EX-10.1 2 ex_476474.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 ex_476474.htm

Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

 

 

ex_476474img001.jpg

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

dated as of

 

February 15, 2023,

 

among

 

H.B. FULLER COMPANY


The Lenders Party Hereto

 

and

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent

 

and

 

CITIBANK N.A., U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION and

MORGAN STANLEY MUFG LOAN PARTNERS, LLC,
as Co-Syndication Agents

 

and

 

BOFA SECURITIES, INC., HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC. and PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC,
as Co-Documentation Agents

 


 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., CITIBANK N.A., U.S. BANK

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION and MORGAN STANLEY MUFG

LOAN PARTNERS, LLC,
as Joint Bookrunners and Co-Lead Arrangers

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents
(continued)

 

  Page
   

ARTICLE I Definitions

1

   

SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms

1

SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings

47

SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally

48

SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP

48

SECTION 1.05. Currency Equivalents Generally

48

SECTION 1.06. Collateral Limitation

49

SECTION 1.07. Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification

49

SECTION 1.08. Letter of Credit Amounts

49

SECTION 1.09. Divisions

49

   

ARTICLE II The Credits

50

   

SECTION 2.01. Commitments

50

SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings

50

SECTION 2.03. Requests for Borrowings

51

SECTION 2.04. Determination of Dollar Amounts

52

SECTION 2.05. Swingline Loans

53

SECTION 2.06. Letters of Credit

54

SECTION 2.07. Funding of Borrowings

62

SECTION 2.08. Interest Elections

62

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

64

SECTION 2.10. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt

65

SECTION 2.11. Prepayment of Loans

66

SECTION 2.12. Fees

69

SECTION 2.13. Interest

70

SECTION 2.14. Alternative Rate of Interest

70

SECTION 2.15. Increased Costs

73

SECTION 2.16. Break Funding Payments

75

SECTION 2.17. Taxes

75

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

79

SECTION 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

81

SECTION 2.20. Incremental Credit Extensions

82

SECTION 2.21. Market Disruption

84

SECTION 2.22. Judgment Currency

84

SECTION 2.23. Refinancing Facilities

85

SECTION 2.24. Non-Pro Rata Repurchases

86

SECTION 2.25. Defaulting Lenders

86

SECTION 2.26. Extended Loans

89

 

i

 

Table of Contents
(continued)

 

  Page
   

ARTICLE III Representations and Warranties

90

   

SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers; Subsidiaries

90

SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability

90

SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts

90

SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change

91

SECTION 3.05. Properties

91

SECTION 3.06. Litigation and Environmental Matters

91

SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements

92

SECTION 3.08. Investment Company Status

92

SECTION 3.09. Taxes

92

SECTION 3.10. ERISA

92

SECTION 3.11. Disclosure

92

SECTION 3.12. Federal Reserve Regulations

92

SECTION 3.13. No Default

92

SECTION 3.14. Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions

93

SECTION 3.15. Affected Financial Institutions

93

SECTION 3.16. Collateral Documents

93

SECTION 3.17. Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions

93

   

ARTICLE IV Conditions

94

   

SECTION 4.01. Effective Date

94

SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event

95

   

ARTICLE V Affirmative Covenants

96

   

SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements; Ratings Change and Other Information

96

SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events

98

SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business

99

SECTION 5.04. Payment of Obligations

99

SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance

99

SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights

100

SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws

100

SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds

100

SECTION 5.09. Subsidiary Guaranty

100

SECTION 5.10. Elected Subsidiaries

103

SECTION 5.11. Post-Closing Conditions

103

SECTION 5.12. Further Assurances

104

SECTION 5.13. Intellectual Property

104

 

ii

 

Table of Contents
(continued)

 

  Page
   

ARTICLE VI Negative Covenants

105

   

SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness

105

SECTION 6.02. Liens

107

SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes

109

SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions

111

SECTION 6.05. Swap Agreements

112

SECTION 6.06. Restricted Payments

113

SECTION 6.07. Transactions with Affiliates

113

SECTION 6.08. Restrictive Agreements

113

SECTION 6.09. Financial Covenants

114

   

ARTICLE VII

114

   

SECTION 7.01. Events of Default

114

SECTION 7.02. Remedies Upon an Event of Default

117

   

ARTICLE VIII The Administrative Agent

118

   

SECTION 8.01. Authorization and Action

118

SECTION 8.02. Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Limitation of Liability, Etc

120

SECTION 8.03. Posting of Communications

121

SECTION 8.04. The Administrative Agent Individually

123

SECTION 8.05. Successor Administrative Agent

123

SECTION 8.06. Acknowledgments of Lenders and Issuing Banks

124

SECTION 8.07. Collateral Matters

125

SECTION 8.08. Credit Bidding

125

SECTION 8.09. Certain ERISA Matters

126

SECTION 8.10. Defined Terms

127

SECTION 8.11. Erroneous Payments

127

   

ARTICLE IX Miscellaneous

128

   

SECTION 9.01. Notices

128

SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments

130

SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

132

SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns

134

SECTION 9.05. Survival

138

SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution

139

SECTION 9.07. Severability

139

SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff

140

SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

140

SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

141

 

iii

 

Table of Contents
(continued)

 

  Page
   

SECTION 9.11. Headings

141

SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality

141

SECTION 9.13. USA PATRIOT Act

142

SECTION 9.14. Interest Rate Limitation

142

SECTION 9.15. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

143

SECTION 9.16. Release of Subsidiary Guarantors and Collateral

143

SECTION 9.17. Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions

144

SECTION 9.18. [Reserved].

145

SECTION 9.19. MIRE Events

145

SECTION 9.20. Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs

145

   

ARTICLE X Company Guarantee

146

   

ARTICLE XI Limitation on Foreign Subsidiaries

148

 

iv

 

 

Table of Contents
(continued)

 

 

Page

 

 

SCHEDULES:

 

 

Schedule 2.01

-- Commitments

Schedule 2.02

-- Letter of Credit Commitments

Schedule 2.06

-- Existing Letters of Credit

Schedule 3.01

-- Subsidiaries

Schedule 3.06

-- Disclosed Matters

Schedule 5.09

-- Certain Mortgaged Properties

Schedule 6.01

-- Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 6.02

-- Existing Liens

Schedule 6.08

-- Restrictive Agreements

 

EXHIBITS:

 

Exhibit A

-- Form of Assignment and Assumption

Exhibit B

-- Form of Opinion of Loan Parties’ U.S. Counsel

Exhibit C-1

-- Form of Increasing Lender Supplement

Exhibit C-2

-- Form of Augmenting Lender Supplement

Exhibit D

-- [Reserved]

Exhibit E

-- Form of Amended and Restated Security Agreement

Exhibit F

-- Form of Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement

Exhibit G

-- Form of Solvency Certificate

Exhibit H

-- Form of Perfection Certificate

Exhibit I

-- Form of Perfection Certificate Supplement

Exhibit J-1

-- Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships)

Exhibit J-2

-- Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships)

Exhibit J-3

-- Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships)

Exhibit J-4

-- Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships)

 

 

 

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of February 15, 2023, among H.B. FULLER COMPANY, a Minnesota corporation (the “Borrower”), the LENDERS from time to time party hereto and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower is party to that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 20, 2020 (the “Existing Revolving Credit Agreement”) among the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and to that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of October 20, 2017 (the “Existing Term Loan Credit Agreement”) among the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as administrative agent;

 

WHEREAS, the Lenders party hereto have agreed to amend and restate the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement as provided in this Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, it is also the intent of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties (as referred to and defined herein) to confirm that all obligations and Liens under the applicable “Loan Documents” (as referred to and defined in the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement) shall continue in full force and effect as amended, modified or restated by the Loan Documents (as referred to and defined herein) and that, from and after the Effective Date, all references to the “Credit Agreement” contained in any such existing “Loan Documents” shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks are willing to extend credit to the Borrower on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. Accordingly, 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:

 

2017 Indenture” means that certain Indenture between the Borrower and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, dated as of February 14, 2017, as in effect on the Effective Date.

 

2017 Supplemental Indenture” means that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 14, 2017, supplementing the 2017 Indenture in respect of the Borrower’s 4.000% Notes due 2027, as in effect on the Effective Date.

 

2022 10-K” means the Borrower’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 3, 2022.

 

2020 Supplemental Indenture” means that Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 20, 2020, supplementing the 2017 Indenture in respect of the Borrower’s 4.250% Notes due 2028, as in effect on the Effective Date.

 

ABR”, 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 Alternate Base Rate.

 

1

 

Acquired Entity” means the assets or Person acquired in connection with a Permitted Acquisition.

 

Adjusted Daily Simple RFR” means (i) with respect to any RFR Borrowing comprised of Revolving Loans denominated in Pounds Sterling, an interest rate per annum equal to the Daily Simple RFR for Pounds Sterling, (ii) with respect to any RFR Borrowing comprised of Swingline Loans denominated in Pounds Sterling, an interest rate per annum equal to the Daily Simple RFR for Pounds Sterling, and (iii) with respect to any RFR Borrowing comprised of Swingline Loans denominated in Euros, an interest rate per annum equal to the Daily Simple RFR for Euros; provided that, in each case, if the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

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; provided that if the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Adjusted Term SOFR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period, plus (b) solely with respect to (i) the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility, 0.10% and (ii) the Term B Facility, 0.00%; provided that if the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

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 Related Person” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(c).

 

Agreed Currencies” means (a) Dollars, (b) euro, (c) Pounds Sterling, and (d) any other currency that is agreed to by the Administrative Agent, each of the Lenders and, with respect to any Letter of Credit issued by any Issuing Bank, such Issuing Bank; provided that with respect to Swingline Loans only,

 

Agreed Currencies” shall mean Dollars and each other currency as is acceptable to the Swingline Lender in its sole discretion; provided, further, that, with respect to Term A Loans and Term B Loans only, “Agreed Currencies” shall mean Dollars.

 

2

 

All-In Yield” means, as to any Indebtedness, the yield thereof, whether in the form of interest rate, margin, original issue discount, upfront fees (and similar yield related discounts, deducts or payments), a Floor or Alternate Base Rate floor greater than 0% per annum or 1.00% per annum, respectively (with such increased amount being equated to interest margins for purposes of determining any increase to the Applicable Rate), or otherwise; provided that original issue discount and upfront fees shall be equated to interest rate assuming a four-year life to maturity (or, if less, the stated life to maturity at the time of its incurrence of the applicable Indebtedness); and provided, further, that “All-In Yield” shall not include arrangement fees, structuring fees, commitment fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees or other fees similar to the foregoing (regardless of how such fees are computed and whether paid in whole or in part to any or all lenders) or other fees not generally paid to all lenders of such Indebtedness or, if applicable, consent fees for an amendment paid generally to consenting lenders.

 

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 Term SOFR Rate for a one month Interest Period as published two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to 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 Term SOFR Rate for any day shall be based on the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m. Chicago time on such day (or any amended publication time for the Term SOFR Reference Rate, as specified by the CME Term SOFR Administrator in the Term SOFR Reference Rate methodology). Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR 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, with respect to (x) Term B Loans, if the Alternate Base Rate shall be less than 1.50% per annum, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.50% per annum for purposes of this Agreement, (ii) with respect to Revolving Loans or Term A Loans, if the Alternate Base Rate shall be less than 1.00% per annum, such rate shall be deemed to be 1.00% per annum for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery, corruption or money laundering (including, without limitation, the Patriot Act).

 

Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s Revolving Commitment and the denominator of which is the aggregate Revolving Commitments of all Lenders (if the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Revolving Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments); provided that in the case of Section 2.25 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, any such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment shall be disregarded in the calculation.

 

3

 

Applicable Rate” means, (i) (x) with respect to the Revolving Facility, for any day, with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan, any RFR Loan, any ABR Loan or with respect to the unused commitment fees payable hereunder, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “Term Benchmark Spread”, “RFR Spread”, “ABR Spread” or “Unused Commitment Fee Rate”, as the case may be, based upon the Secured Leverage Ratio as determined below and (y) with respect to the Term A Facility, for any day with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan or any ABR Loan, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “Term Benchmark Spread” or “ABR Spread”, as the case may be, based upon the Secured Leverage Ratio as determined below:

 

Pricing Level

Secured Leverage Ratio

Term Benchmark Spread

RFR Spread

ABR Spread

Unused Commitment Fee Rate

1

Less than 2.50:1.00

1.50%

1.50%

0.50%

0.20%

2

Equal to or higher than 2.50:1.00 and lower than 3.25:1.00

1.75%

1.75%

0.75%

0.25%

3

Equal to or higher than 3.25:1.00 and lower than 4.00:1.00

2.00%

2.00%

1.00%

0.30%

4

Equal to or higher than 4.00:1.00 and lower than 4.75:1.00

2.25%

2.25%

1.25%

0.35%

5

Equal to or higher than 4.75:1.00

2.50%

2.50%

1.50%

0.40%

 

For purposes of the foregoing clause (i), any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Secured Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a compliance certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c); provided that, at the option of the Required Lenders, Pricing Level 5 shall apply (1) as of the first Business Day after the date on which a compliance certificate was required to have been delivered but was not delivered, and shall continue to so apply to and including the date on which such compliance certificate is so delivered (and thereafter the Pricing Level otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply) and (2) as of the first Business Day after an Event of Default under Section 7.01(a), (b), (h), (i) or (j) shall have occurred and be continuing, and shall continue to so apply to but excluding the date on which such Event of Default is cured or waived (and thereafter the Pricing Level otherwise determined in accordance with this definition shall apply). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Pricing Level 2 shall apply from the Effective Date until the first Business Day immediately following the date a compliance certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c) in respect of the Borrower’s fiscal quarter ended September 2, 2023; and

 

(ii) with respect to the Term B Facility, 2.50% per annum in the case of Term Benchmark Loans and 1.50% per annum in the case of ABR Loans.

 

Approved Electronic Platform” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.03(a).

 

Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04.

 

Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Attributable Indebtedness” means “Attributable Debt” as defined in either Supplemental Indenture.

 

4

 

Attributable Receivables Indebtedness” at any time shall mean the principal amount of Indebtedness which (a) if a Permitted Receivables Facility is structured as a lending agreement or other similar agreement, constitutes the principal amount of such Indebtedness or (b) if a Permitted Receivables Facility is structured as a purchase agreement or other similar agreement, would be outstanding at such time under the Permitted Receivables Facility if the same were structured as a lending agreement rather than a purchase agreement or such other similar agreement (whether such amount is described as “capital” or otherwise).

 

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

 

Available Amount” means, as at any date, an amount equal to:

 

(a) the sum, without duplication, of

 

(i) $100,000,000; plus

 

(ii) if positive, 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the period (taken as one accounting period) commencing with the fiscal year ending on or about December 2, 2023 and ending as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to such date for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b), as applicable, as of such date (or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit); plus

 

(iii) 100% of the aggregate amount of the net cash proceeds received after the Effective Date from any issuance of Qualified Equity Interests by the Borrower, to the extent not otherwise applied, minus

 

(b) the sum of

 

(i) the aggregate amount of any Restricted Payments made prior to such date pursuant to Section 6.06(d), plus

 

(ii) the aggregate amount of any Investments made prior to such date pursuant to Section 6.04(n).

 

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 Section 2.14(e).

 

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

 

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

 

5

 

Banking Services” means each and any of the following bank services provided to the Borrower or any Subsidiary 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 Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with Banking Services.

 

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy”, as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.

 

Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a 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, 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 (i) any RFR Loan in any Agreed Currency, the Relevant Rate for such Agreed Currency or (ii) any Term Benchmark Loan in any Agreed Currency, the Relevant Rate for such Agreed Currency; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event 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 Section 2.14(b).

 

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, “Benchmark Replacement” shall mean the alternative set forth in (2) below:

 

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

 

(2) the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (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.

 

6

 

If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1) or (2) 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,” the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent:

 

(a) the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) as of the Reference Time such Benchmark Replacement is first set for such Interest Period that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for the applicable Corresponding Tenor;

 

(b) the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) as of the Reference Time such Benchmark Replacement is first set for such Interest Period that would apply to the fallback rate for a derivative transaction referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon an index cessation event with respect to such Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor; and

 

(2) for purposes of clause (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement,” the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower 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;

 

provided that, in the case of clause (1) above, such adjustment is displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such Benchmark Replacement Adjustment from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

 

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 “U.S. Government Securities Business Day”, the definition of “RFR 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 its reasonable discretion may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

 

7

 

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

 

(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); or

 

(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 (3) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, (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 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 Board, the NYFRB, the CME Term SOFR Administrator, 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 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

 

8

 

(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 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 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.

 

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

 

Borrower” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

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

 

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

 

Business Day” means any day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) (i) on which banks are open for business in New York City and (ii) (a) in relation to Loans denominated in Euros and in relation to the calculation or computation of EURIBOR, which is a TARGET Day, (b) in relation to RFR Loans and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such RFR Loan, or any other dealings in the applicable Agreed Currency of such RFR Loan, that is only an RFR Business Day, (c) in relation to Loans denominated in Pounds Sterling, on which banks are open for business in London, (d) in relation to Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or any other dealings of such Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, any such day that is a U.S. Government Securities Business Day and (e) in relation to Loans denominated in any other Agreed Currency or any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any CBR Loan or CBR Borrowing, on which dealings in the applicable Agreed Currency are carried on in the principal financial center of such Agreed Currency.

 

9

 

Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, the additions to property, plant and equipment, capitalized investment and development costs, and other capital expenditures (including capitalized software) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that are (or should be) set forth in a consolidated statement of cash flows of the Borrower for such period prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

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 or finance 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” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing means a Loan or Borrowing 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.

 

Central Bank Rate” means, at any time, a rate per annum equal to the greater of: (i) the sum of: (A) for any Loan denominated in (x) 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, (y) 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, and (z) any other Foreign Currency, a central bank rate as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion; plus (B) the applicable Central Bank Rate Adjustment; and (ii) the Floor.

 

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) in the case of Revolving Loans, (A) 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 Adjusted EURIBOR Rate applicable during such period of five Business Days) minus (B) the Central Bank Rate in respect of Euro in effect on the last Business Day in such period, and (ii) in the case of Swingline Loans, (A) the average of the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Euro for the five most recent RFR Business Days preceding such day for which ESTR was available (excluding, from such averaging, the highest and the lowest such Adjusted Daily Simple RFR applicable during such period of five RFR Business Days) minus (B) the Central Bank Rate in respect of Euro in effect on the last RFR 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 Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for Pounds Sterling Borrowings for the five most recent RFR Business Days preceding such day for which SONIA was available (excluding, from such averaging, the highest and the lowest such Adjusted Daily Simple RFR applicable during such period of five RFR Business Days) minus (ii) the Central Bank Rate in respect of Pounds Sterling in effect on the last RFR Business Day in such period, and (c) any other Foreign Currency, 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.

 

10

 

Change in Control” means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the SEC thereunder as in effect on the date hereof), of Equity Interests representing more than 30% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower; (b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower by Persons who were neither (i) nominated by the board of directors of the Borrower nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated; or (c) the acquisition of direct or indirect Control of the Borrower by any Person or group.

 

Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the Effective Date (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) the making or issuance of 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 such term in Section 9.14.

 

Class”, when used in reference to (a) any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans, Term A Loans, Term B Loans, Incremental Term A Loans, Incremental Term B Loans, Incremental Revolving Loans or Swingline Loans, (b) any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Revolving Commitment, Incremental Revolving Commitment, Term A Commitment, Term B Commitment, Incremental Term A Commitment or Incremental Term B Commitment and (c) any Lender, refers to whether such Lender has a Loan or Commitment with respect to a particular Class of Loans or Commitments.

 

CME Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited as administrator of the forward-looking term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) (or a successor administrator).

 

CNTA Covered Indebtedness” means (a) all “Secured Debt” (as defined in either Supplemental Indenture) (other than debt secured by Permitted Mortgages) or (b) Attributable Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Indenture Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Sale and Leaseback Transaction (other than debt secured by Permitted Mortgages), in each case to the extent subject to the “Restrictions on Secured Debt” covenant in either Supplemental Indenture.

 

11

 

CNTA Basket” means the basket under the “Restrictions on Secured Debt” covenant in either Supplemental Indenture for CNTA Covered Indebtedness, in an aggregate amount for all CNTA Covered Indebtedness not to exceed the CNTA Limit.

 

CNTA Limit” means, as of any time of incurring any CNTA Covered Indebtedness, 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at such time.

 

Co-Documentation Agent” means each of BofA Securities, Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and PNC Capital Markets LLC in its capacity as a co-documentation agent for the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement.

 

Co-Lead Arranger” means each of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Citibank N.A., U.S. Bank National Association and Morgan Stanley MUFG Loan Partners, LLC, acting through MUFG Bank, Ltd. and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., in its capacity as a co-lead arranger for the credit facilities evidenced by this agreement.

 

Co-Syndication Agent” means each of Citibank N.A., U.S. Bank National Association and Morgan Stanley MUFG Loan Partners, LLC, acting through MUFG Bank, Ltd. and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., in its capacity as a co-syndication agent for the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement.

 

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

 

Collateral” means (i) the “Collateral” as defined in the Security Agreement, (ii) all “Collateral” or “Mortgaged Property” as defined in any other Collateral Document and (iii) any other assets pledged or in which a Lien is granted, in each case, pursuant to any Collateral Document; provided that at no time shall this definition or any of the foregoing include any Excluded Property.

 

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

 

Collateral Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (including its branches and affiliates), in its capacity as collateral agent for the Secured Parties under the Security Agreement, the Mortgages and other Collateral Documents.

 

Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, any Security Agreement Supplements, any Intellectual Property Security Agreements, each Mortgage delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 5.09 and Section 5.11, and any and all additional agreements and documents entered into by any Loan Party purporting to grant a Lien for the benefit of the Secured Parties to secure payment of the Obligations.

 

Commitment” means a Term A Commitment, a Term B Commitment, a Revolving Commitment or any combination thereof, as the context may require.

 

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 Section 9.01(d).

 

12

 

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 EBITDA” means, with reference to any period, the sum of the following: (a) Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus (b) without duplication and to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of the following for such period (i) Consolidated Interest Expense, (ii) expense for taxes paid or accrued, (iii) all amounts attributable to depreciation and amortization, (iv) non-cash impairment losses related to long-lived assets, intangible assets or goodwill, (v) nonrecurring or unusual non-cash losses incurred other than in the ordinary course of business, (vi) nonrecurring or unusual non-cash restructuring charges and the non-cash impact of purchase accounting, (vii) any non-cash charge, including (A) the excess of rent expense over actual cash rent paid and the benefit of lease incentives (in the case of a charge) during such period due to the use of straight line rent for GAAP purposes, and (B) any non-cash charge pursuant to any management equity plan, stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan, agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement (provided that if any such non-cash charge represents an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the Borrower may determine not to add back such non-cash charge in the then-current period), (viii) any non-cash deemed finance charges in respect of any pension liabilities or other provisions and income (loss) attributable to deferred compensation plans or trusts, (ix) any non-recurring or unusual cash restructuring charges, including any operating improvement, cost savings initiative or similar initiative (including efficiencies from the shifting of production of one or more products from one manufacturing facility to another), (x) pro forma cost savings and cost synergies related to Permitted Acquisitions, Dispositions and other Specified Transactions that are reasonably quantifiable and projected by the Borrower in good faith to result from actions that have been taken or initiated (in the good faith determination of the Borrower) within 12 months after such Permitted Acquisition, Disposition or other Specified Transaction, including any such Permitted Acquisition, Disposition or other Specified Transaction occurring prior to the Effective Date, (xi) non-capitalized charges relating to the Borrower’s SAP implementation, (xii) fees, costs, expenses and charges incurred in connection with the Transactions and (xiii) fees, costs, expenses, make-whole or penalty payments and other similar items arising out of (x) acquisitions, investments and dispositions permitted by the Facilities, (y) the incurrence, issuance, repayment or refinancing of indebtedness permitted by the Facilities and (z) any issuance of equity interests that is not prohibited by the Facilities; minus (c) without duplication and to the extent included in determining such Consolidated Net Income, non-recurring or unusual non-cash gains incurred other than in the ordinary course of business; all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis; provided that the aggregate amounts that may be added back to Consolidated EBITDA for any period pursuant to clauses (ix), (x) and (xi) shall not exceed, in the aggregate, an amount equal to 15% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (calculated prior to giving effect to all addbacks and adjustments) (this proviso, the “Consolidated EBITDA Cap”). For purposes of Section 6.09(b), Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters (each, a “Reference Period”) during which a Material Acquisition or a Material Disposition shall have been made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect (calculated in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent but in any case without giving effect to any cost savings in excess of $5,000,000 during any Reference Period) to such Material Acquisition or Material Disposition (as applicable), as if such Material Acquisition or Material Disposition (as applicable) occurred on the first day of such Reference Period. For purposes of this definition, the term “Material Acquisition” means any acquisition or series of related acquisitions by the Borrower or any Subsidiary that (A) constitutes a Permitted Acquisition, and (B) involves the payment of consideration by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in excess of $10,000,000 and the term “Material Disposition” means any sale, transfer or other disposition or series of related sales, transfers or dispositions by the Borrower or any Subsidiary that (C) constitutes a disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of, or all or a majority of the Equity Interests in, a Person or division or line of business of a Person, and (D) involves the receipt of consideration by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in excess of $10,000,000. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this definition, cash expenses shall be deemed to be incurred when recorded in the financial statements in accordance with GAAP, regardless of the date on which such cash expenses are, in fact, paid.

 

13

 

Consolidated EBITDA Cap” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA.

 

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with reference to any period, the interest expense (including without limitation the portion of Capital Lease Obligations that constitutes imputed interest in accordance with GAAP) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis for such period with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP, and including, to the extent allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP, (a) net costs (or benefits) under Interest Rate Swap Agreements, (b) commissions, discounts and other fees and charges with respect to letters of credit and bankers acceptance financing and (c) the interest component of all Attributable Receivables Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

Consolidated Net Income” means, with reference to any period, the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis (without duplication) for such period.

 

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means “Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” as defined in each Supplemental Indenture.

 

Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of the date of any determination thereof, total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis as of such date.

 

Consolidated Total Indebtedness” means at any time the sum, without duplication, of (a) the aggregate Indebtedness for Borrowed Money of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of such time, (b) the aggregate amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries relating to the maximum drawing amount of all letters of credit outstanding and bankers acceptances, and (c) Indebtedness of the type referred to in clauses (a) or (b) hereof of another Person guaranteed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries. For the avoidance of doubt, Consolidated Total Indebtedness includes all Attributable Receivables Indebtedness.

 

Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

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

 

14

 

Country Risk Event” means:

 

(a)         any law, action or failure to act by any Governmental Authority in the 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 the Issuing Banks, the Lenders or the Administrative Agent,

 

(ii)         changing the ownership or control by the 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 the applicable Issuing Bank and freely available to the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank.

 

Covered Entity” means any of the following:

 

 

(i)

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

 

 

(ii)

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

 

 

(iii)

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

 

Covered Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.20.

 

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, the Collateral Agent, each Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender.

 

Current Assets” shall mean, at any time, the consolidated current assets (other than cash and Permitted Investments) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such time.

 

Current Liabilities” shall mean, at any time, (a) the consolidated current liabilities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such time, but excluding, without duplication, the current portion of any long-term Indebtedness and (b) Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and outstanding Letters of Credit under the Revolving Facility or revolving loans, swingline loans or obligations under letters of credit under any other revolving credit facility.

 

Daily Simple ESTR” means, with respect to any Swingline Loan to the Borrower requested in Euros for any Business Day, an interest rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) ESTR based on the published rate of ESTR as of the Business Day of such request and (b) the Floor. Any change in Daily Simple ESTR due to a change in the applicable ESTR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the ESTR without notice.

 

15

 

Daily Simple RFR means, for any day (an “RFR Interest Day”), an interest rate per annum equal to, for any RFR Loan denominated in (i) Pounds Sterling, SONIA for the day that is five RFR Business Days prior to (A) if such RFR Interest Day is an RFR Business Day, such RFR Interest Day or (B) if such RFR Interest Day is not an RFR Business Day, the RFR Business Day immediately preceding such RFR Interest Day, and (ii) Euro (solely with respect to Swingline Loans), Daily Simple ESTR on (A) if such RFR Interest Day is an RFR Business Day, such RFR Interest Day or (B) if such RFR Interest Day is not an RFR Business Day, the RFR Business Day immediately preceding such RFR Interest Day.

 

Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to SOFR for the day that is five (5) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to (i) if such SOFR Rate Day is an U.S. Government Securities Business Day, such SOFR Rate Day or (ii) if such SOFR Rate Day is not an U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately preceding such SOFR Rate Day, in each case, as such SOFR is published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website. Any change in Daily Simple SOFR due to a change in SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in SOFR without notice to the Borrower.

 

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 two (2) 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 Borrower 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 (3) Business Days after request by a Credit Party, 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, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Credit Party’s receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, or (d) has become the subject of (A) a Bankruptcy Event or (B) a Bail-In Action.

 

Disclosed Matters” means the actions, suits and proceedings, the labor controversies and the environmental matters disclosed in the Borrower’s 2022 10-K and Schedule 3.06.

 

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Disposition” means any sale, lease, license, transfer, assignment or other disposition of all or any portion of the business, assets, rights, revenues or property, real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Disqualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interest which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash, or (d) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case, prior to the date that is 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date.

 

Dollar Amount” means, for any amount, at the time of determination thereof, (a) if such amount is expressed in Dollars, such amount, (b) if such amount is expressed in a Foreign Currency, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars determined by using 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 Reuters 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 such Foreign Currency, as provided by such other publicly available information service which provides that rate of exchange at such time in place of Reuters 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 method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion) and (c) if such amount is denominated in any other currency, the equivalent of such amount in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent using any method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion.

 

Dollars”, “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 or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

 

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.

 

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 9.02).

 

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Elected Subsidiary” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.09(a).

 

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.

 

Electronic System” means any electronic system, including e-mail, e-fax, Intralinks®, ClearPar®, Debt Domain, Syndtrak and any other Internet or extranet-based site, whether such electronic system is owned, operated or hosted by the Administrative Agent and any Issuing Bank and any of its respective Related Parties or any other Person, providing for access to data protected by passcodes or other security system.

 

Environmental Laws” means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.

 

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment 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” means, for any amount of any Foreign Currency, at the time of determination thereof, (a) if such amount is expressed in such Foreign Currency, such amount and (b) if such amount is expressed in Dollars, the equivalent of such amount in such Foreign Currency determined by using the rate of exchange for the purchase of such Foreign Currency with Dollars last provided (either by publication or otherwise provided to the Administrative Agent) by the applicable 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 such Foreign Currency with Dollars, as provided by such other publicly available information service which provides that rate of exchange at such time in place of Reuters 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 method of determination it deems appropriate in its sole discretion).

 

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

 

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

 

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ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived under final regulations in effect on the Effective Date); (b) the failure to comply with the applicable minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code and Sections 302 and 303 of ERISA; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability to the PBGC under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice concerning the imposition upon the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent, within the meaning of Title IV 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.

 

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

 

ESTR Administrators 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.

 

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 Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros and for any Interest Period, a rate per annum equal to the EURIBOR Screen Rate for such Interest Period.

 

EURIBOR Screen Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros and for any Interest Period, 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 Interest Period displayed (before any correction, recalculation or republication by the administrator) on page EURIBOR01 of the Reuters screen (or any replacement 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 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 displaying the relevant rate after consultation with the Borrower.

 

Euro”, “euro” and/or “EUR” means the single currency of the Participating Member States.

 

Eurocurrency Payment Office” of the Administrative Agent shall mean, for each of the Agreed Currencies which is a 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 Borrower and each Lender.

 

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Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.01.

 

Excess Cash Flow” shall mean, for any fiscal year of the Borrower, the excess of (a) the sum, without duplication, of (i) Consolidated EBITDA for such fiscal year, (ii) the decrease, if any, in Current Assets minus Current Liabilities (except as a result of the reclassification of items from short- term to long-term or vice versa) from the beginning to the end of such fiscal year and (iii) the amount relating to items that were deducted from or not added to Consolidated Net Income in calculating Consolidated EBITDA to the extent such items represented cash received by Borrower or any Subsidiary or did not represent cash paid by Borrower or any Subsidiary, in each case during such fiscal year over (b) the sum, without duplication, of:

 

 

(i)

Taxes payable in cash by Borrower and its Subsidiaries with respect to such fiscal year;

 

 

(ii)

Consolidated Interest Expense for such fiscal year to the extent paid in cash;

 

(iii)    permanent repayments or prepayments of Indebtedness (other than prepayments of Loans under Section 2.11 and prepayment of loans under the Revolving Facility or other revolving credit facilities), including any premium, make-whole or penalty payments related thereto, made in cash by Borrower and its Subsidiaries during such fiscal year from Internally Generated Cash Flow;

 

(iv)    without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to clause (v) in prior fiscal years, the amount of Capital Expenditures and any business acquisitions that constitute Permitted Investments made during such period to the extent financed with Internally Generated Cash Flow;

 

(v)    without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in prior fiscal years, the aggregate consideration required to be paid in cash by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to binding contracts (the “Contract Consideration”) entered into during such fiscal year relating to Capital Expenditures or any business acquisition that constitutes a Permitted Investment to be consummated or made during the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters of Borrower following the end of such fiscal year and intended to be financed with Internally Generated Cash Flow; provided that to the extent the aggregate amount utilized to finance such Capital Expenditure or acquisition during such period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters is less than the Contract Consideration, the amount of such shortfall shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow at the end of such period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters;

 

(vi)    the increase, if any, in Current Assets minus Current Liabilities (except as a result of the reclassification of items from short-term to long-term or vice versa) from the beginning to the end of such fiscal year;

 

(vii)    cash expenditures in respect of obligations under any Swap Agreement during such period to the extent not reflected in the computation of Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Interest Expense;

 

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(viii)    the amount relating to items that were added to or not deducted from Consolidated Net Income in calculating Consolidated EBITDA to the extent such items represented a cash payment (which had not reduced Excess Cash Flow on accrual thereof in a prior fiscal year) by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or did not represent cash received by the Borrower and its subsidiaries, in each case on a consolidated basis during such fiscal year;

 

(ix)    cash payments by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during such period in respect of long-term liabilities of Borrower and its Subsidiaries other than Indebtedness;

 

(x)    the aggregate amount of expenditures (other than Investments or Restricted Payments, except to the extent that such Restricted Payments (i) are made from Internally Generated Cash Flow, (ii) are made in accordance with the Borrower’s policy regarding dividends, and (iii) in aggregate during the applicable fiscal year do not exceed 6% of the market capitalization of the Borrower as of the end of such fiscal year) actually made by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in cash during such period (including expenditures for the payment of financing fees) to the extent that such expenditures are not expensed during such period; and

 

(xi)    cash payments by Borrower and its Subsidiaries during such period in respect of non-cash charges included in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income in any prior period.

 

Exchange Rate” means, for any Foreign Currency, the rate of exchange therefor as described in clause (b) of the definition of “Dollar Amount”.

 

Excluded Property” means (a) (i) all owned real property other than Material Real Property and (ii) all leasehold interests in real property; (b) (i) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title, (ii) rolling stock, barges and minority interests in aircraft and (iii) letter of credit rights in an amount less than $10,000,000 (except, in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), to the extent perfection can be achieved by filing a UCC-1 financing statement), (c) commercial tort claims in an amount less than $10,000,000; (d) pledges and security interests prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation (in each case, except to the extent such prohibition is unenforceable after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the UCC or similar laws) or which could require governmental (including regulatory) consent, approval, license or authorization to be pledged (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received); (e) all (A) voting Equity Interests in each Foreign Subsidiary in excess of 65% of the total combined voting power of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary directly owned by Loan Parties, (B) Equity Interests in each non-wholly-owned entity to the extent such pledge is prohibited by the organizational documents of such entity (except to the extent such prohibition is unenforceable after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code or similar laws) and (C) Equity Interests in the Specified Subsidiary and any intercompany debt owed to the Borrower by the Specified Subsidiary (so long as such Equity Interests in the Specified Subsidiary and such intercompany debt do not secure any other Material Indebtedness); (f) rights arising under any contract, instrument, lease, license or other agreement, or any property subject to a purchase money security interest, Capital Lease Obligation or other arrangement, to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such contract, instrument, lease, license or agreement, or any documents governing such purchase money security interest, Capital Lease Obligation or other arrangement, or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Borrower and its Subsidiaries), in each case after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code or similar laws; (g) those assets as to which the cost of obtaining a security interest therein or perfection thereof would be excessive in relation to the value afforded to the Lenders thereby, as reasonably agreed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent; (h) any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters and authorizations, to the extent security interests in such licenses, franchises, charters or authorizations are prohibited or restricted thereby after giving effect to the applicable anti assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code or similar laws; (i) “intent-to-use” trademark applications; (j) any property acquired after the Effective Date that is subject to a pre-existing security interest permitted hereunder (provided that such security interest was not incurred in anticipation of the acquisition of such property) for so long as the contract or other agreement governing such security interest prohibits the creation of any other security interest on such property, except to the extent such prohibition is rendered ineffective after giving effect to applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code or similar laws; (k) property to the extent the granting of a security interest in such property could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax consequences to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower and subject to the reasonable consent of the Administrative Agent; (l) tax, payroll, healthcare, employee wage or benefit, fiduciary, escrow, defeasance, redemption and trust accounts; (m) all accounts that are swept to a zero balance on a daily basis; (n) Margin Stock; and (o) Equity Interests of any captive insurance companies and special purpose entities that are Receivables Entities.

 

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Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Specified Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such 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 such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an ECP at the time the Guarantee of such Loan Party 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, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) net income or franchise Taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America or any political subdivision or state thereof, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender or any Issuing Bank, in which its applicable lending office is located, or that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) any branch profits Taxes imposed by the United States of America or any political subdivision or state thereof, by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender or any Issuing Bank, in which its applicable lending office is located, or that are Other Connection Taxes, (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender, any U.S. federal withholding Tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender pursuant to a law in effect at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (other than pursuant to an assignment requested by the Borrower under Section 2.19(b)) or designates a new lending office, except, in each case, to the extent that either the Lender’s assignor was entitled, at the time of assignment, to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to withholding Tax pursuant to Section 2.17(a), or such Lender was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office, to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 2.17(a), (d) Taxes attributable to such recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(e), and (e) any United States federal withholding taxes imposed by FATCA.

 

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Existing Joint Venture” means any corporation, limited liability company, joint venture or similar limited liability legal entity in existence on the Effective Date which was formed or entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with another Person in order to conduct a common venture or enterprise with such Person, which legal entity does not constitute a Subsidiary.

 

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

 

Existing Mortgage” means, as the context requires, all or any of (a) the Open-Ended Mortgage, Assignment of Leases and Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing, dated as of January 31, 2018, in respect of the real property located at 5000 Charter Oak Drive, Paducah, Kentucky, and granted by the Borrower for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and (b) the Mortgage, Assignment of Leases and Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing, dated as of January 31, 2018, in respect of the real property located at 1200 Willow Lake Boulevard, St. Paul, Minnesota, and 3450 Labore Road, St. Paul, Minnesota, and granted by the Borrower for the benefit of the Collateral Agent.

 

Extended Loans” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.26(a).

 

Extending Lenders” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.26(c).

 

Extension” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.26(a).

 

Extension Amendment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.26(d).

 

Extension Offer” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.26(a).

 

Facility” means a Class of Term Loans or the Revolving Facility, as the context may require.

 

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the Effective Date (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.

 

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 shall be set forth on the NYFRB’s Website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the federal funds effective rate. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower.

 

FIRREA” means the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989.

 

First Lien Secured Leverage Ratio” means, on any date of determination, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Total Indebtedness that is secured by a first priority Lien on such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended on or prior to such date.

 

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Flood Insurance Laws” means, collectively, (a) the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, (b) the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, (c) the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (d) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 and (e) Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012.

 

Floor” means the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in this Agreement (as of the execution of this Agreement, the modification, amendment or renewal of this Agreement or otherwise) with respect to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, Adjusted Daily Simple RFR or the Central Bank Rate, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt the initial Floor for each of Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, Adjusted Daily Simple RFR and the Central Bank Rate shall be (i) with respect to Revolving Loans and Term A Loans, 0.00% and (ii) with respect to Term B Loans, 0.50%.

 

Foreign Currencies” means each Agreed Currency other than Dollars.

 

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

 

Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is located. For purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

 

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is (a) a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of the Code or (b) disregarded as an entity separate from its owner” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-3 and is a direct Subsidiary of a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of the Code.

 

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).

 

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

 

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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.

 

Hedge Bank” means any Person that is a counterparty to a Swap Agreement with a Loan Party or any Subsidiary and that is a Lender, the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of any of the foregoing as of the Effective Date or, if later, the date on which such Swap Agreement is entered into, in each case in its capacity as a party thereto.

 

Hostile Acquisition” means (a) the acquisition of the Equity Interests of a Person through a tender offer or similar solicitation of the owners of such Equity Interests which has not been approved (prior to such acquisition) by the board of directors (or any other applicable governing body) of such Person or by similar action if such Person is not a corporation and (b) any such acquisition as to which such approval has been withdrawn.

 

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

 

Incremental Amendment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(c).

 

Incremental Facility” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a).

 

Incremental Revolving Facility” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a).

 

Incremental Term A Facility” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a).

 

Incremental Term B Facility” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a) .

 

Incremental Term Facility” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(a).

 

Incremental TLA and RCF Amount” means $600,000,000.

 

Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed (with the amount of such Indebtedness being the lesser of the amount secured and the fair market value of the property subject to such Lien), (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit, (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (k) the net obligations of such Person under any Swap Agreement or under any similar type of agreement and (l) all Attributable Receivables Indebtedness of such Person. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness 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 Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor. For purposes of the financial covenants under this Agreement, preferred stock issued by any Person shall not be considered Indebtedness of such Person. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or any other acquisition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary permitted hereunder (or any sale, transfer or other disposition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary permitted hereunder), the term “Indebtedness” shall not include, to the extent the same are not required to be reflected as indebtedness or liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower, contingent post-closing purchase price adjustments or earn-outs to which the seller in such Permitted Acquisition or such other acquisition (or the buyer in such sale, transfer or other disposition, as the case may be) may become entitled or contingent indemnity obligations that may be owed to such seller (or buyer, if applicable) in respect thereof.

 

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Indebtedness for Borrowed Money” of any Person means, without duplication, the sum of Indebtedness of such Person described in clauses (a), (b), (h), (i), (j) and (l) of the definition of “Indebtedness”, but shall exclude (a) notes, bills and checks presented in the ordinary course of business by such Person to banks for deposit or collection, and (b) with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, all obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries of the character referred to in this definition to the extent owing to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Indemnified Person” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(b).

 

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

 

Indenture Restricted Subsidiary” means a “Restricted Subsidiary” as defined in either Supplemental Indenture.

 

Ineligible Institution” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(b).

 

Intellectual Property Security Agreements” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

 

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

 

Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan (other than a Swingline Loan), the last day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date, (b) with respect to any Term 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 Term 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, (c) with respect to any RFR Loan, 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 the Maturity Date and (d) with respect to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Loan is required to be repaid and the Maturity Date.

 

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Interest Period” means with respect to any Term 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, three or six months thereafter, in each case, subject to the availability for the Benchmark applicable to the relevant Loan for any Agreed Currency, as the Borrower may elect; provided, that (a) 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 such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (b) any Interest Period 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 (c) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 2.14(e) 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, in the case of a Revolving Borrowing, thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

 

Interest Rate Swap Agreement” means any Swap Agreement settled by reference to one or more interest rates.

 

Internally Generated Cash Flow” means any cash of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that is not generated from a sale or disposition of assets outside the ordinary course of business, a casualty or condemnation event, an incurrence of Indebtedness (other than revolving Indebtedness) or an issuance of Equity Interests.

 

Investment” means, with respect to a specified Person, (a) any direct or indirect acquisition of or investment by such Person in any Equity Interests, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, or any capital contribution or loans or advances (other than advances made in the ordinary course of business that would be recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP) to, Guarantees of any Indebtedness or other obligations of any other Person that are held or made by the specified Person and (b) the purchase or acquisition (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all the property and assets or business of another Person or assets constituting a business unit, line of business, division or product line of such other Person.

 

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 each of (i) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., (ii) Citibank, N.A., (iii) U.S. Bank National Association, (iv) Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A. and (v) MUFG Bank, Ltd., each in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.06(i). Any Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Issuing Bank, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate. Each reference herein to the “Issuing Bank” in connection with a Letter of Credit or other matter shall be deemed to mean a reference to the relevant Issuing Bank with respect thereto.

 

Joint Venture” means any corporation, limited liability company, joint venture or similar limited liability legal entity formed or entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with another Person in order to conduct a common venture or enterprise with such Person, which legal entity does not constitute a Subsidiary.

 

Latest Maturity Date” means, at any date of determination, the latest maturity or expiration date applicable to any Loan or Commitment hereunder at such time, including the latest maturity or expiration date of any Incremental Facility, in each case as extended in accordance with this Agreement from time to time.

 

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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 Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower 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. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Article 29(a) of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time) or Rule 3.13 or Rule 3.14 of the International Standby Practices, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the applicable time) or similar terms of the Letter of Credit itself, or if compliant documents have been presented but not yet honored, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” and “undrawn” in the amount so remaining available to be paid, and the obligations of the Borrower and each Lender shall remain in full force and effect until the Issuing Bank and the Lenders shall have no further obligations to make any payments or disbursements under any circumstances with respect to any Letter of Credit.

 

LCT Election” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.10.

 

LCT Test Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.10.

 

Lender-Related Person” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(d).

 

Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, a Person listed on Schedule 2.01 with a Revolving Commitment, a Term A Commitment or a Term B Commitment or Schedule 2.02 with a Letter of Credit Commitment, as applicable, and any other Person that shall have become a Lender hereunder pursuant to Sections 2.20 and 2.23 or pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated thereby, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated thereby. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Banks.

 

Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Letter of Credit Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(b).

 

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 set forth on Schedule 2.02, or 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. Each Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment may be decreased or increased from time to time with the written consent of the Borrower and the applicable Issuing Banks, and notified to the Administrative Agent; provided that any decrease in the Letter of Credit Commitment of any Issuing Bank to an amount less than such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment as of the Effective Date (or the date such Issuing Bank assumed a Letter of Credit Commitment hereunder, as applicable), shall require the consent of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Issuing Bank.

 

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Liabilities” means any losses, claims (including intraparty claims), demands, damages or liabilities of any kind.

 

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.

 

Limited Condition Transaction” means any Permitted Acquisition or Permitted Investment the consummation of which is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party acquisition financing.

 

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, any Letter of Credit applications, the Subsidiary Guaranty, each Collateral Document, any promissory notes executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2.10(e), any intercreditor agreement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 6.02, any agreements between the Borrower and an Issuing Bank regarding such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment or the respective rights and obligations between the Borrower and such Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance of Letters of Credit and any and all other instruments and documents executed and delivered in connection with any of the foregoing. Any reference in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to a Loan Document shall include all appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto, and all amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto, and shall refer to this Agreement or such Loan Document as the same may be in effect at any and all times such reference becomes operative.

