

Amendment No. 1 to

Masco Corporation Credit Agreement

 

 

  THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK, as a Lender
     
  By: /s/ Mike Kelly
  Name: Mike Kelly
  Title: V.P.
     
     
  THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as a Lender
     
     
  By: /s/ Kevin McCarthy
  Name: Kevin McCarthy
  Title: Director

Amendment No. 1 to

Masco Corporation Credit Agreement

 

 

 

ANNEX I TO AMENDMENT NO. 1

 



CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

dated as of

 

March 13, 2019
(amended as of December 22, 2021)

 

among

 

MASCO CORPORATION
and
MASCO EUROPE S.À R.L.
as Borrowers

 


The Lenders Party Hereto

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
as Administrative Agent

CITIBANK, N.A. and PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Co-Syndication Agents

and

 

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,

 

SUNTRUST BANK, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., FIFTH THIRD BANK

 

and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Co-Documentation Agents

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

CITIBANK, N.A.

and

PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC
as Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Arrangers

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

 

ARTICLE I Definitions 1
SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms 1
SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings 2637
SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally 2737
SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP; Pro Forma Calculations.. 2738
SECTION 1.05. Interest Rates; LIBOR Notification. . 2939
ARTICLE II The Credits 2941
SECTION 2.01. Commitments 2941
SECTION 2.02. Revolving Loans and Borrowings 2941
SECTION 2.03. Requests for Revolving Borrowings 3042
SECTION 2.04. Determination of Dollar Amounts 3143
SECTION 2.05. Swingline Loans 3243
SECTION 2.06. Letters of Credit 3446
SECTION 2.07. Funding of Borrowings 3951
SECTION 2.08. Interest Elections for Revolving Borrowings 4052
SECTION 2.09. Termination and Reduction of Commitments; Termination of Facility 4254
SECTION 2.10. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt 4254
SECTION 2.11. Prepayment of Loans 4355
SECTION 2.12. Fees 4456
SECTION 2.13. Interest 4557
SECTION 2.14. Alternate Rate of Interest 4658
SECTION 2.15. Increased Costs 4861
SECTION 2.16. Break Funding Payments 4963
SECTION 2.17. Taxes 4963
SECTION 2.18. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs 5367
SECTION 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders 5569
SECTION 2.20. Expansion Option 5670
SECTION 2.21. Market Disruption 5771
SECTION 2.22. Judgment Currency 5872
SECTION 2.23. Liability of Foreign Subsidiary Borrower 5872
SECTION 2.24. Defaulting Lenders 5973
SECTION 2.25. Extension of Maturity Date. 6175
ARTICLE III Representations and Warranties 6377
SECTION 3.01. Corporate Existence and Power 6377
SECTION 3.02. Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention; Filing; No Immunity 6377
SECTION 3.03. Binding Effect 6478
SECTION 3.04. Financial Information 6478
SECTION 3.05. Litigation 6478

i 

 

 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

Page

 

SECTION 3.06. Compliance with ERISA 6478
SECTION 3.07. Environmental Matters 6579
SECTION 3.08. Taxes 6579
SECTION 3.09. Not an Investment Company 6579
SECTION 3.10. Compliance with Laws 6579
SECTION 3.11. Foreign Employee Benefit Matters 6579
SECTION 3.12. Properties 6680
SECTION 3.13. Disclosure 6680
SECTION 3.14. Federal Reserve Regulations 6680
SECTION 3.15. No Default 6680
SECTION 3.16. Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions 6680
SECTION 3.17. EEAAffected Financial Institutions.. 6781
ARTICLE IV Conditions 6781
SECTION 4.01. Effective Date 6781
SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event 6882
ARTICLE V Covenants 6983
SECTION 5.01. Information 6983
SECTION 5.02. Existence; Conduct of Business 7084
SECTION 5.03. Compliance with Laws 7084
SECTION 5.04. Use of Proceeds 7185
SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance 7185
SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection 7185
SECTION 5.07. Financial Covenants 7185
SECTION 5.08. Limitations on Subsidiary Debt 7286
SECTION 5.09. Negative Pledge 7286
SECTION 5.10. Consolidations, Mergers and Sale of Assets 7387
ARTICLE VI Events of Default 7488
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default 7488
SECTION 6.02. Application of Payments. 7690
ARTICLE VII The Administrative Agent 7892
ARTICLE VIII Miscellaneous 8297
SECTION 8.01. Notices 8297
SECTION 8.02. Waivers; Amendments 8499
SECTION 8.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver 85100
SECTION 8.04. Successors and Assigns 87102
SECTION 8.05. Survival 90105
SECTION 8.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness 91106
SECTION 8.07. Severability 91107
SECTION 8.08. Right of Setoff 91107

ii 

 

 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

Page

 

SECTION 8.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process 92107
SECTION 8.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL 93108
SECTION 8.11. Headings 93109
SECTION 8.12. Confidentiality 93109
SECTION 8.13. USA PATRIOT Act 94109
SECTION 8.14. Interest Rate Limitation 94109
SECTION 8.15. No Fiduciary Duty, etc.  . 94110
SECTION 8.16. Material Non-Public Information. 95110
SECTION 8.17. Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEAAffected Financial Institutions.   95111
SECTION 8.18. Acknowledgment Regarding any Supported QFCs. 111
ARTICLE IX Company Guarantee 96112

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SCHEDULES:

 

Schedule 2.01 -- Commitments
Schedule 2.06 -- Existing Letters of Credit

 

EXHIBITS:

 

Exhibit A -- Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit B -- Reserved
Exhibit C -- Form of Increasing Lender Supplement
Exhibit D -- Form of Augmenting Lender Supplement
Exhibit E -- List of Closing Documents
Exhibit F-1 -- Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships)
Exhibit F-2 -- Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships)
Exhibit F-3 -- Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships)
Exhibit F-4 -- Form of U.S. Tax Certificate (Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships)
Exhibit G -- Form of Extension Request

iv 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated as of March 13, 2019 among MASCO CORPORATION, MASCO EUROPE S.À R.L., the LENDERS from time to time party hereto, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

 

The parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

Definitions

 

SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

 

ABR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate. All ABR Loans shall be denominated in Dollars.

 

Acquired Debt” means, with respect to any Person which previously became or hereafter becomes a Subsidiary, Debt of such Person which was outstanding before such Person became a Subsidiary and which was not created in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary; provided that such Debt shall no longer constitute “Acquired Debt” at any time that is more than ninety days after such Person becomes a Subsidiary.

 

“Adjusted Daily Simple ESTR” means (i) Daily Simple ESTR plus (ii) 0.085%

 

“Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA” means (i) Daily Simple SONIA plus (ii) 0.0326%

 

“Adjusted EURIBOR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the EURIBOR Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

 

Adjusted LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

 

Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (including its branches and affiliates), in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.

 

Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

 

Agent Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.03.

 

 

 

Aggregate Commitment” means the aggregate of the Commitments of all of the Lenders, as reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof. As of the Effective Date, the Aggregate Commitment is $1,000,000,000.

 

Agreed Currencies” means (a) with respect to Revolving Loans, (i) Dollars and, (ii) euroEuro, (iii) Pounds Sterling, (iv) Canadian Dollars and (v) any other foreign currency agreed to by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, (b), with respect to Swingline Loans, (i) Dollars, (ii) euroEuro, (iii) Pounds Sterling, (iv) Canadian Dollars and (v) any other foreign currency agreed to by the Administrative Agent and the Swingline Lender, and (c) with respect to any Letter of Credit (subject to the limitations in the definition of Issuing Bank) (i) Dollars, (ii) euroEuro, (iii) Pounds Sterling, (iv) Canadian Dollars and (v) any other foreign currency agreed to by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank.

 

Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1% and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one month Interest Period in Dollars on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%, provided that for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the LIBO Screen Rate (or if the LIBO Screen Rate is not available for such one month Interest Period, the LIBO Interpolated Rate) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively. If the Alternate Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.14 (for the avoidance of doubt, only until the Benchmark Replacement has been determined pursuant to Section 2.14(b)), then the Alternate Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a) and (b) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Alternate Base Rate as determined pursuant to the foregoing would be less than 1.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% for purposes of this Agreement.

 

“Amendment No. 1 Effective Date” means December 22, 2021.

 

Alternative RateAncillary Document” has the meaning assigned to such termit in Section 2.148.06(ab).

 

Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.

 

Applicable Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.

 

Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the Aggregate Commitment represented by such Lender’s Commitment; provided that, in the case of Section 2.24 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Applicable Percentage” shall mean the percentage of the Aggregate Commitment (disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) represented by such Lender's Commitment. If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments and to any Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination.

 

Applicable Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Revolving Loan or, any SONIA Loan, any ESTR Loan, any ABR Revolving Loan, any Canadian Prime Loan or with respect to the facility fees payable hereunder, as the case may be, the

 

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applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark, ESTR and SONIA Spread”, “ABR and Canadian Prime Spread”, or “Facility Fee Rate”, as the case may be, based upon the ratings by Moody’s and S&P, respectively, applicable on such date to the Index Debt:

 

 

Index Debt Ratings

(Moody’s/S&P):

 

EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark, ESTR and SONIA
Spread
ABR and Canadian Prime
Spread
Facility Fee
Rate
Category 1 A- or higher or A3 or higher 0.91% 0.00% 0.09%
Category 2 BBB+ or Baa1 1.015% 0.015% 0.11%
Category 3 BBB or Baa2 1.125% 0.125% 0.125%
Category 4 BBB- or Baa3 1.20% 0.20% 0.175%
Category 5 BB+ or lower or Ba1 or lower 1.40% 0.40% 0.225%

 

For purposes of, and notwithstanding, the foregoing,

 

(a)  the credit rating in effect on any date for purposes of this definition is that in effect at the close of business on such date;

 

(b)  if neither Moody’s nor S&P shall have in effect a rating for the Index Debt (other than by reason of the circumstances referred to in the last sentence of this definition), then Category 5 shall be applicable (it being understood and agreed that in the event that only one of Moody’s and S&P issues a rating for the Index Debt, such rating shall determine the EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark, ESTR and SONIA Spread, the ABR and Canadian Prime Spread and the Facility Fee Rate); and

 

(c)  if the ratings established or deemed to have been established by Moody’s and S&P for the Index Debt shall fall within different Categories, the Applicable Rate shall be based on the higher of the two ratings; provided, that if the split is greater than one ratings category, then the Category shall be based upon the rating that is one ratings category below the higher of the two ratings.

 

On the Effective Date, the Applicable Rate shall be determined based on Category 3. Each change in the Applicable Rate shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. If the rating system of Moody’s or S&P shall change, or if either such rating agency shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Company and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed rating system or the unavailability of ratings from such rating agency and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Rate shall be determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect prior to such change or cessation.

 

Approved Electronic Platform” has the meaning assigned to it in Article VII.

 

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Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.04.

 

Arrangers” means, collectively, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Citibank, N.A, and PNC Capital Markets LLC, each in its capacity as a joint bookrunner and joint lead arranger hereunder.

 

Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption agreement entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 8.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Augmenting Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.

 

Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Commitments.

 

“Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark for any Agreed Currency, as applicable, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) or payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof), as applicable, that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period for any term rate or otherwise, for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated pursuant to this Agreement as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to clause (f) of Section 2.14.

 

Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEAAffected Financial Institution.

 

Bail-In Legislation” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law, regulation rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule. and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).

 

Banking Services” means each and any of the following bank services provided to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower by any Lender or any of its Affiliates: (a) credit cards for commercial customers (including, without limitation, commercial credit cards and purchasing cards), (b) stored value cards, (c) merchant processing services and (d) treasury management services (including, without limitation, controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, any direct debit scheme or arrangement, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).

 

Banking Services Agreement” means any agreement entered into by the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower in connection with Banking Services.

 

Banking Services Obligations” means any and all obligations of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Banking Services.

 

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Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment or has had any order for relief in such proceeding entered in respect thereof, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof, provided, further, that such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Person 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 Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.

 

“Benchmark” means, initially, with respect to any (i) SONIA Loan, the applicable Relevant Rate for Pounds Sterling, (ii) ESTR Loan, the applicable Relevant Rate for Swingline Loans in Euro, or (iii) Term Benchmark Loan denominated in any Agreed Currency, the applicable Relevant Rate for such Agreed Currency; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event, an Early Opt-in Election, or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the applicable Relevant Rate or the then-current Benchmark for such Agreed Currency, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to clause (b) or clause (c) of Section 2.14.

 

“Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date; provided that, in the case of any Loan denominated in a Foreign Currency or in the case of an Other Benchmark Rate Election, “Benchmark Replacement” shall mean the alternative set forth in (3) below:

 

(1) in the case of any Loan denominated in Dollars, the sum of: (a) Term SOFR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment,

 

(2) in the case of any Loan denominated in Dollars, the sum of (a) Daily Simple SOFR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment,

 

(3)       the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Company as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for syndicated credit facilities denominated in the applicable Agreed Currency at such time and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

 

provided that, in the case of clause (1) such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion; provided further that, in the case of clause (3), when such clause is used to determine the Benchmark Replacement in connection with the occurrence of an Other Benchmark Rate Election, the alternate benchmark rate selected by the Administrative Agent and the Company shall be the term benchmark rate that is used in lieu of a LIBOR-based rate in the relevant other Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities; provided further that, notwithstanding

 

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anything to the contrary in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, upon the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event, and the delivery of a Term SOFR Notice, on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date the “Benchmark Replacement” shall revert to and shall be deemed to be the sum of (a) Term SOFR and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment, as set forth in clause (1) of this definition (subject to the first proviso above).

 

If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1), (2) or (3) 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 for any applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor for any setting of such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement:

 

(1) for purposes of clause (1) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” an amount equal to (a) 0.1148% (11.448 basis points) for an Available Tenor of one-month’s duration, (b) 0.26161% (26.161 basis points) for an Available Tenor of three-months’ duration, and (c) 0.42826% (42.826 basis points) for an Available Tenor of six-months’ duration;

 

(2) for purposes of clause (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” an amount equal to 0.1148% (11.448 basis points); and

 

(3) for purposes of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Company for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and/or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for syndicated credit facilities denominated in the applicable Agreed Currency at such time.

 

“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Alternate Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day”, the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides (in consultation with the Company) may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary (in consultation with the Company) in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

 

“Benchmark Replacement Date” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to such then-current Benchmark:

 

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(1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) 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);

 

(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be no longer 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;

 

(3) in the case of a Term SOFR Transition Event, the date that is thirty (30) days after the date a Term SOFR Notice is provided to the Lenders and the Company pursuant to Section 2.14(c); or

 

(4) in the case of an Early Opt-in Election or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, the sixth (6th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election or Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, is provided to the Lenders, so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Early Opt-in Election or Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, is provided to the Lenders, written notice of objection to such Early Opt-in Election or Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination and (ii) the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (1) or (2) with respect to any Benchmark only upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

 

“Benchmark Transition Event” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to such then-current Benchmark:

 

(1) 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);

 

(2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the NYFRB, the central bank for the Agreed Currency applicable to such Benchmark, 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), in each case, which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such

 

7 

 

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

 

(3) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer, or as of a specified future date will no longer be, representative.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark only 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, with respect to any Benchmark, the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clauses (1) or (2) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.14 and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.14.

 

Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership or control as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

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

 

Benefit Arrangement” means at any time an employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA which is not a Plan or a Multiemployer Plan and which is sponsored, maintained or otherwise contributed to (i) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) for the benefit of the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in and subject to Section 4975 of the Code, or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of ERISA Section 3(42) or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

 

“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.

 

Blocking Law” means (a) any provision of Council Regulation (EC) No 2271/1996 of 22 November (and any law or regulation implementing such Regulation in any member state of the European Union or the United Kingdom), (b) section 7 of the German Trade Regulation (Außenwirtschaftsverordnung), or (c) any similar blocking or anti-boycott law.

 

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

 

Borrower” means the Company or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower.

 

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Borrowing” means (a) Revolving Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, or (b) a Swingline Loan.

 

Borrowing Request” means a request by any Borrower for a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03.

 

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurocurrency Loan, a Swingline Loan denominated in a Foreign Currency or a Letter of Credit denominated in a Foreign Currency, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any dayonly include (a) in relation to Term Benchmark Loans denominated in Dollars and in relation to the calculation or computation of Adjusted LIBO Rate, any day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks are not open for dealings in the relevant Agreed Currency in the London (and, in the case of a Loan to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, Luxembourg) interbank market orbusiness in London, (b) in relation to Loans denominated in Euros and in relation to the calculation or computation of EURIBOR Rate, any day which is a TARGET2 Day, (c) in relation to Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars and in relation to the calculation or computation of CDOR, any day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks are open for business in Toronto, Canada, (d) in relation to SONIA Loans and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such SONIA Loan, or any other dealings in Pounds Sterling, any such day that is only a SONIA Business Day, (e) in relation to ESTR Loans and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such ESTR Loan, any such day that is only an ESTR Business Day and (f) in relation to Loans denominated in any other Agreed Currency or any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any CBR Loan, any date on which dealings in such Agreed Currency are carried on in the principal financial center of such Agreed Currency (and, if the Borrowings or LC Disbursements which are the subject of a borrowing, drawing, payment, reimbursement or rate selection are denominated in euro, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which the TARGET2 payment system is not open for the settlement of payments in euro)..

 

Canadian Dollarsmeansand “C$” mean the lawful currency of Canada.

 

“Canadian Prime” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Canadian Prime Rate.

 

“Canadian Prime Rate” means, on any day, a rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the higher of (a) the rate equal to the PRIMCAN Index rate that appears on the Bloomberg screen at 10:15 a.m. Toronto, Ontario time on such day (or, in the event that the PRIMCAN Index is not published by Bloomberg, any other information service that publishes such index from time to time, as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion), and (b) the CDOR Rate for a one month Interest Period at approximately 10:15 a.m., Toronto, Ontario time on such day (and, if such day is not a Business Day, then on the immediately preceding Business Day (as adjusted by Administrative Agent after 10:15 a.m. Toronto, Ontario time to reflect any error in the posted rate of interest or in the posted average annual rate of interest)), rounded to the nearest 1/100th of 1% (with .005% being rounded up), plus 1% per annum; provided, that if any the above rates shall be less than 1% per annum, such rate shall be deemed to be 1% per annum for purposes of this Agreement. Any change in the Canadian Prime Rate due to a change in the PRIMCAN Index or the CDOR Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the PRIMCAN Index or CDOR Rate, respectively. If the Canadian Prime Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.14 (for the avoidance of doubt, only until the applicable Benchmark Replacement has been determined

 

9 

 

pursuant to Section 2.14(b)), then the Canadian Prime Rate shall be determined solely by reference to clause (a) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (b) above.

 

Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases or financing leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

“CBR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Central Bank Rate.

 

“CBR Spread” means the Applicable Rate applicable to such Loan that is replaced by a CBR Loan.

 

“CDOR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars and for any Interest Period, the CDOR Screen Rate at approximately 10:15 a.m. Toronto local time on the first day of such Interest Period (and, if such day is not a Business Day, then on the immediately preceding Business Day (as adjusted by Administrative Agent after 10:15 a.m. Toronto, Ontario time to reflect any error in the posted rate of interest or in the posted average annual rate of interest)), rounded to the nearest 1/100th of 1% (with .005% being rounded up).

 

“CDOR Screen Rate” means, for any day and time, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars and for any Interest Period, the annual rate of interest equal to the average rate applicable to Canadian Dollar Canadian bankers’ acceptances for the applicable Interest Period that appears on the “Reuters Screen CDOR Page” as defined in the ISDA Definitions (or, in the event such rate does not appear on such page or screen, on any successor or substitute page or screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time, as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion); provided that, if the CDOR Screen Rate shall be less than 0%, the CDOR Screen Rate shall be deemed to be 0% for purposes of this Agreement.

 

“Central Bank Rate” means, (A) the greater of (i) for any Loan denominated in (a) Euro, one of the following three rates as may be selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion: (1) the fixed rate for the main refinancing operations of the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto), or, if that rate is not published, the minimum bid rate for the main refinancing operations of the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto), each as published by the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto) from time to time, (2) the rate for the marginal lending facility of the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto), as published by the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto) from time to time, or (3) the rate for the deposit facility of the central banking system of the Participating Member States, as published by the European Central Bank (or any successor thereto) from time to time, (b) Pounds Sterling, the Bank of England (or any successor thereto)’s “Bank Rate” as published by the Bank of England (or any successor thereto) from time to time, and (c) any other Foreign Currency determined after the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, a central bank rate as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion and (ii) the applicable Floor; plus (B) the applicable Central Bank Rate Adjustment.

 

“Central Bank Rate Adjustment” means for any day, for any Loan denominated in (a) Euro, a rate equal to the difference (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) of (i) the average of the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate for the five most recent Business Days preceding such day for which the EURIBOR Screen Rate was available (excluding, from such averaging, the highest and the lowest

 

10 

 

Adjusted EURIBOR Rate applicable during such period of five Business Days) minus (ii) the Central Bank Rate in respect of Euro in effect on the last Business Day in such period, (b) Pounds Sterling, a rate equal to the difference (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) of (i) the average of SONIA for the five most recent SONIA Business Days preceding such day for which SONIA was available (excluding, from such averaging, the highest and the lowest SONIA applicable during such period of five SONIA Business Days) minus (ii) the Central Bank Rate in respect of Sterling in effect on the last SONIA Business Day in such period, and (c) any other Foreign Currency determined after the Amendment No. 1 Effective Date, a Central Bank Rate Adjustment as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion. For purposes of this definition, (x) the term Central Bank Rate shall be determined disregarding clause (B) of the definition of such term and (y) the EURIBOR Rate on any day shall be based on the EURIBOR Screen Rate on such day at approximately the time referred to in the definition of such term for deposits in the applicable Agreed Currency for a maturity of one month (or, in the event the EURIBOR Screen Rate for deposits in Euro is not available for such maturity of one month, shall be based on the EURIBOR Interpolated Rate as of such time).

 

Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement (or with respect to any Lender, if later, the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender), of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority, or (c) compliance by any Lender or any Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 2.15(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s or any Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any) with any request, rules, guideline, requirement or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder, issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof, and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and 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, issued or implemented.

 

Charges” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.14.

 

Class”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans or, if applicable, Incremental Term Loans.

 

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

 

Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced or terminated from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09, (b) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.20 and (c) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 8.04. The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation or record (as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(70) of the New York Uniform Commercial Code) contemplated hereby pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable.

 

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Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

 

Communications” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.

 

Company” means Masco Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

 

Computation Date” is defined in Section 2.04.

 

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 Debt” means at any date the Debt of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of such date minus the Debt Credit applicable to the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date.

 

Consolidated EBITDA” means, with reference to any period, Consolidated Net Income plus, without duplication and to the extent deducted from revenues in determining such Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of:

 

(i)interest expense in accordance with GAAP,

 

(ii)expense for income taxes paid or accrued,

 

(iii)depreciation expense,

 

(iv)amortization expense,

 

(v)unusual or non-recurring non-cash expenses or losses (including any such loss from discontinued operations),

 

(vi)non-cash restructuring and rationalization charges and non-cash charges related to impairment of long-lived assets, intangible assets and goodwill,

 

(vii)non-cash charges related to impairment of financial investments as set forth in the Fair Value of Financial Investments and Liabilities Note of the Company’s quarterly and annual SEC filings,

 

(viii)non-cash expenses related to stock based compensation (other than with respect to phantom stock and stock appreciation rights), as set forth in the Stock-Based Compensation Note of the Company’s quarterly and annual SEC filings,

 

(ix)other non-cash charges of any kind,

 

(x)cash restructuring and rationalization charges; provided that the aggregate amount of any increase to Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to this clause (x), and pursuant to clauses (i) or (ii) of the second sentence of Section 1.04(b) for the applicable period shall not exceed 10% of Consolidated EBITDA in the absence of the adjustments pursuant to this clause (x) and clauses (i) or (ii) of the second sentence of Section 1.04(b),

 

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(xi)cash fees and expenses incurred in connection with acquisitions, equity issuances and debt incurrences that are not otherwise capitalized, and

 

(xii)cash fees, expenses, premiums and/or penalties incurred in connection with a prepayment, redemption, purchase, repurchase or defeasance of any Debt prior to the schedule maturity thereof, in an aggregate amount during the term of this Agreement not to exceed $25,000,000,

 

minus, without duplication and to the extent included in determining such Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of:

 

(a)interest income,

 

(b)income tax credits and refunds (to the extent not netted from tax expense),

 

(c)any cash payments made during such period in respect of items described in clauses (v) through (ix) above (other than cash payments made with respect to phantom stock and stock appreciation rights) subsequent to the fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash expenses or losses were incurred,

 

(d)unusual or non-recurring non-cash income or gains realized, and

 

(e)any other non-cash items of income or gains.

 

Without duplication of the foregoing, Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated for the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis and computed without regard to the cumulative effect of any changes in accounting principles, as shown on the Company’s consolidated statement of income for such period.

