AMENDED & RESTATED TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of March 9, 2021 among

Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

AMENDED & RESTATED TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of March 9, 2021

among

Leslie’s Poolmart, INC.,

as the Borrower,

Leslie’s, INC.,

as Holdings,

THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PARTY HERETO,

as Lenders,

and

Nomura Corporate Funding Americas, LLC,

as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent

 

 

_________________________________________________________

Nomura SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.,

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.,

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Bank USA,

▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Senior Funding, Inc.

and

U.S. Bank National Association,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners

 

 

 

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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AMENDED & RESTATED TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT

AMENDED & RESTATED TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of March 9, 2021 (this “Agreement”), by and among Leslie’s Poolmart, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), Leslie’s, Inc., a Delaware corporation (f/k/a Leslie’s Holdings, Inc.) (“Holdings”), the Lenders from time to time party hereto and Nomura Corporate Funding Americas, LLC, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) and as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”).

RECITALS

A.Substantially concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, (i) all loans and commitments outstanding under that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of August 16, 2016, as amended from time to time (the “Existing Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrower, Holdings, the lenders party thereto from time to time and Nomura Corporate Funding Americas, LLC, as administrative agent, will be refinanced pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) (the “Refinancing”).

B.To fund the Refinancing and pay the related fees, costs and expenses and other related amounts, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders extend credit under this Agreement in the form of Initial Term Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to $810,000,000.

C.The Lenders are willing to extend such credit to the Borrower on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.  Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

Article 1DEFINITIONS

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

“ABL Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of October 16, 2012, by and among the Borrower, Holdings, the lenders party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and co-collateral agent, and U.S. Bank National Association, as co-collateral agent, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“ABL Agent” has the meaning set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

“ABL Facility” means (x) the credit facility pursuant to the ABL Credit Agreement and (y) one or more debt facilities or other financing arrangements (including indentures) providing for loans or other indebtedness that replace or refinance such credit facility incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(hh)(ii).

“ABL Incremental Debt” has the meaning given to “Revolving Credit Commitment Increase” in the ABL Credit Agreement (or any equivalent term under any ABL Facility).

“ABL Intercreditor Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of August 16, 2016, among the ABL Agent, as agent for the ABL Secured Parties referred to therein, the Administrative Agent, as agent for the Term Secured Parties referred to therein and the Loan Parties from time to time party thereto.

“ABL Priority Collateral” has the meaning set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.

“ABR” means, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bear interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

 

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“Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement” means the Intercreditor Agreements, a Market Intercreditor Agreement or another intercreditor agreement that is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (which may, if applicable, consist of a payment “waterfall”).

“ACH” means automated clearing house transfers.

“Additional Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article 8.

“Additional Commitment” means any commitment hereunder added pursuant to Sections 2.22, 2.23 and/or 9.02(c).

“Additional Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(b).

“Additional Loans” means any Additional Revolving Loans and any Additional Term Loans.

“Additional Revolving Credit Commitments” means any revolving credit commitment added pursuant to Sections 2.22, 2.23 and/or 9.02(c)(ii).

“Additional Revolving Credit Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the aggregate outstanding principal amount at such time of all Additional Revolving Loans of such Lender, plus the aggregate outstanding amount at such time of such Lender’s participations in any letters of credit or swingline loans, in each case, attributable to its Additional Revolving Credit Commitment.

“Additional Revolving Facility” means any Incremental Revolving Facility, any Extended Revolving Facility and/or any Replacement Revolving Facility.

“Additional Revolving Lender” means any Lender with an Additional Revolving Credit Commitment or any Additional Revolving Credit Exposure.

“Additional Revolving Loans” means any revolving loan added hereunder pursuant to Section 2.22, 2.23 and/or 9.02(c)(ii).

“Additional Term Lender” means any Lender with an Additional Term Loan Commitment or an outstanding Additional Term Loan.

“Additional Term Loan Commitment” means any term commitment added pursuant to Sections 2.22, 2.23 and/or 9.02(c)(i).

“Additional Term Loans” means any term loan added pursuant to Section 2.22, 2.23 and/or 9.02(c)(i).

“Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the Eurocurrency Rate determined under clause (a) of the definition of “Eurocurrency Rate” for such Interest Period, multiplied by the Statutory Reserve Rate and, (b) in the case of Initial Term Loans only, 0.50% per annum.  The Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate for any Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing that includes the Statutory Reserve Rate as a component of the calculation will be adjusted automatically with respect to all such Eurocurrency Rate Borrowings then outstanding as of the effective date of any change in the Statutory Reserve Rate.  When used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, “Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate” shall refer to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bear interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate as set forth in the preceding sentence.

 

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“Adjustment Date” means the first Business Day after the date of delivery of financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or Section 5.01(b), as applicable.

“Administrative Agency Fee Letter” means that certain Administrative Agency Fee Letter, dated as of August 16, 2016, by and between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time).

“Administrative Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Administrative Questionnaire” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(d).

“Adverse Proceeding” means any action, suit, proceeding (whether administrative, judicial or otherwise), governmental investigation or arbitration (whether or not purportedly on behalf of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) at law or in equity, or before or by any Governmental Authority, domestic or foreign (including any Environmental Claim), whether pending or, to the knowledge of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, threatened in writing, against or affecting Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any property of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

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

“Affiliate” means, as applied to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by, or under common Control with, that Person.  No Person shall be an “Affiliate” of Holdings or any Subsidiary thereof solely because it is an unrelated portfolio company of the Sponsor and none of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, any Lender (other than any Affiliated Lender or any Debt Fund Affiliate) or any of their respective Affiliates shall be considered an Affiliate of Holdings or any Subsidiary thereof.

“Affiliated Lender” means any Non-Debt Fund Affiliate, Holdings, the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary of the Borrower.

“Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Affiliated Lender (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.05) and accepted by the Administrative Agent in the form of Exhibit A-2 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

“Affiliated Lender Cap” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.05(h)(iv).

“Agents” means the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, in their respective capacities as such.

“Agent Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(d).

“Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Credit Agreement.

 

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“Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 0.50%, (b) to the extent ascertainable, the Eurocurrency Rate determined in accordance with clause (a) of the definition thereof (which rate shall be calculated based upon an Interest Period of one month and shall be determined on a daily basis and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Eurocurrency Rate for any day shall be based on the rate determined on such day at 11:00 a.m. (London time)) plus 1.00%, (c) the Prime Rate and (d) solely with respect to Initial Term Loans, 1.50%.  Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Eurocurrency Rate, as the case may be, shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Eurocurrency Rate, as the case may be.   

“Applicable Administrative Agent” means (i) with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral, the ABL Agent (or any other analogous term in another Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement among, inter alia, the Collateral Agent and the agent or representative under any ABL Facility), (ii) with respect to the Term Priority Collateral, the Administrative Agent or (iii) if at any time there is no ABL Intercreditor Agreement or other intercreditor agreement as described in the definition of Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement among, inter alia, the Administrative Agent and the agent or representative under any ABL Facility then in effect, the Administrative Agent.

“Applicable Country” means any country or jurisdiction in which a Foreign Subsidiary designated as a Subsidiary Loan Party pursuant to the penultimate sentence of the definition of “Subsidiary Loan Party” is incorporated or organized.

“Applicable Percentage” means, (a) with respect to any Term Lender of any Class, a percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and unused Term Commitments of such Term Lender under the applicable Class and the denominator of which is the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and unused Term Commitments of all Term Lenders under the applicable Class and (b) with respect to any Additional Revolving Lender of any Class, the percentage of the aggregate amount of the Additional Revolving Credit Commitments of such Class represented by such Additional Revolving Lender’s Additional Revolving Credit Commitment of such Class; provided that for purposes of Section 2.21 and otherwise herein (except with respect to the optional prepayment of any Additional Revolving Loans), when there is a Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Additional Revolving Credit Commitment shall be disregarded for any relevant calculation.  In the case of clause (b), in the event that the Additional Revolving Credit Commitments of any Class have expired or been terminated, the Applicable Percentage of any Additional Revolving Lender of such Class shall be determined on the basis of the Additional Revolving Credit Exposure of such Additional Revolving Lender attributable to its Additional Revolving Credit Commitment of such Class, giving effect to any assignment thereof.

“Applicable Rate” means, with respect to any Initial Term Loans, 2.75% per annum for Eurocurrency Rate Loans and 1.75% per annum for ABR Loans; provided that after the first Adjustment Date following the completion of the first full Fiscal Quarter ended after the Closing Date, the “Applicable Rate” for any Initial Term Loans shall be the rate per annum applicable to the relevant Class of Loans based on the First Lien Leverage Ratio set forth below.

 

 

 

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The Applicable Rate for the Initial Term Loans shall be adjusted quarterly on a prospective basis on each Adjustment Date based upon the First Lien Leverage Ratio in accordance with the table above; provided that if financial statements are not delivered when required pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b), as applicable, the “Applicable Rate” for any Initial Term Loan shall be the rate per annum set forth above in Category 1 until such financial statements are delivered in compliance with Section 5.01(a) or (b), as applicable.  

“Approved Fund” means, with respect to any Lender, any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities and is administered, advised or managed by (a) such Lender, (b) any Affiliate of such Lender or (c) any entity or any Affiliate of any entity that administers, advises or manages such Lender.

“Arrangers” means Nomura Securities International, Inc., BofA Securities, Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Bank USA, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Senior Funding, Inc., and U.S. Bank National Association.

“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 9.05), and accepted by the Administrative Agent in the form of Exhibit A-1 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

“Available Amount” means, at any time, an amount equal to, without duplication:

(a)the sum of:

(i)(i)the greater of (i) $100,000,000 and (ii) 50% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period; plus

(ii)50% of Consolidated Net Income, which amount shall not be less than zero, for the period from the first day of the Fiscal Quarter of the Borrower during which the Closing Date occurred to and including the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter of the Borrower prior to such date for which consolidated financial statements of the Borrower have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01; plus

(iii)the amount of any capital contribution in respect of, or the proceeds of any issuance of, Qualified Capital Stock after the Closing Date (other than any amount (x) constituting a Cure Amount, an Available Excluded Contribution Amount or a Contribution Indebtedness Amount or proceeds of an issuance of Disqualified Capital Stock, (y) received from the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or (z) consisting of the proceeds of any loan or advance made pursuant to Section 6.06(h)(ii)) received as Cash equity by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, plus the fair market value, as reasonably determined by the Borrower, of Cash Equivalents, marketable securities or other property received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary as a capital contribution or in return for any issuance of Capital Stock (other than any amounts (x) constituting a Cure Amount, an Available Excluded Contribution Amount or a Contribution Indebtedness Amount or proceeds of any issuance of Disqualified Capital Stock or any contribution or other Investment made pursuant to the proviso to Section 6.04(a)(i)(F) or (y) received from the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary), in each case, during the period from and including the day immediately following the Closing Date through and including such time; plus

 

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(iv)the aggregate principal amount of any Indebtedness or Disqualified Capital Stock, in each case, of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary issued after the Closing Date (other than Indebtedness or such Disqualified Capital Stock issued to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary), which has been converted into or exchanged for Capital Stock of the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent Company that does not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock, together with the fair market value of any Cash Equivalents and the fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) of any assets received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary upon such exchange or conversion, in each case, during the period from and including the day immediately following the Closing Date through and including such time; plus

(v)the Net Proceeds received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during the period from and including the day immediately following the Closing Date through and including such time in connection with the Disposition to any Person (other than the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) of any Investment made pursuant to Section 6.06(r)(i); plus

(vi)to the extent not already reflected as a return of capital with respect to such Investment for purposes of determining the amount of such Investment, the proceeds received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary during the period from and including the day immediately following the Closing Date through and including such time in connection with cash returns, cash profits, cash distributions and similar cash amounts, including cash principal repayments of loans, in each case received in respect of any Investment made after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6.06(r)(i); plus

(vii)to the extent that any such Investment was made pursuant to Section 6.06(r)(i) and to the extent not already reflected as a return of capital with respect to such Investment for purposes of determining the amount of such Investment, an amount equal to the sum of (A) the amount of any Investment by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in any third party or any Unrestricted Subsidiary (in an amount not to exceed the original amount of such Investment made pursuant to Section 6.06(r)(i)) that has been re-designated as a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or is liquidated, wound up or dissolved into, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and (B) the fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) of the assets of any Unrestricted Subsidiary that have been transferred, conveyed or otherwise distributed (in an amount not to exceed the original amount of the Investment in such Unrestricted Subsidiary made pursuant to Section 6.06(r)(i)) to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, during the period from and including the day immediately following the Closing Date through and including such time; plus

(viii)the amount of any Declined Proceeds; plus

(ix)the Retained Asset Sale Proceeds; minus

(b)an amount equal to the sum of (i) Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 6.04(a)(iii)(A), plus (ii) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(ii), plus (iii) Liens incurred pursuant to Section 6.02(ii), plus (iv) Restricted Debt Payments made pursuant to Section 6.04(b)(vi), plus (v) Investments made pursuant to Section 6.06(r)(i), plus (vi) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to clause (f) of the definition of “Incremental Cap”, in each case, after the Closing Date and prior to such time or contemporaneously therewith.

 

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“Available Excluded Contribution Amount” means the cumulative amount of Cash or Cash Equivalents, but excluding any Cure Amount and/or any Contribution Indebtedness Amount, received by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date from:

(a)contributions in respect of Qualified Capital Stock (other than any amounts received from the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), and

(b)the sale of Qualified Capital Stock of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than (i) to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, (ii) pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or (iii) with the proceeds of any loan or advance made pursuant to Section 6.06(h)(ii)),

in each case, designated as an Available Excluded Contribution Amount pursuant to a certificate of a Responsible Officer on or promptly after the date on which the relevant capital contribution is made or the relevant proceeds are received, as the case may be, and which are excluded from the calculation of the Available Amount.

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

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

“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.).

“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership 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”.

“Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the U.S.

“Bona Fide Debt Fund” means with respect to any Company Competitor or any Affiliate thereof, any debt fund, investment vehicle, regulated bank entity or unregulated lending entity that is (a) primarily engaged in, or advises funds or other investment vehicles that are primarily engaged in, making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of business for financial investment purposes and (b) managed, sponsored or advised by any person that is controlling, controlled by or under common control with the relevant Company Competitor or Affiliate thereof, but only to the extent that no personnel involved with the investment in the relevant Company Competitor (i) makes (or has the right to make or participate with others in making) investment

 

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decisions on behalf of, or otherwise cause the direction of the investment policies of, such debt fund, investment vehicle, regulated bank entity or unregulated entity or (ii) has access to any information (other than information that is publicly available) relating to Holdings, the Borrower and/or any entity that forms part of any of their respective businesses (including any of their respective Subsidiaries); it being understood and agreed that the term “Bona Fide Debt Fund” shall not include any Disqualified Institution that qualifies under clauses (a) and (b) of such definition, or any Affiliate of any such Disqualified Institution qualifying under clause (a) of such definition, that is reasonably identifiable as an Affiliate of such Disqualified Institution on the basis of such Affiliate’s name.

“Borrower” means Leslie’s Poolmart, Inc.

“Borrower Materials” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(d).

“Borrowing” means any Loans of the same Type and Class made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as to which a single Interest Period, as applicable, is in effect.

“Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 and substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B or such other form that is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent).

“Burdensome Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.05.

“Business Day” means:

(a)any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the laws of, or are in fact closed in, New York City; and

(b)if such day relates to any interest rate setting, any funding, disbursement, settlement and/or payments in Dollars in respect of such Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loan or any other dealing in Dollars to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loan, any such day described in clause (a) above that is also a London Banking Day,

“Capital Expenditures” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the aggregate amount, without duplication, of (x) all expenditures (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities and including in all events all amounts expended or capitalized under Capital Leases) that would, in accordance with GAAP, be included as additions to property, plant and equipment, (y) other capital expenditures of such Person for such period (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities and including in all events all amounts expended or capitalized under Capital Leases) that are reported in the Borrower’s consolidated statement of cash flows for such period and (z) other capital expenditures of such Person for such period (whether paid in cash or accrued as liabilities and including in all events all amounts expended or capitalized under Capital Leases).

“Capital Lease” means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee that, in conformity with GAAP, is or should be accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person.

“Capital Stock” means (1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock; (2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock; (3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company,

 

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partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); (4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person; and (5) all warrants, options or other rights to acquire any of the foregoing (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, any of the foregoing).

“Captive Insurance Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is subject to regulation as an insurance company (or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof).

“Cash” means money, currency or a credit balance in any Deposit Account, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Cash Equivalents” means, as at any date of determination, (a) readily marketable securities (i) issued or directly and unconditionally guaranteed or insured as to interest and principal by the U.S. government or (ii) issued by any agency or instrumentality of the U.S. the obligations of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S., in each case maturing within one year after such date and, in each case, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements relating thereto; (b) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the U.S. or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof or by any foreign government, in each case maturing within one year after such date and having, at the time of the acquisition thereof, a rating of at least A-2 from S&P or at least P-2 from ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ (or, if at any time neither S&P nor ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency) and, in each case, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements relating thereto; (c) commercial paper maturing no more than one year from the date of creation thereof and having, at the time of the acquisition thereof, a rating of at least A-2 from S&P or at least P-2 from ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ (or, if at any time neither S&P nor ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ shall be rating such obligations, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency); (d) deposits, money market deposits, bankers’ acceptances, time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances (or similar instruments) maturing within one year after such date and issued or accepted by any Lender or by any bank organized under, or authorized to operate as a bank under, the laws of the U.S., any state thereof or the District of Columbia or any political subdivision thereof or any foreign bank or its branches or agencies and that has capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000 and, in each case, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements relating thereto; (e) securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any commercial bank having capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000; (f) shares of any money market mutual fund that has (i) substantially all of its assets invested in the types of investments referred to in clauses (a) through (e) above, (ii) net assets of not less than $250,000,000 and (iii) a rating of at least A-2 from S&P or at least P-2 from ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ (or, if at any time either S&P or ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ are not rating such fund, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency); and (g) solely with respect to any Captive Insurance Subsidiary, any investment that such Captive Insurance Subsidiary is not prohibited to make in accordance with applicable law.

The term “Cash Equivalents” shall also include (x) Investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (a) through (g) above of foreign obligors, which Investments or obligors (or the parent companies thereof) have the ratings described in such clauses or equivalent ratings from comparable foreign rating agencies and (y) other short-term Investments utilized by Foreign Subsidiaries in accordance with normal investment practices for cash management in Investments that are analogous to the Investments described in clauses (a) through (g) and in this paragraph.

“Cash Management Bank” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Cash Management Obligations”.

 

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“Cash Management Obligations” means any and all obligations of any Loan Party, whether absolute or contingent and however and whenever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) (a) under any arrangement that is in effect on the Closing Date between any Loan Party and a counterparty that is (or is an Affiliate of) the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Arranger as of the Closing Date, (b) under any arrangement that is entered into after the Closing Date by any Loan Party with any counterparty that is (or is an Affiliate of) the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Arranger at the time such arrangement is entered into or (c) under any arrangement in effect on or after the Closing Date with any counterparty that has been designated to the Administrative Agent in writing by the Borrower as being “Cash Management Obligations” for purposes of the Loan Documents, in each case in connection with Cash Management Services (any such counterparty, a “Cash Management Bank”); it being understood that each Cash Management Bank shall be deemed hereunder (A) to appoint the Administrative Agent as its agent under the applicable Loan Documents and (B) to agree to be bound by the provisions of Section 1.14, Article 8, Section 9.03 and Section 9.10 and any applicable Intercreditor Agreement as if it were a Lender.  For the avoidance of doubt, any “Cash Management Obligations” or “Bank Products” designated as such pursuant to the ABL Credit Agreement shall not constitute Cash Management Obligations under this Agreement.

“Cash Management Services” means each and any of the following bank services provided to any Loan Party: commercial credit cards, stored value cards, purchasing cards, treasury management services, netting services, overdraft protections, check drawing services, automated payment services (including depository, overdraft, controlled disbursement, ACH transactions, return items and interstate depository network services), employee credit card programs, cash pooling services and any arrangements or services similar to any of the foregoing and/or otherwise in connection with Cash management and Deposit Accounts.

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

“CFC Holdco” means any direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiary that has no material assets other than the Capital Stock or Indebtedness of one or more CFCs or CFC Holdcos.

“Change in Law” means (a) the adoption of any law, treaty, rule or regulation after the Closing Date, (b) any change in any law, treaty, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the Closing Date or (c) compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.15(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the Closing Date (other than any such request, guideline or directive to comply with any law, rule or regulation that was in effect on the Closing Date). For purposes of this definition and Section 2.15, (x) the ▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or U.S. or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above, be deemed to be a Change in Law, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.

“Change of Control” means the earliest to occur of:

(a)the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of Securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan and/or Person acting as the trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator therefor),

 

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other than one or more Permitted Holders, of Capital Stock representing more than the greater of (x) 50% of the total voting power of all of the outstanding voting Capital Stock of Holdings and (y) the percentage of the total voting power of all of the outstanding voting Capital Stock of Holdings owned, directly or indirectly, beneficially by the Permitted Holders; provided that so long as Holdings is a Subsidiary of any Permitted Parent, no Person or “group” shall be deemed to be or become a beneficial owner of more than 50.0% of the total voting power of the Capital Stock of Holdings unless such Person or “group” shall be or become a beneficial owner of more than 50.0% of the total voting power of the Capital Stock of such Permitted Parent (other than a Permitted Parent that is a Subsidiary of another Permitted Parent); and

(b)the Borrower ceasing to be a direct or indirect Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Holdings.

“Charge” means any fee, loss, charge, expense, cost, accrual or reserve of any kind.

“Charged Amounts” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.20.

“Class”, when used with respect to (a) any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Initial Term Loans, Additional Term Loans of any series established as a separate “Class” pursuant to Section 2.22, 2.23 and/or 9.02(c)(i) or Additional Revolving Loans of any series established as a separate “Class” pursuant to Section 2.22, 2.23 or 9.02(c)(ii), (b) any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is an Initial Term Loan Commitment, an Additional Term Loan Commitment of any series established as a separate “Class” pursuant to Section 2.22, 2.23 and/or 9.02(c)(i) or an Additional Revolving Credit Commitment of any series established as a separate “Class” pursuant to Section 2.22, 2.23 and/or 9.02(c)(ii), (c) any Lender, refers to whether such Lender has a Loan or Commitment of a particular Class and (d) any Additional Revolving Credit Exposure, refers to whether such Additional Revolving Credit Exposure is attributable to an Incremental Revolving Commitment, Extended Reolving Credit Commitment or commitment in respect of a Replacement Revolving Facility of a particular Class.

“Closing Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (unless specifically provided otherwise).

“Collateral” means any and all property of any Loan Party subject (or purported to be subject) to a Lien under any Security Document and any and all other property of any Loan Party, now existing or hereafter acquired, that is or becomes subject (or purported to be subject) to a Lien pursuant to any Security Document to secure the Obligations.  For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall “Collateral” include any Excluded Asset.

“Collateral Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Collateral Agreement” means that certain Term Loan Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of August 16, 2016 (as amended, restated, amended or otherwise modified from time to time), by and among the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.

“Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” means, at any time, subject to (x) the applicable limitations set forth in this Agreement and/or any other Loan Document, (y) the time periods (and extensions thereof) set forth in Section 5.12 and (z) the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, the requirement that the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall have received

 

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in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary that is required to become, or the Borrower elects pursuant to the penultimate sentence of the definition of “Subsidiary Loan Party” to cause such Restricted Subsidiary to become, a Loan Party after the Closing Date (including by ceasing to be an Excluded Subsidiary), (a) a supplement to the Collateral Agreement in substantially the form attached as an exhibit thereto, (b) if the respective Restricted Subsidiary required to comply with the requirements set forth in this definition pursuant to Section 5.12(a) owns registrations of or applications for U.S. Patents, Trademarks and/or Copyrights that constitute Collateral, an Intellectual Property Security Agreement, (c) a completed Perfection Certificate, (d) UCC financing statements in appropriate form for filing in such jurisdictions as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, (e) the filing of appropriate assignments or notices with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or the U.S. Copyright Office, as applicable, (f) an executed joinder to any applicable Intercreditor Agreement, (g) each item of Collateral that such Restricted Subsidiary is required to deliver under Section 3.02 and Section 4.04 of the Collateral Agreement (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be delivered within the applicable time period set forth therein) and (h) with respect to any Material Real Estate Asset, evidence of the satisfaction of the Real Estate Collateral Requirements; provided that, with respect to a Foreign Subsidiary designated as a Subsidiary Loan Party pursuant to the penultimate sentence of the definition of “Subsidiary Loan Party”, the requirements set forth in clauses (a) through (h) above shall be deemed to refer to and include, as applicable, the requirements set forth in the parenthetical contained in such penultimate sentence.

“Commercial Tort Claim” has the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

“Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Initial Term Loan Commitment and Additional Commitment, as applicable, in effect as of such time.

“Commitment Schedule” means the Schedule attached hereto as Schedule 1.01(a).

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

“Company Competitor” means any competitor of the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Compliance Certificate” means a Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

“Confidential Information” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.13.

“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 profit Taxes.

“Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period:

 

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“Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense and capitalized fees, including amortization or write-off of (i) intangible assets and non-cash organization costs, (ii) deferred financing and debt issuance fees, costs and expenses, (iii) capitalized expenditures (including capitalized software expenditures), customer acquisition costs and incentive payments, media development costs, conversion costs and contract acquisition costs, the amortization of original issue discount resulting from the issuance of Indebtedness at less than par and amortization of favorable or unfavorable lease assets or liabilities and (iv) capitalized fees related to any Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP and any write down of assets or asset value carried on the balance sheet.

“Consolidated First Lien Debt” means, as to any Person at any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of Consolidated Total Debt outstanding on such date that is secured by the Term Priority Collateral and/or the ABL Priority Collateral on a first priority basis. Consolidated Total Debt outstanding under this Agreement and the ABL Credit Agreement shall constitute Consolidated First Lien Debt.

“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of (a) consolidated total interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized (including (without duplication), amortization of any debt issuance cost and/or original issue discount, any premium paid to obtain payment, financial assurance or similar bonds, any interest capitalized during construction, any non cash interest payment, the interest component of any deferred payment obligation, the interest component of any payment under any Capital Lease (regardless of whether accounted for as interest expense under GAAP), any commission, discount and/or other fee or charge owed with respect to any letter of credit and/or bankers’ acceptance, any fee and/or expense paid to the Administrative Agent in connection with its services hereunder, any other bank, administrative agency (or trustee) and/or financing fee and any cost associated with any surety bond in connection with financing activities (whether amortized or immediately expensed)), plus (b) any net losses or obligations arising from any Hedge Agreement and/or other derivative financial instrument issued by such Person for the benefit of such Person or its Subsidiaries, in each case determined on a consolidated basis for such period.  For purposes of this definition, interest in respect of any Capital Lease shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by such Person to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capital Lease in accordance with GAAP.

 

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“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person (the “Subject Person”) for any period, the net income (loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred Capital Stock dividends; provided, however, that there will not be included in such Consolidated Net Income:

 

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In addition, to the extent not already excluded (or included, as applicable) from the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Consolidated Net Income shall be increased by the amount of: (i) any expenses, charges or losses that are reimbursed by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any investment or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of assets permitted hereunder, or, so long as the Borrower has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (net of any amount so added back in a prior period to the extent not so reimbursed within the applicable 365-day period) and (ii) to the extent covered by insurance (including business interruption insurance) and actually reimbursed, or, so long as the Borrower has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (net of any amount so added back in a prior period to the extent not so reimbursed within the applicable 365-day period), expenses, charges or losses with respect to liability or casualty events

 

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or business interruption.  Consolidated Net Income shall be reduced by the amount of permitted Tax distributions actually made to any Parent Company of such Person in respect of such period in accordance with Section 6.04(a), as though such amounts had been paid as Taxes directly by such Person for such periods.

“Consolidated Secured Debt” means, as to any Person at any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of Consolidated Total Debt outstanding on such date that is secured by the Collateral.

“Consolidated Total Assets” means, as to any Person at any date, all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the applicable Person at such date.

“Consolidated Total Debt” means, as to any Person at any date of determination, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Indebtedness for borrowed money (excluding Indebtedness with respect to Cash Management Obligations, intercompany Indebtedness, Junior Indebtedness, Disqualified Capital Stock, preferred Capital Stock and Indebtedness outstanding hereunder and under any ABL Facility that was used to finance working capital needs of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) as of such date), plus (b) the aggregate principal amount of Capital Lease obligations, purchase money Indebtedness and unreimbursed drawings under letters of credit of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on such date (provided that any unreimbursed amount under commercial letters of credit shall not be counted as Consolidated Total Debt until five Business Days after such amount is drawn), minus (c) the aggregate amount of Cash and Cash Equivalents included on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recent fiscal period for which consolidated financial statements are available (which may, at the Borrower’s election, be internal financial statements), in each case on a Pro Forma Basis. For the avoidance of doubt, Consolidated Total Debt shall exclude Indebtedness in respect of any Receivables Facility or Securitization Facility.

“Consolidated Working Capital” means, as at any date of determination, the excess of Current Assets over Current Liabilities.

“Consulting Firm” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.09(o).

“Contractual Obligation” means, as applied to any Person, any provision of any Security issued by that Person or of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, contract, undertaking, agreement or other instrument to which that Person is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound or to which it or any of its properties is subject.

“Contribution Indebtedness Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(r).

“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.

“Copyright” means any and all copyrights throughout the world, including the following:  (a) all rights and interests in copyrights, works protectable by copyright whether published or unpublished, copyright registrations, copyright applications and other rights in works of authorship (including all copyrights embodied in software); (b) all renewals of any of the foregoing; (c) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due and/or payable under any of the foregoing, including damages or payments for past or future infringements for any of the foregoing; (d) the right to ▇▇▇ for past, present, and future infringements of any of the foregoing; and (e) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing.

 

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“Cost Saving Initiative” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA”.

“Credit Facilities” means any Additional Revolving Facility and any Term Facility.

“Cure Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in the ABL Credit Agreement or the same or any similar term in any successor ABL Credit Facility.

“Current Assets” means, at any date, all assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries which under GAAP would be classified as current assets (excluding any (i) cash or Cash Equivalents (including cash and Cash Equivalents held on deposit for third parties by the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary), (ii) permitted loans to third parties, (iii) deferred bank fees and derivative financial instruments related to Indebtedness, (iv) the current portion of current and deferred Taxes and (v) management fees receivables).

“Current Liabilities” means, at any date, all liabilities of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries which under GAAP would be classified as current liabilities, other than (i) current maturities of long term debt, (ii) outstanding revolving loans and letter of credit exposure, (iii) accruals of Consolidated Interest Expense (excluding Consolidated Interest Expense that is due and unpaid), (iv) obligations in respect of derivative financial instruments related to Indebtedness, (v) the current portion of current and deferred Taxes, (vi) liabilities in respect of unpaid earnouts, (vii) accruals relating to restructuring reserves, (viii) liabilities in respect of funds of third parties on deposit with the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary, (ix) management fees payables, (x) the current portion of any Capital Lease obligation and (xi) the current portion of any other long term liability for borrowed money.

“Debt Fund Affiliate” means any affiliate of any Sponsor (other than a natural person) that is a bona fide debt fund or investment vehicle (in each case with one or more bona fide investors to whom its managers owe fiduciary duties independent of their fiduciary duties to such Sponsor) that is primarily engaged in, or advises funds or other investment vehicles that are engaged in, making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit or securities in the ordinary course, in each case with respect to which the persons making investment decisions for such applicable affiliate are not primarily engaged in the making, acquiring or holding of equity investments in Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Debt FX Hedge” means any Hedge Agreement entered into for the purpose of hedging currency-related risks in respect of any Indebtedness of the type described in the definition of “Consolidated Total Debt”.

“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the U.S., and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, general assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization or similar debtor relief laws of the U.S. or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

“Declined Proceeds” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(b)(v).

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

“Default Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.13(c).

 

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“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that has (a) defaulted in (or is otherwise unable to perform) its obligations under this Agreement, including, without limitation, to make a Loan within two Business Days of the date required to be made by it hereunder, unless 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) notified the Administrative Agent or the Borrower in writing that it does not intend to satisfy any such obligation or has made a public statement to the effect that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations under this Agreement or under agreements in which it commits to extend credit generally (unless such writing 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 cannot be satisfied), (c) failed, within two Business Days after the request of the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing that it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its obligations to fund prospective Loans; provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent, (d) become (or any parent company thereof has become) insolvent or been determined by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Person or its assets, to be insolvent, or the assets or management of which has been taken over by any Governmental Authority or (e) become the subject of (A) a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding or (B) a Bail-In Action, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or custodian, appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, unless in the case of any Lender subject to this clause (e), the Borrower and the Administrative Agent have each determined that such Lender intends, and has all approvals required to enable it (in form and substance satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent), to continue to perform its obligations as a Lender hereunder; provided that no Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Capital Stock in such Lender or its parent by any Governmental Authority; provided, further that such action does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the U.S. or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contract or agreement to which such Lender is a party.

“Deposit Account” means a demand, time, savings, passbook or like account with a bank, savings and loan association, credit union or like organization, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any investment property (within the meaning of the UCC) or any account evidenced by an instrument (within the meaning of the UCC).

“Derivative Transaction” means (a) any interest-rate transaction, including any interest-rate swap, basis swap, forward rate agreement, interest rate option (including a cap, collar or floor), and any other instrument linked to interest rates that gives rise to similar credit risks (including when-issued securities and forward deposits accepted), (b) any exchange-rate transaction, including any cross-currency interest-rate swap, any forward foreign-exchange contract, any currency option, and any other instrument linked to exchange rates that gives rise to similar credit risks, (c) any equity derivative transaction, including any equity-linked swap, any equity-linked option, any forward equity-linked contract, and any other instrument linked to equities that gives rise to similar credit risk and (d) any commodity (including precious metal) derivative transaction, including any commodity-linked swap, any commodity-linked option, any forward commodity-linked contract, and any other instrument linked to commodities that gives rise to similar credit risks; provided, that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees, members of management, managers or consultants of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries shall constitute a Derivative Transaction.

 

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“Designated Non-Cash Consideration” means the fair market value (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) of non-Cash consideration received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any Disposition pursuant to Section 6.07(h) and/or Section 6.07(cc) that is designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, setting forth the basis of such valuation (which amount will be reduced by the amount of Cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale or conversion of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration to Cash or Cash Equivalents).

“Designated Operational FX Hedge” means any Hedge Agreement entered into for the purpose of hedging currency-related risks in respect of the revenues, cash flows, indebtedness or other balance sheet items of the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries and designated at the time entered into (or on or prior to the Closing Date, with respect to any Hedge Agreement entered into on or prior to the Closing Date) as a Designated Operational FX Hedge by the Borrower in a writing delivered to the Administrative Agent.

“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, lease, sublease, or other disposition of any property of any Person.  

“Disqualified Capital Stock” means any Capital Stock which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, (a) matures (excluding any maturity as the result of an optional redemption by the issuer thereof) or is mandatorily redeemable (other than for Qualified Capital Stock), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than for Qualified Capital Stock), in whole or in part, on or prior to 91 days following the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Capital Stock is issued (it being understood that if any such redemption is in part, only such part coming into effect prior to 91 days following the Latest Maturity Date shall constitute Disqualified Capital Stock), (b) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable (unless at the sole option of the issuer thereof) for (i) debt securities or (ii) any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Capital Stock, in each case at any time on or prior to 91 days following the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Capital Stock is issued, (c) contains any mandatory repurchase obligation or any other repurchase obligation at the option of the holder thereof (other than for Qualified Capital Stock), in whole or in part, which may come into effect prior to 91 days following the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Capital Stock is issued (it being understood that if any such repurchase obligation is in part, only such part coming into effect prior to 91 days following the Latest Maturity Date shall constitute Disqualified Capital Stock) or (d) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in Cash on or prior to 91 days following the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Capital Stock is issued; provided that any Capital Stock that would not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock but for provisions thereof giving holders thereof (or the holders of any security into or for which such Capital Stock is convertible, exchangeable or exercisable) the right to require the issuer thereof to redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of any change of control or any Disposition occurring prior to 91 days following the Latest Maturity Date at the time such Capital Stock is issued shall not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock if such Capital Stock provides that the issuer thereof will not redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions prior to the Termination Date.

Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, (A) if such Capital Stock is issued pursuant to any plan for the benefit of directors, officers, employees, members of management, managers or consultants or by any such plan to such directors, officers, employees, members of management, managers or consultants, in each case in the ordinary course of business of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the issuer thereof in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations, and (B) no Capital Stock held by any future, present or former employee, director, officer, manager, member of management or consultant (or their respective Affiliates or Immediate Family Members) of the Borrower (or any Parent Company or any Subsidiary) shall be considered Disqualified Capital Stock because such

 

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stock is redeemable or subject to repurchase pursuant to any management equity subscription agreement, stock option, stock appreciation right or other stock award agreement, stock ownership plan, put agreement, stockholder agreement or similar agreement that may be in effect from time to time.

“Disqualified Institution” means:

(a)(i) any Person identified in writing to the Arrangers on or prior to February 25, 2021, (ii) any Person identified in writing (and reasonably satisfactory) to the Arrangers after February 25, 2021 and prior to the Closing Date, (iii) any person that is identified in writing (and reasonably satisfactory) to the Administrative Agent after the Closing Date (the Persons described in clauses (a)(i) through (a)(iii) above, the “Identified Disqualified Lenders”) and (iv) any Affiliate of any Identified Disqualified Lender that is identified in writing to the Administrative Agent as such; it being understood that the Borrower may withhold its consent to any person that is known by it to be an Affiliate of a Disqualified Institution regardless of whether such person is reasonably identifiable as an Affiliate of such person solely based on such Affiliate’s name,

(b)any Affiliate of any Arranger (or any director (or equivalent manager), officer or employee of any Arranger or any Affiliate thereof) that is engaged as a principal primarily in private equity, mezzanine financing or venture capital (each such person, an “Excluded Party”),

(c)(i) any Person that is or becomes a Company Competitor and is (A) identified in writing to the Arrangers on or prior to February 25, 2021, (B) identified in writing to the Arrangers after February 25, 2021 and prior to the Closing Date and (C) identified in writing to the Administrative Agent on or after the Closing Date, and (ii) any Affiliate of any Person described in clause (c)(i) above (other than a Bona Fide Debt Fund Affiliate) that is identified in writing to the Administrative Agent as such; it being understood that the Borrower may withhold its consent to any person that is known by it to be an Affiliate of a Disqualified Institution regardless of whether such person is reasonably identifiable as an Affiliate of such person solely based on such Affiliate’s name, and

(d)any Affiliate of any Person described in clauses (a) or (c) above that is reasonably identifiable as an Affiliate of such Person on the basis of such Affiliate’s name, other than, in the case of clause (c) above, a Bona Fide Debt Fund;

it being understood and agreed that the identification of any Person as a Disqualified Institution after the Closing Date shall not apply to retroactively disqualify any Person that has previously acquired an assignment or participation interest in any Loan, subject, in the case of assignments and participations made after the date on which any such Person is identified as a Disqualified Institution, to the provisions of Section 9.05(f).

“Disqualified Person” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.05(f)(i).

“Dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the U.S.

“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary incorporated or organized under the laws of the U.S., any state thereof, or the District of Columbia.

“Dutch Auction” has the meaning assigned to such term on Schedule 1.01(b).

“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

 

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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 Yield” means, as to any Indebtedness, the effective yield applicable thereto calculated by the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Borrower in a manner consistent with generally accepted financial practices, taking into account (a) interest rate margins, (b) interest rate floors (subject to the proviso set forth below), (c) any amendment to the relevant interest rate margins and interest rate floors prior to the applicable date of determination and (d) original issue discount and upfront or similar fees (based on an assumed four-year average life to maturity), but excluding (i) any arrangement, commitment, structuring, underwriting, ticking, unused line fees and/or amendment fees (regardless of whether any such fees are paid to or shared in whole or in part with any lender), (ii) any other fee that is not paid by the Borrower generally to all relevant lenders ratably and (iii) the effects of any applicable margin rate stepdown; provided, that (A) to the extent that the floor applicable to the Eurocurrency Rate or Alternate Base Rate under this Agreement is less than any floor applicable to the loans in respect of which the Effective Yield is being calculated on the date on which the Effective Yield is determined, the amount of the resulting difference will be deemed added to the interest rate margin applicable to the relevant Indebtedness for purposes of calculating the Effective Yield and any corresponding increase pursuant to Section 2.22(a)(v) may, at the option of the Borrower, take the form of an increase in the floor applicable to the Eurocurrency Rate or Alternate Base Rate under this Agreement.

“Eligible Assignee” means (a) any Lender, (b) any commercial bank, insurance company, finance company, financial institution, any fund that invests in loans or any other “accredited investor” (as defined in Regulation D of the Securities Act), (c) any Affiliate of any Lender, (d) any Approved Fund of any Lender and (e) to the extent permitted under Section 9.05(g), any Affiliated Lender or any Debt Fund Affiliate; provided that in any event, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include (i) any natural person, (ii) any Disqualified Institution or (iii) except as permitted under Section 9.05(g), the Borrower or any of its Affiliates.

“Engagement Letter” means that certain Engagement Letter, dated as of February 25, 2021, by and among the Borrower and the Arrangers.

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

“Environmental Claim” means any investigation, notice of liability, notice of violation, claim, action, suit, proceeding, demand, abatement order or other order or directive (conditional or otherwise), by any Governmental Authority or any other Person, arising (a) pursuant to or in connection with any Environmental Law; (b) in connection with any Hazardous Material; or (c) in connection with any actual or alleged damage, injury, threat or harm to the Environment.

“Environmental Laws” means any and all applicable current or future foreign or domestic, federal or state (or any subdivision of any of them) laws, statutes, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations, judgments, Governmental Authorizations, or any other applicable requirements of or agreements with Governmental

 

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Authorities and the common law relating to (a) protection of the Environment or (b) the generation, management, use, storage, transportation or disposal of or exposure to Hazardous Materials or any other Hazardous Materials Activity.

“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), resulting from or based upon (a) any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, management, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials or any other Hazardous Materials Activity, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement to the extent liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

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

“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations at any facility of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate as described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA, in each case, resulting in liability pursuant to Section 4063 of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan resulting in the imposition of Withdrawal Liability on the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, notification of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is “insolvent” within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan under Section 4041(c) of ERISA, the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041(c) of ERISA, the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or the receipt by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of notice of the treatment of a Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041A of ERISA or of notice of the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Multiemployer Plan; (e) the occurrence of an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliates, with respect to the termination of any Pension Plan; or (g) the conditions for imposition of a Lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA have been met with respect to any Pension Plan.

“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.

“Eurocurrency Rate” means, with respect to any Interest Period applicable to an Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the Screen Rate for deposits in Dollars (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time), two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Eurocurrency Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

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

“Excess Cash Flow” means, for any Excess Cash Flow Period, any amount (if positive) equal to (without duplication):

(a)Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Excess Cash Flow Period (without giving effect to clause (e) thereof); plus

(b)(i) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring cash gain during such Excess Cash Flow Period (whether or not accrued in such Excess Cash Flow Period), and (ii) without duplication, any cash income or cash gain attributable to any Disposition outside of the ordinary course of business that is permitted under Section 6.07 during such Excess Cash Flow Period to the extent not otherwise included in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA; plus

(c)foreign currency translation gains received in cash related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net gain  resulting from any Hedge Agreement for currency exchange risk resulting from any intercompany Indebtedness, any foreign currency translation or transaction or any other currency-related risk), to the extent not otherwise included in calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA; plus

(d)the decrease, if any, in Consolidated Working Capital from the first day to the last day of such Excess Cash Flow Period, excluding any such decrease in Consolidated Working Capital arising from (i) the acquisition or Disposition of any Person by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) the reclassification during such period of current assets to long term assets and current liabilities to long term liabilities, (iii) the application of purchase and/or recapitalization accounting and/or (iv) the effect of any fluctuation in the amount of accrued and contingent obligations under any Hedge Agreement; minus

(e)the amount, if any, which, in the determination of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Excess Cash Flow Period, has been included in respect of income or gain from any Disposition outside of the ordinary course of business (including Dispositions constituting covered losses or taking of assets referred to in the definition of “Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds”) of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary; minus

(f)cash payments actually made in respect of the following (without duplication):

(i)except to the extent deducted in calculating the amount of any Excess Cash Flow payment in accordance with Section 2.11(b)(i), (x) any Investment permitted by Section 6.06 (other than pursuant to Section 6.06(a), (b), (g), (j), (l), (o), (aa) or (dd)) and (y) any Restricted Payment permitted by 6.04(a) (other than clauses (viii) and (ix) thereof, but in the case of Section 6.04(a)(i)(f), only to the extent that such Investment would be deducted pursuant to sub-clause (x) of this clause (i)), in each case, actually made in cash during such Excess Cash Flow Period or, at the option of the Borrower, made prior to the date the Borrower is required to make a payment of Excess Cash Flow in respect of such Excess Cash Flow Period, (A) except to the extent the relevant Investment and/or Restricted Payment is financed with long term Indebtedness (other than revolving Indebtedness) and (B) without duplication of any amount deducted from Excess Cash Flow for a prior Excess Cash Flow Period;

 

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(ii)foreign currency translation losses payable in cash related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness (including any net loss resulting from Hedge Agreements for currency exchange risk resulting from any intercompany Indebtedness, any foreign currency translation or transaction or any other currency-related risk)) to the extent included in calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA;

(iii)except to the extent deducted in calculating the amount of any Excess Cash Flow payment in accordance with Section 2.11(b)(i), consolidated Capital Expenditures actually made in cash during such Excess Cash Flow Period or, at the option of the Borrower, made prior to the date the Borrower is required to make a payment of Excess Cash Flow in respect of such Excess Cash Flow Period, (A) except to the extent financed with long term Indebtedness (other than revolving Indebtedness) and (B) without duplication of any amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow for a prior Excess Cash Flow Period;

(iv)any long-term liability, excluding the current portion of any such liability (other than Indebtedness) of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(v)any cash Charge added back in calculating Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA pursuant to clause (c) of the definition thereof or excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income in accordance with the definition thereof;

(vi)the aggregate amount of expenditures actually made by the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary during such Fiscal Year (including any expenditure for the payment of financing fees) to the extent that such expenditures are not expensed, except to the extent financed with the proceeds of long-term Indebtedness (other than revolving Indebtedness); minus

(g)the aggregate principal amount of (i) all optional prepayments of Indebtedness (other than any optional prepayment of (A) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents and/or any Incremental Equivalent Debt, Replacement Debt, Incremental Facility and/or Revolving Credit Loans (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) that is or are prepaid, repurchased, redeemed or otherwise retired prior to such date, in each case, that is deducted in calculating the amount of any Excess Cash Flow payment in accordance with Section 2.11(b)(i) or (B) revolving Indebtedness except to the extent any related commitment is permanently reduced in connection with such repayment) and (ii) all mandatory prepayments and scheduled repayments of Indebtedness during such Excess Cash Flow Period, in each case except to the extent financed with the proceeds of long term funded Indebtedness (other than revolving Indebtedness) or Excess Cash Flow to the extent that the amounts giving rise to such mandatory prepayments were included in Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such period; minus

(h)Consolidated Interest Expense actually paid or payable in cash by the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary during such Excess Cash Flow Period; minus

(i)Taxes (inclusive of Taxes paid or payable under tax sharing agreements or arrangements and/or in connection with any permitted Tax distribution) paid or payable by the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash with respect to such Excess Cash Flow Period; minus

(j)the increase, if any, in Consolidated Working Capital from the first day to the last day of such Excess Cash Flow Period, excluding any such increase in Consolidated Working Capital arising from (i) the acquisition or Disposition of any Person by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) the reclassification during such period of current assets to long term assets and current liabilities to long term

 

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liabilities, (iii) the application of purchase and/or recapitalization accounting and/or (iv) the effect of any fluctuation in the amount of accrued and contingent obligations under any Hedge Agreement; minus

(k)the amount of any Tax obligation of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary that is estimated in good faith by the Borrower as due and payable (but is not currently due and payable) by the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the repatriation of any dividend or similar distribution of net income of any Foreign Subsidiary to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; minus

(l)without duplication of amounts deducted from Excess Cash Flow in respect of any prior period, at the option of the Borrower, the aggregate consideration (i) required to be paid in Cash by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to binding contracts entered into prior to or during such period relating to Capital Expenditures, acquisitions or Investments permitted by Section 6.06 and/or Restricted Payments, in each case described in clause (f) above (the “Scheduled Consideration”) to be consummated or made during the period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters of the Borrower following the end of such period (except, in each case, (i) to the extent financed with long-term funded Indebtedness (other than revolving Indebtedness) or (ii) to the extent deducted in calculating the amount of any Excess Cash Flow payment in accordance with Section 2.11(b)(i)); provided that to the extent the aggregate amount actually utilized to finance such Capital Expenditures, acquisitions or Investments or Restricted Payments during such subsequent period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters is less than the Scheduled Consideration, the amount of the resulting shortfall shall be added to the calculation of Excess Cash Flow at the end of such subsequent period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters; minus

(m)amounts added to Consolidated Net Income, in each case to the extent paid in cash, under clauses (c), (f) and/or (h) of the definition of “Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA”; minus

(n)cash payments (other than in respect of Taxes, which are governed by clause (i) above) made during such Excess Cash Flow Period for any liability the accrual of which in a prior Excess Cash Flow Period resulted in an increase in Excess Cash Flow in such prior period (provided that there was no other deduction to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA or Excess Cash Flow related to such payment), except to the extent financed with long-term funded Indebtedness (other than revolving Indebtedness); minus

(o)cash expenditures made in respect of any Hedge Agreement during such period to the extent (i) not otherwise deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA and (ii) not financed with long-term funded Indebtedness (other than revolving Indebtedness); minus

(p)amounts paid in cash (except to the extent financed with long-term funded Indebtedness (other than revolving Indebtedness)) during such period on account of (i) items that were accounted for as non-cash reductions of Consolidated Net Income or Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in a prior period and (ii) reserves or amounts established in purchase accounting to the extent such reserves or amounts are added back to, or not deducted from, Consolidated Net Income.

“Excess Cash Flow Period” means each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, commencing with the Fiscal Year of the Borrower ending October 1, 2022.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

“Excluded Assets” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Collateral Agreement.

 

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“Excluded Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in clause (b) of the definition of “Disqualified Institution”.

“Excluded Equity Interests” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Collateral Agreement.

“Excluded Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary (if and to the extent such Subsidiary is not a borrower or guarantor under the ABL Credit Agreement) that is an:

(a)Immaterial Subsidiary;

(b)Subsidiary that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower;

(c)Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(d)Foreign Subsidiary;

(e)Domestic Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary;

(f)Subsidiary substantially all the assets of which are Capital Stock and, if any, indebtedness in one or more Foreign Subsidiaries;

(g)Subsidiary if acting as a Guarantor, or its Guarantee, would, and only so long as it would, (i) be prohibited by law or regulation or by any contractual obligation existing on (but not incurred in anticipation of) the Closing Date or on the date such Subsidiary is acquired or organized (as long as, in the case of an acquisition of a Subsidiary, such prohibition did not arise as part of such acquisition) or (ii) require a governmental or third-party consent, approval, license or authorization (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received); and

(h)any Subsidiary that is a Captive Insurance Company, not-for-profit Subsidiary or Subsidiary which is a special purpose entity for securitization transaction (including any Securitization Subsidiary) or like special purposes;

“Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Loan Guarantee of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Loan 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) (a) by virtue of such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder (determined after giving effect to Section 3.20 of the Loan Guarantee and any other “keepwell”, support or other agreement for the benefit of such Loan Party) at the time the Loan Guarantee of such Loan Party or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or (b) in the case of any Swap Obligation that is subject to a clearing requirement pursuant to section 2(h) of the Commodity Exchange Act, because such Loan Party is a “financial entity,” as defined in section 2(h)(7)(C) of the Commodity Exchange Act, at the time the guarantee provided by (or grant of such security interest by, as applicable) such Loan Party becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation.  If any Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Loan Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.

 

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“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient (in each case, a “Recipient”) of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document, (a) Taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income or franchise Taxes (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized or having its principal office located in or, in the case of any Lender, having its applicable lending office located in, the taxing jurisdiction or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) any branch profits Taxes imposed under Section 884(a) of the Code or any similar Tax imposed by any jurisdiction described in clause (a), (c) any U.S. federal withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to the relevant Recipient pursuant to a Requirement of Law in effect at the time the relevant Recipient becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office), except (i) in the case of a Recipient that became a recipient pursuant to an assignment under Section 2.19 or a Recipient that designates a new lending office under Section 2.19 and (ii) to the extent that the relevant Recipient (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, immediately prior to the designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from any Loan Party with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 2.17, (d) any tax imposed as a result of a failure or inability by such Recipient to comply with Section 2.17(f) and (e) any withholding taxes imposed under FATCA.

“Existing Credit Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

“Expected Cost Savings” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA”.

“Extended Revolving Credit Commitment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23(a)(i).

“Extended Revolving Facility” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23(a)(i).

“Extended Revolving Loans” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23(a)(i).

“Extended Term Loans” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23(a)(ii).

“Extension” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23(a).

“Extension Amendment” means an amendment to this Agreement that is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (for purposes of giving effect to Section 2.23) and the Borrower executed by each of (a) Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties, (b) the Administrative Agent and (c) each Lender that has accepted the applicable Extension Offer pursuant hereto and in accordance with Section 2.23.

“Extension Offer” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23(a).

“Facility” means any real property (including all buildings, fixtures or other improvements located thereon) now or hereafter owned, leased, operated or used by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their respective predecessors or Affiliates.

“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to current Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code (or any amended or successor version described above) and any intergovernmental agreements implementing any of the foregoing and related legislation or official administrative rules or practices with respect thereto.

 

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“FCPA” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.17(c).

“Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions (as determined in such manner as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York sets forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the federal funds effective rate, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for the day of such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

“First Lien Leverage Ratio” means the ratio, as of any date of determination, of (a) Consolidated First Lien Debt as of the last day of the Test Period then most recently ended to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended, in each case of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

“First Priority” means, with respect to any Lien purported to be created on any Collateral pursuant to any Security Document, that, subject to any applicable Intercreditor Agreement or Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement, such Lien is senior in priority to any other Lien to which such Collateral is subject, other than any Permitted Lien.

“Fiscal Quarter” means each period of 13 weeks or (14 weeks in the case of the fourth Fiscal Quarter of a 53-week Fiscal Year), as applicable, ending on or about December 31, March 31, June 30, and September 30.

“Fiscal Year” means the period of 52 or 53 weeks, as applicable, ending on the Saturday closest to September 30th.

“Fixed Amounts” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.10(d).

“Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of (without duplication):

(1)Ratio Interest Expense of such Person for such period;

(2)all cash dividends or other distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of preferred Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person during such period; and

(3)all cash dividends or other distributions paid (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Disqualified Stock of such Person during such period.

“Flood Hazard Property” means any parcel of any Material Real Estate Asset located in the U.S. that is (or required to be) subject to a Mortgage that has Improvements (as defined in the Flood Insurance Laws) in an area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as having special flood or mud slide hazards.

“Flood Insurance Laws” means, collectively, (a) National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 (which comprehensively revised the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973), (b) the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 and (c) the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇ Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012.

 

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“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. in effect and applicable to the accounting period in respect of which reference to GAAP is made.

“General Debt Basket” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(u).

“General Restricted Payments Basket” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.04(a)(x).

“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, municipal, national or other government, governmental department, commission, board, bureau, court, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof or any entity or officer exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to any government or any court, in each case whether associated with the US, a foreign government or any political subdivision thereof.

“Governmental Authorization” means any permit, license, authorization, approval, plan, directive, consent order or consent decree of or from any Governmental Authority.

“Granting Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.05(e).

“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 monetary obligation of any other Person (the “Primary Obligor”) in any manner and including any obligation of the Guarantor (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other monetary 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 monetary 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 monetary obligation, (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or monetary obligation, (e) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part) or (f) secured by any Lien on any assets of such Guarantor securing any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or monetary other obligation is assumed by such Guarantor (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness or other monetary obligation to obtain any such Lien); provided that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business, or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Closing Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition, Disposition or other transaction permitted under this Agreement (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness).  The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith.

“Guarantor” means Holdings, any Subsidiary Loan Party and, as to the Obligations of all other Subsidiaries and Holdings, the Borrower.

 

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“Hazardous Materials” means any chemical, material, substance or waste, or any constituent thereof, which is classified, defined, regulated or otherwise characterized as “hazardous”, or “toxic” or as a “pollutant” or “contaminant” or words of similar meaning or regulatory effect pursuant to Environmental Laws.

“Hazardous Materials Activity” means any activity, event or occurrence involving any Hazardous Material, including the use, manufacture, possession, storage, holding, Release, threatened Release, discharge, placement, generation, transportation, processing, treatment, abatement, removal, remediation, disposal, disposition or handling of any Hazardous Material, and any corrective action or response action with respect to any of the foregoing.

“Hedge Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any Derivative Transaction between any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary and any other Person.

“Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under any Hedge Agreement.

“Holdings” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement and shall, for the avoidance of doubt, include any Successor Holdings.

“Identified Disqualified Lenders” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Disqualified Institution”.

“IFRS” means international accounting standards within the meaning of the IAS Regulation 1606/2002, as in effect from time to time (subject to the provisions of Section 1.04), to the extent applicable to the relevant financial statements.

“Immaterial Subsidiary” means, as of any date, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than the Borrower) (a) the assets of which do not exceed 2.50% of Consolidated Total Assets of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) the contribution to Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of which does not exceed 2.50% of the Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period; provided that, the Consolidated Total Assets and Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA (as so determined) of all Immaterial Subsidiaries shall not exceed 5.00% of Consolidated Total Assets or 5.00% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, in each case, of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period; provided, further that, at all times prior to the first delivery of financial statements pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b), this definition shall be applied based on the pro forma consolidated financial statements of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 4.01.

“Immediate Family Member” means, with respect to any individual, such individual’s child, stepchild, grandchild or more remote descendant, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, domestic partner, former domestic partner, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law and daughter-in-law (including adoptive relationships), any trust, partnership or other bona fide estate-planning vehicle the only beneficiaries of which are any of the foregoing individuals, such individual’s estate (or an executor or administrator acting on its behalf), heirs or legatees or any private foundation or fund that is controlled by any of the foregoing individuals or any donor-advised fund of which any such individual is the donor.

“Incremental Cap” means (without duplication):

(a)the Shared Fixed Amount, plus

 

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(b)in the case of any Incremental Facility incurred using the Shared Fixed Amount that effectively extends the Maturity Date with respect to any Class of Loans and/or Commitments hereunder, an amount equal to the portion of the relevant Class of Loans or Commitments that will be replaced by such Incremental Facility, plus

(c)in the case of any Incremental Facility incurred using the Shared Fixed Amount that effectively replaces any Incremental Revolving Commitment terminated in accordance with the applicable Incremental Facility Agreement, an amount equal to the relevant terminated Incremental Revolving Commitment, plus

(d)(i) the amount of any optional prepayment of any Term Loan in accordance with Section 2.11(a) and/or the amount of any permanent reduction of any Incremental Revolving Commitment, in each case that are pari passu with the Initial Term Loans in right of payment and with respect to security, (ii) the amount of any optional prepayment, redemption or repurchase of any Replacement Term Loan or Loans under any Replacement Revolving Facility (to the extent accompanied by a permanent reduction in commitments) or any borrowing or issuance of Replacement Debt, in each case that is secured on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Loans, previously applied to the permanent prepayment of any Loan hereunder that are pari passu with the Initial Term Loans in right of payment and with respect to security, so long as no Incremental Facility was previously incurred in reliance on clause (d)(i) above as a result of such prepayment and (iii) the amount paid in Cash in respect of any reduction in the outstanding amount of any Term Loans that are pari passu with the Initial Term Loans in right of payment and with respect to security resulting from any assignment of such Term Loan to (and/or purchase of such Term Loan by) Holdings, the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary, for each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) so long as the relevant prepayment, redemption, repurchase, assignment and/or purchase was not funded with the proceeds of any long-term Indebtedness (other than revolving Indebtedness), plus

(e)an unlimited amount so long as, in the case of this clause (e), after giving effect to the relevant Incremental Facility, (i) if such Incremental Facility is secured by a lien on the Collateral that is pari passu with the Lien securing the Obligations, the First Lien Leverage Ratio does not exceed (x) 4.00:1.00 or (y) if such Incremental Facility is incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment not prohibited under the Loan Documents, the greater of (I) 4.00:1.00 and (II) the First Lien Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period, (ii) if such Incremental Facility is secured by a lien on the Collateral that is junior to the lien securing the Obligations, the Secured Leverage Ratio does not exceed (x) 6.00:1.00 or (y) if such Incremental Facility is incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment not prohibited under the Loan Documents, the greater of (I) 6.00:1.00 and (II) the Secured Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period or (iii) if such Incremental Facility is unsecured or secured by assets that do not constitute Collateral, at the Borrower’s election, (A) the Total Leverage Ratio does not exceed either (x) 6.00:1.00 or (y) if such Incremental Facility is incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment, the greater of (I) 6.00:1.00 and (II) the Total Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period or (B) the Interest Coverage Ratio is not less than (x) 2.00:1.00 or (y) if such Incremental Facility is incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment not prohibited under the Loan Documents, the lesser of (I) 2.00:1.00 and (II) the Interest Coverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period, in each case described in this clause (e), calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, including the application of the proceeds thereof without “netting” the cash proceeds of the applicable Incremental Facility or any other simultaneous incurrence of debt; provided that such proceeds may be netted in calculating the forgoing leverage ratios in the event that the proceeds of such Incremental Facility then being incurred are used (i) to replace or replenish cash on the Borrower’s balance sheet which was previously used to finance a Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment or (ii) to finance a pending Permitted Acquisition or other similar Investment; provided, further that in the event such net cash proceeds of any Incremental Facility are not applied to finance a pending permitted acquisition or other similar

 

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investment within 30 days of the incurrence of such Incremental Facility (such 30 day period, the “Pending Acquisition Incremental Netting Period”), following the Pending Acquisition Incremental Netting Period such proceeds shall no longer be netted in calculating any applicable leverage ratios (this proviso, the “Incremental Netting Provision”), and in the case of any Incremental Revolving Facility, assuming a full drawing of such Incremental Revolving Facility and in the case of any delayed draw term loan facility, at the option of the Borrower either (x) at the time such delayed draw term loan facility is established, assuming a full drawing of the delayed draw term loan facility commitments at such time or (y) upon each funding of such delayed draw term loan facility based on the amount then funded, plus

(f)the Available Amount, plus

(g)unused amounts under the General Restricted Payments Basket; plus

(h)unused amounts under the General Debt Basket;

provided that:

(1)any Incremental Facility and/or Incremental Equivalent Debt may be incurred under one or more of clauses (a) through (h) of this definition as elected by the Borrower in its sole discretion;

(2)if any Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt is intended to be incurred under clause (e) of this definition and any other clause of this definition in a single transaction or series of related transactions, (A) the incurrence of the portion of such Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt to be incurred or implemented under clause (e) of this definition shall be calculated first without giving effect to any Incremental Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Debt to be incurred under any other clause of this definition or any other fixed dollar basket Indebtedness exception (including an incurrence under the ABL Credit Agreement or any other revolving facility), but giving full pro forma effect to the use of proceeds of the entire amount of such Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt and the related transactions, and (B) the incurrence of the portion of such Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt to be incurred or implemented under the other applicable clauses of this definition shall be calculated thereafter; and

(3)any portion of any Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt that is incurred under any clause of this definition other than clause (e) shall be automatically reclassified as having been incurred under clause (e) of this definition if, at any time after the incurrence thereof, when financial statements required pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b) are delivered or, if earlier, become internally available, such portion of such Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt would, using the figures reflected in such financial statements, be permitted under the First Lien Leverage Ratio, Secured Leverage Ratio, Total Leverage Ratio or Interest Coverage Ratio test, as applicable, set forth in clause (e) of this definition.

“Incremental Commitment” means any commitment made by a lender to provide all or any portion of any Incremental Facility or Incremental Loan.

 

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“Incremental Equivalent Debt” means Indebtedness in the form of notes (issued in a public offering, Rule 144A or other private placement or bridge financing in lieu thereof) or loans (or commitments in respect thereof) in lieu of loans (or commitments) under an Incremental Facility, which notes or loans may (at the option of the Borrower) be unsecured or secured by the Collateral on a pari passu or junior basis with Liens securing the Obligations; provided, that:

(a)the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof does not exceed the Incremental Cap (as in effect at the time of determination),

(b)except as otherwise agreed by the lenders or holders providing such notes or loans, no Event of Default exists immediately prior to or after giving effect to such Incremental Equivalent Debt; provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of any Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred in connection with any acquisition, Investment or irrevocable repayment or redemption of Indebtedness, no Event of Default under Sections 7.01(a), 7.01(f) or 7.01(g) shall exist immediately prior to or after giving effect to such Incremental Equivalent Debt,

(c)subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, (i) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity applicable to such Incremental Equivalent Debt in the form of term loans or notes (other than customary bridge loans with a maturity date of not longer than one year; provided, that any loans, notes, securities or other Indebtedness (other than revolving loans) which are exchanged for or otherwise replace such bridge loans shall be subject to the requirements of this clause (c)) is no shorter than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the then-existing Term Loans (without giving effect to any prepayment thereof) and (ii) any Incremental Equivalent Debt in the form of revolving loans shall not require scheduled amortization or mandatory commitment reduction prior to the Latest Revolving Credit Maturity Date,

(d)subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, the final maturity date with respect to such Incremental Equivalent Debt (i) in the form of term loans or notes (other than customary bridge loans with a maturity date of not longer than one year; provided, that any loans, notes, securities or other Indebtedness which are exchanged for or otherwise replace such bridge loans shall be subject to the requirements of this clause (d)) is no earlier than the Latest Term Loan Maturity Date on the date of the issuance or incurrence, as applicable, thereof and (ii) in the case of revolving loans, is no earlier than the Latest Revolving Credit Maturity Date,

(e)subject to clauses (c) and (d), such Indebtedness may otherwise have an amortization schedule as determined by the Borrower and the lenders providing such Incremental Equivalent Debt,

(f)in the case of any such Indebtedness in the form of term loans that are Qualifying Term Loans incurred in reliance on clause (e) of the definition of “Incremental Cap” (and not by virtue of any reclassification permitted pursuant thereto) (other than customary bridge loans with a maturity date of not longer than one year that are convertible or exchangeable into, or are intended to be refinanced with, any Indebtedness other than Qualifying Term Loans), Section 2.22(a)(v) shall apply to such Indebtedness as if such Indebtedness was an Incremental Term Facility mutatis mutandis,

(g)if such Indebtedness is (i) secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations, (ii) secured on a junior basis as compared to the Obligations or (iii) subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, then the holders of such Indebtedness shall be party to an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement,

(h)no such Indebtedness may be (x) guaranteed by any Subsidiary of the Borrower which is not a Loan Party or (y) secured by any assets other than the Collateral, and

 

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(i)except as otherwise provided herein, the terms of such Indebtedness, if (x) not substantially consistent with or (y) (taken as a whole) no more favorable (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) to the Lenders or holders providing such Incremental Equivalent Debt than those applicable to any then-existing Term Loans, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being agreed that any terms contained in such Indebtedness (i) which are applicable only after the then-existing Latest Term Loan Maturity Date and/or (ii) that are more favorable (taken as a whole) to the lenders or the agent of such Indebtedness than those contained in the Loan Documents (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) and are then conformed (or added) to the Loan Documents for the benefit of the Term Lenders or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, pursuant to an amendment to this Agreement, and/or (iii) that reflect market terms (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence, issuance or effectiveness (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) shall in each case be deemed satisfactory to the Administrative Agent).

“Incremental Facilities” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(a).

“Incremental Facility Agreement” means an amendment to this Agreement that is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (solely for purposes of giving effect to Section 2.22) and the Borrower executed by each of (a) Holdings and the Borrower, (b) the Administrative Agent and (c) each Lender that agrees to provide all or any portion of the Incremental Facility being incurred pursuant thereto and in accordance with Section 2.22.

“Incremental Loans” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(a).

“Incremental Netting Provision” has the meaning assigned to such term in the defined term “Incremental Cap”.

“Incremental Revolving Commitment” means any commitment made by a lender to provide all or any portion of any Incremental Revolving Facility.

“Incremental Revolving Facility” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(a).

“Incremental Revolving Facility Lender” means, with respect to any Incremental Revolving Facility, each Additional Revolving Lender providing any portion of such Incremental Revolving Facility.

“Incremental Revolving Loans” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(a).

“Incremental Term Facility” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(a).

“Incremental Term Loans” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(a).

“Incurrence-Based Amounts” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.10(d).

“Indebtedness” as applied to any Person means, without duplication:  

(a)all indebtedness for borrowed money;

(b)that portion of obligations with respect to Capital Leases to the extent recorded as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

 

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(c)all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments to the extent the same would appear as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(d)any obligation of such Person owed for all or any part of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding (i) any earn out obligation or purchase price adjustment until such obligation (A) becomes a liability on the balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person in accordance with GAAP and (B) has not been paid within 30 days after becoming due and payable, (ii) any such obligations incurred under ERISA, (iii) accrued expenses and trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business (including on an inter-company basis) and (iv) liabilities associated with customer prepayments and deposits), which purchase price is (A) due more than six months from the date of incurrence of the obligation in respect thereof or (B) evidenced by a note or similar written instrument;

(e)all Indebtedness of others that is secured by any Lien on any asset owned or held by such Person regardless of whether the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed by such Person or is non-recourse to the credit of such Person;

(f)the face amount of any letter of credit issued for the account of such Person or as to which such Person is otherwise liable for reimbursement of drawings;

(g)the Guarantee by such Person of the Indebtedness of another;

(h)all obligations of such Person in respect of any Disqualified Capital Stock; and

(i)all net obligations of such Person in respect of any Derivative Transaction, including any Hedge Agreement, whether or not entered into for hedging or speculative purposes;

provided that (i) in no event shall obligations under any Derivative Transaction be deemed “Indebtedness” for any calculation of the Total Leverage Ratio, the First Lien Leverage Ratio, the Secured Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio or any other financial ratio under this Agreement and (ii) the amount of Indebtedness of any Person for purposes of clause (e) shall be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (A) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness and (B) the fair market value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any third person (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner and any unincorporated joint venture in which such Person is a joint venturer) to the extent such Person would be liable therefor under applicable Requirements of Law or any agreement or instrument by virtue of such Person’s ownership interest in such Person, (A) except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor and (B) only to the extent the relevant Indebtedness is of the type that would be included in the calculation of Consolidated Total Debt.

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

“Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(b).

“Information Memorandum” means the Public Lender Presentation dated February 2021, relating to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the Transactions.

 

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“Initial Lenders” means the Arrangers and the affiliates of the Arrangers who are party to this Agreement as Lenders on the Closing Date.

“Initial Term Lender” means any Lender with an Initial Term Loan Commitment or an outstanding Initial Term Loan.

“Initial Term Loan Commitment” means, with respect to each Term Lender, the commitment of such Term Lender to make Initial Term Loans hereunder in an aggregate amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Term Lender’s name on the Commitment Schedule, as the same may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09 or 2.19, (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Term Lender pursuant to Section 9.05 or (c) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.22.  The aggregate amount of the Term Lenders’ Initial Term Loan Commitments on the Closing Date is $810,000,000.

“Initial Term Loan Maturity Date” means the date that is seven years after the Closing Date.

“Initial Term Loans” means the term loans made by the Initial Term Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(a).

“Intellectual Property Security Agreement” means any agreement, or a supplement thereto, executed on or after the Closing Date confirming or effecting the grant of any Lien on IP Rights owned by any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in accordance with this Agreement and the Collateral Agreement, including an Intellectual Property Security Agreement substantially in the form of an exhibit thereto.

“Intercreditor Agreements” means the ABL Intercreditor Agreement and, to the extent then in effect, the Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any other Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement.

“Interest Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio for the most recently ended Test Period of (a) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such Test Period to (b) Ratio Interest Expense for such Test Period, in each case of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

“Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower in the form of Exhibit D or another form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.08.

“Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December (commencing with June 30, 2021) and the maturity date applicable to such Loan and (b) with respect to any Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of an Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day that would have been an Interest Payment Date had successive Interest Periods of three months’ duration been applicable to such Borrowing.

“Interest Period” means with respect to any Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months (or, to the extent agreed to by all relevant affected Lenders, twelve months or a shorter period) thereafter, as the Borrower may elect; provided that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar

 

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month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) 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; provided, further, that any Interest Period that would otherwise end after the Maturity Date shall end on the Maturity Date.  For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

“Interpolated Rate” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing for any Interest Period, a rate per annum which results from interpolating on a linear basis between (a) the applicable Screen Rate for the longest maturity for which a Screen Rate is available that is shorter than such Interest Period and (b) the applicable Screen Rate for the shortest maturity for which a Screen Rate is available that is longer than such Interest Period, in each case as of 11:00 a.m., London time on the day two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period.