 

Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

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

 

Local Time” means (a) New York City time in the case of a Loan, Borrowing or LC Disbursement denominated in Dollars and (b) in the case of a Loan, Borrowing or LC Disbursement denominated in a Foreign Currency, local time for the principal financial center of such Foreign Currency.

 

Majority Lenders” of any Facility shall mean, at any time, Lenders under such Facility having outstanding Loans and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all Loans outstanding under such Facility and the aggregate outstanding unused Commitments under such Facility at such time. The Loans and Commitment of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Majority Lenders at any time.

 

Margin Stock” has the meaning provided in Regulation U of the Board.

 

Material Acquisition Election” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.09(b).

 

Material Acquisition Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.09(b).

 

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Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, financial condition, or results of operations of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (b) the ability of the Borrower or any other Loan Party to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or (c) the rights of or benefits or remedies available to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

Material Covenant Acquisition” means any Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment, if the aggregate amount of consideration (such consideration including, for the avoidance of doubt, any indebtedness satisfied or defeased at the closing of such acquisition by payment thereof, directly or indirectly, by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or assumed in connection with such acquisition) for such Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment is at least $150,000,000.

 

Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $75,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Borrower 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 Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

 

Material Real Property” means each fee-owned real property of the Loan Parties (i) subject to an Existing Mortgage or (ii) with a fair market value (as determined by the Borrower in its reasonable discretion) in excess of $10,000,000 (x) as of the Effective Date (with respect to each real property owned on the Effective Date) or (y) as of the date of acquisition of such real property (with respect to any such real property acquired after the Effective Date), including each real property listed on Schedule 5.09.

 

Material Subsidiary” means (x) each Elected Subsidiary and (y) each Subsidiary (a) which, as of the most recent fiscal quarter of the Borrower, for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters then ended, for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01, contributed greater than five percent (5%) of the Borrower’s Consolidated EBITDA for such period or (b) which contributed greater than five percent (5%) of the Borrower’s Consolidated Total Assets as of such date; provided that if, upon delivery of any annual or quarterly consolidated financial statements of the Borrower under Section 5.01(a) or (b), the aggregate amount of Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets attributable to all Domestic Subsidiaries that are not Material Domestic Subsidiaries exceeds ten percent (10%) of Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four (4) fiscal quarters then ending or ten percent (10%) of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of such fiscal quarter, the Borrower shall designate sufficient Domestic Subsidiaries as “Material Domestic Subsidiaries” to eliminate such excess, and such designated Subsidiaries shall for all purposes of this Agreement constitute Material Subsidiaries; provided further that the Borrower may at any time designate any Subsidiary as a Material Subsidiary in its sole discretion, even if not required to satisfy the foregoing; provided further that the Borrower may remove any Subsidiary’s designation as a Material Subsidiary if no Event of Default is continuing and, after giving effect to such removal, the aggregate amount of Consolidated EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets (as determined as of the date of the most recent annual or quarterly consolidated financial statements delivered under Section 5.01(a) or (b)) attributable to all Domestic Subsidiaries that are not Material Subsidiaries would not exceed ten percent (10%) of Consolidated EBITDA or ten percent (10%) of Consolidated Total Assets, as determined by the most recent annual or quarterly consolidated financial statements of the Borrower delivered under Section 5.01(a) or (b).

 

Maturity Date” means (i) with respect to each of the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility, February 15, 2028 and (ii) with respect to the Term B Facility, February 15, 2030.

 

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MIRE Event” shall mean if there are any Mortgaged Properties at such time, any increase, extension or renewal of any of the Commitments or Loans (including the establishment of any Incremental Facility under Section 2.20 or Refinancing Loans under Section 2.23 of this Agreement, but excluding (i) any continuation or conversion of borrowings, (ii) the making of any Loan or (iii) the issuance, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit).

 

Moodys” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

Mortgage Policy” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09.

 

Mortgaged Property” means each Material Real Property that is (i) subject to an Existing Mortgage or (ii) required to be subject to a Mortgage pursuant to Section 5.09 or Section 5.11.

 

Mortgages” means, collectively, (i) the Existing Mortgages and (ii) the mortgages, deeds of trust, trust deeds, and deeds to secure debt, as applicable, that are required to be executed and delivered pursuant to Section 5.09 or Section 5.11, in each case substantially in a form reasonably approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, in each case creating and evidencing a Lien on a Mortgaged Property, with such terms and provisions as may be required by the applicable laws of the relevant jurisdiction; provided, that any such Mortgage, to the extent encumbering a Principal Property, shall provide that the Obligations secured by Principal Property or any shares of stock of any Indenture Restricted Subsidiary or any debt owed to the Borrower by any Indenture Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the extent secured by Permitted Mortgages) (together with any other CNTA Covered Indebtedness) shall not exceed, at any time that any CNTA Covered Indebtedness is incurred, the CNTA Limit at such time so as to not require any notes issued pursuant to either Supplemental Indenture to be equally and ratably secured with the Obligations.

 

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

 

Net Proceeds” means;

 

(a) with respect to any Prepayment Disposition, the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of such Prepayment Disposition (including, without limitation, any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, but excluding the assumption by the acquiring person of Indebtedness relating to the disposed assets or other consideration received in any other non-cash form), net of the direct costs relating to such Prepayment Disposition (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions), taxes paid or reasonably estimated by the Borrower to be payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements related solely to such disposition), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium (if any) and interest on Indebtedness required (other than the Loans and other Indebtedness secured on a pari passu or junior lien basis with the Liens securing the Obligations under this Agreement) to be paid as a result of such transaction, and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries after such sale or other disposition thereof, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction; provided, that (i) no proceeds realized in a single transaction or series of related transactions shall constitute Net Proceeds unless such net cash proceeds shall exceed $10,000,000 and (ii) no proceeds shall constitute Net Proceeds in any fiscal year until the aggregate amount of all such net cash proceeds in such fiscal year shall exceed $25,000,000 (and thereafter only net cash proceeds in excess of such amount shall constitute Net Proceeds); and

 

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(b) with respect to the incurrence of Indebtedness, the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, net of the direct costs of such incurrence (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions).

 

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 Borrower or any Governmental Authority in the 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 the Borrower’s or such Letter of Credit beneficiary’s country, or (b) any request in respect of external indebtedness of borrowers in the 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.

 

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 shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Obligations” means all indebtedness (including interest 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 Borrower and its Subsidiaries to any of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks 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 to the Lenders or any of their Affiliates under any Secured Swap Agreement or any Banking Services Agreement 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; provided that the definition of “Obligations” shall not create or include any guarantee by any Loan Party of (or grant of security interest by any Loan Party to support, as applicable) any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Loan Party for purposes of determining any obligations of any Loan Party.

 

OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

 

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Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

 

Other Taxes” means any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement, but in any event excluding Excluded Taxes and any Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.19(b)).

 

Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurodollar transactions denominated in Dollars by U.S.–managed banking offices of depository institutions (as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on the 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 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.

 

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

 

Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.

 

Participant Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.

 

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

 

Patriot Act” means the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).

 

Payment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.11.

 

Payment Notice” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.11.

 

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

 

Perfection Certificate” means a certificate in the form of Exhibit H hereto, as the same shall be supplemented from time to time.

 

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Perfection Certificate Supplement” means a supplement to the Perfection Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit I.

 

Permitted Acquisition” means any acquisition (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise but excluding in any event a Hostile Acquisition) or series of related acquisitions by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of all or substantially all the assets of, or more than fifty percent (50%) of the Equity Interests in, a Person or division or line of business of a Person if, at the time of and immediately after giving effect thereto, (a) no Default has occurred and is continuing or would arise after giving effect thereto, (b) such Person or division or line of business is engaged in the same or a similar line of business as the Borrower and the Subsidiaries or business reasonably related thereto, (c) all actions required to be taken with respect to such acquired or newly formed Subsidiary under Section 5.09 shall have been taken, (d) the Borrower and the Subsidiaries are in compliance, on a pro forma basis reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent after giving effect to such acquisition (without giving effect to any cost savings in excess of the Consolidated EBITDA Cap during any Reference Period as described in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA), with the covenants contained in Section 6.09 recomputed as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower for which financial statements are available, as if such acquisition (and any related incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, with any new Indebtedness being deemed to be amortized over the applicable testing period in accordance with its terms) had occurred on the first day of each relevant period for testing such compliance and, if the aggregate consideration paid in respect of such acquisition exceeds $150,000,000, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower to such effect, together with all relevant financial information, statements and projections requested by the Administrative Agent and (e) in the case of an acquisition, merger or consolidation involving the Borrower or a Subsidiary, the Borrower or such Subsidiary is the surviving entity of such merger and/or consolidation.

 

Permitted Liens” means:

 

(a)     Liens imposed by law for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies on property that are not yet due or are due but may thereafter be paid without penalty or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

 

(b)     landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, servicemen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

 

(c)     pledges and deposits (including letters of credit, surety bonds and other escrowed or trust holdings) made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

 

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

 

(e)     judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under Section 7.01(k);

 

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

 

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(g)     bankers’ liens and rights of setoff arising by operation of law and contractual rights of setoff or any contractual Liens or netting rights in favor of the relevant depository institutions in connection with any cash management services provided to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

 

(h)     Liens granted in the ordinary course of business to licensors or sublicensors which encumber licensed intellectual property and inventory produced thereunder (but not any receivables from the sale, distribution or licensing thereof);

 

(i)     Liens representing any interest of a licensee or sublicense arising by virtue of being granted a license or sublicense (including the provision of software under an open source license) permitted by this Agreement (so long as any such Lien does not secure any Indebtedness); and

 

(j)     contractual rights of setoff or any contractual Liens or netting rights, in each case in favor of swap counterparties.

 

Permitted Investments” means:

 

(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)           obligations of any State of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof, the interest with respect to which is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 103 of the Code, having a long term rating from S&P of AA or better, or from Moody’s of Aa2 or better, and maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(c)          Investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

 

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

 

(e)         Investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, a short term credit rating from S&P of A-1 or better, or from Moody’s of P-1 or better;

 

(f)          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 $5,000,000,000;

 

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(g)         in the case of Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary, (i) Investments in certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, time deposits and similar bank obligations in the ordinary course of business and generally consistent with past practice to the extent placed with any well-capitalized commercial bank or financial institution which is located in the jurisdiction where such Foreign Subsidiary is located and (ii) other Investments of a nature substantially similar and of similar credit quality to the Investments described above to the extent made in the ordinary course of business and generally consistent with past practice in the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Subsidiary is located; and

 

(h)         other Investments made in accordance with the Borrower’s investment policy as disclosed to the Administrative Agent prior to the Effective Date and with such amendments or modifications thereto as are from time to time approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Permitted Mortgage” means any Permitted Mortgage, as defined in either Supplemental Indenture.

 

Permitted Receivables Facility” means a receivables facility or facilities created under the Permitted Receivables Facility Documents, providing for the sale, transfer and/or pledge by the Borrower and/or one or more other Receivables Sellers of Permitted Receivables Facility Assets (thereby providing financing to the Borrower and the Receivables Sellers) to a Receivables Entity (either directly or through another Receivables Seller), which in turn shall sell, transfer and/or pledge interests in the respective Permitted Receivables Facility Assets to third-party lenders or investors pursuant to the Permitted Receivables Facility Documents (with the Receivables Entity permit‐ted to issue or convey purchaser interests, investor certificates, purchased interest certificates or other similar documenta‐tion evidenc‐ing interests in the Permitted Receivables Facility Assets) in return for the cash used by such Receivables Entity to acquire the Permitted Receivables Facility Assets from the Borrower and/or the respective Receivables Sellers, in each case as more fully set forth in the Permitted Receivables Facility Documents.

 

Permitted Receivables Facility Assets” means (a) Receivables (whether now existing or arising in the future) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which are transferred, sold and/or pledged to a Receivables Entity pursuant to a Permitted Receivables Facility and any related Permitted Receivables Related Assets which are also so transferred, sold and/or pledged to such Receivables Entity and all proceeds thereof and (b) loans to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries secured by Receivables (whether now existing or arising in the future) and any Permitted Receivables Related Assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which are made pursuant to a Permitted Receivables Facility.

 

Permitted Receivables Facility Documents” means each of the documents and agreements entered into in connection with any Permitted Receivables Facility, including all docu‐ments and agreements relating to the issuance, funding and/or purchase of certificates and purchased interests or the incurrence of loans, as applicable, all of which documents and agreements shall be in form and substance reason‐ably satis‐fac‐tory to the Administrative Agent, in each case as such documents and agreements may be amended, modified, supplemented, refinanced or replaced from time to time so long as (a) any such amendments, modifications, supplements, refinancings or replace‐ments do not impose any conditions or requirements on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that are more restrictive in any material respect than those in existence immediately prior to any such amendment, modification, supplement, refinancing or replace‐ment unless otherwise consented to by the Administrative Agent, (b) any such amendments, modifica‐tions, supplements, refinancings or replacements are not adverse in any way to the interests of the Lenders and (c) any such amendments, modifications, supplements, refinancings or replacements are otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

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Permitted Receivables Related Assets” means any assets that are customarily transferred, sold and/or pledged or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving receivables similar to Receivables and any collections or proceeds of any of the foregoing (including, without limitation, lock-boxes, deposit accounts, records in respect of Receivables and collections in respect of Receivables).

 

Permitted Supplier Financing” means the sale by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of accounts receivable owing to it by one or more account debtors which would otherwise pay on terms longer than general market practices pursuant to a receivables purchase agreement or other customary documentation between the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary and a counterparty institution (any such agreement or other documentation, a “Receivables Purchase Agreement”), whereby the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, promptly receives cash proceeds from the counterparty institution in an amount equal to the face value of the sold accounts receivable net of a commercially reasonable and customary discount rate; provided, that:

 

 

(i)

any such sale is a true sale with any recourse to the Borrower or such Subsidiary limited to breach of representation, warranty or covenant by the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, with respect to the sold accounts receivable;

 

 

(ii)

such Receivables Purchase Agreement is on customary terms for such arrangement; and

 

 

(iii)

no Event of Default exists under Section 7.01(a), (b), (h) or (i) at the time of, or would result from, the sale of such accounts receivable.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Pounds Sterling” means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.

 

Prepayment Disposition” means any Disposition made under Section 6.03(a)(viii).

 

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 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.

 

Principal Property” means any Principal Property, as defined in either Supplemental Indenture.

 

Proceeding” means any claim, litigation, investigation, action, suit, arbitration or administrative, judicial or regulatory action or proceeding in any jurisdiction.

 

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.

 

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

 

QFC Credit Support” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.20.

 

Qualified Equity Interests” means Equity Interests of the Borrower other than Disqualified Equity Interests.

 

Receivables” means any right to payment created by or arising from sales of goods, leases of goods or the rendition of services rendered no matter how evidenced whether or not earned by performance (whether constituting accounts, general intangibles, chattel paper or otherwise).

 

Receivables Entity” means a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable of the Receivables Sellers and which is designated (as provided below) as a “Receivables Entity” (a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Indebtedness)) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower in any way (other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings) or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, (b) with which neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has any contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than pursu‐ant to the Permitted Receivables Facility Documents (including with respect to fees payable in the ordinary course of business in connection with the servicing of accounts receivable and related assets)) on terms less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from persons that are not Affiliates of the Borrower, and (c) to which neither the Borrower nor any other Subsidiary of the Borrower has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operat‐ing results (other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings). Any such designation shall be evidenced to the Administrative Agent by filing with the Administrative Agent an officer’s certificate of the Borrower certifying that, to the best of such officer’s knowledge and belief after consultation with counsel, such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

 

Receivables Sellers” means the Borrower and those Subsidiary Guarantors that are from time to time party to the Permitted Receivables Facility Documents (other than any Receivables Entity).

 

Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is the Term SOFR Rate, 5:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the day that is two Business Days preceding the date of such setting, (2) if such Benchmark is the EURIBOR Rate, 11:00 a.m. Brussels time two TARGET Days preceding the date of such setting, (3) if the RFR for such Benchmark is SONIA or ESTR, then five RFR Business Days prior to such setting, and (4) if such Benchmark is none of the Term SOFR Rate, the EURIBOR Rate, SONIA or ESTR, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.

 

Refinanced Facility” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23(a).

 

Refinancing” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01(j).

 

Refinancing Amendment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23(d).

 

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Refinancing Indebtedness” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23(a).

 

Refinancing Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23(c).

 

Refinancing Loans” means one or more Classes of Loans that result from a Refinancing Amendment.

 

Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.

 

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 Board and/or the NYFRB, the CME Term SOFR Administrator, as applicable, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the 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 Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, (ii) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, and (iii) with respect to any RFR Borrowing, the applicable Adjusted Daily Simple RFR, as applicable.

 

Relevant Screen Rate” means (i) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, and (ii) with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Euros, the EURIBOR Screen Rate, as applicable.

 

Required Lenders” means, subject to Section 2.25, (a) at any time prior to the earlier of the Loans becoming due and payable pursuant to Section 7.02 or the Commitments terminating or expiring, Lenders having Total Term A Loan Exposure, Total Term B Loan Exposure, Revolving Credit Exposure and Unfunded Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the Total Term A Loan Exposure, Total Term B Loan Exposure, Total Revolving Credit Exposure and Unfunded Commitments at such time, provided that, solely for purposes of declaring the Loans to be due and payable pursuant to Section 7.02, the Unfunded Commitment of each Lender shall be deemed to be zero; and (b) for all purposes after the Loans become due and payable pursuant to Section 7.02 or the Commitments expire or terminate, Lenders having Total Term B Loan Exposure, Total Term A Loan Exposure and Revolving Credit Exposure representing more than 50% of the Total Term B Loan Exposure, Total Term A Loan Exposure and Total Revolving Credit Exposure at such time; provided that, in the case of clauses (a) and (b) above, (x) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender that is a Swingline Lender shall be deemed to exclude any amount of its Swingline Exposure in excess of its Applicable Percentage of all outstanding Swingline Loans, adjusted to give effect to any reallocation under Section 2.25 of the Swingline Exposures of Defaulting Lenders in effect at such time, and the Unfunded Commitment of such Lender shall be determined on the basis of its Revolving Credit Exposure excluding such excess amount and (y) for the purpose of determining the Required Lenders needed for any waiver, amendment, modification or consent of or under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, if, and to the extent then permitted under Section 9.04, any Lender is the Borrower or an Affiliate of the Borrower, then such Lender shall be disregarded.

 

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Required Revolving Lenders” means, subject to Section 2.25, (a) at any time prior to the earlier of the Revolving Loans becoming due and payable pursuant to Section 7.02 or the Revolving Commitments terminating or expiring, Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposure and Unfunded Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure and Unfunded Commitments at such time, provided that, solely for purposes of declaring the Loans to be due and payable pursuant to Section 7.02, the Unfunded Commitment of each Lender shall be deemed to be zero; and (b) for all purposes after the Loans become due and payable pursuant to Section 7.02 or the Commitments expire or terminate, Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposure representing more than 50% of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure at such time; provided that, in the case of clauses (a) and (b) above, (x) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender that is a Swingline Lender shall be deemed to exclude any amount of its Swingline Exposure in excess of its Applicable Percentage of all outstanding Swingline Loans, adjusted to give effect to any reallocation under Section 2.25 of the Swingline Exposures of Defaulting Lenders in effect at such time, and the Unfunded Commitment of such Lender shall be determined on the basis of its Revolving Credit Exposure excluding such excess amount and (y) for the purpose of determining the Required Revolving Lenders needed for any waiver, amendment, modification or consent of or under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, if, and to the extent then permitted under Section 9.04, any Lender is the Borrower or an Affiliate of the Borrower, then such Lender shall be disregarded.

 

Required Term A Lenders” means, subject to Section 2.25, (a) at any time prior to the Term A Loans becoming due and payable pursuant to Section 7.02, Lenders having Total Term A Loan Exposure representing more than 50% of the sum of the Total Term A Loan Exposure at such time, and (b) for all purposes after the Loans become due and payable pursuant to Section 7.02 or the Commitments expire or terminate, Lenders having Total Term A Loan Exposure representing more than 50% of the Total Term A Loan Exposure at such time; provided that, in the case of clauses (a) and (b) above, for the purpose of determining the Required Term A Lenders needed for any waiver, amendment, modification or consent of or under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, if, and to the extent then permitted under Section 9.04, any Lender is the Borrower or an Affiliate of the Borrower, then such Lender shall be disregarded.

 

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

 

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

 

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Reuters” means, as applicable, Thomson Reuters Corp., Refinitiv, or any successor thereto.

 

Revolving Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans hereunder, in amounts set forth on Schedule 2.01, as applicable opposite such Lender’s name, 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), 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 9.04. The aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Commitments as of the Effective Date is $700,000,000.

 

Revolving Credit 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 Revolving Commitments.

 

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

 

Revolving Facility” means shall mean the Revolving Commitments and the extensions of credit made hereunder by the Revolving Lenders.

 

Revolving Lender” means as of any date of determination, a Lender with a Revolving Commitment or any Revolving Loan.

 

Revolving Loan” means a revolving loan made pursuant to Sections 2.01, 2.03 and 2.20.

 

RFR” means, for any RFR Loan denominated in (a) Pounds Sterling, SONIA, and (b) Euros (solely with respect to Swingline Loans), ESTR.

 

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

 

RFR Business Day” means, for any Loan denominated in (a) Pounds Sterling, any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which banks are closed for general business in London, and (b) Euros (but solely with respect to Swingline Loans), any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) any day that is not a TARGET Day.

 

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

 

RFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR.

 

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

 

Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means a Sale and Leaseback Transaction, as defined in either Supplemental Indenture.

 

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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, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, the Crimea, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Regions of Ukraine, 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, any applicable EU member state or His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, (b) any Person located, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b) or (d) any Person otherwise the subject of any Sanctions.

 

Sanctions” means 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, any applicable EU member state or His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

 

SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Secured Leverage Ratio” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.09(b).

 

Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders, each Issuing Bank, each Hedge Bank with respect to any Secured Swap Agreement, each Lender and its Affiliates with respect to any Banking Services Agreement and each sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Article VIII with matters relating to any Collateral Document.

 

Secured Swap Agreement” means any Swap Agreement entered into between a Hedge Bank and a Loan Party or any Subsidiary.

 

Security Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Security Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit E attached hereto, dated as of the Effective Date, among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors from time to time party thereto and the Collateral Agent, which shall provide among other things that the Obligations secured by Principal Property or any shares of stock of any Indenture Restricted Subsidiary or any debt owed to the Borrower by any Indenture Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the extent secured by Permitted Mortgages) (together with any other CNTA Covered Indebtedness) shall not exceed, at any time that any CNTA Covered Indebtedness is incurred, the CNTA Limit at such time so as to not require any notes issued pursuant to either Supplemental Indenture to be equally and ratably secured with the Obligations.

 

Security Agreement Supplement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

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SOFR Administrators 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.

 

Solvent” means, as to any Person as of any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair saleable value of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts, including contingent debts, as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities, including contingent debts and liabilities, beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature and (d) such Person is not engaged in a business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital. The amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

 

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).

 

SONIA Administrators 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.

 

Specified Subsidiary” means H.B. Fuller Construction Products, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, so long as it qualifies as an Indenture Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Specified Transaction” means any restructuring or cost saving, operational change or business rationalization initiative or other initiative.

 

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

 

Standard Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof in connection with a Permitted Receivables Facility which are reasonably customary in an accounts receiv‐able financing transaction.

 

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 percentage (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board) or any other reserve ratio or analogous requirement of any central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Revolving Commitments or the funding of the Loans. Such reserve percentage shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D of the Board. Term Benchmark Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under Regulation D of the Board or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

 

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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.

 

Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

Subsidiary Guarantor” means, at any time, each Material Subsidiary that is party to the Subsidiary Guaranty at such time, whether as an original party thereto, pursuant to Section 5.09 or otherwise. The Subsidiary Guarantors on the Effective Date are identified as such in Schedule 3.01 hereto.

 

Subsidiary Guaranty” means that certain Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit F attached hereto, dated as of the Effective Date (including any and all supplements thereto) and executed by each Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Supplemental Indentures” means, collectively, the 2017 Supplemental Indenture and the 2020 Supplemental Indenture.

 

Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.20.

 

Swap Agreement” means any agreement, including any Secured Swap 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 Borrower or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.

 

Swingline Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate principal 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 aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time (excluding, in the case of any Lender that is a Swingline Lender, Swingline Loans made by such Lender in its capacity as a Swingline Lender that are outstanding at such time to the extent that the other Lenders shall not have funded their participations in such Swingline Loans), adjusted to give effect to any reallocation under Section 2.20 of the Swingline Exposure of Defaulting Lenders in effect at such time, and (b) in the case of any Lender that is a Swingline Lender, 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.

 

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

 

TARGET2” means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer payment system which utilizes a single shared platform and which was launched on November 19, 2007.

 

TARGET Day” means any day on which TARGET2 (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) is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.

 

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

 

Term A Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment to make Term A Loans hereunder, in amounts set forth on Schedule 2.01 opposite such Lender’s name, or in any applicable 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), 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 9.04. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Term A Commitments as of the Effective Date is $500,000,000.

 

Term A Facility” means, at any time on or after the Effective Date, the Term A Commitments and the extensions of credit made thereunder.

 

Term A Lender” means, at any time on or after the Effective Date, a Lender that holds a Term A Commitment or Term A Loans at such time.

 

Term A Loans” means, at any time on or after the Effective Date, a loan made by a Term A Lender under the Term A Facility.

 

Term B Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment to make Term B Loans hereunder, in amounts set forth on Schedule 2.01 opposite such Lender’s name, or in any applicable 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), 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 9.04. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Term B Commitments as of the Effective Date is $800,000,000.

 

Term B Facility” means, at any time on or after the Effective Date, the Term B Commitments and the extensions of credit made thereunder.

 

Term B Lender” means, at any time on or after the Effective Date, a Lender that holds a Term B Commitment or Term B Loans at such time.

 

Term B Loans” means, at any time on or after the Effective Date, a loan made by a Term B Lender under the Term B Facility.

 

Term Loans” means the Term A Loans and the Term B Loans, collectively.

 

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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 Term SOFR Rate or the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate.

 

Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning assigned to it under the definition of Term SOFR Reference Rate.

 

Term SOFR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m., Chicago time, two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, as such rate is published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator.

 

Term SOFR Reference Rate” means, for any day and time (such day, the “Term SOFR Determination Day”), with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent as the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR. If by 5:00 pm (New York City time) on such Term SOFR Determination Day, the “Term SOFR Reference Rate” for the applicable tenor has not been published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Rate has not occurred, then the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such Term SOFR Determination Day will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate was published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator, so long as such first preceding Business Day is not more than five (5) Business Days prior to such Term SOFR Determination Day.

 

Total Leverage Ratio” means, on any date of determination, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Total Indebtedness to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended on or prior to such date.

 

Total Revolving Credit Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans at such time and (b) the total LC Exposure at such time.

 

Total Term A Loan Exposure” means, at any time, the outstanding principal amount of the Term A Loans at such time.

 

Total Term B Loan Exposure” means, at any time, the outstanding principal amount of the Term B Loans at such time.

 

Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, the perfection of the Liens created under the Collateral 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 Term SOFR Rate, the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR, the Central Bank Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.

 

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UCC” or “Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York or any other state the laws of which are required to be applied in connection with the issue of perfection of security interests.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Unfunded Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the Revolving Commitment of such Lender less its Revolving Credit Exposure.

 

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

 

U.S. Special Resolution Regimes” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.20.

 

Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part 1 of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

 

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

 

Yield Differential” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(b).

 

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”, “Term A Loan”, Term B Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Revolving Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Borrowing,” “Term A Borrowing” or “Term B Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Term Benchmark Revolving Borrowing”).

 

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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 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.

 

SECTION 1.04.     Accounting Terms; GAAP. 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 Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower 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 Borrower 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 Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness 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 Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof.

 

SECTION 1.05.     Currency Equivalents Generally. For the purposes of determining compliance with Sections 6.01 and 6.04 with respect to any amount of Indebtedness or Investment in any currency (other than Dollars) which is freely traded and convertible into Dollars in the London interbank market and for which the Dollar Amount thereof can be readily calculated, no Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of exchange occurring after the time such Indebtedness or Investment is incurred or made.

 

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SECTION 1.06.     Collateral Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document, (i) no Collateral shall be required to be perfected by control other than with respect to Pledged Debt and Pledged Equity (each as defined in the Security Agreement) to the extent required by the terms of the Security Agreement, and (ii) no actions in any non-U.S. jurisdiction or required by the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction shall be required in order to create any security interests in assets located or titled outside of the U.S. or to perfect such security interests (it being understood that there shall be no security agreements or pledge agreements governed under the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction).

 

SECTION 1.07.     Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification. The interest rate on a Loan denominated in Dollars or a Foreign Currency may be derived from an interest rate benchmark that may be discontinued or is, or may in the future become, the subject of regulatory reform. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Section 2.14(b) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. 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 any interest rate used in this Agreement, or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof, including without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the existing interest rate being replaced or have the same volume or liquidity as did any existing interest rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability.

 

SECTION 1.08.     Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the amount of such Letter of Credit available to be drawn at such time; provided that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Letter of Credit Agreement related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the available amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum amount is available to be drawn at such time.

 

SECTION 1.09.     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.

 

Section 1.10. LCT Provisions.

 

(a) In connection with the incurrence of an Incremental Term Facility in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, for purposes of (i) determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires the calculation of the First Lien Secured Leverage Ratio, the Secured Leverage Ratio, the Total Leverage Ratio or any other financial ratio; or (ii) testing availability under baskets set forth in this Agreement, in each case, at the option of the Borrower (the Borrower’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction, an “LCT Election”), the date of determination of whether any such transaction is permitted hereunder shall be deemed to be the date (the “LCT Test Date”) the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is entered into, and not at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction, and if, after giving pro forma effect to the Limited Condition Transaction and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) as if they had occurred at the beginning of the most recent test period ending prior to the LCT Test Date, the Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with such test, ratio or basket, calculated on a pro forma basis, then such test, ratio or basket shall be deemed to have been complied with so long as the applicable Limited Condition Transaction is consummated within 180 days following the LCT Test Date.

 

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(b) For the avoidance of doubt, if the Borrower has made an LCT Election and any of the tests, ratios or baskets for which compliance was determined or tested as of the LCT Test Date are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in any such test, ratio or basket, including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or of the Person subject to such Limited Condition Transaction, at or prior to the consummation of the relevant transaction or action, such tests, baskets or ratios will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the relevant transaction or action is permitted to be consummated or taken; provided that if such ratios or baskets improve as a result of such fluctuations, such improved ratios and/or baskets may be utilized.

 

ARTICLE II

The Credits

 

SECTION 2.01.     Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein,

 

(a) each Term A Lender (severally and not jointly) agrees to make a Term A Loan to the Borrower on the Effective Date denominated in Dollars in a principal amount not exceeding such Term A Lender’s Term A Commitment, (b) each Term B Lender (severally and not jointly) agrees to make a Term B Loan to the Borrower on the Effective Date denominated in Dollars in a principal amount not exceeding such Term B Lender’s Term B Commitment and (c) each Revolving Lender (severally and not jointly) agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower in Agreed Currencies from time to time during the Revolving Credit Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (i) subject to Sections 2.04 and 2.11(f), the Dollar Amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Commitment or (ii) subject to Sections 2.04 and 2.11(f), the Dollar Amount of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding the aggregate Revolving Commitments. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans. Amounts prepaid or repaid in respect of Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

 

SECTION 2.02.     Loans and Borrowings.  (a) Each Loan (other than a Swingline Loan) shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Type made by the applicable 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. The Term A Loans and the Term B Loans shall in each case amortize as set forth in Section 2.10.

 

(b)     Subject to Section 2.14, each Borrowing shall be comprised (i) in the case of Borrowings in Dollars, entirely of ABR Loans or Term Benchmark Loans, (ii) in the case of Borrowings in Euros, entirely of Term Benchmark Loans and (iii) in the case of Borrowings in Pounds Sterling, entirely of RFR Loans, in each case, as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith; provided that each ABR Loan shall only be made in Dollars. Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan (in the case of a Swingline Loan denominated in Dollars to the Borrower) or an RFR Loan (in the case of a Swingline Loan denominated in a Foreign Currency). Each Lender at its option may make any Loan 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 Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

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(c)     At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Term Benchmark Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $3,000,000 (or the Equivalent Amount of each such amount if such Borrowing is denominated in a Foreign Currency). At the time that each ABR Borrowing or RFR Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $1,000,000 (or the Equivalent Amount of each such amount if such Borrowing is denominated in a Foreign Currency); provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the aggregate Revolving Commitments or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e). Each Swingline Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $500,000 (or the Equivalent Amount of each such amount if such Borrowing is denominated in a Foreign Currency). Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of fifteen (15) Term Benchmark Borrowings and RFR Borrowings outstanding.

 

(d)     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the applicable Maturity Date.

 

(e)     After giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than 10 Interest Periods in effect with respect to Loans.

 

SECTION 2.03.     Requests for Borrowings. To request a Borrowing (other than Swingline Loans, which may only be requested in accordance with Section 2.05), the 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 Borrower, promptly followed by telephonic confirmation of such request) (i) in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, three (3) Business Days (in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars) or by irrevocable written notice (via a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower) not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, four (4) Business Days (in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency), in each case before the date of the proposed Borrowing and (ii) in the case of an RFR Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, five RFR Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing, or (b) by telephone in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on 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 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 Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

 

(i)     the name of the Borrower;

 

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(ii)     the Agreed Currency, Class and aggregate 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, RFR Borrowing or a Term Benchmark Borrowing;

 

(v)     in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the 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 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 Borrowing is specified, then, in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Term Benchmark Borrowing, then the 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 under the applicable Facility 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 the Borrower be permitted to request a CBR Loan (it being understood and agreed that the Central Bank Rate shall only apply to the extent provided in Sections 2.08(f), 2.14(a) and 2.14(f)) or an RFR Loan denominated in Euros (it being understood and agreed that such RFR Loans shall only be available as Swingline Loans in accordance with Section 2.05).

 

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

 

(a)     each Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency as of the date of such Borrowing or, if applicable, the date of conversion/continuation of any Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency,

 

(b)     the LC Exposure in respect of any Letter of Credit as of (i) the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit, (ii) the first Business Day of each calendar month and (iii) the date of any amendment of such Letter of Credit that has the effect of increasing the face amount thereof, and

 

(c)     the Total Revolving Credit Exposure on and as of the first 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 Majority Lenders in respect of the Revolving Facility.

 

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

 

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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 Borrower from time to time during the Revolving Credit Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding $70,000,000, (ii) the Dollar Amount of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding the aggregate Revolving Commitments, or (iii) the Dollar Amount of the Swingline Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding its Revolving Commitment; 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 Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans.

 

(b)     To request a Swingline Loan, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request (i) by telephone (confirmed by telecopy or electronic mail), not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan in Dollars and (ii) by irrevocable written notice (via a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Swingline Lender and signed by the Borrower, promptly followed by telephonic confirmation of such request), not later than 2:00 p.m., Local Time, two (2) RFR Business Days before the day of a proposed Swingline Loan in a Foreign Currency. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the requested date (which shall be a Business Day), currency and amount of the requested Swingline Loan and the account to which the proceeds of such Swingline Loan are to be credited. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of any such notice received from the Borrower. The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to the Borrower by means of a credit to an account of the Borrower (as designated by the Borrower in such notice) (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)     The Swingline Lender may, by written notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m., Local Time, two (2) Business Days before the date of the proposed acquisition of participations, require the Revolving Lenders to acquire participations on such date in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding in the applicable Agreed Currency of such Swingline Loans. Such notice shall specify the applicable Agreed Currency of Swingline Loans in which Revolving Lenders will participate. Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each Revolving Lender, specifying in such notice such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans and the Agreed Currency of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay in the applicable Agreed Currency to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of (i) the Maturity Date in respect of the Revolving Facility, (ii) any Event of Default described in Section 7.01(h) or (i), (iii) the date on which the Loans are accelerated, or (iv) the date on which the Revolving Commitments shall be terminated, each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to absolutely and unconditionally acquire participations in all of the Swingline Loans outstanding in the applicable Agreed Currency of such Swingline Loans at such time in each case without notice or any further action from the Swingline Lender, any Revolving Lender or the Administrative Agent. Each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, promptly upon receipt of written notice from the Administrative Agent specifying such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans (and in any event, if such notice is received by 10:00 a.m., Local Time, on any Business Day no later than 4:00 p.m., Local Time on the third (3rd) Business Day after such notice is received and if such notice is received after 10:00 a.m., Local Time, “on a Business Day” shall mean no later than 9:00 a.m., Local Time on the fourth (4th) Business Day after such notice is received), to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of all such Swingline Loans in the applicable Agreed Currency of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Revolving 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 Revolving Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Revolving 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 Revolving Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender. Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from the Borrower (or other party on behalf of the 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 Revolving 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 the Borrower for any reason. The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof.

 

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(d)     The Swingline Lender may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Swingline Lender and the successor Swingline Lender. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Lenders of any such replacement of the Swingline Lender. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrower 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 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.

 

(e)     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 Borrower and the Revolving Lenders, in which case, the Swingline Lender shall be replaced in accordance with Section 2.05(d) above.

 

SECTION 2.06.     Letters of Credit. (a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit denominated in Agreed Currencies as the applicant thereof for the support of its or its Subsidiaries’ obligations, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Revolving Credit Availability Period. 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 Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, an Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control; provided, however, if such Issuing Bank is requested to issue Letters of Credit with respect to a jurisdiction such Issuing Bank deems, in its reasonable judgment, may at any time subject it to a New Money Credit Event or a Country Risk Event, the Borrower 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 the applicable Issuing Bank. 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 for all purposes of the Loan Documents.

 

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(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 Borrower shall hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the applicable Issuing Bank) to the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, but in any event no less than three (3) Business Days, or such shorter period as agreed by the applicable Issuing Bank) 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 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. In addition, as a condition to any such Letter of Credit issuance, the Borrower shall have entered into a continuing agreement (or other letter of credit agreement) for the issuance of letters of credit and/or shall submit a letter of credit application, in each case, as required by the respective Issuing Bank and using such Issuing Bank’s standard form (each, a “Letter of Credit Agreement”). In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any Letter of Credit Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. 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 Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) subject to Sections 2.04 and 2.11(f), the Dollar Amount of the LC Exposure shall not exceed $40,000,000 (provided, however, that one or more Issuing Banks may, in such Issuing Bank’s sole discretion, agree to make available in accordance with this Section 2.06 additional Letters of Credit in an aggregate amount (for all such discretionary Letters of Credit) $30,000,000), (ii) subject to Sections 2.04 and 2.11(f), the Dollar Amount of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments, (iii) subject to Section 2.04 and 2.11(f), no Revolving Lender’s Dollar Amount of Revolving Credit Exposure shall exceed its Revolving Commitment, and (iv) subject to Section 2.04 and 2.11(f), the aggregate undrawn Dollar Amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit issued by any Issuing Bank at such time, plus the aggregate Dollar Amount of all LC Disbursements made such Issuing Bank that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time, shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Commitment of such Issuing Bank. The Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, increase or reduce the Letter of Credit Commitment of any Issuing Bank pursuant to the definition of “Letter of Credit Commitment”; provided that the Borrower shall not reduce the Letter of Credit Commitment of any Issuing Bank if, after giving effect of such reduction, the conditions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above shall not be satisfied.

 

An Issuing Bank shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

 

(i)     any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such Issuing Bank from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any law applicable to such Issuing Bank shall prohibit, or require that such Issuing Bank refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Effective Date, or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense that was not applicable on the Effective Date and that such Issuing Bank in good faith deems material to it; or

 

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(ii)     the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of such Issuing Bank applicable to letters of credit generally.

 

(c)     Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall have a stated expiry date that is no later than (or be subject to termination by notice from the applicable Issuing Bank to the beneficiary thereof 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 the then-current expiration date of such Letter of Credit) and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the applicable Maturity Date; provided, that (A) a Letter of Credit may, upon the request of the Borrower, include a provision mutually acceptable to the Borrower and the applicable Issuing Bank whereby such Letter of Credit shall be renewed automatically for additional consecutive periods of one year or less (provided that such Letter of Credit expires, subject to the following clause (B), on the date that is at least five Business Days prior to the applicable Maturity Date) unless the applicable Issuing Bank notifies the beneficiary thereof at least 30 days prior to the then-applicable expiration date that such Letter of Credit will not be renewed, and (B) a Letter of Credit that is issued, renewed or extended in the one-year period immediately preceding the applicable Maturity Date may expire on the date that is on or before one year after the applicable Maturity Date so long as the Borrower cash collateralizes on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Administrative Agent 105% of the face amount of such Letter of Credit no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the applicable Maturity Date.

 

(d)     Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount or extending the expiration thereof) and without any further action on the part of the applicable Issuing Bank or the Revolving Lenders, such Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Revolving Lender, and each Revolving 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 available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of such Issuing Bank, such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason, including after the applicable Maturity Date. Each Revolving 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 Revolving Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

 

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(e)     Reimbursement. If any Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent in Dollars the Dollar Amount equal to such LC Disbursement, calculated as of the date such Issuing Bank made such LC Disbursement (or if such Issuing Bank shall so elect in its sole discretion by notice to the Borrower, in such other 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, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower 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 Borrower 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 Borrower receives such notice; provided that the Borrower 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 or Swingline Loan in an equivalent Dollar Amount of such LC Disbursement and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan. If the Borrower fails to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrower in respect thereof and such Revolving Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Borrower, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Revolving Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to such Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to such Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse such Issuing Bank, then to such Revolving Lenders and such Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Revolving Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse such Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Revolving Loans or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement. If the Borrower’s reimbursement of, or obligation to reimburse, any amounts in any Foreign Currency would subject the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Revolving 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 Borrower shall, at its option, either (x) pay the amount of any such tax requested by the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or the relevant Revolving 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 Borrower’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, any Letter of Credit Agreement 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 any 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 Borrower’s obligations hereunder. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Revolving 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, any error in translation or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the applicable Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse such Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by such Issuing 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 such standard of care shall be as follows, and that an Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised such standard of care in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of such Issuing Bank (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment). 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 (i) accept documents that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and may make payment upon presentation of documents that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (ii) decline to accept such documents and to make such payment if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

 

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(g)     Disbursement Procedures. The applicable Issuing Bank shall, following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit within the period allowed under applicable law or the specific terms of such Letter of Credit. Such Issuing Bank shall promptly after such examination notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower 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 Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such Issuing Bank and the Revolving Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.

 

(h)     Interim Interest. If an Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower 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 Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans (or in the case such LC Disbursement is denominated in a Foreign Currency, at the Overnight Foreign Currency Rate for such Agreed Currency plus the then effective Applicable Rate with respect to Term Benchmark Revolving Loans) and such interest shall be due and payable on the date when such reimbursement is payable; provided that, if the Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.13(c) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of such Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Revolving Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse such Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Revolving Lender to the extent of such payment.

 

(i)     Replacement and Resignation of Issuing Banks.

 

(i)     Any Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Revolving Lenders of any such replacement of an Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrower 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 replaced 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 or extend or otherwise amend any existing Letter of Credit.

 

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(ii)     Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Issuing Bank, any Issuing Bank may resign as an Issuing Bank at any time upon thirty days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Revolving Lenders, in which case, such Issuing Bank shall be replaced in accordance with Section 2.06(i)(i) above.

 

(j)     Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing and the Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Majority Lenders in respect of the Revolving Facility (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall, within three (3) Business Days after receipt by the Borrower of such notice, deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Revolving Lenders (the “Collateral Account”), an amount in cash equal to the Dollar Amount of the LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; 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 Borrower 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 Borrower described in Section 7.01(h) or (i). 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 Borrower. The Borrower also shall deposit cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph as and to the extent required by Sections 2.06(c) and 2.11(f). Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the Obligations. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing or paragraph (c) of this Section, if any LC Exposure remains outstanding after the expiration date specified in said paragraph (c), the Borrower shall immediately deposit into the Collateral Account an amount in cash equal to 105% of such LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account and the Borrower hereby grants the Administrative Agent a security interest in the Collateral Account. Other than any interest or profits earned on the investment of such deposits in Permitted Investments, which Investments shall be made at the option of the Borrower (if approved by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) and at the Borrower’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 any applicable Issuing Bank (ratably in the case of more than one Issuing Bank) for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed, together with related fees, costs and customary processing charges, and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other Obligations. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder, such amount and all interest and profits thereon (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower (A) if provided as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived, and (B) if provided pursuant to Section 2.11(f), within three Business Days after cover for LC Disbursements pursuant to Section 2.11(f) is no longer necessary to eliminate the excess referred to therein.

 

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(k)     Conversion. In the event that the Loans become immediately due and payable on any date pursuant to Section 7.01, all amounts (i) that the Borrower 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 Borrower 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 Revolving 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 the applicable 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 Revolving Lender’s participation in any Foreign Currency Letter of Credit under which an LC Disbursement has been made, in each case shall automatically and with no further action required, be converted into the Dollar Amount, calculated using the applicable Exchange Rate 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 Revolving Lender in respect of the obligations described in this paragraph shall accrue and be payable in Dollars at the rates otherwise applicable hereunder.

 

(l)     Letters of Credit Issued for Account of Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder supports any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, or states that a Subsidiary is the “account party,” “applicant,” “customer,” “instructing party,” or the like of or for such Letter of Credit, and without derogating from any rights of the applicable Issuing Bank (whether arising by contract, at law, in equity or otherwise) against such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit, the Borrower (i) shall reimburse, indemnify and compensate the applicable Issuing Bank hereunder for such Letter of Credit (including to reimburse any and all drawings thereunder) as if such Letter of Credit had been issued solely for the account of the Borrower and (ii) irrevocably waives any and all defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of any or all of the obligations of such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of such Letters of Credit for its Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

 

(m)     Issuing Bank Agreements. Unless otherwise requested by the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank shall report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) promptly following the end of each calendar month, the aggregate amount of Letters of Credit issued by it and outstanding at the end of such month, (ii) on or prior to each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank expects to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, and the aggregate face amount of the Letter of Credit to be issued, amended, renewed or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension occurred (and whether the amount thereof changed), it being understood that such Issuing Bank shall not permit any issuance, renewal, extension or amendment resulting in an increase in the amount of any Letter of Credit to occur without first obtaining written confirmation from the Administrative Agent that it is then permitted under this Agreement, (iii) on each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank makes any payment under any Letter of Credit, the date of such payment under such Letter of Credit and the amount of such payment, (iv) on any Business Day on which the Borrower fails to reimburse any payment under any Letter of Credit required to be reimbursed to such Issuing Bank on such day, the date of such failure and the amount of such payment and (v) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.