 

For the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (each, a “Reference Period”), (1) if at any time during such Reference Period the Company or any Subsidiary shall have made any Material Disposition, the Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if positive) attributable to the property that is the subject of such Material Disposition for such Reference Period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if negative) attributable thereto for such Reference Period, and (2) if during such Reference Period the Company or any Subsidiary shall have made a Material Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be calculated after giving effect thereto on a Pro Forma Basis as if such Material Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period. As used in this definition, “Material Acquisition” means any acquisition of property or series of related acquisitions of property that (a) constitutes (i) assets comprising all or substantially all or any significant portion of a business or operating unit of a business, or (ii) all or substantially all of the common stock or other Equity Interests of a Person, and (b) involves the payment of consideration by the Company and its Subsidiaries in excess of $150,000,000; and “Material Disposition” means any sale, transfer or disposition of property or series of related sales, transfers, or dispositions of property that involves a disposition of assets having fair market value, or yields gross proceeds to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in excess of $150,000,000.

 

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with reference to any period, the interest expense (including without limitation interest expense under Capital Lease Obligations that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, net of interest income received

 

13 

 

on cash on deposit or Permitted Cash Equivalent Investments, calculated on a consolidated basis for such period with respect to (a) all outstanding Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP and (b) Swap Agreements (including, without limitation, all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers acceptance financing and net costs under interest rate Swap Agreements to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP). Without duplication of the foregoing, Consolidated Interest Expense shall be calculated for the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis and computed without regard to the cumulative effect of any changes in accounting principles, as shown on the Company’s consolidated statement of income for such period. In the event that the Company or any Subsidiary shall have completed a “Material Acquisition” or a “Material Disposition” (each as defined in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”) since the beginning of the relevant period, Consolidated Interest Expense shall be determined for such period on a Pro Forma Basis as if such acquisition or disposition, and any related incurrence or repayment of Debt, had occurred at the beginning of such period.

 

Consolidated Net Income” means, with reference to any period, the net income (or loss) of the Company and its Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis (without duplication) for such period, without any adjustment for net income (or loss) attributable to Equity Interests of a Subsidiary of the Company that are not owned by Company or one of its Subsidiaries (i.e., non-controlling interests); provided that there shall be excluded any income (or loss) of any Person other than the Company or a Subsidiary, but any such income so excluded may be included in such period or any later period to the extent of any cash dividends or distributions actually paid in the relevant period to the Company or any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Consolidated Subsidiary” means, at any date, any Subsidiary the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the Company in its consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP as of such date.

 

Consolidated Tangible Assets” means, as of the date of any determination thereof, (a) the total assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis as of such date minus (b) the aggregate amount of intangible assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis as of such date, including, without limitation, customer lists, acquired technology, goodwill, trademarks, patents, copyrights, organization expenses, franchises, licenses, trade names, brand names, mailing lists, catalogs, unamortized debt discount and capitalized research and development costs.

 

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.

 

Country Risk Event” means:

 

(a)  any law, action or failure to act by any Governmental Authority in any Borrower’s or Letter of Credit beneficiary’s country which has the effect of:

 

(i)  changing the obligations under the relevant Letter of Credit, this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents as originally agreed or otherwise creating any additional liability, cost or expense to any Issuing Bank, the Lenders or the Administrative Agent,

 

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(ii)  changing the ownership or control by such Borrower or Letter of Credit beneficiary of its business, or

 

(iii)  preventing or restricting the conversion into or transfer of the applicable Agreed Currency;

 

(b)  force majeure; or

 

(c)  any similar event;

 

which, in relation to (a), (b) and (c), directly or indirectly, prevents or restricts the payment or transfer of any amounts owing under the relevant Letter of Credit in the applicable Agreed Currency into an account designated by the Administrative Agent or any Issuing Bank and freely available to the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank.

 

“Corresponding Tenor” with respect to any Available Tenor means, as applicable, either a tenor (including overnight) or an interest payment period having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.

 

Co-Documentation Agent” means each of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Royal Bank of Canada, SunTrust Bank, Bank of America, N.A., Fifth Third Bank and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as a co-documentation agent for the credit facility evidenced by this Agreement.

 

Co-Syndication Agent” means each of Citibank, N.A. and PNC Bank, National Association, in its capacity as a co-syndication agent for the credit facility evidenced by this Agreement.

 

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

 

(i)       a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

 

(ii)       a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

 

(iii)       a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

 

“Covered Party” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.18.

 

Credit Event” means a Borrowing, the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit, an LC Disbursement or any of the foregoing.

 

Credit Party” means the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender.

 

“Daily Simple ESTR” means, for any day (an “ESTR Interest Day”), an interest rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) ESTR for the day that is five Business Days prior to (A) if such ESTR Interest Day is a Business Day, such ESTR Interest Day or (B) if such ESTR Interest Day is not a Business Day, the Business Day immediately preceding such ESTR Interest Day and (b) 0%.

 

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“Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day, SOFR, with the conventions for this rate (which may 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 business loans; provided, that if the Administrative Agent decides that any such convention is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may establish another convention in its reasonable discretion.

 

“Daily Simple SONIA” means, for any day (a “SONIA Interest Day”), an interest rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) SONIA for the day that is five Business Days prior to (A) if such SONIA Interest Day is a Business Day, such SONIA Interest Day or (B) if such SONIA Interest Day is not a Business Day, the Business Day immediately preceding such SONIA Interest Day and (b) 0%.

 

Debt” of any Person means at any date, without duplication, (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, except trade accounts payable, (iv) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (v) all Debt of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Debt is assumed by such Person, (vi) all Debt of others for which such a Person is contingently liable (including pursuant to a Guarantee) and (vii) obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit, letters of guaranty or bankers’ acceptances. In calculating the amount of any Debt at any date for purposes of this Agreement, (a) accrued interest shall be excluded to the extent that it would be properly classified as a current liability for interest under the heading “Accrued liabilities” (and not under the heading “Notes payable”) in a balance sheet prepared as of such date in accordance with the accounting principles and practices used in preparing the balance sheet referred to in Section 3.04(a) and the related footnotes thereto and (b) the Debt of any Person shall include the Debt of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Debt provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

 

Debt Credit” for any Person means, at any date, the lesser of (i) the aggregate amount of contingent obligations of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit, letters of guaranty or bankers’ acceptances and (ii)$100,000,000.

 

Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

 

“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.

 

Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed, within three Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans or (iii) pay over to any Credit Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Company or any Credit Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three

 

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Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations) to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans under this Agreement (unless, in the case of any such request with respect to the funding of prospective Loans, such certification indicates that such Lender has made a good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a Loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied), provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon the Administrative Agent’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it, or (d) has become the subject of (i) a Bankruptcy Event or (ii) a Bail-In Action.

 

Dollar Amount” of any currency at any date means (i) the amount of such currency if such currency is Dollars or (ii) the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars if such currency is a Foreign Currency, calculated on the basis of the Exchange Rate for such currency, on or as of the most recent Computation Date provided for in Section 2.04.

 

Dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

 

Domestic Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary organized under the laws of a jurisdiction located in the United States of America.

 

“Early Opt-in Election” means, if the then-current Benchmark with respect to Dollars is LIBO Rate, the occurrence of:

 

(1)       a notification by the Administrative Agent to (or the request by the Company to the Administrative Agent to notify) each of the other parties hereto that at least five currently outstanding Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time contain (as a result of amendment or as originally executed) a SOFR-based rate (including SOFR, a term SOFR or any other rate based upon SOFR) as a benchmark rate (and such syndicated credit facilities are identified in such notice and are publicly available for review), and

 

(2)       the joint election by the Administrative Agent and the Company to trigger a fallback from LIBO Rate and the provision, as applicable, by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Company and the Lenders.

 

ECP” means an “eligible contract participant” as defined in Section 1(a)(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and the applicable rules issued by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or the SEC.

 

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.

 

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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.

 

Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 8.02).

 

Electronic Signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.

 

Environmental Laws” means any and all federal, state and local statutes, laws, judicial decisions, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, injunctions, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements and other governmental restrictions relating to the environment, the effect of the environment on human health or to emissions, discharges or releases of pollutants, contaminants, petroleum or petroleum products, chemicals or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes into the environment including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, or land, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants, petroleum or petroleum products, chemicals or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes or the clean-up or other remediation thereof.

 

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Company 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 or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing.

 

Equivalent Amount” of any currency with respect to any amount of Dollars at any date means the equivalent in such currency of such amount of Dollars, calculated on the basis of the Exchange Rate for such other currency at 11:00 a.m., London time, on the date on or as of which such amount is to be determined.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

ERISA Group” means the Company, any Subsidiary and all members of a controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control which, together with the Company or any Subsidiary, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001(b) of ERISA.

 

“ESTR” means, with respect to any Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the Euro Short Term Rate for such Business Day published by the ESTR Administrator on the ESTR Administrator’s Website.

 

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“ESTR Administrator” means the European Central Bank (or any successor administrator of the Euro Short Term Rate).

 

“ESTR Administrator’s Website” means the European Central Bank’s website, currently at http://www.ecb.europa.eu, or any successor source for the Euro Short Term Rate identified as such by the ESTR Administrator from time to time.

 

“ESTR Borrowing” means, as to any Borrowing, the ESTR Loans comprising such Borrowing.

 

“ESTR Business Day” means, for any ESTR Loan, any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which banks are closed for general business in London or for the settlement of payments and foreign exchange transactions in Brussels.

 

“ESTR Interest Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple ESTR”.

 

“ESTR Loan” means a Swingline Loan denominated in Euro that bears interest at a rate based on Adjusted Daily Simple ESTR.

 

EU” means the European Union.

 

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.

 

“EURIBOR Interpolated Rate” means, at any time, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros and for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the EURIBOR Screen Rate) determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the EURIBOR Screen Rate for the longest period (for which the EURIBOR Screen Rate is available for Euros) that is shorter than the Impacted EURIBOR Rate Interest Period; and (b) the EURIBOR Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which the EURIBOR Screen Rate is available for Euros) that exceeds the Impacted EURIBOR Rate Interest Period, in each case, at such time; provided that, if any EURIBOR Interpolated Rate shall be less than 0.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0.00% for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

“EURIBOR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros and for any Interest Period, the EURIBOR Screen Rate at approximately 11:00 a.m., Brussels time, two (2) TARGET Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that, if the EURIBOR Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (an “Impacted EURIBOR Rate Interest Period”) with respect to Euros then the EURIBOR Rate shall be the EURIBOR Interpolated Rate.

 

“EURIBOR Screen Rate” means the euro interbank offered rate administered by the European Money Markets Institute (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant period displayed (before any correction, recalculation or republication by the administrator) on page EURIBOR01 of the Thomson Reuters screen (or any replacement Thomson Reuters page which displays that rate) or on the appropriate page of such other information service which publishes that rate from time to time in place of Thomson Reuters as published at approximately 11:00 a.m. Brussels time two (2) TARGET Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period. If such page or service ceases to be available, the Administrative Agent may specify another page or service

 

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displaying the relevant rate after consultation with the Company. If the EURIBOR Screen Rate shall be less than 0.00%, the EURIBOR Screen Rate shall be deemed to be 0.00% for purposes of this Agreement.

 

euroEuro” and/or “EUR” means€” mean the single currency of the Participating Member States.

 

Eurocurrency”, when used in reference to a currency means an Agreed Currency and when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

 

Eurocurrency Payment Office” of the Administrative Agent means, for each Foreign Currency, the office, branch, affiliate or correspondent bank of the Administrative Agent for such currency as specified from time to time by the Administrative Agent to the Company and each Lender.

 

Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01.

 

Exchange Rate” means, on any day, (a) with respect to any Foreign Currency, the rate of exchange for the purchase of Dollars with such Foreign Currency last provided (either by publication or otherwise provided to the Administrative Agent) by the applicable Thomson Reuters Corp. (“Reuters”) source on the Business Day (New York City time) immediately preceding the date of determination, or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide a rate of exchange for the purchase of Dollars with the Foreign Currency, as provided by such other publicly available information service which provides that rate of exchange at such time in place of Reuters reasonably chosen by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion (or if such service ceases to be available or ceases to provide such rate of exchange, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent using any reasonable method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion) and (b) if such amount is denominated in any other currency (other than Dollars), the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent using any reasonable method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to the Company, any Specified Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of the Company of, or the grant by the Company of a security interest to secure, such Specified Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of the Company’s failure for any reason to constitute an ECP at the time the Guarantee of the Company or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Specified Swap Obligation. If a Specified Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Specified Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.

 

Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by any Borrower under Section 2.19(b)) or (ii) such Lender

 

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changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.17, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender acquired the applicable interest in a Loan, Letter of Credit or Commitment or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(f), and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

Existing Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement dated as of March 28, 2013 by and among the Company, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, certain lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 dated as of May 29, 2015 and as otherwise amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the Effective Date.

 

Existing Letters of Credit” is defined in Section 2.06(a).

 

Existing Maturity Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.25(a).

 

Extending Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.25(b)(ii).

 

Extension Request” means a written request from the Company to the Administrative Agent requesting an extension of the Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.25 in the form of Exhibit G.

 

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

 

“FCA” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.05.

 

Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as the NYFRB shall set forth on its public websitethe NYFRB’s Website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the effective federal funds rate, provided that, if the Federal Funds Effective Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Financial Officer” means the president, vice president of finance (or similar title), chief financial officer, principal accounting officer or treasurer of the Company.

 

Fiscal Quarter” means a fiscal quarter of the Company.

 

Fiscal Year” means a fiscal year of the Company.

 

“Floor” means, with respect to any benchmark rate, the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in this Agreement initially for such benchmark rate (as of the execution of this Agreement, the modification, amendment or renewal of this Agreement or otherwise). For the avoidance of doubt, the initial Floor for each of the CDOR Rate, the LIBO Rate, the EURIBOR Rate, Daily Simple ESTR and Daily Simple SONIA shall be 0.0%.

 

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Foreign Borrower Insolvency Event” shall mean (i) a situation of inability to pay its debts as they fall due (cessation de paiements) and absence of access to credit (credit ébranlé) within the meaning of Article 437 of the Luxembourg Commercial Code, (ii) insolvency proceedings (faillite) within the meaning of Articles 437 ff. of the Luxembourg Commercial Code or any other insolvency proceedings pursuant to the Council Regulation (EC) N° 2015/848 of 20 May 2015 on insolvency proceedings, (iii) controlled management (gestion contrôlée) within the meaning of the grand ducal regulation of 24 May 1935 on controlled management, (iv) voluntary arrangement with creditors (concordat préventif de faillite) within the meaning of the law of 14 April 1886 on arrangements to prevent insolvency, as amended, (v) suspension of payments (sursis de paiement) within the meaning of Articles 593 ff. of the Luxembourg Commercial Code, (vi) voluntary or compulsory winding-up pursuant to the law of 10 August 1915 on commercial companies, as amended or (vii) the appointment of an ad hoc director (administrateur provisoire) by a court in respect of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or a substantial part of its assets.

 

Foreign Currency” means any Agreed Currency other than Dollars.

 

Foreign Currency LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the Dollar Amount of the aggregate undrawn and unexpired amount of all outstanding Foreign Currency Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all LC Disbursements in respect of Foreign Currency Letters of Credit that have not yet been reimbursed at such time.

 

Foreign Currency Letter of Credit” means a Letter of Credit denominated in a Foreign Currency.

 

Foreign Currency Sublimit” means $500,000,000.

 

Foreign Employee Benefit Plan” means any employee benefit plan as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA which is sponsored, maintained or contributed to (i) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) for the benefit of the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and, in each case, is not covered by ERISA pursuant to ERISA Section 4(b)(4).

 

Foreign Lender” means (a) if the applicable Borrower is a U.S. Person, a Lender, with respect to such Borrower, that is not a U.S. Person, and (b) if the applicable Borrower is not a U.S. Person, a Lender, with respect to such Borrower, that is resident or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which such Borrower is resident for tax purposes.

 

“Foreign Payment Office” of the Administrative Agent means, for each Foreign Currency, the office, branch, affiliate or correspondent bank of the Administrative Agent for such currency as specified from time to time by the Administrative Agent to the Company and each Lender.

 

Foreign Pension Plan” means any employee pension plan as described in Section 3(2) of ERISA which is sponsored, maintained or otherwise contributed to (i)(A) by any member of the ERISA Group or (B) for the benefit of the employees of any member of the ERISA Group, (ii) is not covered by ERISA pursuant to Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA, and (iii) under applicable local law or terms of such Foreign Pension Plan, is required to be funded through a trust (other than a trust maintained exclusively by a Governmental Authority).

 

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary other than a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

Foreign Subsidiary Borrower” means Masco Europe S.à r.l., a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company organized as a société à responsabilité limitée under the laws of the Grand Duchy of

 

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Luxembourg, having its registered office at 14, rue Strachen, L-6933 Mensdorf, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg Register of Commerce and Companies under number B68.104 and, as of the Effective Date.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

 

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank) and any group or body charged with setting regulatory capital rules or standards (including, without limitation, the Bank for International Settlements or the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision or any successor or similar authority to any of the foregoing).

 

Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Debt of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Debt of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Debt or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Debt; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

 

Guaranteed Obligations” means the Obligations and the Specified Ancillary Obligations, in each case, of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower; provided, however, that the definition of “Guaranteed Obligations” shall not create any guarantee by the Company of (or grant of security interest by the Company to support, as applicable) any Excluded Swap Obligations of the Company for purposes of determining any obligations of the Company.

 

Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

 

IBA” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.05.

 

“Impacted EURIBOR Rate Interest Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “EURIBOR Rate.”

 

Impacted LIBO Rate Interest Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “LIBO Rate”.

 

Increasing Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.

 

Incremental Term Loan” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.

 

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Incremental Term Loan Amendment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20.

 

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 Borrower under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.

 

Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.03(b).

 

Index Debt” means senior, unsecured, long-term indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company that is not guaranteed by any other Person or subject to any other credit enhancement.

 

Ineligible Institution” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.04(b).

 

Information” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.12.

 

Information Memorandum” means the Confidential Information Memorandum dated February 2019, relating to the Company.

 

Interest Election Request” means a request by the applicable Borrower to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.08.

 

Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan (other than a Swingline Loan that is an ABR Loan), the last day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date, (b) with respect to any EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period and the Maturity Date and, (c) as to any SONIA Loan (other than a Swingline Loan), (1) each date that is on the numerically corresponding day in each calendar month that is one month after the Borrowing of such Loan (or, if there is no such numerically corresponding day in such month, then the last day of such month) and (2) the Maturity Date and (d) with respect to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Loan is required to be repaid, the Maturity Date and, in the case of a Swingline Loan in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars or euroEuro that has been continued in accordance with Section 2.05(c), on the date such Swingline Loan is continued.

 

Interest Period” means (a) with respect to any EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter (in each case, subject to the availability for the Benchmark applicable to the relevant Loan or Commitment for any Agreed Currency), as the applicable Borrower (or the Company on behalf of the applicable Borrower) may elect and (b) with respect to each Swingline Loan that bears interest at any rate for which interest periods must be selected for a contracted period of time by a Borrower, the period commencing on the date such Swingline Loan is made by the Swingline Lender (and, in the case of a Swingline Loan in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars or euroEuro that has been continued in accordance with Section 2.05(c), on the date such Swingline Loan is continued) and ending on the date that is seven or thirty days thereafter, as prescribed by Section 2.05(c) (or such shorter period as agreed to between the applicable Borrower and the Swingline Lender in accordance with Section 2.05(c)); provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing only, such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period

 

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shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day and, (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period and (iii) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 2.14(f) shall be available for specification in such Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

 

Interpolated Rate” means, at any time, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the LIBO Screen Rate) determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the LIBO Screen Rate for the longest period (for which the LIBO Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period and (b) the LIBO Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which the LIBO Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, at such time.

 

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

“ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or such successor thereto.

 

Issuing Bank” means (i) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Citibank, N.A. and PNC Bank, National Association, each in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit (including certain Existing Letters of Credit) hereunder, and (ii) any other Lender which has agreed, in its sole discretion, to issue one or more Letters of Credit, and which Lender or affiliate is consented to by the Administrative Agent and the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) in such Lender’s capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, in each case, together with its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.06(i); provided, that each Issuing Bank shall only be required to issue Letters of Credit in the Agreed Currencies then in effect as specified by such Issuing Bank at the time it becomes an Issuing Bank. All references contained in this Agreement and the other instruments, documents or agreements from time to time executed or delivered in connection herewith to “the Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to apply equally to each of the institutions referred to in the first sentence of this definition in their respective capacities as Issuing Banks of, and with respect to, any and all Letters of Credit issued by each such institution. Each Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by branches or Affiliates of the Issuing Bank, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall also include any such branch or Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such branch or Affiliate.

 

LC Account Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(a).

 

LC Collateral Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(j).

 

LC Disbursement” means a payment made by an Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

 

LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn Dollar Amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate Dollar Amount of all LC

 

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Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Company at such time. The LC Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time.

 

LC Overall Sublimit” means $25,000,000.

 

Lender Parent” means, with respect to any Lender, any Person as to which such Lender is, directly or indirectly, a subsidiary.

 

Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 2.20 or pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or otherwise, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or otherwise. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender and any Issuing Bank.

 

“Lender-Related Person” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.03(d)

 

Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement; provided, that with respect to any Foreign Currency Letter of Credit issued hereunder, such term shall also be deemed to include any advance guaranty, performance bond or similar guaranty deemed appropriate by an Issuing Bank.

 

Letter of Credit Commitment” means, with respect to each Issuing Bank, the commitment of such Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder. The initial amount of each Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment is (a) $15,000,000, in the case of each of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Citibank, N.A. and PNC Bank, National Association, or (b) if an Issuing Bank has entered into an Assignment and Assumption or has otherwise assumed a Letter of Credit Commitment after the Effective Date, the amount set forth for such Issuing Bank as its Letter of Credit Commitment in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent. The Letter of Credit Commitment of an Issuing Bank may be modified from time to time by agreement between such Issuing Bank and the Company, and notified to the Administrative Agent.

 

“LIBO Interpolated Rate” means, at any time, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars and for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the LIBO Screen Rate) determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the LIBO Screen Rate for the longest period (for which the LIBO Screen Rate is available) that is shorter than the Impacted LIBO Rate Interest Period; and (b) the LIBO Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which the LIBO Screen Rate is available) that exceeds the Impacted LIBO Rate Interest Period, in each case, at such time; provided that if any LIBO Interpolated Rate shall be less than 0.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be 0.00% for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing denominated in any Agreed CurrencyDollars and for any applicable Interest Period, the LIBO Screen Rate at approximately 11:00 a.m11:00 a.m., London time, on the Quotation Day for such Agreed Currency andtwo Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that, if the LIBO Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (thean “Impacted LIBO Rate Interest Period”), with respect to Dollars then the LIBO Rate for such Agreed Currency and such Interest Period shall be the LIBO Interpolated Rate. It is understood and agreed that all of the terms and conditions of this definition of “LIBO Rate” shall be subject to Section 2.14.

 

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LIBO Screen Rate” means, for any day and time, with respect to any EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing denominated in any Agreed CurrencyDollars and for any Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for such Agreed CurrencyDollars for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on such day and time on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen that displays such rate (or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion); provided that if the LIBO Screen Rate as so determined would be less than zero0.00%, such rate shall be deemed to be zero0.00% for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

“LIBOR” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.05.

 

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, and (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset.

 

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, any promissory notes issued pursuant to Section 2.10(e), any Letter of Credit applications and any and all other agreements or instruments executed and delivered to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent or any Lenders in connection with the Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby.

 

Loans” means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Local Time” means (i) New York City time in the case of a Loan, Borrowing or LC Disbursement denominated in Dollars to, or for the account of, the Company and (ii) local time at the place of the relevant Loan, Borrowing or LC Disbursement (or such earlier local time as is necessary for the relevant funds to be received and transferred to the Administrative Agent for same day value on the date the relevant reimbursement obligation is due) in the case of a Loan, Borrowing or LC Disbursement denominated in a Foreign Currency or which is to, or for the account of, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower.

 

Luxembourg Domiciliation Law” shall mean the Luxembourg law of May 31, 1999, as amended, regarding the domiciliation of companies.

 

Material Adverse Change” means a material adverse change in (i) the business, assets, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole from that reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2018, or (ii) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any and all other Loan Documents or the rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereunder.

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the business, assets, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole from that reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2018, or (ii) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any and all other Loan Documents or the rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereunder.

 

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“Material Foreign Pension Plan” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(j).

 

Material Obligations” means (a) Debt, (b) Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities and/or (c) obligations under one or more Swap Agreements, in each case, of the Company and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries, arising in one or more related or unrelated transactions, in an aggregate outstanding amount exceeding $75,000,000, other than (i) the Loans and Letters of Credit and (ii) Debt owing to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. For purposes of determining Material Obligations, the amount of the obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Company or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

 

Material Plan” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(j).