“Investment” means (a) any purchase or other acquisition by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any of the Securities of any other Person (other than any Loan Party), (b) the acquisition by purchase or otherwise (other than any purchase or other acquisition of inventory, materials, supplies and/or equipment in the ordinary course of business) of all or a substantial portion of the business, property or fixed assets of any other Person or any division or line of business or other business unit of any other Person and (c) any loan, advance (other than any advance to any current or former employee, officer, director, member of management, manager, consultant or independent contractor of the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary, or any Parent Company for moving, entertainment and travel expenses, drawing accounts and similar expenditures in the ordinary course of business) or capital contribution by the  Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to any other Person.  Subject to Section 5.10, the amount of any Investment shall be the original cost of such Investment, plus the cost of any addition thereto that otherwise constitutes an Investment, without any adjustments for increases or decreases in value, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect thereto, but giving effect to any repayments of principal in the case of any Investment in the form of a loan and any return of capital or return on Investment in the case of any equity Investment (whether as a distribution, dividend, redemption or sale but not in excess of the amount of the relevant initial Investment).

“Investors” means (a) the Sponsor, (b) the Management Investors and (c) certain other investors that, directly or indirectly, beneficially own Capital Stock in Holdings immediately prior to Holdings’ initial public offering.

“IP Rights” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.05(c).

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

“Junior Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness among Holdings, the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries) of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations.

“Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means the junior lien intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit K-2.

“Latest Maturity Date” means, as of 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 Term Loan, Term Commitment, Incremental Revolving Loan or any Incremental Revolving Commitment.

 

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“Latest Revolving Credit Maturity Date” means, as of any date of determination, the latest maturity or expiration date applicable to any Incremental Revolving Loan or Incremental Revolving Commitment hereunder at such time; provided that if no Incremental Revolving Loan or Incremental Revolving Commitment is outstanding at any time, the Latest Revolving Credit Maturity Date shall be deemed to be the date that is five years from the Closing Date.

“Latest Term Loan Maturity Date” means, as of any date of determination, the latest maturity or expiration date applicable to any term loan or term commitment hereunder at such time, including the latest maturity or expiration date of any Term Loan or any Additional Term Loan Commitment.

“Legal Reservations” means the application of relevant Debtor Relief Laws, general principles of equity and/or principles of good faith and fair dealing.

“Lenders” means the Term Lenders, any lender with an Additional Commitment or an outstanding Additional Loan and any other Person that becomes a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.

“LIBOR” has the meaning specified in the definition of Screen Rate.

“LIBOR Adjustment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14.

“LIBOR Successor Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14.

“LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate, any conforming changes to the definition of Alternate Base Rate, Interest Period, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other technical, administrative or operational matters as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, to reflect the adoption and implementation of such LIBOR Successor Rate and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such LIBOR Successor Rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent determines is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement).

“Lien” means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), collateral assignment (by way of security or otherwise) charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any Capital Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing), in each case, in the nature of security; provided that in no event shall an operating lease in and of itself be deemed to constitute a Lien.

“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, any Promissory Note, the Loan Guarantee, the Security Documents, the ABL Intercreditor Agreement, each Refinancing Amendment, each Incremental Facility Agreement, each Extension Amendment and any other document or instrument designated by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent as a “Loan Document.”  Any reference in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to any Loan Document shall include all appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto.

“Loan Guarantee” means (a) the Guarantee set forth in Article II of the Collateral Agreement, as supplemented in accordance with the terms of Section 5.12 and (b) solely with respect to any Foreign

 

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Subsidiary designated as a Subsidiary Loan Party pursuant to the penultimate sentence of the definition of “Subsidiary Loan Party”, any local law guaranty that may have been executed by such Foreign Subsidiary.

“Loan Installment Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.10(a).

“Loan Parties” means Holdings, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Loan Party.

“Loans” means any Initial Term Loan, any Additional Term Loan and/or any Additional Revolving Loan.

“London Banking Day” means any day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank market.

“Management Investors” means the officers, directors, managers, employees and members of management of the Borrower, any Parent Company, and/or any Subsidiary of the Borrower.

“Margin Stock” has the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U.

“Market Capitalization” means an amount equal to (i) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of common (or common equivalent) Capital Stock of the Borrower or the applicable Parent Company on the date of the declaration of a Restricted Payment permitted pursuant to Section 6.04(a)(vii) multiplied by (ii) the arithmetic mean of the closing prices per share of the common (or common equivalent) Capital Stock on the principal securities exchange on which such Capital Stock are traded for the 30 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of declaration of such Restricted Payment.

“Market Intercreditor Agreement” means an intercreditor agreement the terms of which are consistent with market terms (as determined by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in good faith) governing security arrangements for the sharing of liens or arrangements relating to the distribution of payments, as applicable, at the time the intercreditor agreement is proposed to be established in light of the type of Indebtedness subject thereto.

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the business, assets, financial condition or results of operations, in each case, of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) the rights and remedies (taken as a whole) of the Administrative Agent under the applicable Loan Documents or (iii) the ability of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the applicable Loan Documents.

“Material Debt Instrument” means any physical instrument evidencing any Indebtedness for borrowed money which is required to be pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent (or its bailee) pursuant to the Collateral Agreement.

“Material Intellectual Property” means any IP rights that, individually or in the aggregate, are material to the operation of the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

“Material Real Estate Asset” means (a) on the Closing Date, each “fee-owned” Real Estate Asset having a fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Borrower after taking into account any liabilities with respect thereto that impact such fair market value) of $10,000,000 or more, as listed on Schedule 1.01(c) and (b) any “fee-owned” Real Estate Asset acquired by any Loan Party after the Closing Date (or owned by a Loan Party when it becomes a Loan Party) having a fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Borrower after taking into account any liabilities with respect thereto that impact such fair market value) of $10,000,000 or more as of the date of acquisition thereof.

 

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“Maturity Date” means (a) with respect to the Initial Term Loans, the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date, (b) with respect to any Replacement Term Loans, the final maturity date for such Replacement Term Loans, as the case may be, as set forth in the applicable Refinancing Amendment, (c) with respect to any Incremental Facility, the final maturity date set forth in the applicable Incremental Facility Agreement and (d) with respect to any Extended Revolving Credit Commitment or Extended Term Loans, the final maturity date set forth in the applicable Extension Amendment.

“Maximum Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.20.

“Minimum Extension Condition” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.23(b).

“Moody’s” means ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ Investors Service, Inc.

“Mortgage” means any mortgage, deed of trust, deeds to secure debt or other agreement which conveys or evidences a Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the relevant Secured Parties, on any Material Real Estate Asset constituting Collateral.

“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan which is a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA that is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates, makes or is obligated to make contributions or with respect to which any of them has any ongoing obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise.

“Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds” means an amount equal to: (a) any Cash payments or proceeds (including Cash Equivalents) received by the  Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) under any casualty insurance policy in respect of a covered loss thereunder of any assets of the  Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) as a result of the taking of any assets of the  Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Person pursuant to the power of eminent domain, condemnation, expropriation or otherwise, or pursuant to a sale of any such assets to a purchaser with such power under threat of such a taking, minus (b) (i) any actual out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the  Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the adjustment, settlement or collection of any claims of the Borrower or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary in respect thereof, (ii) payment of the outstanding principal amount of, premium or penalty, if any, and interest and other amounts on any Indebtedness (excluding the Loans and Indebtedness under any ABL Facility and any Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the Term Priority Collateral that is pari passu with or expressly subordinated to the Lien on the Collateral securing any Obligation) that is secured by a Lien on the assets in question and that is required to be repaid or otherwise comes due or would be in default under the terms thereof as a result of such loss, taking or sale, (iii) in the case of a taking, the reasonable out-of-pocket costs of putting any affected property in a safe and secure position, (iv) any selling costs and out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable broker’s fees or commissions, legal fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, deed or mortgage recording taxes, other customary expenses and brokerage, consultant and other customary fees actually incurred in connection therewith and transfer and similar Taxes and the Borrower’s good faith estimate of income Taxes paid or payable (including pursuant to Tax sharing arrangements or any intercompany Tax distribution)) in connection with any sale or taking of such assets as described in clause (a) of this definition, (v) any amounts provided as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities under any indemnification obligation or purchase price adjustments associated with any sale or taking of such assets as referred to in clause (a) of this definition (provided that to the extent and at the time any such amounts are released from such reserve, such amounts shall constitute Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds) and (vi) in the case of any covered loss or taking from any non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, the pro rata portion thereof (calculated

 

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without regard to this clause (vi)) attributable to minority interests and not available for distribution to or for the account of the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary as a result thereof.

“Net Proceeds” means (a) with respect to any Disposition (including any Prepayment Asset Sale), the Cash proceeds (including Cash Equivalents and Cash proceeds subsequently received (as and when received) in respect of non-cash consideration initially received), net of (i) selling costs and out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable broker’s fees or commissions, legal fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, deed or mortgage recording taxes, other customary expenses and brokerage, consultant and other customary fees actually incurred in connection therewith and transfer and similar Taxes and the Borrower’s good faith estimate of income Taxes paid or payable (including pursuant to Tax sharing arrangements or any permitted intercompany Tax distributions) in connection with such Disposition), (ii) amounts provided as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities under any indemnification obligation or purchase price adjustment associated with such Disposition (provided that to the extent and at the time any such amounts are released from such reserve, such amounts shall constitute Net Proceeds), (iii) the principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest and other amounts on any Indebtedness (excluding the Loans and Indebtedness under any ABL Facility and any Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the Term Priority Collateral that is pari passu with or expressly subordinated to the Lien on the Collateral securing any Obligation) which is secured by the asset sold in such Disposition and which is required to be repaid or otherwise comes due or would be in default and is repaid (other than any such Indebtedness that is assumed by the purchaser of such asset), (iv) Cash escrows (until released from escrow to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) from the sale price for such Disposition and (v) in the case of any Disposition by any non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, the pro rata portion of the Net Proceeds thereof (calculated without regard to this clause (v)) attributable to any minority interest and not available for distribution to or for the account of the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary as a result thereof; and (b) with respect to any issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness or Capital Stock, the Cash proceeds thereof, net of all Taxes and customary fees, commissions, costs, underwriting discounts and other fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith.

“Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.19(b).

“Non-Debt Fund Affiliate” means any Sponsor, the other direct or indirect equity owners of Holdings and any Affiliate of any such Sponsor or equity owner, other than any Debt Fund Affiliate.

“Non-Loan Party Cap” means an aggregate amount equal to the greater of $90,000,000 and 45% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period.

“Obligations” means (a) all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding (or that would accrue but for the operation of applicable bankruptcy or insolvency laws), regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Loans, all accrued and unpaid fees, premiums and all expenses (including fees, premiums and expenses accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding (or that would accrue but for the operation of applicable bankruptcy or insolvency laws), regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), reimbursements, indemnities and all other advances to, debts, liabilities and obligations of any Loan Party to the Lenders or to any Lender, the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any indemnified party arising under the Loan Documents in respect of any Loan, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute, contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising, (b) all Cash Management Obligations and (c) all Specified Hedge Obligations; provided that Cash Management Obligations and Specified Hedge Obligations shall cease to constitute Obligations on and after the Termination Date.

 

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“OFAC” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.17(a).

“Organizational Documents” means (a) with respect to any corporation, its certificate or articles of incorporation or organization and its by-laws, (b) with respect to any limited partnership, its certificate of limited partnership and its partnership agreement, (c) with respect to any general partnership, its partnership agreement, (d) with respect to any limited liability company, its articles of organization or certificate of formation, and its operating agreement, and (e) with respect to any other form of entity, such other organizational documents required by local Requirements of Law or customary under such jurisdiction to document the formation and governance principles of such type of entity.  In the event that any term or condition of this Agreement or any other Loan Document requires any Organizational Document to be certified by a secretary of state or similar governmental official, the reference to any such “Organizational Document” shall only be to a document of a type customarily certified by such governmental official.

“Other Applicable Indebtedness” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(b)(ii).

“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising solely from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, or engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary Taxes or any intangible, recording, filing or other excise or property Taxes arising from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt (i) any Excluded Taxes and (ii) any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment or participation (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.19(b)).

“Parent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

“Parent Company” means (a) Holdings and (b) any other Person of which the Borrower is an indirect Wholly-Owned Subsidiary.

“Pari Passu Intercreditor Agreement” means the pari passu intercreditor agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit K-1.

“Participant” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.05(c).

“Participant Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.05(c).

“Patent” means the following: (a) any and all patents and patent applications throughout the world; (b) all inventions described and claimed therein; (c) all reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, renewals, extensions and continuations in part thereof; (d) all income, royalties, damages, claims, and payments now or hereafter due or payable under and with respect thereto, including damages and payments for past and future infringements thereof; (e) all rights to ▇▇▇ for past, present, and future infringements thereof; and (f) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing.

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 

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“Pending Acquisition Incremental Netting Period” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Incremental Cap”.

“Pension Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan), that is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, that the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates, maintains or contributes to or has an obligation to contribute to, or otherwise has any liability with respect to, contingent or otherwise.

“Perfection Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit E.

“Perfection Requirements” means (a) the filing of appropriate financing statements with the office of the Secretary of State or other appropriate office in the state of organization of each Loan Party, (b) the filing of appropriate assignments or notices with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and/or the U.S. Copyright Office, as applicable, (c) the proper recording or filing, as applicable, of Mortgages and fixture filings with respect to any Material Real Estate Asset constituting Collateral, in each case in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and (d) the delivery to the Collateral Agent of any stock certificate or promissory note together with instruments of transfer executed in blank, in each case, to the extent required by the applicable Loan Documents.

“Permitted Acquisition” means any acquisition made by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether by purchase, merger, amalgamation or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the assets of, or any business line, unit or division or product line (including research and development and related assets in respect of any product) of, any Person or of a majority of the outstanding Capital Stock of any Person who is engaged in a Similar Business (and, in any event, including any Investment in (x) any Restricted Subsidiary the effect of which is to increase the Borrower’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s equity ownership in such Restricted Subsidiary or (y) any joint venture for the purpose of increasing the Borrower’s or its relevant Restricted Subsidiary’s ownership interest in such joint venture), in each case if (1) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (2) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is amalgamated, merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets (or such division, business unit or product line) to, or is liquidated into, the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Investment.

“Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception” means, with respect to any Indebtedness incurred hereunder that would otherwise be subject to maturity or Weighted Average Life to Maturity restrictions, that up to the greater of (x) $200,000,000 and (y) 100% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period in the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness outstanding at any time may have a maturity date that is earlier than, and a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is shorter than, the Latest Maturity Date or the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Term Loans.

“Permitted Holders” means (a) the Investors and (b) any Person with which one or more Investors form a “group” (within the meaning of Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act) so long as, in the case of this clause (b), the relevant Investors beneficially own more than 50% of the relevant voting stock beneficially owned by the group.

“Permitted Liens” means Liens permitted pursuant to Section 6.02.

“Permitted Parent” shall mean any direct or indirect Parent Company which does not hold Capital Stock in any other Person (except for any other Permitted Parent).

 

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“Permitted Sale Leaseback” means any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction consummated by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Closing Date; provided (i) that any such Sale Leaseback that is not between (a) a Loan Party and another Loan Party or (b) a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and another Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party must be, in each case, consummated for fair value as determined at the time of consummation in good faith by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) the aggregate fair market value of the assets sold subject to all Sale Leaseback Transactions under Section 6.07(cc) shall not exceed the greater of $70,000,000 and 35% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period.

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

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

“Platform” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(d).

“Prepayment Asset Sale” means any Disposition by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries made pursuant to Section 6.07(h) if in excess of the greater of $20,000,000 and 6% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period, Section 6.07(q), Section 6.07(s) and Section 6.07(x).

“Prepayment Notice” means a notice from the Borrower of any prepayment of any Borrowing of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.11(a) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit M or such other form that is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

“Primary Obligor” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Guarantee”.

“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 reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Board (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent). The Prime Rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer. Any change in the prime rate determined by the Administrative Agent shall take effect at the opening of business on the date of such determination.

“Pro Forma Basis” or “pro forma effect” means, with respect to any determination of the Total Leverage Ratio, the First Lien Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio, the Secured Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets (including component definitions thereof), that each Subject Transaction shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable Test Period (or, in the case of Consolidated Total Assets (or with respect to any determination pertaining to the balance sheet, including the acquisition of Cash and Cash Equivalents), as of the last day of such Test Period) with respect to any test or covenant for which such calculation is being made and that:

(a)(i) in the case of (A) any Disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary or any division and/or product line of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (B) any designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary and (C) the implementation of any Cost Saving Initiative, income statement items (whether positive or negative and including any Expected Cost Savings) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Subject

 

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Transaction, shall be excluded as of the first day of the applicable Test Period with respect to any test or covenant for which the relevant determination is being made and (ii) in the case of any Permitted Acquisition, Investment and/or designation of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary described in the definition of the term “Subject Transaction”, income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Subject Transaction shall be included as of the first day of the applicable Test Period with respect to any test or covenant for which the relevant determination is being made; it being understood that any pro forma adjustment described in this Agreement may be applied to any such test or covenant solely to the extent that such adjustment is consistent with the definition of “Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA”,

(b)any retirement or repayment of Indebtedness (other than normal fluctuations in revolving Indebtedness incurred for working capital purposes) shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable Test Period with respect to any test or covenant for which the relevant determination is being made,

(c)any Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable Test Period with respect to any test or covenant for which the relevant determination is being made; provided that, (x) if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, such Indebtedness shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable Test Period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate that is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness at the relevant date of determination (taking into account any interest hedging arrangements applicable to such Indebtedness), (y) interest on any obligation with respect to any Capital Lease shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to be the rate of interest implicit in such obligation in accordance with GAAP and (z) interest on any Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a Eurocurrency interbank offered rate or other rate shall be determined to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen by the Borrower and

(d)the acquisition of any asset (including Cash and Cash Equivalents) included in calculating Consolidated Total Assets, whether pursuant to any Subject Transaction or any Person becoming a Subsidiary or merging, amalgamating or consolidating with or into the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or the Disposition of any asset (including Cash and Cash Equivalents) included in calculating Consolidated Total Assets, described in the definition of “Subject Transaction” shall be deemed to have occurred as of the last day of the applicable Test Period with respect to any test or covenant for which such calculation is being made.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph, for the avoidance of doubt, when calculating the First Lien Leverage Ratio for purposes of the definition of “Applicable Rate”, the Required Excess Cash Flow Percentage (except as otherwise set forth therein) or the Required Net Proceeds Percentage, the events described in the immediately preceding paragraph that occurred subsequent to the end of the applicable Test Period shall not be given pro forma effect.

“Promissory Note” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to any Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit G, evidencing the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Loans of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from the Loans made by such Lender.

“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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“Public Company Costs” means Charges associated with, or in anticipation of, or preparation for, compliance with the requirements of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith and Charges relating to compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (and in the case of any Requirement of Law, any similar Requirement of Law under any other applicable jurisdiction), as applicable to companies with equity or debt securities held by the public, the rules of national securities exchange companies with listed equity or debt securities, directors’, managers’ and/or employees’ compensation, fees and expense reimbursement, Charges relating to investor relations, shareholder meetings and reports to shareholders or debtholders, directors’ and officers’ insurance and other executive costs, legal and other professional fees and listing fees and other costs and/or expenses associated with being a public company.

“Public Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(d).

“QFC Credit Support” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.26.

“Qualified Capital Stock” of any Person means any Capital Stock of such Person that is not Disqualified Capital Stock.

“Qualified Counterparty” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Specified Hedge Obligations”.

“Qualified Securitization Financing” means any Securitization Facility that meets the following conditions: (i) the board of directors (or similar entity) shall have determined in good faith that such Securitization Facility (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) all sales of Securitization Assets and related assets by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Securitization Subsidiary or any other Person are made for fair consideration (as determined in good faith by the Borrower), (iii) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be fair and reasonable terms (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings and (iv) the obligations under such Securitization Facility are non-recourse (except for customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities made in connection with such facilities) to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Securitization Subsidiary).

“Qualifying Term Loans” means Indebtedness that is (i) incurred prior to the 6 month anniversary of the Closing Date, (ii) denominated in Dollars, (iii) in the form of syndicated floating rate term loans (other than customary bridge loans), (iv) secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Loans, (v) pari passu in right of payment with the Initial Term Loans, (vi) scheduled to mature prior to the date that is one year after the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date, (vii) an aggregate principal amount in excess of the greater of (x) $200,000,000 and (y) 100% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period calculated on a Pro Forma Basis and (viii) not incurred to finance a Permitted Acquisition or similar Investment.

“Ratio Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, (a) the sum of consolidated cash interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period whether paid or accrued excluding (A) amortization of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, discounted liabilities, commission, fees and expenses, (B) any expense arising from any bridge, commitment and/or other financing fee (including fees and expenses associated with the Transaction, annual agency fees and Securitization Fees), (C) any expense resulting from the discounting of Indebtedness in connection with the application of recapitalization accounting or, if applicable, acquisition accounting, (D) fees and expenses associated with any Dispositions, acquisitions, Investments, issuances of Capital Stock or Indebtedness (in each case, whether or not consummated), (E) costs associated with obtaining, or breakage costs in respect

 

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of, any Hedge Agreement or any other derivative instrument other than any interest rate Hedge Agreement or interest rate derivative instrument with respect to Indebtedness, (F) penalties and interest relating to Taxes and (G) for the avoidance of doubt, any non-cash interest expense attributable to any movement in the ▇▇▇▇ to market valuation of any obligation under any Hedge Agreement or derivative instrument and/or any payment obligation arising under any Hedge Agreement or derivative instrument other than any interest rate Hedge Agreement or interest rate derivative instrument with respect to Indebtedness (but including cash dividends on Disqualified Stock) minus (b) interest income for such period.  For purposes of this definition, interest in respect of any Capital Lease shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by such Person to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capital Lease in accordance with GAAP.

“Real Estate Asset” means, at any time of determination, all right, title and interest (fee, leasehold or otherwise) of any Loan Party in and to real property (including, but not limited to, land, improvement and fixtures thereon).

“Real Estate Collateral Requirements” shall mean, with respect to the Material Real Estate Assets and any Material Real Estate Assets hereafter acquired as required by Section 5.12(b), the Administrative Agent shall have received a Mortgage in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and suitable for recording or filing, together, with respect to each Mortgage for any property located in the United States, the following documents: (a) a fully paid policy of title insurance (or “pro forma” or marked up commitment having the same effect of a title insurance policy) (i) in a form approved by the Administrative Agent insuring the Lien of such Mortgage as a valid First Priority Lien subject to no liens other than Permitted Liens and any other liens otherwise permitted by the Administrative Agent, (ii) in an amount reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent but no less than the market value thereof, (iii) issued by a nationally recognized title insurance company reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (iv) that includes (A) no exceptions other than Permitted Liens and those reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (B) such endorsements or affirmative insurance reasonably required by the Administrative Agent and available at a commercially reasonable price in the applicable jurisdiction, (b) upon the request of the Administrative Agent, a survey in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (c) an opinion of local counsel reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (d) no later than three (3) Business Days prior to the delivery of the Mortgage, the following documents and instruments, in order to comply with the Flood Insurance Laws: (A) a completed standard flood hazard determination form and (B) for each Flood Hazard Property, (i) a signed notification to the Borrower and (ii) a copy of the flood insurance policy, the Borrower’s application for a flood insurance policy plus proof of premium payment, a declaration page confirming that flood insurance has been issued, or such other evidence of flood insurance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in an amount required by Flood Insurance Laws, (e) upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, Phase I environmental site assessment reports prepared in accordance with the current ASTM E1527 standard and (f) such other instruments and documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request and with respect to each Mortgage for any property located outside the United States, equivalent documents available in the applicable jurisdiction and required by the Administrative Agent.

“Receivables Assets” means (a) any accounts receivable owed to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary subject to a Receivables Facility and the proceeds thereof and (b) all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all contracts and contract rights, guarantees or other obligations in respect of such accounts receivable, all records with respect to such accounts receivable and any other assets customarily transferred together with accounts receivable in connection with a Receivables Facility.  

 

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“Receivables Facility” means an arrangement between the Borrower or a Subsidiary and a commercial bank, an asset based lender or other financial institution or an Affiliate thereof pursuant to which (a) the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, sells (directly or indirectly) to such commercial bank, asset based lender or other financial institution (or such Affiliate) Receivables Assets and (b) the obligations of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, thereunder are non-recourse (except for Securitization Repurchase Obligations) to the Borrower and such Subsidiary and (c) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be on market terms (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings, and shall include any guaranty in respect of such arrangements.

“Recipient” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Excluded Taxes”.

“Refinancing” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

“Refinancing Amendment” means an amendment to this Agreement that is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower executed by (a) Holdings and the Borrower, (b) the Administrative Agent and (c) each Lender that agrees to provide all or any portion of the Replacement Term Loans or the Replacement Revolving Facility, as applicable, being incurred pursuant thereto and in accordance with Section 9.02(c).

“Refinancing Indebtedness” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(p).

“Refunding Capital Stock” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.04(a)(viii).

“Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.05(b)(iv).

“Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

“Regulation U” means Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

“Regulation X” means Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

“Related Funds” means with respect to any Lender that is an Approved Fund, any other Approved Fund that is managed by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.

“Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, managers, officers, trustees, employees, partners, agents, advisors and other representatives of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

“Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, pouring, injection, escaping, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, dumping, leaching or migration into or through the Environment (including the abandonment or disposal of any barrels, containers or other closed receptacles containing any Hazardous Material).

“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the

 

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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ for the purpose of recommending a benchmark rate to replace LIBOR in loan agreements similar to this Agreement.

“Replaced Revolving Facility” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(c)(ii).

“Replaced Term Loans” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(c)(i).

“Replacement Debt” means any Refinancing Indebtedness (whether borrowed in the form of secured or unsecured loans, issued in a public offering, Rule 144A under the Securities Act or other private placement or bridge financing in lieu of the foregoing or otherwise) incurred in respect of Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(a) (and any subsequent refinancing of such Replacement Debt).

“Replacement Revolving Facility” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(c)(ii).

“Replacement Term Loans” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(c)(i).

“Reportable Event” means, with respect to any Pension Plan, any of the events described in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, other than those events as to which the 30-day notice period is waived under PBGC Reg. Section 4043.  

“Representatives” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.13.

“Repricing Transaction” means each of (a) the prepayment, repayment, refinancing, substitution or replacement of all or a portion of the Initial Term Loans substantially concurrently with the incurrence by any Loan Party of any secured term loans (including any Replacement Term Loans) having an Effective Yield that is less than the Effective Yield applicable to the Initial Term Loans so prepaid, repaid, refinanced, substituted or replaced and (b) any amendment, waiver or other modification to, or consent under, this Agreement that would have the effect of reducing the Effective Yield applicable to the Initial Term Loans; provided that the primary purpose of such prepayment, repayment, refinancing, substitution, replacement, amendment, waiver or other modification was to reduce the Effective Yield applicable to the Initial Term Loans; provided, further, that in no event shall any such prepayment, repayment, refinancing, substitution, replacement, amendment, waiver or other modification in connection with a Transformative Transaction or Change of Control constitute a Repricing Transaction.  Any determination by the Administrative Agent of the Effective Yield for purposes of the definition shall be conclusive and binding on all Lenders, and the Administrative Agent shall have no liability to any Person with respect to such determination absent bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct.

“Required Excess Cash Flow Percentage” means, as of any date of determination, (a) if the First Lien Leverage Ratio is greater than 3.50:1.00, 50%, (b) if the First Lien Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.50:1.00 and greater than 3.00:1.00, 25% and (c) if the First Lien Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.00:1.00, 0%; it being understood and agreed that, for purposes of this definition as it applies to the determination of the amount of Excess Cash Flow that is required to be applied to prepay the Term Loans under Section 2.11(b)(i) for any Excess Cash Flow Period, the First Lien Leverage Ratio shall be determined on the last day of the Fiscal Year for which the Required Excess Cash Flow Percentage is being calculated, recalculated to give pro forma effect to any such paydown or reduction.

“Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Loans or unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the total Loans and such unused commitments at such time.

“Required Net Proceeds Percentage” means, as of any date of determination, (a) if the First Lien Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period is greater than 3.50:1.00, 100%,

 

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(b) if the First Lien Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period less than or equal to 3.50:1.00 and greater than 3.00:1.00, 50% and (c) if the First Lien Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period less than or equal to 3.00:1.00, 0%.

“Requirements of Law” means, with respect to any Person, collectively, the common law and all federal, state, local, foreign, multinational or international laws, statutes, codes, treaties, standards, rules and regulations, guidelines, ordinances, orders, judgments, writs, injunctions, decrees (including administrative or judicial precedents or authorities) and the interpretation or administration thereof by, and other determinations, directives, requirements or requests of any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law and that are applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

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

“Responsible Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the chief executive officer, the president, the chief financial officer, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any executive vice president, any senior vice president, any vice president or the chief operating officer of such Person and any other individual or similar official thereof responsible for the administration of the obligations of such Person in respect of this Agreement, and, as to any document delivered on the Closing Date, shall include any secretary or assistant secretary or any other individual or similar official thereof with substantially equivalent responsibilities of a Loan Party and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article 2, any other officer of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent.  Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of any Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party, and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

“Responsible Officer Certification” means, with respect to the financial statements for which such certification is required, the certification of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower that such financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, in accordance with GAAP, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower as at the dates indicated and its consolidated income and cash flows for the periods indicated, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end adjustments.

“Restricted Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11(b)(iv)(C).

“Restricted Debt” means any Junior Indebtedness to the extent incurred pursuant to a provision that requires such Indebtedness to mature at or outside of the maturity date of the Initial Term Loans and to the extent the outstanding amount thereof is equal to or greater than the Threshold Amount.

“Restricted Debt Payments” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04(b).

“Restricted Payment” means (a) any dividend or other distribution on account of any shares of any class of the Capital Stock of the Borrower, except a dividend payable solely in shares of Qualified Capital Stock to the holders of such class; (b) any redemption, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value of any shares of any class of the Capital Stock of the Borrower and (c) any payment made to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to acquire shares of any class of the Capital Stock of the Borrower now or hereafter outstanding.

 

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“Restricted Subsidiary” means, as to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.  Unless otherwise specified, “Restricted Subsidiary” shall mean any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower.

“Retained Asset Sale Proceeds” means, at any date of determination, an amount, determined on a cumulative basis, that is equal to the aggregate cumulative sum of the Subject Proceeds that is not required to be applied as a mandatory prepayment under Section 2.11(b)(ii) per Fiscal Year; provided that such amount shall not be less than zero for any Fiscal Year.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a Subsidiary of S&P Global, Inc.

“Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) sells, transfers or otherwise disposes of any property, real or personal, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and (b) as part of such transaction, rents or leases such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold, transferred or disposed.

“Sanctions” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.17(a).

“Scheduled Consideration” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Excess Cash Flow”.

“Scheduled Unavailability Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(c)(ii).

“Screen Rate” means with respect to the Eurocurrency Rate for any Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) administered by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any other person which takes over administration of that rate) and Interest Period displayed on the applicable Bloomberg screen (or any replacement Bloomberg page which displays that rate). If such page or service ceases to be available, the Administrative Agent may specify another page or service displaying the relevant rate that has been nominated by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any successor or substitute agency thereto) as an authorized information vendor for the purpose of displaying such rates; provided that, in the event such rate does not appear on a page of the Bloomberg screen, on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate as shall be selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion). If no Screen Rate shall be available for a particular Interest Period but Screen Rates shall be available for maturities both longer and shorter than such Interest Period, then the Screen Rate for such Interest Period shall be the Interpolated Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Screen Rate, determined as provided above, would otherwise be less than zero, then the Screen Rate shall be deemed to be zero for all purposes.  

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

“Secured Leverage Ratio” means the ratio, as of any date of determination, of (a) Consolidated Secured Debt as of the last day of the Test Period then most recently ended to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended, in each case of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

“Secured Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Collateral Agreement.

“Securities” means any stock, shares, units, partnership interests, voting trust certificates, certificates of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement or arrangement, options, warrants,

 

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bonds, debentures, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured, convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any instruments commonly known as “securities” or any certificates of interest, shares or participations in temporary or interim certificates for the purchase or acquisition of, or any right to subscribe to, purchase or acquire, any of the foregoing; provided that the term “Securities” shall not include any earn-out agreement or obligation or any employee bonus or other incentive compensation plan or agreement.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

“Securitization Asset” means (a) any accounts receivable, mortgage receivables, loan receivables, royalty, franchise fee, license fee, patent or other revenue streams and other rights to payment or related assets and the proceeds thereof and (b) all collateral securing such receivable or asset, all contracts and contract rights, guarantees or other obligations in respect of such receivable or asset, lockbox accounts and records with respect to such account or asset and any other assets customarily transferred (or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted) together with accounts or assets in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing.

“Securitization Facility” means any of one or more securitization, financing, factoring or sales transactions, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated or refunded from time to time, pursuant to which the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries sells, transfers, pledges or otherwise conveys any Securitization Assets (whether now existing or arising in the future) to a Securitization Subsidiary or any other Person.

“Securitization Fees” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any Securitization Asset or Receivables Asset or participation interest therein issued or sold in connection with, and other fees, expenses and charges (including commissions, yield, interest expense and fees and expenses of legal counsel) paid in connection with, any Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility.

“Securitization Repurchase Obligation” means any obligation of a seller of Securitization Assets or Receivables Assets in a Qualified Securitization Financing or a Receivables Facility to repurchase or otherwise make payments with respect to Securitization Assets arising as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, offset or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller.

“Securitization Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower in each case formed for the purpose of and that solely engages in one or more Qualified Securitization Financings or Receivables Facilities and other activities reasonably related thereto or another Person formed for this purpose.

“Security Documents” means, collectively, (i) the Collateral Agreement, (ii) each Mortgage, (iii) each Intellectual Property Security Agreement, (iv) any supplement to any of the foregoing delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” and (v) each other document and/or instrument pursuant to which any Loan Party grants (or purports to grant) a Lien on any Collateral as security for payment of the Obligations.

“Shared Fixed Amount” means, at any time, (a) the greater of (i) $200,000,000 and (ii) 100% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period calculated on a Pro Forma Basis minus (b) (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Incremental Facilities and/or Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred or issued in reliance on the Shared Fixed Amount and (ii) the

 

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aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness incurred under Sections 6.01(q)(ii)(x) and 6.01(w)(i)(x) (in each case, after giving effect to any reclassification of the Shared Fixed Amount as incurred under clause (e) of the Incremental Cap and after giving effect to any reclassification of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 1.03(b)).

“Similar Business” means any Person the majority of the revenues of which are derived from a business that would be permitted by Section 6.10 if the references to “Restricted Subsidiaries” in Section 6.10 were read to refer to such Person.

“SOFR” with respect to any day means the secured overnight financing rate published for such day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as the administrator of the benchmark (or a successor administrator) on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website (or any successor source) and, in each case, that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

“SOFR-Based Rate” means SOFR or Term SOFR.

“SPC” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.05(e).

“Specified Hedge Agreement” means any Hedge Agreement relating to Specified Hedge Obligations.

“Specified Hedge Obligations” means all Hedging Obligations (other than any Excluded Swap Obligation) under each Hedge Agreement that (a) is in effect on the Closing Date between any Loan Party and a counterparty that is the Administrative Agent, a Lender, an Arranger, any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an Arranger as of the Closing Date or any other Person designated to the Administrative Agent in writing by the Borrower or (b) is entered into after the Closing Date between any Loan Party and any counterparty that is (or is an Affiliate of) the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Arranger or any other Person designated to the Administrative Agent in writing by the Borrower at the time such Hedge Agreement is entered into, for which such Loan Party agrees to provide security (any such counterparty, a “Qualified Counterparty”); it being understood that each counterparty thereto shall be deemed hereunder (A) to appoint the Administrative Agent as its agent under the applicable Loan Documents and (B) to agree to be bound by the provisions of Section 1.14, Article 8, Section 9.03 and Section 9.10 and any applicable Intercreditor Agreement as if it were a Lender.  For the avoidance of doubt, any “Specified Swap Contract” designated as such pursuant to the ABL Credit Agreement shall not constitute Specified Hedge Obligations under this Agreement.

“Specified Representations” means the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.01(a)(i) (as it relates to the Loan Parties), Section 3.02 (as it relates to the due authorization, execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents and the enforceability thereof), Section 3.03(b)(i), Section 3.08, Section 3.12, Section 3.14 (subject to the last sentence of Section 4.01, as it relates to the creation, validity and perfection of the security interests in the Collateral), Section 3.16 and Sections 3.17(a)(ii), (b) and (c)(ii).