 

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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, by 12:00 noon, New York City 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, by 12:00 noon, Local Time, in the city of the Administrative Agent’s Eurocurrency Payment Office for such currency and Borrower and at such Eurocurrency Payment Office for such currency and Borrower; provided that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.05. Except in respect of the provisions in this Agreement covering the reimbursement of Letters of Credit, the Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of the Borrower designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request; provided that ABR Revolving 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 (or, in the case of an ABR Borrowing, prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (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 (including without limitation the Overnight Foreign Currency Rate in the case of Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency) or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. 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. (a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type and Agreed Currency specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type (in the case of Borrowings denominated in Dollars) or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The 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. Except as provided in Section 2.08(f), this Section shall not apply to Swingline Loans, which may not be converted or continued.

 

(b)     To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower 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 the Borrower) 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 the Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election 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 Borrower. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, this Section shall not be construed to permit the Borrower to (i) change the currency of any Borrowing, (ii) elect an Interest Period for Term Benchmark Loans that does not comply with Section 2.02(d), (iii) convert any Borrowing to a Type not available for the applicable currency of such Borrowing, (iv) convert any Borrowing to a Borrowing of a Type not available under the Commitments pursuant to which such Borrowing was made or (v) elect a CBR Loan (it being understood and agreed that the Central Bank Rate shall only apply to the extent provided in Sections 2.08(f), 2.14(a) and 2.14(f)) or an RFR Loan denominated in Euros (it being understood and agreed that such RFR Loans shall only be available as Swingline Loans in accordance with Section 2.05).

 

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

 

(i)     the name of the Borrower, the Agreed Currency, Class and principal amount of 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);

 

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

 

(iii)     whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Term Benchmark Borrowing; and

 

(iv)     if the resulting Borrowing is a Term 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 Term Benchmark Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the 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 applicable Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

 

(e)     If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Term Benchmark Borrowing prior to the third (3rd) Business Day preceding the end of such Interest Period, such Borrowing shall automatically continue as a Term Benchmark Borrowing in the same Agreed Currency with an Interest Period of one month unless such Borrowing is or was repaid as provided herein.

 

(f)      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 (in the case of Revolving Loans or Term Loans) or the Swingline Lender (in the case of Swingline Loans), so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing, as applicable: (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Term Benchmark Borrowing; (ii) unless repaid, each Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day); and (iii) unless repaid, each Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency and each RFR Borrowing shall bear interest at the Central Bank Rate for the applicable Agreed Currency plus the CBR Spread immediately (or, in the case of a Term Benchmark Borrowing, at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto (or the next succeeding Business Day if such day is not a Business Day)); 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 such outstanding affected Term Benchmark Loans and RFR Loans denominated in any Agreed Currency other than Dollars shall either be (1) converted to an ABR Borrowing denominated in Dollars on such day, or (2) prepaid in full on such day; provided further that if no election is made by the Borrower by the date that is three Business Days after receipt by the Borrower of such notice (or, in the case of a Term Benchmark Loan, by the earlier of such date and the last day of the current Interest Period for the applicable Term Benchmark Loan), the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected clause (1) above.

 

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

 

(a)     On the Effective Date (after giving effect to the funding of the Term A Loans to be made on such date), the Term A Commitments of each Lender as of the Effective Date shall terminate. On the Effective Date (after giving effect to the funding of the Term B Loans to be made on such date), the Term B Commitments of each Lender as of the Effective Date shall terminate. Unless previously terminated, the Revolving Commitments shall terminate on the applicable Maturity Date.

 

(b)     The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) each partial reduction of Revolving Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $1,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Revolving 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 Revolving Commitments.

 

(c)     The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Revolving 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 Revolving Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Revolving Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or one or more other events specified therein, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (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 Revolving Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be made ratably among the Revolving Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments. Any such termination of the Revolving 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 thereof), (B) the payment in full in cash of all reimbursable expenses and other Obligations in respect of the Revolving Credit Exposures (other than contingent indemnity obligations), and (C) with respect to any Term Benchmark Loans or RFR 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 Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

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SECTION 2.10.     Repayment and Amortization of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to:

 

(i) pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of the Revolving Lenders, the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan made to the Borrower on the applicable Maturity Date in the currency of such Loan;

 

(ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the applicable Maturity Date and the first date after such Swingline Loan is made that is the 15th or last day of a calendar month and is at least two (2) Business Days after such Swingline Loan is made; provided that on each date that a Revolving Borrowing is made, the Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans then outstanding;

 

(iii) pay to the Administrative Agent, in Dollars, for the ratable account of the Term B Lenders holding Term B Loans (A) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur for the first full fiscal quarter after the Effective Date, an aggregate amount equal to 0.25% of the initial aggregate principal amount of all Term B Loans made on the Effective Date and (B) on the Maturity Date for the Term B Facility, the aggregate principal amount of all Term B Loans outstanding on such date; provided that payments required by this Section 2.10(a)(iii) shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with Section 2.11; and

 

(iv) pay to the Administrative Agent, in Dollars, for the ratable account of the Term A Lenders holding Term A Loans (A) on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur for the first full fiscal quarter after the Effective Date, an aggregate amount equal to (x) with respect to the first eight fiscal quarters ended after the Effective Date, 1.25% of the aggregate principal amount of all Term A Loans outstanding on the Effective Date, (y) with respect to the first full eight fiscal quarters ended after the end of the period set forth in the preceding clause (x), 1.875% of the aggregate principal amount of all Term A Loans outstanding on the Effective Date and (z) thereafter, 2.5% of the aggregate principal amount of all Term A Loans outstanding on the Effective Date and (B) on the Maturity Date for the Term A Facility, the aggregate principal amount of all Term A Loans outstanding on such date; provided that payments required by this Section 2.10(a)(iv) shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with Section 2.11.

 

(b)     Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the 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 the 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 the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

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(e)     Any Lender may request that Loans made by it to the Borrower be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, 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 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form.

 

SECTION 2.11.     Prepayment of Loans.

 

(a)     Optional. The 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 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 Term Benchmark Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of prepayment, (iii) in the case of prepayment of an RFR Borrowing (other than a Swingline Loan), not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, five RFR Business Days before the date of prepayment, or (iv) in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, not later than 10:00 a.m., 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 reduction or termination of the Revolving Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.09, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of reduction or termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.09; provided, further, that, a notice of prepayment with respect to Term Loans may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or other transactions specified therein, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Revolving Loans included in the prepaid Revolving Borrowing. Each prepayment of Term A Loans or Term B Loans shall be applied ratably to the Term A Loans or Term B Loans, as applicable, included in the prepaid Borrowing and in such order of application as to the installments due under Section 2.10(a) as directed by the Borrower. Prepayments shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13 and (ii) break funding payments pursuant to Section 2.16.

 

(b)     In the event that, on or prior to the date that is 6 months after the Effective Date, the Borrower (x) prepays, refinances, substitutes or replaces any Term B Loans with the proceeds of any new or replacement tranche of long-term secured term loans that have an All-In Yield that is less than the All-In Yield of such Term B Loans or (y) effects any amendment of this Agreement which reduces the All-In Yield of the Loans (other than, in the case of each of clauses (x) and (y), in connection with a Change in Control or a transformative acquisition referred to in the last sentence of this paragraph and other than any such prepayment, refinancing, substitution, replacement or amendment the primary purpose of which was not to reduce the All-In Yield of the Borrower’s long-term debt), the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of each of the applicable Lenders, (A) in the case of clause (x), a prepayment premium of 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the Loans so prepaid and (B) in the case of clause (y), a fee equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Loans for which the All-In Yield has been reduced pursuant to such amendment. Such amounts shall be due and payable on the date of such prepayment or the effective date of such amendment, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 2.11(b), a “transformative acquisition” is any acquisition (together with any related transaction, including incurrence of indebtedness to finance such acquisition) by the Borrower or any Subsidiary that (i) is not permitted by the terms of the Loan Documents immediately prior to the consummation of such acquisition or (ii) if permitted by the terms of the Loan Documents immediately prior to the consummation of such acquisition, after which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries would not have adequate flexibility under the Loan Documents for the continuation and/or expansion of their combined operations following such consummation, as determined by the Borrower in good faith.

 

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(c)      Mandatory. (i) Excess Cash Flow. Within five Business Days after financial statements have been or are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) and the related certificate of a Financial Officer has been or is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c), the Borrower shall prepay an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans equal to (A) 50% (such percentage as it may be reduced as described below, the “ECF Percentage”) of Excess Cash Flow, if any, for the fiscal year covered by such financial statements (commencing with the fiscal year ending on or about December 2, 2023) minus (B) the sum of (i) all voluntary prepayments of Term Loans during such fiscal year pursuant to Section 2.11(a)(iii), Section 2.11(a)(iv) and Section 9.04(e) (it being understood that the amount of any such payment constituting a below-par Permitted Loan Purchase shall be calculated to equal the amount of cash used and not the principal amount deemed prepaid therewith) and (ii) all voluntary prepayments of Revolving Loans during such fiscal year to the extent accompanied by a corresponding permanent reduction in the commitments hereunder, in the case of each of the immediately preceding clauses (i) and (ii), to the extent such prepayments are funded with Internally Generated Cash Flow; provided, that (x) the ECF Percentage shall be 25% if the Secured Leverage Ratio of the Borrower for the fiscal year covered by such financial statements was less than or equal to 4.25:1.00 and greater than 3.75:1.00 and (y) the ECF Percentage shall be 0% if the Secured Leverage Ratio of Borrower for the fiscal year covered by such financial statements was less than or equal to 3.75:1.00.

 

(ii)     Dispositions. If Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries receive Net Proceeds of any Prepayment Disposition, Borrower shall prepay on or prior to the date which is five Business Days after the date of receipt of such Net Proceeds, an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans equal to 100% of all Net Proceeds received; provided, that with respect to any Net Proceeds received with respect to any Prepayment Disposition, at the option of the Borrower and so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrower may reinvest all or any portion of such Net Proceeds in acquisitions of, or Investments in, assets useful for its business within (x) 18 months following receipt of such Net Proceeds or (y) if Borrower enters into a legally binding commitment to reinvest such Net Proceeds within 18 months following receipt thereof, within the later of such 18 months or 180 days after entry into such commitment, and provided, further, that if any Net Proceeds are no longer intended to be or cannot be so reinvested at any time after delivery of a notice of reinvestment election, or have not been reinvested within the time period set forth above, an amount equal to any such Net Proceeds shall be applied as set forth in the first sentence of this Section 2.11(c)(ii) within five Business Days after the Borrower reasonably determines that such Net Proceeds are no longer intended to be or cannot be so reinvested to the prepayment of the Loans as set forth in this Section 2.11.

 

(iii)     Proceeds of Indebtedness. If the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurs or issues any Indebtedness (A) not expressly permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Section 6.01 or (B) incurred pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment, the Borrower shall prepay an aggregate principal amount of Loans equal to 100% of all Net Proceeds received therefrom on or prior to the date which is five Business Days after the receipt of such Net Proceeds.

 

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(iv)     Certain Dispositions. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 2.11(c), (A) to the extent that any or all of the Net Proceeds of any Prepayment Disposition by a Foreign Subsidiary giving rise to a prepayment event pursuant to Section 2.11(c)(ii) (a “Foreign Disposition”), or Excess Cash Flow attributable to any Foreign Subsidiary are prohibited or delayed by applicable local law from being repatriated to the United States, the portion of such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Loans at the times provided in this Section 2.11(c) but may be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary so long, but only so long, as the applicable local law will not permit repatriation to the United States (the Borrower hereby agreeing to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Foreign Subsidiary to promptly take all actions reasonably required by the applicable local law to permit such repatriation), and once such repatriation of any of such affected Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow is permitted under the applicable local law, such repatriation will be promptly effected and such repatriated Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow will be promptly (and in any event not later than two Business Days after such repatriation) applied (net of additional Taxes payable, as reasonably estimated by the Borrower in good faith, or reserved against as a result thereof) to the repayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) to the extent provided herein and (B) to the extent that the Borrower has determined in good faith that repatriation of any of or all the Net Proceeds of any Foreign Disposition or Excess Cash Flow attributable to any Foreign Subsidiary would have a material adverse tax consequence (taking into account any foreign tax credit or benefit actually realized in connection with such repatriation) with respect to such Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow, the Net Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to repay Term Loans at the times provided in this Section 2.11(c) and may be retained by the applicable Foreign Subsidiary for so long as such material adverse tax consequences shall be deemed to be applicable by the Borrower in good faith.

 

(v)     All prepayments under this Section 2.11 shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon (together with the fee payable pursuant to Section 2.11(b), if any) and, in the case of any such prepayment of a Term Benchmark Loan on a date prior to the last day of an Interest Period therefor, any break funding payments owing pursuant to Section 2.16.

 

(vi)     Application of Mandatory Prepayments. The prepayments described in this Section 2.11(c) shall be applied ratably among the Term A Loans and the Term B Loans.

 

(d)     Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Term A Lender and Term B Lender shall have the right to reject its applicable percentage of any mandatory prepayment of the Loans pursuant to Section 2.11(c), in which case the amounts so rejected may be retained by the Borrower.

 

(e)     Nothing in this Section 2.11 shall be construed to constitute the Administrative Agent’s or any Lender’s consent to any transaction that is not permitted by other provisions of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

 

(f)     If (i) at any time, other than as a result of fluctuations in currency exchange rates, the Dollar Amount of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure (calculated, with respect to those Credit Events denominated in Foreign Currencies, using the Exchange Rate in effect as of the most recent Computation Date with respect to each such Credit Event) exceeds the aggregate Revolving Commitments and (ii) on any Computation Date, solely as a result of fluctuations in currency exchange rates, the Dollar Amount of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure (as so calculated) exceeds 105% of the aggregate Revolving Commitments, the Borrower shall immediately repay Revolving Borrowings and, if no Revolving Borrowings are then outstanding, cash collateralize LC Exposure in an account with the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.06(j), in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to cause the Dollar Amount of the Total Revolving Credit Exposure (so calculated) to be less than or equal to the aggregate Revolving Commitments.

 

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SECTION 2.12.     Fees. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender, an unused commitment fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the daily Dollar Amount of the unused Revolving Commitment of such Revolving Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which such Revolving Commitment terminates; provided that for purposes of this cause (a), outstanding Swingline Loans shall be deemed not to be a utilization of the Revolving Commitments. Accrued unused commitment fees shall be payable in arrears on the fifteenth day following the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date. All unused commitment 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 Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving 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 Term Benchmark Revolving Loans on the average daily Dollar Amount of such Revolving 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 Revolving 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 a rate per annum equal to 0.125% 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 Revolving Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as such Issuing Bank’s standard fees and commissions 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, other standard costs and charges of such Issuing Bank relating to the Letters of Credit as from time to time in effect, 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 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 Revolving Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving 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). All participation fees and fronting fees in respect of Letters of Credit shall be paid in Dollars, including, for the avoidance of doubt, in respect of any Letters of Credit denominated in a Foreign Currency.

 

(c)     The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

(d)     All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in Dollars (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Section) 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 unused commitment fees and participation fees, to the applicable Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

 

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SECTION 2.13.     Interest. (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan denominated in Dollars) shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(b)     The Loans comprising each Term Benchmark Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, as applicable, for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate. The Loans comprising each RFR Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted Daily Simple RFR for the Class and Foreign Currency of such Loans plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(c)     Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the 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 thereto 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.

 

(d)     Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears, in the same Agreed Currency as the applicable Loan, on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and, in the case of Revolving Loans, upon termination of the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c) 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 Revolving Credit 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 Term Benchmark 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.

 

(e)     All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest (i) computed by reference to 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 (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). All interest hereunder on any Loan shall be computed on a daily basis based upon the outstanding principal amount of such Loan as of the applicable date of determination. The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Term SOFR Rate, Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, EURIBOR Rate, Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, Adjusted Daily Simple RFR, Daily Simple RFR or Central Bank Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

SECTION 2.14.     Alternative Rate of Interest.

 

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

 

(i)     the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Term SOFR Rate, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the EURIBOR Rate or the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, as applicable (including, without limitation, because the Relevant Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis), for a Loan in the applicable currency or for the applicable Interest Period or (B) at any time, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable Adjusted Daily Simple RFR, Daily Simple RFR or RFR for the applicable Agreed Currency; or

 

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(ii)     the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Borrowing, the Term SOFR Rate, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, the EURIBOR Rate or the Adjusted EURIBOR Rate, as applicable, for a Loan in the applicable currency or for the applicable Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for the applicable Agreed Currency and such Interest Period or (B) at any time, the applicable Adjusted Daily Simple RFR, Daily Simple RFR or RFR for the applicable Agreed Currency 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;

 

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone, telecopy or electronic mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Borrower delivers a new Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.08 or a new Borrowing Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03 or a new request for a Swingline Loan in accordance with Section 2.05, as applicable, (A) for Loans denominated in Dollars, any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Term Benchmark Borrowing and any Borrowing Request that requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing shall instead be deemed to be an Interest Election Request or a Borrowing Request, as applicable, for an ABR Borrowing, and (B) for Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency, any Interest Election Request that requests the continuation of any Borrowing as a Term Benchmark Borrowing and any Borrowing Request or request for Swingline Loans that requests a Term Benchmark Borrowing or RFR Borrowing, as the case may be, for the relevant Benchmark shall be ineffective; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect only one Type of Borrowings, then the other Type of Borrowings shall be permitted.

 

Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan or RFR Loan in any Agreed Currency is outstanding on the date of the Borrower’s receipt of the notice from the Administrative Agent referred to in this Section 2.14(a) with respect to a Benchmark applicable to such Loan, then until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Borrower delivers a new Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.08 or a new Borrowing Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03 or a new request for Swingline Loans in accordance with the terms of Section 2.05, as applicable, (A) for Term Benchmark Loans denominated in Dollars, any such Term Benchmark 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), be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, an ABR Loan, (B) for Term Benchmark Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency, any such Term Benchmark 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 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 outstanding affected Term Benchmark Loans denominated in any applicable Foreign Currency shall, at the Borrower’s election prior to such day: (x) be prepaid by the Borrower on such day or (y) solely for the purpose of calculating the interest rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, such Term Benchmark Loan denominated in such 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, and (C) for RFR Loans, any such RFR Loan 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 outstanding affected RFR Loans shall, at the Borrower’s election prior to such day: (x) be converted into ABR Loans denominated in Dollars (in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount of such Foreign Currency) immediately or (y) be prepaid in full immediately.

 

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(b)     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document (and any Swap Agreement shall be deemed not to be a “Loan Document” for purposes of this Section 2.14), if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1) 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 (2) 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)     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.

 

(d)     The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, (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 (e) 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 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.

 

(e)     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (i) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including the Term SOFR Rate or the EURIBOR 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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(f)     Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing or RFR Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term Benchmark Loans to be made, converted or continued during any applicable Benchmark Unavailability Period applicable thereto and, failing that, either (x) the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request for a Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to an ABR Borrowing or (y) any such request relating to a Term Benchmark Borrowing or RFR Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency shall be ineffective. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period for Dollars or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark for Dollars 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 or RFR Loan in any Agreed Currency is outstanding on the date of the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Loan, then until such time as a Benchmark Replacement for such Agreed Currency is implemented pursuant to this Section 2.14, (A) for Loans denominated in Dollars, any Term Benchmark 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), be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, an ABR Loan on such day, (B) for Term Benchmark Loans denominated in any Foreign Currency, any such Term Benchmark 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 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 outstanding affected Term Benchmark Loans denominated in any Foreign Currency shall, at the Borrower’s election prior to such day: (x) be prepaid by the Borrower on such day or (y) solely for the purpose of calculating the interest rate applicable to such Loan, 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, and (C) for RFR Loans, any such RFR Loan shall immediately 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 outstanding affected RFR Loans shall, at the Borrower’s election, prior to such day: (x) be converted into ABR Loans denominated in Dollars (in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount of such Foreign Currency) on such day or (y) be prepaid in full on such day.

 

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 EURIBOR Rate) or any Issuing Bank;

 

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

 

(iii)     subject the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payments to be made hereunder to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (c) through (e) 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 Person of making, continuing, converting into or maintaining any Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan or to increase the cost to such Person of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Person hereunder, whether of principal, interest or otherwise, then the Borrower will pay to such Person such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Person for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)     If any Lender or any 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 such Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement 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 such Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

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

 

(d)     Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an 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 such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or such Issuing 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.

 

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SECTION 2.16.     Break Funding Payments.

 

(a)     With respect to Term Benchmark Loans, in the event of (i) the payment of any principal of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or an optional or mandatory prepayment of Loans), (ii) the conversion of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (iii) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Term Benchmark Loan 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), (iv) the assignment of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19 or (v) the failure by the Borrower to make any payment of any Loan or drawing under any Letter of Credit (or interest due thereon) denominated in a Foreign Currency on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a different currency, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event.

 

(b)     With respect to RFR Loans that accrue interest by reference to a term rate, in the event of (i) the payment of any principal of any such RFR 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), (ii) the failure to borrow or prepay any such RFR Loan 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), (iii) the assignment of any such RFR Loan other than on the Interest Payment Date applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19 or (iv) the failure by the Borrower to make any payment of any such RFR Loan or drawing under any Letter of Credit (or interest due thereof) denominated in a Foreign Currency on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a different currency, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event.

 

(c)     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 Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The 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) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, unless such deduction or withholding is required by law; provided that if the Borrower or Administrative Agent determines in its good faith judgment that it is required to deduct or withhold any Taxes from such payments, then (i) the Borrower or Administrative Agent shall be entitled to so deduct or withhold; (ii) if the Tax is an Indemnified Tax, the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions or withholdings (including deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent, Lender or Issuing Bank (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made; and (iii) the Borrower or Administrative Agent shall pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

(b)     The 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, any Other Taxes.

 

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(c)     Without duplication of the obligations of the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.17(a) or (b), the Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Issuing Bank, within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any penalties, interest and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or an Issuing Bank, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or, on behalf of the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an Issuing Bank shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(d)     As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the 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.

 

(e)     Status of Lenders. (i)  Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in paragraphs (g)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) of this Section) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

 

(ii)     Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,

 

(A)     any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or about the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

(B)     any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or about the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

1)    in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or 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;

 

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2)    executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;

 

3)    in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit J-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W‑8BEN-E; or

 

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

 

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

 

(D)     if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount, if any, to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the Effective Date.

 

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

 

(f)     If the Administrative Agent or a Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17, it shall pay over such refund to the Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 2.17 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (f), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (f) 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 Section shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes which it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

 

(g)     [Reserved].

 

(h)     [Reserved].

 

(i)     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 the Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.04 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 amounts 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 Section 2.17(i).

 

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

 

(k)     Each party's obligations under this Section shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

 

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

 

(a)     The Borrower shall make each payment or prepayment 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 Borrower, 12:00 noon, New York City time and (ii) in the case of payments denominated in a Foreign Currency, 12:00 noon, Local Time, in the city of the Administrative Agent’s Eurocurrency Payment Office for such currency, in each case on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off, recoupment 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 to euro, in euro) 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, the Administrative Agent’s Eurocurrency 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 9.03 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 the Borrower is not able to make payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders in such Original Currency, then all payments to be made by the Borrower hereunder in such currency shall 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 Borrower take all risks of the imposition of any such currency control or exchange regulations.

 

(b)     At any time that payments are not required to be applied in the manner required by Section 7.02, if 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 not constituting (i) a specific payment of principal, interest, fees or other sum payable under the Loan Documents (which shall be applied as specified by the Borrower or (ii) a mandatory prepayment (which shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.11), such funds shall be applied ratably first, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements (other than those described in the next clause second), including amounts then due to the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank from the Borrower, second, to pay any fees, indemnities or expense reimbursements then due to the Lenders from the Borrower, third, to pay interest then due and payable on the Loans ratably, fourth, to prepay principal on the Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements and any other amounts owing with respect to obligations in respect of Secured Swap Agreements or any Banking Services Agreement ratably, fifth, to pay an amount to the Administrative Agent equal to one hundred five percent (105%) of the aggregate undrawn face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit and the aggregate amount of any unpaid LC Disbursements, to be held as cash collateral for such Obligations and sixth, to the payment of any other Obligation due to the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) any proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent shall be applied as set forth in Section 4.02 of the Security Agreement to the extent that application of such proceeds is not otherwise specified by this Agreement or directed by the Borrower and (y) amounts received from any Loan Party shall not be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Loan Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, unless so directed by the Borrower, or unless a Default is in existence, none of the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall apply any payment which it receives to any Term Benchmark Loan, except (A) on the expiration date of the Interest Period applicable to any such Term Benchmark Loan or (B) in the event, and only to the extent, that there are no outstanding ABR Loans and, in any event, the Borrower shall pay the break funding payment required in accordance with Section 2.16. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply and reverse and reapply any and all such proceeds and payments to any portion of the Obligations.

 

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(c)     If, except as expressly provided herein, 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 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 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 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 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 the 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 Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The 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 the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

(d)     Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant Lenders or the Issuing Banks hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment or prepayment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the relevant Lenders or the Issuing Banks, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the relevant 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 such Lender or such Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the NYFRB Rate 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).

 

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(e)     If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(c), 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(d) or 9.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or an Issuing Bank to satisfy such Lender’s obligations to it under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section; in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.

 

SECTION 2.19.     Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or (ii) if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount 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 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 disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)     If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, or if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), 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 (other than any Ineligible Institution) that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and if a Revolving Commitment is being assigned, the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender), 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 Borrower (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 Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply. Each party hereto agrees that (x) an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, 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 such parties are participants), and (y) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender; provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.

 

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SECTION 2.20.     Incremental Credit Extensions.

 

(a)     The Borrower may from time to time request to (i) increase the amount of Commitments under the Revolving Facility (such increase in Commitments, an “Incremental Revolving Facility”) in minimum increments of $25,000,000, provided that the aggregate principal amount of all Incremental Revolving Facilities shall not exceed the Incremental TLA and RCF Amount less the aggregate outstanding amount of all Incremental Term A Facilities, (ii) increase the principal amount of the Loans under the Term A Facility or add one or additional tranche to the Term A Facility (such additional tranche or increase in Loans, an “Incremental Term A Facility”) in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 and in minimum increments of $1,000,000 thereafter, provided that the aggregate principal amount of all Incremental Term A Facilities shall not exceed the Incremental TLA and RCF Amount less the aggregate outstanding amount of all Incremental Revolving Facilities, and (iii) increase the principal amount of the Loans under the Term B Facility or add one or more tranche to the Term B Facility (such additional tranche or increase in Loans, an “Incremental Term B Facility”; each Incremental Term B Facility together with each Incremental Term A Facility, the “Incremental Term Facilities” and each Incremental Term Facility together with each Incremental Revolving Facility, each an “Incremental Facility”), in a minimum amount of $10,000,000 and minimum increments of $5,000,000 thereafter, provided that the aggregate amount of all such Incremental Term B Facilities does not exceed an amount equal to the sum of (a) the greater of (x) $500,000,000 and (y) 100% of Consolidated EBITDA less the aggregate amount of (i) any Commitments established and Loans drawn under all Incremental Term A Facilities and (ii) any Commitments established under all Incremental Revolving Facilities plus (b) such additional amount as may be incurred without causing the pro forma First Lien Secured Leverage Ratio to exceed 4.00:1.00. The Borrower 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 Loans or Commitments, as applicable, 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), which agree to participate in such Incremental Facilities; provided that (i) each Augmenting Lender, shall be subject to the approval of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (as well as the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender, in the case of an Incremental Revolving Facility) and (ii) (x) in the case of an Increasing Lender, the Borrower and such Increasing Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C-1 hereto, and (y) in the case of an Augmenting Lender, the Borrower and such Augmenting Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C-2 hereto. Except as set forth above, no consent of any Lender (other than the Lenders participating in such Incremental Facility) shall be required for any Incremental Facilities pursuant to this Section 2.20. Incremental Facilities created pursuant to this Section 2.20 shall become effective on the date agreed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the relevant Increasing Lenders or Augmenting Lenders, and the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no tranche of Incremental Facilities shall become effective unless, (i) immediately prior to and immediately after the incurrence of such Incremental Facilities, the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of Section 4.02 shall be satisfied (and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate to that effect dated such date and executed by a Financial Officer of the Borrower) or waived by the Required Lenders; provided that, with respect to the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02, to the extent that the proceeds of any Incremental Facilities are being used to finance a Permitted Acquisition or Permitted Investment, (A) such incurrence shall be subject to Section 1.10 and (B) with the consent of only the Increasing Lenders and Augmenting Lenders participating in such Incremental Facilities, (x) the condition set forth in Section 4.02(b) may be waived (other than with respect to a Default or Event of Default under Section 7.01(a), (b), (h), (i) or (j)), and (y) only customary “specified representations” shall be required to be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of such incurrence (or as of any earlier date referred to therein), and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received documents consistent with those delivered on the Effective Date as to the organizational power and authority of the Borrower to borrow hereunder after giving effect to such increase. On the effective date of any increase in the Revolving Commitments, (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 Revolving Lenders to equal its Applicable Percentage of such outstanding Revolving Loans, and (ii) the Borrower shall be deemed to have repaid and reborrowed all outstanding Revolving Loans as of the date of any increase in the Revolving 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 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 Term Benchmark Loan and RFR Loan, shall be subject to indemnification by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.16 if the deemed payment occurs other than on the applicable Interest Payment Date in respect thereof.

 

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(b)     The Incremental Facilities (i) shall rank pari passu in right of payment and of security with the initial Facilities, (ii) in the case of any Incremental Term Facility, shall not mature earlier than the Maturity Date for the Term A Facility or the Term B Facility, as applicable, (other than any customary bridge facility so long as the long-term indebtedness into which such bridge facility is to be converted satisfies such requirement) (iii) in the case of an Incremental Term Facility, shall not have a weighted average life to maturity that is shorter than that of the initial Term A Facility or Term B Facility, as applicable (other than any customary bridge facility so long as the long-term indebtedness into which such bridge facility is to be converted satisfies such requirement), (iv) shall not have borrowers or guarantors that are not Loan Parties, (v) shall not be secured by any assets that do not constitute Collateral, (vi) in the case of an Incremental Term Facility, may participate on a pro rata basis or on a less than pro rata basis (but not a greater than pro rata basis) in any mandatory prepayments with the Term A Facility or Term B Facility, as applicable, (vii) in the case of an Incremental Revolving Facility, shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as the Revolving Facility and be deemed added to, and made part of, the Revolving Facility and (viii) except as set forth above and with respect to the All-In Yield below, any Incremental Term Facility, if not consistent with the terms of the existing Term A Facility or Term B Facility, as applicable, shall be on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (except for covenants and other provisions that are (a) also added for the benefit of the applicable Facility or (b) the terms and conditions applicable to any Incremental Term Facility with a maturity after the applicable Maturity Date may provide for material additional or different financial or other covenants or prepayment requirements applicable only during periods after the applicable Maturity Date); provided, that with respect to any Incremental Term B Facilities incurred in the form of pari passu term loans within 18 months after the Effective Date, if the All-In Yield of such Incremental Term B Facilities exceeds the All-In Yield of the initial Term B Facility by more than 50 basis points (the amount of such excess above 50 basis points, the “Yield Differential”), then the Applicable Rate for the initial Term B Facility shall automatically be increased by the Yield Differential, effective upon the making of such Incremental Term B Facilities.

 

(c)     The Incremental Facilities may be made hereunder pursuant to an amendment or restatement (an “Incremental Amendment”) of this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrower, each Increasing Lender participating in such tranche, each Augmenting Lender participating in such tranche, if any, and the Administrative Agent. The Incremental Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.20.

 

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(d)     Nothing contained in this Section 2.20 shall constitute, or otherwise be deemed to be, a commitment on the part of any Lender to provide Incremental Facilities at any time and no Lender shall be required to participate in any Incremental Facility. In connection with any Incremental Facilities 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 Issuing Banks (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 Borrower or (b) an Equivalent Amount of such currency is not readily calculable, then the Administrative Agent shall forthwith give notice thereof to the Borrower, the Lenders and, if such Credit Event is a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Banks, 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 Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request, as the case may be, as ABR Loans, unless the 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 Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders be practicable and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Dollar Amount of the aggregate principal amount specified in the related Borrowing Request 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 the 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 Issuing Banks, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders 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.

 

SECTION 2.22.     Judgment Currency. If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due from the 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 the Borrower in respect of any sum due to any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than the specified currency, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by such Lender 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 or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, in the specified currency, the 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 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 such Lender under Section 2.18, such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, agrees to remit such excess to the Borrower.

 

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SECTION 2.23.     Refinancing Facilities. (a) The Borrower may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent from time to time, request Indebtedness (“Refinancing Indebtedness”) to refinance all or a portion of any existing Facility (the “Refinanced Facility”) with one or more new revolving or term facilities, as applicable, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of the Refinanced Facility plus any accrued interest, fees, costs and expenses related thereto (including any original issue discount or upfront fees). Such notice shall set forth (i) the amount of the Refinancing Indebtedness (which shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000), and (ii) the date on which the applicable Refinancing Indebtedness is to be made available (which shall not be less than ten (10) Business Days nor more than sixty (60) days after the date of such notice (or such longer or shorter periods as the Administrative Agent shall agree)). The Borrower may seek Refinancing Loans from existing Lenders (each of which shall be entitled to agree or decline to participate in its sole discretion) or from one or more new banks, financial institutions or other entities (other than any Ineligible Institution).

 

(b) It shall be a condition precedent to the incurrence of any Refinancing Indebtedness that (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately prior to or immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of the Refinancing Indebtedness, (ii) the terms of the Refinancing Indebtedness shall comply with this Section 2.23 and (iii) substantially concurrently with the incurrence of any Refinancing Indebtedness, 100% of the proceeds thereof shall be applied to repay the Refinanced Facility (including accrued interest, fees and premiums (if any) payable in connection therewith).

 

(c) The terms of any Refinancing Indebtedness shall be determined by the Borrower and the Persons providing the Refinancing Indebtedness (each, a “Refinancing Lender”) and set forth in a Refinancing Amendment; provided that (i) the final maturity date of any Refinancing Indebtedness shall be no earlier than the Maturity Date of the Refinanced Facility, (ii) the weighted average life to maturity of any Refinancing Indebtedness shall be no shorter than the remaining weighted average life to maturity of the Refinanced Facility, (iii) none of the borrower and the guarantors of the Refinancing Loans shall be a Person that is not a Loan Party, (iv) if secured, such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be secured by any assets that do not constitute Collateral and may not be secured pursuant to security documentation that is more restrictive to the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors than the Loan Documents, (v) the interest rate margin, rate floors, fees, original issue discount and premiums applicable to the Refinancing Indebtedness shall be determined by the Borrower and the applicable Refinancing Lenders, (vi) the Refinancing Indebtedness may share ratably or less than ratably (but not more than ratably) in any prepayments of the Term A Facility and Term B Facility, as applicable, (vii) to the extent the terms of the Refinancing Indebtedness are inconsistent with the terms set forth herein (except as set forth in clause (i) through (vi) above), such terms shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (viii) to the extent the Refinancing Indebtedness is secured, it will be secured on a pari passu basis with or on a junior basis to the Facilities and, if secured on a junior basis to the Facilities, will be subject to an intercreditor agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

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(d) In connection with any Refinancing Loans, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each applicable Refinancing Lender shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an amendment to this Agreement (which may take the form of an amendment and restatement of this Agreement) (a “Refinancing Amendment”) and such other documentation as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably specify to evidence such Refinancing Loans. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Refinancing Amendment. Any Refinancing Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lender, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate (but only to such extent), in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.23, including any amendments necessary to establish the applicable Refinancing Loans as a new class or tranche of Loans, and such other technical amendments as may be necessary or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in connection with the establishment of such new class or tranche, in each case on terms consistent with this Section 2.23.

 

(e) To the extent of any inconsistency, the terms of this Section 2.23 shall supersede any provision in Section 2.18 or 9.02.

 

SECTION 2.24.     Non-Pro Rata Repurchases. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries may purchase from any Term B Lender, at individually negotiated prices, outstanding principal amounts or commitments under the Term B Facility in a non-pro rata manner; provided that (i) the purchaser shall make a representation to the seller at the time of assignment that it does not possess material non-public information with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that has not been disclosed to the seller or Term B Lenders generally (other than the Term B Lenders that have elected not to receive material non-public information), (ii) any Term B Commitments or Term B Loans so repurchased shall be immediately cancelled, (iii) no Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom and (iv) no proceeds from the Revolving Facility shall be used to finance such purchase.

 

SECTION 2.25.     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 Revolving Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(a);

 

(b)     the Commitment, Revolving Credit Exposure, Total Term A Loan Exposure and Total Term B Loan Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders or the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 9.02); provided that, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.02, this clause (b) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of each Lender or each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

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

 

(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 (x) the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures plus such Defaulting Lender’s Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Commitments and (y) the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 are satisfied at such time;

 

(ii)     if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within one (1) Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent (x) first, prepay such Swingline Exposure and (y) second, cash collateralize for the benefit of the applicable Issuing Banks only the Borrower’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 Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrower 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 (ii) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.12(b) shall be adjusted to include any such reallocated LC Exposure in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Applicable Percentages; or

 

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

 

(d)     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 Revolving Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.25(c), and participating interests in any such newly issued or increased Letter of Credit or newly made Swingline Loan shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.25(c)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein); and

 

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(e)     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 or at maturity or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 9.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to any Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender hereunder; third, to cash collateralize LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with this Section; fourth, as the Borrower 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 Borrower, 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 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 Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the Issuing Banks or Swingline Lenders 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 the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement 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 Borrower’s obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s LC Exposure and Swingline Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Revolving 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;

 

If (i) a Bankruptcy Event or a Bail-In Action with respect to a Parent of any Lender shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Banks have 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 the Issuing Banks shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Banks, as the case may be, shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender, satisfactory to the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Banks, 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 Borrower, the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then (x) the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Revolving 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 and (y) any cash collateral provided under this Section 2.25 shall be promptly released and returned to the Borrower.

 

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SECTION 2.26.     Extended Loans. (a) The Borrower may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent from time to time, request an extension (each, an “Extension”) of the Maturity Date of all or any portion of any Class of Loans to the extended maturity date specified in such request. Such notice shall set forth (i) the amount of the applicable Class of Loans to be extended (the “Extended Loans”) (which shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000), (ii) the date on which such Extension is requested to become effective (which shall be not less than ten (10) Business Days nor more than sixty (60) days after the date of such requested Extension (or such longer or shorter periods as the Administrative Agent shall agree)) and (iii) the relevant Class or Classes of Loans to which such requested Extension relates. Each Lender of the applicable Class shall be offered an opportunity to participate in such Extension on a pro rata basis (an “Extension Offer”) and on the same terms and conditions as each other Lender of such Class pursuant to procedures established by, or reasonably acceptable to, the Administrative Agent; provided that no Lender will have any obligation to participate in such Extension or have its Loans or Commitments extended. If the aggregate principal amount of Loans in respect of which Lenders shall have accepted the relevant Extension Offer shall exceed the maximum aggregate principal amount of Loans requested to be extended by the Borrower pursuant to such Extension Offer, then the Loans of Lenders of the applicable Class shall be extended ratably up to such maximum amount based on the respective principal amounts (but not to exceed actual holdings of record) with respect to which such Lenders have accepted such Extension Offer.

 

(b) It shall be a condition precedent to the effectiveness of any Extension that (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing immediately prior to and immediately after giving effect to such Extension and (ii) the terms of such Extended Loans shall comply with Section 2.26(c).

 

(c) The terms of each Extension shall be determined by the Borrower and the Lenders agreeing to such extension (the “Extending Lenders”) and set forth in an Extension Amendment; provided that (i) the final maturity date of any Extended Loan shall be no earlier than the applicable Maturity Date, (ii) in the case of an Extension under the Term A Facility or the Term B Facility, the weighted average life to maturity of the Extended Loans shall be no shorter than the remaining weighted average life to maturity of any then-existing Term A Loans or Term B Loans, as applicable, (iii) the Extended Loans will rank pari passu in right of payment and with respect to security with respect to the Facilities, (iv) none of the borrower and the guarantors of the Extended Loans shall be a Person that is not a Loan Party and the Extended Loans shall not be secured by assets that do not constitute Collateral, (v) the interest rate margin, rate floors, fees, original issue discounts and premiums applicable to any Extended Loan shall be determined by the Borrower and the applicable Extending Lenders, (vi) in the case of an Extension of any Term A Loans or Term B Loans, the Extended Loans may share ratably or less than ratably (but not more than ratably) in any mandatory prepayments of the Term A Facility or Term B Facility, as applicable, and (vii) to the extent the terms of the Extended Loans are inconsistent with the terms set forth herein (except as set forth in clause (i) through (vi) above), such terms shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(d) In connection with any Extension, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each applicable Extending Lender shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an amendment to this Agreement (which may take the form of an amendment and restatement of this Agreement) (an “Extension Amendment”) and such other documentation as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably specify to evidence the Extension. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Extension. Any Extension Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lender, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate (but only to such extent), in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to implement the terms of any such Extension, including any amendments necessary to establish Extended Loans as a new Class or tranche of Loans and such other technical amendments as may be necessary or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in connection with the establishment of such new Class or tranche, in each case on terms consistent with this Section 2.26).

 

(e)         To the extent of any inconsistency, the terms of this Section 2.26 shall supersede any provision in Section 2.18 or 9.02.

 

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ARTICLE III

Representations and Warranties

 

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 3.01.     Organization; Powers; Subsidiaries. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concept is applicable in the relevant jurisdiction) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing (to the extent such concept is applicable) in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required. Schedule 3.01 hereto identifies, as of the Effective Date, (a) each Subsidiary, if such Subsidiary is a Material Subsidiary, the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as the case may be, the percentage of issued and outstanding shares of each class of its capital stock or other equity interests owned by the Borrower and the other Subsidiaries and, if such percentage is not 100% (excluding directors’ qualifying shares as required by law), a description of each class issued and outstanding and (b) each Existing Joint Venture. As of the Effective Date, all of the outstanding shares of capital stock and other equity interests of each Subsidiary are validly issued and outstanding and fully paid and nonassessable and all such shares and other equity interests indicated on Schedule 3.01 as owned by the Borrower or another Subsidiary are owned, beneficially and of record, by the Borrower or any Subsidiary free and clear of all Liens except (i) those created under the Collateral Documents and (ii) Liens permitted under Section 6.02. Except as indicated on Schedule 3.01, as of the Effective Date, there are no outstanding commitments or other obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to issue, and no options, warrants or other rights of any Person to acquire, any shares of any class of capital stock or other equity interests of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, other than (i) pursuant to employee or director stock option plans of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and (ii) rights of participants in any Joint Venture to acquire additional capital stock or other equity interests in such joint venture.

 

SECTION 3.02.     Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions are within the Borrower’s corporate, limited liability company or other like powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company or other like action and, if required, by all necessary shareholder, member, partner or other like action. Each Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to (x) 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 and (y) the need for filings and registrations necessary to perfect the Liens on the Collateral, if any, granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Secured Parties.

 

SECTION 3.03.     Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except (i) filings and registrations necessary to perfect the Liens on the Collateral, if any, granted by the Loan Parties in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and (ii) such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (b) will not violate in any material respect any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any order of any Governmental Authority binding upon the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any material indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, other than Liens securing the Obligations.

 

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SECTION 3.04.     Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change. (a) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows as of and for the fiscal year ended December 3, 2022, reported on by Ernst & Young, LLP, independent public accountants. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP.

 

(b)     Since December 3, 2022, there has been no material adverse change in the business, assets, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

SECTION 3.05.     Properties. (a) Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except for minor 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. There are no Liens on any of the real or personal properties of the Borrower or any Subsidiary except for Liens permitted by Section 6.02.

 

(b)     Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have not infringed upon, misappropriated or otherwise violated, and do not infringe upon, misappropriate or otherwise violate, the intellectual property the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements, misappropriations or other violations as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.06.     Litigation and Environmental Matters. (a) There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters) or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions. There are no labor controversies pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) which could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters), or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.

 

(b)     Except for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, or (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability.

 

(c)     Since the Effective Date, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or materially increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is party or subject to any law, regulation, rule or order, or any obligation under any agreement or instrument, that has a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 3.07.     Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.08.     Investment Company Status. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

SECTION 3.09.     Taxes. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP, or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.10.     ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.11.     Disclosure. (a) The Borrower has disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower 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 or filed with the SEC) when taken as a whole and when taken together with the Borrower’s filings with the SEC prior to the date hereof 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; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time (it being understood that such projections may vary from actual results and such variances may be material).

 

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

 

SECTION 3.12.     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 3.13.     No Default. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

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SECTION 3.14.     Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. The Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, their respective officers, employees, directors and (other than with respect to matters publicly disclosed in the Borrower’s filings with the SEC prior to the Effective Date) agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of (a) the Borrower, any Subsidiary or to the knowledge of the Borrower or such Subsidiary any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facilities established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person. No Borrowing or Letter of Credit, use of proceeds or other Transactions will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.

 

SECTION 3.15.     Affected Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an Affected Financial Institution or a Covered Entity.

 

SECTION 3.16.     Collateral Documents. (a) Subject to Sections 5.09 and 5.11 and the other limitations, exceptions and filing requirements otherwise set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the Collateral Documents are effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, legal, valid and enforceable Liens on, and security interests in, the Collateral described therein to the extent required thereby.

 

(b)         Subject to Sections 5.09 and 5.11, upon recording thereof in the appropriate recording office, each Mortgage shall be (or, with respect to Existing Mortgages, is) effective to create, in favor of the Collateral Agent, for its benefit and the benefit of the Secured Parties, legal, valid and enforceable perfected Liens on, and security interests in, all of the Loan Parties’ right, title and interest in and to the Mortgaged Properties thereunder, subject only to Liens permitted under the Loan Documents, and when the Mortgages are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 5(a) to the Perfection Certificate (or, in the case of any Mortgage executed and delivered after the date hereof in accordance with the provisions of Sections 5.09 and 5.11 when such Mortgage is filed in the offices specified in the local counsel opinion delivered with respect thereto in accordance with the provisions of Sections 5.09 and 5.11), such Mortgages shall (or, with respect to Existing Mortgages, do) constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in the Mortgaged Properties thereunder, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person, other than Liens permitted under the Loan Documents.

 

SECTION 3.17.      Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions. None of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations), and neither the execution, delivery nor performance of the Transactions, including the making of any Loan and the issuance of any Letter of Credit hereunder, will give rise to a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

 

SECTION 3.18.     Solvency. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) are Solvent as of the Effective Date.

 

 

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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 9.02):

 

(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, (ii) a counterpart of the Subsidiary Guaranty substantially in the form of Exhibit F signed on behalf of each Subsidiary Guarantor and the Administrative Agent, (iii) a counterpart of the Security Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E signed on behalf of each party thereto, or, in each case, 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 favorable written opinions (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of (i) Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, U.S. counsel for the Loan Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit B and (ii) upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, favorable written opinions addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of additional counsel for the Loan Parties, each covering such matters relating to the Loan Parties, this Agreement or the Transactions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. The Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such opinions.