 

Maturity Date” means, with respect to the Loans and Obligations of any Lender, the later of (a) March 13, 2024 and (b) if the maturity date is extended for such Lender pursuant to Section 2.25, such extended maturity date as determined pursuant to such Section; provided, however, in each case, if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day.

 

Maximum Rate” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.14.

 

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

 

Multiemployer Plan” means at any time an employee pension benefit plan within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any member of the ERISA Group is then making or required to make or, pursuant to an applicable collective bargaining agreement, accruing an obligation to make contributions or has within the preceding five plan years made or been required to make contributions, including for these purposes any Person which ceased to be a member of the ERISA Group during such five year period.

 

Net Consolidated Debt” means, as of any date of determination, (a) Consolidated Debt minus (b) the positive amount (if any) by which the sum of (i) 100% of unrestricted cash and Permitted Cash Equivalent Investments held by the Company or its Domestic Subsidiaries on such date and (ii) 100% of unrestricted cash and Permitted Cash Equivalent Investments held by Foreign Subsidiaries of the Company on such date (net of related tax obligations, if any, for repatriation, withholding and transaction costs and expenses related thereto, in each case, as determined by the Company in its reasonable discretion), exceeds $25,000,000.

 

New Money Credit Event” means with respect to any Issuing Bank, any increase (directly or indirectly) in such Issuing Bank’s exposure (whether by way of additional credit or banking facilities or otherwise, including as part of a restructuring) to the applicable Borrower or any Governmental Authority in such Borrower’s or any applicable Letter of Credit beneficiary’s country occurring by reason of (a) any law, action or requirement of any Governmental Authority in such Borrower’s or such Letter of Credit beneficiary’s country, or (b) any request in respect of external indebtedness of borrowers in such Borrower’s or such Letter of Credit beneficiary’s country applicable to banks generally which conduct business with such borrowers, or (iii) any agreement in relation to clause (a) or (b), in each case to the extent calculated by reference to the Total Revolving Credit Exposure outstanding prior to such increase.

 

Non-Extending Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.25(a).

 

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NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

 

NYFRB Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “NYFRB Rate” means the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m. on such day received by the Administrative Agent from a federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further, that if any of the aforesaid rates as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

“NYFRB’s Website” means the website of the NYFRB at http://www.newyorkfed.org or any successor source.

 

Obligations” means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, all LC Exposure, all accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses, reimbursements, indemnities and other obligations and indebtedness (including interest and fees accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), obligations and liabilities of any of the Company and its Subsidiaries to any of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any indemnified party, individually or collectively, existing on the Effective Date or arising thereafter, direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise, arising or incurred under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or in respect of any of the Loans made or reimbursement or other obligations incurred or any of the Letters of Credit or other instruments at any time evidencing any thereof.

 

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

 

Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities” of a Person means (a) any repurchase obligation or liability of such Person with respect to accounts or notes receivable sold by such Person (including, the principal amount of obligations or liabilities which (i) if structured as a secured lending agreement, constitutes the principal amount thereof or (ii) if structured as a purchase arrangement, would be outstanding at such time if the same were structured as a secured lending agreement rather than a purchase agreement), (b) any indebtedness, liability or obligation under any sale and leaseback transaction evidenced by a sale or other transfer of any property or asset by any Person with the intent to lease such property or asset as lessee, which is not a Capital Lease Obligation or (c) any indebtedness, liability or obligation under any so-called “synthetic lease” transaction entered into by such Person.

 

“Other Benchmark Rate Election” means, with respect to any Loan denominated in Dollars, if the then-current Benchmark is the LIBO Rate, the occurrence of: (a) a request by the Company to the Administrative Agent to notify each of the other parties hereto that, at the determination of the Company, Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time contain (as a result of amendment or as originally executed), in lieu of a LIBOR-based rate, a term benchmark rate as a benchmark rate, and (b) the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and the Company jointly elect to trigger a fallback from the LIBO Rate and the provision, as applicable, by the Administrative Agent of written notice of such election to the Company and the Lenders.

 

Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under,

 

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engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan, Letter of Credit 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 (i) any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.19) and (ii) any Luxembourg registration duties (droits d’enregistrement) payable in the case of voluntary registration of the Loan Documents by an Administrative Agent and Arranger with the Administration de l’Enregistrement et des Domaines in Luxembourg when such registration is not required to maintain, preserve, establish or enforce the rights of that Administrative Agent and Arranger under the Loan Documents.

 

Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurodollar borrowings by U.S.–managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on its public websitethe NYFRB’s Website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate.

 

Overnight Foreign Currency Rate” means, for any amount payable in a Foreign Currency, the rate of interest per annum as determined by the Administrative Agent at which overnight or weekend deposits in the relevant currency (or if such amount due remains unpaid for more than three (3) Business Days, then for such other period of time as the Administrative Agent may elect) for delivery in immediately available and freely transferable funds would be offered by the Administrative Agent to major banks in the interbank market upon request of such major banks for the relevant currency as determined above and in an amount comparable to the unpaid principal amount of the related Credit Event, plus any taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed upon, or charged to, the Administrative Agent by any relevant correspondent bank in respect of such amount in such relevant currency.

 

Participant” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.04.

 

Participant Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.04.

 

Participating Member State” means any member state of the EU that adopts or has adopted the euroEuro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the EU relating to economic and monetary union.

 

Patriot Act” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.13.

 

“Payment” has the meaning assigned to it in Article VIII.

 

“Payment Notice” has the meaning assigned to it in Article VIII.

 

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

 

Permitted Cash Equivalent Investments” means:

 

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

 

(b) investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, a credit rating obtainable from S&P of A-1 or higher or from Moody’s of P-1 or higher;

 

(c) investments in certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and time deposits maturing within 360 days from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any financial institution which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000 and which has a credit rating of A- or higher from S&P and A3 or higher from Moody’s (or, in the case of any such financial institution located in a jurisdiction outside the United States of America which is not so rated, which has comparable other credit ratings or, if none exist, is otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent);

 

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

 

(e) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in SEC 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 $1,000,000,000;

 

(f) [reserved]; and

 

(g) foreign investments substantially comparable to any of the foregoing in connection with managing cash of any Subsidiary having operations in a foreign country.

 

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

 

Plan” means at any time an employee pension benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code and either (i) is sponsored, maintained, or contributed to, (A) by any member of the ERISA Group or (B) for employees of any member of the ERISA Group or (ii) has at any time within the preceding five years been sponsored, maintained, or contributed to, by any Person which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group or for employees of any Person which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group.

 

Plan Asset Regulations” means 29 CFR § 2510.3-101 et seq., as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA.

 

Pounds Sterling” or “£” means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.

 

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the U.S. or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted

 

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therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.

 

Prior Plan” means at any time (i) any Plan which at such time is no longer sponsored, maintained or contributed to by any member of the ERISA Group or (ii) any Multiemployer Plan to which no member of the ERISA Group is at such time any longer making contributions or, pursuant to an applicable collective bargaining agreement, accruing an obligation to make contributions.

 

Pro Forma Basis” means, with respect to any event, that the Company is in compliance on a pro forma basis with the applicable covenant, calculation or requirement herein recomputed as if the event with respect to which compliance on a pro forma basis is being tested had occurred on the first day of the four fiscal quarter period most recently ended on or prior to such date in accordance with Section 1.04(b).

 

PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

 

“QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

 

“QFC Credit Support” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.18.

 

Quotation Day” means, with respect to any EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing for any Interest Period, (i) if the currency is Pounds Sterling, the first day of such Interest Period, (ii) if the currency is euroEuro, the day that is two (2) TARGET2 Days before the first day of such Interest Period, and (iii) for any other currency, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period (unless, in each case, market practice differs in the relevant market where the LIBO Rate for such currency is to be determined, in which case the Quotation Day will be determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with market practice in such market (and if quotations would normally be given on more than one day, then the Quotation Day will be the last of those days)).

 

Recipient” means (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) any Issuing Bank, as applicable.

 

“Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is LIBO Rate, 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the day that is two Business Days preceding the date of such setting, (2) if such Benchmark is EURIBOR Rate, 11:00 a.m. Brussels time two TARGET Days preceding the date of such setting, (3) if such Benchmark is CDOR Rate, 11:00 a.m. Toronto, Ontario time on the Business Day of such setting, (4) if such Benchmark is SONIA, 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the day that is four Business Days preceding the date of such setting, (5) if such Benchmark is ESTR, 11:00 a.m. (Brussels time) on the day that is four Business Days preceding the date of such setting and (6) if such Benchmark is none of the LIBO Rate, the EURIBOR Rate, the CDOR Rate, SONIA or ESTR, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

 

Refunding” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.08(b).

 

Refunding Debt” means any Debt of a Person that is deemed to be for the purpose of Refunding other Debt of such Person, as further defined in Section 5.08(b).

 

Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.04.

 

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Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

 

“Relevant Governmental Body” means (i) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in Dollars, the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB or, in each case, any successor thereto, (ii) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in Euros, the European Central Bank, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the European Central Bank or, in each case, any successor thereto, (iii) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in Pounds Sterling, the Bank of England, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Bank of England or, in each case, any successor thereto, and (iv) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Loans denominated in any other currency, (a) the central bank for the currency in which such Benchmark Replacement is denominated or any central bank or other supervisor which is responsible for supervising either (1) such Benchmark Replacement or (2) the administrator of such Benchmark Replacement or (b) any working group or committee officially endorsed or convened by (1) the central bank for the currency in which such Benchmark Replacement is denominated, (2) any central bank or other supervisor that is responsible for supervising either (A) such Benchmark Replacement or (B) the administrator of such Benchmark Replacement, (3) a group of those central banks or other supervisors or (4) the Financial Stability Board or any part thereof.

 

“Relevant Rate” means (i) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the LIBO Rate, (ii) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros, the EURIBOR Rate, (iii) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars, the CDOR Rate, (iv) with respect to any SONIA Borrowing denominated in Pounds Sterling, Daily Simple SONIA, or (v) with respect to any ESTR Borrowing, Daily Simple ESTR.

 

“Relevant Screen Rate” means (i) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the LIBO Screen Rate, (ii) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros, the EURIBOR Screen Rate or (iii) with respect to any Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars, the CDOR Screen Rate, as applicable.

 

Replacement Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.25(c).

 

Required Lenders” means, subject to Section 2.24, at any time, Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposures (provided, that, as to any Lender, clause (a) of the definition of “Swingline Exposure” shall only be applicable in calculating a Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure to the extent such Lender shall have funded its respective participations in the outstanding Swingline Loans) and Unfunded Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure and Unfunded Commitments at such time; provided that, for purposes of declaring the Loans to be due and payable pursuant to Section 6.01, and for all purposes after the Loans become due and payable pursuant to Section 6.01 or the Commitments expire or terminate, then, as to each Lender, the Unfunded Commitment of each Lender shall be deemed to be zero.

 

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

 

Responsible Officer” means a vice president or a Financial Officer of the Company.

 

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Revolving Credit Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal Dollar Amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans and its LC Exposure and Swingline Exposure at such time.

 

Revolving Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01 (including after giving effect to an increase in the Aggregate Commitment pursuant to Section 2.20).

 

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

 

Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).

 

Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, (b) any Person located, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (c) any Person 50 percent or more owned by any Person or Persons included on one of the lists specified in clause (a), or (d) any Person otherwise the subject of any Sanctions.

 

Sanctions” means all economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

 

SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Significant Subsidiaries” means any of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any one or more Subsidiaries which, if considered in the aggregate as a single Subsidiary, would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

“SOFR” means, with respect to any Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate for such Business Day published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website on the immediately succeeding Business Day.

 

“SOFR Administrator” means the NYFRB (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

 

“SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the NYFRB’s Website, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.

 

“SONIA” means, with respect to any Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the Sterling Overnight Index Average for such Business Day published by the SONIA Administrator on the SONIA Administrator’s Website on the immediately succeeding Business Day.

 

“SONIA Administrator” means the Bank of England (or any successor administrator of the Sterling Overnight Index Average).

 

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“SONIA Administrator’s Website” means the Bank of England’s website, currently at http://www.bankofengland.co.uk, or any successor source for the Sterling Overnight Index Average identified as such by the SONIA Administrator from time to time.

 

“SONIA Borrowing” means, as to any Borrowing, the SONIA Loans comprising such Borrowing.

 

“SONIA Business Day” means, for any SONIA Loan, any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which banks are closed for general business in London.

 

“SONIA Interest Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SONIA”.

 

“SONIA Loan” means a Loan denominated in Pounds Sterling that bears interest at a rate based on Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA.

 

Specified Ancillary Obligations” means all obligations and liabilities (including interest and fees accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, existing on the Effective Date or arising thereafter, direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise, to the Lenders or any of their Affiliates under any Swap Agreement or any Banking Services Agreement.

 

Specified Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Borrower, 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 or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve, liquid asset, fees or similar requirements (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves or other requirements) established by any central bank, monetary authority, the Board, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority, the European Central Bank or other Governmental Authority for any category of deposits or liabilities customarily used to fund loans in the applicable currency, expressed in the case of each such requirement as a decimal. Such reserve, liquid asset, fees or similar requirements shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D of the Board. EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Loans shall be deemed to be subject to such reserve, liquid asset, fee or similar requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under any applicable law, rule or regulation, including Regulation D of the Board. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve, liquid asset or similar requirement.

 

subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held.

 

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Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company.

 

“Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.18.

 

Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Company or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.

 

Swap Obligations” means any and all obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (a) any and all Swap Agreements permitted hereunder with a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, and (b) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any such Swap Agreement transaction.

 

Swingline Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time. The Swingline Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be the sum of (a) its Applicable Percentage of the total Swingline Exposure at such time other than with respect to any Swingline Loans made by such Lender in its capacity as a Swingline Lender and (b) the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans made by such Lender as a Swingline Lender outstanding at such time (less the amount of participations funded by the other Lenders in such Swingline Loans).

 

Swingline Lender” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.

 

Swingline Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.05.

 

Swingline Sublimit” means $100,000,000.

 

TARGET2” means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET2) payment system (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system (if any) reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) for the settlement of payments in euroEuro.

 

TARGET2 Day” means a day that TARGET2 is open for the settlement of payments in euroEuro.

 

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 Benchmark”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate or the CDOR Rate.

 

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“Term SOFR” means, for the applicable Corresponding Tenor as of the applicable Reference Time, the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

 

“Term SOFR Notice” means a notification by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders and the Company of the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event.

 

“Term SOFR Transition Event” means the determination by the Administrative Agent that (a) Term SOFR has been recommended for use by the Relevant Governmental Body, (b) the administration of Term SOFR is administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent and (c) a Benchmark Transition Event or an Early Opt-in Election, as applicable (and, for the avoidance of doubt, not in the case of an Other Benchmark Rate Election), has previously occurred resulting in a Benchmark Replacement in accordance with Section 2.14 that is not Term SOFR.

 

Total Revolving Credit Exposure” means the sum of the outstanding principal amount of all Lenders’ Revolving Loans, their LC Exposure and their Swingline Exposure at such time; provided, that, clause (a) of the definition of Swingline Exposure shall only be applicable to the extent Lenders shall have funded their respective participations in the outstanding Swingline Loans.

 

Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrowers of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the borrowing of Loans and other credit extensions, the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.

 

Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or, the Alternate Base Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, the CDOR Rate, the Canadian Prime Rate, Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA or Adjusted Daily Simple ESTR.

 

“UK Financial Institutions” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.

 

“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.

 

“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

 

Unfunded Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the Commitment of such Lender less its Revolving Credit Exposure; provided, that, as to any Lender, clause (a) of the definition of “Swingline Exposure” shall only be applicable in calculating a Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure to the extent such Lender shall have funded its respective participations in the outstanding Swingline Loans.

 

Unfunded Liabilities” means, with respect to any Plan at any time, the amount (if any) by which (i) the value of all benefit liabilities under such Plan, determined on a plan termination basis using the assumptions prescribed by the PBGC for purposes of Section 4044 of ERISA, exceeds (ii) the fair market value of all Plan assets allocable to such liabilities under Title IV of ERISA (excluding any accrued but unpaid contributions), all determined as of the then most recent valuation date for such Plan,

 

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but only to the extent that such excess represents a potential liability of a member of the ERISA Group to the Plan, the PBGC or any other Person under Title IV of ERISA.

 

U.S. Person” means a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 8.18.

 

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(f)(ii)(B)(3).

 

VAT” means value added tax within the meaning of the Luxembourg law of 12 February 1979 relating to value added tax (as amended) or similar legislation in any other jurisdiction and any other tax of a similar nature.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Revolving Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g. , a “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Revolving Borrowing”).

 

SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. The word “law” shall be construed as referring to all statutes, rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or with which affected Persons customarily comply), and all judgments, orders and decrees, of all Governmental Authorities. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws), (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignment set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, (d) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this

 

 

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Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (e) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (f) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights. In addition, with regard to Luxembourg related terms herein, without prejudice to the generality of any provision of this Agreement and with respect to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower incorporated in Luxembourg, a reference to (a) a receiver, administrator, trustee, custodian, conservator or similar officer includes, without limitation, a juge délégué, commissaire, juge-commissaire, manadataire ad hoc, administrateur provisoire, liquidateur or curateur or similar office, (b) a Lien or security interest includes any hypothèque, nantissement, gage, transfert de propriété à titre de garantie, mise en pension, privilège, sûreté réelle, droit de rétention, and any type of security in rem (sûreté réelle) or agreement or arrangement having a similar effect and any transfer of title by way of security, (c) a Guarantee includes any garantie which is independent from the debt to which it relates and any suretyship (cautionnement) within the meaning of Articles 2011 et seq. of the Luxembourg Civil Code, (d) a Person being unable to pay its debts includes that Person being in a state of cessation de paiements or having lost or meeting the criteria to lose its commercial creditworthiness (ébranlement de crédit), (e) by-laws or constitutional documents includes its up-to-date (restated) articles of association (statuts coordonnés), (f) a winding-up, administration, reorganisation, insolvency or dissolution includes, without limitation, bankruptcy (faillite), liquidation, composition with creditors (concordat préventif de la faillite), moratorium or suspension of payments (sursis de paiement), controlled management (gestion contrôlée), general settlement with creditors, reorganisation or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and (g) a manager includes a gérant.

 

SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP; Pro Forma Calculations. (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Company notifies the Administrative Agent that the Company requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Company that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, (i) without giving effect to any election under Accounting Standards Codification 825-10 -25 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Debt or other liabilities of the Company or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Debt in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Debt in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Debt shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof.

 

(b) All pro forma computations required to be made hereunder giving effect to any acquisition or disposition, or issuance, incurrence or assumption of Debt, or other transaction shall in each case be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto (and, in the case of any pro forma computation made hereunder to determine whether such acquisition or disposition, or issuance, incurrence or assumption of Debt, or other transaction is permitted to be consummated hereunder, to any other such transaction consummated since the first day of the period covered

 

 

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by any component of such pro forma computation and on or prior to the date of such computation) as if such transaction had occurred on the first day of the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements shall have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or 5.01(b) (or, prior to the delivery of any such financial statements, ending with the last fiscal quarter included in the financial statements referred to in Section 3.04(a)), and, to the extent applicable, to the historical earnings and cash flows associated with the assets acquired or disposed of and any related incurrence or reduction of Debt, all in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X of the SEC. Such computations may give effect to (i) any projected cost savings (net of continuing associated expenses) expected to be realized as a result of such event to the extent such cost savings would be permitted to be reflected in financial statements prepared in compliance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X of the SEC or (ii) any other cost savings (net of continuing associated expenses) that are reasonably anticipated by the Company to be achieved in connection with any such event and are attributable to actions started or occurring within the 12-month period following the consummation of such event, which the Company, in its reasonable judgment, determines are achievable; provided that if any cost savings included in any pro forma calculations pursuant to this clause (ii) shall at any time cease to be achievable, in the Company’s reasonable judgment, then on and after such time pro forma calculations to be made hereunder shall no longer reflect such cost savings. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) all adjustments pursuant to this paragraph will be without duplication of any amounts that are otherwise included or added back in computing Consolidated EBITDA in accordance with the definition of such term and (y) the aggregate amount of any increase in Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clauses (i) or (ii) of the preceding sentence, and pursuant to clause (x) of the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”, for any applicable period being tested shall not exceed 10% of Consolidated EBITDA as a result of the relevant event in the absence of the adjustments pursuant to clauses (i) or (ii) of the preceding sentence and clause (x) of the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”. If any Debt bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Debt shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Swap Agreement applicable to such Debt).

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein and for all purposes hereunder only those leases (assuming for purposes hereof that such leases were in existence on January 1, 2015) that would have constituted capital leases or financing leases in conformity with GAAP on January 1, 2015, shall be considered capital leases or financing leases for all purposes hereunder, and all calculations and deliverables under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be made or delivered, as applicable, in accordance therewith.

 

SECTION 1.05. Interest Rates; LIBOR Notification. The interest rate on Eurocurrency Loans is determined by reference to the LIBO Rate, which is derived from the London interbank offered ratea Loan denominated in dollars or a Foreign Currency may be derived from an interest rate benchmark that is, or may in the future become, the subject of regulatory reform. Regulators have signaled the need to use alternative benchmark reference rates for some of these interest rate benchmarks and, as a result, such interest rate benchmarks may cease to comply with applicable laws and regulations, may be permanently discontinued, and/or the basis on which they are calculated may change. The London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”), is intended to represent the rate at which contributing banks may obtain short -term borrowings from each other in the London interbank market. In July 2017 On March 5, 2021, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority

 

 

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(“FCA”) publicly announced that, after the end of 2021, it would no longer persuade or compel contributing banks to make rate submissions to the ICE Benchmark Administration (together with any successor to the ICE Benchmark Administrator, the “IBA”) for purposes of the IBA setting the London interbank offered rate. As a result, it is possible that commencing in 2022, the London interbank offered rate may no longer be available or may no longer be deemed an appropriate reference rate upon which to determine the interest rate on Eurocurrency Loans. In light of this eventuality, public: (a) immediately after December 31, 2021, publication of all seven Euro LIBOR settings, all seven Swiss Franc LIBOR settings, the spot next, 1-week, 2-month and 12-month Japanese Yen LIBOR settings, the overnight, 1-week, 2 -month and 12-month British Pound Sterling LIBOR settings, and the 1-week and 2 -month Dollar LIBOR settings will permanently cease; immediately after June 30, 2023, publication of the overnight and 12-month Dollar LIBOR settings will permanently cease; immediately after December 31, 2021, the 1-month, 3-month and 6-month Japanese Yen LIBOR settings and the 1-month, 3-month and 6-month British Pound Sterling LIBOR settings will cease to be provided or, subject to consultation by the FCA, be provided on a changed methodology (or “synthetic”) basis and no longer be representative of the underlying market and economic reality they are intended to measure and that representativeness will not be restored; and immediately after June 30, 2023, the 1-month, 3-month and 6-month Dollar LIBOR settings will cease to be provided or, subject to the FCA’s consideration of the case, be provided on a synthetic basis and no longer be representative of the underlying market and economic reality they are intended to measure and that representativeness will not be restored. There is no assurance that dates announced by the FCA will not change or that the administrator of LIBOR and/or regulators will not take further action that could impact the availability, composition, or characteristics of LIBOR or the currencies and/or tenors for which LIBOR is published. Each party to this agreement should consult its own advisors to stay informed of any such developments. Public and private sector industry initiatives are currently underway to identify new or alternative reference rates to be used in place of the London interbank offered rate. In the event that the London interbank offered rate is no longer available or in certain other circumstances as set forth inLIBOR. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event, an Early Opt-in Election or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, Section 2.14(cb) of this Agreement, such Section 2.14and (c) providesprovide a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the BorrowerCompany, pursuant to Section 2.14(e), in advance of any change to the reference rate upon which the interest rate on EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Loans is based. However, the Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission, performance or any other matter related to the London interbank offered rate or other rates in the definition of “LIBO Rate”SOFR, Daily Simple SONIA, Daily Simple ESTR, LIBOR, CDOR or EURIBOR or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof, (including, without limitation, (i) any such alternative, successor or replacement rate implemented pursuant to Section 2.14(b) or (c), whether upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, a Term SOFR Transition Event, an Early Opt-in Election or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, and (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes pursuant to Section 2.14(d)), including without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate, as it may or may not be adjusted pursuant to Section 2.14(c), will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, SOFR, Daily Simple SONIA, Daily Simple ESTR, the LIBO Rate, CDOR or EURIBOR or have the same volume or liquidity as did the London interbank offered rate (or the euro interbank offered rate) prior to its discontinuance or unavailability. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates and/or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of SOFR, Daily Simple ESTR or Daily Simple SONIA, any alternative, successor or alternative rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) and/or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Company. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain SOFR, Daily Simple ESTR, Daily Simple SONIA, the LIBO Rate, EURIBOR, CDOR or any component thereof, or rates referenced in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability

 

 

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to the Company, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

 

SECTION 1.06. Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized and acquired on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.