“Sponsor” means, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Management Company, L.L.C., its controlled Affiliates and funds managed or advised by it or any of its controlled Affiliates (in each case, other than any portfolio company).

“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 percentages (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 Eurocurrency Rate, for Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in

 

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Regulation D).  Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D.  Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate 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 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.

“Subject Indebtedness” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.03(b).

“Subject Loans” means, as of any date of determination, the Initial Term Loans and any Additional Term Loans subject to ratable prepayment requirements in accordance with Section 2.11(b)(vi) on such date of determination.

“Subject Person” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Consolidated Net Income”.

“Subject Proceeds” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.11(b)(ii).

“Subject Transaction” means, with respect to any Test Period, (a) the Transactions, (b) any Permitted Acquisition or any other acquisition, whether by purchase, merger, amalgamation or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the assets of, or any business line, unit or division of, any Person or of a majority of the outstanding Capital Stock of any Person (and, in any event, including any Investment in (x) any Restricted Subsidiary the effect of which is to increase the Borrower’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s respective equity ownership in such Restricted Subsidiary or (y) any joint venture for the purpose of increasing the Borrower’s or its relevant Restricted Subsidiary’s ownership interest in such joint venture), in each case that is permitted by this Agreement, (c) any Disposition of all or substantially all of the assets or Capital Stock of any Subsidiary (or any business unit, line of business or division of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) not prohibited by this Agreement, (d) the designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 5.10 hereof, (e) any incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, (f) the implementation of any Cost Savings Initiative and/or (g) any other event that by the terms of the Loan Documents requires pro forma compliance with a test or covenant hereunder or requires such test or covenant to be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis or giving Pro Forma Effect to such transactions.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of stock or other ownership interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Person or Persons (whether directors, trustees or other Persons performing similar functions) having the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof; provided that in determining the percentage of ownership interests of any Person controlled by another Person, no ownership interests in the nature of a “qualifying share” of the former Person shall be deemed to be outstanding.  Unless otherwise specified, “Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary of the Borrower.

“Subsidiary Loan Party” means (a) on the Closing Date, each Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than any such Subsidiary that is an Excluded Subsidiary on the Closing Date) and (b) thereafter, each Subsidiary of the Borrower that becomes a guarantor of the Obligations pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, in each case, until such time as the relevant Subsidiary is released from its obligations under the Loan Guarantee in accordance with the terms and provisions hereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may elect to cause any Restricted Subsidiary that is either (x) a Domestic Subsidiary or (y) a Foreign Subsidiary organized in a jurisdiction reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and that

 

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is not otherwise required to be a Subsidiary Loan Party to provide a Loan Guarantee by causing such Restricted Subsidiary to execute a joinder to the Loan Guarantee and each applicable Security Document in substantially the form attached as an exhibit thereto (or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, notwithstanding anything herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, a guaranty of the Obligations (which may be the Loan Guarantee or, if reasonably required by the Administrative Agent in order to create a legally enforceable Loan Guarantee, a guaranty governed by the laws of the Applicable Country in which such Foreign Subsidiary is incorporated or organized) and all documents, financing statements, agreements, instruments, certificates, notices and acknowledgements and filings which the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to ensure the creation, perfection and priority of the Liens on the assets of such Foreign Subsidiary, in each case (i) in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (ii) governed by the laws of the Applicable Country in which such Foreign Subsidiary is incorporated or organized and (iii) subject to customary exceptions for transactions of this type in such Applicable Country), and any such Restricted Subsidiary shall be a Loan Party and Subsidiary Loan Party for all purposes hereunder.  In the event that the Borrower elects to cause a Foreign Subsidiary to be a Subsidiary Loan Party in accordance with the foregoing, such Foreign Subsidiary shall cease to be an Excluded Subsidiary for purposes of the Loan Documents and shall be deemed not to constitute a Foreign Subsidiary for purposes of clause (9) of the definition of “Excluded Assets”, clause (4) of the definition of “Excluded Equity Interests”, clause (d) of the definition of “Excluded Subsidiary” and the second paragraph of Section 3.14.

“Successor Administrative Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(f)(iii).

“Successor Borrower” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.07(a).

“Successor Holdings” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.13(d).

“Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.26.

“Synthetic Lease Obligations” means the monetary obligation of a Person under a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease.

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

“Taxes” means all present and future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, duties, assessments, fees and withholdings (including backup withholdings) and any charges of a similar nature (including interest, penalties and other liabilities with respect thereto) that are imposed by any Governmental Authority.

“Term Commitment” means any Initial Term Loan Commitment and any Additional Term Loan Commitment.

“Term Facility” means the Term Loans provided to or for the benefit of the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

“Term Lender” means any Initial Term Lender and any Additional Term Lender.

“Term Loan” means the Initial Term Loans and, if applicable, any Additional Term Loans.

“Term Priority Collateral” has the meaning set forth in the ABL Intercreditor Agreement.  

 

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“Term SOFR” means the forward-looking term rate for any period that is approximately (as determined by the Administrative Agent) as long as any of the Interest Period options set forth in the definition of “Interest Period” and that is based on SOFR and that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body, in each case as published on an information service as selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion.

“Termination Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in the lead-in to Article 5.

“Test Period” means, as of any date, the period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters then most recently ended for which financial statements under Section 5.01(a) or Section 5.01(b), as applicable, have been delivered (or are required to have been delivered) or to the extent applicable, for which internal financial statements are available to the extent such financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent; it being understood and agreed that prior to the first delivery (or required delivery) of financial statements of Section 5.01(a), “Test Period” means the period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters most recently ended for which the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries are available and have been delivered to the Administrative Agent.

“Threshold Amount” means the greater of (x) $30,000,000 and (y) 15% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period.

“Total Leverage Ratio” means the ratio, as of any date, of (a) Consolidated Total Debt outstanding as of the last day of the Test Period then most recently ended to (b) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the Test Period then most recently ended, in each case of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

“Trademark” means any and all trademarks throughout the world, including the following:  (a) all trademarks (including service marks), common law marks, trade names, trade dress, domain names, corporate names and logos, slogans and other indicia of origin under the Requirements of Law of any jurisdiction in the world, and the registrations and applications for registration thereof and all goodwill of the business symbolized by the foregoing; (b) all renewals of the foregoing; (c) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect thereto, including damages, claims, and payments for past and future infringements thereof; (d) all rights to ▇▇▇ for past, present, and future infringements of the foregoing, including the right to settle suits involving claims and demands for royalties owing; and (e) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing.

“Transaction Costs” means fees, premiums, expenses and other transaction costs (including original issue discount or upfront fees) payable or otherwise borne by any Parent Company and/or its Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions and the transactions contemplated thereby.

“Transactions” means, collectively, (a) the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of the Loan Documents to which they are a party and the Borrowing of Loans hereunder on the Closing Date, (b) the Refinancing, and (c) the payment of the Transaction Costs.

“Transformative Transaction” means (a) any transformative disposition, (b) any dividend recapitalization, (c) any transaction that would result in an increase in the aggregate amount of Initial Term Loans or (d) any material acquisition (i) that is not a Permitted Acquisition, (ii) that is financed using the proceeds of indebtedness not permitted under the Loan Documents or (iii) the consummation of which would not provide the Borrower and its Subsidiaries with adequate flexibility for the continuation or expansion of the combined operation.

“Treasury Capital Stock” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.04(a)(viii).

 

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“Treasury Regulations” means the U.S. federal income tax regulations promulgated under the Code.

“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 Eurocurrency Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.

“U.S.” or “United States” means the United States of America.

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

“UCC” 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 creation or perfection of security interests.

“UK Financial Institution” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended form 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.

“Unrestricted Cash Amount” means, as to any Person on any date of determination, the amount of (a) unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents of such Person whether or not held in a Deposit Account pledged to secure the Obligations and (b) Cash and Cash Equivalents of such Person that are restricted in favor of the Credit Facilities and/or any ABL Facility (which may also include Cash and Cash Equivalents securing other Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on Collateral along with the Credit Facilities and/or any ABL Facility), in each case as determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is listed on Schedule 5.10 hereto (unless any such Subsidiary is subsequently designated as a Restricted Subsidiaru in accordance with the terms hereof) or designated by the Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5.10.

“USA PATRIOT Act” means The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).

“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person, 100% of the Capital Stock of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares required by Requirements of Law to be

 

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owned by a resident of the relevant jurisdiction) shall be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

“Withdrawal Liability” means the liability to any Multiemployer Plan as the result of a “complete” or “partial” withdrawal by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (or any ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower) from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I 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.

Section 1.02Classification of Loans and Borrowings.  For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., an “Initial Term Loan”) or by Type (e.g., an “Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., an “Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Initial Term Loan”).  Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., an “Initial Term Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., an “Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., an “Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Initial Term Borrowing”).

Section 1.03Terms Generally.

(a)The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”  Unless the context requires otherwise (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein or in any Loan Document (including any Loan Document, the ABL Credit Agreement) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified or extended, replaced or refinanced (subject to any restrictions or qualifications on such amendments, restatements, amendment and restatements, supplements or modifications or extensions, replacements or refinancings set forth herein), (ii) any reference to any Requirement of Law in any Loan Document shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing, superseding or interpreting such Requirement of Law, (iii) any reference herein or in any Loan Document to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns, (iv) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (v) all references herein or in any Loan Document to Articles, Sections, clauses, paragraphs, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections, clauses and paragraphs of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, such Loan Document, (vi) in the computation of periods of time in any Loan Document from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”, the words “to” and “until” mean “to but excluding” and the word “through” means “to and including” and (vii) the words “asset” and “property”, when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties,

 

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including Cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.  It is understood and agreed that any Indebtedness (other than as provided in Section 1.03(b), but without limiting the proviso following clause (e) of the definition of “Incremental Cap”), Lien, Restricted Payment, Restricted Debt Payment, Burdensome Agreement, Investment, Disposition and/or Affiliate transaction need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of permitted Indebtedness, Lien, Restricted Payment, Restricted Debt Payment, Burdensome Agreement,  Investment, Disposition and/or Affiliate transaction under Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.04, 6.05, 6.06, 6.07 or 6.09, respectively, but may instead be permitted in part under any combination thereof.

(b)For purposes of determining compliance at any time with Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.04, 6.06, 6.07 or 6.09 in the event that any Indebtedness, Lien, Restricted Payment, Restricted Debt Payment, Burdensome Agreement, Investment, Disposition and/or Affiliate transaction, as applicable, meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of transactions or items permitted pursuant to any clause of such Sections 6.01 (other than 6.01(a), 6.01(gg) or 6.01(hh)), 6.02, 6.04, 6.06, 6.07 or 6.09, the Borrower, in its sole discretion, may, from time to time, classify or reclassify such transaction or item (or portion thereof) under one or more clauses of each such Section and will only be required to include the amount and type of such transaction (or portion thereof) in any one category; provided that, upon delivery of any financial statements pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b) following the initial incurrence of any portion of any Indebtedness incurred under Section 6.01(a) through (ii) (other than Section 6.01(a), 6.01(gg) and 6.01(hh)) (such portion of Indebtedness, the “Subject Indebtedness”), if any such Subject Indebtedness could, based on any such financial statements, have been incurred under Section 6.01(w)(i)(y), such  Subject Indebtedness shall automatically be reclassified as incurred under the applicable provisions of Section 6.01(w)(i)(y) (in each case, subject to any other applicable provisions of Section 6.01(w), including with respect to the limitation on Indebtedness incurred in reliance on Section 6.01(w) by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties).  It is understood and agreed that (A) any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(a), 6.01(gg) and 6.01(hh)), Lien, Restricted Payment, Restricted Debt Payment, Burdensome Agreement, Investment, Disposition and/or Affiliate transaction need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of permitted Indebtedness, Lien, Restricted Payment, Restricted Debt Payment, Burdensome Agreement, Investment, Disposition and/or Affiliate transaction under Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.04, 6.05, 6.06, 6.07 or 6.09, respectively, but may instead be permitted in part under any combination thereof and of any other available exemption and (B) the Borrower (i) shall in its sole discretion determine under which category such Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(a), 6.01(gg) and 6.01(hh)), Lien, Restricted Payment, Restricted Debt Payment, Burdensome Agreement, Investment, Disposition and/or Affiliate transaction (or, in each case, any portion there) is permitted and (ii) shall be permitted, in its sole discretion, to make any redetermination and/or to divide, classify or reclassify under which category or categories such Indebtedness, Lien, Restricted Payment, Restricted Debt Payment, Burdensome Agreement, Investment, Disposition and/or Affiliate transaction is permitted from time to time as it may determine, including reclassifying any utilization of Fixed Amounts as incurred under any available Incurrence-Based Amount (but not back again to Fixed Amounts if so reclassified to an Incurrence-Based Amount) and if any such test would be satisfied in any subsequent fiscal quarter following the relevant date of determination, then such reclassification shall be deemed to have automatically occurred at such time; provided, that nothing contained in this Section 1.03(b) shall limit the proviso following clause (h) of the definition of “Incremental Cap”).  For the avoidance of doubt, if the applicable date for meeting any requirement hereunder or under any other Loan Document falls on a day that is not a Business Day, compliance with such requirement shall not be required until noon on the first Business Day following such applicable date.

Section 1.04Accounting Terms; GAAP.

(a)(i) All financial statements to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time and, except as otherwise expressly

 

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provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature that are used in calculating the Total Leverage Ratio, the First Lien Leverage Ratio, the Secured Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that (A) if any change to GAAP or in the application thereof (including the conversion to IFRS as described below) is implemented after the date of delivery of the financial statements described in Section 3.04(a) and/or there is any change in the functional currency reflected in the financial statements or (B) if the Borrower elects or is required to report under IFRS, the Borrower or the Required Lenders may request to amend the relevant affected provisions hereof (whether or not the request for such amendment is delivered before or after the relevant change or election) to eliminate the effect of such change or election, as the case may be, on the operation of such provisions and (x) the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall negotiate in good faith to enter into an amendment of the relevant affected provisions (it being understood that no amendment or similar fee shall be payable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection therewith) to preserve the original intent thereof in light of the applicable change or election, as the case may be, (y) the relevant affected provisions shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP and the currency, in each case, as in effect and applied immediately prior to the applicable change or election, as the case may be, until the request for amendment has been withdrawn by the Borrower or the Required Lenders, as applicable, or this Agreement has been amended as contemplated hereby and (z) after giving effect to any such amendment, the term “GAAP” as used herein shall be deemed to be a reference to IFRS; it being understood and agreed that the Borrower may not convert to GAAP after exercising its right or complying with any requirement to report under IFRS in accordance with clause (B) above.

(ii)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 without giving effect to (i) any election under Accounting Standards Codification ▇▇▇-▇▇-▇▇ (previously referred to as Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 159) (or any other Accounting Standards Codification, International Accounting Standard 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) any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification, International Accounting Standard 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.

(b)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in paragraph (a) above or in the definition of “Capital Lease,” in the event of an accounting change requiring all leases to be capitalized, only those leases (assuming for purposes hereof that such leases were in existence on the date hereof) that would constitute Capital Leases (including leases that are classified as “Financing Leases” for purposes of GAAP) in conformity with GAAP as of December 15, 2018 shall be considered Capital Leases, and all calculations and deliverables under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be made or delivered, as applicable, in accordance therewith.

Section 1.05Effectuation of Transactions.  Each of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement (and all corresponding definitions) is made after giving effect to the Transactions, unless the context otherwise requires.

Section 1.06Timing of Payment of Performance.  When payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment (other than as described in the definition of “Interest Period”) or

 

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performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension.

Section 1.07Times of Day.  Unless otherwise specified herein, all references herein to times of day shall be references to New York City time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

Section 1.08Currency Equivalents Generally.  (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in clause (b) below, for purposes of any determination under Article 5, Article 6 (other than the calculation of compliance with any financial ratio for purposes of taking any action hereunder) or Article 7 with respect to the amount of any Indebtedness, Lien, Restricted Payment, Restricted Debt Payment, Investment, Disposition, Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, affiliate transaction or other transaction, event or circumstance, or any determination under any other provision of this Agreement, (any of the foregoing, a “specified transaction”), in a currency other than Dollars, (i) the equivalent amount in Dollars of a specified transaction in a currency other than Dollars shall be calculated based on the rate of exchange quoted by the Bloomberg Foreign Exchange Rates & World Currencies Page (or any successor page thereto, or in the event such rate does not appear on any Bloomberg Page, by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) for such foreign currency, as in effect at 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the date of such specified transaction (which, in the case of any Restricted Payment, shall be deemed to be the date of the declaration thereof and, in the case of the incurrence of Indebtedness, shall be deemed to be on the date first committed); provided, that if any Indebtedness is incurred (and, if applicable, associated Lien granted) to refinance or replace other Indebtedness denominated in a currency other than Dollars, and the relevant refinancing or replacement would cause the applicable Dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing or replacement, such Dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing or replacement Indebtedness (and, if applicable, associated Lien granted) does not exceed an amount sufficient to repay the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced or replaced, except by an amount equal to (x) unpaid accrued interest and premiums (including tender premiums) thereon plus other reasonable and customary fees and expenses (including upfront fees and original issue discount) incurred in connection with such refinancing or replacement, (y) any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and (z) additional amounts permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01 and (ii) for the avoidance of doubt, no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of a change in the rate of currency exchange occurring after the time of any specified transaction so long as such specified transaction was permitted at the time incurred, made, acquired, committed, entered or declared as set forth in clause (i).  For purposes of the calculation of compliance with any financial ratio for purposes of taking any action hereunder (including for purposes of calculating compliance with the Incremental Cap), on any relevant date of determination, amounts denominated in currencies other than Dollars shall be translated into Dollars at the applicable currency exchange rate used in preparing the financial statements delivered pursuant to Sections 5.01(a) or (b) (or, prior to the first such delivery, the financial statements referred to in Section 3.04), as applicable, for the relevant Test Period; provided that the amount of any Indebtedness that is subject to a Debt FX Hedge shall be determined in accordance with the definition of “Consolidated Total Debt”.

(b)Each provision of this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify with the Borrower’s consent to appropriately reflect a change in currency of any country and any relevant market convention or practice relating to such change in currency.  

Section 1.09Cashless Rollovers.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, to the extent that any Lender extends the maturity date of, or replaces, renews or refinances, any of its then-existing Loans with Incremental Loans, Replacement Term

 

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Loans, Loans in connection with any Replacement Revolving Facility, Extended Term Loans, Extended Revolving Loans or loans incurred under a new credit facility, in each case, to the extent such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing is effected by means of a “cashless roll” by such Lender, such extension, replacement, renewal or refinancing shall be deemed to comply with any requirement hereunder or any other Loan Document that such payment be made “in Dollars”, “in immediately available funds”, “in Cash” or any other similar requirement.

Section 1.10Certain Calculations and Tests.

(a)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, but subject to Sections 1.10(b), (c) and (d), all financial ratios and tests (including the Total Leverage Ratio, the First Lien Leverage Ratio, the Secured Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio and the amount of Consolidated Total Assets and Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA) contained in this Agreement that are calculated with respect to any Test Period during which any Subject Transaction occurs shall be calculated with respect to such Test Period and such Subject Transaction on a Pro Forma Basis.  Further, if since the beginning of any such Test Period and on or prior to the date of any required calculation of any financial ratio or test (x) any Subject Transaction has occurred or (y) any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into the  Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any joint venture since the beginning of such Test Period has consummated any Subject Transaction, then, in each case, any applicable financial ratio or test shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis for such Test Period as if such Subject Transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable Test Period (or, in the case of Consolidated Total Assets (or with respect to any determination pertaining to the balance sheet, including the acquisition of Cash and Cash Equivalents), as of the last day of such Test Period), it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that solely for purposes of calculating  the First Lien Leverage Ratio for purposes of the definition of “Applicable Rate”, the definition of Required Net Proceeds Percentage and the definition of Required Excess Cash Flow Percentage (except as otherwise set forth therein), the date of the required calculation shall be the last day of the Test Period, and no Subject Transaction occurring thereafter shall be taken into account.

(b)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein (including in connection with any calculation made on a Pro Forma Basis), to the extent that the terms of this Agreement require (i) compliance with any financial ratio or test (including any First Lien Leverage Ratio test, any Secured Leverage Ratio test, any Interest Coverage Ratio test and/or any Total Leverage Ratio test) and/or any cap expressed as a percentage of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA and/or Consolidated Total Assets or (ii) the absence of a Default or Event of Default (or any type of Default or Event of Default) as a condition to (A) the consummation of any transaction in connection with any acquisition or similar Investment, asset sale or divestiture (including the assumption or incurrence of Indebtedness) and/or (B) the making of any Restricted Payment or Restricted Debt Payment (including the assumption or incurrence of Indebtedness in connection therewith), the determination of whether the relevant condition is satisfied shall be made, at the election of the Borrower, (1) in the case of any acquisition or similar Investment, asset sale or divestiture, at the time of (or on the basis of the financial statements for the most recently ended Test Period at the time of) either (x) the execution of the definitive agreement with respect to such acquisition, Investment, asset sale or divestiture or (y) the consummation of such acquisition, Investment, asset sale or divestiture, (2) in the case of any Restricted Debt Payment, at the time of (or on the basis of the financial statements for the most recently ended Test Period at the time of) (x) delivery of irrevocable (which may be conditional) notice with respect to such Restricted Debt Payment or (y) the making of such Restricted Debt Payment and (3) in the case of any Restricted Payment, either (x) at the time of the declaration of such Restricted Payment (or on the basis of the financial statements for the most recently ended Test Period at the time of such delcaration) or (y) at the time of the making of such Restricted Payment (or on the basis of the financial statements for the most recently ended Test Period at the time of), in each case, after giving effect to the

 

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relevant acquisition, asset sale, divestiture, Restricted Payment and/or Restricted Debt Payment on a Pro Forma Basis.

(c)For purposes of determining the permissibility of any action, change, transaction or event that requires a calculation of any financial ratio or test (including any First Lien Leverage Ratio test, any Secured Leverage Ratio test, any Interest Coverage Ratio test and/or any Total Leverage Ratio test and/or the amount of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA or Consolidated Total Assets), such financial ratio or test shall be calculated at the time such action is taken (subject to clause (a) above), such change is made, such transaction is consummated or such event occurs, as the case may be, and no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of a change in such financial ratio or test occurring after the time such action is taken, such change is made, such transaction is consummated or such event occurs, as the case may be.

(d)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, unless the Borrower otherwise notifies the Administrative Agent, with respect to any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement that does not require compliance with a financial ratio or test (including any First Lien Leverage Ratio test, any Secured Leverage Ratio test, any Interest Coverage Ratio test and/or any Total Leverage Ratio test) (any such amounts, the “Fixed Amounts”) substantially concurrently with any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement  that requires compliance with a financial ratio or test (including any First Lien Leverage Ratio test, any Secured Leverage Ratio test, any Interest Coverage Ratio test and/or any Total Leverage Ratio test) (any such amounts, the “Incurrence-Based Amounts”), it is understood and agreed that the Fixed Amounts shall be disregarded in the calculation of the financial ratio or test applicable to the Incurrence-Based Amounts, except that incurrences of Indebtedness and Liens constituting Fixed Amounts shall be taken into account for purposes of Incurrence-Based Amounts other than Incurrence-Based Amounts incurred under Section 6.01 or Section 6.02.

(e)The principal amount of any non-interest bearing Indebtedness or other discount security constituting Indebtedness at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the Borrower dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

(f)The increase in any amount secured by any Lien by virtue of the accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest or a dividend in the form of additional Indebtedness, amortization of original issue discount and/or any increase in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of any fluctuation in the exchange rate of any applicable currency will not be deemed to be the granting of a Lien for purposes of Section 6.02.

Section 1.11Guarantees and Collateral.  Notwithstanding any provision of any Loan Document to the contrary, for purposes of any determination relating to the ABL Priority Collateral as to which the Administrative Agent is granted discretion hereunder or under any other Loan Document (including any determination with respect to any waiver or extension or any opportunity to request that is permitted or required under the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement,” under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document), the Administrative Agent shall be deemed to have agreed and accepted any determination in respect thereof by the Applicable Administrative Agent, it being understood that as of the Closing Date the ABL Agent is the Administrative Agent with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral.

Section 1.12Divisions.  Any reference herein to a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability company (or the unwinding of such a division or allocation), as if it were a merger, transfer, consolidation, amalgamation, consolidation, assignment, sale or transfer, or similar term, as applicable, to,

 

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of or with a separate Person. Any division of a limited liability company shall constitute a separate Person hereunder (and each division of any limited liability company that is a subsidiary, Restricted Subsidiary, Unrestricted Subsidiary, joint venture or any other like term shall also constitute such a Person or entity).

Section 1.13Interest Rates.  The Administrative Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility, nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to the administration, submission or any other matter related to the rates in the definition of “Eurocurrency Rate” or with respect to any rate that is an alternative or replacement for or successor to any of such rate (including, without limitation, any LIBOR Successor Rate) or the effect of any of the foregoing, or of any LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes.

Section 1.14Erroneous Distributions.  If all or any part of any payment or other distribution by or on behalf of any Agent to any Lender or other Secured Party is determined by such Agent, in its sole discretion, to have been made in error, whether known to the recipient or not, or if such recipient is not otherwise entitled to receive such distribution under the provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document at such time and in such amount from such Agent, as determined by such Agent (any such distribution, an “Erroneous Distribution”), then the relevant Lender or other Secured Party shall forthwith on written demand (accompanied by a reasonably detailed calculation of such Erroneous Distribution) repay to such Agent an amount equal to such Erroneous Distribution made to such Lender or other Secured Party in immediately available funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by or on behalf of such Agent to such Lender or other Secured Party to the date such amount is repaid to such Agent in immediately available funds at the Federal Funds Effective Rate from time to time in effect. Any determination by such Agent, in its sole discretion, that all or a portion of any distribution to a Lender or other Secured Party was an Erroneous Distribution shall be conslusive absent manifest error. Each Lender and each other Secured Party hereunder waives any claim of discharge for value and any other claim of entitlement to, or in respect of, any Erroneous Distribution.

Section 1.15Collateral Agreement References.  The parties hereto hereby agree that cross-references in the Collateral Agreement to provisions of this Agreement, and terms not otherwise defined therein that have the meanings assigned to them in this Agreement pursuant to Section 1.01(1) thereof, are amended as follows: (a) Section 1.02 shall refer to Section 1.03 hereof; (b) Section 2.14 shall refer to Section 2.17 hereof; (c) Sections 2.18 and 2.18(6) shall refer to Section 2.22 hereof; (d) Section 4.05(5) of the Collateral Agreement is amended to replace the reference to “listed in each updated Perfection Certificate (or in any applicable specified information contained in the Perfection Certificate) furnished pursuant to Section 5.04(6) of the Credit Agreement” with “listed in each Compliance Certificate furnished pursuant to Section 5.01(c) of the Credit Agreement”; (e) Section 5.10 shall refer to Section 5.12 hereof; (f) Section 5.10(3) shall refer to Section 5.01(h) hereof; (g) Section 6.02(3) shall refer to Section 6.02(n) hereof; (h) Section 10.01 shall refer to Section 9.01 hereof; (i) Section 10.05 shall refer to Section 9.03 hereof; (j) Section 10.08 shall refer to Section 9.02 hereof; (k) Section 10.18 shall refer to 9.23 hereof; (l) “Equity Interests” shall mean Capital Stock; (m) “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” shall mean Refinancing Indebtedness; (n) “Real Property” shall mean Real Estate Assets; (o) “Specified Event of Default” shall mean an Event of Default under Sections 7.01(a), 7.01(f) or 7.01(g); and (p) each other cross-reference in the Collateral Agreement to a provision of this Agreement, and each other term not defined therein that is not otherwise defined herein (or defined in the UCC pursuant to Section 1.01(1) thereof), in each case, other than as set forth above, shall be deemed to refer to the provision or term of this Agreement, if any, that substantially corresponds to the applicable provision or term referenced by the Collateral Agreement that is set forth in the Existing Credit Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, any reference to the “Credit Agreement” in the Collateral Agreement or any other Security Document shall be a reference to this Agreement, as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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Article 2THE CREDITS

Section 2.01Commitments.

(a)Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Initial Term Lender severally, and not jointly, agrees to make Initial Term Loans to the Borrower on the Closing Date in Dollars in a principal amount not to exceed its Initial Term Loan Commitment.  Amounts paid or prepaid in respect of the Initial Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

(b)Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any applicable Refinancing Amendment, Extension Amendment or Incremental Facility Agreement, each Lender with an Additional Commitment of a given Class, severally and not jointly, agrees to make Additional Loans of such Class to the Borrower, which Loans shall not exceed for any such Lender at the time of any incurrence thereof the Additional Commitment of such Class of such Lender as set forth in the applicable Refinancing Amendment, Extension Amendment or Incremental Facility Agreement.

Section 2.02Loans and Borrowings.

(a)Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Class and Type made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments of the applicable Class.  

(b)Subject to Section 2.01 and Section 2.14, each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith.  Each Lender at its option may make any Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that (x) 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, (y) such Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be deemed to have been made and held by such Lender, and the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall nevertheless be to such Lender for the account of such domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender and (z) in exercising such option, such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to minimize increased costs to the Borrower resulting therefrom (which obligation of such Lender shall not require it to take, or refrain from taking, actions that it determines would result in increased costs for which it will not be compensated hereunder or that it otherwise determines would be disadvantageous to it and in the event of such request for costs for which compensation is provided under this Agreement, the provisions of Section 2.15 shall apply); provided, further, that no such domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender shall be entitled to any greater indemnification under Section 2.17 in respect of any withholding tax with respect to such Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loan than that to which the applicable Lender was entitled on the date on which such Loan was made (except in connection with any indemnification entitlement arising as a result of any Change in Law after the date on which such Loan was made). No portion of any Loan shall be funded or held with “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) of one or more Benefit Plans.

(c)At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing, such Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing shall comprise an aggregate principal amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $500,000.  Each ABR Borrowing when made shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000.  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 10 different Interest Periods in effect for Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Borrowings at any time outstanding (or such greater number of different Interest Periods as the Administrative Agent may agree from time to time).

 

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(d)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it 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 Maturity Date applicable to the relevant Loans.

Section 2.03Requests for Borrowings.  (a) Each Term Loan Borrowing, each conversion of Term Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be made upon irrevocable written notice by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent by delivery of a Borrowing Request (provided that notices in respect of Term Loan Borrowings to be made in connection with any acquisition, investment or irrevocable repayment or redemption of Indebtedness may be conditioned on the closing of such Permitted Acquisition, permitted Investment or permitted irrevocable repayment or redemption of Indebtedness).  Each such notice must be in the form of a Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request, as the case may be, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and must be received by the Administrative Agent (by hand delivery, fax or other electronic transmission (including “.pdf” or “.tiff”)) not later than (i) 2:00 p.m. three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of or continuation of Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loans (or one Business Day in the case of any Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing to be made on the Closing Date) or any conversion of ABR Loans to Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loans and (ii) 2:00 p.m. one Business Day prior to the requested date of any Borrowing for or conversion to ABR Loans (or, in each case, such later time as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent); provided that, if the Borrower wishes to request Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loans having an Interest Period of other than one, two, three or six months in duration as provided in the definition of “Interest Period” (A) the applicable notice from the Borrower must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. four Business Days prior to the requested date of the relevant Borrowing (or such later time as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), conversion or continuation, whereupon the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the appropriate Lenders of such request and determine whether the requested Interest Period is available to them and (B) not later than 12:00 p.m. three Business Days before the requested date of the relevant Borrowing, conversion or continuation, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower whether or not the requested Interest Period is available to and has been approved by the appropriate Lenders (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(b)If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing.  If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.  The Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details and amount of any Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing (x) in the case of any ABR Borrowing, on the same Business Day of receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section or (y) in the case of any Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing, no later than one Business Day following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section.

Section 2.04[Reserved].

Section 2.05[Reserved].

Section 2.06[Reserved].

Section 2.07Funding of Borrowings.

(a)Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder not later than (i) 1:00 p.m., in the case of Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loans, and (ii) 1:00 p.m., in the case of ABR Loans, in each case on the Business Day specified in the applicable Borrowing Request by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for

 

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such purpose by notice to the Lenders in an amount equal to such Lender’s respective Applicable Percentage.  The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly wiring the amounts so received on the same Business Day, in like funds, to the account designated in the relevant Borrowing Request or as otherwise directed in writing by the Borrower.

(b)Unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice from any Lender that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of any Borrowing prior to the proposed date 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 a corresponding amount available to the Borrower.  In such event, if any 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 (without duplication) such corresponding amount with interest thereon forthwith on demand 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 Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to the Loans comprising such Borrowing at such time.  If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing, and the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Administrative Agent the corresponding amount pursuant to this Section 2.07(b) shall cease.  If the Borrower pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, the amount so paid shall constitute a repayment of such Borrowing by such amount.  Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or the  Borrower or any other Loan Party may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

Section 2.08Type; Interest Elections.

(a)Each Borrowing shall initially be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of any Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing, shall have the initial Interest Period specified in such Borrowing Request.  Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert any Borrowing to a Borrowing of a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of an Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate 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 based upon their respective Applicable Percentages, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.

(b)To make an election pursuant to this Section 2.08, the Borrower shall deliver an Interest Election Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03(a).

(c)If any such Interest Election Request requests an Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate 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 each 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 any Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, such Borrowing shall be converted at the end of such

 

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Interest Period to an Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing with an Interest Period of one month.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if an Event of Default exists and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as such Event of Default exists (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as an Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the then-current Interest Period applicable thereto.

Section 2.09Termination and Reduction of Commitments. Unless previously terminated, (i) the Initial Term Loan Commitments on the Closing Date shall automatically terminate upon the making of the Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date, (ii) the Additional Term Loan Commitments of any Class shall automatically terminate upon the making of the Additional Term Loans of such Class and, if any such Additional Term Loan Commitment is not drawn on the date that such Additional Term Loan Commitment is required to be drawn pursuant to the applicable Incremental Facility Agreement, Extension Amendment or Refinancing Amendment, as applicable, the undrawn amount thereof shall automatically terminate and (iii) the Additional Revolving Credit Commitments of any Class shall automatically terminate on the Maturity Date specified therefor in the applicable Incremental Facility Agreement, Extension Amendment or Refinancing Amendment, as applicable.

Section 2.10Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.  

(a)(i) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to repay the outstanding principal amount of the Initial Term Loans to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Term Lender (A) commencing June 30, 2021, on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December prior to the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date (each such date being referred to as a “Loan Installment Date”), in each case in an amount equal to 0.25% of the original principal amount of the Initial Term Loans (as such payments may be reduced from time to time as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with Section 2.11 and purchases or assignments in accordance with Section 9.05(g) or increased as a result of any increase in the amount of such Initial Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.22(a)), and (B) on the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date, in an amount equal to the remainder of the principal amount of the Initial Term Loans outstanding on such date, together in each case with accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be paid to but excluding the date of such payment.

(ii)The Borrower shall repay the Additional Term Loans of any Class in such scheduled amortization installments and on such date or dates as shall be specified therefor in the applicable Incremental Facility Agreement, Extension Amendment or Refinancing Amendment (as such payments may be reduced from time to time as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with Section 2.11 or purchases or assignments in accordance with Section 9.05(g) or increased as a result of any increase in the amount of such Additional Term Loans of such Class pursuant to Section 2.22(a)).

(b)[Reserved].

(c)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.

(d)The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder and the Class and Type thereof and the Interest Period (if any) applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable

 

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from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the accounts of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

(e)The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraphs (c) and (d) of this Section 2.10 shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein (absent manifest error); provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any manifest 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; provided, further, that in the event of any inconsistency between the accounts maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section 2.10 and any Lender’s records, the accounts of the Administrative Agent shall govern.

(f)Any Lender may request that any Loan made by it be evidenced by a Promissory Note.  In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a Promissory Note that is payable to such Lender and its registered permitted assigns; it being understood and agreed that such Lender (and/or its applicable permitted assign) shall be required to return such Promissory Note to the Borrower in accordance with Section 9.05(b)(iii) and upon the occurrence of the Termination Date (or as promptly thereafter as practicable).  If any Lender loses the original copy of its Promissory Note, it shall execute an affidavit of loss containing an indemnification provision that is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower.  The obligation of each Lender to execute an affidavit of loss containing an indemnification provision that is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower shall survive the Termination Date.

Section 2.11Prepayment of Loans.  

(a)Optional Prepayments.  