 

(c)     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 initial Loan Parties, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to such Loan Parties, the Loan Documents or the Transactions, including but not limited to, (i) resolutions and other evidence of authority authorizing this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) a short-form good standing certificate or the equivalent, if any, in the jurisdiction of organization of each Loan Party and (iii) a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of each Loan Party certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of such Loan Party authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which it is a party and attaching such Person’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws or other equivalent organizational documents, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

 

(d)     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 Borrower, certifying (i) that the representations and warranties contained in Article III are true and correct as of such date and (ii) that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as of such date.

 

(e)     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, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder (including, without limitation, the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, charges and expenses of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel to the Administrative Agent) (in the case of fees, charges and expenses, solely to the extent invoiced to the Borrower at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Effective Date (or such later date as the Borrower shall permit in its reasonable discretion.

 

(f)     (i) The Administrative Agent shall have received, at least five days prior to the Effective Date, all documentation and other information regarding the Borrower requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act, to the extent requested in writing of the Borrower at least 10 days prior to the Effective Date and (ii) to the extent the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, at least five days prior to the Effective Date, any Lender that has requested, in a written notice to the Borrower at least 10 days prior to the Effective Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to the 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 condition set forth in this clause (ii) shall be deemed to be satisfied).

 

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(g)     Subject to Section 5.11, to the extent not previously filed, delivered or otherwise in effect, and subject to Section 1.06, each agreement, document or instrument (including any Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and Intellectual Property Security Agreements) required by this Agreement or the Collateral Documents, under applicable law or as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to be executed and delivered, filed, registered or recorded in order to create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected Lien on the Collateral described therein, shall been received by the Administrative Agent or shall be in proper form for filing, registration or recordation, as the case may be.

 

(h)     The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) satisfactory audited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower for the two recent fiscal years ended prior to the Effective Date as to which such financial statements are available and (ii) satisfactory financial statement projections through and including the Borrower’s 2027 fiscal year, together with such information as the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall reasonably request (including, without limitation, a detailed description of the assumptions used in preparing such projections).

 

(i)     The Administrative Agent shall have received a completed Perfection Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H.

 

(j)     The Borrower’s Existing Term Loan Credit Agreement shall have been, or substantially concurrently with the Effective Date shall be, refinanced in full, all guarantees in connection therewith shall have been released and all liens in connection therewith shall have been terminated (the “Refinancing”).

 

(k)     The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received Intellectual Property Security Agreements substantially in the forms attached to the Security Agreement, executed and delivered (which may include facsimile or other electronic transmission of a signed signature page), by the applicable Loan Parties party thereto, as the same may be modified to include current party names, dates and other changes of an administrative, ministerial or corrective nature, and such other changes as the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may mutually agree.

 

(l)     The Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G and signed by a Financial Officer of the Borrower.

 

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower 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 each Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a)     The representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (or shall be true and correct in all respects if the applicable representation and warranty is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit (or, if any such representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date), as applicable.

 

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(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 or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

(c)     No law or regulation shall prohibit, and no order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority shall enjoin, prohibit or restrain, any Lender from making the requested Loan or any Issuing Bank or any Lender from issuing, renewing, extending or increasing the face amount of or participating in the Letter of Credit requested to be issued, renewed, extended or increased.

 

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 Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.

 

ARTICLE V

Affirmative Covenants

 

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated, in each case, without any pending draw (or otherwise become subject to cash collateralization or other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks), and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 5.01.     Financial Statements and Other Information. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent for distribution to each Lender:

 

(a)     within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or, if earlier, no later than five (5) Business Days after the date that the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Borrower for such fiscal year would be required to be filed under the rules and regulations of the SEC, giving effect to any automatic extension available thereunder for the filing of such form), its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, KPMG LLP, Ernst & Young, LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;

 

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(b)     within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or, if earlier, no later than five (5) Business Days after the date that the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Borrower for such fiscal quarter would be required to be filed under the rules and regulations of the SEC, giving effect to any automatic extension available thereunder for the filing of such form), its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers (which certification shall be satisfied by the certification provided in Exhibit 31.2 to the Borrower’s applicable Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q) as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

 

(c)     concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations (including, for the avoidance of doubt, calculations for the applicable full four-quarter period and for each individual quarter in such period) demonstrating compliance with Sections 6.01, 6.03 and 6.09, (iii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations of the Secured Leverage Ratio as required for purposes of determining the “Applicable Rate” and (iv) stating whether any material change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 that applies to the Borrower or any Subsidiary and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;

 

(d)     [reserved];

 

(e)     concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) above, a Perfection Certificate;

 

(f)     promptly (i) after the filing thereof, copies of all periodic and other reports, periodic and other certifications of the chief executive officer or a Financial Officer of the Borrower, registration statements and other publicly available materials filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the SEC, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of the SEC, or with any national securities exchange (other than periodic non-material administrative certifications provided to any national securities exchange electronically), and (ii) after the distribution thereof, copies of all financial statements, reports, proxy statements and other materials distributed by the Borrower to its shareholders generally; provided that any such documents that are filed or furnished with the SEC via EDGAR or any successor electronic document submission program shall be deemed to have been provided to the Administrative Agent when so filed or furnished; and

 

(g)     promptly following any request therefor, (x) such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request and (y) 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.

 

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All financial statements, certificates (other than the compliance certificates required by clause (c) above) and other items required to be furnished to the Administrative Agent under Section 5.01 may be delivered electronically and, if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the website on the Internet at the Borrower’s website address; or (ii) on which such documents are available via the EDGAR system (or any successor system) of the SEC on the internet; provided that the Borrower shall notify (which notice may be made by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such document to it and maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on an Approved Electronic Platform and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities.  The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, that, to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information (as defined in Section 9.12), they shall be treated as set forth in Section 9.12); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of an Approved Electronic Platform designated “Public Side Information”; and (z) the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of an Approved Electronic Platform not designated “Public Side Information.”  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be under no obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.”

 

SECTION 5.02.     Notices of Material Events. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

 

(a)     the occurrence of any Default;

 

(b)     any event or development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(c)     subject to Sections 1.06 and 5.09, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent in writing at least ten (10) days before any change in (i) legal name of any Loan Party, (ii) the type of organization of any Loan Party or (iii) the jurisdiction of organization of any Loan Party and, upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Agent, take all actions reasonably necessary to continue the perfection of the Liens on the Collateral owned by such Loan Party created under the Collateral Documents following any such change with the same priority as immediately prior to such change. The Borrower agrees to promptly provide the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, after notification of any such change, with certified organizational documents reflecting any of the changes described in the first sentence of this Section 5.02(c); and

 

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(d)     any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification delivered to such Lender that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in such certification.

 

Each notice delivered pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) under this Section (i) shall be in writing and (ii) shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth in reasonable detail the nature of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

 

SECTION 5.03.     Existence; Conduct of Business. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03.

 

SECTION 5.04.     Payment of Obligations. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities, that, if not paid, could result in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 5.05.     Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

 

(a)     keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted;

 

(b)     maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as is consistent with sound business practices;

 

(c)     subject to Section 5.11, ensure that any third-party liability (other than directors and officers liability insurance; insurance policies relating to employment practices liability or workers’ compensation; crime; fiduciary duties; kidnap and ransom; flood (except as required by clause (d) below); fraud, errors and omissions; marine and aircraft liability and excess liability; and construction programs) and property insurance policies of the Loan Parties described in Section 5.05(b) with respect to the Collateral shall name the Collateral Agent as an additional insured (solely in the case of liability insurance) or loss payee (solely in the case of property insurance with respect to the Collateral), as applicable; and

 

(d)     subject to Section 5.09 and 5.11, so long as a Mortgage in respect of Mortgaged Property with improvements that are located in a special flood hazard area is then in effect, with respect to each Mortgaged Property located in a special flood hazard area:

 

(i)     maintain flood insurance in compliance with the Flood Insurance Laws and the National Flood Insurance Program as set forth in the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as amended from time to time, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent; and

 

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(ii)     deliver to the Administrative Agent annual renewals of each flood insurance policy or annual renewals of each force-placed flood insurance policy, as applicable.

 

SECTION 5.06.     Books and Records; Inspection Rights. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and, during such times when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested; provided, that so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall have no obligation to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent or any Lender for costs and expenses relating to any such visitation and inspection (other than one visitation and inspection during any fiscal year). The Borrower acknowledges that the Administrative Agent, after exercising its rights of inspection, may prepare and distribute to the Lenders certain reports pertaining to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries’ assets for internal use by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

 

SECTION 5.07.     Compliance with Laws. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property (including without limitation Environmental Laws), except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance in all material respects by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

 

SECTION 5.08.     Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans will be used only to consummate the Refinancing and to finance the working capital needs and for general corporate purposes, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including Permitted Acquisitions and the purchase or redemption of capital stock of the Borrower as permitted hereunder. No part of the proceeds of any Loan 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. The Borrower will not request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and the Borrower shall not use, and the Borrower shall ensure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, 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, business or transaction would be prohibited by Sanctions if conducted by a corporation incorporated in the United States, the United Kingdom, 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.

 

SECTION 5.09.     Subsidiary Guaranty. (a) As promptly as possible but in any event within thirty (30) days (or such later date as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent) after (i) any Person becomes a Subsidiary, (ii) any Subsidiary qualifies independently as, or is designated by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as, a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the definition of “Material Subsidiary”, or (iii) subject to satisfaction of the requirement of Section 5.10, any Subsidiary is elected at the sole discretion of the Borrower to become a Subsidiary Guarantor (any such elected Subsidiary, an “Elected Subsidiary”), in each case, the Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with written notice thereof setting forth information in reasonable detail describing the material assets of such Person and shall cause each such Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary or an Elected Subsidiary to deliver to the Administrative Agent a joinder to the Subsidiary Guaranty (in the form contemplated thereby) pursuant to which such Subsidiary agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions thereof, such Subsidiary Guaranty to be accompanied by appropriate resolutions, other documentation and legal opinions in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Receivables Entity shall be required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

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(b)     Subject to Section 1.06, with respect to any Subsidiary required to become (or that otherwise becomes) a Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder pursuant to Section 5.09(a), the Borrower shall, no later than the date on which such Domestic Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder pursuant to Section 5.09(a) (or such longer time period if agreed to by the Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion), cause such Subsidiary to execute and deliver a Security Agreement Supplement and a Perfection Certificate and take such additional actions (including the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and, if applicable and required pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents, delivering executed Intellectual Property Security Agreements and certificates, instruments of transfer and stock powers in respect of certificated Equity Interests), in each case as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request for purposes of granting and perfecting a Lien on the assets of such Subsidiary (other than Excluded Property) in favor of the Collateral Agent under the Collateral Documents, subject to Liens permitted under the Loan Documents and otherwise subject to the limitations and exceptions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. If requested by the Collateral Agent, the Collateral Agent shall receive an opinion or opinions of counsel (which may be from in-house counsel, provided that such opinion is in respect of New York law) for the Borrower in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent in respect of matters reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent relating to any Security Agreement Supplement, Intellectual Property Security Agreement or other Collateral Document delivered pursuant to this Section 5.09(b), dated as of the date of such Security Agreement Supplement, Intellectual Property Security Agreement or other Collateral Document, as applicable.

 

(c)     Subject to Section 1.06, with respect to each Loan Party that owns Material Real Property, such Loan Party shall:

 

(i)     no later than thirty (30) days (or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may agree in its sole discretion) after the later of (x) the date such Person becomes a Loan Party and (y) the date that any Material Real Property is acquired by such Loan Party, deliver to the Collateral Agent information identifying such Material Real Property and the relevant filing offices for Mortgages with respect to such Material Real Property; and

 

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(ii)     no later than ninety (90) days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) after the later of (x) the date such Person becomes a Loan Party and (y) the date that any Material Real Property is acquired by such Loan Party, execute and deliver (A) counterparts of a Mortgage, duly executed and delivered by the record owner of such property, together with evidence such Mortgage has been duly executed, acknowledged and delivered by a duly authorized officer of each party thereto, in form suitable for filing or recording in all filing or recording offices that the Collateral Agent may reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to create a valid and subsisting perfected Lien subject only to Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 on the property and/or rights described therein in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and evidence that all filing and recording taxes and fees have been paid or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (it being understood that if a mortgage tax will be owed on the entire amount of the Indebtedness evidenced hereby, then the amount secured by such Mortgage shall be limited to 100% of the fair market value of the property at the time such Mortgage is entered into if such limitation results in such mortgage tax being calculated based upon such fair market value), (B) a fully paid policy of title insurance (or marked-up title insurance commitment having the effect of policy of title insurance) on such Mortgaged Property naming the Collateral Agent as the insured for its benefit and that of the Secured Parties and their respective successors and assigns (a “Mortgage Policy”) issued by a nationally recognized title insurance company reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent in form and substance and in an amount reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent (not to exceed 100% of the fair market value of the real properties covered thereby), insuring the Mortgages to be valid subsisting first priority Liens on the property described therein, free and clear of all Liens other than Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 and other Liens reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent, each of which shall (A) contain a “tie-in” or “cluster” endorsement, if available in the applicable jurisdiction at commercially reasonable rates (i.e., policies which insure against losses regardless of location or allocated value of the insured property up to a stated maximum coverage amount), and (B) have been supplemented by such endorsements as shall be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent (including endorsements on matters relating to usury, first loss, last dollar, zoning, contiguity, doing business, public road access, variable rate, environmental lien, subdivision, mortgage recording tax, separate tax lot, revolving credit, same as survey and so-called comprehensive coverage over covenants and restrictions, to the extent such endorsements are available in the applicable jurisdiction at commercially reasonable rates), (C) a survey (which may take the form of an aerial survey, ExpressMap or equivalent photographic depiction) in form and substance sufficient to obtain the Mortgage Policy without the standard survey exception and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, (D) an opinion of local counsel to the Loan Parties in the state in which such Mortgaged Property is located, with respect to the enforceability and perfection of such Mortgage and any related fixture filings, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, and (E) to the extent not previously delivered, a completed “life of the loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard Determination with respect to such Mortgaged Property on which any “building” (as defined in the Flood Insurance Laws) is located, and if such property is in a special flood hazard area, duly executed and acknowledged by the appropriate Loan Party, together with evidence of flood insurance as and to the extent required under Section 5.05 hereof.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, the Loan Parties shall not be required to comply with Section 5.09(c)(ii) with respect to a Material Real Property unless and until (i) the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent shall have provided at least forty-five (45) days’ prior notice to the Lenders that a Mortgage is expected to be entered into with respect to such Material Real Property, (ii) each Lender shall have advised the Administrative Agent in writing that it has completed its due diligence with respect to any applicable flood insurance requirements relating to such Material Real Property and (iii) the Administrative Agent shall have provided the Borrower with written notice of the satisfaction of the requirements in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) and shall have requested, in a writing delivered to the Borrower,  that such Loan Parties comply with the applicable requirements of Section 5.09(c)(ii), which compliance shall not be required until the later of (x) the dates provided for in Section 5.09(c), as applicable, and (y) the date that is ten (10) Business Days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) after such written notice is delivered to the Borrower pursuant to this clause (iii).

 

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SECTION 5.10.     Elected Subsidiaries.

 

At any time after the Effective Date, the Borrower may elect to add a Subsidiary as an Elected Subsidiary, subject to the following requirements:

 

(a)     the Borrower shall provide notice to the Administrative Agent of its intention to add any Elected Subsidiary at least 10 Business Days (or such shorter period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) prior to the date of the proposed addition;

 

(b)     consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required to approve any such addition (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, but which may be withheld if the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that such Elected Subsidiary is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction where (i) the amount and enforceability of the contemplated guarantee that may be entered into by a Person organized in the relevant jurisdiction is materially and adversely limited by applicable law or contractual limitations, (ii) the security interests (and the enforceability thereof) that may be granted with respect to assets (or various classes of assets) located in the relevant jurisdiction are materially and adversely limited by applicable law or (iii) there is any reasonably identifiable and material adverse political risk to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent associated with such jurisdiction);

 

(c)     the Borrower and such Elected Subsidiary shall deliver the documents required by Section 5.09 at the time such Subsidiary becomes an Elected Subsidiary (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree) with respect to each such Elected Subsidiary; provided, that, with respect to Elected Subsidiaries not organized under the laws of the United States (or any State thereof or the District of Columbia), such documents shall be no more restrictive than those that would apply to such Elected Subsidiaries to the extent it was an organization or entity formed under the laws of the United States; provided, that, such terms shall take into account customary local law requirements; and

 

(d)     as a condition to the effectiveness of any joinder of any Elected Subsidiary, taking into account customary local law requirements, such Elected Subsidiary shall deliver opinions (to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent), board resolutions and officers’ certificates and/or reaffirmation agreements consistent with those delivered on the Effective Date under Section ‎4.01 and, at least five Business Days prior to effectiveness of such joinder, all other documentation and other information, in each case as reasonably requested in writing by the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days following receipt of notice of the Borrower’s intention to add an Elected Subsidiary to satisfy requirements under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act.

 

SECTION 5.11.     Post-Closing Conditions.

 

(a)     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document, no later than ten (10) days after the Effective Date (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent certificates of insurance listing the Collateral Agent as (i) lender loss payee for the property casualty insurance policies of the Loan Parties, together with separate lender loss payable endorsements, and (ii) additional insured with respect to the liability insurance of the Loan Parties, together with separate additional insured endorsements.

 

(b)     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document, no later than ninety (90) days after the Effective Date (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), the Borrower shall cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent each item described in Section 5.09(c) with respect to the Material Real Property located at 1105 South Frontenac Rd, Aurora, IL (and as listed on Schedule 5.09).

 

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(c)     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document, no later than ninety (90) days after the Effective Date (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), the Borrower shall cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent, with respect to each Material Real Property secured by an Existing Mortgage (as amended and restated pursuant to Section 4.01(m)), (i) a counterpart of an amendment and restatement of such Existing Mortgage signed on behalf of the Borrower, which shall reaffirm the lien of such Existing Mortgage as security for the Obligations in a form satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, (ii) a completed “life of the loan” Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard Determination with respect to the applicable Mortgaged Property on which any “building” (as defined in the Flood Insurance Laws) is located, and if such property is in a special flood hazard area, duly executed and acknowledged by the appropriate Loan Party, together with evidence of flood insurance as and to the extent required under Section 5.05 hereof, (iii) a fully paid “date-down” endorsement to the existing Mortgage Policy, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, confirming the Existing Mortgages remain valid subsisting first priority Liens on the property described therein, free and clear of all Liens other than Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 and other liens reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent, (iv) if necessary, an updated or new survey (which may take the form of an aerial survey, ExpressMap or equivalent photographic depiction) in form and substance sufficient to obtain the “date-down” endorsement described in the preceding clause and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and (v) an opinion of local counsel to the Loan Parties in the state in which the applicable Material Real Property is located, with respect to the continued enforceability and perfection of such Existing Mortgage and any related fixture filings, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

 

(d)     Not later than thirty (30) days after the Effective Date (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the global intercompany note referred to in Section 6.01(q) of the Credit Agreement and customary transfer powers in respect thereof.

 

(e)     Not later than thirty (30) days after the Effective Date (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the certificated Pledged Equity set forth on Schedule I to the Security Agreement together with accompanying instruments of transfer power.

 

SECTION 5.12.     Further Assurances. The Borrower shall, or shall cause each applicable Loan Party to, promptly upon reasonable request by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, (i) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation of any Collateral Document or other document or instrument relating to any Collateral, and (ii) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of the Collateral Documents, to the extent required pursuant to the Collateral Documents. If the Collateral Agent reasonably determines that it is required by applicable law to have appraisals prepared in respect of the Mortgaged Property of any Loan Party, the Borrower shall cooperate with the Administrative Agent to obtain appraisals that satisfy the applicable requirements of the Real Estate Appraisal Reform Amendments of FIRREA.

 

SECTION 5.13.     Intellectual Property. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, (a) conduct its business without infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating any intellectual property of any other Person, and (b) comply with the obligations under its intellectual property licenses, except, in each cease (whether under clause (a) or clause (b)), to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

Negative 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 and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated, in each case, without any pending draw (or otherwise become subject to cash collateralization or other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks), and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 6.01.     Indebtedness. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a)     the Obligations and any other Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents;

 

(b)     Indebtedness existing on the date hereof under the 2017 Supplemental Indenture and the 2020 Supplemental Indenture or otherwise set forth in Schedule 6.01, and extensions, renewals, refinancings (including successive refinancings) and replacements of any such Indebtedness with Indebtedness of a similar type that does not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof except to the extent of unpaid accrued interest on such Indebtedness and fees and expenses reasonably incurred in connection with such extensions, renewals, refinancings and replacements;

 

(c)     Indebtedness constituting loans or advances not prohibited by Section 6.04;

 

(d)     Guarantees by the Borrower of obligations of any Subsidiary and by any Subsidiary of obligations of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary;

 

(e)     Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred to finance or refinance (including successive refinancings) the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (e) shall not exceed $100,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(f)     Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred pursuant to Permitted Receivables Facilities; provided that the Attributable Receivables Indebtedness thereunder shall not exceed an aggregate amount of $250,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(g)     Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary owed to any Person (including obligations in respect of letters of credit for the benefit of such Person) providing workers’ compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such Person, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(h)     Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (including obligations in respect of letters of credit for the benefit of the issuer thereof) in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds, performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations (other than in respect of other Indebtedness), in each case provided in the ordinary course of business;

 

(i)     Indebtedness of an Acquired Entity existing at the time of the related Permitted Acquisition which was not incurred in contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition, provided that the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness permitted by this clause (i) shall not exceed $100,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(j)     (i) unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries so long as the Borrower, on a pro forma basis giving effect to such incurrence of Indebtedness, is in compliance with a Total Leverage Ratio of no more than 5.50 to 1.00; provided, that (x) the weighted average life to maturity of any such Indebtedness shall be no shorter than the then remaining weighted average life to maturity of any of the Facilities and (y) the maturity date of such Indebtedness shall be no earlier than the Latest Maturity Date (other than (a) customary bridge loans so long as the long-term debt contemplated in respect thereof would satisfy the conditions of this proviso, (b) Indebtedness in an amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $500,000,000 and (y) 100% of Consolidated EBITDA, the maturity date of which is no earlier than the later of the Maturity Dates applicable to the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility and (c) Indebtedness in an amount not to exceed $100,000,000) and (ii) Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted by this Section 6.01, so long as the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness permitted only by this clause (ii) shall not exceed at any time the greater of (x) $125,000,000 and (y) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA at such time; provided that no more than $125,000,000 of such Indebtedness permitted by this clause (ii) may be secured by Liens on the assets of the Borrower or one or more of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries;

 

(k)     Indebtedness not otherwise permitted under this Section of the Borrower or any Subsidiary as an account party in respect of letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances or similar instruments in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 at any time;

 

(l)     Indebtedness in respect of Swap Agreements permitted by Section 6.05;

 

(m)     Indebtedness arising in connection with customary cash management services and from the honoring by a bank or financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds, in each case in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days after its incurrence;

 

(n)     customer deposits and advance payments received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods or services purchased in the ordinary course of business;

 

(o)     Indebtedness representing deferred compensation, stock-based compensation or retirement benefits to employees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(p)     Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary consisting of (A) Indebtedness owed to any insurance provider for the financing of insurance premiums so long as such Indebtedness shall not be in excess of the amount of such premiums, and shall be incurred only to defer the cost of such premiums, for the annual period in which such Indebtedness is incurred or (B) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(q)     Indebtedness of any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, or of the Borrower to any Subsidiary; provided that (i) any such Indebtedness owing by any Loan Party to a Person that is not a Loan Party shall be expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations pursuant to a customary subordination agreement (which may be in the form of a global intercompany note) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (ii) any such Indebtedness owing by any Person that is not a Loan Party to any Loan Party shall be evidenced by an intercompany note pledged to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Documents to the extent required thereby; and

 

(r)     Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for customary indemnification, purchase price adjustments, earn-outs or similar obligations in each case incurred in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or Disposition permitted hereunder.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.01, if an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described in the above clauses, the Borrower, in its reasonable discretion, shall classify, and from time to time may reclassify, such item of Indebtedness and only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one of such clauses.

 

SECTION 6.02.     Liens. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

 

(a)     Permitted Liens;

 

(b)     any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date hereof and extensions, renewals, replacements and refinancings thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof except for any accrued but unpaid interest and premium payable by the terms of such obligations thereon and other reasonable amounts paid, and reasonable fees and expenses incurred, in connection with such extension, renewal, replacement or refinancing;

 

(c)     any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary or is merged or consolidated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary or is so merged or consolidated; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger or consolidation or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition, merger or consolidation or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be and extensions, renewals, replacements and refinancings thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof except for any accrued but unpaid interest and premium payable by the terms of such obligations thereon and other reasonable amounts paid, and reasonable fees and expenses incurred, in connection with such extension, renewal, replacement or refinancing;

 

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(d)     Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that (i) such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (e) of Section 6.01, (ii) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed 90% (or 100% in the case of Capital Lease Obligations) of the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and (iv) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

 

(e)     [reserved];

 

(f)     Liens on Permitted Receivables Facility Assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection with or to secure Indebtedness arising under Permitted Receivables Facilities;

 

(g)     Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(h)     pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations to (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

 

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

 

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

 

(k)     Liens that are customary contractual liens (including rights of set-off and pledges) encumbering deposits and accounts and (A) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks or other financial institutions not given in connection with the incurrence of any Indebtedness, (B) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or (C) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

 

(l)     Liens solely on cash earnest money deposits or deposits in connection with indemnity obligations made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement entered into in connection with any Permitted Acquisition;

 

(m)     precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements filed solely as a precautionary measure in connection with operating leases or consignment of goods;

 

(n)     Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof granted in the ordinary course of business to secure the financing of insurance premiums with respect thereto as permitted under Section 6.01(p);

 

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(o)     customary Liens securing any overdraft and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository or cash management services or automated clearing house transfers of funds, all in favor of the provider of such services;

 

(p)     any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to the transfer of the Equity Interests of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to the terms thereof;

 

(q)     Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and the proceeds thereof securing obligations in respect of documentary letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

 

(r)     Liens arising by operation of law under §1120 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch), under §369 of the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch) or under similar provisions of Swiss law;

 

(s)     Permitted Supplier Financings and Liens (if any) arising in connection therewith and financing statements filed under the Uniform Commercial Code evidencing sales of accounts receivable made pursuant thereto, but only so long as such Permitted Supplier Financings do not breach Section 6.03;

 

(t)     Liens (i) incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(j)(ii) above (so long as the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed $125,000,000 as set forth in the proviso of such Section) and (ii) on assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted above so long as the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness and other obligations subject to such Liens does not at any time exceed $50,000,000;

 

(u)     Liens securing the Obligations; and

 

(v)     [reserved];

 

provided, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any exception to this Section 6.02, the Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur or suffer to exist any Lien (A) in reliance on the CNTA Basket, other than pursuant to the Collateral Documents, or (B) that would require any notes issued under the 2017 Supplemental Indenture or the 2020 Supplemental Indenture to be equally and ratably secured with the obligations secured by such Lien, unless the Obligations are also so secured by any assets subject to such Lien and all such Liens on common collateral are subject to an intercreditor agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 6.03.     Fundamental Changes. (a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise make any Disposition of its property or the Equity Interests of any of its Subsidiaries (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or liquidate or dissolve, except that:

 

(i)     the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may purchase and sell inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

(ii)     the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may enter into and consummate Permitted Acquisitions;

 

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(iii)     any Person may merge into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving corporation;

 

(iv)     if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be continuing (A) any Subsidiary may merge into or consolidate with a Loan Party in a transaction in which the surviving entity is such Loan Party (provided that any such merger or consolidation involving the Borrower must result in the Borrower as the surviving entity) and any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may merge into or consolidate with another Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, (B) any wholly owned Subsidiary may merge into or consolidate with any wholly owned Subsidiary in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a wholly owned Subsidiary and no Person other than the Borrower or a wholly owned Subsidiary receives any consideration, provided that if any such merger or consolidation described in this clause (B) shall involve a Loan Party, the surviving entity of such merger or consolidation shall be a Loan Party, (C) the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Joint Venture may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets to one or more Loan Parties or one or more Subsidiaries pursuant to a transaction permitted under Section 6.04 and (D) the Borrower or any Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) any of its assets (including Equity Interests) to one or more Loan Parties, and any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) any of its assets (including Equity Interests) to one or more Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties;

 

(v)     the Borrower or any Subsidiary may transfer, sell and/or pledge Permitted Receivables Facility Assets under Permitted Receivables Facilities (subject to the limitation that the Attributable Receivables Indebtedness thereunder shall not exceed an aggregate amount of $250,000,000);

 

(vi)     the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary may enter into any Permitted Supplier Financing so long as the aggregate face amount of all accounts receivable of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that are sold pursuant to this clause (vi) shall not exceed an amount equal to (x) 20.0% of Consolidated Total Assets during any one fiscal year of the Borrower and (y) 7.5% of Consolidated Total Assets during any one fiscal quarter of the Borrower, in each case based on Consolidated Total Assets as of the most recently ended fiscal year of the Borrower for which financial statements shall have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) (or, if prior to the date of the delivery of the first financial statements to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a), the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 3.04(a)(i));

 

(vii)     if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, any Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders;

 

(viii)     the Borrower or any Subsidiary may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of (A) excess, damaged, obsolete or worn out assets and scrap in the ordinary course of business, and (B) other property or assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries provided that (1) at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect to such sale, transfer or other disposition, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (2) such sale, transfer or disposal is for consideration at least 75% of which is cash (without regard to earn-out, royalty and similar payments accruing over time), and (3) such consideration is at least equal to the fair market value of the assets being sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of;

 

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(ix)     the Borrower or any Subsidiary may make any Restricted Payment permitted under Section 6.06; and

 

(x)     the Borrower or any Subsidiary may make additional Dispositions that, together with all other property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries previously leased, sold or disposed of as permitted by this clause (ix), do not in the aggregate exceed the greater of (a) $250,000,000 and (b) 5.0% of Consolidated Total Assets.

 

(b)     The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and businesses reasonably related thereto.

 

SECTION 6.04.     Investments. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger) or otherwise permit to exist any Investment in any other Person, except:

 

(a)     Permitted Investments;

 

(b)     Receivables owing to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries arising from sales of inventory and delivery of services under usual and customary terms in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)     advances not to exceed $5,000,000 outstanding at any time to employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to meet expenses incurred by such employees in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d)     Loans in the ordinary course of business and generally consistent with past practices, to officers, directors and employees in connection with the granting of stock options or as incentive or bonus compensation;

 

(e)     (i) Investments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries existing on the date hereof in the capital stock of their respective Subsidiaries, (ii) Investments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the capital stock of its respective Subsidiaries which are Subsidiary Guarantors, whether now existing or hereafter created or established and (iii) loans and advances by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to any other Subsidiaries outstanding on the date hereof, including the conversion of any such loans or advances to Equity Interests in the Subsidiaries obligated with respect thereto;

 

(f)     [reserved];

 

(g)     Investments not otherwise permitted by this Section made by the Borrower in, to or in support of the obligations of any Subsidiary and made by any Subsidiary to or in support of the obligations of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary (provided that not more than an aggregate of $150,000,000 in Investments permitted solely by this paragraph (g) may be outstanding at any time, during the term of this Agreement, by any Loan Party in, to or in support of the obligations of a Person that is not a Loan Party);

 

(h)     Guarantees constituting Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01;

 

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(i)     Permitted Acquisitions;

 

(j)     [reserved];

 

(k)     Existing Joint Ventures;

 

(l)     contributions of Permitted Receivables Facility Assets and cash deemed received from proceeds of Permitted Receivables Facility Assets to any Receivables Entity to the extent required or made pursuant to Permitted Receivables Facility Documents or to the extent necessary to keep such Receivables Entity properly capitalized to avoid insolvency or consolidation with a Loan Party or any of the Subsidiaries;

 

(m)     any other Investment not otherwise permitted by this Section (other than acquisitions, but including Investments or capital contributions by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in Joint Ventures) so long as the aggregate amount outstanding of all such other Investments does not exceed $150,000,000 during the term of this Agreement;

 

(n)     other Investments, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing prior to making such Investments or would arise after giving effect thereto, in an aggregate amount, taken with all other Investments made pursuant to this Section 6.04(n) and all Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 6.06(d) (but without duplication as a result of the subtraction of any such Investments or Restricted Payments in accordance with the definition of “Available Amount”), not to exceed the Available Amount; and

 

(o)     additional Investments not otherwise permitted under this Section 6.04 if the Borrower is in pro forma compliance with a Total Leverage Ratio of 4.00:1.00 or below, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing prior to making such Investments or would arise after giving effect thereto.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.04, (i) the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, loaned or advanced, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment less any amount paid, repaid, returned, distributed or otherwise received in cash in respect of such Investment and (ii) if a loan, advance or other Investment meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Investments described in the above clauses, the Borrower, in its reasonable discretion, shall classify, and from time to time may reclassify, such Investment and only be required to include the amount and type of such Investment in one of such clauses.

 

SECTION 6.05.     Swap Agreements. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any Swap Agreement, except (a) Swap Agreements entered into to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual or potential exposure (other than those in respect of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries), and (b) Interest Rate Swap Agreements with respect to any interest-bearing liability or Investment of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

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SECTION 6.06.     Restricted Payments. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except (a) the Borrower may declare and pay dividends with respect to its Equity Interests payable solely in additional rights to acquire shares of its stock, (b) Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends ratably with respect to their Equity Interests, (c) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other benefit plans for management, employees or directors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (d) the Borrower may make any other Restricted Payment, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing prior to making such Restricted Payment or would arise after giving effect thereto, in an aggregate amount, taken with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this Section 6.06(d) and all Investments made pursuant to Section 6.04(n) (but without duplication as a result of the subtraction of any such Restricted Payments or Investments in accordance with the definition of “Available Amount”), not to exceed the Available Amount, (e) the Borrower may make additional Restricted Payments not otherwise permitted under this Section 6.06 if the Borrower is in pro forma compliance with a Total Leverage Ratio of 4.00:1.00 or below, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing prior to making such Restricted Payment or would arise after giving effect thereto and (f) the Borrower may make any other Restricted Payment, so long as (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing prior to making such Restricted Payment or would arise after giving effect thereto, and (ii) the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (f) in any single fiscal year of the Borrower does not exceed $40,000,000.

 

SECTION 6.07.     Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) transactions at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm's-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among the Borrower and its wholly owned Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate, (c) transactions permitted under Section 6.04 with Joint Ventures consisting of cash equity contributions by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, or any one or more of them, (d) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.06 and (e) transactions contemplated by any Permitted Receivables Facility Documents.

 

SECTION 6.08.     Restrictive Agreements. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any material portion of the property or assets of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to holders of its Equity Interests or to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by this Agreement or by any financings from time to time permitted by Section 6.01(j) (such financings permitted by Section 6.01(j), the “Permitted Financings”) so long as, in the case of Permitted Financings, such prohibition, restriction or condition is customary for the Indebtedness under the Permitted Financings, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions existing on the date hereof identified on Schedule 6.08 (but shall apply to any amendment or modification expanding the scope of, any such restriction or condition), (iii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in Permitted Receivables Facility Documents or the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iv) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness and (v) the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof.

 

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SECTION 6.09.     Financial Covenants.

 

(a)     Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio. With respect to the Revolving Facility and Term A Facility only, except (x) with respect to the Revolving Facility, with the written consent of the Required Revolving Lenders and (y) with respect to the Term A Facility, with the written consent of the Required Term A Lenders, the Borrower will not permit the ratio, determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters ending on or after June 3, 2023 for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, of (i) Consolidated EBITDA to (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense, all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, to be less than 2.00 to 1.00.

 

(b)     Maximum Secured Leverage Ratio. With respect to the Revolving Facility and Term A Facility only, except (x) with respect to the Revolving Facility, with the written consent of the Required Revolving Lenders and (y) with respect to the Term A Facility, with the written consent of the Required Term A Lenders, the Borrower will not permit the ratio (the “Secured Leverage Ratio”), determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters ending on or after June 3, 2023 for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, of (i) Consolidated Total Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on such date to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, to be (x) with respect to fiscal quarters ending on or prior to June 1, 2024, greater than 4.75 to 1.00 and (y) with respect to fiscal quarters ending thereafter, greater than 4.50 to 1.00; provided, that, upon the Administrative Agent’s receipt of a written notice of consummation of a Material Covenant Acquisition and the Borrower’s election to increase the maximum Secured Leverage Ratio for purposes of this Section 6.09(b) in connection therewith (such election, “Material Acquisition Election”), the applicable maximum Secured Leverage Ratio for purposes of this Section 6.09(b) shall be increased for the four consecutive fiscal quarter period beginning with the fiscal quarter in which such Material Covenant Acquisition is consummated (such four fiscal quarter period, the “Material Acquisition Period”) by 0.50 to 1.00; provided, that (i) the Borrower many make no more than two Material Acquisition Elections during the term of each of the Revolving Facility and the Term A Facility, (ii) the Borrower may not make a Material Acquisition Election unless at least one full fiscal quarter has ended following the end of the most recently completed Material Acquisition Period and (iii) the maximum Secured Leverage Ratio for purposes of this Section 6.09(b) for the fiscal quarter ended after a Material Acquisition Period shall not exceed (x) with respect to fiscal quarters ending on or prior to June 1, 2024, 4.75 to 1.00 and (y) with respect to fiscal quarters ending thereafter, 4.50 to 1.00.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

SECTION 7.01.     Events of Default. The following events shall each constitute an “Event of Default” hereunder:

 

(a)     the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

 

(b)     the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in Section 7.01(a)) payable under this Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three (3) Business Days;

 

(c)     any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any waiver thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or waiver thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;

 

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(d)     (i) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02, 5.03 (with respect to the Borrower’s existence), 5.08, 5.09 or 5.11 or in Article VI or (ii) any Loan Document shall for any reason not be or shall cease to be in full force and effect or is declared to be null and void, or the Borrower or any Subsidiary takes any action for the purpose of terminating, repudiating or rescinding any Loan Document or any of its obligations thereunder; provided, that any breach of Section 6.09 shall not, by itself, constitute a Default or an Event of Default under the Term B Facility, and the Term B Loans may not be accelerated as a result thereof, unless, at such time, either (x) the Revolving Loans and the Revolving Facility have been accelerated and all Revolving Commitments have been terminated by the Required Revolving Lenders and the Required Revolving Lenders have not rescinded such acceleration or (y) the Term A Loans and the Term A Facility have been accelerated and all Term A Commitments have been terminated by the Required Term A Lenders and the Required Term A Lenders have not rescinded such acceleration, in each case, as a result of such breach;

 

(e)     the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in Section 7.01(a), (b) or (d)) or any other Loan Document, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after the earlier of the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary Guarantor’s knowledge of such breach or notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender);

 

(f)     the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable after giving effect to any applicable grace period;

 

(g)     any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

 

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

 

(i)     the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in Section 7.01(h), (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

 

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(j)     the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

 

(k)     one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $75,000,000 (excluding the amount of any insurance coverage by insurance companies with the financial ability to pay the same and who have agreed in writing to cover the applicable claim(s)) shall be rendered against the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;

 

(l)     an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(m)     a Change in Control shall occur;

 

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

 

(o)     subject to Section 5.09, and except as released in accordance with Section 9.16, any Collateral Document after the delivery and effectiveness thereof shall cease to create a valid and perfected Lien, to the extent and in the manner required under such Collateral Document and, with the priority required by such Collateral Document, on and security interest in any material portion of the Collateral taken as a whole, subject to Liens permitted under Section 6.02, (except to the extent that any such loss of perfection or priority results from the failure of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing Equity Interests or promissory notes pledged under the Collateral Documents).

 

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SECTION 7.02.     Remedies Upon an Event of Default. If an Event of Default occurs (other than (x) an event with respect to the Borrower described in Section 7.01(h) or Section 7.01(i) and (y) an event described in Section 7.01(d) arising with respect to a failure to comply with Section 6.09 unless the conditions of the proviso contained in Section 7.01(d) have been satisfied), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments (including the Letter of Credit Commitments), and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, (ii) declare the 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 Borrower 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 Borrower and (iii) require cash collateral for the LC Exposure in accordance with Section 2.06(j) hereof; and in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in Section 7.01(h) or (i), the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding and cash collateral for the LC Exposure, 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 Borrower. 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, (i) exercise any rights and remedies provided to the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents or at law or equity and (ii) at such time or times as the Administrative Agent may elect, apply all or part of the proceeds constituting Collateral in payments of the Obligations (and in the event the Loans and other Obligations are accelerated pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Administrative Agent shall, from time to time, apply the proceeds constituting Collateral, and all other amounts received on account of the Obligations) in accordance with Section 4.02 of the Security Agreement. In the case of an Event of Default under Section 7.01(d) arising with respect to a failure to comply with Section 6.09 and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent at the request of the Required Revolving Lenders with respect to the Revolving Facility or the Required Term A Lenders with respect to the Term A Facility, as applicable, shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate forthwith the Revolving Facility Commitments or the Term A Facility, as applicable and (ii) declare the Revolving Facility Loans or Term A Loans, as applicable, then outstanding to be forthwith due and payable in whole or in part, whereupon the principal of the Revolving Facility Loans or Term A Loans, as applicable, so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued fees and all other liabilities of the Borrower accrued hereunder with respect to such Revolving Facility Loans or Term A Loans, as applicable, shall become forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower, anything contained herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding.

 

In addition to any other rights and remedies granted to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties may exercise all rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC or any other applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, without demand of performance or other demand, presentment, protest, advertisement or notice of any kind (except any notice required by law referred to below) to or upon any Loan Party or any other Person (all and each of which demands, defenses, advertisements and notices are hereby waived by the Borrower on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries), may in such circumstances forthwith collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon the Collateral, or any part thereof, or consent to the use by any Loan Party of any cash collateral arising in respect of the Collateral on such terms as the Administrative Agent deems reasonable, and/or may forthwith sell, lease, assign give an option or options to purchase or otherwise dispose of and deliver, or acquire by credit bid on behalf of the Lenders, the Collateral or any part thereof (or contract to do any of the foregoing), in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales, at any exchange, broker’s board or office of the Administrative Agent or any Lender or elsewhere, upon such terms and conditions as it may deem advisable and at such prices as it may deem best, for cash or on credit or for future delivery, all without assumption of any credit risk. The Administrative Agent or any Lender shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales, and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold, free of any right or equity of redemption in any Loan Party, which right or equity is hereby waived and released by the Borrower on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries. The Borrower further agrees on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, at the Administrative Agent’s request, to assemble the Collateral and make it available to the Administrative Agent at places which the Administrative Agent shall reasonably select, whether at the premises of the Borrower, another Loan Party or elsewhere. The Administrative Agent shall apply the net proceeds of any action taken by it pursuant to this Section 7.02, after deducting all reasonable costs and expenses of every kind incurred in connection therewith or incidental to the care or safekeeping of any of the Collateral or in any other way relating to the Collateral or the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, to the payment in whole or in part of the obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents, in such order as the Administrative Agent may elect, and only after such application and after the payment by the Administrative Agent of any other amount required by any provision of law, including Section 9-615(a)(3) of the UCC, need the Administrative Agent account for the surplus, if any, to any Loan Party. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries waives all Liabilities it may acquire against the Administrative Agent or any Lender arising out of the exercise by them of any rights hereunder. If any notice of a proposed sale or other disposition of Collateral shall be required by law, such notice shall be deemed reasonable and proper if given at least 10 days before such sale or other disposition.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

The Administrative Agent

 

SECTION 8.01.     Authorization and Action. (a) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints the entity named as Administrative Agent in the heading of this Agreement and its successors and assigns to serve as the administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents and each Lender and each Issuing Bank authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent under such agreements and to exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. In addition, to the extent required under the laws of any jurisdiction other than within the United States, each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby grants to the Administrative Agent any required powers of attorney in its capacity as Administrative Agent to execute and enforce any Collateral Document governed by the laws of such jurisdiction on such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s behalf. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Loan Documents to which the Administrative Agent is a party, and to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that the Administrative Agent may have under such Loan Documents.

 

(b)     As to any matters not expressly provided for herein and in the other Loan Documents (including enforcement or collection), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the written instructions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, pursuant to the terms in the Loan Documents), and, unless and until revoked in writing, such instructions shall be binding upon each Lender and each Issuing Bank; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that (i) the Administrative Agent in good faith believes exposes it to liability unless the Administrative Agent receives an indemnification and is exculpated in a manner satisfactory to it from the Lenders and the Issuing Banks with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law, including any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent may seek clarification or direction from the Required Lenders prior to the exercise of any such instructed action and may refrain from acting until such clarification or direction has been provided. 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 Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Administrative Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

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(c)     In performing its functions and duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (except in limited circumstances expressly provided for herein relating to the maintenance of the Register), and its duties are entirely mechanical and administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

 

(i)     the Administrative Agent does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or duty or any other relationship as the agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of any other obligation other than as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and it is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any similar term) herein or in any other Loan Document with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary duty or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law, and that such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties); additionally, each Lender agrees that it will not assert any claim against the Administrative Agent based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement and/or the transactions contemplated hereby;

 

(ii)     where the Administrative Agent is required or deemed to act as a trustee in respect of any Collateral over which a security interest has been created pursuant to a Loan Document expressed to be governed by the laws of any country, or is required or deemed to hold any Collateral “on trust” pursuant to the foregoing, the obligations and liabilities of the Administrative Agent to the Secured Parties in its capacity as trustee shall be excluded to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law; and

 

(iii)     nothing in this Agreement or any Loan Document shall require the Administrative Agent to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by the Administrative Agent for its own account.

 

(d)     The Administrative Agent may perform any of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any of their respective duties and exercise their respective rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities pursuant to this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agent except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agent.

 

(e)     None of any Co-Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent or any Co-Lead Arranger shall have obligations or duties whatsoever in such capacity under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and shall incur no liability hereunder or thereunder in such capacity, but all such persons shall have the benefit of the indemnities provided for hereunder.

 

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(f)     In case of the pendency of any proceeding with respect to any Loan Party under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any other Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(i)     to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, LC Disbursements and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent (including any claim under Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.15, 2.17 and 9.03) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

(ii)     to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each other Secured Party to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or the other Secured Parties, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, under the Loan Documents (including under Section 9.03). Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or Issuing Bank any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or Issuing Bank or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or Issuing Bank in any such proceeding.

 

(g)     The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, and, except solely to the extent of the Borrower’s rights to consent pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in this Article, none of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any of their respective Affiliates, shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary under any such provisions. Each Secured Party, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral and of the Guarantees of the Obligations provided under the Loan Documents, to have agreed to the provisions of this Article.

 

SECTION 8.02.     Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Limitation of Liability, Etc. (a) Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be (i) liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by such party, the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (x) with the consent of or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan Documents) or (y) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative Agent’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf, or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page) or for any failure of any Loan Party to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.