 

ARTICLE II

 

The Credits

 

SECTION 2.01. Commitments.

 

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers in Agreed Currencies from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in, subject to Sections 2.04 and 2.11(b), (i) the Dollar Amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Commitment, (ii) the sum of the Dollar Amount of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding the Aggregate Commitment or (iii) the Dollar Amount of the total outstanding Revolving Loans, LC Exposure and Swingline Loans denominated in Foreign Currencies exceeding the Foreign Currency Sublimit. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.

 

(b) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and of any Incremental Term Loan Amendment effected in accordance with Section 2.20, each Lender that has a commitment to fund Incremental Term Loans in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.20 agrees to make its ratable share of such Incremental Term Loans to the applicable Borrower on the applicable effective date for such Incremental Term Loans, in the aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s commitment.

 

SECTION 2.02. Revolving Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Revolving Loan (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall exclude any Swingline Loan) shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required. Any Swingline Loan shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.05.

 

 

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(b) Subject to Section 2.14, each Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurocurrency, Term Benchmark Loans or SONIA Loans as the relevant Borrower may request in accordance herewith; provided that each ABR Loan shall only be made in Dollars and shall only be made to the Company. Each Lender at its option may make any Eurocurrency Revolving Loan denominated in a Foreign Currency by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan (and in the case of an Affiliate, the provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 shall apply to such Affiliate to the same extent as to such Lender); provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the relevant Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or, if such Borrowing is denominated in euroa Foreign Currency, the Equivalent Amount of eurosuch Foreign Currency) and not less than $10,000,000 (or, if such Borrowing is denominated in euroa Foreign Currency, the Equivalent Amount of eurosuch Foreign Currency). At the time that each ABR Revolving Borrowing or SONIA Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or, if such Borrowing is denominated in Pounds Sterling, the Equivalent Amount of Pounds Sterling) and not less than $10,000,000 (or, if such Borrowing is denominated in Pounds Sterling, the Equivalent Amount of Pounds Sterling) ; provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the Aggregate Commitment or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e). Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time.

 

(d) Subject to payment of amounts owing under Section 2.16, a Borrower shall be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Revolving Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.

 

SECTION 2.03. Requests for Revolving Borrowings. To request a Revolving Borrowing, the applicable Borrower, or the Company on behalf of the applicable Borrower, shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request (a) by irrevocable written notice (via a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the applicable Borrower, or the Company on behalf of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, promptly followed by telephonic confirmation of such request) (i) in the case of a EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars and made to the Company, not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, three (3) Business Days (or, solely in the case of a EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing to be made on the Closing Date, two (2) Business Days, subject to the applicable Borrower’s agreement to compensate each Lender, in accordance with Section 2.16, for the loss, cost and expense of any failure to borrow such EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Loan), (ii) in the case of a EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars to the Company) or by irrevocable written notice (via a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by such Borrower, or the Company on its behalf) a Foreign Currency or a Term Benchmark Borrowing to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, not later than four (4) Business Days (, and (iii) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency or a Eurocurrency Borrowing to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower)SONIA Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m. New York City time, five (5) Business Days, in each case before the date of the proposed Borrowing, or (b) by telephone in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one (1)

 

 

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Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that any such notice of an ABR Revolving Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e) may be given not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request pursuant to clause (b) in the preceding sentence shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the applicable Borrower, or the Company on behalf of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

 

(i)  the name of the applicable Borrower;

 

(ii)   the Agreed Currency and the aggregate principal amount of the requested Borrowing;

 

(iii)  the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

 

(iv)   whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurocurrency, a SONIA Borrowing or a Term Benchmark Borrowing;

 

(v)   in the case of a EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing, the Agreed Currency and initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”; and

 

(vi)   the location and number of the applicable Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.07.

 

If no election as to the Type of Revolving Borrowing is specified, then, in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars to the Company, the requested Revolving Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Revolving Borrowing, then the relevant Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall a Borrower be permitted to request pursuant to this Section 2.03 (a) a Canadian Prime Loan or a CBR Loan (it being understood and agreed that the Canadian Prime Rate and a Central Bank Rate shall only apply to the extent provided in Sections 2.08(e), 2.14(a) and 2.14(g)) or (b) an ESTR Loan (it being understood and agreed that Daily Simple ESTR shall only be available for Swingline Loans).

 

SECTION 2.04. Determination of Dollar Amounts. The Administrative Agent will determine the Dollar Amount of:

 

(a) each EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing or SONIA Borrowing (other than Swingline Borrowings) as of the date two (2) Business Days prior to the date of such

 

 

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Borrowing or, if applicable, the date of conversion/continuation of any Borrowing as a EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing,

 

(b) each Swingline Borrowing (i) as of the date of each request for the applicable Swingline Borrowing, (ii) in the case of any Swingline Loan in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars or euroEuro that the Swingline Lender has agreed, in its sole discretion, to continue in accordance with Section 2.05(c), as of the date two (2) Business Days prior to the date of such continuation and (iii) any Business Day elected by the Administrative Agent on or after the date on which a Swingline Loan denominated in a Foreign Currency converts to Dollars pursuant to Section 2.05(d) or otherwise,

 

(c) the LC Exposure (i) as of the date of each request for the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit and (ii) any Business Day elected by the Administrative Agent on or after the date on which a Foreign Currency Letter of Credit converts to Dollars pursuant to Section 2.06(e) or (k) or otherwise,

 

(d) any specific outstanding Credit Event as and when otherwise required by this Agreement, and

 

(e) all outstanding Credit Events on and as of the last Business Day of each calendar quarter and, during the continuation of an Event of Default, on any other Business Day elected by the Administrative Agent in its discretion or upon instruction by the Required Lenders.

 

Each day upon or as of which the Administrative Agent determines Dollar Amounts as described in the preceding clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) is herein described as a “Computation Date” with respect to each Credit Event for which a Dollar Amount is determined on or as of such day.

 

SECTION 2.05. Swingline Loans. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender may in its sole discretion make Swingline Loans in Agreed Currencies to the Borrowers from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal Dollar Amount at any time outstanding that will not result in, subject to Sections 2.04 and 2.11(b), (i) the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding the Swingline Sublimit, (ii) the Dollar Amount of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding the Aggregate Commitment, (iii) the Dollar Amount of the Swingline Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding its Commitment or (iv) the Dollar Amount of the total outstanding Revolving Loans, LC Exposure and Swingline Loans denominated in Foreign Currencies exceeding the Foreign Currency Sublimit; provided that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans. Subject to Section 2.14, Swingline Loans shall bear interest at the rates prescribed in Section 2.13(c). The Swingline Lender at its option may make any Swingline Loan denominated in a Foreign Currency by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Swingline Lender to make such Loan (and in the case of an Affiliate, the provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 shall apply to such Affiliate to the same extent as to the Swingline Lender); provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the relevant Borrower to repay such Swingline Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

 

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(b) Each Swingline Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $1,000,000 (or, if such Borrowing is denominated in a Foreign Currency, the Equivalent Amount of such currency), or such other minimum amounts and multiples as the Swingline Lender shall determine. To request a Swingline Loan, the applicable Borrower, or the Company on behalf of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request (i) by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) in the case of a Swingline Loan that is an ABR Loan, and (ii) by telecopy in all other cases, not later than 12:00 noon, Local Time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan in the case of a Swingline Loan to the Company in Dollars, and not later than the time agreed upon by the applicable Borrower and Swingline Lender with respect to a Swingline Loan in a Foreign Currency or to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the name of the applicable Borrower, the requested date (which shall be a Business Day), the relevant Agreed Currency, and the requested maturity date and, if applicable, the Interest Period therefor. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Borrower shall be entitled to request, or to elect to continue, any Swingline Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of any such notice received from the Company or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower. The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to the applicable Borrower by means of a credit to the general deposit account of such Borrower with the Swingline Lender (or, in the case of a Swingline Loan made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e), by remittance to the applicable Issuing Bank) by 3:00 p.m., Local Time, on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.

 

(c) Subject to Section 2.10, each Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of such Swingline Loan with interest on the earlier of (i) the Maturity Date and (ii) (x) in the case of any Swingline Loan denominated in Dollars or euroEuro, on the seventh (7th) day after such Swingline Loan is made (or such shorter period with respect to principal or interest as the Swingline Lender and the applicable Borrower shall have agreed), and (y) in the case of any Swingline Loan denominated in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars or euroEuro on the thirtieth (30th) day after such Swingline Loan is made (or such shorter period with respect to principal or interest as the Swingline Lender and the applicable Borrower shall have agreed); provided, that upon receipt of written notice from the applicable Borrower no fewer than four (4) Business Days prior to such Swingline Loan’s due date, the Swingline Lender may in its sole and absolute discretion agree to continue such Swingline Loan described in clause (y) as a Swingline Loan for an additional thirty (30) day period (it being understood and agreed that an Interest Payment Date shall still occur on the then current due date); provided, however, that no Swingline Loan may be outstanding as a Swingline Loan for a period greater than 180 consecutive days.

 

(d) The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m., Local Time, on any Business Day require the Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding, and the Lenders shall acquire such participations automatically and without notice upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under clause (h) or (i) of Section 6.01 with respect to the Company or upon an acceleration of the Loans pursuant to Article VI, in any such case, any such Swingline Loans outstanding in a Foreign Currency shall, upon the giving of such notice by the Swingline Lender with respect to any Swingline Loan bearing interest in a Foreign Currency that

 

 

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is not an Agreed Currency for Revolving Loans (or with respect to any other Swingline Loan at the option of the Swingline Lender), immediately and automatically be converted to and redenominated in Dollars equal to the Dollar Amount of each such Swingline Loan determined as of the date of such conversion and shall thereafter bear interest at the rate applicable to ABR Borrowings in the case of a Swingline Loan to the Company, and at the rate applicable to EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowings in Dollars with an Interest Period of one month in the case of a Swingline Loan to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower. Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount or Dollar Amount of Swingline Loans in which Lenders will participate. Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each Lender, specifying in such notice such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay, in the Agreed Currency or Dollars, as applicable, to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount or Dollar Amount of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Company of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made in Dollars to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender. Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from either Borrower (or other party on behalf of such Borrower) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear; provided that any such payment so remitted shall be repaid to the Swingline Lender or to the Administrative Agent, as applicable, if and to the extent such payment is required to be refunded to either Borrower for any reason. The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve either Borrower of any default in the payment thereof.

 

(e) The Swingline Lender may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Company, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Swingline Lender and the successor Swingline Lender. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of the Swingline Lender. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Company shall pay all unpaid interest accrued for the account of the replaced Swingline Lender pursuant to Section 2.13(a). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (x) the successor Swingline Lender shall have all the rights and obligations of the replaced Swingline Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swingline Loans made thereafter and (y) references herein to the term “Swingline Lender” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Swingline Lender, or to such successor and all previous Swingline Lenders, as the context shall

 

 

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require. After the replacement of the Swingline Lender hereunder, the replaced Swingline Lender shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of a Swingline Lender under this Agreement with respect to Swingline Loans made by it prior to its replacement, but shall not be required to make additional Swingline Loans.

 

(f) Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Swingline Lender, the Swingline Lender may resign as Swingline Lender at any time upon thirty days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Company and the Lenders, in which case, the Swingline Lender shall be replaced in accordance with Section 2.05(e) above.

 

SECTION 2.06. Letters of Credit. (a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company may request the issuance of Letters of Credit denominated in Agreed Currencies for its own account or for the account of any of its Subsidiaries (the Company or any such Subsidiary, in such capacity, a “LC Account Party ”), in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period; provided, however, that, (i) notwithstanding the issuance of any Letter of Credit for the account of any Subsidiary of the Company, any and all reimbursement obligations in respect of any LC Disbursement, fees, costs, expenses, indemnities or other obligations owing with respect any such Letter of Credit under this Agreement shall constitute primary obligations of the Company (and, if the applicable Issuing Bank so requests, such obligations shall be joint and several obligations the Company and such Subsidiary, as evidenced by a separate agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and such Issuing Bank, signed by such Subsidiary, providing for such joint and several liability and affirming such Subsidiary’s assumption of all of the covenants and other obligations set forth in this Section 2.06) and (ii) notwithstanding anything in clause (i) to the contrary, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or any other Foreign Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary of a U.S. Person and that is disregarded as separate and apart from such U.S. Person for U.S. federal income tax purposes) constituting an LC Account Party shall be liable only to repay reimbursement obligations in respect of any LC Disbursement, fees, costs, expenses, indemnities or other obligations owing with respect to Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or such other Foreign Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary of a U.S. Person and that is disregarded as separate and apart from such U.S. Person for U.S. federal income tax purpose). In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Company to, or entered into by the Company with, an Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. For all purposes of the Loan Documents, the letters of credit identified on Schedule 2.06 (the “Existing Letters of Credit”) shall be deemed to be “Letters of Credit” issued on the Effective Date by the respective Issuing Banks identified on such Schedule. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Issuing Bank shall have any obligation hereunder to issue, and shall not issue, any Letter of Credit the proceeds of which would be made available to any Person (i) to fund any activity or business of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, to the extent such activity or business would be prohibited by Sanctions if conducted by a corporation incorporated in the United States or in a European Union member state or (ii) in any manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by any party to this Agreement.

 

(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Company shall hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the applicable Issuing Bank), for itself or on behalf of any LC Account Party, to the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance,

 

 

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amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the LC Account Party or LC Account Parties, the amount of such Letter of Credit, the Agreed Currency applicable thereto, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. If requested by an Issuing Bank, the Company also shall submit a letter of credit application on such Issuing Bank’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Company shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, subject to Sections 2.04 and 2.11(b), (i) the Dollar Amount of the LC Exposure shall not exceed the LC Overall Sublimit, (ii) the sum of the Dollar Amount of the total Revolving Credit Exposures shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitment and (iii) the Dollar Amount of the total outstanding Revolving Loans, LC Exposure and Swingline Loans denominated in Foreign Currencies shall not exceed the Foreign Currency Sublimit. The Company may, at any time and from time to time, reduce the Letter of Credit Commitment of an Issuing Bank with the consent of the Issuing Bank; provided that the Company shall not reduce the Letter of Credit Commitment of such Issuing Bank if, after giving effect of such reduction, the conditions set forth in clauses (i) through (iii) above shall not be satisfied. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary contained herein, no Issuing Bank shall be obligated to issue or modify any Letter of Credit if, immediately after giving effect thereto, the outstanding LC Exposure in respect of all Letters of Credit issued by such Person and its Affiliates would exceed such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment; provided, that any Letter of Credit issued by an Issuing Bank in excess of its individual Letter of Credit Commitment then in effect shall nonetheless constitute a Letter of Credit for all purposes of this Agreement, and shall not affect the Letter of Credit Commitment of any other Issuing Bank, subject to the limitations on the aggregate LC Exposure set forth in clause (i) of the preceding sentence of this Section 2.06(b).

 

(c) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Maturity Date; provided that, subject to satisfaction of conditions applicable to renewals of Letters of Credit herein, any Letter of Credit with a one-year tenor may provide for the automatic renewal thereof for additional one-year periods (which, in no event, shall extend beyond the date referred to in clause (ii) of this paragraph).

 

(d) Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of any Issuing Bank or the Lenders, each Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Lender, and each Lender hereby acquires from such Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate Dollar Amount amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement

 

 

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made by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Company or any applicable LC Account Party on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Company or any applicable LC Account Party for any reason. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

 

(e) Reimbursement. If an Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Company shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent, subject to this Section 2.06(e) and Section 2.06(k), in the Agreed Currency which was paid by such Issuing Bank pursuant to such LC Disbursement in an amount equal to such LC Disbursement) not later than 12:00 noon Local Time (or 3:00 p.m. Local Time in the event that the Company is reimbursing such LC Disbursement with proceeds of a Swingline Loan), on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Company shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., Local Time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Company prior to such time on such date, then not later than 12:00 noon, Local Time, on the Business Day immediately following the day that the Company receives such notice; provided that, if such LC Disbursement is not less than the Equivalent Amount of $1,000,000, the Company may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 or 2.05 that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing (in the case of any LC Disbursement made in Dollars) or a Swingline Loan (in the case of an LC Disbursement made in any Agreed Currency that is also an Agreed Currency for Swingline Loans) in the amount of such LC Disbursement and, to the extent so financed, the Company’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan. If the Company fails to make such payment when due, then (i) if such payment relates to a Foreign Currency Letter of Credit issued in a Foreign Currency that is not an Agreed Currency for Revolving Loans (or to any Foreign Currency Letter of Credit at the option of the applicable Issuing Bank), automatically and with no further action required, the obligation to reimburse the applicable LC Disbursement shall be permanently converted into an obligation to reimburse the Dollar Amount calculated as of the date when such payment was due, of such LC Disbursement and (ii) in any such case, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Company in respect thereof and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Company, in Dollars, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the applicable Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Company pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the applicable Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse such Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and such Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse an Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of

 

 

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ABR Revolving Loans or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Company of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement. If the Company’s reimbursement of, or obligation to reimburse, any amounts in any Foreign Currency would subject the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to any stamp duty, ad valorem charge or similar tax that would not be payable if such reimbursement were made or required to be made in Dollars, the Company shall, at its option, either (x) pay the amount of any such tax requested by the Administrative Agent, any applicable Issuing Bank or the relevant Lender or (y) reimburse each LC Disbursement made in such Foreign Currency in Dollars, in an amount equal to the Equivalent Amount, calculated using the applicable Exchange Rates, on the date such LC Disbursement is made, of such LC Disbursement.

 

(f) Obligations Absolute. The Company’s obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by an Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Company’s obligations hereunder. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor the Issuing Banks, nor any of their Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Banks; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse any Issuing Bank from liability to the Company to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Company to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Company that are caused by such Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of an Issuing Bank (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment), such Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

 

 

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(g) Disbursement Procedures. Each Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. Such Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Company by telephone (confirmed by telecopy or electronic mail) of such demand for payment and whether such Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Company of its obligation to reimburse such Issuing Bank and the Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.

 

(h) Interim Interest. If an Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Company shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Company reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans plus the Applicable Rate (or, in the case such LC Disbursement is and continues to be denominated in a Foreign Currency, at the Overnight Foreign Currency Rate for such Agreed Currency plus the then effective Applicable Rate with respect to EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Revolving Loans); provided that, if the Company fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.13(d) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse such Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

 

(i) Replacement and Resignation of Issuing Bank. Any Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Company, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of an Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Company shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.12(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of the Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit then outstanding and issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

 

(j) Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Company receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Company shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders (the “LC Collateral Account ”), an amount in cash equal to 103% of the Dollar Amount of the LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon;

 

 

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provided that (i) the portions of such amount attributable to undrawn Foreign Currency Letters of Credit or LC Disbursements in a Foreign Currency that the Company is not late in reimbursing shall be deposited in the applicable Foreign Currencies in the actual amounts of such undrawn Letters of Credit and LC Disbursements and (ii) the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Company described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VI. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Foreign Currency LC Exposure shall be calculated using the applicable Exchange Rate on the date notice demanding cash collateralization is delivered to the Company. The Company also shall deposit cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph as and to the extent required by Section 2.11(b). Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the Obligations. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Company’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse each Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Company for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other Obligations. If the Company is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount and all interest thereon (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Company (A) if provided within three (3) Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived, and (B) if provided pursuant to Section 2.11(b), within three (3) Business Days after cover for LC Disbursements pursuant to Section 2.11(b) is no longer necessary to eliminate the excess referred to therein.

 

(k) Conversion. In the event that the Loans become immediately due and payable on any date pursuant to Article VI or upon an Event of Default of the type described in clause (h) or (i) of Section 6.01 with respect to the Company, all amounts (i) that the Company is at the time or thereafter becomes required to reimburse or otherwise pay to the Administrative Agent in respect of LC Disbursements made under any Foreign Currency Letter of Credit (other than amounts in respect of which the Company has deposited cash collateral pursuant to paragraph (j) above, if such cash collateral was deposited in the applicable Foreign Currency to the extent so deposited or applied), (ii) that the Lenders are at the time or thereafter become required to pay to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent is at the time or thereafter becomes required to distribute to an Issuing Bank pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section in respect of unreimbursed LC Disbursements made under any Foreign Currency Letter of Credit and (iii) of each Lender’s participation in any Foreign Currency Letter of Credit under which an LC Disbursement has been made shall, automatically and with no further action required, be converted into the Dollar Amount, calculated using the Administrative Agent’s Exchange Rates on such date (or in the case of any LC Disbursement made after such date, on the date such LC Disbursement is made), of such amounts. On and after such conversion, all amounts accruing and owed to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in

 

 

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respect of the obligations described in this paragraph shall accrue and be payable in Dollars at the rates otherwise applicable hereunder.

 

(l) New Money Events; Country Risk Events; Change in Law. If any Issuing Bank is requested to issue Letters of Credit in a Foreign Currency or for the account of any Foreign Subsidiary and such Issuing Bank deems, in its reasonable judgment, that complying with such request may at any time subject it to a New Money Credit Event or a Country Risk Event, the Company and the LC Account Party shall, at the request of such Issuing Bank, guaranty and indemnify such Issuing Bank against any and all costs, liabilities and losses resulting from such New Money Credit Event or Country Risk Event, in each case in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Issuing Bank. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if, after the Effective Date, any Change in Law shall make it unlawful for an Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit denominated in a Foreign Currency, then by prompt written notice thereof to the Company and to the Administrative Agent (which notice shall be withdrawn whenever such circumstances no longer exist), such Issuing Bank may declare that Letters of Credit will not thereafter be issued by it in the affected Foreign Currency or Foreign Currencies, whereupon the affected Foreign Currency or Foreign Currencies shall be deemed (for the duration of such declaration) not to constitute a Foreign Currency for purposes of the issuance of Letters of Credit by such Issuing Bank.

 

(m) Reporting Requirements for Issuing Bank. In addition to the notices otherwise required under this Section 2.06, each Issuing Bank (or if such Issuing Bank is an Affiliate of a Lender, then the applicable Lender) shall, no later than the tenth Business Day following the last day of each month, provide to the Administrative Agent, schedules, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, showing the date of issue, LC Account Party or LC Account Parties, amount, currency, expiration date and the reference number of each Letter of Credit issued by it outstanding at any time during such month and the aggregate amount payable by the Company and, if applicable, any other LC Account Party, during such month; provided, however, that the failure to provide such schedules or information shall not result in any liability on the part of such Issuing Bank. In addition, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank (or applicable Lender if such Issuing Bank is an Affiliate of a Lender) shall furnish to the Administrative Agent copies of any Letter of Credit and any request with respect to a Letter of Credit to which such Issuing Bank is party and such other documentation as may reasonably be requested by the Administrative Agent. Upon the reasonable request of any Lender, the Administrative Agent will provide to such Lender information concerning such Letters of Credit.

 

SECTION 2.07. Funding of Borrowings. (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds (i) in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars to the Company, by 1:00 p.m., New York time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders and (ii) in the case of each Loan denominated in a Foreign Currency or to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, by 12:00 noon, Local Time, in the city of the Administrative Agent’s Eurocurrency Foreign Payment Office for such currency and Borrower and at such EurocurrencyForeign Payment Office for such currency and Borrower; provided that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.05. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the relevant Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to (x) an account of the Company maintained with the Administrative Agent in New York City or Chicago and designated by the Company in the applicable Borrowing

 

 

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Request, in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars to the Company and (y) an account of such Borrower in the relevant jurisdiction and designated by such Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request, in the case of Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency or to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower; provided that ABR Revolving Loans or Swingline Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the applicable Issuing Bank.

 

(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the relevant 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 such Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to such Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation (in the case of amounts denominated in Dollars) and greater of the Overnight Foreign Currency Rate and the rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation to be the cost to it of funding such amount (in the case of amounts denominated in a Foreign Currency) or (ii) in the case of such Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans (in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars) or the rate reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be the cost to it of funding such amount (in the case of a Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency). If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.

 

SECTION 2.08. Interest Elections for Revolving Borrowings. (a) Each Revolving Borrowing initially shall be of the Type and Agreed Currency specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurocurrency RevolvingTerm Benchmark Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the relevant Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Revolvingany such Term Benchmark Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. A Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, which shall be administered in accordance with Section 2.05.

 

(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, a Borrower, or the Company on its behalf, shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election (by telephone or irrevocable written notice in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars or by irrevocable written notice (via an Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by such Borrower, or the Company on its behalf) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if such Borrower were requesting a Revolving Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election

 

 

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to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the relevant Borrower, or the Company on its behalf. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, this Section shall not be construed to permit any Borrower to (i) change the currency of any Borrowing, (ii) elect an Interest Period for EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Loans that does not comply with Section 2.02(d) or (iii) convert any Borrowing to a Borrowing of a Type that is not available.

 

(c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

 

(i)The name of the applicable Borrower;

 

(ii)   the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

 

(iii)   the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

 

(iv)   the Agreed Currency applicable to such Borrowing and whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurocurrency, SONIA Borrowing or a Term Benchmark Borrowing; and

 

(v)   if the resulting Borrowing is a EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing, the Interest Period and Agreed Currency to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which Interest Period shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.