(i)Upon prior notice in accordance with paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 2.11, the Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing of Term Loans of one or more Classes (such Class or Classes to be selected by the Borrower in its sole discretion) in whole or in part without premium or penalty (but subject (A) in the case of Borrowings of Initial Term Loans only, to Section 2.12(c), (B) if applicable, to Section 2.16 and (C) to the requirement that such Term Loans be secured by the Collateral on a first lien basis pari passu with the Initial Term Loans).  Each such prepayment shall be paid to the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages of the relevant Class.

(ii)[Reserved].

(iii)The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any prepayment under this Section 2.11(a) in the form of a Prepayment Notice in the case of any prepayment of (i) an Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m. three Business Days before the date of prepayment or (ii) an ABR Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m. one Business Day prior to the day of prepayment.  Each such Prepayment Notice shall be irrevocable (except as set forth in the proviso to this sentence) and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that any Prepayment Notice delivered by the Borrower may be conditioned upon the effectiveness of other transactions, in which case such Prepayment 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 Prepayment Notice relating to any Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the applicable Lenders of the contents thereof.  Each partial prepayment of any

 

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Borrowing shall be in an amount at least equal to the amount that would be permitted in the case of a Borrowing of the same Type and Class as provided in Section 2.02, or such lesser amount that is then outstanding with respect to such Borrowing being repaid (and in increments of $100,000 in excess thereof or such lesser incremental amount that is then outstanding with respect to such Borrowing being repaid).  Each prepayment of Term Loans shall be applied to the Class of Term Loans specified in the applicable Prepayment Notice, and each prepayment of Term Loans of such Class made pursuant to this Section 2.11(a) shall be applied against the remaining scheduled installments of principal due in respect of the Term Loans of such Class in the manner specified by the Borrower or, in the absence of any such specification on or prior to the date of the relevant optional prepayment, in direct order of maturity.

(b)Mandatory Prepayments.  

(i)No later than the fifth Business Day after the date on which the financial statements with respect to each Fiscal Year of the Borrower are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(b), commencing with the Fiscal Year ending October 1, 2022, the Borrower shall prepay the outstanding principal amount of Initial Term Loans and Additional Term Loans then subject to ratable prepayment requirements in accordance with clause (vi) of this Section 2.11(b) below in an aggregate principal amount equal to (A) the Required Excess Cash Flow Percentage of Excess Cash Flow of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the Excess Cash Flow Period then ended, minus (B) at the option of the Borrower, (1)(w) the aggregate principal amount of any Loans  prepaid pursuant to Section 2.11(a) during such Fiscal Year or, at the Borrower’s option, following the end of such Fiscal Year and prior to such date (in the case of the prepayment of any Additional Revolving Loans, to the extent accompanied by a permanent reduction in the relevant commitment), (x) the aggregate principal amount of any Incremental Equivalent Debt and/or Replacement Debt, voluntarily prepaid, repurchased or redeemed or otherwise retired during such Fiscal Year or, at the Borrower’s option, following the end of such Fiscal Year (other than any of the foregoing described in the following clause (z)) and prior to such date, (y) the aggregate principal amount of any Incremental Revolving Facility (that is pari passu in right of payment and security with the Initial Term Loans) or Revolving Credit Loans (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) prepaid during such Fiscal Year or, at the Borrower’s option, following the end of such Fiscal Year and prior to such date (to the extent accompanied by a permanent reduction in the relevant commitment) and (z) the amount of any reduction in the outstanding amount of any Term Loans, any loans under any Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Debt and/or Replacement Debt, resulting from any purchase or assignment made in accordance with Section 9.05(g) of this Agreement (including in connection with any Dutch Auction) (in each case under this clause (z), based upon the actual amount of cash paid in connection with the relevant purchase or assignment) during such Fiscal Year, (2) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to the definition of Excess Cash Flow, the amount of consolidated Capital Expenditures actually made in cash during such Fiscal Year, (3) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to the definition of Excess Cash Flow, the amount of any Investment permitted by Section 6.06 (other than pursuant to Section 6.06(a), (b), (g), (j), (l), (o), (aa) or (dd)) actually made in cash during such Fiscal Year, and (4) without duplication of amounts deducted pursuant to the definition of Excess Cash Flow, the amount of any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.04(a) (other than pursuant to Section 6.04(a)(viii) and (ix) thereof, but in the case of Section 6.04(a)(i)(f), only to the extent such Investment would be deducted pursuant to sub-clause (3) of this clause (i)) actually made in cash during such Fiscal Year, in each case (I) excluding any

 

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such optional prepayment, repurchase, redemption or retirement made during such Fiscal Year that reduced the amount required to be prepaid pursuant to this Section 2.11(b)(i) in the prior Fiscal Year and (II) to the extent that (A) the relevant prepayments, Capital Expenditures, Investments or Restricted Payments were not financed with the proceeds of long term funded Indebtedness (other than revolving Indebtedness) and (B) the Indebtedness so prepaid is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Loans; provided that no prepayment under this Section 2.11(b) shall be required unless and to the extent the amount thereof would exceed the greater of (x) $30,000,000 and (y) 15% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period.

(ii)No later than the fifth Business Day following the receipt of Net Proceeds in respect of any Prepayment Asset Sale or Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds, the Borrower shall apply an amount equal to the Required Net Proceeds Percentage of the Net Proceeds or Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds received with respect thereto in excess of the threshold contained in the proviso to this clause (b)(ii) (collectively, the “Subject Proceeds”) to prepay the outstanding principal amount of Subject Loans; provided that (A) if prior to the date any such prepayment is required to be made, the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent of its intention to reinvest the Subject Proceeds in assets used or useful in the business (other than Cash or Cash Equivalents) of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, then so long as no Event of Default then exists, the Borrower shall not be required to make a mandatory prepayment under this clause (ii) in respect of the Subject Proceeds to the extent (x) the Subject Proceeds are so reinvested within 18 months following receipt thereof, or (y) the  Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has committed to so reinvest the Subject Proceeds during such 18 month period and the Subject Proceeds are so reinvested within 180 days after the expiration of such 18 month period; it being understood that if the Subject Proceeds have not been so reinvested prior to the expiration of the applicable period, the Borrower shall promptly prepay the Subject Loans with the amount of Subject Proceeds not so reinvested as set forth above (without regard to the immediately preceding proviso) and (B) if, at the time that any such prepayment would be required hereunder, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is required to repay or repurchase any other Indebtedness (or offer to repay or repurchase such Indebtedness) that is secured on a pari passu basis with any Obligation pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Indebtedness with the Subject Proceeds (such Indebtedness required to be so repaid or repurchased (or offered to be repaid or repurchased), the “Other Applicable Indebtedness”), then the relevant Person may apply the Subject Proceeds on a pro rata basis to the prepayment of the Subject Loans and to the repurchase or repayment of the Other Applicable Indebtedness (determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Subject Loans and the Other Applicable Indebtedness (or accreted amount if such Other Applicable Indebtedness is issued with original issue discount) at such time); it being understood that (1) the portion of the Subject Proceeds allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of the Subject Proceeds required to be allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof (and the remaining amount, if any, of the Subject Proceeds shall be allocated to the Subject Loans in accordance with the terms hereof), and the amount of the prepayment of the Subject Loans that would have otherwise been required pursuant to this Section 2.11(b)(ii) shall be reduced accordingly and (2) to the extent the holders of the Other Applicable Indebtedness decline to have such Indebtedness prepaid or repurchased, the declined amount shall promptly (and in any event within ten Business Days after the date of such rejection) be applied to prepay the Subject Loans in accordance with the terms hereof; provided, however, the obligation to make a prepayment under this

 

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Section 2.11(b)(ii) shall only apply if and to the extent the aggregate amount of Net Proceeds resulting from Prepayment Asset Sales and Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds received by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in any Fiscal Year exceeds the greater of (x) $30,000,000 and (y) 15% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period.

(iii)In the event that the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries receives Net Proceeds from the issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness by the  Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness that is permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01, except to the extent the relevant Indebtedness constitutes (A) Refinancing Indebtedness (including any Replacement Debt) incurred to refinance all or a portion of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 6.01(p), (B) Incremental Loans incurred to refinance all or a portion of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.22, (C) Replacement Term Loans incurred to refinance all or any portion of the Term Loans in accordance with the requirements of Section 9.02(c) and/or (D) Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred to refinance all or a portion of the Loans in accordance with the requirements of Section 6.01(y)), the Borrower shall, promptly upon (and in any event not later than two Business Days thereafter) the receipt of such Net Proceeds by the relevant Person, apply an amount equal to 100% of such Net Proceeds to prepay the outstanding principal amount of the relevant Term Loans in accordance with clause (vi) below.

(iv)Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.11(b) to the contrary:

(A)the Borrower shall not be required to prepay any amount that would otherwise be required to be paid pursuant to Sections 2.11(b)(i) or (ii) above to the extent that the relevant affected Excess Cash Flow is generated by any Foreign Subsidiary or the relevant Subject Proceeds are received by any Foreign Subsidiary, as the case may be, for so long as the Borrower determines in good faith that the repatriation to the  Borrower of any such amount would be prohibited or delayed under any Requirement of Law or conflict with the fiduciary duties of such Foreign Subsidiary’s directors, or result in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a material risk of personal or criminal liability for any officer, director, employee, manager, member of management or consultant of such Foreign Subsidiary (the Borrower hereby agreeing to cause the applicable Foreign Subsidiary to promptly take all commercially reasonable actions required by applicable Requirements of Law to permit such repatriation); it being understood that if the repatriation of the relevant affected Excess Cash Flow or Subject Proceeds, as the case may be, is permitted under the applicable Requirement of Law and, to the extent applicable, would no longer conflict with the fiduciary duties of such director, or result in, or be reasonably expected to result in, a material risk of personal or criminal liability for the Persons described above, in either case, within 365 days following the end of the applicable Excess Cash Flow Period or the event giving rise to the relevant Subject Proceeds, the relevant Foreign Subsidiary will promptly repatriate the relevant Excess Cash Flow or Subject Proceeds, as the case may be, and the repatriated Excess Cash Flow or Subject Proceeds, as the case may be, will be promptly (and in any event not later than two Business Days after such repatriation) applied (net of additional Taxes payable or reserved against such Excess Cash Flow or Subject Proceeds as a result thereof) to the repayment of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.11(b) to the extent required herein (without regard to this clause (iv)),

 

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(B)[reserved],

(C)if the Borrower determines in good faith that the repatriation (or other intercompany distribution) to the  Borrower as a distribution or dividend of any amounts required to mandatorily prepay the Term Loans pursuant to Sections 2.11(b)(i) or (ii) above that are attributable to any Foreign Subsidiary would result in a material and adverse Tax liability (including any withholding Tax) (such amount, a “Restricted Amount”), the amount that the Borrower shall be required to mandatorily prepay pursuant to Sections 2.11(b)(i) or (ii) above, as applicable, shall be reduced by the Restricted Amount; provided that to the extent that the repatriation (or other intercompany distribution) of the relevant Subject Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow from the relevant Foreign Subsidiary would no longer have a material and adverse tax consequence within the 365-day period following the event giving rise to the relevant Subject Proceeds or the end of the applicable Excess Cash Flow Period, as the case may be, an amount equal to the Subject Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow, as applicable and to the extent available, not previously applied pursuant to this clause (C), shall be promptly applied to the repayment of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.11(b) as otherwise required above;

(v)To the extent practicable, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any prepayment under this Section 2.11(b) in the form of a Prepayment Notice in the case of any prepayment of not later than 1:00 p.m. three Business Days before the date of prepayment.  Each such Prepayment Notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid.  Any Term Lender may elect, by written notice to the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. one Business Day prior to any prepayment of Term Loans required to be made by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.11(b), to decline all (but not a portion) of its Applicable Percentage of such prepayment (such declined amounts, the “Declined Proceeds”), in which case such Declined Proceeds may be retained by the Borrower; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, no Lender may reject any prepayment made under Section 2.11(b)(iii) above to the extent that such prepayment is made with the Net Proceeds of (w) Refinancing Indebtedness (including Replacement Debt) incurred to refinance all or a portion of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 6.01(p), (x) Incremental Loans incurred to refinance all or a portion of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.22, (y) Replacement Term Loans incurred to refinance all or any portion of the Term Loans in accordance with the requirements of Section 9.02(c) and/or (z) Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred to refinance all or a portion of the Loans in accordance with the requirements of Section 6.01(y).  If any Lender fails to deliver a notice to the Administrative Agent of its election to decline receipt of its Applicable Percentage of any mandatory prepayment within the time frame specified above, such failure will be deemed to constitute an acceptance of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the total amount of such mandatory prepayment of Term Loans.

(vi)Except as otherwise contemplated in this Agreement or provided in any Refinancing Amendment, any Incremental Facility Agreement or any Extension Amendment or any issuance of Replacement Debt (provided, that such Refinancing Amendment, Incremental Facility Agreement or Extension Amendment or Replacement Debt may not provide that the applicable Class of Term Loans receive a greater than pro rata portion of mandatory prepayments of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.11(b) than would otherwise be permitted by this Agreement), in each case effectuated or issued in a

 

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manner consistent with this Agreement, each prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.11(b) shall be applied ratably to each Class of Term Loans then outstanding which is pari passu with the Initial Term Loans in right of payment and with respect to security (provided that any prepayment of Term Loans with the Net Proceeds of any Refinancing Indebtedness and/or any Incremental Term Facility or Replacement Term Loans incurred for the purpose of refinancing or replacing such Term Loans shall be applied to the applicable Class of Loans being refinanced or replaced).  With respect to each Class of Term Loans, all prepayments accepted under this Section 2.11(b) shall be applied against the remaining scheduled installments of principal due in respect of such Class of Term Loans as directed by the Borrower (or, in the absence of direction from the Borrower, to the remaining scheduled amortization payments in respect of such Class of Term Loans in direct order of maturity), and each such prepayment shall be paid to the Term Lenders of such Class in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages of the applicable Class.  If no Lender exercises the right to waive a prepayment of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.11(b)(v), the amount of such mandatory prepayments shall be applied first to the then outstanding Term Loans that are ABR Loans and then to the then outstanding Term Loans that are Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loans in a manner that minimizes the amount of any payments required to be made by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.16.

(vii)Prepayments made under this Section 2.11(b) shall be (A) accompanied by accrued interest as required by Section 2.13, (B) subject to Section 2.16 and (C) in the case of prepayments of Initial Term Loans under clause (iii) above as part of a Repricing Transaction, subject to Section 2.12(c), but shall otherwise be without premium or penalty.

Section 2.12Fees.  

(a)The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, the annual administration fee described in the Administrative Agency Fee Letter.

(b)All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in Dollars and in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent.  Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances except as otherwise provided in the Administrative Agency Fee Letter.  Fees payable hereunder shall accrue through and including the last day of the month immediately preceding the applicable fee payment date.

(c)In the event that, prior to the date that is 6 months after the Closing Date, the Borrower (A) prepays, repays, refinances, substitutes or replaces any Initial Term Loans in connection with a Repricing Transaction (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.11(b)(iii) that constitutes a Repricing Transaction), or (B) effects any amendment, modification or waiver of, or consent under, this Agreement resulting in a Repricing Transaction, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of each applicable Initial Term Lender, (I) in the case of clause (A), a premium of 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the Initial Term Loans so prepaid, repaid, refinanced, substituted or replaced and (II) in the case of clause (B), a fee equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the Initial Term Loans that are the subject of such Repricing Transaction outstanding immediately prior to such amendment.  If, prior to the date that is six months after the Closing Date, all or any portion of the Initial Term Loans held by any Term Lender are prepaid, repaid, refinanced, substituted or replaced pursuant to Section 2.19(b)(iv) as a result of, or in connection with, such Term Lender not agreeing or otherwise consenting to any waiver, consent, modification or amendment referred to in clause (B) above (or otherwise in connection with a Repricing Transaction), such prepayment, repayment, refinancing, substitution or replacement will be made at 101% of the principal amount so

 

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prepaid, repaid, refinanced, substituted or replaced.  All such amounts shall be due and payable on the date of effectiveness of such Repricing Transaction in Dollars and in immediately available funds.

(d)Unless otherwise indicated herein, all computations of fees shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and shall be payable for the actual days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).  The determination by the Administrative Agent of the amount of any fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

Section 2.13Interest.  

(a)The Term Loans that comprise each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(b)The Term Loans that comprise each Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.

(c)Notwithstanding the foregoing but in all cases subject to Section 9.05(f), if any principal of or interest on any Term Loan or any fee or premium payable by the Borrower hereunder is not, in each case, paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, the relevant overdue amounts shall bear interest, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum (the “Default Rate”) equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal or interest of any Term Loan, 2.00% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Term Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2.00% plus the rate applicable to Term Loans that are ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section; provided that no amount shall accrue pursuant to this Section 2.13(d) on any overdue amount or other amount payable to a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender.

(d)Accrued interest on each Term Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Term Loan and on the Maturity Date applicable to such Loan; provided that (A) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (B) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Term Loan, accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (C) in the event of any conversion of any Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Term 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 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 in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).  The applicable Alternate Base Rate and Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid; provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall bear interest for one day.

Section 2.14Alternate Rate of Interest.  

(a)If at least two Business Days prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for an Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing:

 

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(i)the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period; or

(ii)the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

then the Administrative Agent shall promptly give written notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by hand delivery, facsimile or other electronic transmission as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, which the Administrative Agent agrees promptly to do, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, an Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing shall be ineffective and such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests an Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing and the utilization of the Eurocurrency Rate component in determining the Alternate Base Rate shall be suspended.

(b)Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Administrative Agent has made the determination described in clause (a)(i) of this Section 2.14 and/or is advised by the Required Lenders of their determination in accordance with clause (a)(ii) of this Section 2.14 and the Borrower shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend the definition of “Eurocurrency Rate” and other applicable provisions to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change; provided that, until so amended, such Loans impacted by clauses (a)(i) and (a)(ii) of this Section 2.14 will be handled as otherwise provided pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.14.

(c)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Borrower or Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to the Borrower) that the Borrower or Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that:

(i)adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR for any requested Interest Period, including, without limitation, because the Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or

(ii)the administrator of the Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which LIBOR or the Screen Rate shall no longer be made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans; provided that, at the time of such statement, there is no successor administrator that is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that will continue to provide LIBOR after such specific date (such specific date, the “Scheduled Unavailability Date”); or

(iii)syndicated loans currently being executed, or that include language similar to that contained in this Section 2.14, are being executed or amended (as applicable) to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace LIBOR,

 

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then, reasonably promptly after such determination by the Administrative Agent or receipt by the Administrative Agent of such notice, as applicable, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing LIBOR in accordance with this Section 2.14 with (x) one or more SOFR-Based Rates or (y) another alternate benchmark rate giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar U.S. Dollar denominated syndicated credit facilities for such alternative benchmarks and, in each case, including any mathematical or other adjustments to such benchmark giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar U.S. Dollar denominated syndicated credit facilities for such benchmarks, which adjustment or method for calculating such adjustment shall be published on an information service as selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion and may be periodically updated (the “LIBOR Adjustment;” and any such proposed rate, a “LIBOR Successor Rate”), and any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders (A) in the case of an amendment to replace LIBOR with a rate described in clause (x), object to the LIBOR Adjustment; or (B) in the case of an amendment to replace LIBOR with a rate described in clause (y), object to such amendment; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, in the case of clause (A), the Required Lenders shall not be entitled to object to any SOFR-Based Rate contained in any such amendment.  Such LIBOR Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such LIBOR Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.

If no LIBOR Successor Rate has been determined and the circumstances under clause (i) above exist or the Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred (as applicable), the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender.  Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) the Eurocurrency Rate component shall no longer be utilized in determining the Alternate Base Rate.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans (to the extent of the affected Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Interest Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of ABR Loans (subject to the foregoing clause (y)) in the amount specified therein.

 

Notwithstanding anything else herein, any definition of LIBOR Successor Rate shall provide that in no event shall such LIBOR Successor Rate be less than 0.75% for purposes of this Agreement.

In connection with the implementation of a LIBOR Successor Rate, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement; provided that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such LIBOR Successor Conforming Changes to the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.

Section 2.15Increased Costs.

(a)If any Change in Law:

(i)imposes, modifies or deems applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit

 

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extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate);

(ii)subjects any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (e) of the definition of “Excluded Taxes” and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on or with respect to its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or

(iii)imposes on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loans made by any Lender,

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to the relevant Lender or such other Recipient of making or maintaining any Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or such other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise) in respect of any Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loan  in an amount deemed by such Lender or such other Recipient to be material, then, within 30 days after the Borrower’s receipt of the certificate contemplated by paragraph (c) of this Section 2.15, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such other Recipient, as applicable, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such other Recipient for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered; provided that the Borrower shall not be liable for such compensation if (x) the relevant Change in Law occurs on a date prior to the date such Lender becomes a party hereto, (y) such Lender invokes Section 2.20 or (z) in the case of any request for reimbursement under clause (iii) of this Section 2.15(a) resulting from a market disruption, (A) the relevant circumstances do not generally affect the banking market or (B) the applicable request has not been made by Lenders constituting Required Lenders.

(b)If any Lender or such other Recipient determines that any Change in Law regarding liquidity or capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such other Recipient’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or such other Recipient’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by such Lender or such other Recipient to a level below that which such Lender or such other Recipient or such Lender’s or such other Recipient’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law other than due to Taxes (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or such other Recipient’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity), then within 30 days of receipt by the Borrower of the certificate contemplated by paragraph (c) of this Section 2.15 the Borrower will pay to such Lender or such other Recipient such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or other Recipient or such Lender’s or such other Recipient’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c)Any Lender or such other Recipient requesting compensation under this Section 2.15 shall be required to deliver a certificate to the Borrower that (i) sets forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such other Recipient or the holding company thereof, as applicable, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 2.15, (ii) sets forth, in reasonable detail, the manner in which such amount or amounts were determined and (iii) certifies that such Lender or such other Recipient is generally charging such amounts to similarly situated borrowers, which certificate shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d)Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided, however that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any

 

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increased costs or reductions incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided, further, that if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

Section 2.16Break Funding Payments.  Subject to Section 9.05(f), in the event of (a) the conversion or prepayment of any principal of any Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration or otherwise), (b) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loan on the date or in the amount specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto or (c) the assignment of any Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loan of any Lender 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, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the amount of any actual out-of-pocket loss, actual expense and/or liability (including any loss, expense or liability incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds required by such Lender to fund or maintain Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loans, but excluding loss of anticipated profit) that such Lender may incur or sustain as a result of such event.  Any Lender requesting compensation under this Section 2.16 shall be required to deliver a certificate to the Borrower that (A) sets forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section, the basis therefor and, in reasonable detail, the manner in which such amount or amounts were determined and (B) certifies that such Lender is generally charging the relevant amounts to similarly situated borrowers, which certificate shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 30 days after receipt thereof.

Section 2.17Taxes.  

(a)Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable Requirements of Law.  If any applicable Requirement of Law requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment, then (i) if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, the amount payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after all required deductions or withholdings have been made (including deductions or withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.17), each Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made, (ii) the applicable withholding agent shall make such deductions and (iii) the applicable withholding agent shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Requirements of Law.

(b)In addition, the Borrower shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Requirements of Law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

(c)The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender within 10 days after receipt of the certificate described in the succeeding sentence, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes payable or paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 2.17), other than any penalties determined by a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction (or documented in any settlement agreement) to have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, and, in each case, any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not correctly or legally imposed or asserted; provided that if the Borrower reasonably believes that such Taxes were not correctly or legally asserted, the Administrative

 

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Agent or such Lender, as applicable, will use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to obtain a refund of such Taxes (which refund, when received, shall be repaid to the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.17(g)) so long as such efforts would not, in the sole determination of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, result in any additional out-of-pocket costs or expenses not reimbursed by the Borrower or be otherwise materially disadvantageous to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable.  In connection with any request for reimbursement under this Section 2.17(c), the relevant Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, shall deliver a certificate to the Borrower setting forth the basis and calculation of the amount of the relevant payment or liability, which shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.17(c), the Borrower shall not be required to indemnify the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to this Section 2.17(c) for any amount to the extent the Administrative Agent or such Lender fails to notify the Borrower of the relevant possible indemnification claim within 180 days after the Administrative Agent or such Lender receives written notice from the applicable taxing authority of the specific tax assessment giving rise to such indemnification claim.

(d)Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes imposed on or with respect to any payment under any Loan Document that is attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that no Loan Party has already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 9.05(c) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Taxes not described in clauses (i) or (ii) that are attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted.  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 such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to any Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (d).

(e)As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.17, 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 that is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(f)Status of Lenders.  

(i)Any Lender (which shall include the Administrative Agent for purposes of this Section 2.17(f)) that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of any withholding Tax with respect to any 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 as the Borrower or the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to 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 Requirements of 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.  Each Lender hereby

 

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authorizes the Administrative Agent to deliver to the Borrower and to any Successor Administrative Agent any documentation provided to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.17(f).

(ii)Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

(A)each Lender that is not a Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), two executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

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

(1)in the case of any Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the U.S. 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, as applicable, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

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

(3)in the case of any Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code, (x) two executed copies of a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit L-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” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code, and that no payments hereunder to such Lender are effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) two executed original copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable; or

 

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(4)to the extent any Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner (e.g., where the Foreign Lender is a partnership or participating Lender), two executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit ▇-▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇-▇ or Exhibit L-4, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if such Foreign Lender is a partnership (and not a participating Lender) 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 L-2 on behalf of each such direct or indirect partner;

(C)each Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), two executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable Requirements of 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 Requirements of 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 any 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 applicable Requirements of Law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation as is prescribed by applicable Requirements of Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA, to determine whether 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; provided that solely for the purposes of this paragraph, “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

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(iii)The Administrative Agent shall, and any successor to the Administrative Agent (a “Successor Administrative Agent”) that is not an “exempt recipient” (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)) on or before the date such Successor Administrative Agent becomes a party to this Agreement shall, deliver to Borrower whichever of the following is applicable: (i) if such agent is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, two executed original copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such agent is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding or (ii) if such agent is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, (A) with respect to payments received for its own account, two executed original copies of IRS Form W-8ECI and (B) with respect to payments received on account of any Lender, two executed original copies of IRS Form W-8IMY (together with all required accompanying documentation) certifying that such agent is a U.S. branch and may be treated as a United States person for purposes of applicable U.S. federal withholding Tax.  At any time thereafter, such agent shall provide updated documentation previously provided (or a successor form thereto) when any documentation previously delivered has expired or become obsolete or invalid or otherwise upon the reasonable request of the Borrower.

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

For the avoidance of doubt, if a Lender is an entity disregarded from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes, references to the foregoing documentation are intended to refer to documentation with respect to such Lender’s owner and, as applicable, such Lender.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.17(f), no Lender shall be required to provide any documentation that such Lender is not legally eligible to deliver.

(g)If any party determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Indemnified Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.17, it shall pay over such refund to the relevant indemnifying party (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, under this Section 2.17 with respect to the Indemnified Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of such indemnified party (including any Taxes imposed with respect to such refund), and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided that, upon the request of such indemnified party, such indemnifying party agrees to repay the amount paid over to such indemnifying party (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to such indemnified party in the event such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (g), in no event will an indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (g) to the extent that the payment thereof would place such indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the position that such indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid.  This Section 2.17 shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes which it deems confidential) to the relevant indemnifying party or any other Person.

 

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(h)Survival.  Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.17 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, any Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

Section 2.18Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Payments.  

(a)Unless otherwise specified, the Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest or fees or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) prior to 3:00 p.m. on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim.  Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon.  All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent to the applicable account designated by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Person or Persons entitled thereto.  The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof.  Except as provided in Sections 2.19(b) and 2.20, each Borrowing, each payment or prepayment of principal of any Borrowing, each payment of interest on the Loans of a given Class and each conversion of any Borrowing or continuation of any Borrowing as a Borrowing of any Type (and of the same Class) shall be allocated pro rata among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages of the applicable Class.  All payments (including accrued interest) hereunder shall be made in Dollars.  Each Lender agrees that in computing such Lender’s portion of any Borrowing to be made hereunder, the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, round each Lender’s percentage of such Borrowing to the next higher or lower whole Dollar amount.  Any payment required to be made by the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be deemed to have been made by the time required if the Administrative Agent shall, at or before such time, have taken the necessary steps to make such payment in accordance with the regulations or operating procedures of the clearing or settlement system used by the Administrative Agent to make such payment.  

(b)Subject in all respects to the provisions of each applicable Intercreditor Agreement, all proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent while an Event of Default exists and all or any portion of the Loans have been accelerated hereunder pursuant to Section 7.01, shall be applied, first, to the payment of all costs and expenses then due that have been incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with any collection, sale or realization on Collateral or otherwise in connection with this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any of the Obligations, including all court costs and the fees and expenses of agents and legal counsel, the repayment of all advances made by the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document on behalf of any Loan Party and any other costs or expenses incurred in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document, second, on a pro rata basis, to pay any fees, indemnities or expense reimbursements then due to the Administrative Agent (other than those covered in clause first above) from the Borrower constituting Obligations, third, on a pro rata basis in accordance with the amounts of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim has yet been made) owed to the Secured Parties on the date of any such distribution, to the payment in full of the Obligations, fourth, as provided in the applicable Intercreditor Agreements and fifth, to, or at the direction of, the Borrower or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.

(c)If any Lender obtains payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off or otherwise) in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans of any Class held by it resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans of such Class and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender with Loans of such Class, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for

 

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Cash at face value) participations in the Loans of such Class at such time outstanding to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders of such Class ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans of such Class; 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 apply to (x) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (y) any payment obtained by any Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any permitted assignee or participant, including any payment made or deemed made in connection with Sections 2.22, 2.23, 9.02(c) and/or Section 9.05.  The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable Requirements of 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.  The Administrative Agent will keep records (which shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error) of participations purchased under this Section 2.18(c) and will, in each case, notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments.  Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section 2.18(c) shall from and after such purchase have the right to give all notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications under this Agreement with respect to the portion of the Obligations purchased to the same extent as though the purchasing Lender were the original owner of the Obligations purchased.

(d)Unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Lender hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the applicable Lender the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each Lender severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

(e)If any Lender fails to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.07(b) or Section 2.18(d), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.

Section 2.19Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

(a)If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15 or such Lender determines it can no longer make or maintain Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loans pursuant to Section 2.20, or any Loan Party is required to pay any additional amount to or indemnify any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder, or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17, as applicable, in the future or mitigate the impact of Section 2.20, as the case may be, and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed out-of-pocket cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender in any material respect.  The Borrower hereby

 

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agrees to pay all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b)If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15 or such Lender determines it can no longer make or maintain Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loans pursuant to Section 2.20, (ii) any Loan Party is required to pay any additional amount to or indemnify any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, (iii) any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or (iv) in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver or consent requiring the consent of “each Lender” or “each Lender directly affected thereby” (or any other Class or group of Lenders other than the Required Lenders) with respect to which Required Lender consent (or the consent of Lenders holding loans or commitments of such Class or lesser group representing more than 50% of the sum of the total loans and unused commitments of such Class or lesser group at such time) has been obtained, as applicable, any Lender is a Non-Consenting Lender (each such Lender described in this clause (iv), a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, (x) terminate the applicable Commitments of such Lender, and repay all Obligations of the Borrower owing to such Lender relating to the applicable Loans and participations held by such Lender as of such termination date  or (y) replace such Lender by requiring such Lender to assign and delegate (and such Lender shall be obligated to assign and delegate), without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.05), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which Eligible Assignee may be another Lender, if any Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (A) such Lender has received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it under any Loan Document with respect to such Class of Loans and/or Commitments, (B) in the case of any assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment would result in a reduction in such compensation or payments and (C) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Requirements of Law.  No Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender) shall be required to make any such assignment and delegation, and the Borrower may not repay the Obligations of such Lender or terminate its Commitments, in each case 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 Lender agrees that if it is replaced pursuant to this Section 2.19, it shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption to evidence such sale and purchase and shall deliver to the Administrative Agent any Promissory Note (if the assigning Lender’s Loans are evidenced by one or more Promissory Notes) subject to such Assignment and Assumption (provided that the failure of any Lender replaced pursuant to this Section 2.19 to execute an Assignment and Assumption or deliver any such Promissory Note shall not render such sale and purchase (and the corresponding assignment) invalid), such assignment shall be recorded in the Register and any such Promissory Note shall be deemed cancelled.  Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent (such appointment being coupled with an interest) as such Lender’s attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of such Lender and in the name of such Lender, from time to time in the Administrative Agent’s discretion, with prior written notice to such Lender, to take any action and to execute any such Assignment and Assumption or other instrument that the Administrative Agent may deem reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions of this clause (b).  To the extent that any Lender is replaced pursuant to Section 2.19(b)(iv) in connection with a Repricing Transaction requiring payment of a fee pursuant to Section 2.12(c), the Borrower shall pay the fee set forth in Section 2.12(c) to each Lender being replaced as a result of such Repricing Transaction.

Section 2.20Illegality.  (a) If any Lender reasonably determines that any Change in Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted after the Closing Date that it is unlawful, for such Lender or its applicable lending office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of

 

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such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the applicable interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent:

(i)any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loans or to convert ABR Loans to Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be suspended,

(ii)if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining ABR Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Alternate Base Rate, the interest rate of such Lender’s ABR Loans, shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Alternate Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist (which notice such Lender agrees to give promptly),

(iii)the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or if applicable, convert all of such Lender’s Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loans to ABR Loans (the interest rate on which ABR Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component of the Alternate Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loans (in which case the Borrower shall not be required to make payments pursuant to Section 2.16 in connection with such payment),

(iv)if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Alternate Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Eurocurrency Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate.

(b)Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

(c)Each Lender agrees to designate a different lending office if such designation will avoid the need for such notice and will not, in the determination of such Lender, otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.

Section 2.21Defaulting 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 unfunded portion of any Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to any provisions of this Agreement or other Loan Document.

(b)The Loans and Commitments of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders, each affected Lender, the Required Lenders or such other number of Lenders as may be required hereby or under any other Loan Document have taken or may take any action

 

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hereunder (including any consent to any waiver, amendment or modification pursuant to Section 9.02); provided that any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender which affects such Defaulting Lender disproportionately and adversely relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

(c)Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of any Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Section 2.11, Section 2.15, Section 2.16, Section 2.17, Section 2.18, Article 7, Section 9.05 or otherwise, and including any amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 9.09), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent and, where relevant, the Borrower as follows:  first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, as the Borrower may request, 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; third, as the Administrative Agent or the Borrower may elect, to be held in a deposit account and released in order to satisfy obligations of such Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under this Agreement; fourth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the non-Defaulting Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any non-Defaulting Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Loan was made or created at a time when the applicable conditions to make such credit extensions were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender.  Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to any Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by any Defaulting Lender shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

Section 2.22Incremental Credit Extensions.