 

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(b)     The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any (i) notice of any of the events or circumstances set forth or described in Section 5.02 unless and until written notice thereof stating that it is a “notice under Section 5.02” in respect of this Agreement and identifying the specific clause under said Section is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, or (ii) notice of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a “notice of Default” or a “notice of an Event of Default”) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an Issuing Bank. Further, 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 thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items (which on their face purport to be such items) expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or (vi) the creation, perfection or priority of Liens on the Collateral. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be liable for, or be responsible for any Liabilities, costs or expenses suffered by the Borrower, any Subsidiary, any Lender or any Issuing Bank as a result of, any determination of the Revolving Credit Exposure, any of the component amounts thereof or any portion thereof attributable to each Lender or Issuing Bank, or any Exchange Rate or calculation of any Dollar Amount or Equivalent Amount.

 

(c)     Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (i) may treat the payee of any promissory note as its holder until such promissory note has been assigned in accordance with Section 9.04, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 9.04(b), (iii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender or Issuing Bank and shall not be responsible to any Lender or Issuing Bank for any statements, warranties or representations made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) in determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or Issuing Bank sufficiently in advance of the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit and (vi) shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper party or parties (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).

 

SECTION 8.03.     Posting of Communications. (a) The 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 IntraLinksTM, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar or any other Electronic System or electronic platform chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the “Approved Electronic Platform”).

 

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(b)     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 of the Issuing Banks and the 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 of the Issuing Banks and the Borrower hereby approves distribution of the Communications through the Approved Electronic Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.

 

(c)     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, ANY CO-LEAD ARRANGER, ANY CO-DOCUMENTATION AGENT, ANY SYNDICATION AGENT OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “APPLICABLE PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, 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 LOAN PARTY’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 Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Approved Electronic Platform.

 

(d)     Each Lender and each 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.

 

(e)     Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the 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.

 

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(f)     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.

 

SECTION 8.04.     The Administrative Agent Individually. With respect to its Commitment, Loans (including Swingline Loans), Letter of Credit Commitments and Letters of Credit, the Person serving as the Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be. The terms “Issuing Banks”, “Lenders”, “Required Lenders” and any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender, Issuing Bank or as one of the Required Lenders, as applicable. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing as if such Person was not acting as the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks.

 

SECTION 8.05.     Successor Administrative Agent. (a) The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower, whether or not a successor Administrative Agent has been appointed. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent with the written consent of the Borrower, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such appointment. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of 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. In either case, such appointment shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Borrower (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to, and become vested with, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. Upon the acceptance of appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Prior to any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to assign to the successor Administrative Agent its rights as Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.

 

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(b)     Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section, in the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided that, solely for purposes of maintaining any security interest granted to the Administrative Agent under any Collateral Document for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to be vested with such security interest as collateral agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and continue to be entitled to the rights set forth in such Collateral Document and Loan Document, and, in the case of any Collateral in the possession of the Administrative Agent, shall continue to hold such Collateral, in each case until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed and accepts such appointment in accordance with this Section (it being understood and agreed that the retiring Administrative Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take any further action under any Collateral Document, including any action required to maintain the perfection of any such security interest), and (ii) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that (A) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall directly be given or made to each Lender and each Issuing Bank. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.03, as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, 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 the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and in respect of the matters referred to in the proviso under clause (i) above.

 

SECTION 8.06.     Acknowledgments of Lenders and Issuing Banks. (a) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility, (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and in providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender or Issuing Bank, in each case in the ordinary course of business and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument (and each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing), (iii) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Co- Lead Arranger, any Co-Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent or any other Lender or Issuing Bank, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, 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 and (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Co-Lead Arranger any Co-Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent or any other Lender or Issuing Bank, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, 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 Borrower 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 other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

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(b)     Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement on the Effective Date, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Effective Date.

 

SECTION 8.07.     Collateral Matters. (a) Except with respect to the exercise of setoff rights in accordance with Section 9.08 or with respect to a Secured Party’s right to file a proof of claim in an insolvency proceeding, no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce any Guarantee of the Obligations, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

(b)     In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation thereof, no arrangements in respect of Banking Services the obligations under which constitute Obligations and no Swap Agreement the obligations under which constitute Obligations, will create (or be deemed to create) in favor of any Secured Party that is a party thereto any rights in connection with the management or release of any Collateral or of the obligations of any Loan Party under any Loan Document. By accepting the benefits of the Collateral, each Secured Party that is a party to any Banking Services Agreement or Swap Agreement the obligations under which constitute Obligations, as applicable, shall be deemed to have appointed the Administrative Agent to serve as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents and agreed to be bound by the Loan Documents as a Secured Party thereunder, subject to the limitations set forth in this paragraph.

 

(c)     The Secured Parties irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 6.02(b). The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Administrative Agent’s Lien thereon or any certificate prepared by any Loan Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders or any other Secured Party for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.

 

SECTION 8.08.     Credit Bidding. The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including by accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, or (b) at any other sale, foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid by the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that shall vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) for the asset or assets so purchased (or for the equity interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are issued in connection with such purchase). In connection with any such bid, (i) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles and to assign any successful credit bid to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, (ii) each of the Secured Parties’ ratable interests in the Obligations which were credit bid shall be deemed without any further action under this Agreement to be assigned to such vehicle or vehicles for the purpose of closing such sale, (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles (provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or equity interests thereof, shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by, and the governing documents shall provide for, control by the vote of the Required Lenders or their permitted assignees under the terms of this Agreement or the governing documents of the applicable acquisition vehicle or vehicles, as the case may be, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in Section 9.02 of this Agreement), (iv) the Administrative Agent on behalf of such acquisition vehicle or vehicles shall be authorized to issue to each of the Secured Parties, ratably on account of the relevant Obligations which were credit bid, interests, whether as equity, partnership interests, limited partnership interests or membership interests, in any such acquisition vehicle and/or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action, and (v) to the extent that Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of Obligations credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Secured Parties pro rata with their original interest in such Obligations and the equity interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of such Obligations shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action. Notwithstanding that the ratable portion of the Obligations of each Secured Party are deemed assigned to the acquisition vehicle or vehicles as set forth in clause (ii) above, each Secured Party shall execute such documents and provide such information regarding the Secured Party (and/or any designee of the Secured Party which will receive interests in or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection with the formation of any acquisition vehicle, the formulation or submission of any credit bid or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such credit bid.

 

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SECTION 8.09.     Certain ERISA Matters. (a) Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and each Co-Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

 

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

 

(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

 

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

 

(b)     In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, and each Co-Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that none of the Administrative Agent, or any Co-Lead Arranger , any Co-Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the Collateral or 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).

 

(c)     The Administrative Agent, and each Co-Lead Arranger, Co-Syndication Agent and Co-Documentation 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 fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.

 

SECTION 8.10.     Defined Terms. For purposes of this Article VIII, the term “Administrative Agent” includes the Collateral Agent (unless the context shall otherwise require).

 

SECTION 8.11.     Erroneous Payments.  (i) Each Lender hereby agrees that (x) if the Administrative Agent notifies such Lender 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 (whether or not known to such Lender), and demands the return of such Payment (or a portion thereof), such Lender 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, and (y) to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Lender 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 this Section 8.11 shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

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(ii)     Each Lender 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 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 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)     The Borrower and each other Loan Party 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 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.

 

(iv)     Each party’s obligations under this Section 8.11 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations under any Loan Document.

 

 

ARTICLE IX

Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 9.01.     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 the Borrower, to it c/o H.B. Fuller Company, 1200 Willow Lake Boulevard, St. Paul, Minnesota 55110, Attention: Treasurer (Email: corporate.treasury@hbfuller.com);

 

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(ii)     if to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as Administrative Agent or Swingline Lender, to it at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 500 Stanton Christiana Rd., NCC5/1st Floor, Newark, DE, 19713-210, Attention: Tristan Rozea (Email: tristan.rozea@chase.com, Tel: +1-302-634-2114). For Agency Withholding Tax Inquiries: agency.tax.reporting@jpmorgan.com. For Agency Compliance/Financials/Intralinks: covenant.compliance@jpmchase.com;

 

(iii)     if to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as an Issuing Bank, to it at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 131 S Dearborn St, Floor 04, Chicago, IL, 60603-550, Attention: LC Agency Team (Tel: 800-364-1969, Fax: 856-294-5267, Email: chicago.lc.agency.activity.team@jpmchase.com) with a copy to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 131 S Dearborn St, Floor 04, Chicago, IL, 60603-5506, Attention: Loan and Agency Servicing (Email: jpm.agency.cri@jpmorgan.com);

 

(iv)     if to the Collateral Agent, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 131 S Dearborn St, Floor 04, Chicago, IL, 60603-5506, Attention: LC Agency Team (Tel: +1-312-325-3153, Email: michelle.reese@jpmorgan.com); and

 

(v)     if to any other Lender or Issuing Bank, 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 Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

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

 

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SECTION 9.02.     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 this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this 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 Schedule 2.01, and subject to Section 2.14 and clauses (c) and (e) below, 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 Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders (or (A) in respect of any waiver, amendment or modification of Section 6.09, the Required Revolving Lenders and the Required Term A Lenders rather than the Required Lenders, (B) in respect of any waiver, amendment or modification of Section 2.11(b), the Required Lenders of the Term B Facility, rather than the Required Lenders or (C), in respect of any waiver, amendment or modification of Section 2.11(c), the Required Lenders of the Term A Facility or the Term B Facility, as applicable, rather than 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 (except that any amendment or modification of the financial covenants in this Agreement (or defined terms used in the financial covenants in this Agreement) shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or fees for purposes of this clause (ii)), (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 2.09(c) or Section 2.18(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the ratable reduction of Commitments or the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change the payment waterfall provisions of Section 2.18(b) or 2.25(e) or in the Security Agreement without the written consent of each Lender, (vi) 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, (vii) release the Borrower or all or substantially all of the Subsidiary Guarantors from, its obligations under Article X or the Subsidiary Guaranty, as applicable, without the written consent of each Lender, (viii) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.02 without the written consent of the Required Lenders (it being understood and agreed that any amendment or waiver of, or any consent with respect to, any provision of this Agreement (other than any waiver expressly relating to Section 4.02) or any other Loan Document, including any amendment of any affirmative or negative covenant set forth herein or in any other Loan Document or any waiver of a Default or an Event of Default, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of a condition set forth in Section 4.02 for purposes of this Section 9.02), (ix) except as provided in clause (f) of this Section 9.02, or in any Collateral Document, release all or substantially all of the Collateral, without the written consent of each Lender or (xii) subordinate (i) the Obligations to any other Indebtedness or (ii) any Lien securing any of the Obligations on all or substantially all of the Collateral to any other Lien securing any other Indebtedness, without, in each case, the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided further 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 (it being understood that any change to Section 2.25 shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender); provided further, that no such agreement shall amend or modify the provisions of Section 2.06 or any letter of credit application and any bilateral agreement between the Borrower and any Issuing Bank regarding such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment or the respective rights and obligations between the Borrower and such Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance of Letters of Credit without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and such Issuing Bank, respectively. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consent with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification of this Agreement shall be required of any Defaulting Lender, except with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the first proviso of this paragraph and then only in the event such Defaulting Lender shall be directly affected by such amendment, waiver or other modification.

 

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(c)     Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) 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 Borrower to each relevant Loan Document (x) to add one or more credit facilities 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 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 and (ii) any condition as to any extension of credit under the initial Revolving Facility set forth in ‎Section 4.02 may be amended or rights and privileges thereunder waived only with the consent of the Required Revolving Lenders (and, in the case of the issuance of a Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer).

 

(d)     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of the Borrower only, amend, modify or supplement this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency.

 

(e)     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 Borrower 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 (other than an Ineligible Institution) which is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender 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 9.04, and (ii) such Non-Consenting Lender shall have received in same day funds on the day of such replacement an amount equal to (1) the outstanding principal amount of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and all interest, fees and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Non-Consenting Lender by the 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. Each party hereto agrees that (x) an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee (or, 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 such parties are participants), and (y) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to and be bound by the terms thereof; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender; provided that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.

 

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(f)     The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its sole discretion, to release, or to direct the Collateral Agent to release, any Liens granted to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent by the Loan Parties on any Collateral (i) upon the termination of all the Commitments, payment in full of the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder, expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit without any pending draw (or otherwise subject to cash collateralization or other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks), and reimbursement of all LC Disbursements, (ii) under any circumstance described in Section 9.16(d), or (iii) as required to effect any sale or other disposition of such Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.02. Any such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Obligations or any Liens (other than those expressly being released) upon (or obligations of the Loan Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Loan Parties, including the proceeds of any sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral. In addition, each of the Lenders, on behalf of itself and any of its Affiliates that are Secured Parties, irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, (i) to subordinate, or direct the Collateral Agent to subordinate, any Lien on any assets granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 6.02(d) or (ii) in the event that the Borrower shall have advised the Administrative Agent that, notwithstanding the use by the Borrower of commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consent of such holder (but without the requirement to pay any sums to obtain such consent) to permit the Administrative Agent to retain its liens (on a subordinated basis as contemplated by clause (i) above), the holder of such other Indebtedness requires, as a condition to the extension of such credit, that the Liens on such assets granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document be released, to release the Administrative Agent’s Liens, or to direct the Collateral Agent to release the Collateral Agent’s Liens, on such assets.

 

SECTION 9.03.     Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent and their respective Affiliates, including due diligence expenses, syndication expenses, consultant’s fees and expenses, travel expenses, and reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any one primary counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and their respective Affiliates collectively, and one additional local counsel in each jurisdiction as to which the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent (as applicable) reasonably determines local counsel is appropriate, for the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (as applicable), 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, the Collateral Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender (provided that the Borrower’s obligations to pay fees of counsel shall be limited to one counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders taken as a whole and, solely in the case of any actual or perceived conflict of interest, one additional counsel to all similarly affected Lenders (and, if reasonably necessary, of one local counsel in any relevant jurisdiction (and any special counsel reasonably retained by the Administrative Agent) to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders taken as a whole, and solely in the case of any such conflict of interest, one additional local counsel to all similarly affected Lenders taken as a whole, in each such relevant jurisdiction and one additional special counsel to all similarly affected Lenders taken as a whole)), 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 respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

 

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(b)     The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each Issuing Bank and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnified Person”) against, and hold each Indemnified Person harmless from, any and all Liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnified Person, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnified Person arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions 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 Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective Proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective equity holders, Affiliates or creditors, and regardless of whether any Indemnified Person is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnified Person, be available to the extent that such Liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to (x) have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Person or (y) have not resulted from an act or omission by the Borrower or any of its Affiliates and have been brought by an Indemnified Person against any other Indemnified Person; provided, further, that to the extent that the foregoing obligates the Borrower to pay fees, disbursements and other charges of outside counsel, such amounts shall be limited to fees, disbursements and other charges of one counsel for all Indemnified Persons similarly situated (and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel in any relevant jurisdiction)). This Section 9.03(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)     To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent, and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so, the Collateral Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent (as applicable), each Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each, an “Agent Related Person”) or the such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) (or, if such payment 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) of such unpaid amount (it being understood that the Borrower’s failure to pay any such amount shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof); 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 the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, such Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender in its capacity as such. The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

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(d)     To the extent permitted by applicable law (i) the Borrower and any Loan Party shall not assert, and the Borrower and each Loan Party hereby waives, any claim against the Administrative Agent, any Co-Lead 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 Liabilities arising from the use by others of information or other materials (including, without limitation, any personal data) obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems (including the Internet), and (ii) no party hereto shall assert, and each such party hereby waives, any Liabilities against any other party hereto, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other 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; provided that, nothing in this Section 9.03(d) shall relieve the Borrower or any Loan Party of any obligation it may have to indemnify an Indemnified Person, as provided in Section 9.03(b), against any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages asserted against such Indemnified Person by a third party.

 

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

 

SECTION 9.04.     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) the Borrower may not 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 the 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 Persons (other than an Ineligible Institution) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments 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 Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof), provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an 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;

 

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(B) the Administrative Agent (provided that the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent will not be required in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund);

 

(C) in the case of an assignment of rights and obligations under the Revolving Facility, each Issuing Bank; and

 

(D) in the case of an assignment of rights and obligations under the Revolving Facility, 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, 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 $5,000,000 in the case of assignments under each of the Term A Facility and the Revolving Facility and not less than $1,000,000 in the case of assignments under the Term B Facility, unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Borrower 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;

 

(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;

 

(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 Borrower 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) the assignee shall not be an Ineligible Institution.

 

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For the purposes of this Section 9.04(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 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 Parent, (c) the Borrower, 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 9.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 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 solely for this purpose as an agent of the 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 Borrower, 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 Borrower, 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(c), 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(d) or 9.03(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 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.

 

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(c)         (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of or notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Swingline Lender, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”), other than an Ineligible Institution, 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 Borrower, 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 9.02(b) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(c) as though it were a Lender.

 

(ii)         A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15 or 2.17 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.17 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 2.17(e) as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Commitments or 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, Loans, Letter of Credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations and proposed Section 1.163-5 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.

 

(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.

 

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(e)         Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 2.18 or this Section 9.04 to the contrary, any of Borrower or its Subsidiaries may purchase by way of assignment and become an assignee with respect to Term B Loans at any time and from time to time from Term B Lenders in accordance with Section 9.04(a) hereof (each, a “Permitted Loan Purchase”); provided, that, in respect of any Permitted Loan Purchase, (A) no Permitted Loan Purchase shall be made from the proceeds of any extensions of credit under the Revolving Facility, (B) upon consummation of any such Permitted Loan Purchase, the Term B Loans purchased pursuant thereto shall be deemed to be automatically and immediately cancelled and extinguished in accordance with Section 9.04(f), (C) in connection with any such Permitted Loan Purchase, any of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries and such Lender that is the assignor shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly completed Assignment and Assumption (and for the avoidance of doubt, (x) shall make the representations and warranties set forth in the Assignment and Assumption and (y) shall not be required to execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption pursuant to Section 9.04(b)(ii)(C)) and shall otherwise comply with the conditions to assignments under this Section 9.04 and (D) no Default or Event of Default would exist immediately after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such Permitted Loan Purchase.

 

(f)          Each Permitted Loan Purchase shall, for purposes of this Agreement be deemed to be an automatic and immediate cancellation and extinguishment of such Term B Loans and the Borrower shall, upon consummation of any Permitted Loan Purchase, notify the Administrative Agent that the Register be updated to record such event as if it were a prepayment of such Loans.

 

(g)          Upon the assignment by any Term B Lender of any Term B Loans pursuant to a Permitted Loan Purchase, either (i) the applicable assignee shall make a representation to the Term B Lender making such assignment that it does not possess material non-public information with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that has not been disclosed to such Term B Lender or the Lenders generally or (ii) the applicable assignor shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower a customary Big Boy Letter.

 

SECTION 9.05.     Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties 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 9.03 and Article VIII 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.

 

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SECTION 9.06.     Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution. 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) the reductions of the Letter of Credit Commitment of any 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. 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 9.01), 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”) that is an Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement, such other Loan Document or such Ancillary Document, as applicable. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in any electronic form (including deliveries by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page), 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; provided that nothing herein shall require the Administrative Agent to accept Electronic Signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent and pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, 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 the Borrower or any other Loan Party 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, the Borrower and each Loan Party hereby (i) 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, the Borrower and the Loan Parties, 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, (ii) 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), (iii) 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 (iv) waives any claim against any Lender-Related Person for any Liabilities 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 Liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Borrower and/or any Loan Party to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.

 

SECTION 9.07.     Severability. Any provision of this Agreement or any other 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 hereof or thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

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SECTION 9.08.     Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, 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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor against any of and all the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch office or Affiliate of such Lender or such Issuing Bank different from the branch office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so setoff shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.25 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender and its respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender or its respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and Issuing Bank agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

SECTION 9.09.     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 of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that, notwithstanding the governing law provisions of any applicable Loan Document, any claims brought against the Administrative Agent by any Lender or Secured Party relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document, the Collateral or the consummation or administration of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

 

(c)     The 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 this Agreement or any other 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 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 against the Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

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(d)     The 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 (c) 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.

 

(e)     Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. 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 9.10.     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 9.11.     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 9.12.     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, 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, (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 the Borrower and its obligations, (g) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided for herein or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of identification numbers with respect to the credit facilities provided for herein, (h) with the consent of the Borrower or (i) to the extent such Information (1) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (2) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower 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 Borrower 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 Borrower 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. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the Commitments.

 

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EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING PARAGRAPH FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BORROWER 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.

 

ALL INFORMATION, INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS, FURNISHED BY THE BORROWER OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE BORROWER, THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE BORROWER 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 9.13.     USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the Patriot Act hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

SECTION 9.14.     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 Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

 

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SECTION 9.15.     No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Lenders and their Affiliates, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) each of the Lenders and their Affiliates is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) no Lender or any of its Affiliates has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except, in the case of a Lender, those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) each of the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and no Lender or any of its Affiliates has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against each of the Lenders and their Affiliates with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

SECTION 9.16.     Release of Subsidiary Guarantors and Collateral.

 

(a)     A Subsidiary Guarantor shall automatically be released from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party (including its obligations to pledge and grant any Collateral owned by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents) and any pledge of Equity Interests in such Subsidiary Guarantor and the Collateral owned by such Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case pursuant to the Collateral Documents, shall automatically be released, upon the consummation of any transaction permitted by this Agreement as a result of which such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Subsidiary; provided that, if so required by this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall have consented to such transaction and the terms of such consent shall not have provided otherwise. In connection with any termination or release pursuant to this Section, the Administrative Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by each Lender to) execute and deliver to any Loan Party, at such Loan Party’s expense, all documents that such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release, including directions to the Collateral Agent to effect any such release. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)     Further, if no Event of Default is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by each Lender to), upon the request of the Borrower, release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party (including its obligations to pledge and grant any Collateral owned by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents) if such Subsidiary Guarantor is no longer a Material Subsidiary; provided that, once any Elected Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor, such Subsidiary shall thereafter constitute a Material Subsidiary under this Agreement and shall not be released as a Subsidiary Guarantor thereafter unless such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted by this Agreement.

 

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(c)     At such time as the principal and interest on the Loans, all LC Disbursements, the fees, expenses and other amounts payable under the Loan Documents and the other Obligations (other than obligations in respect of Swap Agreements or any Banking Services Agreement, and other Obligations expressly stated to survive such payment and termination) shall have been paid in full in cash, the Commitments shall have been terminated and no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding, the Subsidiary Guaranty and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such termination) of each Subsidiary Guarantor thereunder shall automatically terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any Person.

 

(d)     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document, the Collateral and any other collateral security for the Obligations shall automatically be released, and the Administrative Agent shall direct the Collateral Agent to release such Collateral or other collateral security, from any security interest or Lien created by the Loan Documents (i) upon the Disposition of such Collateral to any Person other than a Loan Party pursuant to a transaction not restricted by this Agreement (or permitted pursuant to a waiver or consent of a transaction otherwise prohibited hereby) (and the Administrative Agent may rely conclusively on a certificate to that effect provided to it by any Loan Party upon its reasonable request without further inquiry), (ii) upon the expiration or termination of a lease of such property to the Borrower or any Subsidiary under a lease permitted under this Agreement, (iii) if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders (except in the case of a release of all or substantially all of the Collateral (other than in connection with a transaction not restricted by Sections 6.03), which release shall require the written consent of all Lenders), (iv) if the property subject to such Lien is owned by a Subsidiary Guarantor, upon release of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.16, or (v) as expressly provided in any Collateral Document; and the Administrative Agent shall then deliver to the Loan Parties all Collateral and any other collateral held under the Loan Documents and related documents in the custody or possession of such Person and, if reasonably requested by any Loan Party, shall execute and deliver (to the extent applicable) to such Loan Party for filing in each office in which any financing statement relative to such collateral, or any part thereof, shall have been filed, a termination statement under the Uniform Commercial Code or like statute in any other jurisdiction releasing or evidencing the release of the Administrative Agent’s interest therein, and such other documents and instruments as any Loan Party may reasonably request at the cost and expense of the Borrower. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by it at the reasonable request of a Loan Party pursuant to this Section 9.16(d).

 

SECTION 9.17.     Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may, to the extent such liability is unsecured, be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

(a)     the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and

 

(b)     the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

(i)     a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

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(ii)     a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent 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 the applicable Resolution Authority.

 

SECTION 9.18.     [Reserved].

 

SECTION 9.19.     MIRE Events. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this Agreement, no MIRE Event may be closed until the Administrative Agent shall have received written confirmation from the Lenders that flood insurance due diligence and flood insurance compliance has been completed by the Lenders (such written confirmation not to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed). If the Lenders have not informed the Administrative Agent and the Borrower of any outstanding flood diligence requirements by the date that is thirty (30) days (or 5 Business Days if no pledged real estate is in an SFHA Zone) after the date on which the Administrative Agent made available to the Lenders (which may be delivered electronically) the following documents with respect to each pledged real property: (i) a completed flood hazard determination from a third party vendor; (ii) for each real property located in a “special flood hazard area”, (A) a notification to the applicable Loan Party of that fact and (if applicable) notification to the applicable Loan Party flood insurance coverage is not available and (B) evidence of the receipt by the applicable Loan Party of such notice; and (iii) if such notice is required to be provided to the applicable Loan Party and flood insurance is available in the community in which such real property is located, evidence of required flood insurance with respect to such Mortgage, Lenders will be deemed to have completed its flood insurance due diligence and flood insurance compliance and to have consented to such Mortgage.

 

SECTION 9.20.     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 QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.

 

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SECTION 9.21.     Effect on Existing Revolving Credit Agreement. This Agreement amends and restates the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement in its entirety, provided that all obligations of the Borrower incurred under the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement, as amended and restated in this Agreement, excluding the commitments of the lenders thereunder (which shall terminate as of the Effective Date and be replaced with the commitments described in this Agreement), shall continue under this Agreement, and shall not under any circumstances be considered to be terminated, extinguished or discharged hereby or thereby, and under no circumstances constitutes a novation, but shall hereafter be governed by the terms of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE X

Borrower Guarantee

 

In order to induce the Lenders to extend credit hereunder, the Borrower hereby absolutely and irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the payment when and as due of the Obligations (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, Obligations of the Borrower). The Borrower further agrees that the due and punctual payment of such 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 Obligation.

 

The Borrower waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to any Subsidiary of any of the Obligations, and also waives notice of acceptance of its obligations and notice of protest for nonpayment. The obligations of the Borrower hereunder shall not 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 Subsidiary under the provisions of this Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement, any Swap Agreement, any other Loan Document or otherwise; (b) any extension or renewal of any of the 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, any Banking Services Agreement, any Swap Agreement or other agreement; (d) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of any of the 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 Obligations, if any; (f) any change in the corporate, partnership or other existence, structure or ownership of any Subsidiary or any other guarantor of any of the Obligations; (g) the enforceability or validity of the Obligations or any part thereof or the genuineness, enforceability or validity of any agreement relating thereto or with respect to any collateral securing the Obligations or any part thereof, or any other invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against any Subsidiary or any other guarantor of any of the Obligations, for any reason related to this Agreement, any Swap Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any provision of applicable law, decree, order or regulation of any jurisdiction purporting to prohibit the payment by the Borrower or any other guarantor of the Obligations, of any of the Obligations or otherwise affecting any term of any of the 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 the 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 Borrower to subrogation.

 

The Borrower 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 Obligations or operated as a discharge thereof) and not merely of collection, and waives 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 Subsidiary or any other Person.

 

145

 

The obligations of the Borrower hereunder shall 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 Obligations, any impossibility in the performance of any of the Obligations or any other circumstance.

 

The Borrower further agrees that its obligations hereunder shall constitute a continuing and irrevocable guarantee of all 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 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 Subsidiary or otherwise (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by a holder of the 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 the Borrower by virtue hereof, upon the failure of any other Borrower to pay any Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, the Borrower 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 Obligations then due, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The Borrower further agrees that if payment in respect of any 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 Eurocurrency 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 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 Borrower shall make payment of such Obligation in Dollars (based upon the applicable Equivalent Amount in effect on the date of payment) and/or in New York, Chicago or such other Eurocurrency Payment Office as is designated by the Administrative Agent and, as a separate and independent obligation, shall 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 Borrower of any sums as provided above, all rights of the Borrower against any Subsidiary 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 Obligations owed by such Subsidiary, as the case may be, to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders.

 

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

 

146

 

The Borrower hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Loan Party to honor all of its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty in respect of Specified Swap Obligations (provided, however, that the Borrower shall only be liable under this paragraph for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this paragraph or otherwise under this Article X voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The Borrower intends that this paragraph constitute, and this paragraph shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each Subsidiary Guarantor for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

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

 

ARTICLE XI

Limitation on Foreign Subsidiaries

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, including but not limited to Section 2.06 and Article X, no Foreign Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Subsidiary that is an Elected Subsidiary) shall be liable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document for or on account of any Loans made to or Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary.

 

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

147

 

 

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

 

H.B. FULLER COMPANY, as the Borrower

   
   
 

By _/s/ John J. Corkrean                                        

   

Name: John J. Corkrean

   

Title: Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as a

Revolving Lender, as a Term B Lender, as a

Term A Lender, as an Issuing Bank, as

Swingline Lender and as Administrative Agent

   
 

By /s/ Christopher A. Salek                                        

   

Name: Christopher A. Salek

   

Title: Executive Director

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

Citibank N.A., as a Term A Lender, as a

Revolving Lender and as an Issuing Bank

   
 

By /s/ David Jaffe                                        

   

Name: David Jaffe

   

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a

Term A Lender, as a Revolving Lender and as an

Issuing Bank

   
 

By /s/ Tyrone Parker                                        

 

Name: Tyrone Parker

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

MUFG BANK, LTD., as a Revolving Lender, as

a Term A Lender and as an Issuing Bank

   
 

By /s/ Michael D’Ecclesiis                                        

 

Name: Michael D’Ecclesiis

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

Bank of America, N.A., as a Term A Lender and

as a Revolving Lender

   
 

By /s/ Chad Kardash                                        

 

Name: Chad Kardash

 

Title: Senior Vice President

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION, as a Revolving Lender and as a

Term A Lender

   
 

By /s/ Casey Klepsch                                        

 

Name: Casey Klepsch

 

Title: Senior Vice President

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as a

Term A Lender and as a Revolving Lender

   
 

By /s/ Donna Benson                                              

 

Name: Donna Benson

 

Title: Assistant Vice President

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

The Northern Trust Company, as a Term A

Lender and as a Revolving Lender

   
 

By _/s/ Jack Stibich                                        

 

Name: Jack Stibich

 

Title: Officer

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A., as a Revolving

Lender, as a Term A Lender and as an Issuing

Bank

   
 

By /s/ Michael King                                        

 

Name: Michael King

 

Title: Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

UMB BANK, N.A., as a Term A Lender and as a

Revolving Lender

   
 

By /s/ Lynn C. Jewett                                        

 

Name: Lynn C. Jewett

 

Title: Senior Vice President

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION, as a Term A Lender and as a

Revolving Lender

   
 

By /s/ Casey P. Kelly                                        

 

Name: Casey P. Kelly

 

Title: Director

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, as a

Term A Lender

   
 

By /s/ Donna J. Emhart                                        

 

Name: Donna J. Emhart

 

Title: Senior Vice President

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK

OF CHINA LIMITED, NEW YORK BRANCH,

as a Term A Lender

   
 

By /s/ Christopher M Samms                                        

 

Name: Christopher M Samms

 

Title: Director

 

By /s/ Pinyen Shih                                        

Name: Pinyen Shih

Title: Executive Director

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

 

State Bank of India, New York Branch, as a

Term A Lender

   
 

By /s/ Himanshu                                        

   

Name: Himanshu

   

Title: VP (Syndications)

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, New York

Branch, as a Term A Lender

   
 

By /s/ Hector J. Gonzalez                                        

   

Name: Hector J. Gonzalez

   

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

Banner Bank, as a Term A Lender

   
 

By /s/ Rita E. Dillon                                        

 

Name: Rita E. Dillon

 

Title: Senior Vice President

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

State Street Bank and Trust Company, as a

Term A Lender

   
 

By /s/ Andrew Sanders________________

 

Name: Andrew Sanders

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

STIFEL BANK & TRUST, as a Term A

Lender

   
 

By /s/ Steven E. Miller________________

 

Name: Steven E. Miller

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

The Bank of East Asia, Limited, New York

Branch, as a Term A Lender

   
 

By /s/ James Hua                                        

 

Name: James Hua

 

Title: SVP

By /s/ Chong Tan                                        

Name: Chong Tan

Title: SVP

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

MidFirst Bank, as a Term A Lender

   
 

By /s/ Tim Daniels                                        

 

Name: Tim Daniels

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

 

First National Bank of Omaha, as a Term A

Lender

   
 

By /s/ Dale Ervin                                        

 

Name: Dale Ervin

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

Signature Page to Credit Agreement (2023)

H.B. Fuller Company


 

SCHEDULE 2.01

COMMITMENTS

 

REVOLVING COMMITMENTS

LENDER

COMMITMENT

AMOUNT

   

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

$102,000,000

CITIBANK, N.A.

$102,000,000

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

$102,000,000

MUFG BANK, LTD.

$76,500,000

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

$75,000,000

HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

$75,000,000

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

$75,000,000

THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY

$40,000,000

MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A.

$25,500,000

UMB BANK, N.A.

$13,500,000

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

$13,500,000

AGGREGATE REVOLVING COMMITMENT

$700,000,000.00

 

 

 

TERM B COMMITMENTS

LENDER

COMMITMENT

AMOUNT

   

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

$800,000,000.00

AGGREGATE TERM B COMMITMENT

$800,000,000.00

 

 

 

TERM A COMMITMENTS

LENDER

COMMITMENT

AMOUNT

   

MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS TRUST COMPANY

$80,000,000

INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA LIMITED,

NEW YORK BRANCH

$45,000,000

UMB BANK, N.A.

$40,000,000

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

$40,000,000

STATE BANK OF INDIA, NEW YORK BRANCH

$30,000,000

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

$28,000,000

CITIBANK, N.A.

$28,000,000

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

$28,000,000

 

Schedule 2.01


 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

$22,500,000

HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

$22,500,000

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

$22,500,000

MUFG BANK, LTD.

$21,000,000

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO, NEW YORK BRANCH

$20,000,000

THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY

$13,500,000

BANNER BANK

$10,000,000

STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY

$10,000,000

STIFEL BANK & TRUST

$10,000,000

THE BANK OF EAST ASIA, LTD., NEW YORK BRANCH

$10,000,000

MIDFIRST BANK

$7,000,000

MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A.

$7,000,000

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF OMAHA

$5,000,000

AGGREGATE TERM A COMMITMENT

$500,000,000.00

 

Schedule 2.01


 

 

SCHEDULE 2.02

 

LETTER OF CREDIT COMMITMENTS

 

ISSUING BANK

LETTER OF CREDIT

COMMITMENT

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

$10,000,000

CITIBANK, N.A.

$10,000,000

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

$10,000,000

MUFG BANK, LTD.

$7,500,000

MORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A.

$2,500,000

AGGREGATE LETTER OF CREDIT COMMITMENT

$40,000,000.00

 

Schedule 2.02


 

SCHEDULE 2.06

EXISTING LETTERS OF CREDIT

 

[intentionally omitted]

 

Schedule 2.06


 

SCHEDULE 3.01

 

SUBSIDIARIES

 

Subsidiary

Domestic Jurisdiction of

Organization

Ownership

% Owned

(Common

and

Preferred

Stock/Interest)

Material

Subsidiaries

Subsidiary

Guarantors

H.B. Fuller Company

USA - Minnesota

External Shareholders

100.000000

   
           
           

ADCO Europe Holding GmbH

Germany

H.B. Fuller Royal Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l.

11.000000

   
   

H.B. Fuller Chemie GmbH

89.000000

   

ADCO Global, Inc.

USA - Delaware

Royal Holdings, Inc.

100.000000

Material Subsidiary

Subsidiary Guarantor

ADCO Products, LLC

USA - Delaware

ADCO Global, Inc.

100.000000

Material Subsidiary

Subsidiary Guarantor

Adhesive Packaging Specialties, LLC

USA - Massachusetts

Nutek, LLC

100.000000

   

AP Plastics, LLC

USA - Massachusetts

Nutek, LLC

100.000000

   

Apollo Chemicals Limited

United Kingdom

H.B. Fuller Company

100.000000

   

Apollo Construction Solutions Limited

United Kingdom

H.B. Fuller Company

100.000000

   

Apollo Roofing Solutions Limited

United Kingdom

H.B. Fuller Company

100.000000

   

Asfaltos Y Pegamentos S. DE R.L. DE C.V.

Mexico

H.B. Fuller Construction Products Inc.

99.000000

   
   

Eternabond LLC

1.000000

   

Bacon Acquisitions, LLC

USA - Oklahoma

H.B. Fuller Adhesive Systems LLC

100.000000

   

Chemical Supply Corporation, S.A.

Panama

H.B. Fuller International Holdings Corp.

100.000000

   

Chongqing ZKLT Polymer Materials Co., Ltd.

China

Tonsan Adhesive, Inc.

100.000000

   
           

Cyberbond CS S.R.O.

Czech Republic

Cyberbond Europe GmbH

75.000000

   
   

H.B. Fuller Deutschland Holding GmbH

25.000000

   

Cyberbond Europe GmbH

Germany

H.B. Fuller Deutschland Holding GmbH

100.000000

   

Datac Adhesives Limited

United Kingdom

H.B. Fuller Company

100.000000

   

Engent, Inc.

USA - Georgia

H.B. Fuller Company

100.000000

   

Eternabond, LLC

USA - Delaware

H.B. Fuller Construction Products Inc.

100.000000

   

 

Schedule 3.01 – 1


 

Subsidiary

Domestic Jurisdiction of

Organization

Ownership

% Owned

(Common

and

Preferred

Stock/Interest)

Material

Subsidiaries

Subsidiary

Guarantors

Extreme Adhesives, LLC

USA - New Hampshire

Royal Adhesives and Sealants, LLC

100.000000

   

Fourny NV

Belgium

Willimmo NV

99.920000

   
   

Nine Sticks BV

0.080000

   

Gabaldo Holdings Ltd.

Cyprus

H.B. Fuller Royal Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller (Barbados) I SRL

Barbados

H.B. Fuller International Holdings Corp.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller (China) Adhesives Ltd.

China

H.B. Fuller Adhesives Mauritius Ltd.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller (Guangzhou) Adhesives Co., Ltd.

China

 H.B. Fuller Adhesives Hong Kong Limited

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller (Guangzhou) Trading Co., Ltd.

China

H.B. Fuller Company

4.760000

   
   

H.B. Fuller Singapore Pte. Ltd.

95.240000

   

H.B. Fuller (Nanjing) Chemical Co., Ltd.

China

H.B. Fuller Company

36.036000

   
   

H.B. Fuller Singapore Pte. Ltd.

63.964000

   

H.B. Fuller (New Zealand) Limited

New Zealand

H.B. Fuller Company Australia Pty. Ltd.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller (Philippines), Inc.

Philippines

H.B. Fuller Company

93.680000

   

H.B. Fuller (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.

China

H.B. Fuller Company

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller (Suzhou) Advanced Material Co., Ltd.

China

Tonsan Adhesive, Inc.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Thailand

H.B. Fuller Company

99.999000

   
   

Minority shareholders

0.001000

   

H.B. Fuller (Vietnam) Company Limited

Vietnam

H.B. Fuller International Holdings Corp.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller (Yantai) Advanced Materials Co., Ltd.

China

H.B. Fuller Singapore Pte. Ltd.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Adhesive Systems LLC

USA-Oklahoma

Royal Adhesives and Sealants, LLC

90.655000

Material Subsidiary

Subsidiary Guarantor

   

ADCO Products, LLC

9.345000

   
           

H.B. Fuller Adhesives S.A.E.

Egypt

H.B. Fuller Benelux B.V.

99.980000

   
   

H.B. Fuller Europe GmbH

0.010000

   
   

H.B. Fuller France

0.010000

   
           

H.B. Fuller Adhesives Deutschland GmbH

Germany

H.B. Fuller Deutschland Holding GmbH

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Adhesives France SAS

France

H.B. Fuller France

100.000000

   

 

Schedule 3.01 – 2


 

Subsidiary

Domestic Jurisdiction of

Organization

Ownership

% Owned

(Common

and

Preferred

Stock/Interest)

Material

Subsidiaries

Subsidiary

Guarantors

H.B. Fuller Adhesives Hong Kong Limited

Hong Kong

H.B. Fuller Singapore Pte. Ltd.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Adhesives Italia S.r.l.

Italy

H.B. Fuller Italia S.r.l.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Adhesives Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

Malaysia

H.B. Fuller Singapore Pte. Ltd.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Adhesives Mauritius Ltd.

Mauritius

H.B. Fuller International Holdings Corp.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Argentina, S.A.I.C.

Argentina

H.B. Fuller Company

2.000000

   
   

Chemical Supply Corporation, S.A.

98.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Austria GesmbH

Austria

H.B. Fuller Benelux B.V.

90.000000

   
   

H.B. Fuller Company

10.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Belgie BVBA

Belgium

H.B. Fuller Benelux B.V.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Benelux B.V.

Netherlands

H.B. Fuller Netherlands Holding B.V.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Brasil, Ltda.

Brazil

Chemical Supply Corporation, S.A.

99.999990

   

Branch: Curitaba Parana, Brazil

 

H.B. Fuller Company

0.000010

   

H.B. Fuller Canada (partnership)

Canada - Ontario

H.B. Fuller Canada Holding Co.

99.990000

   
   

H.B. Fuller Canada Investment Co.

0.010000

   

H.B. Fuller Canada Holding Co.

Canada - Nova Scotia

H.B. Fuller Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Canada Investment Co.

Canada - Nova Scotia

H.B. Fuller Canada Holding Co.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Centroamerica, S.A.

Costa Rica

Chemical Supply Corporation, S.A.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Chemie GmbH

Germany

H.B. Fuller Royal Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Chile SpA

Chile

H.B. Fuller Latin America Adhesives, S.A.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Colombia S.A.S.

Colombia

Chemical Supply Corporation, S.A.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Company Australia Pty. Ltd.

Australia

H.B. Fuller International Holdings Corp.

100.000000

   
           

H.B. Fuller Construction Products Inc.

USA - Minnesota

H.B. Fuller Company

93.078000

Material Subsidiary

Subsidiary Guarantor

   

Royal Adhesives and Sealants, LLC

6.922000

   

H.B. Fuller Deutschland GmbH

Germany

H.B. Fuller Deutschland Holding GmbH

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Deutschland Holding GmbH

Germany

H.B. Fuller Benelux B.V.

89.928058

   
   

H.B. Fuller Company

10.071942

   

H.B. Fuller Deutschland Produktions GmbH

Germany

H.B. Fuller Company

10.000000

   
   

H.B. Fuller Deutschland Holding GmbH

90.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Egymelt, a limited liability company

Egypt

H.B. Fuller Egypt Investment LLC

50.000000

   
   

H.B. Fuller Egypt Trade LLC

50.000000

   

 

Schedule 3.01 – 3


 

Subsidiary

Domestic Jurisdiction of

Organization

Ownership

% Owned

(Common

and

Preferred

Stock/Interest)

Material

Subsidiaries

Subsidiary

Guarantors

H.B. Fuller Egypt Investment LLC

Egypt

H.B. Fuller Deutschland GmbH

50.000000

   
   

H.B. Fuller Deutschland Holding GmbH

50.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Egypt Trade LLC

Egypt

H.B. Fuller Deutschland GmbH

50.000000

   
   

H.B. Fuller Deutschland Holding GmbH

50.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Europe GmbH

Switzerland

H.B. Fuller Benelux B.V.

99.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company

Ireland

H.B. Fuller Europe GmbH

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l.

Luxembourg

H.B. Fuller Luxembourg Group S.a.r.l.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller France

France

H.B. Fuller Benelux B.V.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Greece S.A.I.C.

Greece

H.B. Fuller Benelux B.V.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Guatemala, S.A.

Guatemala

Chemical Supply Corporation, S.A.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller India Adhesives Private Limited

India

H.B. Fuller Benelux B.V.

76.555080

   
   

H.B. Fuller Company

23.442318

   
   

H.B. Fuller International Holdings Corp.

0.002602

   

H.B. Fuller Industrial Inc.

USA - Delaware

H.B. Fuller Company

100.000000

Material Subsidiary

Subsidiary Guarantor

H.B. Fuller International Holdings Corp.

USA - Delaware

H.B. Fuller Company

100.000000

Material Subsidiary

Subsidiary Guarantor

           
           

H.B. Fuller Italia s.r.l.

Italy

H.B. Fuller Benelux B.V.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Japan G.K.

Japan

H.B. Fuller Company

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Kenya Limited

Kenya

H.B. Fuller Benelux B.V.

99.999895

   
   

Datac Adhesives Limited

0.000105

   

H.B. Fuller Kimya Sanayi Ticaret Anonim Sirketi

Turkey

Datac Adhesives Limited

0.000005

   
   

H.B. Fuller Benelux B.V.

99.999980

   
   

H.B. Fuller Deutschland GmbH

0.000005

   
   

H.B. Fuller Deutschland Holding GmbH

0.000005

   
   

H.B. Fuller Deutschland Produktions GmbH

0.000005

   

H.B. Fuller Korea Co., Ltd.

Korea, Republic Of

H.B. Fuller Company

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Latin America Adhesives S.A.

Panama

H.B. Fuller Company

99.941100

   
   

Minority shareholders

0.058900

   

 

Schedule 3.01 – 4


 

Subsidiary

Domestic Jurisdiction of

Organization

Ownership

% Owned

(Common

and

Preferred

Stock/Interest)

Material

Subsidiaries

Subsidiary

Guarantors

H.B. Fuller Latin America Shared Services, S.R. Ltda

Costa Rica

H.B. Fuller International Holdings Corp.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Lebanon S.A.R.L.

Lebanon

H.B. Fuller Company

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Luxembourg Group S.a.r.l.

Luxembourg

H.B. Fuller Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l.

Luxembourg

H.B. Fuller International Holdings Corp.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Mexico, S.A. de C.V.

Mexico

H.B. Fuller International Holdings Corp.

99.943974

   
   

H.B. Fuller Latin America Adhesives, S.A.

0.000019

   
   

Chemical Supply Corporation, S.A.

0.056007

   

H.B. Fuller Namekagon Ltd.

United Kingdom

H.B. Fuller Canada Holding Co.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Netherlands Holding B.V.

Netherlands

H.B. Fuller U.K. Holding Ltd.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Pension Trustees Limited

United Kingdom

H.B. Fuller Company

50.000000

   
   

H.B. Fuller U.K. Manufacturing Limited

50.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Poland Sp.Z.o.o.