 

If any such Interest Election Request requests a EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the applicable Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

 

(d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

 

(e) If the relevant Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurocurrency RevolvingTerm Benchmark Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period (i) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars borrowed by the Company, such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing and (ii) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency (or in Dollars by the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower) in respect of which the applicable Borrower shall have failed to deliver an Interest Election Request prior to the third (3rd) Business Day preceding the end of such Interest Period,

 

 

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such Borrowing shall automatically continue as a EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing in the same Agreed Currency with an Interest Period of one month unless such EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing is or was repaid in accordance with Section 2.11. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Company, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Revolving Borrowing borrowed by the Company may be converted to or continued as a EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing, and (ii) unless repaid, (x) each Eurocurrency RevolvingTerm Benchmark Borrowing borrowed by the Companydenominated in Dollars shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing (and any such Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing in a Foreign Currency shall be redenominated in Dollars at the time of such conversion) atat the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto and (iii) unless repaid, each Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing by the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall automatically be continued as a Eurocurrency Borrowing with an Interest Period of one month.,

 

(y) each Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than Canadian Dollars) and each SONIA Borrowing shall bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Foreign Currency plus the CBR Spread; provided that, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Foreign Currency cannot be determined, any such outstanding affected Term Benchmark Loans denominated in any Foreign Currency or SONIA Loans, as applicable, shall either be (1) converted to an ABR Borrowing denominated in Dollars (in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount of such Foreign Currency) at the end of the Interest Period, as applicable, therefor or (2) prepaid at the end of the applicable Interest Period, as applicable, in full; provided that if no election is made by the applicable Borrower by the earlier of (A) the date that is three Business Days after receipt by the Company of such notice and (B) the last day of the current Interest Period for the applicable Term Benchmark Loan, the applicable Borrower shall be deemed to have elected clause (1) above, and (z) each Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars shall be converted to a Canadian Prime Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

 

SECTION 2.09. Termination and Reduction of Commitments; Termination of Facility.

 

(a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.The Company may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $10,000,000 and (ii) the Company shall not terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, the Dollar Amount of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure would exceed the Aggregate Commitment.

 

(c) The Company shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three (3) Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Company pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Company may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or debt financing, in which case such notice may be

 

 

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revoked by the Company (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.

 

(d) Any such termination of the Commitments specifying termination of this Agreement shall be (i) accompanied by (A) the payment in full of all outstanding Loans, together with accrued interest thereon, and the cancellation and return of all outstanding Letters of Credit (or the cash collateralization of 103% of the Dollar Amount thereof), (B) the payment in full in cash of all reimbursable expenses and other Obligations (other than contingent indemnity obligations), and (C) with respect to any EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Loans prepaid, payment of the amounts due under Section 2.16, if any and (ii) effected pursuant to a payoff letter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 2.10. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) Each Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan made to such Borrower on the Maturity Date in the currency of such Loan and (ii) to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan made to such Borrower as and when, and in the currency, required by Sections 2.05(c) and (d). The applicable Borrower shall repay any Incremental Term Loan made to such Borrower on the dates and in such increments as shall be determined with respect to such Incremental Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.20.

 

(b)  Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of each Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

 

(c)  The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class, Agreed Currency and Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from each Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

 

(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of any Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it to any Borrower be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the relevant Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender and its registered assigns and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 8.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the payee named therein and its registered assigns.

 

 

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SECTION 2.11. Prepayment of Loans.

 

(a) Any Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.11(a). The applicable Borrower, or the Company on behalf of the applicable Borrower, shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) by telephone (confirmed by telecopy or electronic mail) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, three (3) Business Days (in the case of a EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars) or four (4) Business Days (in the case of a EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency), in each case before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one (1) Business Day before the date of prepayment or, (iii) in the case of prepayment of a SONIA Borrowing (other than a Swingline Borrowing), not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, five (5) Business Days before the date of prepayment, or (iv) in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, not later than 12:00 noon, Local Time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.09, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.09. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Revolving Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest to the extent required by Sections 2.05(c) and 2.13 and (ii) break funding payments pursuant to Section 2.16.

 

(b) If at any time, (i) other than as a result of fluctuations in currency exchange rates, (x) the sum of the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all of the Revolving Credit Exposures (calculated, with respect to those Credit Events denominated in Foreign Currencies, as of the most recent Computation Date with respect to each such Credit Event) exceeds the Aggregate Commitment or (y) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all the Revolving Credit Exposures denominated in Foreign Currencies (as so calculated) exceeds the Foreign Currency Sublimit, or (ii) solely as a result of fluctuations in currency exchange rates, (w) the sum of the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all of the outstanding Revolving Credit Exposures (as so calculated) exceeds 105% of the Aggregate Commitment, (x) the sum of the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all of the outstanding Revolving Credit Exposures denominated in Foreign Currencies (as so calculated) exceeds 105% of the Foreign Currency Sublimit, (y) the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all Swingline Loans (as so calculated) exceeds 105% of the Swingline Sublimit, or (z) the aggregate Dollar Amount of all LC Exposures (as so calculated) exceeds 105% of the LC Overall Sublimit, the Borrowers shall in each case immediately repay Borrowings and, in the case of the circumstances under clause (z) or otherwise if no Borrowings are then outstanding, cash collateralize LC Exposure in an account with the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.06(j), as applicable, in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to cause (1) the aggregate Dollar Amount of all Revolving Credit

 

 

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Exposures to be less than or equal to the Aggregate Commitment, (2) the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all Revolving Credit Exposures denominated in Foreign Currencies to be less than or equal to the Foreign Currency Sublimit, (3) the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all Swingline Loans to be less than or equal to the Swingline Sublimit and (4) the aggregate Dollar Amount of all LC Exposures to be less than or equal to the LC Overall Sublimit, as applicable.

 

SECTION 2.12. Fees. (a) The Company agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a facility fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the daily amount of the Commitment of such Lender (whether used or unused) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which such Commitment terminates; provided that, if such Lender continues to have any Revolving Credit Exposure after its Commitment terminates, then such facility fee shall continue to accrue on the daily amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure from and including the date on which its Commitment terminates to but excluding the date on which such Lender ceases to have any Revolving Credit Exposure. Accrued facility fees shall be payable in arrears on fifteen (15) days after the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof; provided that any facility fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. All facility fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

 

(b) The Company agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the same Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Revolving Loans on the average daily Dollar Amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lender’s Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to each Issuing Bank for its own account a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate of 0.125% per annum on the average daily Dollar Amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) attributable to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as such Issuing Bank’s standard fees and commissions (in such Agreed Currencies as such Issuing Bank shall require) with respect to the issuance, amendment, cancellation, negotiation, transfer, presentment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Unless otherwise specified above, participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the fifteenth (15th) Business Day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to any Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within ten (10) days after demand. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

 

 

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(c) The Company agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers, for their own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Company and the Administrative Agent or any Arranger.

 

(d) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in Dollars (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Section 2.12) and immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to an Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of facility fees and participation fees, to the Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

 

SECTION 2.13. Interest. (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan that is an ABR Borrowing) shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate. The Loans comprising each Canadian Prime Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan that is a Canadian Prime Borrowing) shall bear interest at the Canadian Prime Rate plus the Applicable Rate. The Loans denominated in Pounds Sterling comprising each SONIA Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan that is a SONIA Borrowing) shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(b) The Loans comprising each EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars shall bear interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate. The Loans comprising each Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euro shall bear interest at the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate. The Loans comprising each Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars shall bear interest at the CDOR Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(c) Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.05 following the conversion of a Swingline Loan to Dollars, if applicable, each Swingline Loan shall bear interest (a) for Dollar denominated Swingline Loans, at such rate as shall be quoted by the Swingline Lender to the relevant Borrower, but which interest rate shall not exceed, for Swingline Loans denominated in

 

(i) Dollars, the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate, and (b) for Swingline Loans denominated in a (ii) Euro, the Adjusted Daily Simple ESTR plus the Applicable Rate, (iii) Canadian Dollars, the Canadian Prime Rate plus the Applicable Rate, (iv) Pounds Sterling, a rate per annum equal to Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA plus the Applicable Rate or (v) any other Foreign Currency, at the applicable local rate of interest as determined by the Swingline Lender and quoted by the Swingline Lender to the relevant Borrower, as adjusted for associated cost rates or other applicable reserve rates (including the Statutory Reserve Rate), as applicable, and, in each case, as agreed between the relevant Borrower and the Swingline Lender at the time such Swingline Loan is made.

 

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by any Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal and interest of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.

 

 

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(e) Accrued interest on each Revolving Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Revolving Loan and upon termination of the Commitments and accrued interest on each Swingline Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date as and when determined in accordance with Section 2.05(c); provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Revolving Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

 

(f) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest (i) computed by reference to the Daily Simple SONIA, Canadian Prime Rate, CDOR Rate or the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year) and (ii) for Borrowings denominated in Pounds Sterling shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days, and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or, LIBO Rate, Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, EURIBOR Rate, CDOR Rate, Canadian Prime Rate, Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA, Daily Simple SONIA, Adjusted Daily Simple ESTR and Daily Simple ESTR shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

SECTION 2.14. Alternate Rate of Interest.

 

(a) Subject to clauses (b) (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of this Section 2.14, if:

 

(a) If at the time that the Administrative Agent shall seek to determine the LIBO Screen Rate on the Quotation Day for any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Borrowing the LIBO Screen Rate shall not be available for such Interest Period and/or for the applicable currency with respect to such Eurocurrency Borrowing for any reason, and the Administrative Agent shall reasonably determine that it is not possible to determine the Interpolated Rate (including, without limitation, because the LIBO Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis) (which conclusion shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error), then, (i) if such Borrowing shall be requested in Dollars, then such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing at the Alternate Base Rate and (ii) if such Borrowing shall be requested in any Foreign Currency, the LIBO Rate shall be equal to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion after consultation with the Company and consented to in writing by the Required Lenders (the “Alternative Rate”); provided, however, that until such time as the Alternative Rate shall be determined and so consented to by the Required Lenders, Borrowings shall not be available in such Foreign Currency.

 

(b) If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Borrowing or any Swingline Loan:

 

(i) the Administrative Agent or the Swingline Lender determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for Term Benchmark Borrowing, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO

 

 

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Rate, the LIBO Rate or the rate applicable to such Swingline Loan, as applicable, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, the EURIBOR Rate or the CDOR Rate (including, without limitation, because the LIBORelevant Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis), for a Loan in the applicable currency or for the applicableAgreed Currency and such Interest Period or (B) at any time, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining SONIA, Daily Simple SONIA, ESTR or Daily Simple ESTR; or

 

(ii) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders or the Swingline Lender that the that (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the LIBO Rate or the rate applicable to such Swingline Loan, as applicable, for a Loan in the applicable currency or, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, the EURIBOR Rate or the CDOR Rate for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period or (B) at any time, the applicable currency;Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA or Daily Simple SONIA, or Adjusted Daily Simple ESTR or Daily Simple ESTR, as applicable, for each of Pounds Sterling or Euro, respectively, will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing;

 

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the applicable BorrowerCompany and the Lenders by telephone, telecopy or electronic mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the applicable BorrowerCompany and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (a) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, (iA) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Revolving Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Borrowing as, a EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing in the applicable currency or for the applicable Interest Period, as the case may be, shall be ineffective and any such Term Benchmark Borrowing shall be repaid or, solely if such Term Benchmark Borrowing is denominated in Dollars, converted into an ABR Borrowing on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto, (iiB) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurocurrency RevolvingTerm Benchmark Borrowing in Dollars, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing and (iiiC) if any Borrowing Request requests a EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Borrowing, a SONIA Borrowing or an ESTR Borrowing for the relevant rate above in a Foreign Currency, then the LIBO Rate for such Eurocurrency Borrowing shall be the Alternative Rate; and (b) in the case of any such Swingline Borrowing, (i) any request for the continuation of any such Swingline Loan for an additional thirty (30) days in accordance with Section 2.05(c) shall be ineffective and any such Swingline Borrowing shall be repaid on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto, and (ii) any request for any such Swingline Loan shall besuch request shall be ineffective; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect only one Type of Borrowings, then theall other TypeTypes of Borrowings shall be permitted. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan in any Agreed Currency, any SONIA Loan or any ESTR Loan is outstanding on the date of the Company's receipt of the notice from the Administrative Agent referred to in this Section 2.14(a) with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, SONIA Loan or

 

 

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ESTR Loan, then until the Administrative Agent notifies the Company and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) if such Term Benchmark Loan is denominated in Dollars, then on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), such Loan shall be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, an ABR Loan denominated in Dollars on such day, (ii) if such Term Benchmark Loan is denominated in any Foreign Currency (other than Canadian Dollars), then such Loan shall, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day) bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Agreed Currency plus the CBR Spread; provided, that, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Agreed Currency cannot be determined, any outstanding affected Term Benchmark Loans denominated in any Foreign Currency shall, at the Company’s election prior to such day: (A) be prepaid by the Borrower on such day or (B) solely for the purpose of calculating the interest rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan denominated in any Foreign Currency shall be deemed to be a Term Benchmark Loan denominated in Dollars and shall accrue interest at the same interest rate applicable to Term Benchmark Loans denominated in Dollars at such time, (iii) if such Term Benchmark Loan is denominated in Canadian Dollars, then on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), such Loan shall be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, a Canadian Prime Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars on such day, or (iv) any such SONIA Loan or ESTR Loan shall bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for Pounds Sterling or Euro, as applicable, plus the CBR Spread; provided, that, with respect to this clause (iv), if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the Central Bank Rate for Pounds Sterling or Euro, as the case may be, cannot be determined, any outstanding affected SONIA Loan or ESTR Loan shall, at the Company’s election prior to such day: (A) be prepaid by the Borrower on such day or (B) be converted into ABR Loans denominated in Dollars (in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount thereof) on such day.

 

(c) If at any time the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that (i) the circumstances set forth in clause (b)(i) have arisen and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary or (ii) the circumstances set forth in clause (b)(i) have not arisen but either (w) the supervisor for the administrator of the LIBO Screen Rate has made a public statement that the administrator of the LIBO Screen Rate is insolvent (and there is no successor administrator that will continue publication of the LIBO Screen Rate), (x) the administrator of the LIBO Screen Rate has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the LIBO Screen Rate will permanently or indefinitely cease to be published by it (and there is no successor administrator that will continue publication of the LIBO Screen Rate), (y) the supervisor for the administrator of the LIBO Screen Rate has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which the LIBO Screen Rate will permanently or indefinitely cease to be published or (z) the supervisor for the administrator of the LIBO Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which an applicable LIBO Screen Rate for any Agreed Currency may no longer be used for determining interest rates for loans, then the Administrative Agent and the Company shall (A) endeavor to establish an alternate rate of interest to the LIBO Rate for Loans denominated in Dollars, and (B) endeavor to establish an Alternative Rate as described in clause (a) above for Loans denominated in Agreed Currencies other than Dollars, in each case, that gives due consideration to the then prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest for

 

 

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syndicated loans in the United States in Dollars or such Agreed Currency at such time, as applicable and shall enter into an amendment to this Agreement to reflect such alternate rate or rates of interest and such other related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable (but for the avoidance of doubt, such related changes shall not include a reduction of the Applicable Rate); provided that, if such alternate rate of interest as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 8 .02, (1) any such amendment establishing an alternate rate of interest for Loans denominated in Dollars shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement (other than the Company and the Administrative Agent) so long as the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five (5) Business Days of the date notice of such alternate rate or rates of interest is provided to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that such Required Lenders object to such amendment and (2) any such amendment establishing an Alternative Rate for Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement (other than the Company and the Administrative Agent) so long as the Required Lenders shall have approved such Alterative Rate. Until an alternate rate of interest or Alternative Rate, as applicable, shall be determined in accordance with this clause (c) (but, in the case of the circumstances described in clause (ii)(w), clause (ii)(x) or clause (ii)(y) of the first sentence of this Section 2.14(c), only to the extent the LIBO Screen Rate for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period is not available or published at such time on a current basis), (x) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurocurrency Borrowing, and any Borrowing Request for a Eurocurrency Borrowing in a Foreign Currency shall, in each case, be ineffective and any such Eurocurrency Borrowing shall be at the option of the Company repaid or (solely if such Eurocurrency Borrowing is denominated in Dollars) converted into an ABR Borrowing on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto, and (y) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing in Dollars, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing.

 

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event, an Early Opt-in Election, or an Other Benchmark Rate Election as applicable, and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1) or (2) of the definition of "Benchmark Replacement" with respect to Dollars 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 (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” with respect to any Agreed Currency for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document and subject to the proviso below in this paragraph, with respect to a Loan denominated in Dollars, if a Term SOFR Transition Event and its related Benchmark

 

 

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Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then the applicable Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder or under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that, this clause (c) shall not be effective unless the Administrative Agent has delivered to the Lenders and the Company a Term SOFR Notice. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to deliver a Term SOFR Notice after the occurrence of a Term SOFR Transition Event and may do so in its sole discretion.

 

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

 

(e) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, an Early Opt-in Election, or an Other Benchmark Rate Election, as applicable, (ii) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (iii) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (iv) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to clause (f) below and (v) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent and/or the Company or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 2.14, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.14.

 

(f) 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 Term SOFR, the LIBO Rate, the EURIBOR Rate or the CDOR 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 or will be no longer representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (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 or will no longer be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.

 

 

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(g) Upon the Company’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Company may revoke any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, SONIA Borrowing or ESTR Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Loans, SONIA Loans or ESTR Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, either (x) the Company will be deemed to have converted any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to ABR Loans, (y) the Company will be deemed to have converted any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to Canadian Prime Loans or (z) any request relating to a Term Benchmark Borrowing, SONIA Borrowing or ESTR Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than Canadian Dollars) shall be ineffective. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of ABR based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of ABR. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan, SONIA Loan or ESTR Loan in any Agreed Currency is outstanding on the date of the Company’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, SONIA Loan or ESTR Loan, then until such time as a Benchmark Replacement for such Agreed Currency is implemented pursuant to this Section 2.14, (i) if such Term Benchmark Loan is denominated in Dollars, then on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), such Loan shall be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, an ABR Loan denominated in Dollars on such day, (ii) if such Term Benchmark Loan is denominated in any Foreign Currency (other than Canadian Dollars), then such Loan shall, on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day) bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Agreed Currency plus the CBR Spread; provided that if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Agreed Currency cannot be determined, any outstanding affected Term Benchmark Loans denominated in any Foreign Currency shall, at the Company’s election prior to such day: (A) be prepaid by the Borrower on such day or (B) solely for the purpose of calculating the interest rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan denominated in any Foreign Currency, shall be deemed to be a Term Benchmark Loan denominated in Dollars and shall accrue interest at the same interest rate applicable to Term Benchmark Loans denominated in Dollars at such time, (iii) if such Term Benchmark Loan is denominated in Canadian Dollars, then on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day), such Loan shall be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, a Canadian Prime Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars on such day and (iv) any such SONIA Loan or ESTR Loan shall bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for Pounds Sterling or Euro, as applicable, plus the CBR Spread; provided, that, with respect to this clause (iv), if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that the Central Bank Rate for Pounds Sterling or Euro, as the case may be, cannot be determined, any outstanding affected SONIA Loan or ESTR Loan shall, at the Company’s election prior to such day: (A) be prepaid by the Borrower on such day or (B) be converted into ABR Loans denominated in Dollars (in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount thereof) on such day.

 

 

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SECTION 2.15. Increased Costs. (a) If any Change in Law shall:

 

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, liquidity or similar requirement (including any compulsory loan requirement, insurance charge or other assessment) against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate) or Issuing Bank;

 

(ii)   impose on any Lender or Issuing Bank or the London or other applicable offshore interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein; or

 

(iii)   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;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, continuing, converting into or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan (including, without limitation, pursuant to any conversion of any Borrowing denominated in an Agreed Currency into a Borrowing denominated in any other Agreed Currency) or to increase the cost to such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (including, without limitation, pursuant to any conversion of any Borrowing denominated in an Agreed Currency into a Borrowing denominated in any other Agreed Currency) or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient hereunder, whether of principal, interest or otherwise (including, without limitation, pursuant to any conversion of any Borrowing denominated in an Agreed Currency into a Borrowing denominated in any other Agreed Currency), then the applicable Borrower will pay to such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered as reasonably determined by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient (which determination shall be made in good faith (and not on an arbitrary or capricious basis) and consistent with similarly situated customers of the applicable Lender, the applicable Issuing Bank or such other Recipient under agreements having provisions similar to this Section 2.15 after consideration of such factors as such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient then reasonably determines to be relevant).

 

(b) If any Lender or Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s

 

 

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holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the applicable Borrower will pay to such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered as reasonably determined by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient (which determination shall be made in good faith (and not on an arbitrary or capricious basis) and consistent with similarly situated customers of the applicable Lender, the applicable Issuing Bank or such other Recipient under agreements having provisions similar to this Section 2.15 after consideration of such factors as such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Recipient then reasonably determines to be relevant).

 

(c) A certificate of a Lender or Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or Issuing Bank or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Company and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Company shall pay, or cause any other Person obligated thereon to pay, such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

 

(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Company shall not be required to compensate a Lender or Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Company of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

 

SECTION 2.16. Break Funding Payments. (a) In the event of (aw) the payment of any principal of any (i) EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Loan or (ii) Swingline Loan that has an Interest Period, other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or as a result of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11), (bx) the conversion of any EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (cy) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any (i) EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Loan or (ii) Swingline Loan that has an Interest Period, on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.11(a) and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (dz) the assignment of any (i) EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Loan or (ii) Swingline Loan that has an Interest Period, other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Company pursuant to Section 2.19, then, in any such event, the applicable Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. Such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had

 

 

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such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, the CDOR Rate or other rate applicable to any such Swingline Loan that would have been applicable to such Loan (but excluding any margin), for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for deposits in the relevant currency of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the Eurocurrencyeurocurrency or other applicable market. For the avoidance of doubt, each of the foregoing references to Swingline Loans in this Section 2.16 shall exclude any Swingline Loan that is an ABR Loan. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the applicable Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The applicable Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.

 

(b) With respect to SONIA Loans or ESTR Loans, in the event of (i) the payment of any principal of any such Loan other than on the Interest Payment Date applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or an optional or mandatory prepayment of Loans), or (ii) the assignment of any such Loan other than on the Interest Payment Date applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Company pursuant to Section2.19 ,then ,in any such event ,the applicable Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the applicable Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The applicable Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

 

SECTION 2.17. Taxes. (a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable withholding agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a withholding agent, then the applicable withholding agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable 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 2.17) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

 

(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrowers. The relevant Borrower shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, Other Taxes.

 

(c) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Borrower to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.17, such Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(d) Indemnification by the Borrowers. The applicable Borrower shall indemnify each Recipient, within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any

 

 

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Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient, in each case, on account of any obligation of such Borrower under any Loan Document and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the relevant 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.

 

(e) Indemnification by the Lenders. Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrowers to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 8.04(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).

 

(f) Status of Credit Parties . (i) Any Credit Party 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 Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Credit Party, if reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Credit Party is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.17(f)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Credit Party’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Credit Party to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Credit Party.

 

(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that any Borrower is a U.S. Person:

 

 

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(A)any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to such 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 such Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originalscopies 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 such 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 such 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 originalscopies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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 or IRS Form W-8BEN-E 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 originalscopies of IRS Form W-8ECI;

 

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

 

(4)to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originalscopies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F-2 or Exhibit F-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 F-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

 

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(C)any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to such 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 such Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed originalscopies 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 such 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 Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to such Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by such Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by such Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for such Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

Each Credit Party agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Company and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

 

(g) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.17 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 2.17 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (g) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this

 

 

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paragraph (g), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (g) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

 

(h)VAT.

 

(i)   All amounts set out or expressed in a Loan Document to be payable by any Party to a Credit Party which (in whole or in part) constitute the consideration for a supply or supplies for VAT purposes shall be deemed to be exclusive of any VAT which is chargeable on such supply or supplies, and accordingly, subject to paragraph (ii) below, if VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Credit Party to any Party under a Loan Document, that Party shall pay to the Credit Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying any other consideration for such supply) an amount equal to the amount of such VAT (and such Credit Party shall promptly provide an appropriate VAT invoice to such Party).

 

(ii)   If VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Credit Party (the “Supplier”) to any other Credit Party (the “Recipient”) under a Loan Document, and any Party other than the Recipient (the “Subject Party”) is required by the terms of any Loan Document to pay an amount equal to the consideration for such supply to the Supplier (rather than being required to reimburse the Recipient in respect of that consideration), such Party shall also pay to the Supplier (in addition to and at the same time as paying such amount) an amount equal to the amount of such VAT. The Recipient will promptly pay to the Subject Party an amount equal to any credit or repayment obtained by the Recipient from the relevant tax authority which the Recipient reasonably determines is in respect of such VAT.