(a)The Borrower may, at any time, on one or more occasions pursuant to an Incremental Facility Agreement (i) add one or more new tranches of term facilities and/or increase the principal amount of the Term Loans of any existing Class (which in either case, may be in the form of delayed draw term loans) by requesting new commitments to provide such Term Loans (any such new tranche or increase, an “Incremental Term Facility” and any loans made pursuant to an Incremental Term Facility, “Incremental Term Loans”) and/or (ii) add one or more new tranches of Incremental Revolving Commitments and/or increase the aggregate amount of any existing Class of Incremental Revolving Commitments (any such new tranche or increase, an “Incremental Revolving Facility” and, together with any Incremental Term Facility, “Incremental Facilities”; and the loans thereunder, “Incremental Revolving Loans” and any Incremental Revolving Loans, together with any Incremental Term Loans, “Incremental Loans”) in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed the Incremental Cap; provided that:

(i)no Incremental Commitment in respect of any Incremental Facility may be less than $5,000,000 (or such lesser amount to which the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree),

(ii)except as the Borrower and any Lender may separately agree, no Lender shall be obligated to provide any Incremental Commitment, and the determination to

 

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provide such commitments shall be within the sole and absolute discretion of such Lender (it being agreed that the Borrower shall not be obligated to offer the opportunity to any Lender to participate in any Incremental Facility),

(iii)no Incremental Facility or Incremental Loan (nor the creation, provision or implementation thereof) shall require the approval of any existing Lender other than in its capacity, if any, as a lender providing all or part of any Incremental Commitment or Incremental Loan,

(iv)except as otherwise provided herein, the terms of any Incremental Term Facility if not substantially consistent with those applicable to any then-existing Term Loans shall be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (it being agreed that any terms contained in such Incremental Term Facility (x) which are applicable only after the then-existing Latest Term Loan Maturity Date and/or (y) that are more favorable to the lenders or the agent of such Incremental Term Facility than those contained in the Loan Documents and are then conformed (or added) to the Loan Documents for the benefit of the Term Lenders or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, pursuant to the applicable Incremental Facility Agreement and/or (z) that reflect market terms (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence, issuance or effectiveness (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) shall in each case be deemed satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) and (B) the terms of any Incremental Revolving Facility (other than any terms which are applicable only after the then-existing Latest Revolving Credit Maturity Date) must be substantially consistent with those applicable to any then-existing Incremental Revolving Facility or, including with respect to the initial Incremental Revolving Facility, otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (it being understood and agreed that any terms that are consistent with any then-existing Term Facility (provided, that such terms may include a customary springing financial covenant that will only apply to an Incremental Revolving Facility) are, in each case, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent),

(v)the Effective Yield (and the components thereof) applicable to any Incremental Facility may be determined by the Borrower and the lender or lenders providing such Incremental Facility; provided that, in the case of any Incremental Term Facility consisting of Qualifying Term Loans incurred in reliance on clause (e) of the definition of “Incremental Cap” (and not by virtue of any reclassification permitted pursuant thereto), the Effective Yield applicable thereto may not be more than 1.00% higher than the Effective Yield applicable to the Initial Term Loans unless the Applicable Rate with respect to the Initial Term Loans is adjusted to be equal to the Effective Yield with respect to such Incremental Term Facility, minus, 1.00%,

(vi)(A) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, the final maturity date with respect to any Incremental Term Loans shall be no earlier than the Latest Term Loan Maturity Date and (B) to the extent any ABL Facility is then currently outstanding, any Incremental Revolving Facility will mature no earlier than, and will require no scheduled amortization or mandatory commitment reduction prior to, the maturity date of such ABL Facility,

(vii)subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Incremental Term Facility shall be no shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any then-existing Class of Term Loans (without giving effect to any prepayments thereof),

 

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(viii)subject to clauses (vi) and (vii) above, any Incremental Term Facility may otherwise have an amortization schedule as determined by the Borrower and the lenders providing such Incremental Term Facility,

(ix)subject to clause (v) above, to the extent applicable, any fees payable in connection with any Incremental Facility shall be determined by the Borrower and the arrangers and/or lenders providing such Incremental Facility,

(x)(A) any Incremental Term Facility or Incremental Revolving Facility may rank pari passu with or junior to any then-existing Class of Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Loans, as applicable, in right of payment and/or security or may be unsecured (and to the extent the relevant Incremental Facility is pari passu with, junior to or subordinated to any then-existing Class of Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Loans, as applicable, in right of payment or security, it shall be subject to an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement, and shall not be secured by assets that are not Collateral) and (B) no Incremental Facility may be (x) guaranteed by any Person which is not a Loan Party or (y) secured by any assets other than the Collateral,

(xi)any Incremental Term Facility may participate (A) in any voluntary prepayment of Term Loans as set forth in Section 2.11(a) on a pro rata basis or less than a pro rata basis with the then-outstanding Term Loans and (B) in any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans as set forth in Section 2.11(b) on a pro rata basis (to the extent secured on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Loans) or less than a pro rata basis with the then-outstanding Term Loans, in each case, to the extent provided in such Sections,

(xii)no Event of Default shall exist immediately prior to or after giving effect to such Incremental Facility; provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of any Incremental Facility incurred in connection with any acquisition, Investment or irrevocable repayment or redemption of Indebtedness, only no Event of Default under Sections 7.01(a), 7.01(f) or 7.01(g) shall exist immediately prior to or after giving effect to such Incremental Facility,

(xiii)the proceeds of any Incremental Facility may be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes (including Permitted Acquisitions, Investments and Restricted Payments) and any other use not prohibited by this Agreement, and

(xiv)on the date of the Borrowing of any Incremental Term Loans that will be of the same Class as any then-existing Class of Term Loans, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Sections 2.08 or 2.13 above, such Incremental Term Loans shall be added to (and constitute a part of, be of the same Type as and, at the election of the Borrower, have the same Interest Period as) each Borrowing of outstanding Term Loans of such Class on a pro rata basis (based on the relative sizes of such Borrowings), so that each Term Lender providing such Incremental Term Loans will participate proportionately in each then-outstanding Borrowing of Term Loans of such Class; it being acknowledged that the application of this clause (a)(xiv) may result in new Incremental Term Loans having Interest Periods (the duration of which may be less than one month) that begin during an Interest Period then applicable to outstanding Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loans of the relevant Class and which end on the last day of such Interest Period.

(b)Incremental Commitments may be provided by any existing Lender or by any other Eligible Assignee (any such other lender being called an “Additional Lender”); provided that the

 

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Administrative Agent shall have a right to consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to the relevant Additional Lender’s provision of Incremental Commitments if such consent would be required under Section 9.05(b) for an assignment of Loans to such Additional Lender; provided, further, that any Additional Lender that is an Affiliated Lender or a Debt Fund Affiliate shall be subject to the provisions of Section 9.05(g), mutatis mutandis, to the same extent as if the relevant Incremental Commitments and related Obligations had been acquired by such Lender by way of assignment.

(c)Each Lender or Additional Lender providing a portion of any Incremental Commitment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower all such documentation (including the relevant Incremental Facility Agreement) as may be reasonably required by the Administrative Agent to evidence and effectuate such Incremental Commitment.  On the effective date of such Incremental Commitment, each Additional Lender shall become a Lender for all purposes in connection with this Agreement.

(d)As conditions precedent to the effectiveness of any Incremental Facility or the making of any Incremental Loans, (i) upon its request, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to receive customary written opinions of counsel, as well as such reaffirmation agreements, supplements and/or amendments as it shall reasonably require, (ii) the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to receive, from each Additional Lender, an administrative questionnaire, in the form provided to such Additional Lender by the Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Questionnaire”) and such other documents as it shall reasonably require from such Additional Lender, (iii) the Administrative Agent and the relevant Additional Lenders shall be entitled to receive all fees required to be paid in respect of such Incremental Facility or Incremental Loans, (iv) subject to Section 2.22(g), the Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Request as if the relevant Incremental Loans were subject to Section 2.03 or another written request the form of which is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (it being understood and agreed that the requirement to deliver a Borrowing Request shall not result in the imposition of any additional condition precedent to the availability of the relevant Incremental Loans) and (v) the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to receive a certificate of the Borrower signed by a Responsible Officer thereof:

(i)certifying and attaching a copy of the resolutions adopted by the governing body of the Borrower approving or consenting to such Incremental Facility or Incremental Loans, and

(ii)to the extent applicable, certifying that the condition set forth in clause (a)(xii) above has been satisfied.

(e)Upon the implementation of any Incremental Revolving Facility pursuant to this Section 2.22:

(i)if such Incremental Revolving Facility establishes Incremental Revolving Commitments of the same Class as any then-existing Class of Incremental Revolving Commitments, (i) each Additional Revolving Lender immediately prior to such increase will automatically and without further act be deemed to have assigned to each relevant Incremental Revolving Facility Lender, and each relevant Incremental Revolving Facility Lender will automatically and without further act be deemed to have assumed a portion of such existing Additional Revolving Lender’s participations hereunder in outstanding letters of credit and swingline loans (to the extent applicable) such that, after giving effect to each deemed assignment and assumption of participations, all of the Additional Revolving Lenders’ (including each new Incremental Revolving Facility Lender’s) (A) participations hereunder  in letters of credit and (B) participations hereunder in swingline

 

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loans shall be held ratably on the basis of their respective Additional Revolving Credit Commitments (after giving effect to any increase in the Additional Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant to this Section 2.22) and (ii) the existing Additional Revolving Lenders of the applicable Class shall assign Revolving Loans to certain other Additional Revolving Lenders of such Class (including the Incremental Revolving Facility Lenders providing the relevant Incremental Revolving Facility), and such other Additional Revolving Lenders (including the new Incremental Revolving Facility Lenders providing the relevant Incremental Revolving Facility) shall purchase such Additional Revolving Loans, in each case to the extent necessary so that all of the Additional Revolving Lenders of such Class participate in each outstanding Borrowing of Additional Revolving Loans of such Class pro rata on the basis of their respective Additional Revolving Credit Commitments of such Class (after giving effect to any increase in the Additional Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant to this Section 2.22); it being understood and agreed that the minimum borrowing, pro rata borrowing and pro rata payment requirements contained elsewhere in this Agreement shall not apply to the transactions effected pursuant to this clause (i); and

(ii)if such Incremental Revolving Facility establishes Incremental Revolving Commitments of a new Class in addition to any existing Additional Revolving Credit Commitment, then (A) the borrowing and repayment (except for (x) payments of interest and fees at different rates on the Additional Revolving Facilities (and related outstandings), (y) repayments required on the Maturity Date of any Additional Revolving Facility and (z) as provided in clause (C) below) of Additional Revolving Loans with respect to any then-existing Additional Revolving Facility after the effective date of such Incremental Revolving Facility shall be made on a pro rata basis with all other Additional Revolving Facilities, (B) swingline loans and letters of credit shall be participated on a pro rata basis by all Additional Revolving Lenders and (C) no permanent repayment of Additional Revolving Loans with respect to, and reduction and termination of Additional Revolving Credit Commitments under, any Incremental Revolving Facility after the effective date of such new Incremental Revolving Facility shall be made on a greater than pro rata basis than any other then-existing Additional Revolving Facilities.

(f)The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into any Incremental Facility Agreement and/or any amendment to any other Loan Document as may be necessary in order to establish new Classes or sub-Classes in respect of Loans or commitments pursuant to this Section 2.22 and such 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 Classes or sub-Classes, in each case on terms consistent with this Section 2.22, and as may be necessary or advisable in order to create a fungible tranche of loans (including by increasing the amortization on existing tranches of loans) so long as any such amendments do not adversely affect Lenders holding the existing loans.

(g)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.22 or in any other provision of any Loan Document, if the proceeds of any Incremental Facility are intended to be applied to finance an acquisition or other Investment and the lenders providing such Incremental Facility so agree, the availability thereof shall be subject to customary “SunGard” or “certain funds” conditionality (including the making and accuracy of the Specified Representations as conformed for such acquisition).

(h)This Section 2.22 shall supersede any provision in Section 2.18 or 9.02 to the contrary.

 

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(i)Any Incremental Facility in the form of a delayed draw term facility incurred pursuant to clause (e) of the Incremental Cap may be tested at the option of the Borrower either (x) at the time such Incremental Facility is established, assuming a full drawing of the delayed draw term facility commitments at such time or (y) upon each funding of such delayed draw term facility.

Section 2.23Extensions of Loans and Revolving Commitments.  

(a)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, pursuant to one or more offers (each, an “Extension Offer”) made from time to time by the Borrower to all Lenders holding Loans of any Class or Commitments of any Class, in each case on a pro rata basis (based on the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the respective Loans or Commitments of such Class) and on the same terms to each such Lender, the Borrower is hereby permitted to consummate transactions with any individual Lender who accepts the terms contained in the relevant Extension Offer to extend the Maturity Date of all or a portion of such Lender’s Loans and/or Commitments of such Class and otherwise modify the terms of all or a portion of such Loans and/or Commitments pursuant to the terms of the relevant Extension Offer (including by increasing the interest rate or fees payable in respect of such Loans and/or Commitments (and related outstandings) and/or modifying the amortization schedule, if any, in respect of such Loans) (each, an “Extension”)”; it being understood that any Extended Term Loans shall constitute a separate Class of Loans from the Class of Loans from which they were converted and any Extended Revolving Credit Commitments shall constitute a separate Class of Revolving Credit Commitments from the Class of Incremental Revolving Commitments from which they were converted), so long as the following terms are satisfied:

(i)except as to (A) interest rates, fees and final maturity (which shall, subject to the immediately succeeding clause (iii), be determined by the Borrower and any Additional Revolving Lender who agrees to an Extension of its Additional Revolving Credit Commitments and set forth in the relevant Extension Offer), (B) terms applicable to such Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Revolving Loans (each as defined below) that are more favorable to the lenders or the agent of such Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Revolving Loans than those contained in the Loan Documents and are then conformed (or added) to the Loan Documents for the benefit of the Additional Revolving Lenders or, as applicable, the Administrative Agent pursuant to the applicable Extension Amendment, and (C) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date, the Additional Revolving Credit Commitment of any Lender who agrees to an extension with respect to such Incremental Revolving Commitment (an “Extended Revolving Credit Commitment”; and the Loans thereunder, “Extended Revolving Loans”; and each Class of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments, an “Extended Revolving Facility”), and the related outstandings, shall constitute a revolving commitment (or related outstandings, as the case may be) with substantially consistent terms (or terms not less favorable to existing Lenders) as the Class of Additional Revolving Credit Commitments subject to the relevant Extension Offer (and related outstandings) provided hereunder; provided that to the extent more than one Additional Revolving Facility exists after giving effect to any such Extension, (x) the borrowing and repayment (except for (1) payments of interest and fees at different rates on the Additional Revolving Facilities (and related outstandings), (2) repayments required upon the Maturity Date of any Additional Revolving Facility and (3) as provided in clause (z) below) of Additional Revolving Loans with respect to any Additional Revolving Facility after the effective date of such Extended Revolving Credit Commitments shall be made on a pro rata basis with all other Additional Revolving Facilities or greater than pro rata basis (but not on a less than pro rata basis and provided that payments may only be greater to the extent proportionate with borrowings being greater), (y) all swingline loans

 

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and letters of credit shall be participated on a pro rata basis by all Additional Revolving Lenders and (z) no permanent repayment of Extended Revolving Loans with respect to, and reduction and termination of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments under, any Extended Revolving Facility after the effective date of such Extended Revolving Credit Commitment shall be made on a pro rata basis or greater than pro rata basis than the other then-existing Additional Revolving Facilities, except to the extent such Extended Revolving Facility has a Maturity Date earlier than the Maturity Date of such other Extended Revolving Facilities;

(ii)except as to (A) interest rates, fees, amortization, final maturity date, premiums, required prepayment dates and participation in prepayments (which shall, subject to the immediately succeeding clauses (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi), be determined by the Borrower and any Lender who agrees to an Extension of its Term Loans and set forth in the relevant Extension Offer), (B) terms applicable to such Extended Term Loans (as defined below) that are more favorable to the lenders or the agent of such Extended Term Loans than those contained in the Loan Documents and are then conformed (or added) to the Loan Documents for the benefit of the Term Lenders or, as applicable, the Administrative Agent pursuant to the applicable Extension Amendment and (C) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date (in each case, as of the date of such Extension), the Term Loans of any Lender extended pursuant to any Extension (any such extended Term Loans, the “Extended Term Loans”) shall have substantially consistent terms (or terms not less favorable to existing Lenders) as the Class of Term Loans subject to the relevant Extension Offer;

(iii)(x) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, the final Maturity Date of any Class of Extended Term Loans may be no earlier than the then applicable Latest Maturity Date at the time of Extension and (y) no Class of Extended Revolving Credit Commitments or Extended Revolving Loans may have a final Maturity Date earlier than (or require commitment reductions prior to) the Maturity Date applicable to any then-existing Additional Revolving Facility or any ABL Facility;

(iv)subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Class of Extended Term Loans shall be no shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any then-existing Term Loans;

(v)subject to clauses (iii) and (iv) above, any Extended Term Loans may otherwise have an amortization schedule as determined by the Borrower and the Lenders providing such Extended Term Loans,

(vi)any Class of Extended Term Loans may participate on a pro rata basis or a less than pro rata basis (but not greater than a pro rata basis) in any voluntary or mandatory repayment or prepayment (but, for purposes of clarity, not scheduled amortization payments) in respect of the Term Loans, in each case as specified in the relevant Extension Offer;

(vii)if the aggregate principal amount of Loans or Commitments, as the case may be, in respect of which Lenders have accepted the relevant Extension Offer exceed the maximum aggregate principal amount of Loans or Commitments, as the case may be, offered to be extended by the Borrower pursuant to such Extension Offer, then the Loans or Commitments, as the case may be, of such Lenders shall be extended ratably up to such

 

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maximum amount based on the respective principal amounts (but not to exceed the applicable Lender’s actual holdings of record) with respect to which such Lenders have accepted such Extension Offer;

(viii)unless the Administrative Agent otherwise agrees, each Extension shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000;

(ix)any applicable Minimum Extension Condition must be satisfied or waived by the Borrower; and

(x)any documentation in respect of any Extension shall be consistent with the foregoing.

(b)(i) No Extension consummated in reliance on this Section 2.23 shall constitute a voluntary or mandatory prepayment for purposes of Section 2.11, (ii) the scheduled amortization payments (insofar as such schedule affects payments due to Lenders participating in the relevant Class) set forth in Section 2.10 shall be adjusted to give effect to any Extension of any Class of Loans and/or Commitments and (iii) except as set forth in clause (a)(viii) above, no Extension Offer is required to be in any minimum amount or any minimum increment; provided that the Borrower may at its election specify as a condition (a “Minimum Extension Condition”) to the consummation of any Extension that a minimum amount (to be specified in the relevant Extension Offer in the Borrower’s sole discretion) of Loans or Commitments (as applicable) of any or all applicable Classes be tendered; it being understood that the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, waive any such Minimum Extension Condition.  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby consent to the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.23 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the payment of any interest, fees or premium in respect of any Extended Term Loans and/or Extended Revolving Credit Commitments on such terms as may be set forth in the relevant Extension Offer) and hereby waive the requirements of any provision of this Agreement (including Sections 2.10, 2.11 and/or 2.18) or any other Loan Document that may otherwise prohibit any such Extension or any other transaction contemplated by this Section.

(c)No consent of any Lender or the Administrative Agent shall be required to effectuate any Extension, other than the consent of each Lender agreeing to such Extension with respect to one or more of its Loans and/or Commitments of any Class (or a portion thereof).  All Extended Term Loans and Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and all obligations in respect thereof shall constitute Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents that are secured by the Collateral and guaranteed on a pari passu basis with all other applicable Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into any Extension Amendment and any amendment to any of the other Loan Documents with the Loan Parties as may be necessary in order to establish new Classes or sub-Classes in respect of Loans or Commitments so extended and such 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 Classes or sub-Classes, in each case on terms consistent with this Section 2.23.

(d)In connection with any Extension, the Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent at least five Business Days’ (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent) prior written notice thereof, and shall agree to such procedures (including regarding timing, rounding and other adjustments and to ensure reasonable administrative management of the credit facilities hereunder after such Extension), if any, as may be established by, or acceptable to, the Administrative Agent, in each case acting reasonably to accomplish the purposes of this Section 2.23.

 

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Article 3REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

To the extent required pursuant to Section 4.01 hereof, Holdings (solely with respect to Sections 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.07, 3.08, 3.09, 3.13, 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17) and the Borrower hereby represent and warrant to the Lenders that:

Section 3.01Organization; Powers.  Holdings, the Borrower and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) is (i) duly organized and validly existing and (ii) in good standing (to the extent such concept exists in the relevant jurisdiction) under the Requirements of Law of its jurisdiction of organization, (b) has all requisite organizational power and authority to own its assets and to carry on its business as now conducted and (c) is qualified to do business and is in good standing (to the extent such concept exists in the relevant jurisdiction) in every jurisdiction where the ownership, lease or operation of its properties or conduct of its business requires such qualification, except, in each case referred to in this Section 3.01 (other than (i) clause (a)(i) and (ii) clause (b), in each case with respect to the Borrower) where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.02Authorization; Enforceability.  The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Loan Party is a party are within such Loan Party’s corporate or other organizational power and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action of such Loan Party.  Each Loan Document to which any Loan Party is a party has been duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the Legal Reservations.

Section 3.03Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts.  The execution and delivery of each Loan Document by each Loan Party thereto and the performance by such Loan Party thereof (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except (i) such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (ii) in connection with the Perfection Requirements and (iii) such consents, approvals, registrations, filings or other actions the failure to obtain or make which could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (b) will not violate any (i) of such Loan Party’s Organizational Documents or (ii) Requirement of Law applicable to such Loan Party which violation, in the case of this clause (b)(ii), could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (c) will not violate or result in a default under any material Contractual Obligation to which such Loan Party is a party which violation, in the case of this clause (c), could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.04Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Effect.  

(a)After the Closing Date, the financial statements most recently provided pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b), as applicable, present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial condition and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, (x) except as otherwise expressly noted therein and (y) subject, in the case of financial statements provided pursuant to Section 5.01(a), to the absence of footnotes and normal year-end adjustments.

(b)Since the Closing Date, there have been no events, developments or circumstances that have had, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Section 3.05Properties.  

(a)As of the Closing Date, Schedule 3.05 sets forth the address of each Real Estate Asset (or each set of such assets that collectively comprise one operating property) that is owned in fee simple (or similar concept in any applicable jurisdiction) by any Loan Party.

(b)The Borrower and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries have good and valid fee simple title (or similar concept in any applicable jurisdiction) to or rights to purchase, or valid leasehold interests in, or easements or other limited property interests in, all of their respective Real Estate Assets and have good title to their personal property and assets, in each case, except (i) for defects in title that do not materially interfere with their ability to conduct their business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties and assets for their intended purposes or (ii) where the failure to have such title would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c)The Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries own or otherwise have a license or right to use all rights in Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, trade secrets, know-how and any and all other intellectual property or proprietary information (“IP Rights”) used or held for use in the conduct of their respective businesses as presently conducted without, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any infringement, misappropriation or other violation of the IP Rights of third parties, except to the extent any such failure to own or license or have rights to use such IP Rights would not, or where such infringement, misappropriation or other violation would not, reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries have not infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, do not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate, any IP Rights of any third party, except to the extent such infringement, misappropriation or violation would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.06Litigation and Environmental Matters.  

(a)There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing against or affecting the  Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries which would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)Except for any matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither the Borrower nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is subject to or has received notice of any Environmental Claim or Environmental Liability or knows of any facts or circumstances, including any Release of Hazardous Materials, that would give rise to any Environmental Claim or Environmental Liability and (ii) neither the Borrower nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is in violation of any Environmental Law, including any failure to possess or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law.

(c)Neither the Borrower nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has treated, stored, transported or Released any Hazardous Materials or conducted any other Hazardous Materials Activity on, at, under or from any real estate or facility, whether currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in a manner that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.07Compliance with Laws.  Each of Holdings, the Borrower and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries is in compliance with all Requirements of Law applicable to it or its property, except, in each case where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; it being understood and agreed that this Section 3.07 shall not apply to any Requirements of Law specifically referenced in Section 3.17.

 

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Section 3.08Investment Company Status.  No Loan Party is an “investment company” as defined in, or is required to be registered under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Section 3.09Taxes.  Each of Holdings, the Borrower and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it that are due and payable (including in its capacity as a withholding agent), except (a) Taxes (or any requirement to file Tax returns with respect thereto) that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted 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, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  

Section 3.10ERISA.  

(a)Each Pension Plan is in compliance in form and operation with its terms and with ERISA and the Code and all other applicable Requirements of Law, except where any failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b)In the five-year period prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made, no ERISA Event has occurred and is continuing or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.11Disclosure.  

(a)As of the Closing Date, all written information (other than financial estimates, other forward-looking information and/or projected information and information of a general economic or industry-specific nature) concerning Holdings, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that was included in the Information Memorandum or otherwise prepared by or on behalf of Holdings, the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or their respective representatives and made available to any Initial Lender, any Arranger or the Administrative Agent in connection with the Transactions on or before the Closing Date, when taken as a whole, did not, when furnished, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements are made (after giving effect to all supplements and updates thereto from time to time).

Section 3.12Solvency.  As of the Closing Date, immediately after the consummation of the Transactions to occur on the Closing Date and the incurrence of Indebtedness and obligations on the Closing Date in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions, (i) the sum of the debt (including contingent liabilities) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, does not exceed the fair value of the assets (on a going concern basis) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (ii) the present fair saleable value of the assets (on a going concern basis) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liabilities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on their debts as they become absolute and matured in the ordinary course of business; (iii) the capital of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, is not unreasonably small in relation to the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, contemplated as of the Closing Date; and (iv) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, do not intend to incur, or believe that they will incur, debts (including current obligations and contingent liabilities) beyond their ability to pay such debts as they mature in the ordinary course of business.  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

 

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circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

Section 3.13Capitalization and Subsidiaries.  Schedule 3.13 sets forth, in each case as of the Closing Date, (a) a correct and complete list of the name of each Subsidiary of Holdings and the ownership interest therein held by Holdings or its applicable Subsidiary and (b) the type of entity of Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries.

Section 3.14Security Interest in Collateral.  Subject to the Legal Reservations, the Perfection Requirements, the provisions, limitations and/or exceptions set forth in this Agreement and the other relevant Loan Documents, the Security Documents create legal, valid and enforceable Liens on all of the Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of itself and the other Secured Parties, and upon the satisfaction of the applicable Perfection Requirements, such Liens constitute perfected Liens (with the priority that such Liens are expressed to have under the relevant Security Documents, unless otherwise permitted hereunder or under any Security Document) on the Collateral (to the extent such Liens are required to be perfected under the terms of the Loan Documents) securing the Obligations, in each case as and to the extent set forth therein.

For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, none of the Borrower nor any other Loan Party makes any representation or warranty (other than any representation or warranty expressly made in any such Loan Document) as to (A) the effects of perfection or non-perfection, the priority or the enforceability of any pledge of or security interest in any Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary, or as to the rights and remedies of the Collateral Agent or any Lender with respect thereto, under foreign Requirements of Law, (B) the enforcement of any security interest, or right or remedy with respect to any Collateral that may be limited or restricted by, or require any consent, authorization approval or license under, any foreign Requirement of Law, in each case other than with respect to the Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary designated as a Subsidiary Loan Party pursuant to the penultimate sentence of the definition of “Subsidiary Loan Party”, or (C) on the Closing Date and until required pursuant to Section 5.12 or Section 5.15, the pledge or creation of any security interest, or the effects of perfection or non-perfection, the priority or enforceability of any pledge or security interest to the extent the same is not required on the Closing Date pursuant to the final paragraph of Section 4.01.

Section 3.15Labor Disputes.  As of the Closing Date, except as individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) there are no strikes, lockouts or slowdowns against the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, threatened and (b) the hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Requirements of Law dealing with such matters.

Section 3.16Federal Reserve Regulations.  No part of the proceeds of any Loan have been used, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, for any purpose that results in a violation of the provisions of Regulation U or Regulation X.

Section 3.17OFAC; USA PATRIOT Act; Beneficial Ownership and FCPA.

(a)(i) None of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any director, officer or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, employee of any of the foregoing is, or is owned or controlled by any individual or entity that is, the subject of any U.S. sanctions administered by the United States government, including the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”) and the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union,

 

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Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), or is located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of comprehensive Sanctions (including, at the time of this Agreement, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria); and (ii) the Borrower will not directly or, to its knowledge, indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Person for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person that is the subject of any Sanctions, or in any country or territory, that is the subject of any comprehensive Sanctions.

(b)To the extent applicable, each Loan Party is in compliance, in all material respects, with the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

(c)(i) None of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,  any director, officer or employee of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or to the knowledge of the Borrower any agent (acting in its capacity as an agent for Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries) has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a material violation by any such Person of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, corruptly making any offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization or approval of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give or authorization of the giving of anything of value, directly or indirectly, to any Person, including any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in each case in contravention of the FCPA or any applicable anti-corruption Requirement of Law of any Governmental Authority; and (ii) the Borrower will not directly or, to its knowledge, indirectly, use the proceeds of the Loans or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Person, including any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for public office or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage in violation of the FCPA or any applicable anti-corruption Requirement of Law of any Governmental Authority.

Article 4CONDITIONS

Section 4.01Closing Date.  The obligations of each Lender to make Loans 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)Credit Agreement and Loan Documents.  The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each Loan Party party thereto (i) a counterpart signed by such Loan Party (or written evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include a copy transmitted by facsimile or other electronic method) that such party has signed a counterpart) of (A) this Agreement and (B) any Promissory Note requested by a Lender at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date and (ii) a Borrowing Request as required by Section 2.03.

(b)Legal Opinions.  The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received, on behalf of itself and the Lenders on the Closing Date a customary written opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, in its capacity as special counsel to the Loan Parties.

(c)Secretary’s Certificate and Good Standing Certificates.  The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received (i) a certificate of each Loan Party, dated the Closing Date and executed by a secretary, assistant secretary or other Responsible Officer thereof, which shall (A) certify that attached thereto are (x) a true and complete copy of the certificate or articles of incorporation, formation or organization of such Loan Party certified by the relevant authority of its jurisdiction of organization, which certificate or articles of incorporation, formation or organization have not been amended (except as attached thereto) since the date reflected thereon, (y) a true and correct copy of the by-laws or operating,

 

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management, partnership or similar agreement of such Loan Party, to the extent applicable, together with all amendments thereto as of the Closing Date, which by-laws or operating, management, partnership or similar agreement are in full force and effect, and (z) a true and complete copy of the resolutions or written consent, as applicable, of its board of directors, board of managers, sole member or other applicable governing body authorizing the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, which resolutions or consent have not been modified, rescinded or amended (other than as attached thereto) and are in full force and effect, and (B) identify by name and title and bear the signatures of the officers, managers, directors or other authorized signatories of such Loan Party authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party on the Closing Date and (ii) a good standing (or equivalent) certificate for such Loan Party from the relevant authority of its jurisdiction of organization, dated as of a recent date.

(d)Representations and Warranties.  The representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in Article III shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date; provided that (A) in the case of any representation and warranty which expressly relates to a given date or period, such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the respective date or for the respective period, as the case may be and (B) if any representation and warranty is qualified by or subject to a “material adverse effect”, “material adverse change” or similar term or qualification, such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects.

(e)Fees.  Prior to or substantially concurrently with the funding of the Initial Term Loans hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall have received (i) all fees required to be paid by the Borrower on the Closing Date pursuant to the Engagement Letter and (ii) all expenses required to be paid by the Borrower for which invoices have been presented at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date or such later date to which the Borrower may agree (including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel that are payable under the Engagement Letter), in each case on or before the Closing Date, which amounts may be offset against the proceeds of the Loans.

(f)Refinancing.  Substantially concurrently with the initial funding of the Loans hereunder, including by use of the proceeds thereof, the Refinancing shall be consummated.

(g)Solvency.  The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit J from the chief financial officer (or other officer with reasonably equivalent responsibilities) of the Borrower dated as of the Closing Date and certifying as to the matters set forth therein.

(h)Perfection Certificate.  The Administrative Agent shall have received a completed Perfection Certificate dated as of the Closing Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower on behalf of all the Loan Parties, together with all attachments contemplated thereby.

(i)USA PATRIOT Act; Beneficial Ownership.  No later than three Business Days in advance of the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received all documentation and other information reasonably requested with respect to any Loan Party in writing by any Initial Lender at least ten Business Days in advance of the Closing Date, which documentation or other information is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

For purposes of determining whether the conditions specified in this Section 4.01 have been satisfied on the Closing Date, by funding the Loans hereunder, the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted, or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required hereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be.

 

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Article 5AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

From the Closing Date until the date on which all Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees, expenses and other Obligations payable under any Loan Document (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim or demand has been made) have been paid in full in cash (such date, the “Termination Date”), Holdings (solely with respect to Sections 5.02, 5.03, 5.12, 5.14 and 5.15) and the Borrower hereby covenant and agree with the Lenders that:

Section 5.01Financial Statements and Other Reports.  The Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent for delivery by the Administrative Agent to each Lender:

(a)Quarterly Financial Statements.  Within 60 days after the end of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year, commencing with the Fiscal Quarter ending April 3, 2021, the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower as at the end of such Fiscal Quarter and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower for such Fiscal Quarter and for the period from the beginning of the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such Fiscal Quarter, and setting forth, in reasonable detail, in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding periods of the previous Fiscal Year commencing with Fiscal Quarter ending April 2, 2022, all in reasonable detail, together with a Responsible Officer Certification (which may be included in the applicable Compliance Certificate) with respect thereto; provided that such financial statements shall only be required to reflect the Borrower’s good faith estimate of any purchase accounting adjustments relating to any acquisition consummated after the Closing Date until the Fiscal Quarter ending on or about December 31 of the Fiscal Year following the Fiscal Year in which the relevant acquisition was consummated;

(b)Annual Financial Statements.  Within 120 days after the end of each Fiscal Year commencing with the Fiscal Year ending October 2, 2021, (i) the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower as at the end of such Fiscal Year and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in equity and cash flows of the Borrower for such Fiscal Year and, commencing after the completion of the second full Fiscal Year ending after the Closing Date, setting forth, in reasonable detail, in comparative form the corresponding figures for the previous Fiscal Year and (ii) with respect to such consolidated financial statements, a report thereon of an independent certified public accountant of recognized national standing (which report shall not be subject to (x) a “going concern” qualification (except as resulting from (i) the impending maturity of any Indebtedness within the four full Fiscal Quarter period following the date of delivery of the relevant audit opinion, (ii) an actual or prospective breach of any financial covenant under any Indebtedness) or (iii) the activities, operations or liabilities of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, but may include a “going concern” explanatory paragraph or like statement) or (y) a qualification as to the scope of the audit, and shall state that such consolidated financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower as at the dates indicated and their income and cash flows for the periods indicated in conformity with GAAP;

(c)Compliance Certificate.  Together with each delivery of financial statements of the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.01(a) and Section 5.01(b), (i) a duly executed and completed Compliance Certificate and (ii) (A) a summary of the pro forma adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of Unrestricted Subsidiaries (if any) from such financial statements, (B) a list identifying each Subsidiary of the Borrower as a Restricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary as of the date of delivery of such Compliance Certificate or confirmation that there is no change in such information since the later of the Closing Date and the date of the last such list and (C) a list identifying each Patent, Trademark or Copyright created or acquired and included as part of the Collateral or confirmation that there is no change in such information since the later of the Closing Date and the date of the last such list;

 

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(d)Notice of Default.  Promptly upon any Responsible Officer of the Borrower obtaining knowledge of (i) any Default or Event of Default or (ii) the occurrence of any event or change that has caused or evidences or would reasonably be expected to cause or evidence, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, a notice in reasonable detail specifying the nature and period of existence of such condition, event or change and what action the Borrower has taken, is taking and proposes to take with respect thereto;

(e)Notice of Litigation.  Promptly upon any Responsible Officer of the Borrower obtaining knowledge of (i) the institution of, or threat of, any Adverse Proceeding not previously disclosed in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or (ii) any material development in any Adverse Proceeding that, in the case of either of clauses (i) or (ii), could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, written notice thereof from the Borrower together with such other non-privileged information as may be reasonably available to the Loan Parties to enable the Lenders to evaluate such matters;

(f)ERISA.  Promptly upon any Responsible Officer of the Borrower becoming aware of the occurrence of any ERISA Event that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, a written notice specifying the nature thereof;

(g)[Reserved].

(h)Information Regarding Collateral.  Prompt (and, in any event, within 60 days of the relevant change) written notice of any change (i) in any Loan Party’s legal name, (ii) in any Loan Party’s type of organization, (iii) in any Loan Party’s jurisdiction of organization or (iv) in any Loan Party’s chief executive office, in each case to the extent such information is necessary to enable the Administrative Agent to perfect or maintain the perfection and priority of its security interest in the Collateral of the relevant Loan Party (and in any event upon any change to such Loan Party’s legal name), together with a certified copy of the applicable Organizational Document reflecting the relevant change;

(i)Certain Reports.  Promptly upon their becoming available and without duplication of any obligations with respect to any such information that is otherwise required to be delivered under the provisions of any Loan Document, copies of (i) all financial statements, reports, notices and proxy statements sent or made available generally by the Borrower, Holdings or its applicable Parent Company to its security holders acting in such capacity and (ii) all regular and periodic reports and all registration statements (other than on Form S-8 or a similar form) and prospectuses, if any, filed by the Borrower, Holdings or its applicable Parent Company with any securities exchange or with the SEC or any analogous Governmental Authority or private regulatory authority with jurisdiction over matters relating to securities; and

(j)Other Information.  Such other certificates, reports and information (financial or otherwise) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request from time to time regarding the financial condition or business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that none of Holdings, the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary shall be required to disclose or provide any information (a) that constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective customers and/or suppliers, (b) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives) is prohibited by any applicable Requirement of Law, (c) that is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product or (d) in respect of which Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owes confidentiality obligations to any third party (provided such confidentiality obligations were not entered into in contemplation of the requirements of this Section 5.01(k).