Poland

H.B. Fuller Deutschland GmbH

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Portugal - SGPS, Lda.

Portugal

H.B. Fuller Benelux B.V.

90.000000

   
 

Portugal

H.B. Fuller Company

10.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Portugal, Produtos Quimicos, S.A.

Portugal

H.B. Fuller Portugal - SGPS, Lda.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Royal Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l.

Luxembourg

ADCO Global, Inc.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Rus Ltd.

Russia

H.B. Fuller Benelux B.V.

99.000000

   
   

H.B. Fuller Deutschland GmbH

1.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Singapore Pte. Ltd.

Singapore

H.B. Fuller Canada

47.570000

   
   

H.B. Fuller International Holdings Corp.

52.430000

   

H.B. Fuller Sverige AB

Sweden

H.B. Fuller Benelux B.V.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Taiwan Co., Ltd.

Taiwan, Province of China

H.B. Fuller Company

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller U.K. Holding Ltd

United Kingdom

H.B. Fuller Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller U.K. Limited

United Kingdom

Datac Adhesives Limited

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller U.K. Manufacturing Limited

United Kingdom

Datac Adhesives Limited

100.000000

   

HB Fuller UK Sales Ltd.

United Kingdom

Kommerling UK Limited

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Uruguay, S.A.

Uruguay

Chemical Supply Corporation, S.A.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller Venezuela, C.A.

Venezuela

Chemical Supply Corporation, S.A.

100.000000

   

H.B. Fuller, Isar-Rakoll, S.A.

Portugal

H.B. Fuller Portugal - SGPS, Lda.

100.000000

   

 

Schedule 3.01 – 5


 

Subsidiary

Domestic Jurisdiction of

Organization

Ownership

% Owned

(Common

and

Preferred

Stock/Interest)

Material

Subsidiaries

Subsidiary

Guarantors

HB Fuller Espana, S.L.U.

Spain

H.B. Fuller Adhesives France SAS

100.000000

   

HB Fuller Middle East FZE

United Arab Emirates

H.B. Fuller Benelux B.V.

100.000000

   

HB Fuller South Africa (Pty) Ltd

South Africa

H.B. Fuller Benelux B.V.

100.000000

   

HBF Realty Corporation

Philippines

H.B. Fuller Company

39.800000

   
   

Bank of Philippine Islands Asset Management and Trust Group

59.700000

   
   

Minority Shareholders

0.500000

   

Koemmerling (Nanjing) Advanced Materials Co. Ltd.

China

Koemmerling Hong Kong Limited

100.000000

   

Branch: Beijing

         

Koemmerling Hong Kong Limited

Hong Kong

ADCO Europe Holding GmbH

100.000000

   

Kömmerling Chemische Fabrik GmbH

Germany

ADCO Europe Holding GmbH

100.000000

   

Kommerling UK Limited

United Kingdom

ADCO Europe Holding GmbH

100.000000

   

Lemptapes Oy

Finland

H.B. Fuller Benelux B.V.

100.000000

   

Mansfield (Sixth Avenue) Properties LLC

USA - Delaware

H.B. Fuller Construction Products Inc.

100.000000

   

Nine Sticks BV

Belgium

H.B. Fuller Benelux B.V.

100.000000

   

Nutek, LLC

USA-Massachusetts

Royal Adhesives and Sealants, LLC

100.000000

   
   

Chemical Supply Corporation, S.A.

0.000100

   

PT H.B. Fuller Indonesia

Indonesia

H.B. Fuller Singapore Pte. Ltd.

97.930000

   
   

H.B. Fuller Company

2.050000

   
   

H.B. Fuller International Holdings Corp.

0.020000

   

PT. HB Fuller Adhesives Indonesia

Indonesia

H.B. Fuller Singapore Pte. Ltd.

96.060000

   
   

H.B. Fuller International Holdings Corp.

3.940000

   

Resistol, S.A.

Guatemala

H.B. Fuller Guatemala, S.A.

100.000000

   

Royal Acquisition Corp.

USA - Delaware

H.B. Fuller International Holdings Corp.

100.000000

Material Subsidiary

Subsidiary Guarantor

Royal Adhesives & Sealants Canada C207Ltd.

Canada - Ontario

Royal Adhesives and Sealants, LLC

100.000000

   

Royal Adhesives and Sealants, LLC

USA - Delaware

Royal Holdings, Inc.

100.000000

Material Subsidiary

Subsidiary Guarantor

Royal Holdings, Inc.

USA - Delaware

Royal Acquisition Corp.

97.959184

Material Subsidiary

Subsidiary Guarantor

   

H.B. Fuller Company

2.040816

   

S.A.R.L. Cyberbond France

France

H.B. Fuller France

100.000000

   

 

Schedule 3.01 – 6


 

Subsidiary

Domestic Jurisdiction of

Organization

Ownership

% Owned

(Common

and

Preferred

Stock/Interest)

Material

Subsidiaries

Subsidiary

Guarantors

Sekisui-Fuller Co. Ltd.

Japan

H.B. Fuller Company

50.000000

   

Seneca Polymer Co.

USA - Minnesota

Simpsonville Polymer Co.

100.000000

Material Subsidiary

Subsidiary Guarantor

Simpsonville Polymer Co.

USA - Delaware

Simpsonville Properties LLC

100.000000

Material Subsidiary

Subsidiary Guarantor

Simpsonville Properties LLC

USA - Delaware

Royal Adhesives and Sealants, LLC

100.000000

Material Subsidiary

Subsidiary Guarantor

South Bend Properties LLC

USA - Delaware

Royal Adhesives and Sealants, LLC

100.000000

Material Subsidiary

Subsidiary Guarantor

Tonsan Adhesive, Inc.

China

H.B. Fuller Singapore Pte. Ltd.

100.000000

   

Tonsan Suzhou Adhesive Co., Ltd.

China

Tonsan Adhesive, Inc.

100.000000

   

Willimmo NV

Belgium

Nine Sticks BV

100.000000

   

 

 

Joint Ventures:

 

Sekisui-Fuller Co. Ltd.

 

Options, warrants or other rights of any Person to acquire, any shares of any class of capital stock or other equity interests of the Borrower or any Subsidiary: None.

 

Schedule 3.01 – 7


 

SCHEDULE 3.06

 

DISCLOSED MATTERS

 

 

None.

 

Schedule 3.06 – 1


 

SCHEDULE 5.09

 

CERTAIN MORTGAGED PROPERTIES

 

 

Entity of Record

Address

City

County

State

H.B. Fuller Company

1200 Willow Lake Blvd

St. Paul

Ramsey

MN

H.B. Fuller Company

3450 Labore Road

St. Paul

Ramsey

MN

H.B. Fuller Company

5000 Charter Oak Drive

Paducah

McCracken

KY

H.B. Fuller Company

1105 South Frontenac Rd

Aurora

Dupage

IL

 

 

Schedule 5.09 – 1


 

SCHEDULE 6.01

 

EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS

(as of February 4, 2023)

 

Obligor

USD

Equivalent

Obligees

Collateral

Guarantor

H.B. Fuller Brazil, Ltda.

        23,556,600

Citibank N.A.

None

H.B. Fuller Company

PT. HB Fuller Adhesives Indonesia

          5,372,700

HSBC Indonesia

None

H.B. Fuller Company

 

Schedule 6.01 – 1


 

SCHEDULE 6.02

 

EXISTING LIENS

 

 

None.

 

Schedule 6.02 – 1


 

SCHEDULE 6.08

 

RESTRICTIVE AGREEMENTS

 

 

None.

 

Schedule 6.08 –1

 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

This Assignment and Assumption (the “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [Insert name of Assignor] (the “Assignor”) and [Insert name of Assignee] (the “Assignee”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

 

For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below (including any letters of credit, guarantees, and swingline loans included in such facilities) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as the “Assigned Interest”). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.

 

1.

Assignor:

 

2.

Assignee:

 
   

[and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]1]

3.

Borrower:

H.B. Fuller Company

4.

Administrative Agent:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement

5.

Credit Agreement:

The Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of February 15, 2023 among H.B. Fuller Company, the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other parties from time to time party thereto

 


1 Select as applicable.

 

Exhibit A-1

 

6

Assigned Interest:

 

 

Facility Assigned

Aggregate Amount of
Commitment/Loans for all
Lenders

Amount of
Commitment/
Loans Assigned

Percentage Assigned
of Commitment/Loans2

 

$

$

%

 

$

$

%

 

$

$

%

 

Effective Date: _____________ ___, 20___ [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

 

The Assignee agrees to deliver to the Administrative Agent a completed 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 Borrower, the Loan Parties 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.

 

The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

 

 

ASSIGNOR
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

   
   
 

By:

 
   

Name:         

   

Title:         

 

 

 

ASSIGNEE
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

   
   
 

By:

 
   

Name:         

   

Title:         

 


2 Set forth, so at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.

 

Exhibit A-2

 

 

[Consented to and] Accepted:
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as
Administrative Agent[, Swingline Lender and

an Issuing Bank]3

   
   

By:

 
 

Name:         

 

Title:         

 

 

[OTHER ISSUING BANKS]4

 
 

By:

 
 

Name:         

 

Title:         

 

 

[Consented to:]5
H.B. FULLER COMPANY

 
 

By:

 
 

Name:         

 

Title:         

 


3 To be added only if the assignment is under the Revolving Credit Facility.

4 To be added only if the assignment is under the Revolving Credit Facility.

5 To be added only if the consent of the Borrower is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

Exhibit A-3


 

ANNEX I

 

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

1. Representations and Warranties.

 

1.1 Assignor. The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document, (iv) any requirements under applicable law for the Assignee to become a lender under the Credit Agreement or to charge interest at the rate set forth therein from time to time or (v) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

 

1.2. Assignee. The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement and under applicable law, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by the Assigned Interest and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire the Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Co-Lead Arranger, any Co-Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent or any other Lender or any of their respective Related Parties, and (vi) attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Co-Lead Arranger, any Co-Syndication Agent, any Co-Documentation Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender or any of their respective Related Parties, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

 

Annex I-1

 

2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

 

3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Acceptance and adoption of the terms of this Assignment and Assumption by the Assignee and the Assignor by Electronic Signature or delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by any Approved Electronic Platform shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

Annex I-2

 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF OPINION OF LOAN PARTIES’ U.S. COUNSEL
[See Attached.]

 

Exhibit B-1

 

EXHIBIT C-1

 

FORM OF INCREASING LENDER SUPPLEMENT

 

INCREASING LENDER SUPPLEMENT, dated __________, 20___ (this “Supplement”), by and among each of the signatories hereto, to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2023 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among H.B. Fuller Company (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), and the other parties from time to time party thereto.

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2.20 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower has the right, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, to effectuate from time to time an increase in the aggregate [Loans/Commitments] under the [Revolving/Term A/Term B] Facility under the Credit Agreement by requesting one or more Lenders to increase the amount of its [Loan/Commitment];

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower has given notice to the Administrative Agent of its intention to increase the aggregate [Loans/Commitments] under the [Revolving/Term A/Term B] Facility pursuant to such Section 2.20; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2.20 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned Increasing Lender now desires to increase the amount of its [Loan/Commitment] under the [Revolving/Term A/Term B] Facility under the Credit Agreement by executing and delivering to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent this Supplement;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, each of the parties hereto hereby agrees as follows:

 

1. The undersigned Increasing Lender agrees, subject to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, that on the date of this Supplement it shall have its [Loan/Commitment] under the [Revolving/Term A/Term B] Facility increased by $[__________], thereby making the aggregate amount of its total [Loans/Commitments] under such Facility equal to $[__________].

 

2. The Borrower hereby represents and warrants that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on and as of the date hereof.

 

3. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement shall have their defined meanings when used herein.

 

4. This Supplement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

5. This Supplement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same document.

 

Exhibit C-1-1

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Supplement to be executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer on the date first above written.

 

 

[INSERT NAME OF INCREASING

LENDER]

   
   
 

By:

 
   

Name:         

   

Title:         

 

 

Accepted and agreed to as of the date first written above:

 

H.B. FULLER COMPANY

 
 

By:

 
 

Name:         

 

Title:         

 

 

Acknowledged as of the date first written above:

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. as

Administrative Agent

 
 

By:

 
 

Name:         

 

Title:         

 

Exhibit C-1-2

 

 

EXHIBIT C-2

 

FORM OF AUGMENTING LENDER SUPPLEMENT

 

AUGMENTING LENDER SUPPLEMENT, dated __________, 20___ (this “Supplement”), by and among each of the signatories hereto, to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2023 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among H.B. Fuller Company (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), and the other parties from time to time party thereto.

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, the Credit Agreement provides in Section 2.20 thereof that any bank, financial institution or other entity may extend [Loans/Commitments] under the [Revolving/Term A/Term B] Facility under the Credit Agreement subject to the approval of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, by executing and delivering to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a supplement to the Credit Agreement in substantially the form of this Supplement; and

 

WHEREAS, the undersigned Augmenting Lender was not an original party to the Credit Agreement but now desires to become a party thereto;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, each of the parties hereto hereby agrees as follows:

 

1. The undersigned Augmenting Lender agrees to be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement and agrees that it shall, on the date of this Supplement, become a Lender for all purposes of the Credit Agreement to the same extent as if originally a party thereto, with a [Loan/Commitment] of $[__________] under the [Revolving/Term A/Term B] Facility.

 

2. The undersigned Augmenting Lender (a) represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to enter into this Supplement; (b) confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 thereof, as applicable, and has reviewed such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Supplement; (c) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto; (d) appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are incidental thereto; and (e) agrees that it will be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement and will perform in accordance with its terms all the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

 

Exhibit C-2-1

 

3. The undersigned’s address for notices for the purposes of the Credit Agreement is as follows:

 

[___________]

 

4. The Borrower hereby represents and warrants that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on and as of the date hereof.

 

5. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement shall have their defined meanings when used herein.

 

6. This Supplement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

7. This Supplement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same document.

 

[remainder of this page intentionally left blank]

 

Exhibit C-2-2

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Supplement to be executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer on the date first above written.

 

[INSERT NAME OF AUGMENTING

LENDER]

   
   
 

By:

 
   

Name:         

   

Title:         

 

 

Accepted and agreed to as of the date first written above:

 

H.B. FULLER COMPANY

 
 

By:

 
 

Name:         

 

Title:         

 

 

Acknowledged and consented to as of the date first written above:

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
as Administrative Agent [, and Issuing Bank

and Swingline Lender]

 
 

By:

 
 

Name:         

 

Title:         

 

 

[OTHER ISSUING BANKS IF REQUIRED]

 
 

By:

 
 

Name:         

 

Title:         

 

Exhibit C-2-3

 

EXHIBIT D

 

[Reserved]

 

Exhibit D-1

 

EXHIBIT E

 

FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

[See attached.]

 

Exhibit E-1

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

dated as of

 

February 15, 2023

 

among

 

H.B. FULLER COMPANY,
as the Borrower,

 

and

 

THE OTHER GRANTORS PARTY HERETO

 

and

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Collateral Agent

 

 

 



 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 


Page

 

ARTICLE 1

Definitions

 

Section 1.01.  Certain Definitions; Rules of Construction

2

Section 1.02.  Other Defined Terms

2

 

ARTICLE 2

Pledge of Securities

 

Section 2.01.  Pledge

5

Section 2.02.  Delivery of the Pledged Collateral

5

Section 2.03.  Representations, Warranties and Covenants

6

Section 2.04.  Actions with Respect to Certain Pledged Collateral

7

Section 2.05.  Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations

8

Section 2.06.  Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest

8

 

ARTICLE 3

Security Interests in Personal Property

   

Section 3.01.  Security Interest

10

Section 3.02.  Representations and Warranties

12

Section 3.03.  Covenants

14

 

ARTICLE 4

Remedies

   

Section 4.01.  Remedies upon Default

16

Section 4.02.  Application of Proceeds

18

Section 4.03.  Grant of License to Use Intellectual Property; Power of Attorney

20

 

ARTICLE 5

Miscellaneous

   

Section 5.01.  Notices

21

Section 5.02.  Waivers; Amendment; Several Agreement

21

Section 5.03.  Collateral Agents Fees and Expenses

22

Section 5.04.  Successors and Assigns

22

Section 5.05.  Survival of Agreement

23

Section 5.06.  Counterparts; Effectiveness; Successors and Assigns

23

Section 5.07.  Severability

23

Section 5.08.  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial;  Consent to Service of Process

23

Section 5.09.  Headings

24

Section 5.10.  Security Interest Absolute

24

 

 

 

Section 5.11.  [Reserved]

24

Section 5.12.  Termination or Release

24

Section 5.13.  Additional Grantors

25

Section 5.14.  Collateral Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact

26

Section 5.15.  General Authority of the Collateral Agent

27

Section 5.16.  Reasonable Care

27

Section 5.17.  Mortgages

27

Section 5.18.  Reinstatement

27

Section 5.19.  Miscellaneous

27

 

 

SCHEDULES

 

Schedule I

Pledged Equity; Pledged Debt

 

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit I

Form of Security Agreement Supplement

Exhibit II

Form of Patent Security Agreement

Exhibit III

Form of Trademark Security Agreement

Exhibit IV

Form of Copyright Security Agreement

 

 

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT dated as of February 15, 2023 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Agreement”) is made among H.B. FULLER COMPANY, a Minnesota corporation (the “Borrower”) and each other entity identified as a “Grantor” on the signature pages hereof or who from time to time become a party hereto (together with the Borrower, the “Grantors” and each a “Grantor”) and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to that Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of February 15, 2023 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and each, a “Lender”), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), and the other parties from time to time party thereto, the Secured Parties (as defined therein) have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the Hedge Banks may perform certain obligations under one or more Secured Swap Agreements (as such terms are defined in the Credit Agreement);

 

WHEREAS, the obligations of (i) the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (as defined in the Credit Agreement) to extend such credit and (ii) the Hedge Banks to perform such obligations under the Secured Swap Agreements are conditioned upon, among other things, the execution and delivery of this Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the Grantors (other than the Borrower) are subsidiaries of the Borrower, will derive substantial benefits from such extension of credit by the Lenders and the Issuing Banks and such performance of such obligations by the Hedge Banks and are willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in order to induce the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to extend such credit and the Hedge Banks to perform their obligations under such Secured Swap Agreements;

 

WHEREAS, the Credit Agreement amends and restates that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 20, 2020 (as amended prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Revolving Credit Agreement”) among the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto, and the Administrative Agent;

 

WHEREAS, the obligations under the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement are secured by that certain Security Agreement, dated as of October 20, 2017 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Original Security Agreement”) among that the Collateral Agent, the Borrower and the other Grantors party thereto;

 

WHEREAS, the Collateral Agent, the Borrower and the other Grantors have agreed to amend and restate that Original Security Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein; and

 

 

 

 

WHEREAS, it is also the intent of the Borrower and the other Grantors to confirm that all Obligations and Liens under the Original Security Agreement shall continue in full force and effect as amended, modified or restated by this Agreement and that, from and after the Effective Date, all references to the “Security Agreement” contained in any Loan Documents shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1

Definitions

 

Section 1.01.    Certain Definitions; Rules of Construction. (a) Capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not defined in this Agreement shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement. Capitalized terms defined in the New York UCC (as defined herein) that are not otherwise defined in this Agreement or in the Credit Agreement are used herein as defined in the New York UCC, as the context may require.

 

(b)   The rules of construction specified in Article 1 of the Credit Agreement also apply to this Agreement.

 

Section 1.02.    Other Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

 

Account Debtor” means any Person who is or who may become obligated to any Grantor under, with respect to or on account of an Account.

 

Administrative Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

 

Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

 

Article 9 Collateral” has the meaning assigned to such term in ‎Section 3.01(a).

 

Borrower” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

 

Collateral” means the Article 9 Collateral and the Pledged Collateral.

 

Collateral Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

 

Control” when used with respect to any Deposit Account has the meaning specified in UCC Section 9-104.

 

Copyright License” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting any right to any third party under any Copyright now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or that such Grantor otherwise has the right to license, or granting any right to any Grantor under any copyright now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of such Grantor under any such agreement.

 

2

 

Copyrights” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor: (a) all copyright rights in any work subject to and under the copyright laws of the United States (whether or not the underlying works of authorship have been published), whether as author, assignee, transferee, exclusive licensee or otherwise, (b) all registrations and applications for registration of any such copyright in the United States, including registrations, recordings, supplemental registrations and pending applications for registration in the USCO or in any similar office or agency of the United States and (c) all renewals of any of the foregoing.

 

Credit Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

 

Existing Revolving Credit Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

 

Grantor” and “Grantors” have the meanings assigned to such terms in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

 

Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property of every kind and nature now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor, including inventions, designs, Patents, Copyrights, Licenses, Trademarks, domain names, social media handles, trade secrets, confidential or proprietary technical and business information, know-how, show-how or other data or information, the intellectual property rights in software and databases and related documentation, all additions, improvements and accessions to any of the foregoing, and all goodwill associated therewith.

 

Intellectual Property Security Agreements” means the short-form Patent Security Agreement, short-form Trademark Security Agreement, and short-form Copyright Security Agreement, each substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibits II, III and IV, respectively.

 

Lender” and “Lenders” have the meanings assigned to such terms in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

 

License” means any Patent License, Trademark License, Copyright License or other Intellectual Property license or sublicense agreement to which any Grantor is a party, together with any and all renewals, extensions, amendments and supplements thereof.

 

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

 

Original Security Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

 

3

 

Patent License” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any third party any right to make, use or sell any invention covered by a Patent, now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or that any Grantor otherwise has the right to license or granting to any Grantor any right to make, use or sell any invention covered by a patent, now or hereafter owned by any third party and all rights of any Grantor under any such agreement.

 

Patents” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor: (a) all letters patent of the United States, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications for letters patent of the United States, including applications in the USPTO or in any similar office or agency of the United States and (b) all reissues, re-examinations, continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, renewals, or extensions thereof, and the inventions or improvements disclosed or claimed therein.

 

Pledged Collateral” has the meaning assigned to such term in ‎Section 2.01.

 

Pledged Debt” has the meaning assigned to such term in ‎Section 2.01.

 

Pledged Equity” has the meaning assigned to such term in ‎Section 2.01.

 

Pledged Securities” means any promissory notes, stock certificates, limited or unlimited liability membership certificates or other certificated securities representing the Pledged Collateral, including all certificates, instruments or other documents representing or evidencing any Pledged Collateral; provided that the Pledged Securities shall not include any Excluded Property.

 

Security Agreement Supplement” means an instrument in the form of Exhibit I hereto.

 

Security Interest” has the meaning assigned to such term in ‎Section 3.01(a).

 

Trademark License” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any third party any right to use any Trademark now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or that any Grantor otherwise has the right to license, or granting to any Grantor any right to use any trademark now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of any Grantor under any such agreement.

 

Trademarks” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor: (a) all trademarks, service marks, trade names, corporate names, trade dress, logos, designs, business names, fictitious business names and all other source or business identifiers, and all general intangibles of like nature, protected under the laws of the United States or any state or political subdivision thereof, as well as any unregistered trademarks and service marks used by a Grantor, (b) all goodwill symbolized thereby or associated with each of them, (c) all registrations and recordings in connection therewith, including all registration and recording applications filed in the USPTO or any similar offices in any state of the United States or any political subdivision thereof and (d) all renewals of any of the foregoing.

 

4

 

USCO” means the United States Copyright Office.

 

USPTO” means the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

 

ARTICLE 2

Pledge of Securities

 

Section 2.01.    Pledge. As security for the payment or performance in full when due of the Obligations, including each Guarantee of the Obligations, each Grantor hereby pledges to the Collateral Agent and its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent and its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in, to and under (a) all Equity Interests now or hereafter held by such Grantor in each Subsidiary (other than any such Equity Interests constituting Excluded Property), including the Equity Interests listed on Schedule I, and the certificates, if any, representing all such Equity Interests (the “Pledged Equity”); (b) any promissory note(s), Tangible Chattel Paper and Instrument(s) evidencing Indebtedness owed to such Grantor and listed opposite the name of such Grantor on Schedule I and any promissory note(s), Tangible Chattel Paper and Instrument(s) evidencing Indebtedness (including, without limitation, any intercompany notes) directly owing to such Grantor in the future (other than any such promissory note(s), Tangible Chattel Paper and Instrument(s) evidencing Indebtedness constituting Excluded Property) (the “Pledged Debt”); (c) all payments of principal or interest, dividends, cash, instruments and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, in exchange for or upon the conversion of, and all other Proceeds received in respect of, the Pledged Equity and Pledged Debt; (d) subject to ‎Section 2.06, all rights and privileges of such Grantor with respect to the securities and other property referred to in clauses ‎(a), ‎(b), and ‎(c) above; and (e) subject to ‎Section 2.06, all Proceeds of any of the foregoing (the items referred to in clauses ‎(a) through ‎(e) above being collectively referred to as the “Pledged Collateral”); provided that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall constitute or be deemed to constitute a grant of a security interest in, and none of the Pledged Collateral shall include, any Excluded Property.

 

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Pledged Collateral, together with all right, title, interest, powers, privileges and preferences pertaining or incidental thereto, unto the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, forever, subject, however, to the terms, covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

Section 2.02.    Delivery of the Pledged Collateral. (a) Each Grantor agrees to deliver to the Collateral Agent on the Effective Date (or such later date as may be specified pursuant to the Credit Agreement) all Pledged Securities (excluding Pledged Debt having a principal amount less than $10,000,000) directly owned by it on such date and with respect to any Pledged Securities (excluding Pledged Debt having a principal amount less than $10,000,000) issued or acquired after such date, it agrees to deliver or cause to be delivered as promptly as practicable (and in any event no later than the next date on which a Perfection Certificate Supplement is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(e) of the Credit Agreement (or, if earlier, the date on which such compliance certificate is actually delivered to the Administrative Agent) or such later date as to which the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, any and all such Pledged Securities. If any Pledged Equity consisting of uncertificated securities subsequently becomes certificated such that it constitutes Pledged Securities, the applicable Grantor agrees to deliver or cause to be delivered as promptly as practicable (and in any event no later than the next date on which a Perfection Certificate Supplement is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(e) of the Credit Agreement (or, if earlier, the date on which such compliance certificate is actually delivered to the Administrative Agent) or such later date as to which the Administrative Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, any and all such certificates.

 

5

 

(b)   The Grantors will cause (or, with respect to Indebtedness owed to any Grantor by any Person other than the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, will use reasonable best efforts to cause) any Pledged Debt (other than such as may arise from ordinary course intercompany cash management obligations) constituting Indebtedness for borrowed money owed to any Grantor by any Person that is not a Grantor having a principal amount in excess of $10,000,000 individually to be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note that is pledged and delivered to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

(c)   Upon delivery to the Collateral Agent, any Pledged Securities required to be delivered pursuant to the foregoing paragraphs ‎(a) and (b) of this ‎Section 2.02 shall be accompanied by undated stock or note powers, as applicable, duly executed in blank or other instruments of transfer reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

 

Section 2.03.    Representations, Warranties and Covenants. Each Grantor represents, warrants and covenants to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, that:

 

(a)   Schedule I correctly sets forth, as of the Effective Date, a true and complete list, with respect to each Grantor, of (i) all the Pledged Equity owned by such Grantor and (ii) all the Pledged Debt having an aggregate value or face amount in excess of $10,000,000 owed to such Grantor;

 

(b)   (i) the Pledged Equity constituting an Equity Interest issued by a Grantor or a wholly owned Subsidiary of a Grantor has been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such Pledged Equity) duly and validly authorized and issued by the issuers thereof and is fully paid and nonassessable, and (ii) to the best of its knowledge, the Pledged Debt has been duly and validly authorized and issued by the issuers thereof and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of each issuer thereof, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing;

 

6

 

(c)   as of the Effective Date, each of the Grantors (i) is the direct owner, beneficially and of record, of the Pledged Securities indicated on Schedule I as held by such Grantor and (ii) holds the same free and clear of all Liens, other than Liens not prohibited by Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement;

 

(d)  except for restrictions and limitations imposed by the Loan Documents or securities laws generally or not prohibited by the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Pledged Collateral is and will continue to be freely transferable and assignable, and none of the Pledged Collateral is or will be subject to any option, right of first refusal, shareholders agreement, charter or by-law provision or contractual restriction of any nature that might prohibit, impair, delay or otherwise affect in any manner material and adverse to the Secured Parties the pledge of such Pledged Collateral hereunder, the sale or disposition thereof pursuant hereto or the exercise by the Collateral Agent of rights and remedies hereunder;

 

(e)   each of the Grantors has the power and authority to pledge the Pledged Collateral pledged by it hereunder in the manner hereby done or contemplated;

 

(f)   no consent or approval of any Governmental Authority, any securities exchange or any other Person was or is necessary to the validity of the pledge effected hereby (other than such as have been obtained and are in full force and effect); and

 

(g)   the execution and delivery by each Grantor of this Agreement and the pledge of the Pledged Collateral pledged by such Grantor pursuant hereto create a legal, valid, enforceable and first-priority (subject, as to priority, to Liens not prohibited by Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement) security interest in such Pledged Collateral and (i) in the case of Pledged Securities, upon the earlier of (x) delivery of such Pledged Securities to the Collateral Agent in accordance with this Agreement and (y) the filing of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code financing statements described in Section 3.01(b) and (ii) in the case of all other Pledged Collateral, upon the filing of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code financing statements described in Section 3.01(b), shall create a perfected security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect of such Pledged Collateral.

 

Section 2.04.    Actions with Respect to Certain Pledged Collateral. (a) Any limited liability company and any limited partnership whose Equity Interests are pledged by any Grantor shall either (i) not include in its operative documents any provision that any Equity Interests in such limited liability company or such limited partnership be a “security” as defined under Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code or (ii) certificate any Equity Interests in any such limited liability company or such limited partnership. To the extent an interest in any limited liability company or limited partnership controlled by any Grantor and pledged under ‎Section 2.01 is certificated or becomes certificated and is a “security” as defined under Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code, (A) each such certificate shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to ‎Section 2.02(a), and (B) such Grantor shall fulfill all other requirements under ‎Section 2.02 applicable in respect thereof.

 

7

 

(b)   Each Grantor hereby agrees that upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, it will, with respect to any Pledged Equity issued by such Grantor constituting “uncertificated securities”, comply with instructions of the Collateral Agent without further consent by the applicable owner or holder of such Equity Interests.

 

Section 2.05.    Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations. If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, (a) the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall have the right (in its sole and absolute discretion) to hold the Pledged Securities in its own name as pledgee, the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent) or the name of the applicable Grantor, endorsed or assigned in blank or in favor of the Collateral Agent, and each Grantor will, upon the request of the Collateral Agent, promptly give to the Collateral Agent copies of any notices or other communications received by it with respect to Pledged Securities registered in the name of such Grantor and (b) the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall have the right to exchange certificates representing any Pledged Securities for certificates of smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with this Agreement (subject, with respect to Pledged Securities issued by any Person other than a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, to the organizational documents or any other agreement binding on such issuer); provided, in each case, that the Collateral Agent shall give the Borrower prior written notice of its intent to exercise such rights.

 

Section 2.06.    Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest. (a) Unless and until an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Collateral Agent shall have notified the Borrower in writing that it is exercising its rights under Article 4 hereof and that the rights of the Grantors under this ‎Section 2.06 are being suspended:

 

(i)   Subject to ‎Section 2.06(c), each Grantor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and/or other consensual rights and powers inuring to an owner of Pledged Securities or any part thereof for any purpose that would not violate the terms of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

(ii)  Subject to ‎Section 2.06(b) below, the Collateral Agent shall be deemed without further action or formality to have granted to each Grantor all necessary consents relating to voting rights and/or consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to subparagraph ‎(i) above and shall promptly execute and deliver to each Grantor, or cause to be executed and delivered to each Grantor, all such proxies, powers of attorney and other instruments as each Grantor may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling such Grantor to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to subparagraph ‎(i) above.

 

8

 

(iii) Each Grantor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all dividends, interest, principal and other distributions paid on or distributed in respect of the Pledged Securities to the extent and only to the extent that such dividends, interest, principal and other distributions are not prohibited by the Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents; provided that any noncash dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that would constitute Pledged Equity or Pledged Debt, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Equity Interests of the issuer of any Pledged Securities or received in exchange for Pledged Securities or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall be and become part of the Pledged Collateral, and, if received by any Grantor, shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties and shall be promptly (and in any event no later than the next date on which a Perfection Certificate Supplement is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(e) of the Credit Agreement (or, if earlier, the date on which such compliance certificate is actually delivered to the Collateral Agent) or such later date as to which the Collateral Agent may agree in its discretion) delivered to the Collateral Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent).

 

(b)   Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and after the Collateral Agent shall have notified the Borrower in writing that it is exercising its rights under Article 4 hereof and that the rights of the Grantors under this ‎Section 2.06 are being suspended, subject to applicable law, and so long as any Borrowing is outstanding, all rights of any Grantor to receive dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Grantor is authorized to receive pursuant to paragraph ‎(a)(iii) of this ‎Section 2.06 shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in the Collateral Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to receive and retain such dividends, interest, principal or other distributions. All dividends, interest, principal or other distributions received by any Grantor contrary to the provisions of this ‎Section 2.06 shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, and shall be promptly (and in any event within thirty (30) days or such longer period as to which the Collateral Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion) delivered to the Collateral Agent upon demand in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent). Any and all money and other property paid over to or received by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph ‎(b) shall be retained by the Collateral Agent in an account to be established by the Collateral Agent upon receipt of such money or other property and shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of ‎Section 4.02 hereof. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived, the Collateral Agent shall promptly repay to each Grantor (without interest) all dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Grantor would otherwise be permitted to retain pursuant to the terms of paragraph ‎(a)(iii) of this ‎Section 2.06 that have not been applied in accordance with the provisions of ‎Section 4.02 hereof pursuant to this Section 2.06(b).

 

(c)   Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and after the Collateral Agent shall have notified the Borrower in writing that it is exercising its rights under Article 4 hereof and that the rights of the Grantors under this ‎Section 2.06 are being suspended, subject to applicable law, all rights of any Grantor to exercise the voting and consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to paragraph ‎(a)(i) of this ‎Section 2.06, and the obligations of the Collateral Agent under paragraph ‎(a)(ii) of this ‎Section 2.06, shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise such voting and consensual rights and powers; provided that, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders, the Collateral Agent shall have the right from time to time during the continuance of an Event of Default to permit the Grantors to exercise such rights at the discretion of the Collateral Agent. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived, (i) each Grantor shall have the exclusive right to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers that such Grantor would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to the terms of paragraph ‎(a)(i) of this ‎Section 2.06 and (ii) the obligations of the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of paragraph ‎(a)(i) of this ‎Section 2.06 shall be reinstated.

 

9

 

(d)   Any notice given by the Collateral Agent to the Borrower suspending the rights of the Grantors under paragraph (b) of this ‎Section 2.06 (i) shall be given in writing, (ii) may be given with respect to one or more of the Grantors at the same or different times and (iii) may suspend the rights of the Grantors under paragraph ‎(a)(i) or paragraph ‎(a)(iii) of this ‎Section 2.06 in part without suspending all such rights (as specified by the Collateral Agent in its sole and absolute discretion) and without waiving or otherwise affecting the Collateral Agent’s rights to give additional written notices from time to time suspending other rights so long as an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

ARTICLE 3
Security Interests in Personal Property

 

Section 3.01.    Security Interest. (a) As security for the payment or performance in full when due of the Obligations, including each Guarantee of the Obligations, each Grantor hereby pledges to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a continuing security interest (the “Security Interest”) in all of its right, title and interest in or to any and all of the following assets and properties, whether now owned, or hereafter acquired by or arising in favor of such Grantor, and regardless of where located (collectively, the “Article 9 Collateral”):

 

(i)    all Accounts;

 

(ii)   all Chattel Paper;

 

(iii)  all Deposit Accounts;

 

(iv)  all Documents;

 

(v)   all Equipment;

 

(vi)  all Fixtures;

 

(vii) all General Intangibles;

 

(viii)all Intellectual Property and Licenses, including all claims for, and rights to sue for, past or future infringements of Intellectual Property, and all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect to Intellectual Property;

 

(ix)  all Goods;

 

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(x)   all Instruments;

 

(xi)  all Inventory, including goods that are returned, repossessed, stopped in transit or which are otherwise owned by any Grantor;

 

(xii) all Investment Property, Pledged Equity and other Pledged Collateral;

 

(xiii)all books and records pertaining to the Article 9 Collateral;

 

(xiv)all Letters of Credit and Letter of Credit Rights;

 

(xv) all Money, cash and cash equivalents;

 

(xvi)all Commercial Tort Claims described on Schedule 10 to the Perfection Certificate or any Perfection Certificate Supplement; and

 

(xvii)all Proceeds and products of any and all of the foregoing and all Supporting Obligations, collateral security and guarantees given by any Person with respect to any of the foregoing;

 

provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, this Agreement shall not constitute a grant of a security interest in (and the terms “Collateral” and “Article 9 Collateral” shall not include) any Excluded Property.

 

(b)   Each Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties at any time and from time to time to file in any relevant jurisdiction any financing statements (including Fixture filings with respect to any Fixtures associated with Material Real Property that is subject to a Mortgage) with respect to the Article 9 Collateral or any part thereof and amendments thereto that (i) indicate the Collateral as “all assets of the Debtor, whether now owned, or hereafter acquired by or arising in favor of” or words of similar effect as being of an equal or lesser scope or with greater detail, and (ii) contain the information required by Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code or the analogous legislation of each applicable jurisdiction for the filing of any financing statement or amendment, including (x) whether such Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and, if required, any organizational identification number issued to such Grantor and (y) in the case of a financing statement filed as a Fixture filing, a sufficient description of the Material Real Property subject to a Mortgage to which such Article 9 Collateral relates. Each Grantor agrees to provide such information to the Collateral Agent promptly upon any reasonable request. The Collateral Agent shall provide reasonable written notice to the Borrower of all such filings made by the Collateral Agent on or about the Effective Date, and, reasonably promptly thereafter, any subsequent filings or amendments, supplements or terminations of existing filings, made from time to time thereafter and, in each case, shall, upon the reasonable request of the Borrower, provide to the Borrower file-stamped copies thereof within a reasonable time following receipt thereof.

 

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(c)   The Security Interest is granted as security only and shall not subject the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to, or in any way alter or modify, any obligation or liability of any Grantor with respect to or arising out of the Article 9 Collateral.

 

(d)   The Collateral Agent is authorized to file with the USPTO or the USCO (or any successor office) such documents as may be necessary or advisable for the purpose of perfecting, confirming, continuing, enforcing or protecting the Security Interest in United States Intellectual Property granted by each Grantor, without the signature of any Grantor, and naming the applicable Grantor or Grantors as debtors and the Collateral Agent as secured party. The Collateral Agent shall provide reasonable written notice to the Borrower of all such filings made by the Collateral Agent on or about the Effective Date and, reasonably promptly thereafter, any subsequent filings or amendments, supplements or terminations of existing filings, made from time to time thereafter.

 

(e)   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Loan Documents, none of the Grantors shall be required to perfect the Security Interests granted by this Agreement (including Security Interests in Investment Property and Fixtures) by any means other than by (i) filings pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code of the relevant state(s), (ii) filings in USPTO or the USCO, as applicable, with respect to Intellectual Property as expressly required elsewhere herein, (iii) delivery to the Collateral Agent to be held in its possession of all Collateral consisting of Pledged Securities as expressly required elsewhere herein or in the Credit Agreement and (iv) Fixture filings in the applicable real estate records with respect to any Fixtures associated with Material Real Property that is subject to a Mortgage. No Grantor shall be required to establish the Collateral Agent’s “control” over any Collateral other than the Collateral consisting of Pledged Securities as provided in Section 2.02.

 

(f)   Each Grantor (or the Borrower, in place of any Grantor) shall pay any applicable filing fees, recordation fees and related expenses relating to its Article 9 Collateral or any Fixture filings with respect to any Fixtures associated with Material Real Property that is subject to a Mortgage, in each case, in accordance with Section 9.03 of the Credit Agreement.

 

Section 3.02.    Representations and Warranties. Each Grantor represents, warrants and covenants to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, that:

 

(a)   Subject to Liens not prohibited by Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement, such Grantor has good and valid rights in and title to the Article 9 Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant a Security Interest hereunder.

 

(b)   This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each Grantor that is party hereto and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Grantor, enforceable against such Grantor in accordance with its terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

 

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(c)   The Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or other appropriate filings, recordings or registrations prepared by the Collateral Agent based upon the information provided to the Collateral Agent in the Perfection Certificate for filing in each governmental, municipal or other office specified in Schedule 4 to the Perfection Certificate (or specified by written notice from the Borrower to the Collateral Agent after the Effective Date in the case of filings, recordings or registrations required by the Credit Agreement after the Effective Date), are all the filings, recordings and registrations (other than filings required to be made in the USPTO and the USCO in order to perfect the Security Interest in Article 9 Collateral consisting of United States Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and Copyright Licenses) that are necessary to establish a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect of all Article 9 Collateral in which the Security Interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registration of a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement or intellectual property filing in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof), and no further or subsequent filing, refiling, recording , rerecording, registration or reregistration is necessary in any such jurisdiction, except as provided under applicable law with respect to the filing of continuation statements and amendments.

 

(d)  Each Grantor represents and warrants on the Effective Date that short-form Intellectual Property Security Agreements containing a description of all Article 9 Collateral consisting of United States Patents, United States registered Trademarks (and Trademarks for which United States registration applications are pending, unless it constitutes Excluded Property), United States registered Copyrights and exclusive Copyright Licenses to United States registered Copyrights, respectively, have been or on or promptly after the Effective Date shall be executed and delivered to the Collateral Agent for recording by the USPTO and the USCO pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 261, 15 U.S.C. § 1060 or 17 U.S.C. § 205 and the regulations thereunder, as applicable, as may be necessary to establish a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect of all Article 9 Collateral consisting of registrations and applications for United States Patents, Trademarks (except pending Trademark applications that constitute Excluded Property), Copyrights and exclusive Copyright Licenses to United States registered Copyrights to the extent a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registration in the USPTO or the USCO, and no further or subsequent filing, refiling, recording, rerecording, registration or reregistration is necessary (other than (i) such filings and actions as are necessary to perfect the Security Interest with respect to any Article 9 Collateral consisting of registrations and applications for United States Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and exclusive Copyright Licenses to United States registered Copyrights acquired or developed by any Grantor after the date hereof, and (ii) the UCC financing and continuation statements and amendments contemplated in ‎Section 3.02(c)).

 

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(e)   The Security Interest constitutes a valid security interest in the Article 9 Collateral, and (i) when all appropriate filings, recordings, registrations and/or notifications are made (and all other actions are taken as may be necessary in connection therewith (including payment of any applicable filing and recording taxes)) as may be required under applicable law to perfect the Security Interest and (ii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Collateral Agent of such Article 9 Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or control (which possession or control shall be given to the Collateral Agent to the extent required by this Agreement), the Security Interest in such Article 9 Collateral with respect to which such actions have been taken shall be perfected and shall be prior to any other Lien on any of the Article 9 Collateral, other than Liens not prohibited by Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement and subject to any limitations or exclusions from the requirement to perfect the security interests and Liens on the Collateral described herein or in the Credit Agreement.

 

(f)   The Grantors own, and have rights in, the Article 9 Collateral free and clear of any Lien, except for Liens not prohibited by Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement. None of the Grantors has filed or consented to the filing of (i) any financing statement or analogous document under the New York UCC or any other applicable laws covering any Article 9 Collateral, (ii) any assignment in which any Grantor assigns any Article 9 Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with the USPTO or the USCO or (iii) any assignment in which any Grantor assigns any Article 9 Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with any foreign governmental, municipal or other office, which financing statement or analogous document, assignment, security agreement or similar instrument is still in effect, except, in each case to the extent the Lien or security interest evidenced thereby is not prohibited by the Credit Agreement.

 

Section 3.03.    Covenants.

 

(a)   Each Grantor agrees, at its own expense, to execute, acknowledge, deliver and cause to be duly filed all such further instruments and documents and take all such actions as the Collateral Agent may from time to time reasonably request to assure, preserve, protect and perfect the Security Interest and the rights and remedies created hereby, including the payment of any fees and taxes required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the granting of the Security Interest and the filing of any financing statements (including Fixture filings with respect to Fixtures associated with any Material Real Property that is subject to a Mortgage) or other documents in connection herewith or therewith, all in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Credit Agreement.

 

(b)   At its option, the Collateral Agent may discharge past due taxes, assessments, charges, fees, Liens, security interests or other encumbrances at any time levied or placed on the Article 9 Collateral and not permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement, and may pay for the maintenance and preservation of the Article 9 Collateral to the extent any Grantor fails to do so as required by the Credit Agreement, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and within a reasonable period of time after the Collateral Agent has requested in writing that the Borrower do so. Any and all reasonable amounts so expended by the Collateral Agent shall be reimbursed by the Grantors within fifteen (15) days after demand for any payment made in respect of such amounts that are due and payable or any reasonable expense incurred by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the foregoing authorization in accordance with ‎Section 5.03; provided, however, that the Grantors shall not be obligated to reimburse the Collateral Agent with respect to any Intellectual Property included in the Collateral which any Grantor has abandoned or failed to maintain or pursue, or otherwise allowed to lapse, terminate or be put into the public domain, in accordance with ‎Section 3.03(c)(iii). Nothing in this paragraph shall be interpreted as excusing any Grantor from the performance of, or imposing any obligation on the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party to cure or perform, any covenants or other promises of any Grantor with respect to taxes, assessments, charges, fees, Liens, security interests or other encumbrances and maintenance as set forth herein or in the other Loan Documents.

 

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(c)   Intellectual Property Covenants.

 

(i)   In the event that any Grantor, either directly or through any agent, employee, licensee or designee, (A) files an application for the registration of (or otherwise becomes the owner of) any Patent, Trademark, Copyright or Copyright License with the USPTO or the USCO or (B) acquires any registration or application for registration of any United States Patent, Trademark, Copyright or Copyright License, such Grantor will, no later than the next date on which a Perfection Certificate Supplement is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(e) of the Credit Agreement (or, if earlier, the date on which such compliance certificate is actually delivered to the Collateral Agent) or such later date as to which the Collateral Agent may agree in its reasonable discretion), provide the Collateral Agent written notice thereof, and, upon request of the Collateral Agent, such Grantor shall promptly execute and deliver any and all Intellectual Property Security Agreements as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request to evidence the Collateral Agent’s security interest (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) in such Patent, Trademark, Copyright or Copyright License, and the general intangibles of such Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby (other than, in each case, to the extent constituting Excluded Property).

 

(ii)  Other than to the extent permitted herein or in the Credit Agreement or with respect to registrations and applications no longer used or useful, and except to the extent failure to act would not, as deemed by the Borrower in its reasonable business judgment, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, with respect to registration or pending application of each item of its Intellectual Property included in the Article 9 Collateral for which such Grantor has standing to do so, each Grantor agrees to take, at its expense, all reasonable steps, including, without limitation, in the USPTO, the USCO and any other Governmental Authority located in the United States, to pursue the registration and maintenance of each Patent, Trademark, Copyright or Copyright License registration or application, now or hereafter included in such Article 9 Collateral of such Grantor.