 

(iii)   Where a Loan Document requires any Party to reimburse or indemnify a Credit Party for any cost or expense, that Party shall reimburse or indemnify (as the case may be) such Credit Party for the full amount of such cost or expense, including such part thereof as represents VAT, save to the extent that such Credit Party reasonably determines that it is entitled to credit or repayment in respect of such VAT from the relevant tax authority.

 

(i)Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.17 shall survive the

 

resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

 

(j) Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section 2.17, the term “Lender” includes each Issuing Bank and the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

 

 

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SECTION 2.18. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.

 

(a) Each Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) prior to (i) in the case of payments denominated in Dollars by the Company, 12:00 noon, New York City time and (ii) in the case of payments denominated in a Foreign Currency or by the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, 12:00 noon, Local Time, in the city of the Administrative Agent’s EurocurrencyForeign Payment Office for such currency, in each case on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made (i) in the same currency in which the applicable Credit Event was made (or where such currency has been converted in accordance with the terms hereof in the as-converted currency) and (ii) to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 10 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603 or, in the case of a Credit Event denominated in a Foreign Currency or to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, the Administrative Agent’s EurocurrencyForeign Payment Office for such currency, except payments to be made directly to an Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 8.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments denominated in the same currency received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, if, after the making of any Credit Event in any Foreign Currency, currency control or exchange regulations are imposed in the country which issues such currency with the result that the type of currency in which the Credit Event was made (the “Original Currency”) no longer exists, or any Borrower is not able to make payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders in such Original Currency, or the terms of this Agreement require the conversion of such Credit Event into a Dollars, then all payments to be made by such Borrower hereunder in such currency shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, instead be made when due in Dollars in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount (as of the date of repayment) of such payment due, it being the intention of the parties hereto that the Borrowers take all risks of the imposition of any such currency control or exchange regulations or conversion, and each Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Swingline Lender, each Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders from and against any loss resulting from any Credit Event made to or for the benefit of such Borrower denominated in a Foreign Currency that is not repaid to the Swingline Lender, any Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, as the case may be, in the Original Currency.

 

(b) At any time that payments are not required to be applied in the manner required by Section 6.02, if at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed LC Disbursements, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment

 

 

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of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due to such parties.

 

(c) At the election of the Administrative Agent, all payments of principal, interest, LC Disbursements, fees, premiums, reimbursable expenses (including, without limitation, all reimbursement for fees and expenses pursuant to Section 8.03), and other sums payable under the Loan Documents, may be paid from the proceeds of Borrowings made hereunder whether made following a request by a Borrower (or the Company on behalf of a Borrower) pursuant to Section 2.03 or a deemed request as provided in this Section or may be deducted from any deposit account of such Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent. Each Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes (i) the Administrative Agent to make a Borrowing for the purpose of paying each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents and agrees that all such amounts charged shall constitute Loans (including Swingline Loans) and that all such Borrowings shall be deemed to have been requested pursuant to Sections 2.03 or 2.05, as applicable and (ii) the Administrative Agent to charge any deposit account of the relevant Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent for each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents.

 

(d) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Revolving Loans or participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by any Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). Each Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

(e) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the relevant Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the

 

 

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account of the Lenders or any Issuing Bank hereunder that such Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if such Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the Issuing Banks, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to any such Lender or Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the NYFRB Rate (in the case of an amount denominated in Dollars) and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation (including without limitation the Overnight Foreign Currency Rate in the case of Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency).

 

SECTION 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if any Borrower is required to pay Indemnified Taxes or any additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender. The Company hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b) If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15 or (ii) any 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 2.17 or (iii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the Company 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 Section 8.04), all its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 2.15 or 2.17) and obligations under the Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Company shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and if a Commitment is being assigned, each Issuing Bank), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Company (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Company to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

 

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SECTION 2.20. Expansion Option. The Company may from time to time elect to increase the Commitments or enter into one or more tranches of term loans (each an “Incremental Term Loan ”), in each case in minimum increments of $ 50,000,000 and multiples of $1,000,000, so long as, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount of such increases and all such Incremental Term Loans does not exceed $500,000,000. The Company may arrange for any such increase or tranche to be provided by one or more Lenders (each Lender so agreeing to an increase in its Commitment, or to participate in such Incremental Term Loans, an “ Increasing Lender”), or by one or more new banks, financial institutions or other entities (each such new bank, financial institution or other entity, an “Augmenting Lender”; provided that no Ineligible Institution may be an Augmenting Lender), to increase their existing Commitments, or to participate in such Incremental Term Loans, or extend Commitments, as the case may be; provided that (i) each Augmenting Lender, shall be subject to the approval of the Company, the Administrative Agent and, in the case of an increase to the Commitments, each Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender and (ii) (x) in the case of an Increasing Lender, the Company and such Increasing Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, and (y) in the case of an Augmenting Lender, the Company and such Augmenting Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto. No consent of any Lender (other than the Lenders participating in the increase or any Incremental Term Loan) shall be required for any increase in Commitments or Incremental Term Loan pursuant to this Section 2.20. Increases and new Commitments and Incremental Term Loans created pursuant to this Section 2.20 shall become effective on the date agreed by the Company, the Administrative Agent and the relevant Increasing Lenders or Augmenting Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no increase in the Commitments (or in the Commitment of any Lender) or tranche of Incremental Term Loans shall become effective under this paragraph unless, (i) on the proposed date of the effectiveness of such increase or Incremental Term Loans, (A) the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02 shall be satisfied or waived by the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate to that effect dated such date and executed by a Financial Officer of the Company and (B) the Company shall be in compliance (on a Pro Forma Basis reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) with the covenants contained in Section 5.07 and (C) the Company shall have reaffirmed its guaranty of the Guaranteed Obligations of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower (such reaffirmation to be in writing and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received documents (including opinions) consistent with those delivered on the Effective Date as to the corporate power and authority of the Borrowers to borrow hereunder after giving effect to such increase. On the effective date of any increase in the Commitments or any Incremental Term Loans being made, (i) each relevant Increasing Lender and Augmenting Lender shall make available to the Administrative Agent such amounts in immediately available funds as the Administrative Agent shall determine, for the benefit of the other Lenders, as being required in order to cause, after giving effect to such increase and the use of such amounts to make payments to such other Lenders, each Lender’s portion of the outstanding Revolving Loans of all the Lenders to equal its Applicable Percentage of such outstanding Revolving Loans, and (ii) except in the case of any Incremental Term Loans, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have repaid and reborrowed all outstanding Revolving Loans as of the date of any increase in the Commitments (with such reborrowing to consist of the Types of Revolving Loans, with related Interest Periods if applicable, specified in a notice delivered by the applicable Borrower, or the Company on behalf of the applicable Borrower, in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.03). The deemed payments made pursuant to clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be accompanied by payment of all accrued interest on the amount prepaid and, in respect of each EurocurrencyTerm Benchmark Loan, shall be subject to indemnification by the Borrowers pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 if the deemed payment occurs other than on the last day of the related Interest Periods. The Incremental Term Loans (a) shall rank pari passu in right of payment with the Revolving Loans, (b) shall not mature earlier than the Maturity Date (but may have amortization prior to such date) and (c) shall be treated substantially the same as (and in any event no more favorably than) the Revolving Loans; provided that (i) the terms and

 

 

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conditions applicable to any tranche of Incremental Term Loans maturing after the Maturity Date may provide for material additional or different (y) financial or other covenants applicable only during periods after the Maturity Date or (y) prepayment requirements and (ii) the Incremental Term Loans may be priced differently than the Revolving Loans. Incremental Term Loans may be made hereunder pursuant to an amendment or amendment and restatement (an “Incremental Term Loan Amendment”) of this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrowers, each Increasing Lender participating in such tranche, each Augmenting Lender participating in such tranche, if any, and the Administrative Agent. The Incremental Term Loan Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.20. Nothing contained in this Section 2.20 shall constitute, or otherwise be deemed to be, a commitment on the part of any Lender to increase its Commitment hereunder, or provide Incremental Term Loans, at any time. In connection with any increase of the Commitments or Incremental Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.20, any Augmenting Lender becoming a party hereto shall (1) execute such documents and agreements as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request and (2) in the case of any Augmenting Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States of America, provide to the Administrative Agent, its name, address, tax identification number and/or such other information as shall be necessary for the Administrative Agent to comply with “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation, the Patriot Act.

 

SECTION 2.21. Market Disruption. Notwithstanding the satisfaction of all conditions referred to in Article II and Article IV with respect to any Credit Event to be effected in any Foreign Currency, if (a) there shall occur on or prior to the date of such Credit Event any change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls which would in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender (if such Credit Event is a Swingline Loan), each applicable Issuing Bank (if such Credit Event is a Letter of Credit) or the Required Lenders make it impracticable for the Borrowings or Letters of Credit comprising such Credit Event to be denominated in the Agreed Currency specified by the applicable Borrower or (b) an Equivalent Amount of such currency is not readily calculable, then the Administrative Agent shall forthwith give notice thereof to such Borrower, the Lenders and, if such Credit Event is a Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Bank, and such Credit Events shall not be denominated in such Agreed Currency but shall, except as otherwise set forth in Section 2.07, be made on the date of such Credit Event in Dollars, (i) if such Credit Event is a Borrowing, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Dollar Amount of the aggregate principal amount specified in the related request for such Credit Event or Interest Election Request, as the case may be, as ABR Loans (if the applicable Borrower is the Company), unless such Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent at least one Business Day before such date that (A) it elects not to borrow on such date or (B) it elects to borrow on such date in a different Agreed Currency, as the case may be, in which the denomination of such Loans would in the reasonable opinion of the Swingline Lender (if such Credit Event is a Swingline Loan) and the Administrative Agent, or the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders (if such Credit Event is a Revolving Loan) be practicable and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Dollar Amount of the aggregate principal amount specified in the related request for such Credit Event or Interest Election Request, as the case may be or (ii) if such Credit Event is a Letter of Credit, in a face amount equal to the Dollar Amount of the face amount specified in the related request or application for such Letter of Credit, unless such Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent at least one Business Day before such date that (A) it elects not to request the issuance of such Letter of Credit on such date or (B) it elects to have such Letter of Credit issued on such date in a different Agreed Currency, as the case may be, in which the denomination of such Letter of Credit would in the reasonable opinion of the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent be practicable and in face amount equal to the Dollar Amount of the face amount specified in the related request or application for such Letter of Credit, as the case may be.

 

 

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SECTION 2.22. Judgment Currency. If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due from any Borrower hereunder in the currency expressed to be payable herein (the “specified currency”) into another currency, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the specified currency with such other currency at the Administrative Agent’s main New York City office on the Business Day preceding that on which final, non-appealable judgment is given. The obligations of each Borrower in respect of any sum due to any Lender, any Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent hereunder shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than the specified currency and to the fullest extent permitted by law, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by such Lender, Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) may in accordance with normal, reasonable banking procedures purchase the specified currency with such other currency. If the amount of the specified currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to such Lender, Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, in the specified currency, each Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Lender, Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, against such loss, and if the amount of the specified currency so purchased exceeds (a) the sum originally due to any Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, in the specified currency and (b) any amounts shared with other Lenders as a result of allocations of such excess as a disproportionate payment to a Lender under Section 2.18, such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, agrees to remit such excess to such Borrower.

 

SECTION 2.23. Liability of Foreign Subsidiary Borrower. The parties intend that this Agreement shall in all circumstances be interpreted to provide that the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower is liable only for Loans made to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, interest on such Loans, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s reimbursement obligations with respect to any Letter of Credit issued for its account and its ratable share of any of the other Obligations, including, without limitation, general fees, reimbursements and charges hereunder and under any other Loan Document that are attributable to it. The liability of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower for the payment of any of the Obligations or the performance of its covenants, representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be several from but not joint with the Obligations of the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary (including, for this purpose, any Foreign Subsidiary that is a disregarded entity of a U.S. Person for U.S. federal income tax purposes). Nothing in this Section 2.23 is intended to limit, nor shall it be deemed to limit, any of the liability of the Company for any or all of the Obligations, whether in its primary capacity as a Borrower, pursuant to its joint and several liability for the obligations of LC Account Parties under Section 2.06, pursuant to its guaranty obligations set forth in Article IX, at law or otherwise.

 

SECTION 2.24. Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

 

(a) fees shall cease to accrue on the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(a);

 

(b) any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Section 6.02 or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 8.08 shall be applied at such time or times

 

 

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as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Issuing Banks or Swingline Lender hereunder; third, to cash collateralize the Issuing Banks’ LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with this Section; fourth, as the Company may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Company, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) cash collateralize the Issuing Banks’ future LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with this Section; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or Swingline Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to any Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by such Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender's breach of its obligations under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or LC Disbursements in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and LC Disbursements owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or LC Disbursements owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in the Borrowers’ obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure and Swingline Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments without giving effect to clause (d) below. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post cash collateral pursuant to this Section shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto;

 

(c) the Commitment and Revolving Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 8.02); provided, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 8.02, this clause (c) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, consent, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of “such Lender” or each Lender directly affected thereby pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) in the first proviso in Section 8.02(b).

 

(d) if any Swingline Exposure or LC Exposure exists at the time such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:

 

 

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(i)   all or any part of the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender (other than the portion of such Swingline Exposure referred to in clause (b) of the definition of such term) shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages but only to the extent that such reallocation does not, as to any non-Defaulting Lender, cause the Dollar Amount of such non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure to exceeds its Commitment and LC Exposure does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Commitments;

 

(ii)   if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, within three (3) Business Days following notice by the Administrative Agent (x) first, the applicable Borrower shall prepay such Swingline Exposure and (y) second, the Company shall cash collateralize for the benefit of the Issuing Banks only the Company’s obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.06(j) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;

 

(iii)   if the Company cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Company shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is cash collateralized;

 

(iv)   if the LC Exposure of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.12(b) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Applicable Percentages; and

 

(v)   if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure is neither reallocated nor cash collateralized pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Issuing Banks or any other Lender hereunder, all facility fees that otherwise would have been payable to such Defaulting Lender (solely with respect to the portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment that was utilized by such LC Exposure) and letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure shall be payable to the Issuing Banks until and to the extent that such LC Exposure is reallocated and/or cash collateralized; and

 

(e) so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure and the Defaulting Lender’s then outstanding LC Exposure will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the applicable Borrower in accordance with Section 2.24(d), and participating interests in any newly made Swingline Loan or any newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting

 

 

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Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.24(d)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).

 

If (i) a Bankruptcy Event or a Bail-In Action with respect to a Lender Parent shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) the Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Swingline Lender or the applicable Issuing Bank, as the case may be, shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrowers or such Lender, satisfactory to the Swingline Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.

 

In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Company, the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders (other than Swingline Loans) as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.

 

SECTION 2.25. Extension of Maturity Date.

 

(a) The Company may, by delivering an Extension Request to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Lenders), not less than thirty (30) days in advance of the Maturity Date in effect at such time (the “Existing Maturity Date”), request that the Lenders extend the Existing Maturity Date to the first anniversary of such Existing Maturity Date. Each Lender, acting in its sole discretion, shall, by written notice to the Administrative Agent given not later than the date that is fifteen (15) days prior to the Existing Maturity Date, or if such date is not a Business Day, the immediately following Business Day (the “Response Date”), advise the Administrative Agent in writing whether or not such Lender agrees to the requested extension. Each Lender that advises the Administrative Agent that it will not extend the Existing Maturity Date is referred to herein as a “Non-Extending Lender”; provided, that any Lender that does not advise the Administrative Agent of its consent to such requested extension by the Response Date and any Lender that is a Defaulting Lender on the Response Date shall be deemed to be a Non-Extending Lender. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Company, in writing, of the Lenders’ elections promptly following the Response Date. The election of any Lender to agree to such an extension shall not obligate any other Lender to so agree. The Maturity Date may be extended no more than two times pursuant to this Section 2.25.

 

(b) (i) If, by the Response Date, Lenders holding Commitments that aggregate 50% or more of the total Commitments shall constitute Non-Extending Lenders, then the Existing Maturity Date shall not be extended and the outstanding principal balance of all Loans and other amounts payable hereunder shall be payable, and the Commitments shall terminate, on the Existing Maturity Date in effect prior to the Extension Request.

 

(ii) If (and only if), by the Response Date, Lenders holding Commitments that aggregate more than 50% of the total Commitments shall have agreed to extend the Existing Maturity Date (each such consenting Lender, an “Extending Lender”), then

 

 

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effective as of the Existing Maturity Date, the Maturity Date for such Extending Lenders shall be extended to the first anniversary of the Existing Maturity Date (subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.25(d). In the event of such extension, the Commitment of each Non-Extending Lender shall terminate on the Existing Maturity Date in effect for such Non-Extending Lender prior to such extension and the outstanding principal balance of all Loans and other amounts payable hereunder to such Non-Extending Lender shall become due and payable on such Existing Maturity Date and, subject to Section 2.25(c) below, the total Commitments hereunder shall be reduced by the Commitments of the Non-Extending Lenders so terminated on such Existing Maturity Date.

 

(c) In the event of any extension of the Existing Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.25(b)(ii), the Company shall have the right on or before the Existing Maturity Date, at its own expense, to require any Non-Extending Lender to transfer and assign without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 8.04, all its interests, rights (other than its rights to payments pursuant to Section 2.15, Section 2.16, Section 2.17 or Section 8.03 arising prior to the effectiveness of such assignment) and obligations under this Agreement to one or more banks or other financial institutions identified to the Non-Extending Lender by the Company, which may include any existing Lender (each a “Replacement Lender”), provided that (i) such Replacement Lender, if not already a Lender hereunder, shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender (such approvals to not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to the extent the consent of the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender would be required to effect an assignment under Section 8.04(b), (ii) such assignment shall become effective as of a date specified by the Company (which shall not be later than the Existing Maturity Date in effect for such Non-Extending Lender prior to the effective date of the requested extension) and (iii) the Replacement Lender shall pay to such Non-Extending Lender in immediately available funds on the effective date of such assignment the principal of and interest accrued to the date of payment on the outstanding principal amount Loans made by it hereunder and all other amounts accrued and unpaid for its account or otherwise owed to it hereunder on such date.

 

(d) As a condition precedent to each such extension of the Existing Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.25(b)(ii), the Company shall (i) deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the Company dated as of the Existing Maturity Date signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company certifying that, as of such date, both before and immediately after giving effect to such extension, (A) the representations and warranties of the Borrowers set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct and (B) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (ii) first make such prepayments of the outstanding Loans and second provide such cash collateral (or make such other arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank) with respect to the outstanding Letters of Credit as shall be required such that, after giving effect to the termination of the Commitments of the Non-Extending Lenders pursuant to Section 2.25(b) and any assignment pursuant to Section 2.25(c), the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure less the face amount of any Letter of Credit supported by any such cash collateral (or other satisfactory arrangements) so provided does not exceed the aggregate amount of Commitments being extended.

 

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, (i) no consent of any Lender (other than the existing Lenders participating in the extension of the Existing Maturity Date) shall be required for any extension of the Maturity Date pursuant to this Section 2.25 and (ii) the operation of this Section 2.25 in accordance with its terms is not an amendment subject to Section 8.02.

 

ARTICLE III

 

Representations and Warranties

 

The Company (and to the extent applicable thereto, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower) represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 3.01. Corporate Existence and Power. The Company and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower are duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdiction of formation, and have all requisite powers and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on their businesses, considered as a whole, substantially as now conducted. The “centre of main interests” (as that term is used in the Council Regulation (EC) n°2015/848 of 20 May 2015 on insolvency proceedings) of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower is in Luxembourg, and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower has no “establishment” (as that term is used in the Council Regulation (EC) n°2015/848 of 20 May 2015 on insolvency proceedings) outside Luxembourg.

 

SECTION 3.02. Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention; Filing; No Immunity.

 

(a) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower of each Loan Document to which it is a party, are within the Company’s and the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s respective corporate or other like powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other like action, require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority (except filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) and do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law or regulation or of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other constitutive documents of the Company or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or of (i) any material agreement, indenture or instrument binding upon the Company or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be deemed to include any agreement, indenture or instrument evidencing Material Obligations), or (ii) any material judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Company or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(b) To ensure the enforceability or admissibility in evidence of any Loan Document, it is not necessary that such Loan Document be filed or recorded with any court or other authority in Luxembourg or that any stamp or similar tax be paid to or in respect of such Loan Document, except that the registration of a Loan Document may be ordered and a registration fee might become payable if and when such Loan Document is adduced as evidence in a Luxembourg Court or another Luxembourg public authority (“autorité constituée ”) or the registration of the Loan Documents (and/or any documents in connection therewith) with the

 

 

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Administration de l’Enregistrement et des Domaines in Luxembourg may be required in the case of legal proceedings before Luxembourg court (if competent). The qualification by any Lender or the Administrative Agent for admission to do business under the laws of Luxembourg does not constitute a condition to, and the failure to so qualify does not affect, the exercise by any Lender or the Administrative Agent of any right, privilege, or remedy afforded to any Lender or the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document or the enforcement of any such right, privilege, or remedy against the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower. The performance by any Lender or the Administrative Agent of any action required or permitted under any Loan Document will not (i) violate any law or regulation of Luxembourg or any political subdivision thereof, (ii) result in any tax or other monetary liability to such party pursuant to the laws of Luxembourg or political subdivision or taxing authority thereof (other than taxes on the overall net income of such Lender or its applicable lending office or franchise or similar taxes imposed by Luxembourg to the extent such Lender or its applicable lending office shall be situated in Luxembourg), or (iii) violate any rule or regulation of any federation or organization or similar entity of which Luxembourg is a member, except such violations or liabilities, or increases thereof which individually or in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c) Neither the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower nor any of its assets is entitled to immunity from suit, execution, attachment or other legal process. The Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s execution and delivery of the Loan Documents to which it is a party constitute, and the exercise of its rights and performance of and compliance with its obligations under such Loan Document will constitute, private and commercial acts done and performed for private and commercial purposes.

 

SECTION 3.03. Binding Effect. The Loan Documents to which each Borrower is a party have been duly executed and delivered by such party and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with their respective terms, except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

 

SECTION 3.04. Financial Information.

 

(a) The consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2018 and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the Fiscal Year then ended, reported on by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and set forth in the Company’s 2018 Form 10-K fairly present, in conformity with GAAP, the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for such Fiscal Year.

 

(b) Except as disclosed in the Company’s 2018 Form 10-K (but not including any general risk factors specified in such disclosure), no Material Adverse Change has occurred or is continuing.

 

SECTION 3.05. Litigation. There is no action, suit or proceeding pending against, or to the knowledge of the Company threatened against or affecting, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries before any court or arbitrator or any Governmental Authority (i) which, except as disclosed in the

 

 

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Company’s 2018 Form 10-K (but not including any general risk factors included in such disclosure), in the reasonable opinion of the Company, has resulted in or is likely to result in a Material Adverse Change or (ii) which in any manner draws into question the validity of any Loan Document.

 

SECTION 3.06. Compliance with ERISA . Each member of the ERISA Group (i) has satisfied the minimum funding standards of Section 302(a) of ERISA and Section 412(a) of the Code with respect to each Plan and (ii) is in compliance in all material respects with the presently applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code with respect to each Plan. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Benefit Arrangement and each Plan which is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code as currently in effect has been determined to be so qualified and, to the Company’s knowledge, no event has taken place which could reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualified status. No member of the ERISA Group has (x) sought a waiver of the minimum funding standard under Section 412(c) of the Code in respect of any Plan, (y) failed to make any contribution or payment to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan or in respect of any Benefit Arrangement, or made any amendment to any Plan or Benefit Arrangement, which has resulted or could result in the imposition of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other security under ERISA or the Code, in each case securing an amount greater than $10,000,000 or (z) incurred any liability under Title IV of ERISA other than a liability to the PBGC for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA which could materially adversely affect the business, consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, considered as a whole.

 

SECTION 3.07. Environmental Matters. In the ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts appropriate reviews of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates pertinent liabilities and costs (including, without limitation, capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up or closure of properties presently or previously owned or for the lawful operation of its current facilities, required constraints or changes in operating activities, and evaluation of liabilities to third parties, including employees, together with pertinent costs and expenses). On the basis of this review, the Company has reasonably concluded that Environmental Laws are not likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.08. Taxes. United States Federal income tax returns of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been examined and closed through the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2018. The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all United States Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns which are required to be filed by them and have paid all taxes shown as due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company or any Subsidiary, except such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which, in the opinion of the Company, adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP.