 

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Documents required to be delivered pursuant to this 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 (or a representative thereof) posts such documents (or provides a link thereto) at the website address listed on Schedule 9.01; provided that, other than with respect to items required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(i) above, the Borrower shall promptly notify (which notice may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents at the website address listed on Schedule 9.01 and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents; (ii) on which such documents are delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent for posting on behalf of the Borrower on IntraLinks, SyndTrak or another relevant secure website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); (iii) on which such documents are faxed to the Administrative Agent (or electronically mailed to an address provided by the Administrative Agent; or (iv) with respect to any item required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(i) above in respect of information filed by the Borrower, Holdings or its applicable Parent Company with any securities exchange or with the SEC or any analogous Governmental Authority or private regulatory authority with jurisdiction over matters relating to securities (other than Form 10-Q Reports and Form 10-K reports), on which such items have been made available on the SEC website or the website of the relevant analogous governmental or private regulatory authority or securities exchange.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 5.01 may be satisfied with respect to any financial statements of the Borrower by furnishing (A) the applicable financial statements of Holdings (or any other Parent Company) or (B) Holdings’ (or any other Parent Company’s), as applicable, Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC, in each case, within the time periods specified in such paragraphs; provided that, with respect to each of clauses (A) and (B), (i) to the extent such financial statements relate to any Parent Company, such financial statements shall be accompanied by consolidating information that summarizes in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such Parent Company, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Borrower on a standalone basis, on the other hand, which consolidating information shall be certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as having been fairly presented in all material respects and (ii) to the extent such statements are in lieu of statements required to be provided under Section 5.01(b), such statements shall be accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall satisfy the applicable requirements set forth in Section 5.01(b) as if the references to “the Borrower” therein were references to such Parent Company.

No financial statement required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b) shall be required to include acquisition accounting adjustments relating to the Transactions or any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment to the extent it is not practicable to include any such adjustments in such financial statement.

Section 5.02Existence.  Except as otherwise permitted under Section 6.07, Holdings and the Borrower will, and the Borrower will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and all rights, franchises, licenses  and permits material to its business except, other than with respect to the preservation of the existence of the Borrower, to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; provided that neither Holdings nor the Borrower nor any of the Borrower’s Restricted Subsidiaries shall be required to preserve any such existence (other than with respect to the preservation of existence of the Borrower), right, franchise, license or permit if a Responsible Officer of such Person or such Person’s board of directors (or similar governing body) determines that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of such Person, and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to such Person or to the Lenders (taken as a whole).

 

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Section 5.03Payment of Taxes.  Holdings and the Borrower will, and the Borrower will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, pay all Taxes imposed upon it or any of its properties or assets or in respect of any of its income or businesses or franchises before any penalty or fine accrues thereon; provided, however, that no such Tax need be paid if (a) it is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, so long as (i) adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions, as are required in conformity with GAAP, have been made therefor and (ii) in the case of a Tax which has resulted or may result in the creation of a Lien on any of the Collateral, such contested proceedings conclusively operate to stay the sale of any portion of the Collateral to satisfy such Tax or (b) failure to pay or discharge the same could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.04Maintenance of Properties.  The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, maintain or cause to be maintained in good repair, working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear and casualty and condemnation excepted, all property reasonably necessary to the normal conduct of business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and from time to time will make or cause to be made all needed and appropriate repairs, renewals and replacements thereof except as expressly permitted by this Agreement or where the failure to maintain such properties or make such repairs, renewals or replacements could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.05Insurance.  Except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Borrower will maintain or cause to be maintained, with financially sound and reputable insurers, such insurance coverage with respect to liabilities, losses or damage in respect of the assets, properties and businesses of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as may customarily be carried or maintained under similar circumstances by Persons of established reputation engaged in similar businesses, in each case in such amounts (giving effect to self-insurance), with such deductibles, covering such risks and otherwise on such terms and conditions as shall be customary for such Persons, including flood insurance with respect to each Flood Hazard Property, in each case in compliance with applicable Flood Insurance Laws.  Each such policy of insurance shall, subject to Section 5.15, (i) name the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties as a loss payee or an additional insured, as applicable, thereunder as its interests may appear and (ii) to the extent available from the relevant insurance carrier, in the case of each casualty insurance policy (excluding any business interruption insurance policy), contain a loss payable clause or endorsement that names the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, as the loss payee thereunder and, to the extent available from the relevant insurance carrier after submission of a request by the applicable Loan Party to obtain the same, provide for at least 30 days’ prior written notice to the Collateral Agent of any modification or cancellation of such policy (or 10 days’ prior written notice in the case of the failure to pay any premiums thereunder).

Section 5.06Inspections.  The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, permit any authorized representative designated by the Administrative Agent to visit and inspect any of the properties of the Borrower and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at which the principal financial records and executive officers of the applicable Person are located, to inspect, copy and take extracts from its and their respective financial and accounting records, and to discuss its and their respective affairs, finances and accounts with its and their Responsible Officers and independent public accountants (provided that the Borrower (or any of its Subsidiaries) may, if it so chooses, be present at or participate in any such discussion) at the expense of the Borrower, all upon reasonable notice and at reasonable times during normal business hours; provided that (a) only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Section 5.06, (b) except as expressly set forth in clause (c) below during the continuance of an Event of Default, (i) the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than one time during any calendar year and (ii) only one such time per calendar year shall be at the expense of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (c) when an Event of Default exists, the Administrative Agent (or any of its representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business

 

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hours and upon reasonable advance notice and (d) notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the Borrower nor any Restricted Subsidiary shall be required to disclose, permit the inspection, examination or making of copies of or taking abstracts from, or discuss any document, information or other matter (i) that constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and/or any of its customers and/or suppliers, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or contractors) is prohibited by applicable Requirements of Law, (iii) that is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product or (iv) in respect of which Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary owes confidentiality obligations to any third party (provided such confidentiality obligations were not entered into in contemplation of the requirements of this Section 5.06).

Section 5.07Maintenance of Book and Records.  The Borrower will, and will cause its Restricted Subsidiaries to, maintain proper books of record and account containing entries of all material financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are full, true and correct in all material respects and permit the preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP.

Section 5.08Compliance with Laws.  The Borrower will comply, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply, with the requirements of all applicable Requirements of Law (including applicable ERISA and all Environmental Laws, the USA PATRIOT Act, the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and the FCPA), except to the extent the failure of the Borrower or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.09Environmental.  

(a)The Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent as soon as reasonably practicable following the sending or receipt thereof by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, a copy of any material written communications with respect to (A) any Environmental Claim that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (B) any Release or Hazardous Materials Activity that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (C) any request made to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for information from any Governmental Authority that suggests such Governmental Authority is investigating whether the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may be responsible or otherwise liable for any Hazardous Materials Activity which is reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (D) such other documents and information as from time to time may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in relation to the foregoing.

(b)The Borrower shall promptly take, and shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries promptly to (i) take any and all actions required under Environmental Law to cure any violation of or noncompliance with any Environmental Law by the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries and address any Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials at or from any real property or Facility owned, leased or operated by Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) reasonably respond to any Environmental Claim against the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and discharge any obligations it may have to any Person thereunder, in each case, where failure to do so could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.10Designation of Subsidiaries.  The Borrower may at any time after the Closing Date designate (or redesignate) any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (a) after giving effect to such designation, no Event of Default exists (including after giving effect to the reclassification of Investments in, Indebtedness of and Liens on the assets of, the applicable Restricted Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiary), (b) no Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it is a “Restricted Subsidiary” for purposes of any Indebtedness that is outstanding in an aggregate amount equal to or greater than the Threshold Amount, (c) as of the date of the designation thereof, no Unrestricted Subsidiary shall own any Capital Stock in the Borrower or in any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (unless such Restricted Subsidiary is also designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary) or hold any Indebtedness of or any Lien on any property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or hold any Material Intellectual Property and (d) no Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if it is a “Restricted Subsidiary” for purposes of the ABL Credit Agreement. The designation of any Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall constitute an Investment by the Borrower (or its applicable Restricted Subsidiary) therein at the date of designation in an amount equal to the portion of the fair market value of the net assets of such Restricted Subsidiary attributable to the Borrower’s (or its applicable Restricted Subsidiary’s) equity interest therein as reasonably estimated by the Borrower (and such designation shall only be permitted to the extent such Investment is permitted under Section 6.06).  The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute the making, incurrence or granting, as applicable, at the time of designation of any then-existing Investment, Indebtedness or Lien of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable; provided that upon any re-designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be deemed to continue to have an Investment in the resulting Restricted Subsidiary in an amount (if positive) equal to (i) the Borrower’s “Investment” in such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such re-designation, minus (ii) the portion of the fair market value of the net assets of such Restricted Subsidiary attributable to the Borrower’s equity therein at the time of such re-designation.  As of the Closing Date, the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 5.10 hereto have been designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

Section 5.11Use of Proceeds.  The Borrower shall use the proceeds of the Initial Term Loans to finance a portion of the Transactions (including the payment of Transaction Costs).  

Section 5.12Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Provide Security.  

(a)Upon (i) the formation or acquisition after the Closing Date of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary (including, without limitation, any formation or acquisition pursuant to a division as contemplated by Section 1.12), (ii) the designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary ceasing to be an Immaterial Subsidiary or (iv) any Restricted Subsidiary that was an Excluded Subsidiary ceasing to be an Excluded Subsidiary, (x) if the event giving rise to the obligation under this Section 5.12(a) occurs during the first three Fiscal Quarters of any Fiscal Year, on or before the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) for the Fiscal Quarter in which the relevant formation, acquisition, designation or cessation occurred or (y) if the event giving rise to the obligation under this Section 5.12(a) occurs during the fourth Fiscal Quarter of any Fiscal Year, on or before the date that is 60 days after the end of such Fiscal Quarter (or, in the cases of clauses (x) and (y), such longer period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree), the Borrower shall (A) cause such Restricted Subsidiary to comply with the relevant requirements set forth in the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” and (B) upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, cause the relevant Restricted Subsidiary to deliver to the Administrative Agent a signed copy of a customary opinion of counsel for such Restricted Subsidiary, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, no Subsidiary that is an Excluded Subsidiary shall be required to take any action described in this Section 5.12(a).

 

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(b)Within 90 days after the acquisition by any Loan Party (including, without limitation, any acquisition pursuant to a division as contemplated by Section 1.12) of any Material Real Estate Asset (other than any Excluded Asset) (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree), the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent, and the Borrower will cause such Loan Party to take such actions as are required by the Real Estate Collateral Requirements, all at the expense of the Borrower; it being understood and agreed that with respect to any Material Real Estate Asset owned by any Restricted Subsidiary at the time such Restricted Subsidiary is required or elects to become a Loan Party under Section 5.12(a) above, such Material Real Estate Asset shall be deemed to have been acquired

 

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by such Restricted Subsidiary on the first day of the time period within which such Restricted Subsidiary is required to become or shall have elected to become a Loan Party under Section 5.12(a).

(c)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, it is understood and agreed that:

(i)the Administrative Agent may grant extensions of time (including after the expiration of any relevant period, which apply retroactively) for the creation and perfection of security interests in, or obtaining of title insurance, legal opinions, surveys or other deliverables with respect to, particular assets or the provision of any Loan Guarantee by any Restricted Subsidiary (in connection with assets acquired, or Restricted Subsidiaries formed or acquired, after the Closing Date), and each Lender hereby consents to any such extension of time,

(ii)any Lien required to be granted from time to time pursuant to the definition of “Collateral and Guarantee Requirement” and/or “Real Estate Collateral Requirements” shall be subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth in the applicable Security Documents,

(iii)(A) perfection by control shall not be required with respect to assets requiring perfection through control agreements or other control arrangements, including deposit accounts, securities accounts and commodities accounts (other than with respect to assets subject to control agreements or control arrangements pursuant to the ABL Credit Agreement and other than control of pledged Capital Stock and/or Material Debt Instruments that constitute Collateral and other than as set forth in clause (B)) and (B) except where the same is required to be established with respect to the ABL Credit Agreement, no blocked account agreement, deposit account control agreement or similar agreement shall be required for any Deposit Account,

(iv)no Loan Party shall be required to seek any landlord lien waiver, bailee letter, estoppel, warehouseman waiver or other collateral access or similar letter or agreement except where the same is required to be established with respect to the ABL Credit Agreement,

(v)no Loan Party will be required to (A) take any action outside of the U.S. or an Applicable Country in order to create or perfect any security interest in any asset of any Loan Party that is located outside of the United States or an Applicable Country, (B) execute any security agreement, pledge agreement, mortgage, deed or charge governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States or an Applicable Country or (C) make any foreign intellectual property filing, conduct any foreign intellectual property search or prepare any foreign intellectual property schedule with respect to any assets of any Loan Party in each case other than with respect to a Foreign Subsidiary designated as a Subsidiary Loan Party pursuant to the penultimate sentence of the definition of “Subsidiary Loan Party”,,

(vi)in no event will the Collateral include any Excluded Asset,

(vii)no action shall be required to perfect any Lien with respect to (A) any vehicle or other asset subject to a certificate of title, (B) letter-of-credit rights, and/or (C) the Capital Stock of any Immaterial Subsidiary, in each case except to the extent that a security interest therein can be perfected by filing a UCC-1 (or similar) financing statement

 

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or any analogous filing in any other jurisdiction, in each case without the requirement to list any VIN, serial or similar number,

(viii)no action shall be required to perfect a Lien in any asset in respect of which the perfection of a security interest therein would (1) be prohibited by enforceable anti-assignment provisions set forth in any contract that is permitted or otherwise not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement and is binding on such asset at the time of its acquisition and not incurred in contemplation thereof (other than in the case of capital leases, purchase money and similar financings), (2) violate the terms of any contract relating to such asset that is permitted or otherwise not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement and is binding on such asset at the time of its acquisition and not incurred in contemplation thereof (other than in the case of capital leases, purchase money and similar financings), in each case, after giving effect to any applicable anti-assignment provision of the UCC or other applicable law or (3) trigger termination of any contract relating to such asset that is permitted or otherwise not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement and is binding on such asset at the time of its acquisition and not incurred in contemplation thereof (other than in the case of capital leases, purchase money and similar financings) pursuant to any “change of control” or similar provision, it being understood that the Collateral shall include any proceeds and/or receivables arising out of any contract described in this clause (viii) to the extent the assignment of such proceeds or receivables is expressly deemed effective under the UCC or other applicable Requirements of Law notwithstanding the relevant prohibition, violation or termination right,

(ix)no Loan Party shall be required to perfect a security interest in any asset to the extent the perfection of a security interest in such asset would (A) require any governmental consent, approval, license or authorization (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been obtained), (B) be prohibited under any applicable Requirement of Law, in the case of clauses (A) and (B), after giving effect to any applicable anti-assignment provision of the UCC or other applicable law and other than proceeds thereof to the extent that the assignment of such proceeds is effective under the UCC or other applicable Requirements of Law notwithstanding such required consent, restriction or prohibition, and/or (C) result in material adverse tax consequences to any Loan Party as reasonably determined by the Borrower and specified in a written notice to the Administrative Agent,

(x)any joinder or supplement to any Loan Guarantee, any Security Document and/or any other Loan Document executed by any Restricted Subsidiary that is required to become a Loan Party pursuant to Section 5.12(a) above may, with the consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), include such schedules (or updates to schedules) as may be necessary to qualify any representation or warranty set forth in any Loan Document to the extent necessary to ensure that such representation or warranty is true and correct to the extent required thereby or by the terms of any other Loan Document, and

(xi)the Administrative Agent shall not require the taking of a Lien on, or require the perfection of any Lien granted in, those assets as to which the cost, burden, difficulty or consequence (including any effect on the ability of the relevant Loan Party to conduct its operations and business in the ordinary course of business) of obtaining or perfecting a security interest therein outweighs the benefit of a security interest to the relevant Secured Parties afforded thereby, as reasonably determined by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

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Section 5.13Maintenance of Ratings.  The Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain public corporate credit facility and public corporate family ratings from each of S&P and ▇▇▇▇▇’▇; provided that in no event shall the Borrower be required to maintain any specific rating with any such agency.

Section 5.14Further Assurances.  Promptly upon request of the Administrative Agent and subject to the limitations described in Section 5.12:

(a)Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each other Loan Party to, execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements, instruments, certificates, notices and acknowledgments and take all such further actions (including the filing and recordation of financing statements, fixture filings, Mortgages and/or amendments thereto and other documents), that may be required under any applicable Requirements of Law and which the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to ensure the creation, perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created under the Security Documents, all at the expense of the relevant Loan Parties.

(b)Holdings and the Borrower will, and will cause each other Loan Party to, (i) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation of any Security 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 (including notices to third parties), deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to ensure the creation, perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created under the Security Documents.

Article 6NEGATIVE COVENANTS

From the Closing Date and until the Termination Date, Holdings (solely with respect to Section 6.13) and the Borrower covenant and agree with the Lenders that:

Section 6.01Indebtedness.  The Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or otherwise become or remain liable with respect to any Indebtedness, except:

(a)the Obligations (including any Additional Term Loans and any Additional Revolving Loans);

(b)Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Restricted Subsidiary and/or Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary to Holdings, the Borrower and/or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any Indebtedness of any Loan Party owing to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party must be unsecured and expressly subordinated to the Obligations of such Loan Party on terms that are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

(c)[Reserved];

(d)Indebtedness arising from any agreement providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations (including contingent earn-out obligations) incurred in connection with any Disposition permitted hereunder, any acquisition permitted hereunder or consummated prior to the Closing Date or any other purchase of assets or Capital Stock permitted hereunder, and Indebtedness arising from guaranties, letters of credit, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds or similar instruments securing the performance of the Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to any such agreement;

 

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(e)Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary (i) pursuant to tenders, statutory obligations, bids, leases, governmental contracts, trade contracts, surety, stay, customs, appeal, performance and/or return of money bonds or other similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and (ii) in respect of letters of credit, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds or similar instruments to support any of the foregoing items;

(f)Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of commercial credit cards, stored value cards, purchasing cards, treasury management services, netting services, overdraft protections, check drawing services, automated payment services (including depository, overdraft, controlled disbursement, ACH transactions, return items and interstate depository network services), employee credit card programs, cash pooling services and any arrangements or services similar to any of the foregoing and/or otherwise in connection with Cash management and Deposit Accounts, including Cash Management Obligations and incentive, supplier finance or similar programs;

(g)(i) guaranties by the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary of the obligations of suppliers, customers and licensees in the ordinary course of business, (ii) Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary to pay the deferred purchase price of goods or services or progress payments in connection with such goods and services and (iii) Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties or similar instruments supporting trade payables, warehouse receipts or similar facilities entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(h)Guarantees by the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary and/or any joint venture with respect to Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to this Section 6.01 or other obligations not prohibited by this Agreement; provided that a Restricted Subsidiary may not, pursuant to this clause (h), Guarantee any Indebtedness of a Loan Party that such Restricted Subsidiary would not have been permitted to incur under another clause of this Section 6.01;

(i)Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary existing, or pursuant to commitments existing, on the Closing Date and to the extent such Indebtedness is in excess of $5,000,000, described on Schedule 6.01;

(j)Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties (i) in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed the greater of $90,000,000 and 45% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period and (ii) to fund working capital requirements in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed the greater of $20,000,000 and 10% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period;

(k)Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of obligations owing under supply, license or similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(l)Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums, (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and/or (iii) obligations to reacquire assets or inventory in connection with customer financing arrangements in the ordinary course of business;

(m)Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to Capital Leases and purchase money Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to

 

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exceed the greater of $60,000,000 and 30% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period;

(n)Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or Indebtedness assumed in connection with an acquisition permitted hereunder after the Closing Date; provided that (i) such Indebtedness (A) existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or the assets subject to such Indebtedness were acquired, (B) was not created or incurred in anticipation thereof and (C) such Indebtedness is only the obligation of the Person and/or Person’s Subsidiaries that are acquired or that acquired the relevant assets and (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of indebtedness incurred in reliance on this Section 6.01(n) by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties shall not at any time exceed the greater of $60,000,000 and 30% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period;

(o)Indebtedness consisting of promissory notes issued by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to any stockholder of any Parent Company or any current or former director, officer, employee, member of management, manager or consultant of any Parent Company, the Borrower or any Subsidiary (or their respective Immediate Family Members) to finance the purchase or redemption of Capital Stock of any Parent Company permitted by Section 6.04(a);

(p)the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may become and remain liable for any Indebtedness refinancing, refunding or replacing any Indebtedness permitted under (a), (i), (j), (m), (n), (q), (r), (u), (w), (x) and (y) of this Section 6.01 (in any case, including any refinancing Indebtedness incurred in respect thereof, “Refinancing Indebtedness”) and any subsequent Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided that:

(i)(1) except to the extent otherwise permitted hereunder (including utilization of any other available baskets or incurrence based amounts) the principal amount of such Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded or replaced, except by (A) an amount equal to unpaid accrued interest and premiums (including tender premiums) thereon plus underwriting discounts and other reasonable and customary fees, commissions and expenses (including upfront fees, original issue discount or initial yield payments) incurred in connection with the relevant refinancing, refunding or replacement and (B) an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and (2) if such additional Indebtedness is secured, the Lien securing such Refinancing Indebtedness satisfies the applicable requirements of Section 6.02),

(ii)in the case of Refinancing Indebtedness other than in the case of Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to clauses (i), (m), (n) and/or (u) of this Section 6.01, such Refinancing Indebtedness has (A) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, a final maturity equal to or later than (and, in the case of revolving Indebtedness, does not require mandatory commitment reductions, if any, prior to) the final maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded or replaced and (B) subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, other than with respect to revolving Indebtedness, a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded or replaced,

(iii)the terms of any Refinancing Indebtedness with an original principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount (excluding pricing, fees, premiums, rate floors, optional prepayment or redemption terms (and, if applicable, subordination terms) and, with respect to Refinancing Indebtedness incurred in respect of Indebtedness permitted

 

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under clause (a) of this Section 6.01, security), are not, taken as a whole (as reasonably determined by the Borrower), more favorable to the lenders providing such Indebtedness than those applicable to the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded or replaced (other than (x) any covenants or any other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date as of such date or (y) any covenants or provisions which are market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence or issuance for the applicable type of Indebtedness) (as reasonably determined by the Borrower)),

(iv)in the case of Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to Indebtedness permitted under clauses (j), (m), (n) (solely as it relates to Indebtedness incurred by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party), (q) (solely as it relates to Indebtedness incurred under Section (q)(ii)(x) or by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party), (r), (u), (w) (solely as it relates to Indebtedness incurred under Section (w)(i)(x) or by any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party), (x) and (y) of this Section 6.01, the incurrence thereof shall be without duplication of any amounts outstanding in reliance on (and such Refinancing Indebtedness shall constitute utilization of amounts set forth in) the applicable clause of this Section 6.01,

(v)(A) such Indebtedness, if secured, is secured only by Permitted Liens at the time of such refinancing, refunding or replacement (it being understood that secured Indebtedness may be refinanced with unsecured Indebtedness), (B) such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred by the obligor or obligors in respect of the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded or replaced, except to the extent otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 6.01 (provided that Holdings may not be a primary obligor in respect of the applicable Refinancing Indebtedness if Holdings was not a primary obligor in respect of the relevant refinanced Indebtedness), (C) if the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded or replaced was originally contractually subordinated to the Obligations in right of payment (or the Liens securing such Indebtedness were originally contractually subordinated to the Liens on all or a portion of the Collateral securing the Initial Term Loans), such Refinancing Indebtedness is contractually subordinated to the Obligations in right of payment (or the Liens securing such Refinancing Indebtedness are subordinated to the Liens on the relevant Collateral securing the Initial Term Loans) on terms not materially less favorable (as reasonably determined by the Borrower), taken as a whole, to the Lenders than those applicable to the Indebtedness (or Liens, as applicable) being refinanced, refunded or replaced, taken as a whole, and (D) as of the date of the incurrence of any such Refinancing Indebtedness and after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default exists,

(vi)in the case of Replacement Debt, (A) such Refinancing Indebtedness is pari passu or junior in right of payment and secured by the Collateral on a pari passu or junior basis with respect to the remaining Obligations hereunder, or is unsecured; provided that any such Refinancing Indebtedness that is pari passu or junior with respect to the Collateral or that is junior in right of payment shall be subject to an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement, (B) if the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded or replaced is secured, it is not secured by any assets other than the Collateral, (C) if the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded or replaced is Guaranteed, it shall not be Guaranteed by any Person other than one or more Loan Parties and (D) such Refinancing Indebtedness is incurred under (and pursuant to) documentation other than this Agreement; it being understood and agreed that any such Refinancing Indebtedness may participate (x) in any voluntary prepayment of Term Loans as set forth in Section 2.11(a)(i) and (y) in any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans as set forth in Section 2.11(b)(vi), and

 

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(vii)in the case of Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to intercompany Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(i), such Refinancing Indebtedness also constitutes intercompany Indebtedness;

(q)Indebtedness incurred to finance any acquisition or similar Investment permitted hereunder after the Closing Date; provided that:

(i)before and after giving effect to such acquisition or similar Investment on a Pro Forma Basis, no Event of Default under Sections 7.01(a), 7.01(f) or 7.01(g) exists,

(ii)the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed (x) the Shared Fixed Amount plus (y) additional unlimited amounts; provided, that after giving effect to such acquisition on a Pro Forma Basis (in each case, without “netting” the cash proceeds of the applicable Indebtedness being incurred subject to the Incremental Netting Provision):

a.if such Indebtedness is secured by any of the Collateral on a first priority basis relative to the Liens on such Collateral securing the Obligations, the First Lien Leverage Ratio does not exceed the greater of (i) 4.00:1.00 and (ii) the First Lien Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period,

b.if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral other than on a first priority basis, the Secured Leverage Ratio does not exceed the greater of (i) 6.00:1.00 or (ii) the Secured Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period or

c.if such Indebtedness is unsecured or secured solely by assets that are not Collateral, at the election of the Borrower, either (x) the Total Leverage Ratio does not exceed the greater of (i) 6.00:1.00 and (ii) the Total Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended Test period or (y) the Interest Coverage Ratio is greater than the lesser of (i) 2.00:1.00 and (ii) the Interest Coverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period,

(iii)any such Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Obligations in right of payment or secured by a Lien that is junior to the Lien securing the Obligations shall be subject to an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement;

(iv)if any such Indebtedness is in the form of Qualifying Term Loans incurred in reliance on clause (ii)(y) of this Section 6.01(q) (and not by virtue of reclassification permitted pursuant hereto) (other than customary bridge loans with a maturity date of not longer than one year that are convertible or exchangeable into, or are intended to be refinanced with, any Indebtedness other than Qualifying Term Loans), Section 2.22(a)(v) shall apply to such Indebtedness as if such Indebtedness was an Incremental Term Facility, mutatis mutandis;

(v)such Indebtedness shall be subject to the conditions provided in Sections 2.22(a)(iv), (vi), (vii), (x)(B) (solely with respect to clauses (q)(ii)(x), (q)(ii)(y)(a) and (q)(ii)(y)(b) above) and (xi), mutatis mutandis; and

(vi)the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties shall not exceed in the aggregate at any

 

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time outstanding, together with Indebtedness of non-Loan Parties incurred or assumed under Section 6.01(n) and 6.01(w), shall not exceed the Non-Loan Party Cap;

(r)Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed 200% of the amount of Net Proceeds received by the Borrower from (i) the issuance or sale of Qualified Capital Stock or (ii) any cash contribution to its common equity with the Net Proceeds from the issuance and sale by any Parent Company of its Qualified Capital Stock or a contribution to the common equity of any Parent Company, in each case after the Closing Date, (A) other than any Net Proceeds received from the sale of Capital Stock to, or contributions from, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (B) to the extent the relevant Net Proceeds have not otherwise been applied to make Investments, Restricted Payments or Restricted Debt Payments hereunder and (C) other than Cure Amounts and/or any Available Excluded Contribution Amount (the amount of any Net Proceeds or contribution utilized to incur Indebtedness in reliance on this clause (r), a “Contribution Indebtedness Amount”);

(s)Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary under any Derivative Transaction not entered into for speculative purposes;

(t)Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary representing (i) deferred compensation to current or former directors, officers, employees, members of management, managers and consultants of any Parent Company, the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and (ii) deferred compensation or other similar arrangements in connection with the Transactions, any Permitted Acquisition or any other Investment permitted hereby;

(u)Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed the greater of $120,000,000 and 60% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period (the “General Debt Basket”);

(v)[reserved];

(w)additional Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as:

(i)the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed (x) the Shared Fixed Amount plus (y) additional unlimited amounts; provided, that after giving effect thereto, including the application of the proceeds thereof (in each case, without “netting” the cash proceeds of the applicable Indebtedness being incurred subject to the Incremental Netting Provision):

(A)if such Indebtedness is secured by any of the Collateral on a first priority basis relative to the Liens on such Collateral securing the Obligations, the First Lien Leverage Ratio does not exceed 4.00:1.00,

(B)if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral other than on a first priority basis, the Secured Leverage Ratio does not exceed 6.00:1.00,

(C)if such Indebtedness is unsecured or secured by assets not constituting Collateral, at the election of the Borrower, either (x) the Total Leverage Ratio does not exceed 6.00:1.00 or (y) the Interest Coverage Ratio is not less than 2.00:1.00,

 

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(ii)any such Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Obligations in right of payment or secured by a Lien that is junior to the Lien securing the Obligations shall be subject to an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement;

(iii)the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this Section 6.01(w) by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties, together with Indebtedness of non-Loan Parties incurred or assumed under Section 6.01(n) and 6.01(q), shall not, at any time, exceed the Non-Loan Party Cap;

(iv)if any such Indebtedness is in the form of Qualifying Term Loans incurred in reliance on clause (i)(y) of this Section 6.01(w) (and not by virtue of reclassification permitted pursuant hereto) (other than customary bridge loans with a maturity date of not longer than one year that are convertible or exchangeable into, or are intended to be refinanced with, any Indebtedness other than Qualifying Term Loans), Section 2.22(a)(v) shall apply to such Indebtedness as if such Indebtedness was an Incremental Term Facility, mutatis mutandis; and

(v)such Indebtedness shall be subject to the conditions provided in Sections 2.22(a)(iv), (vi), (vii), (x)(B) (solely with respect to clauses (w)(i)(x), (w)(i)(y)(A) and (w)(i)(y)(B) above) and (xi), mutatis mutandis;

(x)Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred in connection with Sale and Lease-Back Transactions permitted pursuant to Section 6.07;

(y)Incremental Equivalent Debt;

(z)Indebtedness (including obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds or similar instruments with respect to such Indebtedness) incurred by the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of workers compensation claims, unemployment insurance (including premiums related thereto), other types of social security, pension obligations, vacation pay, health, disability or other employee benefits;

(aa)Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any letter of credit or bank guarantee issued in favor of any issuing bank or swingline lender to support any defaulting lender’s participation in letters of credit issued, or swingline loans made under any ABL Facility;

(bb)Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by any letter of credit issued under any ABL Facility or Additional Revolving Facility;

(cc)unfunded pension fund and other employee benefit plan obligations and liabilities incurred by the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business to the extent that the unfunded amounts would not otherwise cause an Event of Default under Section 7.01(i);

(dd)customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods and services purchased in the ordinary course of business;

(ee)without duplication of any other Indebtedness, all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest and payment in kind interest), accretion or amortization of original issue discount, fees, expenses and charges with respect to Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary hereunder;

 

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(ff)Indebtedness in the amount of Restricted Payments then permitted to be made in reliance on Section 6.04(a); provided that any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this Section 6.01(ff) in lieu of any such Restricted Payment shall reduce availability under the applicable Restricted Payment basket under Section 6.04(a);

(gg)[reserved];

(hh)Indebtedness of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary outstanding at any time in respect of (i) any ABL Facility and any ABL Incremental Debt in an aggregate outstanding principal amount that does not exceed the greater of (x) $215,000,000 plus the amount of any ABL Incremental Debt permitted under the ABL Facility as in effect on the Closing Date and (y) the sum of 85% of the Accounts (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date) and 65% of the Inventory (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date), in each case, of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness, (ii) any refinancing of any ABL Facility or any ABL Incremental Debt after the Closing Date so long as (A) the aggregate commitments do not exceed, without duplication, the amount permitted to be incurred under the preceding clause (i), plus (1) the amount of any underwriting discounts, other reasonable and customary fees, commissions and expenses (including upfront fees) incurred in connection with the relevant refinancing and (2) any additional amounts permitted to be incurred pursuant to this Section 6.01 (with additional amounts incurred in reliance on this clause (2) constituting a utilization of the relevant basket or exception pursuant to which such additional amount is permitted), (B) such Indebtedness, if secured, is secured by Liens permitted under Section 6.02, (C) such refinancing shall be without duplication of any amounts outstanding in reliance on (and, such refinancing shall constitute utilization of amounts set forth in) the preceding clause (i), (D) such Indebtedness complies with the requirements set forth in Section 6.01(p)(ii), 6.01(p)(iii) and 6.01(p)(v), mutatis mutandis, (E) the maturity date of such Indebtedness is equal to or later than, and such Indebtedness shall not require any scheduled amortization or mandatory commitment reduction prior to, the maturity date of the Indebtedness being refinanced in reliance on this Section 6.01(hh) and (F) no such Indebtedness is guaranteed by any Person which is not a Loan Party, and (iii) “Cash Management Obligations”, “Bank Products” and “Specified Swap Contracts” (each as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date (or any equivalent term in any document governing any ABL Facility));

(ii)Indebtedness in an amount not to exceed the portion, if any, of the Available Amount on such date that the Borrower elects to apply to this clause (ii); and

(jj)Indebtedness of (i) any Securitization Subsidiary arising under any Qualified Securitization Financing or (ii) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary arising under any Receivables Facility.