 

(iii) Other than to the extent permitted herein or in the Credit Agreement, or with respect to Intellectual Property no longer used or useful, or except as would not, as deemed by the Borrower in its reasonable business judgment, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no Grantor shall do or permit any act or knowingly omit to do any act whereby any of its Intellectual Property included in the Article 9 Collateral may lapse, be terminated, or become invalid or unenforceable or placed in the public domain (or in the case of a trade secret, becomes publicly known).

 

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(iv) Other than as excluded or as permitted herein or in the Credit Agreement, or with respect to Intellectual Property which is no longer material, used or useful in the Grantor’s business operations or except where failure to do so would not, as deemed by the Borrower in its reasonable business judgment, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each Grantor shall take all reasonable steps to preserve and protect each item of its Intellectual Property included in the Article 9 Collateral, including, without limitation, maintaining the quality of any and all products or services used or provided in connection with any of the Trademarks, consistent with the quality of the products and services as of the date hereof, and taking all reasonable steps necessary to ensure that all licensed users of any of the Trademarks abide by the applicable license’s terms with respect to standards of quality.

 

(v)  Notwithstanding clauses (i) through (iv) above, nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document prevents any Grantor from Disposing of, discontinuing the use or maintenance of, failing to pursue, or otherwise allowing to lapse, terminate or be put into the public domain, any of its Intellectual Property included in the Article 9 Collateral to the extent not prohibited by the Credit Agreement.

 

(d)  Except to the extent permitted under the Credit Agreement, each Grantor shall, upon request of the Collateral Agent, at its own expense, take any and all commercially reasonable actions necessary to defend title and rights to the Article 9 Collateral against all Persons and to defend the Security Interest of the Collateral Agent in the Article 9 Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien not permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement. Each Grantor (rather than the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party) shall remain liable (as between itself and any relevant counterparty) to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it under each contract, agreement or instrument relating to the Article 9 Collateral, all in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof.

 

Section 3.04.    Limitation. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Liens granted hereunder in Restricted Property to secure any Obligations (other than any Permitted Mortgages) shall not secure such Obligations to the extent that (a)  the amount of such Obligations, together with the amount of all other CNTA Covered Indebtedness, would at any time exceed the CNTA Limit; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, only such excess amount shall not be secured by such Liens, or (b) the grant of such Liens would otherwise require any notes issued pursuant to either Supplemental Indenture to be equally and ratably secured with the Obligations. As used herein, “Restricted Property” means, with respect to any Obligations, (i) any shares of stock of any Subsidiary constituting an Indenture Restricted Subsidiary when such Obligations are incurred, (ii) any debt owed to the Borrower by any Subsidiary constituting an Indenture Restricted Subsidiary when such Obligations are incurred, and (iii) any assets constituting Principal Property when such Obligations are incurred.

 

ARTICLE 4
Remedies

 

Section 4.01.    Remedies upon Default. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, it is agreed that the Collateral Agent shall have the right to exercise any and all rights afforded to a secured party with respect to the Obligations under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law and also may (a) require each Grantor to, and each Grantor agrees that it will at its expense and upon request of the Collateral Agent promptly, assemble all or part of the Collateral as directed by the Collateral Agent and make it available to the Collateral Agent at a place and time to be reasonably designated by the Collateral Agent; (b) enter into any premises owned or, to the extent lawful and permitted, leased by any of the Grantors where the Collateral or any part thereof is assembled or located in order to effectuate its rights and remedies hereunder or under law, without obligation to such Grantor in respect of such occupation; provided that the Collateral Agent shall provide the applicable Grantor with written notice thereof prior to such occupancy; (c) with respect to any of the Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property, exercise the remedies set forth in Section 4.03; (d) exercise any and all rights and remedies of any of the Grantors under or in connection with the Collateral, or otherwise in respect of the Collateral; provided that the Collateral Agent shall provide the applicable Grantor with written notice thereof prior to such exercise; and (e) subject to the mandatory requirements of applicable law and the notice requirements described below, sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Collateral securing the Obligations at a public or private sale or at any broker’s board or on any securities exchange, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery as the Collateral Agent shall deem appropriate. The Collateral Agent shall be authorized at any such sale of securities (if it deems it advisable to do so) to restrict the prospective bidders or purchasers to Persons who will represent and agree that they are purchasing the Collateral for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or sale thereof, and upon consummation of any such sale the Collateral Agent shall have the right to assign, transfer and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof the Collateral so sold. Each such purchaser at any sale of Collateral shall hold the property sold absolutely, free from any claim or right on the part of any Grantor, and each Grantor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by law) all rights of redemption, stay and appraisal which such Grantor now has or may at any time in the future have under any rule of law or statute now existing or hereafter enacted.

 

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The Collateral Agent shall give the applicable Grantors and the Borrower ten (10) Business Days’ written notice (which each Grantor agrees is reasonable notice within the meaning of Section 9-611 of the New York UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions) of the Collateral Agent’s intention to make any sale of Collateral. Such notice, in the case of a public sale, shall state the time and place for such sale and, in the case of a sale at a broker’s board or on a securities exchange, shall state the board or exchange at which such sale is to be made and the day on which the Collateral, or a portion thereof, will first be offered for sale at such board or exchange. Any such public sale shall be held at such time or times within ordinary business hours and at such place or places as the Collateral Agent may fix and state in the notice (if any) of such sale. At any such sale, the Collateral, or a portion thereof, to be sold may be sold in one lot as an entirety or in separate parcels, as the Collateral Agent may (in its sole and absolute discretion) determine. The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of any Collateral if it shall determine not to do so, regardless of the fact that notice of sale of such Collateral shall have been given. The Collateral Agent may, without notice or publication, adjourn any public or private sale or cause the same to be adjourned from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed for sale, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which the same was so adjourned. In the case of any sale of all or any part of the Collateral made on credit or for future delivery, the Collateral so sold may be retained by the Collateral Agent until the sale price is paid by the purchaser or purchasers thereof, but the Collateral Agent shall not incur any liability in the event that any such purchaser or purchasers shall fail to take up and pay for the Collateral so sold and, in case of any such failure, such Collateral may be sold again upon like notice. At any public (or, to the extent permitted by law, private) sale made pursuant to this Agreement, any Secured Party may bid for or purchase, free (to the extent permitted by law) from any right of redemption, stay, valuation or appraisal on the part of any Grantor (all said rights being also hereby waived and released to the extent permitted by law), the Collateral or any part thereof offered for sale and may make payment on account thereof by using any claim then due and payable to such Secured Party from any Grantor as a credit against the purchase price, and such Secured Party may, upon compliance with the terms of sale, hold, retain and dispose of such property without further accountability to any Grantor therefor. For purposes hereof, a written agreement to purchase the Collateral or any portion thereof shall be treated as a sale thereof; the Collateral Agent shall be free to carry out such sale pursuant to such agreement and no Grantor shall be entitled to the return of the Collateral or any portion thereof subject thereto, notwithstanding the fact that after the Collateral Agent shall have entered into such an agreement all Events of Default shall have been remedied and the Obligations paid in full. As an alternative to exercising the power of sale herein conferred upon it, the Collateral Agent may proceed by a suit or suits at law or in equity to foreclose this Agreement and to sell the Collateral or any portion thereof pursuant to a judgment or decree of a court or courts having competent jurisdiction or pursuant to a proceeding by a court appointed receiver. Any sale pursuant to the provisions of this ‎Section 4.01 shall be deemed to be commercially reasonable as provided in Section 9-610(b) of the New York UCC or its equivalent in other jurisdictions.

 

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Section 4.02.    Application of Proceeds.

 

(a)   Upon the exercise of remedies as set forth in Article VII of the Credit Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall apply the proceeds of any collection or sale of Collateral, including any Collateral consisting of cash, in the following order:

 

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (other than principal and interest, but including amounts payable under Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 9.03 of the Credit Agreement) payable under the Loan Documents to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such and the Collateral Agent in its capacity as such, ratably in proportion to the respective amounts owing to them;

 

Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest, but including amounts payable under Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 9.03 of the Credit Agreement) payable to the Lenders, ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

 

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Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans and Borrowings, any fees, premiums and scheduled periodic payments due under the Secured Swap Agreements or Banking Services Agreements, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third held by them;

 

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and Borrowings, unreimbursed LC Disbursements and to cash collateralize that portion of LC Exposure consisting of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit and any breakage, termination or other payments under Secured Swap Agreements or Banking Services Agreements, ratably among the Secured Parties in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

 

Fifth, to the payment of all other Obligations of the Loan Parties that are due and payable to the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date; and

 

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, as directed by the Borrower or as otherwise required by law.

 

(b)  Subject to the Credit Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall have absolute discretion as to the time of application of any such proceeds, monies or balances in accordance with this Agreement. Upon any sale of Collateral by the Collateral Agent (including pursuant to a power of sale granted by statute or under a judicial proceeding), the receipt of the Collateral Agent or of the officer making the sale shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the Collateral so sold and such purchaser or purchasers shall not be obligated to see to the application of any part of the purchase money paid over to the Collateral Agent or such officer or be answerable in any way for the misapplication thereof.

 

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(c)   In making the determinations and allocations required by this Section 4.02, the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively upon information supplied to or by the Collateral Agent as to the amounts of unpaid principal and interest and other amounts outstanding with respect to the Obligations, and the Collateral Agent shall have no liability to any of the Secured Parties for actions taken in reliance on such information, provided that nothing in this sentence shall prevent any Grantor from contesting any amounts claimed by any Secured Party in any information so supplied. All distributions made by the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 4.02 shall be (subject to any decree of any court of competent jurisdiction) final (absent manifest error), and the Collateral Agent shall have no duty to inquire as to the application by the Collateral Agent of any amounts distributed to it.

 

Section 4.03.    Grant of License to Use Intellectual Property; Power of Attorney. For the exclusive purpose of enabling the Collateral Agent to exercise rights and remedies under this Agreement at such time as the Collateral Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies at any time after and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent a non-exclusive, royalty-free, limited license (until the termination or cure of the Event of Default) to use, license or, to the extent permitted under the terms of the relevant license, sublicense any of the Intellectual Property included in the Article 9 Collateral now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor, and including in such license reasonable access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer software and programs used for the compilation or printout thereof; provided, however, that all of the foregoing rights of the Collateral Agent to operate such license, sublicense and other rights shall expire immediately upon the termination or cure of all Events of Default and shall be exercised by the Collateral Agent solely during the continuance of an Event of Default upon prior written notice to the Borrower, and nothing in this ‎Section 4.03 shall require the Grantors to grant any license that is prohibited by any applicable law, or is prohibited by, or constitutes a breach or default under or results in the termination of any contract, license, agreement, instrument or other document evidencing, giving rise to or theretofore granted, to the extent not prohibited by the Credit Agreement, with respect to such property or otherwise unreasonably prejudices the value thereof to the relevant Grantor; provided, however, that any license, sublicense or other transaction entered into by the Collateral Agent in accordance herewith shall be binding upon each Grantor notwithstanding any subsequent cure of an Event of Default; provided, further, that such licenses granted hereunder with respect to Trademarks shall be subject to the maintenance of quality standards with respect to the goods and services on which such Trademarks are used sufficient to preserve the validity of such Trademarks. Furthermore, each Grantor hereby grants to the Collateral Agent an absolute power of attorney to sign, subject only to the giving of ten (10) days’ written notice to the Grantor and the Borrower, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, any document which may be required by the USPTO or the USCO in order to effect an absolute assignment of all right, title and interest in each registration and application for a Patent, Trademark, Copyright or Copyright License, and to record the same.

 

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ARTICLE 5
Miscellaneous

 

Section 5.01.    Notices. All communications and notices hereunder shall (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein) be in writing and given as provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to any Grantor other than the Borrower shall be given to it in care of the Borrower as provided in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement.

 

Section 5.02.    Waivers; Amendment; Several Agreement. (a) No failure or delay by the Collateral Agent, 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 Collateral Agent, 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 this Agreement or consent to any departure by any Grantor therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph ‎(b) of this ‎Section 5.02, 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 Collateral Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time. No notice or demand on any Grantor in any case shall entitle any Grantor to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

 

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(b)   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 Collateral Agent and the Grantor or Grantors with respect to which such waiver, amendment or modification is to apply, subject to any consent required in accordance with Section 9.02 of the Credit Agreement; provided that the Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion may grant extensions of time for the creation or perfection of security interests in, or taking other actions with respect to, particular assets or any other compliance with the requirements of this Agreement where it reasonably determines in writing, in consultation with the Borrower, that the creation or perfection of security interests in or taking other actions, or any other compliance with the requirements of this definition cannot be accomplished without undue delay, burden or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement.

 

(c)  This Agreement shall be construed as a separate agreement with respect to each Grantor and may be amended, modified, supplemented (including by the addition of a Grantor pursuant to a Security Agreement Supplement), waived or released with respect to any Grantor without the approval of any other Grantor and without affecting the obligations of any other Grantor hereunder.

 

Section 5.03.    Collateral Agents Fees and Expenses. (a) The parties hereto agree that the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to reimbursement of its expenses incurred hereunder (including without limitation disbursements of the Collateral Agent pursuant to ‎Section 5.14) and indemnity for its actions in connection herewith to the extent provided in Section 9.03 of the Credit Agreement.

 

(b)   Any such amounts payable as provided hereunder shall be additional Obligations secured hereby and by the other Collateral Documents. The provisions of this ‎Section 5.03 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of any of the Obligations, the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party.

 

Section 5.04.    Successors and Assigns. Whenever in this Agreement any of the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the permitted successors and assigns of such party; and all covenants, promises and agreements by or on behalf of any Grantor or the Collateral Agent that are contained in this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns, to the extent permitted under Section 9.04 of the Credit Agreement.

 

22

 

Section 5.05.    Survival of Agreement. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Grantors in this Agreement and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Lenders 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 Lender or on its behalf, and shall continue in full force and effect until the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 5.12(a).

 

Section 5.06.    Counterparts; Effectiveness; Successors and Assigns. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery by facsimile or other electronic communication of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective as to any Grantor when a counterpart hereof executed on behalf of such Grantor shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent and a counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of the Collateral Agent, and thereafter shall be binding, without the consent of any other party, upon such Grantor and the Collateral Agent and their respective successors and assigns permitted thereby, and shall inure to the benefit of such Grantor, the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective successors and assigns permitted thereby, except that no Grantor shall have the right to assign or transfer its rights or obligations hereunder or any interest herein or in the Collateral (and any such assignment or transfer shall be void) except as permitted by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (it being understood that a merger or consolidation not prohibited by the Credit Agreement shall not constitute an assignment or transfer).

 

Section 5.07.    Severability. Any provision of this Agreement 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 hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 5.08.    Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Service of Process. (a) THE TERMS OF SECTION 9.09 OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT WITH RESPECT TO GOVERNING LAW, SUBMISSION OF JURISDICTION AND VENUE ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, MUTATIS MUTANDIS, AND THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO SUCH TERMS.

 

23

 

(b)   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 OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (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.

 

(c)   Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in ‎Section 5.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

Section 5.09.    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 are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

Section 5.10.    Security Interest Absolute. To the extent permitted by applicable law, all rights of the Collateral Agent hereunder, the Security Interest, the grant of a security interest in the Collateral and all obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of (a) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any agreement with respect to any of the Obligations or any other agreement or instrument relating to any of the foregoing, (b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument, (c) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Lien on other collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent under or departure from any guarantee, securing or guaranteeing all or any of the Obligations or (d) any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Grantor in respect of the Obligations or this Agreement.

 

Section 5.11.    [Reserved].

 

Section 5.12.    Termination or Release.

 

(a)  This Agreement, the Security Interest and all other security interests granted hereby shall automatically terminate with respect to all Obligations upon termination of the Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than (i) indemnities and contingent obligations with respect to which no claim for reimbursement has been made in writing, (ii) Swap Agreements and (iii) Banking Services, and other than Letters of Credit that have been cash collateralized pursuant to arrangements mutually agreed between the applicable Issuing Bank and the Borrower or with respect to which other arrangements have been made that are satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank).

 

24

 

(b)   A Grantor (other than the Borrower) shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder in accordance with, and to the extent provided by, Section 9.16 of the Credit Agreement.

 

(c)   The security interest granted hereunder by any Grantor in any Collateral shall be automatically released and the license granted in ‎Section 4.03 shall be automatically terminated with respect to such Collateral (i) at the time the property subject to such security interest is transferred or to be transferred as part of or in connection with any transfer not prohibited by the Credit Agreement (and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on a certificate to that effect provided to it by such Grantor upon its reasonable request without further inquiry) to any person other than a Grantor, (ii) subject to Section 9.02 of the Credit Agreement, if the release of such security interest is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders or (iii) upon release of such Grantor from its obligations hereunder pursuant to Section 5.12(b) above.

 

(d)  In connection with any termination or release pursuant to paragraph ‎(a), ‎(b) or ‎(c) of this ‎Section 5.12, the Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to any Grantor, at such Grantor’s expense, all documents and take all such further actions that such Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination or release, in each case in accordance with the terms of Article VIII and Section 9.16 of the Credit Agreement. Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this ‎Section 5.12 shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Collateral Agent.

 

(e)   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, each Secured Party by the acceptance of the benefits under this Agreement hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) the obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under any Loan Document shall be secured pursuant to this Agreement only to the extent that, and for so long as, the other Obligations are so secured and (ii) any release of Collateral effected in the manner permitted by this Agreement shall not require the consent of any Secured Party.

 

Section 5.13.    Additional Grantors. Each direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that is required to enter into this Agreement as a Grantor pursuant to Section 5.09(b) of the Credit Agreement shall, and any Subsidiary of the Borrower may, execute and deliver a Security Agreement Supplement and thereupon such Subsidiary shall become a Grantor hereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Grantor herein. The execution and delivery of any such instrument shall not require the consent of any other Grantor hereunder or of any other Person. The rights and obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Grantor as a party to this Agreement.

 

25

 

Section 5.14.    Collateral Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact. Each Grantor hereby appoints the Collateral Agent the attorney-in-fact of such Grantor for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Agreement and taking any action and executing any instrument that the Collateral Agent may deem necessary or advisable and consistent with the terms of this Agreement and the Credit Agreement to accomplish the purposes hereof at any time after and during the continuance of an Event of Default, which appointment is irrevocable for the term hereof and coupled with an interest. The foregoing appointment shall terminate upon termination of this Agreement (or, with respect to any Grantor released from its obligations hereunder in accordance with Section 5.12 before termination of this Agreement, upon such release of such Grantor) and the Security Interest granted hereunder pursuant to ‎Section 5.12(a). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Collateral Agent shall have the right, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and written notice by the Collateral Agent to the Borrower of its intent to exercise such rights, with full power of substitution either in the Collateral Agent’s name or in the name of such Grantor, (a) to receive, endorse, assign and/or deliver any and all notes, acceptances, checks, drafts, money orders or other evidences of payment relating to the Collateral or any part thereof; (b) to demand, collect, receive payment of, give receipt for and give discharges and releases of all or any of the Collateral; (c) to sign the name of any Grantor on any invoice or bill of lading relating to any of the Collateral; (d) to send verifications of Accounts to any Account Debtor; (e) to commence and prosecute any and all suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect or otherwise realize on all or any of the Collateral or to enforce any rights in respect of any Collateral; (f) to settle, compromise, compound, adjust or defend any actions, suits or proceedings relating to all or any of the Collateral; (g) to notify, or to require any Grantor to notify, Account Debtors to make payment directly to the Collateral Agent; (h) to make, settle and adjust claims in respect of Article 9 Collateral under policies of insurance, including endorsing the name of any Grantor on any check, draft, instrument or other item of payment for the proceeds of such policies of insurance, making all determinations and decisions with respect thereto and obtaining or maintaining the policies of insurance required by Section 5.05 of the Credit Agreement or paying any premium in whole or in part relating thereto; and (i) to use, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with all or any of the Collateral, and to do all other acts and things necessary to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, as fully and completely as though the Collateral Agent were the absolute owner of the Collateral for all purposes; provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring or obligating the Collateral Agent to make any commitment or to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment received by the Collateral Agent, or to present or file any claim or notice, or to take any action with respect to the Collateral or any part thereof or the moneys due or to become due in respect thereof or any property covered thereby. Anything in this ‎Section 5.14 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Collateral Agent agrees that it will not exercise any rights under the appointment provided for in this ‎Section 5.14 unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. The Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties shall be accountable only for amounts actually received as a result of the exercise of the powers granted to them herein. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

26

 

Section 5.15.    General Authority of the Collateral Agent. By acceptance of the benefits of this Agreement and any other Collateral Documents, each Secured Party (whether or not a signatory hereto) shall be deemed irrevocably (a) to consent to the appointment of the Collateral Agent as its agent hereunder and under such other Collateral Documents, (b) to confirm that the Collateral Agent shall have the authority to act as the exclusive agent of such Secured Party for the enforcement of any provisions of this Agreement and such other Collateral Documents against any Grantor, the exercise of remedies hereunder or thereunder and the giving or withholding of any consent or approval hereunder or thereunder relating to any Collateral or any Grantor’s obligations with respect thereto, (c) to agree that it shall not take any action to enforce any provisions of this Agreement or any other Collateral Document against any Grantor, to exercise any remedy hereunder or thereunder or to give any consents or approvals hereunder or thereunder except as expressly provided in this Agreement or any other Collateral Document and (d) to agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and any other Collateral Documents.

 

Section 5.16.    Reasonable Care. The Collateral Agent is required to exercise reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any of the Collateral in its possession; provided that the Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any of the Collateral, if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially similar to that which the Collateral Agent accords its own property.

 

Section 5.17.    Mortgages. In the event that any of the Collateral hereunder is also subject to a valid and enforceable Lien under the terms of a Mortgage and the terms thereof are inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, then with respect to such Collateral, the terms of such Mortgage shall control in the case of Fixtures, and the terms of this Agreement shall control in the case of all other Collateral.

 

Section 5.18.    Reinstatement. This Agreement shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Borrower or any other Loan Party or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.

 

Section 5.19.    Miscellaneous. (a) The Collateral Agent may execute any of the powers granted under this Agreement and perform any duty hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact.

 

(b)   The Collateral Agent shall not be deemed to have actual, constructive, direct or indirect notice or knowledge of the occurrence of any Event of Default unless and until the Collateral Agent shall have received a notice of Event of Default or a notice from a Grantor or the Secured Parties to the Collateral Agent in its capacity as Collateral Agent indicating that an Event of Default has occurred. The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation either prior to or after receiving such notice to inquire whether an Event of Default has, in fact, occurred and shall be entitled to rely conclusively, and shall be fully protected in so relying, on any notice so furnished to it.

 

27

 

Section 5.20.    Amendment and Restatement. This Agreement is an amendment and restatement of the Original Security Agreement. The security interests provided pursuant to the Original Security Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with the terms thereof, except as modified hereby, and shall continue without interruption or impairment of any kind. All such security interests are hereby ratified, confirmed and continued, and this transaction shall not constitute a novation.

 

[Signature pages follow]

 

28

  

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

H.B. Fuller Company,
as the Borrower 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: 

 

 

 

Title: 

 

 

 

 

H.B. Fuller Construction Products Inc.,
as a Grantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: 

 

 

 

Title:  

 

 

 

 

ADCO Global, Inc., as a Grantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: 

 

 

 

Title:  

 

 

 

 

ADCO Products, LLC, as a Grantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: 

 

 

 

Title:  

 

 

 

 

H.B. Fuller International Holdings

Corp., as a Grantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:  

 

 

 

 

Royal Acquisition Corp., as a Grantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: 

 

 

 

Title:  

 

 

[Signature Page to Security Agreement]


 

 

Royal Adhesives and Sealants, LLC, as

a Grantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:  

 

 

 

Title:  

 

 

 

 

Royal Holdings, Inc., as a Grantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: 

 

 

 

Title: 

 

 

 

 

Simpsonville Polymer Co., as a Grantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: 

 

 

 

Title: 

 

 

 

 

Simpsonville Properties LLC, as a

Grantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: 

 

 

 

Title: 

 

 

 

 

South Bend Properties LLC, as a

Grantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: 

 

 

 

Title: 

 

 

 

 

H.B. Fuller Industrial Inc., as a Grantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: 

 

 

 

Title: 

 

 

[Signature Page to Security Agreement]


 

 

H.B. Fuller Adhesive Systems LLC, as a

Grantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:  

 

 

 

Title: 

 

 

 

 

Seneca Polymer Co., as a Grantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:  

 

 

 

Title: 

 

 

[Signature Page to Security Agreement]


 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
         as Collateral Agent

   
   
 

Name:         

 

Title:         

 

[Signature Page to Security Agreement]


 

SCHEDULE I

 

PLEDGED EQUITY1

 

Issuer

Number of

Certificate

Registered

Owner

Number and

Class of Equity

Interests

Percentage of

Equity Interests

         
         
         
         
         
         

 

 

PLEDGED DEBT2

 

Holder/Payee/Lender

Maker/Payor/Borrower

Principal

Amount/Commitment

Amount

Date of

Note

Maturity

Date

         
         
         
         
         
         

 

 


1 Faegre/Company to complete.

2 Faegre/Company to complete.

 

Schedule I-1


 

EXHIBIT I TO THE
SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

SUPPLEMENT NO. [●] dated as of [●], to the Amended and Restated Security Agreement (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Security Agreement”) dated as of [●], 2023 among H.B. Fuller Company (the “Borrower”), as Grantor, the other Grantors party thereto and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”) for the Secured Parties.

 

A.         Reference is made to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of [●], 2023 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and each, a “Lender”), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) and the other parties time to time party thereto.

 

B.         Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Security Agreement.

 

C.         The Grantors have entered into the Security Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make Loans, the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit and the Hedge Banks to enter into Secured Swap Agreements. ‎Section 5.13 of the Security Agreement provides that certain additional Subsidiaries of the Borrower may become Grantors under the Security Agreement by execution and delivery of an instrument in the form of this Supplement. The undersigned (the “New Subsidiary”) is executing this Supplement in accordance with the requirements of the Credit Agreement to become a Grantor under the Security Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make additional Loans (including any Incremental Loans), the Issuing Banks to issue additional Letters of Credit and the Hedge Banks to enter into Secured Swap Agreements and as consideration for Loans previously made and Letters of Credit previously issued.

 

Accordingly, the Collateral Agent and the New Subsidiary agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1.         In accordance with ‎Section 5.13 of the Security Agreement, the New Subsidiary by its signature below becomes a Grantor under the Security Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Grantor and the New Subsidiary hereby (a) agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Security Agreement applicable to it as a Grantor thereunder and (b) represents and warrants that the representations and warranties made by it as a Grantor thereunder are true and correct on and as of the date hereof. In furtherance of the foregoing, the New Subsidiary, as security for the payment and performance in full of the Obligations does hereby create and grant to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, their successors and assigns, a security interest in and lien on all of the New Subsidiary’s right, title and interest in and to the Collateral (as defined in the Security Agreement) of the New Subsidiary. Each reference to a “Grantor” in the Security Agreement shall be deemed to include the New Subsidiary. The Security Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The New Subsidiary hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties at any time and from time to time to file in any relevant jurisdiction any financing statements (including Fixture filings with respect to any Fixtures associated with Material Real Property that is subject to a Mortgage) with respect to the Article 9 Collateral or any part thereof and amendments thereto that (i) indicate the Collateral as “all assets of the Debtor, whether now owned, or hereafter acquired by or arising in favor of” or words of similar effect as being of an equal or lesser scope or with greater detail, and (ii) contain the information required by Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code or the analogous legislation of each applicable jurisdiction for the filing of any financing statement or amendment, including (x) whether such Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and, if required, any organizational identification number issued to such Grantor and (y) in the case of a financing statement filed as a Fixture filing, a sufficient description of the Material Real Property subject to a Mortgage to which such Article 9 Collateral relates. The New Subsidiary agrees to provide such information to the Collateral Agent promptly upon any reasonable request.

 

Exhibit I-1


 

SECTION 2.         The New Subsidiary represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties that this Supplement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

 

SECTION 3.         This Supplement 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 Supplement shall become effective when the Collateral Agent shall have received a counterpart of this Supplement that bears the signature of the New Subsidiary, and the Collateral Agent has executed a counterpart hereof. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Supplement by facsimile transmission or other electronic communication shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Supplement.

 

SECTION 4.         The New Subsidiary hereby represents and warrants that (a) set forth under its signature hereto is the true and correct legal name of the New Subsidiary, its jurisdiction of formation and the location of its chief executive office and (b) Schedule I attached hereto sets forth a true and complete list, with respect to the New Subsidiary, of (i) all the Pledged Equity owned by the New Subsidiary and (ii) all the Pledged Debt owed to the New Subsidiary.

 

SECTION 5.         Except as supplemented hereby, the Security Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 6.        THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

 

Exhibit I-2


 

SECTION 7.         If any provision of this Supplement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Supplement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 8.         All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in ‎Section 5.01 of the Security Agreement.

 

[Signatures on following page]

 

Exhibit I-3


 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Subsidiary and the Collateral Agent have duly executed this Supplement to the Security Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

[NAME OF NEW SUBSIDIARY]

   
   
 

By:

 
   

Name:         

   

Title:         

 

 

 

Jurisdiction of Formation:

Address of Chief Executive Office:

 

 

 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
         as Collateral Agent

   
   
 

By:

 
   

Name:         

   

Title:         

 

Signature Page for Supplement No. ___ to the Pledge Security Agreement

Exhibit I-4


 

 

SCHEDULE I
TO SUPPLEMENT NO ___ TO THE
SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

 

PLEDGED EQUITY

 

Issuer

Number of

Certificate

Registered

Owner

Number and

Class of Equity

Interests

Percentage of

Equity Interests

         
         

 

 

PLEDGED DEBT

 

Issuer

Principal Amount

Date of Note

Maturity Date

       
       

 

Exhibit I-5


 

EXHIBIT II

 

FORM OF
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT
(SHORT-FORM)

 

PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT, dated as of [●] (this “Agreement”) among the Persons listed on the signature pages hereof, as Grantors, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”) for the Secured Parties.

 

Reference is made to the Amended and Restated Security Agreement (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Security Agreement”) dated as of [●], 2023 among H.B. Fuller Company (the “Borrower”), as Grantor, the other Grantors party thereto and the Collateral Agent. The Secured Parties’ agreements in respect of extensions of credit to the Borrower are set forth in the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of [●], 2023 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and each, a “Lender”), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) and the other parties time to time party thereto. The Grantors are subsidiaries of the Borrower, will derive substantial benefits from the extension of credit to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the undersigned Grantors are willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in order to induce the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to extend such credit and the Hedge Banks to enter into the Secured Swap Agreements. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1.         Terms. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Security Agreement. The rules of construction specified in Article I of the Credit Agreement also apply to this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, “Patents” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor: (a) all letters patent of the United States, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications for letters patent of the United States, including applications in the USPTO or in any similar office or agency of the United States, (b) all reissues, re-examinations, continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, renewals, or extensions thereof, and the inventions or improvements disclosed or claimed therein, (c) all claims for, and rights to sue for, past or future infringements of any of the foregoing, and (d) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages and payments for past or future infringements thereof.

 

Exhibit II-1


 

Section 2.         Grant of Security Interest. As security for the payment or performance in full when due of the Obligations, including each Guarantee of the Obligations, each Grantor hereby pledges to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all right, title or interest in or to any and all of the following assets and properties now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively, the “Patent Collateral”):

 

(a) All Patents, including those listed on Schedule I hereto; and

 

(b) to the extent not included in the foregoing, all Proceeds and products of any and all of the foregoing and all Supporting Obligations, collateral security and guarantees given by any Person with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in (a) or (b) above, this Agreement shall not constitute a grant of a security interest in any Excluded Property.

 

Section 3.         Termination. This Patent Security Agreement and the security interest granted hereby shall automatically terminate with respect to all of a Grantor’s Obligations and any Lien arising therefrom shall be automatically released upon termination of the Security Agreement or release of such Grantor’s obligations thereunder. The Collateral Agent shall, in connection with any termination or release herein or under the Security Agreement, execute and deliver to any Grantor as such Grantor may request, an instrument in writing releasing the security interest in the Patent Collateral acquired under this Agreement. Additionally, upon such termination or release, the Collateral Agent shall reasonably cooperate with any efforts made by a Grantor to make of record or otherwise confirm such satisfaction including, but not limited to, the release and/or termination of this Agreement and any security interest in, to or under the Patent Collateral.

 

Section 4.         Supplement to the Security Agreement. The security interests granted to the Collateral Agent herein are granted in furtherance, and not in limitation of, the security interests granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement. Each Grantor hereby acknowledges and affirms that the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent with respect to the Patent Collateral are more fully set forth in the Security Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the Security Agreement, the terms of the Security Agreement shall govern.

 

Section 5.         Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

 

Section 6.         [Reserved].

 

Exhibit II-2


 

Section 7.         Counterparts. 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 shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Collateral Agent and when the Collateral 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. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or other electronic imaging means (including in .pdf format) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

[Signatures on following page]

 

Exhibit II-3


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

[GRANTOR],
         as a Grantor

   
   
 

By:

 
   

Name:         

   

Title:         

 

Signature Page for Patent Security Agreement

Exhibit II-4


 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
         as Collateral Agent

   
   
 

By:

 
   

Name:         

   

Title:         

 

Signature Page for Patent Security Agreement

Exhibit II-5

 

Schedule I

 

Short Particulars of U.S. Patent Collateral

 

United States Patent Registrations:

 

OWNER

REGISTRATION
NUMBER

NAME

     

 

 

 

United States Patent Applications:

 

OWNER

APPLICATION
NUMBER

NAME

     

 

Exhibit II-6

 

EXHIBIT III

 

FORM OF
TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT
(SHORT-FORM)

 

TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT, dated as of [●] (this “Agreement”) among the Persons listed on the signature pages hereof, as Grantors, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”) for the Secured Parties.

 

Reference is made to the Amended and Restated Security Agreement (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Security Agreement”) dated as of [●], 2023 among H.B. Fuller Company (the “Borrower”), as Grantor, the other Grantors party thereto and the Collateral Agent. The Secured Parties’ agreements in respect of extensions of credit to the Borrower are set forth in the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of [●], 2023 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and each, a “Lender”), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) and the other parties time to time party thereto. The Grantors are subsidiaries of the Borrower, will derive substantial benefits from the extension of credit to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the undersigned Grantors are willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in order to induce the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to extend such credit and the Hedge Banks to enter into the Secured Swap Agreements. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1.         Terms. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Security Agreement. The rules of construction specified in Article I of the Credit Agreement also apply to this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, “Trademarks” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor: (a) all trademarks, service marks, trade names, corporate names, trade dress, logos, designs, business names, fictitious business names and all other source or business identifiers, and all general intangibles of like nature, protected under the laws of the United States or any state or political subdivision thereof, as well as any unregistered trademarks and service marks used by a Grantor, (b) all goodwill symbolized thereby or associated with each of them, (c) all registrations and recordings in connection therewith, including all registration and recording applications filed in the USPTO or any similar offices in any state of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, (d) all renewals of any of the foregoing, (e) all claims for, and rights to sue for, past or future infringements of any of the foregoing, and (f) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages and payments for past or future infringements thereof.

 

Exhibit III-1

 

Section 2.         Grant of Security Interest. As security for the payment or performance in full when due of the Obligations, including each Guarantee of the Obligations, each Grantor hereby pledges to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all right, title or interest in or to any and all of the following assets and properties now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively, the “Trademark Collateral”):

 

(a) All Trademarks, including those listed on Schedule I hereto; and

 

(b) to the extent not included in the foregoing, all Proceeds and products of any and all of the foregoing and all Supporting Obligations, collateral security and guarantees given by any Person with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in (a) or (b) above, this Agreement shall not constitute a grant of a security interest in any Excluded Property, including any “intent-to-use” trademark applications prior to the filing and acceptance of a “Statement of Use” pursuant to Section 1(d) of the Lanham Act or an “Amendment to Allege Use” pursuant to Section 1(c) of the Lanham Act with respect thereto.

 

Section 3.         Termination. This Trademark Security Agreement and the security interest granted hereby shall automatically terminate with respect to all of a Grantor’s Obligations and any Lien arising therefrom shall be automatically released upon termination of the Security Agreement or release of such Grantor’s obligations thereunder. The Collateral Agent shall, in connection with any termination or release herein or under the Security Agreement, execute and deliver to any Grantor as such Grantor may request, an instrument in writing releasing the security interest in the Trademark Collateral acquired under this Agreement. Additionally, upon such termination or release, the Collateral Agent shall reasonably cooperate with any efforts made by a Grantor to make of record or otherwise confirm such satisfaction including, but not limited to, the release and/or termination of this Agreement and any security interest in, to or under the Trademark Collateral.

 

Section 4.         Supplement to the Security Agreement. The security interests granted to the Collateral Agent herein are granted in furtherance, and not in limitation of, the security interests granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement. Each Grantor hereby acknowledges and affirms that the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent with respect to the Trademark Collateral are more fully set forth in the Security Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the Security Agreement, the terms of the Security Agreement shall govern.

 

Exhibit III-2

 

Section 5.         Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

 

Section 6.         [Reserved].

 

Section 7.         Counterparts. 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 shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Collateral Agent and when the Collateral 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. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or other electronic imaging means (including in .pdf format) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

[Signatures on following page]

 

Exhibit III-3

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

[GRANTOR],
         as a Grantor

   
   
 

By:

 
   

Name:         

   

Title:         

 

Signature Page for Trademark Security Agreement

Exhibit III-4


 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
         as Collateral Agent

   
   
 

By:

 
   

Name:         

   

Title:         

 

Signature Page for Trademark Security Agreement

Exhibit III-5


 

Schedule I

 

Short Particulars of U.S. Trademark Collateral

 

Grantor

Trademark or

Service Mark

Date Granted

Registration No.

and Jurisdiction

       
       
       
       

 

 

Grantor

Trademark or

Service Mark

Application

Date

Filed

Application No.

and Jurisdiction

       
       
       
       

 

Exhibit III-6


 

EXHIBIT IV

 

FORM OF
COPYRIGHT SECURITY AGREEMENT
(SHORT-FORM)

 

COPYRIGHT SECURITY AGREEMENT, dated as of [●] (this “Agreement”) among the Persons listed on the signature pages hereof, as Grantors, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”) for the Secured Parties.

 

Reference is made to the Amended and Restated Security Agreement (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Security Agreement”) dated as of [●], 2023 among H.B. Fuller Company (the “Borrower”), as Grantor, the other Grantors party thereto and the Collateral Agent. The Secured Parties’ agreements in respect of extensions of credit to the Borrower are set forth in the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of [●], 2023 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and each, a “Lender”), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) and the other parties time to time party thereto. The Grantors are subsidiaries of the Borrower, will derive substantial benefits from the extension of credit to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the undersigned Grantors are willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in order to induce the Lenders and the Issuing Banks to extend such credit and the Hedge Banks to enter into the Secured Swap Agreements. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1.         Terms. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Security Agreement. The rules of construction specified in Article I of the Credit Agreement also apply to this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, (A) “Copyrights” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor: (a) all copyright rights in any work subject to and under the copyright laws of the United States (whether or not the underlying works of authorship have been published), whether as author, assignee, transferee, exclusive licensee or otherwise, (b) all registrations and applications for registration of any such copyright in the United States, including registrations, recordings, supplemental registrations and pending applications for registration in the USCO or in any similar office or agency of the United States, (c) all renewals of any of the foregoing, (d) all claims for, and rights to sue for, past or future infringements of any of the foregoing, and (e) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages and payments for past or future infringements thereof and (B) “Copyright License” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting any right to any third party under any Copyright now or hereafter owned by any Grantor or that such Grantor otherwise has the right to license, or granting any right to any Grantor under any Copyright now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of such Grantor under any such agreement.

 

Exhibit IV-1


 

Section 2.         Grant of Security Interest. As security for the payment or performance in full when due of the Obligations, including each Guarantee of the Obligations, each Grantor hereby pledges to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all right, title or interest in or to any and all of the following assets and properties now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively, the “Copyright Collateral”):

 

(a) All Copyrights, including those listed on Schedule I hereto;

 

(b) all exclusive Copyright Licenses with respect to registered United States Copyrights under which any Grantor is the licensee, including those listed on Schedule I hereto; and

 

(c) to the extent not included in the foregoing, all Proceeds and products of any and all of the foregoing and all Supporting Obligations, collateral security and guarantees given by any Person with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in (a) through (c) above, this Agreement shall not constitute a grant of a security interest in any Excluded Property.

 

Section 3.         Termination. This Copyright Security Agreement and the security interest granted hereby shall automatically terminate with respect to all of a Grantor’s Obligations and any Lien arising therefrom shall be automatically released upon termination of the Security Agreement or release of such Grantor’s obligations thereunder. The Collateral Agent shall, in connection with any termination or release herein or under the Security Agreement, execute and deliver to any Grantor as such Grantor may request, an instrument in writing releasing the security interest in the Copyright Collateral acquired under this Agreement. Additionally, upon such termination or release, the Collateral Agent shall reasonably cooperate with any efforts made by a Grantor to make of record or otherwise confirm such satisfaction including, but not limited to, the release and/or termination of this Agreement and any security interest in, to or under the Copyright Collateral.

 

Section 4.         Supplement to the Security Agreement. The security interests granted to the Collateral Agent herein are granted in furtherance, and not in limitation of, the security interests granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement. Each Grantor hereby acknowledges and affirms that the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent with respect to the Copyright Collateral are more fully set forth in the Security Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the Security Agreement, the terms of the Security Agreement shall govern.

 

Exhibit IV-2


 

Section 5.         Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

 

Section 6.         [Reserved].

 

Section 7.         Counterparts. 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 shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Collateral Agent and when the Collateral 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. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or other electronic imaging means (including in .pdf format) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

[Signatures on following page]

 

Exhibit IV-3


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

[GRANTOR],
         as a Grantor

   
   
 

By:

 
   

Name:         

   

Title:         

 

Signature Page for Copyright Security Agreement

Exhibit IV-4


 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
         as Collateral Agent

   
   
 

By:

 
   

Name:         

   

Title:         

 

Signature Page for Copyright Security Agreement

Exhibit IV-5


 

Schedule I

 

Short Particulars of U.S. Copyright Collateral

 

Copyright Registrations:

 

OWNER

REGISTRATION
NUMBER

TITLE

     

 

Copyright Applications:

 

OWNER

TITLE

   

 

 

Exhibit IV-6


 

EXHIBIT F

 

FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY AGREEMENT

 

[See attached.]

 

Exhibit F-1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY AGREEMENT (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Guaranty”) is made as of February 15, 2023, by and among each of the undersigned (the “Initial Guarantors” and along with any additional Subsidiaries of the Borrower which become parties to this Guaranty by executing a supplement hereto (a “Guaranty Supplement”) in the form attached as Annex I, the “Guarantors”) in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Holders of Obligations (as defined below), under the Credit Agreement referred to below.

 

WITNESSETH

 

WHEREAS, H.B. FULLER COMPANY, a Minnesota corporation (the “Borrower”), the financial institutions from time to time parties thereto as lenders (the “Lenders”), and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Agent”) for itself and the other Lenders, and the other parties thereto, have entered into that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of February 15, 2023 (as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented and/or restated, and as in effect from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), providing, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, for extensions of credit and other financial accommodations to be made by the Lenders to the Borrower;

 

WHEREAS, the Credit Agreement amends and restates that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 20, 2020 (as amended prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Revolving Credit Agreement”) among the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto, and the Administrative Agent;

 

WHEREAS, the obligations under the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement are guaranteed pursuant to that certain Guaranty Agreement, dated as of April 12, 2017 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Guaranty”) among the Initial Guarantors (either originally or by joinder) and the Administrative Agent;

 

WHEREAS, the Administrative Agent and the Initial Guarantors have agreed to amend and restate the Existing Guaranty in its entirety as set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the initial extensions of credit by the Lenders under the Credit Agreement that each of the Guarantors (constituting all of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower required to execute this Guaranty pursuant to Section 5.09 of the Credit Agreement) execute and deliver this Guaranty, whereby each of the Guarantors, with full recourse, shall guarantee the payment when due of all Obligations, including, without limitation, all principal, interest, reimbursement obligations in respect of any LC Disbursement (“Reimbursement Obligations”) and other amounts that shall be at any time payable by the Borrower under the Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents; and

 

WHEREAS, in consideration of the direct and indirect financial and other support and benefits that the Borrower has provided, and such direct and indirect financial and other support and benefits as the Borrower may in the future provide, to the Guarantors, and in consideration of the increased ability of each Guarantor to receive funds through contributions to capital, and for each Guarantor to receive funds through intercompany advances or otherwise, from funds provided to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the flexibility provided by the Credit Agreement for each Guarantor to do so which significantly facilitates the business operations of the Borrower and each Guarantor, and in order to induce the Lenders and the Administrative Agent to enter into the Credit Agreement, and to make the Loans and the other financial accommodations to the Borrower and to issue the Letters of Credit described in the Credit Agreement, each of the Guarantors is willing to guarantee the Obligations of the Borrower;

 

 

 

 

WHEREAS, it is also the intent of the Initial Guarantors to confirm that all guarantees of the Obligations under the Existing Guaranty shall continue in full force and effect as amended, modified or restated by this Guaranty and that, from and after the Effective Date, all references to the “Guaranty” contained in any Loan Documents shall be deemed to refer to this Guaranty;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1. Definitions. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have, as used herein, the respective meanings provided for therein.

 

SECTION 2. Representations, Warranties and Covenants. Each of the Guarantors represents and warrants (which representations and warranties shall be deemed to have been renewed at the time of the making, conversion or continuation of any Loan or upon the occurrence of any Credit Event) that:

 

(A) It is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company duly and properly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, validly existing and (to the extent such concept applies to such entity) in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation and has all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted, except to the extent that the failure to have such authority could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(B) It (to the extent applicable) has the requisite power and authority and legal right to execute and deliver this Guaranty and to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery by each Guarantor of this Guaranty and the performance by each of its obligations hereunder have been duly authorized by proper proceedings, and this Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor, respectively, enforceable against such Guarantor, respectively, in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally.

 

(C) Neither the execution and delivery by it of this Guaranty, nor the consummation by it of the transactions herein contemplated, nor compliance by it with the provisions hereof will (i) violate any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or award binding on it or its articles or certificate of incorporation (or equivalent charter documents), limited liability company or partnership agreement, certificate of partnership, articles or certificate of organization, by-laws, or operating agreement or other management agreement, as the case may be, or the provisions of any indenture, instrument or agreement to which any of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or is subject, or by which it, or its property, is bound, or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default under, or result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien in, of or on its property pursuant to the terms of, any such indenture, instrument or agreement (other than any Loan Document). No order, consent, adjudication, approval, license, authorization, or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by, or other action in respect of any governmental or public body or authority, or any subdivision thereof, which has not been obtained by it, is required to be obtained by it in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by it of, or the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against it of, this Guaranty.