 

SECTION 3.09. Not an Investment Company. The Company is not an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

SECTION 3.10. Compliance with Laws. The Company complies, and has caused each Subsidiary to comply, in all material respects with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and requirements of Governmental Authorities (including, without limitation, Luxembourg Domiciliary Law, Environmental Laws and ERISA and the rules and regulations thereunder), except where (i) the necessity of compliance therewith is contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (ii) no officer of the

 

 

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Company is aware that the Company or the relevant Subsidiary has failed to comply therewith or (iii) the Company has reasonably concluded that failure to comply is not likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.11. Foreign Employee Benefit Matters. (a) Each Foreign Employee Benefit Plan is in compliance with all laws, regulations and rules applicable thereto and the respective requirements of the governing documents for such Plan; (b) there are no deficiencies in contributions, payments or other funding required of the Company and its Subsidiaries by applicable law or the governing plan documents with respect to any governmental or statutory Foreign Pension Plan, and the present value of the aggregate accumulated benefit obligations under all other Foreign Pension Plans does not exceed the current fair market value of the assets held in the trusts for such Plans; and (c) there are no actions, suits or claims pending or, to the knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary of it or any member of the ERISA Group with respect to any Foreign Employee Benefit Plan, except in each case where such failure to comply, deficiencies, excess obligations, absence of reserves, or actions, suits or claims would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.12. Properties. (a) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business, except for defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes.

 

(b) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by the Company and its Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.13. Disclosure. (a) Neither the Information Memorandum nor any of the other reports, financial statements, certificates or other written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), 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 misleading as of the date when furnished; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrowers represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions reasonably believed by the Company to be reasonable at the time (it being recognized that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections may differ from the projected results and the differences may be material).

 

(b) As of the Effective Date, to the knowledge of the Company, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification provided on or prior to the Effective Date to any Lender in connection with this Agreement is true and correct in all material respects.

 

SECTION 3.14. Federal Reserve Regulations. No part of the proceeds of any Loan have been used or will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X.

 

SECTION 3.15. No Default. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

 

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SECTION 3.16. Anti- Corruption Laws and Sanctions. The Company has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote compliance by the Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Company, its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company its directors, officers, employees and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of (a) the Company, any Subsidiary or to the knowledge of the Company or such Subsidiary any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or

 

(b) to the knowledge of the Company, any agent of the Company or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person. Any provision of this Section 3.16 shall not apply to any Person if and to the extent that it is or would be unenforceable by or in respect of that Person by reason of breach of any applicable Blocking Law.

 

SECTION 3.17. EEAAffected Financial Institutions. No Borrower is an EEAAffected Financial Institution.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Conditions

 

SECTION 4.01. Effective Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 8.02):

 

(a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy or electronic transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.

 

(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of (i) Kenneth G. Cole, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company, and (ii) Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, outside counsel for the Borrowers, both of which shall be in form and covering such other matters relating to the Borrowers, the Loan Documents or the Transactions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. The Borrowers hereby request such counsel to deliver such opinion.

 

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of Linklaters LLP, Luxembourg counsel for the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, in form and covering such other matters relating to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, the Loan Documents or the Transactions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. The Foreign Subsidiary Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such opinion.

 

(d) The Lenders shall have received (i) audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the two most recent fiscal years ended prior to the Effective Date as to which such financial statements are available, (ii) unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company for each quarterly period ended subsequent to the date of the latest financial

 

 

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statements delivered pursuant to clause (i) of this paragraph and completed at least 45 days prior to the Effective Date and as to which such financial statements are publicly available and (iii) financial statement projections through and including the Company’s 2023 fiscal year, together with such information relating to such projections as the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall reasonably request (including, without limitation, a detailed description of the assumptions used in preparing such projections).

 

(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the Borrowers, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to the Borrowers, the Loan Documents or the Transactions, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel and as further described in the list of closing documents attached as Exhibit E.

 

(f) The Administrative Agent and each requesting Lender shall have received, at least five days prior to the Effective Date and to the extent requested by any of the Lenders, (i) all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act, and (ii) to the extent any Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Borrower shall have received such Beneficial Ownership Certification (provided that, upon the execution and delivery by such Lender of its signature page to this Agreement, the conditions set forth in this clause (f) shall be deemed to be satisfied).

 

(g) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by the President, a Vice President or a Financial Officer of the Company, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02.

 

(h) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that the commitments under the Existing Credit Agreement shall have been terminated and cancelled and all indebtedness and other outstanding payment obligations thereunder shall have been fully repaid (except to the extent being so repaid with the initial Revolving Loans and except in the case of the Existing Letters of Credit deemed to be reissued under Section 2.06 of this Agreement; provided, however, that all fees owing in respect of such Existing Letters of Credit under the Existing Credit Agreement shall be repaid in full).

 

(i) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Effective Date, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Company hereunder.

 

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.

 

SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of the Issuing Banks to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

 

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(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrowers set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of any such representation or warranty already qualified by “Material Adverse Effect” or materiality, in all respects) on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, except for any representation and warranty made as of a specific date, in which case such representation and warranty shall have been true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of any such representation or warranty already qualified by “Material Adverse Effect” or materiality, in all respects) as of such date; provided that the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.04(b) and 3.05 shall only be made on (i) the Effective Date, (ii) the date of any extension of the Maturity Date pursuant to Section 2.25 or (iii) the date of any increase to the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.20).

 

(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrowers on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.

 

ARTICLE V

 

Covenants

 

Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full in cash and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Company covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 5.01. Information. The Company will furnish to the Administrative Agent for distribution to each of the Lenders (including, if so desired, by means of electronic communications in accordance with Section 8.01):

 

(a) as soon as available and in any event within the earlier of (i) ninety-five (95) days after the end of each Fiscal Year and (ii) the date on which the following items are required to be delivered to the SEC, a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flows for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the previous Fiscal Year, all reported on by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or other independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing, whose report shall be without material qualification;

 

(b) as soon as available and in any event within the earlier of (i) fifty (50) days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each Fiscal Year and (ii) the date on which the following items are required to be delivered to the SEC, a condensed consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter, the related

 

 

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condensed consolidated statement of income for such quarter and the related condensed consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the portion of such Fiscal Year ended at the end of such quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding periods of the previous Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail and certified, to the best of his or her knowledge (subject to normal year-end adjustments), as to fairness of presentation, and consistency with GAAP (except for changes concurred in by the Company’s independent public accountants) by a Financial Officer of the Company;

 

(c) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements referred to in subsections (a) and (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Company (i) setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations required to establish whether the Company was in compliance with the requirements of Sections 5.07 to 5.09, inclusive, on the date of such financial statements, (ii) stating, to the best of his or her knowledge, whether any Default exists on the date of such certificate and (iii) if any Default then exists, setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

 

(d) within ten (10) days after any officer of the Company becomes aware of the existence of any Default, unless such Default shall have been cured before the end of such ten (10) day period, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Company setting forth the details of such Default and the action which the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

 

(e) promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all reports on Forms 10 -K, 10-Q and 8-K and similar regular and periodic reports which the Company shall have filed with the SEC;

 

(f) if and when any member of the ERISA Group (i) gives or is required to give notice to the PBGC of any “reportable event” (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) with respect to any Plan which might constitute grounds for a termination of such Plan under Title IV of ERISA, or knows that the plan administrator of any Plan has given or is required to give notice of any such reportable event, a copy of the notice of such reportable event given or required to be given to the PBGC; (ii) receives notice of complete or partial withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA or notice that any Multiemployer Plan is in “endangered” or “critical” status (within the meaning of Section 305 of ERISA), is insolvent or has been terminated, a copy of such notice, (iii) receives notice from the PBGC under Title IV of ERISA of an intent to terminate, impose liability (other than for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA) in respect of, or appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, a copy of such notice; (iv) applies for a waiver of the minimum funding standard under Section 412(c) of the Code, a copy of such application; (v) gives notice of intent to terminate any Plan under Section 4041(c) of ERISA, a copy of such notice and other information filed with the PBGC; (vi) gives notice of withdrawal from any Plan pursuant to Section 4063 of ERISA, a copy of such notice; or (vii) fails to make any payment or contribution to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan or in respect of any Benefit Arrangement or makes any amendment to any Plan or Benefit Arrangement which has resulted or could result in the imposition of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other security, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Company setting forth details as to such occurrence and action, if any, which the Company or applicable member of the ERISA Group is required or proposes to take; provided that no such notice or certificate shall be required unless the aggregate unpaid actual or potential

 

 

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liability of members of the ERISA Group involved in all events referred to in clauses (i) through (vii) above of which officers of the Company have obtained knowledge and have not previously reported under this subsection (f) exceeds $25,000,000; and

 

(g) from time to time (i) such additional information regarding the financial position or business of the Company as the Administrative Agent, at the request of any Lender, or any Issuing Bank may reasonably request and (2) information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

SECTION 5.02. Existence; Conduct of Business. Each Borrower will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence (provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger or consolidation permitted under Section 5.10). Each Borrower will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect the rights, qualifications, licenses, permits, privileges, franchises, governmental authorizations and intellectual property rights material to the conduct of its business, and maintain all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted, except where the Company has reasonably concluded that the failure to comply is not likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 5.03. Compliance with Laws. The Company will comply, and cause each Subsidiary to comply, in all material respects with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and requirements of Governmental Authorities (including, without limitation, Luxembourg Domiciliary Law, Environmental Laws and ERISA and the rules and regulations thereunder) except where (i) the necessity of compliance therewith is contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (ii) no officer of the Company is aware that the Company or any Subsidiary has failed to comply therewith or (iii) the Company has reasonably concluded that failure to comply is not likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company will maintain in effect policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote compliance by the Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions. Any provision of this Section 5.03 shall not apply to any Person if and to the extent that it is or would be unenforceable by or in respect of that Person by reason of breach of any applicable Blocking Law.

 

SECTION 5.04. Use of Proceeds. The Borrowers shall use the proceeds of the Loans to provide funds for general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, acquisitions, refinancing of the Existing Credit Agreement and working capital purposes. None of the proceeds of the Loans made under this Agreement will be used in violation of any applicable law or regulation (including, without limitation, Regulation T, U or X of the Board) . Margin stock (as defined under Regulation U) does not and will not constitute more than 25% of the value of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries. No Borrower will request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and no Borrower shall use directly, or knowingly indirectly, the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, to the extent such activities, businesses or transaction would be prohibited by Sanctions if conducted by a corporation incorporated in the United States or in a European Union member state or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto; it being understood that such covenant shall not apply to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, which is organized in a Member State of the European Union if and to the extent that the expression of, or

 

 

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compliance with, or receipt or acceptance of, such covenant would breach any provision of Council Regulation EC No. 2271/96, as amended from time to time, or breach any applicable implementing legislation. Any provision of this Section 5.04 shall not apply to any Person if and to the extent that it is or would be unenforceable by or in respect of that Person by reason of breach of any applicable Blocking Law.

 

SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. (a) The Company will, and will cause each of its 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, except where the Company has reasonably concluded that failure to comply is not likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b) The Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries considered as a whole will maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is consistent with sound business practice, and the Company will furnish to the Administrative Agent upon request full information as to the insurance carried; provided, that the Company and its Subsidiaries may self-insure to the extent the Company reasonably determines that such self insurance is consistent with prudent business practice.

 

SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection. The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries, in all material respects, are made of all material dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. The Company will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, permit the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself or any requesting Lender, by its representatives and agents, to inspect any of the property, books and financial records of the Company and each Subsidiary, to examine and make copies of the books of accounts and other financial records of the Company and each Subsidiary, and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company and each Subsidiary with, and to be advised as to the same by, their respective officers at such times and intervals, having due regard for the ongoing business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself or any requesting Lender, may reasonably request; provided, however , that if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing no more than one such inspection per calendar year shall be conducted.

 

SECTION 5.07. Financial Covenants.

 

(a) Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio. The Company will not permit the ratio, determined as of the end of each of its Fiscal Quarters, of (i) Consolidated EBITDA to (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense, in each case for the period of four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending with the end of such Fiscal Quarter, to be less than 2.50 to 1.00.

 

(b) Maximum Net Leverage Ratio. The Company will not permit the ratio, determined as of the end of each of its Fiscal Quarters, of (i) Net Consolidated Debt as of the last day of such Fiscal Quarter to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending with the end of such Fiscal Quarter to exceed 4.00 to 1.00.

 

SECTION 5.08. Limitations on Subsidiary Debt.

 

(a) The Company will not at any time permit any Consolidated Subsidiary to create, incur, issue, guarantee, assume or suffer to exist any Debt if, immediately after giving effect thereto, the aggregate outstanding amount of Debt (determined at that time) of all

 

 

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Consolidated Subsidiaries (other than Debt owed to the Company or one or more other Consolidated Subsidiaries) would exceed the greater of (i) 12.5% of Consolidated Tangible Assets (calculated as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter) and (ii) $500,000,000.

 

(b) Subsection (a) above shall not prevent (i) a Consolidated Subsidiary from creating, incurring, issuing, guaranteeing or assuming Debt for the purpose of extending, renewing or Refunding an equal or greater principal amount of Debt then outstanding of such Consolidated Subsidiary; provided, that subsection (a) shall apply to the extent that the aggregate principal amount of any such extending, renewing or Refunding Debt exceeds the aggregate principal amount of the Debt being extended, renewed or refunded, or (ii) the creation, incurrence, issuance, guarantee or assumption of Debt owed to or owned by the Company or a Consolidated Subsidiary. For purposes of 5.08, Debt of a Person (herein defined as “Refunding Debt”) is deemed to be for the purpose of “Refunding” other Debt of such Person if and to the extent that (i) no later than five (5) Business Days after the Refunding Debt is incurred, the Company delivers to the Administrative Agent written notice stating that the purpose of such Debt is to refund outstanding Debt and specifying the Debt to be refunded, (ii) the proceeds of such Refunding Debt are held in the form of cash or Permitted Cash Equivalent Investments (free of any Lien except a Lien securing the specified Debt to be refunded) until such specified Debt is repaid and (iii) such specified Debt to be refunded is repaid within one hundred fifty (150) days after the Refunding Debt is incurred; it being understood and agreed that to the extent that the specified Debt is not so repaid within one hundred fifty (150) days after the Refunding Debt is originally incurred, the Refunding Debt shall be deemed to be incurred as Debt for the purposes of Section 5.08(a) on the one hundred fifty-first (151st) day after such original incurrence.

 

SECTION 5.09. Negative Pledge. Neither the Company nor any Consolidated Subsidiary will create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, except:

 

(a) any Lien on any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary existing on the date hereof provided that the aggregate amount of Debt or other obligations secured thereby does not exceed $50,000,000;

 

(b) any Lien existing on any asset of any entity at the time such entity becomes a Consolidated Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event; provided that the obligations secured by such Lien are not increased and are not secured by any additional assets;

 

(c) any Lien on any asset securing Debt incurred or assumed solely for the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring such asset (or acquiring a corporation or other entity which owned such asset); provided that such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently with or within ninety (90) days after such acquisition;

 

(d) any Lien on any asset of any entity existing at the time such entity is merged or consolidated with or into the Company or a Consolidated Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event; provided that the obligations secured by such Lien are not increased and are not secured by any additional assets;

 

 

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(e) any Lien existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Company or a Consolidated Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such acquisition; provided that the obligations secured by such Lien are not increased and are not secured by any additional assets;

 

(f) any Lien arising out of the refinancing, extension, renewal or refunding of any Debt secured by any Lien permitted by any of the foregoing subsections of this Section; provided that such Debt is not increased and is not secured by any additional assets;

 

(g) any Lien in favor of the holder of indebtedness (or any Person or entity acting for or on behalf of such holder) arising pursuant to any order of attachment, distraint or similar legal process arising in connection with court proceedings so long as the execution or other enforcement thereof is effectively stayed and the claims secured thereby are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and no Default under Section 6.01(k) shall have occurred and is continuing in connection therewith;

 

(h) Liens incidental to the normal conduct of its business or the ownership of its assets which (i) do not secure Debt, (ii) do not secure any obligation in an amount exceeding $150,000,000 and (iii) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of the assets of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole or in the aggregate materially impair the use thereof in the operation of the business of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

 

(i) Liens incurred pursuant to Section 2.06(j) or 2.24(c)(ii); and

 

(j) Liens securing Debt which are not otherwise permitted by the foregoing

 

subsections of this Section; provided that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Debt secured by all such Liens shall not at any time exceed the greater of (i) 5% of Consolidated Tangible Assets (calculated as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter) and (ii) $200,000,000.

 

SECTION 5.10. Consolidations, Mergers and Sale of Assets.

 

(a) Neither the Company nor the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower will directly or indirectly sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, or merge or consolidate with any other Person, or acquire any other Person through purchase of assets or capital stock, unless either (i) the Company or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as applicable, shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or (ii) the successor or acquiring corporation (if other than the Company or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as applicable) shall be a corporation organized under the laws of (x) one of the States of the United States of America in the case of a merger or consolidation of the Company, or (y) the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in the case of a merger or consolidation of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, and shall assume, by a writing reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Required Lenders, all of the obligations of the Company or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, as applicable, under this Agreement, including all covenants herein and therein contained, in which case such successor or acquiring corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company or the Foreign

 

 

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Subsidiary Borrower, as applicable, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a party hereto.

 

(b) No disposition of assets, merger, consolidation or acquisition referred to in subsection (a) of this Section shall be permitted if, immediately after giving effect thereto, any Default would exist under any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Events of Default

 

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. If any of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall occur:

 

(a) any Borrower shall fail to pay (i) when due any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement or (ii) within five (5) days of the due date thereof, any interest, fees or other amounts payable under this Agreement;

 

(b) the Company or, if applicable, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant contained in the first sentence of Section 5.02, Section 5.04 or Sections 5.07 to 5.10, inclusive;

 

(c) the Company shall fail to observe or perform its guaranty of the Guaranteed Obligations pursuant to Article IX hereof;

 

(d) the Company or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall fail to observe or perform (i) any covenant in Section 5.01(d) for five (5) days after written notice thereof has been given to the Company by the Administrative Agent at the request of any Lender or (ii) any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than those covered by subsection (a) or (b) above or clause (i) of this subsection (d)) for thirty (30) days after written notice thereof has been given to the Company by the Administrative Agent at the request of any Lender;

 

(e) any representation, warranty, certification or statement made by the Company or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower in this Agreement or any amendment hereof or in any other Loan Document shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed to have been made; provided that, if any representation and warranty deemed to have been made by the Company or the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to the last sentence of Section 4.01 as to the satisfaction of the condition of borrowing set forth in Section 4.01(b) shall have been incorrect solely by reason of the existence of a Default of which the Company was not aware when such representation and warranty was deemed to have been made and which was cured before or promptly after the Company became aware thereof, then such representation and warranty shall be deemed not to have been incorrect in any material respect;

 

(f) the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries shall fail to make one or more payments in respect of any Material Obligations (other than Acquired Debt in an aggregate

 

 

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outstanding principal amount not exceeding $150,000,000) when due or within any applicable grace period, and such failure has not been waived;

 

(g) any event or condition occurs, or the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary shall fail to observe or perform any term, covenant or agreement contained in any instrument or agreement (other than this Agreement) by which it is bound relating to Debt, obligations under Swap Agreements and/or Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities (other than Acquired Debt in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not exceeding $150,000,000), and the effect of all such failures, events and conditions is to cause the maturity of any Material Obligations to be accelerated or to permit (any applicable period of grace having expired and any required notice having been given) the holder or holders of any Material Obligations (or any Person acting on their behalf) to accelerate the maturity thereof, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to Debt that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of any property or assets;

 

(h) (i) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary shall commence a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to itself or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property under any such law, or shall consent to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it under any such law, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due, or a resolution shall be adopted by either the shareholders or the board of directors of such corporation to authorize any of the foregoing; or (ii) any Foreign Borrower Insolvency Event shall have occurred;

 

(i) an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in any United States Federal court or other court of competent jurisdiction seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to it or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property under any such law, and in each case such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of sixty (60) days; or an order for relief shall be entered against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary as debtors under the federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect;

 

(j) any member of the ERISA Group shall fail to pay when due an amount or amounts aggregating in excess of $3,000,000 which it shall have become liable to pay to the PBGC or to a Plan under Title IV of ERISA; or notice of intent to terminate a Plan or Plans having aggregate Unfunded Liabilities in excess of $75,000,000 (collectively, a “Material Plan”) shall be filed under Title IV of ERISA by any member of the ERISA Group, any plan administrator or any combination of the foregoing; or the PBGC shall institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate, to impose liability (other than for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA) in respect of, or to cause a trustee to be appointed under Section 4042 of ERISA to administer any Material Plan; or a condition shall exist by reason of which the PBGC would be

 

 

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entitled to obtain a decree adjudicating that any Material Plan must be terminated; or there shall occur a complete or partial withdrawal from, or a default, within the meaning of Section 4219(c)(5) of ERISA, with respect to, one or more Multiemployer Plans which could cause one or more members of the ERISA Group to incur a current payment obligation or obligations in excess of $75,000,000 or; the institution by the PBGC or any similar foreign Governmental Authority of proceedings to terminate a Foreign Pension Plan which could reasonably be expected to subject the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to liability in excess of $75,000,000 (a “Material Foreign Pension Plan”); or a foreign Governmental Authority shall appoint or institute proceedings to appoint a trustee to administer any Material Foreign Pension Plan in place of the existing administrator in connection with a plan termination; provided that no Event of Default shall exist under this subsection (j) with respect to any Prior Plan unless it is reasonably likely that one or more members of the ERISA Group is liable with respect to the relevant Unfunded Liabilities or current payment obligation or obligations, as the case may be;

 

(k) a judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of $150,000,000 shall be rendered against the Company or any Subsidiary and such judgment or order shall continue unsatisfied and unstayed for a period of forty-five (45) days;

 

(l) any person or group of persons (within the meaning of Section 13 or 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the SEC under said Act) of 30% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company; or during any period of 12 consecutive months, occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Company by Persons who were neither (i) members of the board of directors on the first day of such period, (ii) nominated, appointed or approved for election by persons referred to in clause (i) constituting at the time of such nomination, appointment or approval at least a majority of such board nor (iii) nominated, appointed or approved for election by directors referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) constituting at the time of such nomination, election or approval at least a majority of such board; or the Company shall cease to be (directly or through its wholly-owned Subsidiaries) the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) directly or indirectly of at least 100% of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower ordinarily having the right to vote at an election of directors; or

 

(m) any material provision of any Loan Document for any reason ceases to be valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms (or the Company or any Subsidiary shall challenge the enforceability of any Loan Document or shall assert in writing, or engage in any action or inaction based on any 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);

 

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Company described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Company, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the

 

 

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Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Obligations of the Borrowers accrued hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers; and in case of any event with respect to the Company described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Obligations accrued hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, exercise any rights and remedies provided to the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents or at law or equity.

 

SECTION 6.02. Application of Payments. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, and notice thereof to the Administrative Agent by the Company or the Required Lenders:

 

(a) all payments received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to Section 2.24, be applied by the Administrative Agent as follows:

 

(i)   first, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts payable to the Administrative Agent (including fees and disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Administrative Agent payable under Section 8.03 and amounts pursuant to Section 2.12(c) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such);

 

(ii)   second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, expenses, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, reimbursement obligations in respect of LC Disbursements, interest and Letter of Credit fees) payable to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (including fees and disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks payable under Section 8.03) arising under the Loan Documents, ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (ii) payable to them;

 

(iii)   third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit fees and charges and interest on the Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements, ratably among the Lenders and the Issuing Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (iii) payable to them;

 

(iv)   fourth, (A) to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, unreimbursed LC Disbursements and any amounts

 

 

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owing with respect to Specified Ancillary Obligations of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower and (B) to cash collateralize that portion of LC Exposure comprising the undrawn amount of Letters of Credit to the extent not otherwise cash collateralized by the applicable Borrower pursuant to Section 2.06 or 2.24, ratably among the Lenders and the Issuing Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause (iv) payable to them; provided that (x) any such amounts applied pursuant to subclause (B) above shall be paid to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the applicable Issuing Bank to cash collateralize Obligations in respect of Letters of Credit, (y) subject to Section 2.06 or 2.24, amounts used to cash collateralize the aggregate amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to this clause (iv) shall be used to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur and (z) upon the expiration of any Letter of Credit (without any pending drawings), the pro rata share of cash collateral shall be distributed to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth in this Section 6.02;

 

(v)   fifth, to the payment in full of all other Obligations, in each case ratably among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to them in accordance with the respective amounts thereof then due and payable; and

 

(vi)   finally, the balance, if any, after all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrowers or as otherwise required by law; and

 

if any amount remains on deposit as cash collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired (without any pending drawings), such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, amounts received hereunder shall not be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligations of the Company.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

The Administrative Agent

 

Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its agent and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf, including execution of the other Loan Documents, and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of the Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

 

The bank 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 such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with the Company or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has

 

 

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occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing as directed by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 8.02), and (c) except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as 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 with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 8.02) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Company or a Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in connection with any Loan Document, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or

 

(v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or its counsel.

 

The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent 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 be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Company), 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.

 

The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers 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 its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs 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.