 

2

 

(D) It has no Indebtedness other than Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01 of the Credit Agreement.

 

In addition to the foregoing, each of the Guarantors covenants that, so long as any Lender has any Commitment or Loan outstanding under the Credit Agreement or any amount payable under the Credit Agreement or any other Guaranteed Obligations shall remain unpaid, it will, and, if necessary, will enable the Borrower to, fully comply with those covenants and agreements of the Borrower applicable to such Guarantor set forth in the Credit Agreement.

 

SECTION 3. The Guaranty. Each of the Guarantors hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, jointly with the other Guarantors and severally, the full and punctual payment and performance when due (whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations, including, without limitation, (i) the principal of and interest on each Loan made to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement, (ii) any Reimbursement Obligations, (iii) all Banking Services Obligations and obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary owing to any Lender or any affiliate of any Lender under any Secured Swap Agreement, (iv) all other amounts payable by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement, any Secured Swap Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (v) the punctual and faithful performance, keeping, observance, and fulfillment by the Borrower of all of the agreements, conditions, covenants, and obligations of the Borrower contained in the Loan Documents (all of the foregoing being referred to collectively as the “Guaranteed Obligations” (provided, however, that the definition of “Guaranteed Obligations” shall not create any guarantee by any Guarantor of any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor for the purposes of determining any obligations of any Guarantor) and the holders from time to time of the Guaranteed Obligations being referred to collectively as the “Holders of Obligations”). Upon (x) the failure by the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, as applicable, to pay punctually any such amount or perform such obligation, and (y) such failure continuing beyond any applicable grace or notice and cure period, each of the Guarantors agrees that it shall forthwith on demand pay such amount or perform such obligation at the place and in the manner specified in the Credit Agreement, any Secured Swap Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement or the relevant Loan Document, as the case may be. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that this Guaranty is an absolute, irrevocable and unconditional guaranty of payment and is not a guaranty of collection.

 

Each of the Guarantors hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees, jointly and severally with the other Guarantors, that if any obligation guaranteed by it is or becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal, it will, as an independent and primary obligation, indemnify the Holders of Obligations immediately on demand against any cost, loss or liability they incur as a result of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates not paying any amount which would, but for such unenforceability, invalidity or illegality, have been payable by such Guarantor under this Guaranty on the date when it would have been due (but so that the amount payable by each Guarantor under this indemnity will not exceed the amount which it would have had to pay under this Guaranty if the amount claimed had been recoverable on the basis of a guaranty).

 

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SECTION 4. Guaranty Unconditional. The obligations of each of the Guarantors hereunder shall be unconditional and absolute and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall not be released, discharged or otherwise affected by:

 

(A) any extension, renewal, settlement, indulgence, compromise, waiver or release of or with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof or any agreement relating thereto, or with respect to any obligation of any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether (in any such case) by operation of law or otherwise, or any failure or omission to enforce any right, power or remedy with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof or any agreement relating thereto, or with respect to any obligation of any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations;

 

(B) any modification or amendment of or supplement to the Credit Agreement, any Secured Swap Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement or any other Loan Document, including, without limitation, any such amendment which may increase the amount of, or the interest rates applicable to, any of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby;

 

(C) any release, surrender, compromise, settlement, waiver, subordination or modification, with or without consideration, of any collateral securing the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, any other guaranties with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, or any other obligation of any person or entity with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, or any nonperfection or invalidity of any direct or indirect security for the Guaranteed Obligations;

 

(D) any change in the corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other existence, structure or ownership of the Borrower or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting the Borrower or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any of their respective assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of the Borrower or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations;

 

(E) the existence of any claim, setoff or other rights which the Guarantors may have at any time against the Borrower, any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the Administrative Agent, any Holder of Obligations or any other Person, whether in connection herewith or in connection with any unrelated transactions; provided that nothing herein shall prevent the assertion of any such claim by separate suit or compulsory counterclaim;

 

(F) the enforceability or 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 securing the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, or any other invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against the Borrower or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, for any reason related to the Credit Agreement, any Secured Swap Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any provision of applicable law, decree, order or regulation of any jurisdiction purporting to prohibit the payment by the Borrower or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations, of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise affecting any term of any of the Guaranteed Obligations;

 

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(G) 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;

 

(H) the election by, or on behalf of, any one or more of the Holders of Obligations, in any proceeding instituted under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, of the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal, state, provincial, municipal, local or foreign law relating to such matters;

 

(I) any borrowing or grant of a security interest by the Borrower, as debtor-in-possession, under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal, state, provincial, municipal, local or foreign law relating to such matters;

 

(J) the disallowance, under Section 502 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal, state, provincial, municipal, local or foreign law relating to such matters, of all or any portion of the claims of the Holders of Obligations or the Administrative Agent for repayment of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations;

 

(K) the failure of any other guarantor to sign or become party to this Guaranty or any amendment, change, or reaffirmation hereof; or

 

(L) any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind by the Borrower, any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations, the Administrative Agent, any Holder of Obligations or any other Person or any other circumstance whatsoever which might, but for the provisions of this Section 4, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of any Guarantor’s obligations hereunder or otherwise reduce, release, prejudice or extinguish its liability under this Guaranty except as provided in Section 5.

 

SECTION 5. Continuing Guarantee; Discharge Only Upon Payment In Full: Reinstatement In Certain Circumstances. Each of the Guarantors’ obligations hereunder shall constitute a continuing and irrevocable guarantee of all Guaranteed Obligations now or hereafter existing and shall remain in full force and effect until all Guaranteed Obligations shall have been paid in full in cash and the Commitments and all Letters of Credit issued under the Credit Agreement shall have terminated or expired, or, in the case of all Letters of Credit, are fully collateralized on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, at which time, subject to all the foregoing conditions, the guarantees made hereunder shall automatically terminate. If at any time any payment of the principal of or interest on any Loan, any Reimbursement Obligation or any other amount payable by the Borrower or any other Loan Party under the Credit Agreement, any Secured Swap Obligation, any Banking Services Agreement or any other Loan Document (including a payment effected through exercise of a right of setoff) is rescinded, or is or must be otherwise restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower or otherwise (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by a Holder of Obligations in its discretion), each of the Guarantors’ obligations hereunder with respect to such payment shall be reinstated as though such payment had been due but not made at such time. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that each of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be due and payable in the same currency as such Guaranteed Obligation is denominated but if currency control or exchange regulations are imposed in the country which issues such currency with the result such currency (the “Original Currency”) no longer exists or the relevant Guarantor is not able to make payment in such Original Currency, then all payments to be made by such Guarantor hereunder in such currency shall instead be made when due in Dollars in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount (as of the date of payment) of such payment due, it being the intention of the parties hereto that each Guarantor takes all risks of the imposition of any such currency control or exchange regulations.

 

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SECTION 6. General Waivers; Additional Waivers.

 

(A) General Waivers. Each of the Guarantors irrevocably waives acceptance hereof, presentment, demand or action on delinquency, protest, the benefit of any statutes of limitations and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any notice not provided for herein or under the other Loan Documents, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any Person against the Borrower, any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any other Person.

 

(B) Additional Waivers. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each of the Guarantors hereby absolutely, unconditionally, knowingly, and expressly waives:

 

(i) any right it may have to revoke this Guaranty as to future indebtedness or notice of acceptance hereof;

 

(ii) (a) notice of acceptance hereof; (b) notice of any Loans, Letters of Credit or other financial accommodations made or extended under the Loan Documents or the creation or existence of any Guaranteed Obligations; (c) notice of the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations, subject, however, to each Guarantor’s right to make inquiry of the Administrative Agent and Holders of Obligations to ascertain the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations at any reasonable time; (d) notice of any adverse change in the financial condition of the Borrower or of any other fact that might increase such Guarantor’s risk hereunder; (e) notice of presentment for payment, demand, protest, and notice thereof as to any instruments among the Loan Documents; (f) notice of any Default or Event of Default; and (g) all other notices (except if such notice is specifically required to be given to such Guarantor hereunder or under the Loan Documents) and demands to which each Guarantor might otherwise be entitled;

 

(iii) its right, if any, to require the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Obligations to institute suit against, or to exhaust any rights and remedies which the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Obligations has or may have against, the other Guarantors or any third party, or against any collateral provided by the other Guarantors, or any third party; and each Guarantor further waives any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense (other than the defense that the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been fully and finally performed and indefeasibly paid in full in cash) of the other Guarantors or by reason of the cessation from any cause whatsoever of the liability of the other Guarantors in respect thereof;

 

(iv) (a) any rights to assert against the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Obligations any defense (legal or equitable), set-off, counterclaim, or claim which such Guarantor may now or at any time hereafter have against the other Guarantors or any other party liable to the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Obligations; (b) any defense, set-off, counterclaim, or claim, of any kind or nature, arising directly or indirectly from the present or future lack of perfection, sufficiency, validity, or enforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security therefor; (c) any defense such Guarantor has to performance hereunder, and any right such Guarantor has to be exonerated, arising by reason of: the impairment or suspension of the Administrative Agent’s and the other Holders of Obligations' rights or remedies against the other Guarantors; the alteration by the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Obligations of the Guaranteed Obligations; any discharge of the other Guarantors’ obligations to the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Obligations by operation of law as a result of the Administrative Agent’s and the other Holders of Obligations' intervention or omission; or the acceptance by the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Obligations of anything in partial satisfaction of the Guaranteed Obligations; and (d) the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting such Guarantor's liability hereunder or the enforcement thereof, and any act which shall defer or delay the operation of any statute of limitations applicable to the Guaranteed Obligations shall similarly operate to defer or delay the operation of such statute of limitations applicable to such Guarantor's liability hereunder; and

 

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(v) any defense arising by reason of or deriving from (a) any claim or defense based upon an election of remedies by the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Obligations; or (b) any election by the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Obligations under the Bankruptcy Code, to limit the amount of, or any collateral securing, its claim against the Guarantors.

 

SECTION 7. Subordination of Subrogation; Subordination of Intercompany Indebtedness.

 

(A) Subordination of Subrogation. Until the Guaranteed Obligations have been fully and finally performed and indefeasibly paid in full in cash, the Guarantors (i) shall have no right of subrogation with respect to such Guaranteed Obligations and (ii) waive any right to enforce any remedy which the Holders of Obligations, the Issuing Banks or the Administrative Agent now have or may hereafter have against the Borrower, any endorser or any guarantor of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other Person, and the Guarantors waive any benefit of, and any right to participate in, any security or collateral given to the Holders of Obligations, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent to secure the payment or performance of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other liability of the Borrower to the Holders of Obligations, the Issuing Banks or the Administrative Agent. Should any Guarantor have the right, notwithstanding the foregoing, to exercise its subrogation rights, each Guarantor hereby expressly and irrevocably (A) subordinates any and all rights at law or in equity to subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, indemnification or set off that such Guarantor may have to the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations until the Guaranteed Obligations are indefeasibly paid in full in cash and (B) waives any and all defenses available to a surety, guarantor or accommodation co-obligor until the Guaranteed Obligations are indefeasibly paid in full in cash. Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that this subordination is intended to benefit the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Obligations and shall not limit or otherwise affect such Guarantor’s liability hereunder or the enforceability of this Guaranty, and that the Administrative Agent, the other Holders of Obligations and their respective successors and assigns are intended third party beneficiaries of the waivers and agreements set forth in this Section 7(A).

 

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(B) Subordination of Intercompany Indebtedness. Each Guarantor agrees that any and all claims of such Guarantor against the Borrower or any other Guarantor hereunder (each an “Obligor”) with respect to any “Intercompany Indebtedness” (as hereinafter defined), any endorser, obligor or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, or against any of its properties shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment, in full and in cash, of all Guaranteed Obligations; provided that, as long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, such Guarantor may receive payments of principal, interest and other amounts from any Obligor with respect to Intercompany Indebtedness. Notwithstanding any right of any Guarantor to ask, demand, sue for, take or receive any payment from any Obligor, all rights, liens and security interests of such Guarantor, whether now or hereafter arising and howsoever existing, in any assets of any other Obligor shall be and are subordinated to the rights of the Holders of Obligations and the Administrative Agent in those assets. No Guarantor shall have any right to possession of any such asset or to foreclose upon any such asset, whether by judicial action or otherwise, unless and until all of the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been fully paid and satisfied (in cash) and all financing arrangements pursuant to any Loan Document, Secured Swap Agreement or Banking Services Agreement have been terminated. If all or any part of the assets of any Obligor, or the proceeds thereof, are subject to any distribution, division or application to the creditors of such Obligor, whether partial or complete, voluntary or involuntary, and whether by reason of liquidation, bankruptcy, arrangement, receivership, assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other action or proceeding, or if the business of any such Obligor is dissolved or if substantially all of the assets of any such Obligor are sold, then, and in any such event (such events being herein referred to as an “Insolvency Event”), any payment or distribution of any kind or character, either in cash, securities or other property, which shall be payable or deliverable upon or with respect to any indebtedness of any Obligor to any Guarantor (“Intercompany Indebtedness”) shall be paid or delivered directly to the Administrative Agent for application on any of the Guaranteed Obligations, due or to become due, until such Guaranteed Obligations shall have first been fully paid and satisfied (in cash). Should any payment, distribution, security or instrument or proceeds thereof be received by the applicable Guarantor upon or with respect to the Intercompany Indebtedness after any Insolvency Event and prior to the satisfaction of all of the Guaranteed Obligations and the termination of all financing arrangements pursuant to any Loan Document among the Borrower and the Holders of Obligations, such Guarantor shall receive and hold the same in trust, as trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of Obligations and shall forthwith deliver the same to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Holders of Obligations, in precisely the form received (except for the endorsement or assignment of the Guarantor where necessary), for application to any of the Guaranteed Obligations, due or not due, and, until so delivered, the same shall be held in trust by the Guarantor as the property of the Holders of Obligations. If any such Guarantor fails to make any such endorsement or assignment to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent or any of its officers or employees is irrevocably authorized to make the same. Each Guarantor agrees that, except as otherwise permitted by the Credit Agreement, until the Guaranteed Obligations (other than the contingent indemnity obligations) have been paid in full (in cash) and satisfied and all financing arrangements pursuant to any Loan Document among the Borrower and the Holders of Obligations have been terminated, no Guarantor will assign or transfer to any Person (other than the Administrative Agent) any claim any such Guarantor has or may have against any Obligor

 

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SECTION 8. Contribution with Respect to Guaranteed Obligations.

 

(A) To the extent that any Guarantor shall make a payment under this Guaranty (a “Guarantor Payment”) which, taking into account all other Guarantor Payments then previously or concurrently made by any other Guarantor, exceeds the amount which otherwise would have been paid by or attributable to such Guarantor if each Guarantor had paid the aggregate Guaranteed Obligations satisfied by such Guarantor Payment in the same proportion as such Guarantor’s “Allocable Amount” (as defined below) (as determined immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment) bore to the aggregate Allocable Amounts of each of the Guarantors as determined immediately prior to the making of such Guarantor Payment, then, following indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations, and all Commitments and Letters of Credit have terminated or expired, or, in the case of all Letters of Credit, are fully collateralized on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and termination of the Credit Agreement, the Secured Swap Agreements and the Banking Services Agreements such Guarantor shall be entitled to receive contribution and indemnification payments from, and be reimbursed by, each other Guarantor for the amount of such excess, pro rata based upon their respective Allocable Amounts in effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment.

 

(B) As of any date of determination, the “Allocable Amount” of any Guarantor shall be equal to the excess of the fair saleable value of the property of such Guarantor over the total liabilities of such Guarantor (including the maximum amount reasonably expected to become due in respect of contingent liabilities, calculated, without duplication, assuming each other Guarantor that is also liable for such contingent liability pays its ratable share thereof), giving effect to all payments made by other Guarantors as of such date in a manner to maximize the amount of such contributions.

 

(C) This Section 8 is intended only to define the relative rights of the Guarantors, and nothing set forth in this Section 8 is intended to or shall impair the obligations of the Guarantors, jointly and severally, to pay any amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Guaranty.

 

(D) The parties hereto acknowledge that the rights of contribution and indemnification hereunder shall constitute assets of the Guarantor or Guarantors to which such contribution and indemnification is owing.

 

(E) The rights of the indemnifying Guarantors against other Guarantors under this Section 8 shall be exercisable upon the full and indefeasible payment of the Guaranteed Obligations in cash and the termination or expiry (or, in the case of all Letters of Credit, full collateralization), on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, of the Commitments and all Letters of Credit issued under the Credit Agreement, and the termination of the Credit Agreement, the Secured Swap Agreements and the Banking Services Agreements.

 

SECTION 9. Limitation of Guaranty.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Guaranty, the amount guaranteed by each Guarantor hereunder shall be limited to the extent, if any, required so that its obligations hereunder shall not be subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar statute or common law.  In determining the limitations, if any, on the amount of any Guarantor’s obligations hereunder pursuant to the preceding sentence, it is the intention of the parties hereto that any rights of subrogation, indemnification or contribution which such Guarantor may have under this Guaranty, any other agreement or applicable law shall be taken into account.

 

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SECTION 10. Stay of Acceleration. If acceleration of the time for payment of any amount payable by the Borrower under the Credit Agreement, any counterparty to any Secured Swap Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement or any other Loan Document is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of the Credit Agreement, any Secured Swap Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement or any other Loan Document shall nonetheless be payable by each of the Guarantors hereunder forthwith on demand by the Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 11. Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be given in the manner prescribed in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement with respect to the Administrative Agent at its notice address therein and with respect to any Guarantor, in care of the Borrower at the address of the Borrower set forth in the Credit Agreement or such other address or telecopy number as such party may hereafter specify for such purpose by notice to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the provisions of such Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement.

 

SECTION 12. No Waivers. No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any other Holder of Obligations in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies provided in this Guaranty, the Credit Agreement, any Secured Swap Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

SECTION 13. Successors and Assigns. This Guaranty is for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Obligations and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided, that no Guarantor shall have any right to assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the consent of the Administrative Agent, and any such assignment in violation of this Section 13 shall be null and void; and in the event of an assignment of any amounts payable under the Credit Agreement, any Secured Swap Agreement, any Banking Services Agreement or the other Loan Documents in accordance with the respective terms thereof, the rights hereunder, to the extent applicable to the indebtedness so assigned, may be transferred with such indebtedness. This Guaranty shall be binding upon each of the Guarantors and their respective successors and assigns.

 

SECTION 14. Changes in Writing. Other than in connection with the addition of additional Subsidiaries, which become parties hereto by executing a Guaranty Supplement hereto in the form attached as Annex I, neither this Guaranty nor any provision hereof may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only in writing signed by each of the Guarantors and the Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 15. GOVERNING LAW. THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

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SECTION 16. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS; JURY TRIAL; IMMUNITY.

 

(A) CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY AND EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY ISSUING BANK OR ANY LENDER TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY GUARANTOR IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BY ANY GUARANTOR AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY ISSUING BANK OR ANY LENDER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY ISSUING BANK OR ANY LENDER INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

 

(B) EACH GUARANTOR WHICH IS A FOREIGN SUBSIDIARY (A “FOREIGN GUARANTOR”) IRREVOCABLY DESIGNATES AND APPOINTS THE BORROWER, AS ITS AUTHORIZED AGENT, TO ACCEPT AND ACKNOWLEDGE ON ITS BEHALF, SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS WHICH MAY BE SERVED IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING OF THE NATURE REFERRED TO IN CLAUSE (A) ABOVE. SAID DESIGNATION AND APPOINTMENT SHALL BE IRREVOCABLE BY EACH SUCH FOREIGN GUARANTOR UNTIL ALL GUARANTEED OBLIGATIONS PAYABLE BY SUCH FOREIGN GUARANTOR HEREUNDER AND UNDER THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL HAVE BEEN PAID IN FULL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS HEREOF AND THEREOF. EACH FOREIGN GUARANTOR HEREBY CONSENTS TO PROCESS BEING SERVED IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING OF THE NATURE REFERRED TO IN CLAUSE (A) ABOVE BY SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON THE BORROWER AS PROVIDED IN THIS CLAUSE (B); 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 BORROWER OR TO ANY OTHER ADDRESS OF WHICH SUCH FOREIGN GUARANTOR SHALL HAVE GIVEN WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT (WITH A COPY THEREOF TO THE BORROWER). EACH FOREIGN GUARANTOR 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 SUCH FOREIGN GUARANTOR 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 SUCH FOREIGN GUARANTOR. NOTHING HEREIN WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.

 

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(C) WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED THEREUNDER AND FURTHER WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO INTERPOSE ANY COUNTERCLAIM RELATED TO THIS GUARANTY OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IN SUCH ACTION.

 

(D) TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY GUARANTOR 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), EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES SUCH IMMUNITY IN RESPECT OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS GUARANTY.

 

SECTION 17. No Strict Construction. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Guaranty. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Guaranty shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Guaranty.

 

SECTION 18. Taxes, Expenses of Enforcement, etc.

 

(A) Taxes.

 

(i) All payments by or on account of any obligation of any Guarantor hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any Taxes unless such deduction or withholding is required by law; provided that if any Guarantor or the Administrative Agent determines in its good faith judgment that it is required to deduct or withhold any Taxes from such payments, then (i) such Guarantor or the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to so deduct or withhold; (ii) if the Tax is an Indemnified Tax, the sum payable by such Guarantor shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions or withholdings (including deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 18) the Administrative Agent, Lender, Issuing Bank or any other Holder of Obligations (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made; and (iii) such Guarantor or the Administrative Agent shall pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

(ii) The Guarantors shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

 

(iii) The Guarantors hereby agree to indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank, each Lender and any other Holder of Obligations for the full amount of Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank, such Lender or such other Holder of Obligations as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Guarantors hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 18) and any penalties, interest and reasonable out-of-pocket 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. Payments due under this indemnification shall be made within ten (10) days of the date the Administrative Agent, such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such other Holder of Obligations makes demand therefor. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Guarantors by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or any other Holder of Obligations, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or, on behalf of the Administrative Agent, a Lender, an Issuing Bank or any other Holder of Obligations shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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(iv) By accepting the benefits hereof, each Foreign Lender agrees that it will comply with Section 2.17(e) of the Credit Agreement.

 

(B) Expenses of Enforcement, Etc. The Guarantors agree to reimburse the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Obligations for any reasonable costs and out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and time charges of attorneys for the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Obligations, which attorneys may be employees of the Administrative Agent or the other Holders of Obligations) paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent or any other Holder of Obligations in connection with the collection and enforcement of amounts due under the Loan Documents, including without limitation this Guaranty. The Administrative Agent agrees to distribute payments received from any of the Guarantors hereunder to the other Holders of Obligations on a pro rata basis for application in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

SECTION 19. Setoff. At any time after all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations have become due and payable (by acceleration or otherwise), each Holder of Obligations (including the Administrative Agent) and any of their respective affiliates may, without notice to any Guarantor and regardless of the acceptance of any security or collateral for the payment hereof, appropriate and apply in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement toward the payment of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations (i) any indebtedness from such Holder of Obligations or the Administrative Agent to any Guarantor, whether or not such indebtedness is matured or then due or owing, and (ii) any moneys, credits or other property belonging to any Guarantor, at any time held by or coming into the possession of such Holder of Obligations (including the Administrative Agent) or any of their respective affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Holder of Obligations or the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand under this Guaranty. The rights of each Holder of Obligations or the Administrative Agent under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Holder of Obligations or the Administrative Agent may have.

 

SECTION 20. Financial Information. Each Guarantor hereby assumes responsibility for keeping itself informed of the financial condition of each of the Borrower and any and all endorsers and/or other Guarantors of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any part thereof, that diligent inquiry would reveal, and each Guarantor hereby agrees that none of the Holders of Obligations (including the Administrative Agent) shall have any duty to advise such Guarantor of information known to any of them regarding such condition or any such circumstances. In the event any Holder of Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), in its sole discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any such information to a Guarantor, such Holder of Obligations (including the Administrative Agent) shall be under no obligation (i) to undertake any investigation not a part of its regular business routine, (ii) to disclose any information which such Holder of Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), pursuant to accepted or reasonable commercial finance or banking practices, wishes to maintain confidential or (iii) to make any other or future disclosures of such information or any other information to such Guarantor.

 

13

 

SECTION 21. Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Guaranty shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Guaranty shall be prohibited by or invalid under such law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Guaranty.

 

SECTION 22. Merger. This Guaranty represents the final agreement of each of the Guarantors with respect to the matters contained herein and may not be contradicted by evidence of prior or contemporaneous agreements, or subsequent oral agreements, between the Guarantor and any Holder of Obligations (including the Administrative Agent).

 

SECTION 23. Headings. Section headings in this Guaranty are for convenience of reference only and shall not govern the interpretation of any provision of this Guaranty.

 

SECTION 24. Judgment Currency. If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due from any Guarantor 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 Guarantor in respect of any sum due hereunder shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than the specified currency, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by any Holder of Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), as the case may be, of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency such Holder of Obligations (including 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 Holder of Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), as the case may be, in the specified currency, each Guarantor agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Holder of Obligations (including 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 Holder of Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), as the case may be, in the specified currency and (b) amounts shared with other Holders of Obligations as a result of allocations of such excess as a disproportionate payment to such other Holder of Obligations under Section 2.18 of the Credit Agreement, such Holder of Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), as the case may be, agrees, by accepting the benefits hereof, to remit such excess to such Guarantor.

 

SECTION 25. Termination of Guaranty.  The obligations of any Guarantor under this Guaranty shall automatically terminate in accordance with Section 9.16 of the Credit Agreement.

 

14

 

SECTION 26. Keepwell. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Guarantor to honor all of its obligations under this Guaranty in respect of Specified Swap Obligations (provided, however, that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 26 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 26 or otherwise under this Guaranty voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section 26 shall remain in full force and effect until a discharge of such Qualified ECP Guarantor’s Guaranteed Obligations in accordance with the terms hereof and the other Loan Documents. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section 26 constitute, and this Section 26 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Guarantor for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act. As used herein, “Qualified ECP Guarantor” means, in respect of any Specified Swap Obligation, each Guarantor that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guarantee becomes or would become effective with respect to such Specified Swap Obligation or such other Person as constitutes an ECP and can cause another Person to qualify as an ECP at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

SECTION 27. Counterparts. This Guaranty may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Guaranty 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 Guaranty. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to any document to be signed in connection with this Guaranty 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.

 

SECTION 28. Amendment and Restatement. This Agreement is an amendment and restatement of the Existing Guaranty. The guaranties provided pursuant to the Existing Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with the terms thereof, except as modified hereby, and shall continue without interruption or impairment of any kind. All such guaranties are hereby ratified, confirmed and continued, and this transaction shall not constitute a novation.

 

[Signature pages follow]

 

15

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Initial Guarantors has caused this Guaranty to be duly executed by its authorized officer as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

H.B. Fuller Construction Products Inc.,
as an Initial Guarantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: 

 

 

 

Title: 

 

 

 

 

ADCO Global, Inc., as an Initial

Guarantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:  

 

 

 

Title:  

 

 

 

 

ADCO Products, LLC, as an Initial

Guarantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:  

 

 

 

Title:  

 

 

 

 

H.B. Fuller International Holdings

Corp., as an Initial Guarantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:  

 

 

 

Title:  

 

 

 

 

Royal Acquisition Corp., as an Initial

Guarantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:  

 

 

 

Title:  

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Subsidiary Guaranty]

 

 

 

 

Royal Adhesives and Sealants, LLC, as

an Initial Guarantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: 

 

 

 

Title: 

 

 

 

 

Royal Holdings, Inc., as an Initial

Guarantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:  

 

 

 

Title:  

 

 

 

 

Simpsonville Polymer Co., as an Initial

Guarantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:  

 

 

 

Title:  

 

 

 

 

Simpsonville Properties LLC, as an

Initial Guarantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:  

 

 

 

Title:  

 

 

 

 

South Bend Properties LLC, as an Initial

Guarantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:  

 

 

 

 

H.B. Fuller Industrial Inc., as an Initial Guarantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:  

 

 

 

Title:  

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Subsidiary Guaranty]

 

 

 

 

H.B. Fuller Adhesive Systems LLC, as

an Initial Guarantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:  

 

 

 

Title:  

 

 

 

 

Seneca Polymer Co., as an Initial

Guarantor 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ 

 

 

 

Name: 

 

 

 

Title: 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Subsidiary Guaranty]

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and Agreed

as of the date first above written:

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

 

 

By:_____________________________________

Name:

Title:

[Signature Page to Subsidiary Guaranty]

 

 

 

 

ANNEX I TO GUARANTY

 

 

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Guaranty (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Guaranty”) made as of February 15, 2023 by and among the Initial Guarantors, and along with any additional Subsidiaries of the Borrower, which become parties thereto and together with the undersigned, the “Guarantors”) in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Holders of Obligations, under the Credit Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Guaranty. By its execution below, the undersigned [NAME OF NEW GUARANTOR], a [corporation] [partnership] [limited liability company], agrees to become, and does hereby become, a Guarantor under the Guaranty and agrees to be bound by such Guaranty as if originally a party thereto. By its execution below, the undersigned represents and warrants as to itself that all of the representations and warranties contained in Section 2 of the Guaranty are true and correct in all respects as of the date hereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, [NAME OF NEW GUARANTOR], a [corporation] [partnership] [limited liability company] has executed and delivered this Annex I counterpart to the Guaranty as of this __________ day of _________, 20___.

 

 

 

[NAME OF NEW GUARANTOR]

 

By:_____________________________

Its:

 

 

 

EXHIBIT G

 

FORM OF SOLVENCY CERTIFICATE

 

[_], 20[_]

 

This Solvency Certificate (this “Solvency Certificate”) is being executed and delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(l) of that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2023 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among H.B. Fuller Company, a Minnesota corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), and the other parties from time to time party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

 

I, [●], a Financial Officer6 of the Borrower, in such capacity and not in an individual capacity, hereby certify as follows:

 

1.         I am generally familiar with the businesses, financial position and assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, and am duly authorized to execute this Solvency Certificate on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement; and

 

2.         As of the date hereof, (a) the fair value of the property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is greater than the total amount of their liabilities, including contingent liabilities, (b) the present fair saleable value of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on their debts, including contingent debts, as they become absolute and matured, (c) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries do not intend to, and do not believe that they will, incur debts or liabilities, including contingent debts and liabilities, beyond their ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature and (d) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are not engaged in a business or a transaction, and are not about to engage in a business or a transaction, for which such party's property would constitute an unreasonably small capital.

 

For the purposes hereof, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 


6 To be delivered by the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower.

 

Exhibit G-1

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Solvency Certificate on the date first written above.

 

 

H.B. FULLER COMPANY 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:  

 

 

 

Title: 

 

 

Exhibit G-2

 

EXHIBIT H

 

FORM OF PERFECTION CERTIFICATE

 

[See attached.]

 

Exhibit H-1

 

PERFECTION CERTIFICATE

 

February 15, 2023

 

Reference is hereby made to that certain Amended and Restated Security Agreement dated as of February 15, 2023 (the “Security Agreement”), among H.B. Fuller Company (the “Borrower”), the Grantors party thereto on the date hereof and signatory hereto (the “Companies” and each, a “Company”), the other parties thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPM”), as collateral agent thereunder, under which each Company secures the obligations of the Borrower under that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of the date hereof among the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto and JPM as administrative agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned in the Security Agreement.

 

I, the undersigned officer of each Company (as applicable), do hereby certify on behalf of such Company, solely in my capacity as an officer of such Company and not in my individual capacity, as follows:

 

1.    Names. The exact legal name of each Company, as such name appears in its respective certificate of incorporation or comparable organizational document, is set forth in Schedule 1(a). Each Company is the type of entity disclosed next to its name in Schedule 1(a). Also set forth in Schedule 1(a) is the Federal Taxpayer Identification Number of each Company and the jurisdiction of formation of each Company.

 

(b)    Set forth in Schedule 1(b) hereto are any other corporate or organizational names that any Company, or any business or organization to which any Company became the successor by merger, consolidation, acquisition, change in form, nature or jurisdiction of organization or otherwise at any time in the past five years, has had in the past five years, together with the date of the relevant change.

 

(c)    Set forth in Schedule 1(c) is a list of all other names (including trade names or similar appellations) currently used by any Company. Except as set forth in Schedule 1(c), no Company has changed its jurisdiction of organization at any time during the past four months.

 

2.    Current Locations. The chief executive office of each Company is located at the address set forth in Schedule 2(a) hereto.

 

(b)    Set forth in Schedule 2(b) are all locations where each Company maintains any material books or records relating to any Collateral.

 

3.    UCC Filings. Financing statements (duly authorized by each Company constituting the debtor therein), including the indications of the collateral, attached as Schedule 3 have been prepared for filing in the proper Uniform Commercial Code filing offices in the jurisdictions identified in Schedule 4 hereof.

 

4.    Schedule of Filings. Attached hereto as Schedule 4 is a schedule of the appropriate filing offices for the financing statements attached hereto as Schedule 3.

 

5.    Real Property. Attached hereto (a) as Schedule 5(a) is a list of all real property owned by each Company constituting Material Real Property as of the Effective Date and filing offices for Mortgages as of the Effective Date and (b) as Schedule 5(b) is a list of all leases, subleases, tenancies, franchise agreements, licenses or other occupancy arrangements to which any Company is party as owner, lessor, sublessor, licensor, franchisor or grantor with respect to any of the real property described on Schedule 5(a).

 

 

 

6.    Termination Statements. Attached hereto as Schedule 6(a) are the termination statements in the appropriate form for filing in each applicable jurisdiction identified in Schedule 6(b) hereto with respect to each Lien described therein.

 

7.    Stock Ownership and Other Equity Interests. Attached hereto as Schedule 7(a) is a true and correct list of each of all of the authorized, and the issued and outstanding, stock, partnership interests, limited liability company membership interests or other equity interest of each Company (other than the Borrower) and its direct Subsidiaries and the record and beneficial owners of such stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other equity interests. Also set forth on Schedule 7(b) is each equity investment of each Company (other than the equity interest set forth on Schedule 7(a)) setting for the percentage of such equity interest pledged under the Security Agreement.

 

8.    Instruments and Tangible Chattel Paper. Attached hereto as Schedule 8 is a true and correct list of all promissory notes, instruments (other than checks to be deposited in the ordinary course of business), tangible chattel paper, electronic chattel paper and other evidence of indebtedness held by each Company as of the Effective Date having a value or face amount in excess of $10,000,000, including all intercompany notes between or among any two or more Companies.

 

9.    Intellectual Property. Attached hereto as Schedule 9(a) is a schedule setting forth all of each Company’s applications and registrations for Patents and Trademarks (each as defined in the Security Agreement) registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, including the name of the registered owner and the registration number or application number of each such Patent and Trademark owned by each Company. Attached hereto as Schedule 9(b) is a schedule setting forth all of each Company’s United States registered Copyrights, Copyright applications and exclusive Copyright Licenses with respect to United States Copyrights under which a Company is the licensee (each as defined in the Security Agreements), including the name of the registered owner and the registration number of each such Copyright or such Copyright licensed under such Copyright License owned by each Company.

 

10.    Commercial Tort Claims. Attached hereto as Schedule 10 is a true and correct list of all Commercial Tort Claims (as defined in the Security Agreement) held by each Company in excess of $10,000,000, including a brief description thereof.

 

11.    Letter-of-Credit Rights. Attached hereto as Schedule 11 is a true and correct list of all Letters of Credit issued in favor of each Company, as beneficiary thereunder, having a value or face amount in excess of $10,000,000.

 

[The Remainder of this Page has been intentionally left blank]

 

2

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed this Perfection Certificate as of the date first above written.

 

 

H.B. Fuller Company 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: John J. Corkrean 

 

 

 

Title: Executive Vice President

and Chief Financial Officer 

 


         

 

 

H.B. Fuller Construction Products Inc. 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: Muhammad Shahbaz Malik 

 

 

 

Title: President and CEO 

 

 

 

 

 

ADCO Global, Inc.
ADCO Products, LLC

H.B. Fuller International Holdings Corp.

Royal Acquisition Corp.

Royal Adhesives and Sealants, LLC

Royal Holdings, Inc.

Simpsonville Properties LLC

South Bend Properties LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: Robert Joseph Martsching 

 

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer 

 

 

 

H.B. Fuller Adhesive Systems, LLC 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: Robert Joseph Martsching 

 

 

 

Title: Vice President and Chief Financial

Officer 

 

         

 

[Signature page to Perfection Certificate]

 

 

 

 

Simpsonville Polymer Co.         

Seneca Polymer Co.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: Robert Joseph Martsching 

 

 

 

Title: President 

 

 

 

 

 

H.B. Fuller Industrial Inc. 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: John J. Corkrean 

 

 

 

Title: President 

 

 

 

[Signature page to Perfection Certificate]

 

 

 

Schedule 1(a)

 

Legal Names, Etc.

 

 

Legal Name

Type of Entity

Registered

Organization
(Yes/No)

Federal Tax Payer

Identification Number

State of F

ormation

         

 

 

 

Schedule 1(b)

 

Prior Organizational Names

 

 

Company

Prior Name

Date of Change

     

 

 

 

 

Schedule 1(c)

 

Other Names; Changes in Corporate Identity

 

 

Company

Other Names

Change in Jurisdiction

of Organization in Past

Four Months

     

 

 

 

 

Schedule 2(a)

 

Chief Executive Offices

 

 

Company

Address of Chief Executive Office

County

State

       

 

 

 

 

Schedule 2(b)

 

Location of Books and Records

 

 

Company

Location of Books and Records

   

 

 

 

 

Schedule 3

 

Copy of Financing Statements To Be Filed

 

See attached.

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 4

 

Filings/Filing Offices

 

 

Type of Filing

Entity

Filing Office

     

 

 

 

Schedule 5(a)

 

Owned Material Real Property and Filing Offices for Mortgages

 

 

Entity of Record

Address

City

County

State

Filing Office

           

 

 

 

Schedule 5(b)

 

Leased Property; Occupancy Arrangements

 

 

 

Schedule 6(a)

 

Copy of Termination Statements To Be Filed

 

See attached.

 

 

 

 

Schedule 6(b)

 

Termination Statement Filings

 

 

UCC Termination Statements

 

Debtor

Jurisdiction

Secured Party

Type of

Collateral

UCC-1 File

Date

UCC-1 File Number

           

 

Intellectual Property Terminations

 

 

 

Mortgage Terminations

 

 

 

Schedule 7(a)

 

Equity Interests of Companies and Direct Subsidiaries

 

 

Record Owner

Entity Owned

No. of Shares/Units

and/or Percent Owned

Certificate No.

Percent Pledged by

Loan Party

         

 

 

 

Schedule 7(b)

 

Other Equity Interests

 

 

Current Legal Entities Owned

Record Owner

No. Shares/Interest

Percent Pledged

       

 

 

 

Schedule 8

 

Instruments and Tangible Chattel Paper

 

 

 

1.

Promissory Notes:

 

 

2.

Instruments:

 

 

3.

Chattel Paper:

 

 

4.

Other evidence of indebtedness:

 

Original Amount

Lender

Borrower

Maturity

       

 

 

 

Schedule 9(a)

 

Intellectual Property Filings

 

Patents and Trademarks

 

 

U.S. TRADEMARK REGISTRATIONS

 

See attached.

 

U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATIONS

 

See attached.

 

U.S. PATENTS

 

See attached.

 

U.S. PATENT APPLICATIONS

 

See attached.

 

 

 

 

Schedule 9(b)

 

Copyrights

 

 

U.S. COPYRIGHT REGISTRATIONS

 

Registration No.

Registration Date

Owner

Title

       

 

 

U.S. COPYRIGHT APPLICATIONS

 

None.

 

COPYRIGHT LICENSES

 

None.

 

 

 

Schedule 10

 

Commercial Tort Claims

 

None.

 

 

 

 

Schedule 11

 

Letter of Credit Rights

 

None.

 

 

 

EXHIBIT I

 

FORM OF PERFECTION CERTIFICATE SUPPLEMENT

 

[_____], 20[__]

 

Reference is hereby made to that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of February 15, 2023 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among H.B. Fuller Company (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”), and the other parties from time to time party thereto, (b) that certain Amended and Restated Security Agreement dated as of February 15, 2023 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Security Agreement”) among the Borrower, the other Grantors from time to time party thereto (collectively with the Borrower, the “Companies” and each, a “Company”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as collateral agent, (c) that certain Perfection Certificate dated as of February 15, 2023 (as supplemented by any perfection certificate and/or perfection certificate supplement delivered prior to the date hereof, the “Prior Perfection Certificate”), executed by the Companies signatory thereto. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned in the Security Agreement.

 

I, the undersigned [Treasurer and Secretary] of [_____], a [_____] (the “New Subsidiary”), do hereby certify on behalf of the New Subsidiary, solely in my capacity as an officer of the New Subsidiary and not in my individual capacity, as follows:

 

1. Names. (a) The exact legal name of the New Subsidiary, as such name appears in its certificate of incorporation or comparable organizational document, is set forth in Schedule 1(a). The new Subsidiary is the type of entity disclosed next to its name in Schedule 1(a). Also set forth in Schedule 1(a) is the Federal Taxpayer Identification Number of the New Subsidiary and the jurisdiction of formation of the New Subsidiary.

 

(b) Set forth in Schedule 1(b) hereto are any other corporate or organizational names that the New Subsidiary, or any business or organization to which the New Subsidiary became the successor by merger, consolidation, acquisition, change in form, nature or jurisdiction of organization or otherwise at any time in the past five years, has had in the past five years, together with the date of the relevant change.

 

(c) Set forth in Schedule 1(c) is a list of all other names (including trade names or similar appellations) currently used by the New Subsidiary. Except as set forth in Schedule 1(c), the New Subsidiary has not changed its jurisdiction of organization at any time during the past four months.

 

2. Current Locations. (a) The chief executive office of the New Subsidiary is located at the address set forth in Schedule 2(a) hereto.

 

(b) Set forth in Schedule 2(b) are all locations where the New Subsidiary maintains any material books or records relating to any Collateral.

 

Exhibit I-1

 

3. UCC Filings. Financing statements (duly authorized by the New Subsidiary), including the indications of the collateral, attached as Schedule 3 have been prepared for filing in the proper Uniform Commercial Code filing offices in the jurisdictions identified in Schedule 4 hereof.

 

4. Schedule of Filings. Attached hereto as Schedule 4 is a schedule of the appropriate filing offices for the financing statements attached hereto as Schedule 3.

 

5. Real Property. Attached hereto (a) as Schedule 5(a) is a list of all real property owned by the New Subsidiary constituting Material Real Property as of the date hereof and filing offices for Mortgages as of the date hereof and (b) as Schedule 5(b) is a list of all leases, subleases, tenancies, franchise agreements, licenses or other occupancy arrangements to which the New Subsidiary is party as owner, lessor, sublessor, licensor, franchisor or grantor with respect to any of the real property described on Schedule 5(a).

 

6. Termination Statements. Attached hereto as Schedule 6(a) are the duly authorized termination statements in the appropriate form for filing in each applicable jurisdiction identified in Schedule 6(b) hereto with respect to each Lien described therein.

 

7. Stock Ownership and Other Equity Interests. Attached hereto as Schedule 7(a) is a true and correct list of each of all of the authorized, and the issued and outstanding, stock, partnership interests, limited liability company membership interests or other equity interest of the New Subsidiary and its direct subsidiaries and the record and beneficial owners of such stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other equity interests. Also set forth on Schedule 7(b) is each equity investment of the New Subsidiary (other than the equity interest set forth on Schedule 7(a)) setting for the percentage of such equity interest pledged under the Security Agreement.

 

8. Instruments and Tangible Chattel Paper. Attached hereto as Schedule 8 is a true and correct list of all promissory notes, instruments (other than checks to be deposited in the ordinary course of business), tangible chattel paper, electronic chattel paper and other evidence of indebtedness held by the New Subsidiary as of the date hereof having a value or face amount in excess of $10,000,000, including all intercompany notes between or among any two or more of the Companies and the New Subsidiary.

 

9. Intellectual Property. Attached hereto as Schedule 9(a) is a schedule setting forth all of the New Subsidiary’s applications and registrations for Patents and Trademarks (each as defined in the Security Agreement) registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, including the name of the registered owner and the registration number or application number of each such Patent and Trademark owned by the New Subsidiary. Attached hereto as Schedule 9(b) is a schedule setting forth all of the New Subsidiary’s United States registered Copyrights, Copyright applications and exclusive Copyright Licenses with respect to United States Copyrights under which the New Subsidiary is the licensee (each as defined in the Security Agreement), including the name of the registered owner and the registration number of each such Copyright or such Copyright licensed under such Copyright License owned by the New Subsidiary.

 

Exhibit I-2

 

10. Commercial Tort Claims. Attached hereto as Schedule 10 is a true and correct list of all Commercial Tort Claims (as defined in the Security Agreement) held by the New Subsidiary in excess of $10,000,000, including a brief description thereof.

 

11. Letter-of-Credit Rights. Attached hereto as Schedule 11 is a true and correct list of all Letters of Credit issued in favor of the New Subsidiary, as beneficiary thereunder, having a value or face amount in excess of $10,000,000.

 

[The Remainder of this Page has been intentionally left blank]

 

Exhibit I-3

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed this Perfection Certificate Supplement as of the date first above written.

 

 

[NEW SUBSIDIARY], as the New

Subsidiary

   
   
 

By:

 
   

Name:         

   

Title:         

 

Exhibit I-4

 

EXHIBIT J-1

 

FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

 

Reference is hereby made to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of February 15, 2023 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among H.B. Fuller Company, the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), and the other parties from time to time party thereto.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided in this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]

 

 

By:_________________________________

Name:

Title:

 

Date: ________ __, 20[ ]

 

Exhibit J-1

 

EXHIBIT J-2

 

FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

 

Reference is hereby made to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of February 15, 2023 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among H.B. Fuller Company, the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), and the other parties from time to time party thereto.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided in this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

 

 

By:_________________________________

Name:

Title:

 

Date: ________ __, 20[ ]

 

Exhibit J-2

 

EXHIBIT J-3

 

FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

 

Reference is hereby made to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of February 15, 2023 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among H.B. Fuller Company, the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), and the other parties from time to time party thereto.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it and/or its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “bank” extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided in this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

 

 

By:_________________________________

Name:

Title:

 

Date: ________ __, 20[ ]

 

Exhibit J-3

 

EXHIBIT J-4

 

FORM OF U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

 

Reference is hereby made to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of February 15, 2023 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among H.B. Fuller Company, the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), and the other parties from time to time party thereto.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it and/or its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “bank” extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “controlled foreign corporation” related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption. By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided in this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]

 

 

By:_________________________________

Name:

Title:

 

Date: ________ __, 20[ ]

 

 

Exhibit J-4