 

Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Company. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Company (provided that no consultation with the Company shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to appoint a successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and

 

 

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obligations hereunder. The fees payable by any Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between such Borrower and such successor. After the Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 8.03 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while it was acting as Administrative Agent.

 

Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that the extensions of credit made hereunder are commercial loans and letters of credit and not investments in a business enterprise or securities. Each Lender further represents that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder. Each Lender shall, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non -public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Company and its Affiliates) 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 related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder and in deciding whether or the extent to which it will continue as a lender or assign or otherwise transfer its rights, interests and obligations hereunder.

 

None of the Lenders, if any, identified in this Agreement as a Co-Syndication Agent or Co- Documentation Agent shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of such Lenders shall have or be deemed to have a fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender hereby makes the same acknowledgments with respect to the relevant Lenders in their respective capacities as a Co-Syndication Agent or Co-Documentation Agent, as applicable, as it makes with respect to the Administrative Agent in the preceding paragraph.

 

Except with respect to the exercise of setoff rights of any Lender, in accordance with Section 8.08, the proceeds of which are applied in accordance with this Agreement, each Lender agrees that it will not take any action, nor institute any actions or proceedings, against any Borrower or with respect to any Loan Document, without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders or, as may be provided in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, with the consent of the Administrative Agent.

 

The Lenders are not partners or co-venturers, and no Lender shall be liable for the acts or omissions of, or (except as otherwise set forth herein in case of the Administrative Agent) authorized to act for, any other Lender. The Administrative Agent shall have the exclusive right on behalf of the Lenders to enforce the payment of the principal of and interest on any Loan after the date such principal or interest has become due and payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and its respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of any Borrower or any other Borrower, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments,

 

 

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(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement,

 

(iii) (A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, or

 

(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

 

In addition, unless the immediately preceding clause (i) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in the immediately preceding clause (iv), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and its respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of any Borrower that none of the Administrative Agent or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).

 

The Administrative Agent hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide investment advice or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments, this Agreement and any other Loan Documents (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit

 

 

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fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, bankers’ acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

 

Each Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make any Communications available to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks by posting the Communications on IntraLinks™, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar or any other electronic platform chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the “Approved Electronic Platform”).

 

Although the Approved Electronic Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent from time to time (including, as of the Effective Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Approved Electronic Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization method whereby each user may access the Approved Electronic Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders, each Issuing Bank and each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure, that the Administrative Agent is not responsible for approving or vetting the representatives or contacts of any Lender that are added to the Approved Electronic Platform, and that there may be confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders, each Issuing Bank and each Borrower hereby approves distribution of the Communications through the Approved Electronic Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.

 

THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE APPLICABLE PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE APPLICABLE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “APPLICABLE PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY BORROWER, ANY LENDER, ANY ISSUING BANK OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY BORROWER’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM.

 

Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Borrower pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative

 

 

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Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Approved Electronic Platform.

 

Each Lender and Issuing Bank agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that Communications have been posted to the Approved Electronic Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender and Issuing Bank agrees (i) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (which could be in the form of electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s (as applicable) email address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (ii) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such email address.

 

Each of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and each Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but (except as may be required by applicable law) shall not be obligated to, store the Communications on the Approved Electronic Platform in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s generally applicable document retention procedures and policies.

 

Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

 

Each of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and each Borrower hereby agree as follows regarding certain erroneous payments:

 

(i) Each Lender and Issuing Bank hereby agrees that (x) if the Administrative Agent notifies such Lender or Issuing Bank that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Lender from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or otherwise; individually and collectively, a “Payment”) were erroneously transmitted to such Lender or Issuing Bank (whether or not known to such Lender or Issuing Bank), and demands the return of such Payment (or a portion thereof), such Lender or Issuing Bank shall promptly, but in no event later than two (2) Business Days thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender or Issuing Bank to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect, and (y) to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Lender or Issuing Bank shall not assert, and hereby waives, as to the Administrative Agent, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Payments received, including without limitation any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender under the last four paragraphs of this Article VII shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

 

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(ii)  Each Lender and Issuing Bank hereby further agrees that if it receives a Payment from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such Payment (a “Payment Notice”) or (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, it shall be on notice, in each such case, that an error has been made with respect to such Payment. Each Lender and Issuing Bank agrees that, in each such case, or if it otherwise becomes aware a Payment (or portion thereof) may have been sent in error, such Lender or Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such occurrence and, upon demand from the Administrative Agent, it shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.

 

(iii)  Each party hereto hereby agrees that (x) in the event an erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) are not recovered from any Lender that has received such Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Lender or Issuing Bank with respect to such amount and (y) an erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by the Borrower or any other Loan Party; provided, that this Section shall not be interpreted to increase (or accelerate the due date for), or have the effect of increasing (or accelerating the due date for), the obligations of the Borrower relative to the amount (and/or timing for payment) of the obligations that would have been payable had such erroneous Payment not been made by the Administrative Agent; provided, further, that for the avoidance of doubt, the immediately preceding clauses (x) and (y) shall not apply to the extent any such erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from a Borrower for the purpose of making a payment.

 

(iv)  Each party’s obligations under the three immediately preceding paragraphs of this Article VII shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender or Issuing Bank, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations under any Loan Document.

 

 

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ARTICLE VIII

 

Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 8.01. Notices. (a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (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 telecopy, as follows:

 

(i)   if to any Borrower, to such Borrower c/o the Company, 17450 College Parkway, Livonia, MI 48152, Attention of John G. Sznewajs (Telecopy No. (313) 792-6798; Telephone No. (313) 792-6044; e-mail: john_sznewajs@mascohq.com);

 

(ii)   if to the Administrative Agent, (A) in the case of Borrowings by the Company denominated in Dollars, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 South Dearborn, 7th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603, Attention of Joshua Stapleton (Telecopy No. (844) 490-5665; e-mail: JPM.Agency.Servicing.1@JPMorgan.com and joshua.l.stapleton@chase.com) and (B) in the case of Borrowings by the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or Borrowings denominated in Foreign Currencies, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 South Dearborn 7th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603, Attention of Joshua Stapleton (Telecopy No. 844-490-5665), email: jpm.agency.cri@jpmorgan.com and joshua.l.stapleton@chase.com);

 

(iii)   if to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as an Issuing Bank, to it at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60603 (Telecopy No. (214) 307-6874; e-mail: Chicago.LC.Agency.Activity.Team@JPMChase.com); (iv)   if to Citibank, N.A., in its capacity as an Issuing Bank, to it at Citibank, N.A., 1615 Brett Road, New Castle, DE 19720, Attention of: Sathyeswar Arumugam (Telecopy: (646) 274-5000; e-mail: GLOriginationOps@citi.com);

 

(v)   if to PNC Bank, National Association, in its capacity as an Issuing Bank, to it at PNC Bank, National Association, 500 First Avenue, P7-PFSC-02-T, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, Attention of: Milan Vrzic (Telecopy: (877) 717-9534; e-mail: ParticipationLA24BRV@PNC.com);

 

(vi)   if to the Swingline Lender, to it at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in the case of Borrowings by the Company denominated in Dollars, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 South Dearborn, 7th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603, Attention of Joshua Stapleton (Telecopy No. (844) 490-5665; e-mail: JPM.Agency.Servicing.1@JPMorgan.com and joshua.l.stapleton@chase.com) and (B) in the case of Borrowings by the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or Borrowings denominated in Foreign Currencies, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 10 South Dearborn 7th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603, Attention of Joshua Stapleton

 

 

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(Telecopy No. 844-490-5665), email: jpm.agency.cri@jpmorgan.com and joshua.l.stapleton@chase.com); and

 

(vii)   if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

 

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through Approved Electronic Platforms, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).

 

(b) Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereunder may be delivered or furnished by using Approved Electronic Platforms pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the Company may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient, at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i), of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

(c) Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.

 

SECTION 8.02. Waivers; Amendments. (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this

 

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Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

 

(b) Except as provided in Section 2.20 with respect to an Incremental Term Loan Amendment and Section 2.25 with respect to an extension of the Maturity Date, and subject to Section 2.14clauses (b), (c) and (d) of Section 2.14, neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrowers and the Required Lenders or by the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.18(b) or (d), or Section 6.02, in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing or priority of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby, (v) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender (it being understood that, solely with the consent of the parties prescribed by Section 2.20 to be parties to an Incremental Term Loan Amendment, Incremental Term Loans may be included in the determination of Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the Commitments and the Revolving Loans are included on the Effective Date) or (vi) release the Company from its obligations under Article IX without the written consent of each Lender; provided further (x) that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be and (y) any amendment to Section 2.24 shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank.

 

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement and any other Loan Document may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers (x) to add one or more credit facilities (in addition to the Incremental Term Loans pursuant to an Incremental Term Loan Amendment) to this Agreement and to permit extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Revolving Loans, Incremental Term Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (y) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and Lenders.

 

 

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(d) If, in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver or consent requiring the consent of “each Lender” or “each Lender directly affected thereby,” the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained, but the consent of other necessary Lenders is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is necessary but not obtained being referred to herein as a “ Non-Consenting Lender”), then the Company may elect to replace a Non-Consenting Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement, provided that, concurrently with such replacement, (i) another bank or other entity which is reasonably satisfactory to the Company, the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank shall agree, as of such date, to purchase for cash the Loans and other Obligations due to the Non -Consenting Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption and to become a Lender for all purposes under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Non-Consenting Lender to be terminated as of such date and to comply with the requirements of clause (b) of Section 8.04, and (ii) each Borrower shall pay to such Non-Consenting Lender in same day funds on the day of such replacement (1) all interest, fees and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Non-Consenting Lender by such Borrower hereunder to and including the date of termination, including without limitation payments due to such Non-Consenting Lender under Sections 2.15 and 2.17, and (2) an amount, if any, equal to the payment which would have been due to such Lender on the day of such replacement under Section 2.16 had the Loans of such Non-Consenting Lender been prepaid on such date rather than sold to the replacement Lender.

 

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Borrowers only, amend, modify or supplement this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency. Both before and promptly after the execution thereof, the Administrative Agent shall furnish a copy of such amendment, modification or supplement to each Lender.

 

SECTION 8.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The Company shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication and distribution (including, without limitation, via the internet or through a service such as IntraLinks™) of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of -pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and any other Loan Document, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out -of -pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in connection therewith in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

 

(b) The Company shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and 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, including the fees, charges and disbursements of a single firm of counsel for all such Indemnitees, taken as a whole and, if

 

 

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necessary, of a single firm of local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single firm of special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for all such Indemnitees, taken as a whole (and, solely in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest where the indemnified person affected by such conflict notifies you of the existence of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, of one other firm of counsel for each such affected Indemnitee), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of any Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not such claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding is brought by a Borrower or its respective equity holders, Affiliates, Creditors or any other third Person and whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of, or the material breach of any express material obligation of, such Indemnitee or (y) arise from any proceeding not involving any act or omission by the Company or its Affiliates and that is brought by any Indemnitee against any other Indemnitee (other than any proceeding brought against an Indemnitee in its capacity as an agent, an arranger, a bookrunner or any similar role under the Loan Documents). This Section 8.03(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims or damages arising from any non-Tax claim.

 

(c) Each Lender severally agrees to pay any amount required to be paid by the Company under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 8.03 to the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each, an “ Agent Indemnitee”) (to the extent not reimbursed by the Company and without limiting the obligation of the Company to do so), ratably according to their respective Applicable Percentage in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought under this Section (or, if indemnification is sought after the date upon which the Commitments shall have terminated and the Loans shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with such Applicable Percentage immediately prior to such date), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (whether before or after the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent Indemnitee under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against such Agent Indemnitee in its capacity as such; provided further that no Lender shall be liable for the

 

 

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payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent Indemnitee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Borrower shall assert, and each Borrower hereby waives, any claim against any Indemniteethe Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Co-Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent any Issuing Bank and any Lender, and any Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called a “Lender- Related Person”) for any losses, claims (including intraparty claims), demands, damages or liabilities of any kind (i) for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet), except to the extent found by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such IndemniteeLender-Related Person, or (ii) 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 or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.

 

(e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than fifteen (15) days after written demand therefor.

 

SECTION 8.04. Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) no Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by any Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. 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 (including any Affiliate of any Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of:

 

(A) the Company, (provided that the Company shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after having received notice thereof); provided, further, that no consent of the Company shall be required for an

 

 

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assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee;

 

(B)the Administrative Agent;

 

(C)each Issuing Bank; and

 

(D)the Swingline Lender.

 

(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

 

(A)  except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or 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) shall not be less than $10,000,000 unless each of the Company and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Company shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(B)   each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, provided that this clause shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of one Class of Commitments or Loans;

 

(C)  the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (x) an Assignment and Assumption or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, such fee to be paid by either the assigning Lender or the assignee Lender or shared between such Lenders; provided, that the Company shall pay such assignment fee in connection with a replacement of any Lender requested by the Company pursuant to Section 2.19(b) or 8.02(d) of this Agreement;

 

(D)   the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Company and its Affiliates and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws; and

 

(E)no assignment shall be made to an Ineligible Institution.

 

For the purposes of this Section 8.04(b), the terms “Approved Fund” and “Ineligible Institution” have the following meanings:

 

Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary

 

 

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course of its business and 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.

 

Ineligible Institution” means (a) a natural person, (b) a Defaulting Lender or its Lender Parent, (c) the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates, or (d) a company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person or relative(s) thereof.

 

(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto 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 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 8.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 8.04 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 paragraph (c) of this Section.

 

(iv) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of each Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount (and stated interest) of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks 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, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Company, any Issuing Bank and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(v) Upon its receipt of (x) a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee or (y) to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to an Approved Electronic Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and the parties to the Assignment and Assumption are participants, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph

 

(b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(d), 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(e) or 8.03(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all

 

 

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accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

 

(c) Any Lender may, without the consent of, or notice to, any Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Swingline Lender, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities other than an Ineligible Institution (a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 8.02(b) that affects such Participant. Each Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.17(f) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.17(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.18 and 2.19 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 2.15 or 2.17, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 8.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(d) 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 Borrowers, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans, Letters of Credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan, Letter of Credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) 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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(d) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto. Notwithstanding any assignment, transfer and/or novation permitted under, and made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, any Lien and/or guarantees given under or in connection with the Loan Documents shall be preserved, including, for the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of articles 1278 and 1281 of the Luxembourg Civil Code (to the extent applicable).

 

SECTION 8.05. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrowers in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 8.03 and Article VII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof.

 

SECTION 8.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.

 

(a) . This Agreement 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. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to (i) fees payable to the Administrative Agent and (ii) modifications of the Letter of Credit Commitment of an Issuing Bank constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, 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 which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

(b) Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of (x) this Agreement, (y) any other Loan Document and/or (z) any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any notice delivered pursuant to Section 8.01), certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or the transactions contemplated hereby and/or thereby (each an “Ancillary Document”) by telecopy, e-mailed .pdf or any other electronic

 

 

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means that reproduces an image of the actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that, in respect of documents to be signed by entities established within the European Union, the Electronic Signature qualifies as a “qualified electronic signature” within the meaning of the Regulation (EU) n°910/2014 of the European parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transaction in the internal market as amended from time to time and provided that nothing herein shall require the Administrative Agent to accept Electronic Signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent.; provided, further that without limiting the foregoing, (i) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept any Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of a Borrower without further verification thereof and without any obligation to review the appearance or form of any such Electronic signature and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed counterpart. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Borrower hereby agrees that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrowers, Electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page and/or any electronic images of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders may, at its option, create one or more copies of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document in the form of an imaged electronic record in any format, which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document (and all such electronic records shall be considered an original for all purposes and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record), waives any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document and/or such Ancillary Document, respectively, including with respect to any signature pages thereto and waives any claim against any Lender-Related Person for any losses, claims (including intraparty claims), demands, damages or liabilities of any kind arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Lender’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures and/or transmissions by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page, including any losses, claims (including intraparty claims), demands, damages or liabilities of any kind arising as a result of the failure of a Borrower to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.

 

 

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SECTION 8.07. Severability. Any provision of any Loan Document held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 8.08. Right of Setoff. If (i) a payment Event of Default under Section 6.01(a) shall have occurred and be continuing, or (ii) any other Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Required Lenders have consented to the following, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final and in whatever currency denominated) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Borrower against any of and all of the Obligations held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under the Loan Documents and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

 

SECTION 8.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

 

(b) Each Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan (or if such court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan), and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Document or the transactions relating hereto or thereto, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may (and any such claims, cross claims or third party claims brought against the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties may only) be heard and determined in such Federal (to the extent permitted by law) or New York State court. Each of the parties hereto agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

(c) Each Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, 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 law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 8.01. The Foreign Subsidiary Borrower irrevocably designates and appoints the Company, as its authorized agent, to accept and acknowledge on its

 

 

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behalf, service of any and all process which may be served in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature referred to in Section 8.09(b) in any federal or New York State court sitting in New York City. The Company hereby represents, warrants and confirms that the Company has agreed to accept such appointment. Said designation and appointment shall be irrevocable by the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower until all Loans, all reimbursement obligations, interest thereon and all other amounts payable by the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall have been paid in full in accordance with the provisions hereof and thereof. The Foreign Subsidiary Borrower hereby consents to process being served in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature referred to in Section 8.09(b) in any federal or New York State court sitting in New York City by service of process upon the Company as provided in this Section 8.09(d); provided that, to the extent lawful and possible, notice of said service upon such agent shall be mailed by registered or certified air mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Company and (if applicable to) the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower at its address set forth herein or to any other address of which the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall have given written notice to the Administrative Agent (with a copy thereof to the Company). The Foreign Subsidiary Borrower irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all claim of error by reason of any such service in such manner and agrees that such service shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower in any such suit, action or proceeding and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be taken and held to be valid and personal service upon and personal delivery to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower. To the extent the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether from service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of a judgment, execution or otherwise), the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, such immunity in respect of its obligations under the Loan Documents. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

SECTION 8.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

SECTION 8.11. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

SECTION 8.12. Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents,

 

 

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including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (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 requested by any regulatory authority (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 to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to 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 or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to any Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Company or (h) to the extent such Information

 

(i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Company (other than a Person if and to the extent that the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or such Lender has actual knowledge that such Person is acting in violation of an obligation to maintain such information as confidential). For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Company relating to the Company or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Company and other than information pertaining to this Agreement routinely provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry; provided that, in the case of information received from the Company after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. 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.

 

SECTION 8.13. USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Patriot Act”) hereby notifies each Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies such Borrower, which information includes the name and address of such Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act.

 

SECTION 8.14. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the NYFRB Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender at the NYFRB Rate (in the case of an amount denominated in Dollars) and the Overnight Foreign Currency Rate (in the case of Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency).

 

SECTION 8.15. No Fiduciary Duty, etc. (a) Each Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that no Credit Party will have any obligations except

 

 

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those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents and each Credit Party is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to each Borrower with respect to the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated herein and therein and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, any Borrower or any other person. Each Borrower agrees that it will not assert any claim against any Credit Party based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by such Credit Party in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Additionally, each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that no Credit Party is advising such Borrower as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting, regulatory or any other matters in any jurisdiction. Each Borrower shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated herein or in the other Loan Documents, and the Credit Parties shall have no responsibility or liability to the Borrowers with respect thereto.

 

(b) Each Borrower further acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that each Credit Party, together with its Affiliates, is a full service securities or banking firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities as well as providing investment banking and other financial services. In the ordinary course of business, any Credit Party may provide investment banking and other financial services to, and/or acquire, hold or sell, for its own accounts and the accounts of customers, equity, debt and other securities and financial instruments (including bank loans and other obligations) of, the Borrowers and other companies with which it may have commercial or other relationships. With respect to any securities and/or financial instruments so held by any Credit Party or any of its customers, all rights in respect of such securities and financial instruments, including any voting rights, will be exercised by the holder of the rights, in its sole discretion.

 

(c) In addition, each Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that each Credit Party and its affiliates may be providing debt financing, equity capital or other services (including financial advisory services) to other companies in respect of which the Borrowers or their Subsidiaries may have conflicting interests regarding the transactions described herein and otherwise. No Credit Party will use confidential information obtained from any Borrower by virtue of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or its other relationships with the Borrowers in connection with the performance by such Credit Party of services for other companies, and no Credit Party will furnish any such information to other companies. Each Borrower also acknowledges that no Credit Party has any obligation to use in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, or to furnish to the Borrowers, confidential information obtained from other companies.

 

SECTION 8.16. Material Non-Public Information. (a) EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN SECTION 8.12 FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE COMPANY AND ITS RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES, AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

 

(b) ALL INFORMATION, INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS, FURNISHED BY THE COMPANY OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT WILL

 

 

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BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, THE OTHER BORROWER AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE COMPANY AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT THAT IT HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE A CREDIT CONTACT WHO MAY RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW.

 

SECTION 8.17. Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of EEAAffected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEAAffected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEAthe 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 an EEAapplicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEAAffected 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 EEAAffected Financial Institution, its parent entity, 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 any EEAthe applicable Resolution Authority.

 

SECTION 8 .18. Acknowledgment Regarding any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Swap Agreements or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U. S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

 

In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported

 

 

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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.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

Company Guarantee

 

In order to induce the Lenders to extend credit to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower hereunder, but subject to the last sentence of this Article IX, the Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the payment when and as due of the Guaranteed Obligations. The Company further agrees that the due and punctual payment of such Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon its guarantee hereunder notwithstanding any such extension or renewal of any such Guaranteed Obligations. The Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that if any obligation guaranteed by it is or becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal, it will, as an independent and primary obligation, indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders immediately on demand against any cost, loss or liability they incur as a result of any other Borrower or any of its Affiliates not paying any amount which would, but for such unenforceability, invalidity or illegality, have been payable by such Borrower under this Article IX on the date when it would have been due (but so that the amount payable by the Company under this indemnity will not exceed the amount which it would have had to pay under this Article IX if the amount claimed had been recoverable on the basis of a guarantee).

 

The Company waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, and also waives notice of acceptance of its obligations and notice of protest for nonpayment. The obligations of the Company hereunder shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be affected by (a) the failure of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against any Borrower under the provisions of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or otherwise; (b) any extension or renewal of any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (c) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or release from, any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, or any other Loan Document or agreement; (d) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (e) the failure of the Administrative Agent to take any steps to perfect and maintain any security interest in, or to preserve any rights to, any security or collateral for the Guaranteed Obligations, if any; (f) any change in the corporate, partnership or other existence, structure or ownership of any Borrower or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (g) the enforceability or

 

 

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validity of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof or the genuineness, enforceability or validity of any agreement relating thereto or with respect to any collateral (if any) securing the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, or any other invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against any Borrower or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, for any reason related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any provision of applicable law, decree, order or regulation of any jurisdiction purporting to prohibit the payment by such Borrower or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations, of any of the Obligations or otherwise affecting any term of any of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (h) any other act, omission or delay to do any other act which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Borrower or otherwise operate as a discharge of a guarantor as a matter of law or equity or which would impair or eliminate any right of the Company to subrogation.

 

The Company further agrees that its agreement hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due (whether or not any bankruptcy or similar proceeding shall have stayed the accrual or collection of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or operated as a discharge thereof) and not merely of collection, and waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any right to require that any resort be had by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in favor of any Borrower or any other Person.

 

The obligations of the Company hereunder shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever, by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, any impossibility in the performance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise.

 

The Company further agrees that its obligations hereunder shall constitute a continuing and irrevocable guarantee of all Guaranteed Obligations now or hereafter existing and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any Guaranteed Obligation (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff) is rescinded, or is or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower or otherwise (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by a holder of Guaranteed Obligations in its discretion).

 

In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may have at law or in equity against any Borrower by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower to pay any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, the Company hereby promises to and will, upon receipt of written demand by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in cash an amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of such Guaranteed Obligations then due, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The Company further agrees that if payment in respect of any Guaranteed Obligation shall be due in a currency other than Dollars and/or at a place of payment other than New York, Chicago or any other EurocurrencyForeign Payment Office and if, by reason of any Change in Law, disruption of currency or foreign exchange markets, war or civil disturbance or other event, payment of such Guaranteed Obligation in such currency or at such place of payment shall be impossible or, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, disadvantageous to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in any material respect, then, at the election of the Administrative Agent, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, make payment of such Guaranteed Obligation in Dollars (based upon the applicable Equivalent Amount in effect on the date of

 

 

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payment) and/or in New York, Chicago or such other EurocurrencyForeign Payment Office as is designated by the Administrative Agent and, as a separate and independent obligation, shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and any Lender against any losses or reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that it shall sustain as a result of such alternative payment.

 

Upon payment by the Company of any sums as provided above, all rights of the Company against the Foreign Subsidiary Borrower arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the Guaranteed Obligations owed by the Company to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders.

 

Nothing shall discharge or satisfy the liability of any Borrower hereunder except the full performance and payment in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

[Signature Pages FollowIntentionally Omitted]

 

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