Section 6.02Liens.  The Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or permit or suffer to exist any Lien on or with respect to any property of any kind owned by it, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits therefrom, except:

(a)Liens securing the Obligations;

(b)Liens for Taxes which are (i) not then due, (ii) if due, not at such time or of such amount that would be required to be paid pursuant to Section 5.03 or (iii) being contested in accordance with Section 5.03;

(c)statutory Liens (and rights of set-off) of landlords, banks, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, repairmen, workmen and materialmen, and other Liens imposed by applicable Requirements of Law, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business (i) for amounts not yet overdue by more than

 

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30 days, (ii) for amounts that are overdue by more than 30 days and that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, so long as any reserves or other appropriate provisions required by GAAP have been made for any such contested amounts or (iii) with respect to which the failure to make payment could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(d)Liens incurred (i) in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security laws and regulations, (ii) in the ordinary course of business to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, trade contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (in each case, exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money), (iii) pursuant to pledges and deposits of Cash or Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business securing (x) any liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of insurance carriers providing property, casualty, liability or other insurance to Holdings, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or (y) leases or licenses of property otherwise permitted by this Agreement and (iv) to secure obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds or similar instruments posted with respect to the items described in clauses (i) through (iii) above;

(e)Liens consisting of easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, encroachments, servitudes for railways, sewers, drains, gas and oil and other pipelines, gas and water mains, electric light and power and telecommunication, telephone or telegraph or cable television conduits, poles, wires and cables and other minor defects or irregularities in title, in each case which do not, in the aggregate, materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or the use of the affected property for its intended purpose;

(f)Liens consisting of any (i) interest or title of a lessor or sub-lessor under any lease of real estate permitted hereunder, (ii) landlord lien permitted by the terms of any lease, (iii) restriction or encumbrance to which the interest or title of such lessor or sub-lessor may be subject or (iv) subordination of the interest of the lessee or sub-lessee under such lease to any restriction or encumbrance referred to in the preceding clause (iii);

(g)Liens (i) solely on any ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ money deposits (including as part of any escrow arrangement) made by the Borrower and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement with respect to any Investment permitted hereunder and (ii) consisting of (A) an agreement to Dispose of any property in a Disposition permitted under Section 6.07 and/or (B) the pledge of Cash as part of an escrow arrangement required in any Disposition permitted under Section 6.07;

(h)precautionary or purported Liens evidenced by the filing of UCC financing statements or similar financing statements under applicable Requirements of Law relating solely to (i) operating leases or consignment or bailee arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business and/or (ii) the sale of accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business for which a UCC financing statement or similar financing statements under applicable Requirements of Law is required;

(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;

(j)Liens in connection with any zoning, building or similar Requirement of Law or right reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authority to control or regulate the use of any dimensions of real property or the structure thereon, including Liens in connection with any condemnation or eminent domain proceeding or compulsory purchase order;

 

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(k)Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(p) (solely with respect to the permitted refinancing of (x) Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Sections 6.01(a), (i), (j), (m), (n), (q), (u), (w), (x) and (y) and (y) Indebtedness that is secured in reliance on Section 6.02(u) (without duplication of any amount outstanding thereunder such that the amount available under Section 6.02(u) shall be reduced by the amount of the applicable Lien granted in reliance on this clause (y))); provided that (i) no such Lien extends to any asset not covered by the Lien securing the Indebtedness that is being refinanced (it being understood that individual financings of the type permitted under Section 6.01(m) provided by any lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of such type provided by such lender or its affiliates), (ii) if the Lien securing the Indebtedness being refinanced was subject to intercreditor arrangements, then (A) the Lien securing any refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof shall be subject to intercreditor arrangements that are not materially less favorable to the Secured Parties, taken as a whole, than the intercreditor arrangements governing the Lien securing the Indebtedness that is refinanced or (B) the intercreditor arrangements governing the Lien securing the relevant refinancing Indebtedness shall be set forth in an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement and (iii) no such Lien shall be senior in priority as compared to the Lien securing the Indebtedness being refinanced;

(l)Liens existing on the Closing Date and to the extent securing obligations in excess of $5,000,000, described on Schedule 6.02 and any modification, replacement, refinancing, renewal or extension thereof; provided that (i) no such Lien extends to any additional property other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien and (B) proceeds and products thereof, replacements, accessions or additions thereto and improvements thereon (it being understood that individual financings of the type permitted under Section 6.01(m) provided by any lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of such type provided by such lender or its affiliates) and (ii) any such modification, replacement, refinancing, renewal or extension of the obligations secured or benefited by such Liens, if the same constitute Indebtedness, is permitted by Section 6.01;

(m)Liens arising out of Sale and Lease-Back Transactions permitted under Section 6.07;

(n)Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(m); provided that any such Lien shall encumber only the asset acquired with the proceeds of such Indebtedness and proceeds and products thereof, replacements, accessions or additions thereto and improvements thereon (it being understood that individual financings of the type permitted under Section 6.01(m) provided by any lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of such type provided by such lender or its affiliates);

(o)(i) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(n) on the relevant acquired assets or on the Capital Stock and assets of the relevant newly acquired Restricted Subsidiary; provided that no such Lien (x) extends to or covers any other assets (other than the proceeds or products thereof, replacements, accessions or additions thereto and improvements thereon; it being understood that individual financings of the type permitted under Section 6.01(m) provided by any lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of such type provided by such lender or its affiliates) or (y) was created in contemplation of the applicable acquisition of assets or Capital Stock, and (ii) Liens securing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to, and subject to the provisions set forth in, Section 6.01(q); provided, that any Lien on any of the Collateral that is granted in reliance on this clause (o)(ii) and is pari passu with or junior to the Lien securing the Obligations shall be subject to the applicable Intercreditor Agreements and/or an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement;

(p)(i) Liens that are contractual rights of setoff or netting relating to (A) the establishment of depositary relations with banks not granted in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (B) pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower

 

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or any Restricted Subsidiary, (C) purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business and (D) commodity trading or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits, (iii) bankers Liens and rights and remedies as to Deposit Accounts, (iv) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-208 of the UCC on items in the ordinary course of business, (v) Liens in favor of banking or other financial institutions arising as a matter of Law or under customary general terms and conditions encumbering deposits or other funds maintained with a financial institution and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry or arising pursuant to such banking institution’s general terms and conditions and not granted in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness and (vi) Liens on the proceeds of any Indebtedness incurred in connection with any transaction permitted hereunder, which proceeds have been deposited into an escrow account on customary terms to secure such Indebtedness pending the application of such proceeds to finance such transaction;

(q)Liens on assets and Capital Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties (including Capital Stock owned by such Persons) securing Indebtedness or other obligations of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties permitted under this Agreement;

(r)Liens securing obligations (other than obligations representing Indebtedness for borrowed money) under operating, reciprocal easement or similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(s)Liens securing Indebtedness incurred in reliance on, and subject to the provisions set forth in, Section 6.01(w) and Section 6.01(y); provided, that any Lien that is granted in reliance on this clause (s) on the Collateral and is pari passu with or junior to the Lien securing the Obligations shall be subject to the applicable Intercreditor Agreement or an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement;

(t)Liens on Collateral securing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(hh), subject to the applicable Intercreditor Agreement or an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement; provided, that for the avoidance of doubt, no such Liens (other than Liens on the ABL Priority Collateral securing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(hh)) shall be senior in priority to the Liens securing the Obligations hereunder;

(u)other Liens on assets securing Indebtedness or other obligations in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the greater of $120,000,000 and 60% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period; provided that at the Borrower’s election, if such Liens are secured by the Collateral on a pari passu or junior basis with Liens securing the Obligations, such Liens shall be subject to the applicable Intercreditor Agreement or an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement;

(v)(i) Liens on assets securing judgments, awards, attachments and/or decrees and notices of lis pendens and associated rights relating to litigation being contested in good faith not constituting an Event of Default under Section 7.01(h) and (ii) any pledge and/or deposit securing any settlement of litigation;

(w)(i) leases, licenses (including sublicenses), or subleases granted to others or (ii) assignments of IP Rights granted to a customer of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case in the ordinary course of business which do not secure any Indebtedness;

(x)Liens on Securities that are the subject of repurchase agreements constituting Investments permitted under Section 6.06 arising out of such repurchase transaction;

 

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(y)Liens securing obligations in respect of letters of credit, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds or similar instruments permitted under Sections 6.01(d), (e), (g), (aa) and (cc);

(z)Liens arising (i) out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of any asset in the ordinary course of business and permitted by this Agreement or (ii) by operation of law under Article 2 of the UCC (and/or any similar Requirement of Law under any jurisdiction);

(aa)Liens (i) in favor of any Loan Party and/or (ii) granted by any non-Loan Party in favor of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, in each case of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), securing intercompany Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01;

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

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

(dd)Liens securing obligations of the type described in Section 6.01(f), subject, if applicable, to an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement;

(ee)(i) Liens on Capital Stock of joint ventures or Unrestricted Subsidiaries securing capital contributions to, or obligations of, such Persons and (ii) customary rights of first refusal and tag, drag and similar rights in joint venture agreements and agreements with respect to non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries;

(ff)Liens on cash or Cash Equivalents arising in connection with the defeasance, discharge or redemption of Indebtedness;

(gg)Liens consisting of the prior rights of consignees and their lenders under consignment arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(hh)Liens disclosed in any mortgage policy delivered pursuant to Section 5.12(b) with respect to any Material Real Estate Asset and any replacement, extension or renewal thereof; provided that no such replacement, extension or renewal Lien shall cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Lien prior to such replacement, extension or renewal (and additions thereto, improvements thereon and the proceeds thereof);

(ii)Liens in an amount not to exceed the portion, if any, of the Available Amount on such date that the Borrower elects to apply to this clause (ii);

(jj)Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations so long as:

(A)if such Lien is secured by any of the Collateral on a first priority basis relative to the Liens on such Collateral securing the Obligations, the First Lien Leverage Ratio does not exceed 4.00:1.00;

(B)if such Lien is secured by the Collateral other than on a first priority basis, the Secured Leverage Ratio does not exceed 6.00:1.00; or

 

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(C)if such Lien is secured solely by assets that are not Collateral, at the election of the Borrower, either (x) the Total Leverage Ratio does not exceed 6.00:1.00 or (y) the Interest Coverage Ratio is greater than 2.00:1.00; provided that any such obligations that are secured by a Lien on the Collateral pursuant to this clause (jj) shall be subject to the applicable Intercreditor Agreements and/or an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement; and

(kk)Liens on (i) the Securitization Assets arising in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or (ii) the Receivables Assets arising in connection with a Receivables Facility.

Section 6.03Reserved.

Section 6.04Restricted Payments; Restricted Debt Payments.

(a)The Borrower shall not pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except that:

(i)the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to the extent necessary to permit any Parent Company:

(A)to pay franchise Taxes, and similar fees and expenses, required to maintain the organizational existence of such Parent Company, in each case, which are reasonable and customary and incurred in the ordinary course of business, plus any reasonable and customary indemnification claim made by any director, officer, member of management, manager, employee and/or consultant of any Parent Company, in each case, to the extent attributable to the ownership or operations of any Parent Company and/or its Subsidiaries (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the portion of any such amount, if any, that is attributable to the ownership or operations of any Subsidiary of any Parent Company other than the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries);

(B)if Borrower is included in a group filing a consolidated, combined, or similar income tax return with Holdings, distributions to Holdings to pay (or to make distributions to any direct or indirect parent of Holdings to pay) the relevant consolidated, combined, unitary or similar income Tax liabilities, when and as due, attributable to taxable income of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that such Restricted Payments made pursuant to this Section 6.04(a)(i)(B) shall not exceed the amount of income Tax that the Borrower would pay if it were the parent entity of a group filing such consolidated, combined or similar tax return with the applicable Restricted Subsidiaries;

(C)to pay audit and other accounting and reporting expenses of such Parent Company to the extent such expenses are attributable to any Parent Company and/or its Subsidiaries (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the portion of any such expenses, if any, that is attributable to the ownership or operations of any Subsidiary of any Parent Company other than the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries);

(D)to pay any insurance premium that is payable by, or attributable to, any Parent Company and/or its Subsidiaries (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the portion of any such premium, if any, that is attributable to the ownership or

 

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operations of any Subsidiary of any Parent Company other than the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries);

(E)to pay fees after the consummation of an initial public offering or the issuance of public debt Securities, Public Company Costs;

(F)to finance any Investment permitted under Section 6.06 (provided that (x) any Restricted Payment under this clause (a)(i)(F) shall be made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Investment and (y) the relevant Parent Company shall, promptly following the closing thereof, cause (I) all property acquired to be contributed to the Borrower or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or (II) the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of the Person formed or acquired into the Borrower or one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries, in order to consummate such Investment in compliance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.06 as if undertaken as a direct Investment by the Borrower or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary); and

(G)to pay customary salary, bonus, severance and other benefits payable to current or former directors, officers, members of management, managers, employees or consultants of any Parent Company (or any Immediate Family Member of any of the foregoing) to the extent such salary, bonuses, severance and other benefits are attributable and reasonably allocated to the operations of the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries, in each case, so long as such Parent Company applies the amount of any such Restricted Payment for such purpose;

(ii)the Borrower may pay (or make Restricted Payments to allow any Parent Company) to repurchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire or retire for value the Capital Stock of any Parent Company or any Subsidiary held by any future, present or former employee, director, member of management, officer, manager or consultant (or any Affiliate or Immediate Family Member thereof) of any Parent Company, the Borrower or any Subsidiary:

(A)with Cash and Cash Equivalents (and including, to the extent constituting a Restricted Payment, amounts paid in respect of promissory notes issued to evidence any obligation to repurchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire or retire for value the Capital Stock of any Parent Company or any Subsidiary held by any future, present or former employee, director, member of management, officer, manager or consultant (or any Affiliate or Immediate Family Member thereof) of any Parent Company, the Borrower or any Subsidiary) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 in any Fiscal Year, which, if not used in such Fiscal Year, may be carried forward to the next two succeeding Fiscal Years but in any event not to exceed an aggregate of $10,000,000 in any Fiscal Year;

(B)with the proceeds of any sale or issuance of the Qualified Capital Stock of the Borrower or any Parent Company (to the extent such proceeds are contributed in respect of Qualified Capital Stock to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in each case, (1) other than any Net Proceeds received from the sale of Capital Stock to, or contributions from, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (2) to the extent the relevant Net Proceeds have not otherwise been applied to make Investments, Restricted Payments or Restricted Debt Payments hereunder and (3)

 

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other than any Cure Amount, Contribution Indebtedness Amount and/or any Available Excluded Contribution Amount; or

(C)with the net proceeds of any key-man life insurance policy;

(iii)the Borrower may make additional Restricted Payments in an amount not to exceed (A) the portion, if any, of the Available Amount on such date that the Borrower elects to apply to this clause (iii)(A) and/or (B) the portion, if any, of the Available Excluded Contribution Amount on such date that the Borrower elects to apply to this clause (iii)(B);

(iv)the Borrower may make Restricted Payments (i) to any Parent Company to enable such Parent Company to make Cash payments in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares in connection with the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock of such Parent Company and (ii) consisting of (A) payments made or expected to be made in respect of withholding or similar Taxes payable by any future, present or former officer, director, employee, member of management, manager and/or consultant of the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Parent Company or any of their respective Immediate Family Members and/or (B) repurchases of Capital Stock in consideration of the payments described in sub-clause (A) above, including demand repurchases in connection with the exercise of stock options;

(v)the Borrower may repurchase (or make Restricted Payments to any Parent Company to enable it to repurchase) Capital Stock upon the exercise of warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock if such Capital Stock represents all or a portion of the exercise price of such warrants, options or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock as part of a “cashless” exercise;

(vi)the Borrower may make Restricted Payments the proceeds of which are applied to pay Transaction Costs with respect to the Transactions;

(vii)so long as no Event of Default then exists, the Borrower may (or may make Restricted Payments to any Parent Company to enable it to) make Restricted Payments in an amount not to exceed the sum of (i) 6.00% per annum of the net Cash proceeds received by or contributed to the Borrower from any public offering and (ii) 6.00% per annum of the Market Capitalization of the Borrower;

(viii)the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to (i) redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any (A) Capital Stock (“Treasury Capital Stock”) of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary or (B) Capital Stock of any Parent Company, in the case of each of sub-clauses (A) and (B), in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary and other than in respect of any Cure Amount) of, Qualified Capital Stock of the Borrower or any Parent Company to the extent any such proceeds are contributed to the capital of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Qualified Capital Stock (“Refunding Capital Stock”) and (ii) declare and pay dividends on any Treasury Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary and other than in respect of any Cure Amount) of any Refunding Capital Stock; provided that any amount applied to make a Restricted Payment pursuant to this clause (viii) shall not be applied or used to increase the Contribution

 

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Indebtedness Amount, the Available Amount, the Available Excluded Contribution Amount or to make any other Restricted Payment or Restricted Debt Payment hereunder;

(ix)to the extent constituting a Restricted Payment, the Borrower may consummate any transaction permitted by Section 6.06 (other than Sections 6.06(j) and (t)), Section 6.07 (other than Section 6.07(g)) and Section 6.09 (other than Section 6.09(d));

(x)the Borrower may make additional Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $100,000,000 and (ii) 50% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period plus at the election of the Borrower the amount of Restricted Debt Payments then permitted to be made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in reliance on Section 6.04(b)(iv) (such increase shall result in a reduction in availability under Section 6.04(b)(iv)) (the “General Restricted Payments Basket”); and

(xi)the Borrower may make additional Restricted Payments so long as (A) no Event of Default under Sections 7.01(a), 7.01(f) or 7.01(g) then exists or would result therefrom and (B) the Total Leverage Ratio, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, would not exceed 3.00:1.00;

(xii)the Borrower may make Restricted Payments of Securitization Fees, sales contributions and other transfers of Securitization Assets or Receivables Assets and purchases of Securitization Assets or Receivables Assets pursuant to a Securitization Repurchase Obligation, in each case in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility;

provided that any Indebtedness incurred under Section 6.01(ff) in lieu of any Restricted Payment made pursuant to Section 6.04(a) shall reduce availability under the applicable Restricted Payment basket under Section 6.04(a).

(b)The Borrower shall not, nor shall they permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make any payment in Cash on or in respect of principal of or interest on any Restricted Debt, including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the prepayment, purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any Restricted Debt (collectively, “Restricted Debt Payments”), except:

(i)with respect to any purchase, defeasance, redemption, repurchase, repayment or other acquisition or retirement thereof made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, Refinancing Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01(p) and/or refinancing Indebtedness permitted by clause (ii) of Section 6.01(gg);

(ii)as part of an applicable high yield discount obligation catch-up payment;

(iii)payments of regularly scheduled interest and payments of fees, expenses and indemnification obligations as and when due (other than payments with respect to Junior Indebtedness that are prohibited by the subordination provisions thereof);

 

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(iv)additional Restricted Debt Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $80,000,000 and (ii) 40% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period, plus at the election of the Borrower the amount of Restricted Payments then permitted to be made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in reliance on Section 6.04(a)(x) (such increase shall result in a reduction in availability under Section 6.04(a)(x));

(v)(A) Restricted Debt Payments in exchange for, or with proceeds of any issuance of, Qualified Capital Stock of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary and/or any capital contribution in respect of Qualified Capital Stock of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (in each case, other than from the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and other than in respect of any Cure Amount), (B) Restricted Debt Payments as a result of the conversion of all or any portion of any Restricted Debt into Qualified Capital Stock of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary and (C) to the extent constituting a Restricted Debt Payment, payment-in-kind interest with respect to any Restricted Debt that is permitted under Section 6.01; provided that any amount applied to make a Restricted Debt Payment pursuant to this clause (v) shall not be applied or used to increase the Contribution Indebtedness Amount, the Available Amount, the Available Excluded Contribution Amount or to make any other Restricted Payment or Restricted Debt Payment hereunder;

(vi)Restricted Debt Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed (A) the portion, if any, of the Available Amount on such date that the Borrower elects to apply to this clause (vi)(A) and/or (B) the portion, if any, of the Available Excluded Contribution Amount on such date that the Borrower elects to apply to this clause (vi)(B);

(vii)additional Restricted Debt Payments so long as (A) no Event of Default under Sections 7.01(a), 7.01(f) or 7.01(g) then exists or would result therefrom and (B) the Total Leverage Ratio, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, would not exceed 3.00:1.00;

(viii)mandatory prepayments of Restricted Debt (and related payments of interest) made with Declined Proceeds (it being understood that any Declined Proceeds applied to make Restricted Debt Payments in reliance on this Section 6.04(b)(viii) shall not increase the amount available under clause (a)(viii) of the definition of “Available Amount” to the extent so applied).

Section 6.05Burdensome Agreements.  Except as provided herein or in any other Loan Document, the ABL Credit Agreement, or any document with respect to any Incremental Equivalent Debt (as defined herein), the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into or cause to exist any agreement restricting the ability of (x) any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower to pay dividends or other distributions to the Borrower or any Loan Party, (y) any Restricted Subsidiary to make cash loans or advances to the Borrower or any Loan Party or (z) any Loan Party to create, permit or ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇▇ on any of its properties or assets to secure the Obligations (any of clauses (x), (y) or (z), a “Burdensome Agreement”), except restrictions:

(a)set forth in any agreement evidencing (i) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party permitted by Section 6.01, (ii) Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01 that is secured by a Permitted Lien if the relevant restriction applies only to the Person obligated under such Indebtedness and its Restricted Subsidiaries or the assets intended to secure such Indebtedness and (iii) Indebtedness permitted pursuant to clauses (m), (p) (as it relates to Indebtedness in respect of clauses (a), (m), (q), (r), (u), (w) and/or (y) of Section 6.01), (q), (r), (u) and/or (w) of Section 6.01;

 

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(b)arising under customary provisions restricting assignments, subletting or other transfers (including the granting of any Lien) contained in leases, subleases, licenses (including sublicenses), joint venture agreements and other agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(c)that are or were created by virtue of any Lien granted upon transfer of, agreement to transfer or grant of, any option or right with respect to any assets or Capital Stock not otherwise prohibited under this Agreement;

(d)that are assumed in connection with any acquisition of property or the Capital Stock of any Person, so long as the relevant encumbrance or restriction relates solely to the Person and its Subsidiaries (including the Capital Stock of the relevant Person or Persons) and/or property so acquired and was not created in connection with or in anticipation of such acquisition;

(e)set forth in any agreement for any Disposition of any Restricted Subsidiary (or all or substantially all of the assets thereof) that restricts the payment of dividends or other distributions or the making of cash loans or advances by such Restricted Subsidiary pending such Disposition;

(f)set forth in provisions in agreements or instruments which prohibit the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions with respect to any class of Capital Stock of a Person other than on a pro rata basis;

(g)imposed by customary provisions in partnership agreements, limited liability company organizational governance documents, joint venture agreements and other similar agreements;

(h)on Cash, other deposits or net worth or similar restrictions imposed by any Person under any contract entered into in the ordinary course of business or for whose benefit such Cash, other deposits or net worth or similar restrictions exist;

(i)set forth in documents which exist on the Closing Date and were not created in contemplation thereof;

(j)arising pursuant to an agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred after the Closing Date if the relevant restrictions, taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable to the Lenders than the restrictions contained in this Agreement, taken as a whole (as determined in good faith by the Borrower);

(k)arising under or as a result of applicable Requirements of Law or the terms of any license, authorization, concession or permit;

(l)arising in any Hedge Agreement and/or any agreement relating to Cash Management Services;

(m)relating to any asset (or all of the assets) of and/or the Capital Stock of the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary which is imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into in connection with any Disposition of such asset (or assets) and/or all or a portion of the Capital Stock of the relevant Person that is permitted or not restricted by this Agreement;

(n)set forth in any agreement relating to any Permitted Lien that limits the right of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to Dispose of or encumber the assets subject thereto;

 

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(o)imposed by any amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing of any contract, instrument or obligation referred to in clauses (a) through (n) above or in the first paragraph of this Section 6.05; provided that no such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing is, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, more restrictive with respect to such restrictions, taken as a whole, than those in existence prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing; and/or

(p)restrictions created in connection with any Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility that, in the good faith determination of the Borrower, are necessary or advisable to effect such Securitization Facility or Receivables Facility.

Section 6.06Investments.  The Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make or own any Investment in any other Person except:

(a)Cash or Investments that were Cash Equivalents at the time made;

(b)(i) Investments existing on the Closing Date in the Borrower or in any Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) Investments made after the Closing Date by the Borrower and/or one or more Restricted Subsidiaries in the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(c)Investments (i) constituting deposits, prepayments and/or other credits to suppliers, (ii) made in connection with obtaining, maintaining or renewing client and customer contracts and/or (iii) in the form of advances made to distributors, suppliers, licensors and licensees, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or, in the case of clause (iii), to the extent necessary to maintain the ordinary course of supplies to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(d)Investments in any Similar Business in an aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed the greater of $90,000,000 and 45% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period;

(e)Investments constituting Permitted Acquisitions;

(f)(i) Investments existing on, or contractually committed to or contemplated as of, the Closing Date and described on Schedule 6.06 and (ii) any modification, replacement, renewal or extension of any Investment described in clause (i) above so long as no such modification, renewal or extension increases the amount of such Investment except by the terms thereof or as otherwise permitted by this Section 6.06;

(g)Investments received in lieu of Cash in connection with any Disposition permitted by Section 6.07 or any other disposition of assets not constituting a Disposition;

(h)loans or advances to present or former employees, directors, members of management, officers, managers or consultants or independent contractors (or their respective Immediate Family Members) of any Parent Company, the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and/or any joint venture to the extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, in connection with such Person’s purchase of Capital Stock of any Parent Company, either (i) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding or (ii) so long as the proceeds of such loan or advance are substantially contemporaneously contributed to the Borrower for the purchase of such Capital Stock;

 

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(i)Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business;

(j)Investments consisting of (or resulting from) Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01 (other than Indebtedness permitted under Sections 6.01(b) and (h)), Permitted Liens, Restricted Payments permitted under Section 6.04 (other than Section 6.04(a)(ix)), Restricted Debt Payments permitted by Section 6.04 and mergers, consolidations, amalgamations, liquidations, windings up, dissolutions or Dispositions permitted by Section 6.07 (other than Section 6.07(a) (if made in reliance on sub-clause (ii)(y) of the proviso thereto), Section 6.07(b) (if made in reliance on clause (ii) therein), Section 6.07(c)(ii) (if made in reliance on clause (B) therein) and Section 6.07(g));

(k)Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of endorsements for collection or deposit and customary trade arrangements with customers;

(l)Investments (including debt obligations and Capital Stock) received (i) in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of any Person, (ii) in settlement of delinquent obligations of, or other disputes with, customers, suppliers and other account debtors arising in the ordinary course of business, (iii) upon foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment and/or (iv) as a result of the settlement, compromise, resolution of litigation, arbitration or other disputes;

(m)loans and advances of payroll payments or other compensation to present or former employees, directors, members of management, officers, managers or consultants of any Parent Company (to the extent such payments or other compensation relate to services provided to such Parent Company (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the portion of any such amount, if any, attributable to the ownership or operations of any Subsidiary of any Parent Company other than the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries)), the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(n)Investments to the extent that payment therefor is made solely with Capital Stock of any Parent Company or Qualified Capital Stock of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, to the extent not resulting in a Change of Control;

(o)(i) Investments of any Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Closing Date, or of any Person acquired by, or merged into or consolidated or amalgamated with, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date, in each case as part of an Investment otherwise permitted by this Section 6.06 to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of the relevant acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and (ii) any modification, replacement, renewal or extension of any Investment permitted under clause (i) of this Section 6.06(o) so long as no such modification, replacement, renewal or extension thereof increases the amount of such Investment except as otherwise permitted by this Section 6.06;

(p)Investments made in connection with the Transactions;

(q)Investments made after the Closing Date by the Borrower and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed:

(i)the greater of $100,000,000 and 50% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period, plus

 

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(ii)(A) at the election of the Borrower, the amount of Restricted Payments then permitted to be made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in reliance on Section 6.04(a)(x) (it being understood that any amount utilized under this clause (A) to make an Investment shall result in a reduction in availability under Section 6.04(a)(x)), plus (B) at the election of the Borrower, the amount of Restricted Debt Payments then permitted to be made by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in reliance on Section 6.04(b)(iv) (it being understood that any amount utilized under this clause (B) to make an Investment shall result in a reduction in availability under Section 6.04(b)(iv));

(r)Investments made after the Closing Date by the Borrower and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed (i) the portion, if any, of the Available Amount on such date that the Borrower elects to apply to this clause (r)(i) and/or (ii) the portion, if any, of the Available Excluded Contribution Amount on such date that the Borrower elects to apply to this clause (r)(ii);

(s)(i) Guarantees of leases (other than Capital Leases) or of other obligations not constituting Indebtedness and (ii) Guarantees of the lease obligations of suppliers, customers, franchisees and licensees of the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(t)Investments in any Parent Company in amounts and for purposes for which Restricted Payments to such Parent Company are permitted under Section 6.04(a); provided that any Investment made as provided above in lieu of any such Restricted Payment shall reduce availability under the applicable Restricted Payment basket under Section 6.04(a);

(u)(i) Investments arising in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility and (ii) distributions or payments of Securitization Fees and purchases of Securitization Assets or Receivables Assets in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility;

(v)Investments in Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with internal reorganizations and/or restructurings and activities related to tax planning; provided that, after giving effect to any such reorganization, restructuring or activity, neither the Loan Guarantee, taken as a whole, nor the security interest of the Administrative Agent in the Collateral, taken as a whole, is materially impaired;

(w)Investments arising under or in connection with any Derivative Transaction of the type permitted under Section 6.01(s);

(x)Investments consisting of the licensing of IP Rights pursuant to joint marketing or other similar arrangements with other Persons entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(y)Investments made in joint ventures as required by, or made pursuant to, customary buy/sell arrangements between the joint venture parties set forth in joint venture agreements and similar binding arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(z)unfunded pension fund and other employee benefit plan obligations and liabilities to the extent that the same are permitted to remain unfunded under applicable Requirements of Law;

(aa)Investments in Holdings, the Borrower, any Restricted Subsidiary and/or any joint venture in connection with intercompany cash management arrangements and related activities in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(bb)Investments made in connection with any nonqualified deferred compensation plan or arrangement for any present or former employee, director, member of management, officer, manager or consultant or independent contractor (or any Immediate Family Member thereof) of any Parent Company, the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and/or any joint venture;

(cc)additional Investments so long as no Event of Default under Sections 7.01(a), 7.01(f) or 7.01(g) then exists or would result therefrom and, on a Pro Forma Basis, the Total Leverage Ratio does not exceed 4.00:1.00;

(dd)any Investment made by any Unrestricted Subsidiary prior to the date on which such Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary so long as the relevant Investment was not made in contemplation of the designation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; and

(ee)Investments in any Unrestricted Subsidiary and/or any joint venture in an aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed the greater of $80,000,000 and 40% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period.

Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to the contrary, no Investment of Material Intellectual Property may be made from Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Unrestricted Subsidiary.  

Section 6.07Fundamental Changes; Disposition of Assets.  The Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction of merger, consolidation or amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve themselves (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or make any Disposition of any assets having a fair market value in excess of the greater of $2,000,000 and 1% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions and in excess of the greater of $12,000,000 and 6% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period in the aggregate for all such transactions in any Fiscal Year, except:

(a)any Restricted Subsidiary may be merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (i) in the case of any such merger, consolidation or amalgamation with or into the Borrower, (A) the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person (and, if with or into the Borrower, the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person) or (B) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, consolidation or amalgamation is not the Borrower (any such Person, the “Successor Borrower”), (x) the Successor Borrower shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the US, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (y) the Successor Borrower shall expressly assume the Obligations of the Borrower in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall have received all documentation and other information reasonably requested with respect to Successor Borrower, which documentation or other information is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and (z) except as the Administrative Agent may otherwise agree, each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger, consolidation or amalgamation, shall have executed and delivered a reaffirmation agreement with respect to its obligations under the Loan Guarantee and the other Loan Documents; it being understood and agreed that if the foregoing conditions under clauses (x) through (z) are satisfied, the Successor Borrower will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and (ii) in the case of any such merger, consolidation or amalgamation with or into any Subsidiary Loan Party, either (x) such Subsidiary Loan Party shall be the continuing or surviving Person or the continuing or surviving Person shall expressly assume the obligations of a Subsidiary Loan Party in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or (y) the relevant transaction shall be treated as an Investment and shall comply with Section 6.06;

 

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(b)Dispositions (including of Capital Stock) among the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise); provided that any such Disposition made by any Loan Party to any Person that is not a Loan Party shall be (i) for fair market value (as reasonably determined by such Person) with at least 75% of the consideration for such Disposition consisting of Cash or Cash Equivalents at the time of such Disposition or (ii) treated as an Investment and otherwise made in compliance with Section 6.06 (other than in reliance on clause (j) thereof);

(c)(i) the liquidation or dissolution of any Restricted Subsidiary if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower, is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders, and the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary receives any assets of the relevant dissolved or liquidated Restricted Subsidiary; provided that in the case of any liquidation or dissolution of any Loan Party that results in a distribution of assets to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, such distribution shall be treated as an Investment and shall comply with Section 6.06 (other than in reliance on clause (j) thereof); (ii) any merger, amalgamation, dissolution, liquidation or consolidation, the purpose of which is to effect (A) any Disposition otherwise permitted under this Section 6.07 (other than Sections 6.07(a) or (b) or this Section 6.07(c)) or (B) any Investment permitted under Section 6.06 (other than in reliance on clause (j) thereof); and (iii) the conversion of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary into another form of entity, so long as such conversion does not adversely affect the value of the Loan Guarantee or the Collateral, taken as a whole;

(d)(x) Dispositions of inventory or equipment or immaterial assets in the ordinary course of business (including on an intercompany basis) and (y) the leasing or subleasing of real property in the ordinary course of business;

(e)Dispositions of surplus, obsolete, used or worn out property or other property that, in the reasonable judgment of the Borrower, is (A) no longer useful in its business (or in the business of any Restricted Subsidiary or the Borrower) or (B) otherwise economically impracticable to maintain;

(f)Dispositions of Cash and/or Cash Equivalents and/or other assets that were Cash Equivalents when the relevant original Investment was made;

(g)Dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations or conveyances that constitute (w) Investments permitted pursuant to Section 6.06 (other than Section 6.06(j)), (x) Permitted Liens and (y) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 6.04(a) (other than Section 6.04(a)(ix));

(h)Dispositions for fair market value; provided that with respect to any such Disposition with a purchase price in excess of the greater of $30,000,000 and 15% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period, at least 75% of the consideration for such Disposition shall consist of Cash or Cash Equivalents (provided that for purposes of the 75% Cash consideration requirement, (w) the amount of any Indebtedness or other liabilities (other than Indebtedness or other liabilities that are subordinated to the Obligations or that are owed to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (as shown on such Person’s most recent balance sheet (or in the notes thereto) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets and for which the Borrower and/or its applicable Restricted Subsidiary have been validly released by all relevant creditors in writing, (x) the amount of any trade-in value applied to the purchase price of any replacement assets acquired in connection with such Disposition, (y) any Securities received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from the transferee that are converted by such Person into Cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the Cash or Cash Equivalents received) within 180 days following the closing of the applicable Disposition and (z) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received in respect of such Disposition having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (z) and clause (z) of the first proviso in Section 6.07(cc)) that is at that time

 

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outstanding, not in excess of the greater of $30,000,000 and 15% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period, in each case, shall be deemed to be Cash); provided, further, that (x) immediately prior to and after giving effect to such Disposition, as determined on the date on which the agreement governing such Disposition is executed, no Event of Default exists and (y) the Net Proceeds of such Disposition shall be applied and/or reinvested as (and to the extent) required by Section 2.11(b)(ii);

(i)to the extent that (i) the relevant property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of the relevant Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;

(j)Dispositions of Investments in joint ventures to the extent required by, or made pursuant to, buy/sell arrangements between joint venture or similar parties set forth in the relevant joint venture arrangements and/or similar binding arrangements;

(k)Dispositions of notes receivable or accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business (including any discount and/or forgiveness thereof) or in connection with the collection or compromise thereof;

(l)Dispositions and/or terminations in the ordinary course of business of leases, subleases or licenses (including sublicenses) (including the provision of software under any open source license), (i) the Disposition or termination of which will not materially interfere with the business of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) which relate to closed facilities or the discontinuation of any product line;

(m)(i) any termination of any lease in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any expiration of any option agreement in respect of real or personal property and (iii) any surrender or waiver of contractual rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contractual rights or litigation claims (including in tort) in the ordinary course of business;

(n)Dispositions of property subject to foreclosure, casualty, eminent domain or condemnation proceedings (including in lieu thereof or any similar proceeding);

(o)Dispositions or consignments of equipment, inventory or other assets (including leasehold interests in real property) with respect to facilities that are temporarily not in use, held for sale or closed;

(p)to the extent otherwise restricted by this Section 6.07, the consummation of the Transactions;

(q)Dispositions of non-core assets and sales of Real Estate Assets, in each case acquired in any acquisition permitted hereunder which, within 90 days of the date of such acquisition, are designated in writing to the Administrative Agent as being held for sale and not for the continued operation of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses; provided that (x) no Event of Default exists on the date on which the definitive agreement governing the relevant Disposition is executed and (y) the Net Proceeds of such Disposition shall be applied and/or reinvested as (and to the extent) required by Section 2.11(b)(ii);

(r)[reserved];

 

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(s)Dispositions of assets that do not constitute Collateral for fair market value; provided that the Net Proceeds of such Disposition shall be applied and/or reinvested as (and to the extent) required by Section 2.11(b)(ii);

(t)(i) non-exclusive licensing and cross-licensing arrangements involving any technology, intellectual property or other IP Rights of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, (ii) Dispositions, abandonments, cancellations or lapses of IP Rights, or issuances or registrations, or applications for issuances or registrations, of IP Rights, which, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Borrower, are not material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate, or are no longer economical to maintain in light of their respective use, and (iii) Dispositions of any technology, intellectual property or other IP Rights of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary involving their customers in the ordinary course of business;

(u)terminations or unwinds of Derivative Transactions;

(v)Dispositions of Capital Stock of, or sales of Indebtedness or other Securities of, Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(w)Dispositions of Real Estate Assets and related assets in the ordinary course of business in connection with relocation activities for directors, officers, employees, members of management, managers or consultants of any Parent Company, the Borrower and/or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(x)Dispositions for fair market value made to comply with any order of any Governmental Authority or any applicable Requirement of Law; provided that the Net Proceeds of such Disposition shall be applied and/or reinvested as (and to the extent) required by Section 2.11(b)(ii);

(y)any merger, consolidation, Disposition or conveyance the sole purpose of which is to reincorporate or reorganize (i) any Domestic Subsidiary in another jurisdiction in the U.S. and/or (ii) any Foreign Subsidiary in the U.S. or any other jurisdiction;

(z)any sale of motor vehicles and information technology equipment purchased at the end of an operating lease and resold thereafter;

(aa)other Dispositions involving assets having a fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Borrower at the time of the relevant Disposition) in aggregate for all such Dispositions during the term of this Agreement of not more than the greater of $30,000,000 and 15% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period;

(bb)Dispositions contemplated on the Closing Date and described on Schedule 6.07 hereto;

(cc)Permitted Sale Leasebacks, the consideration for which consists of Cash or Cash Equivalents (provided, that for purposes of this requirement, (w) the amount of any Indebtedness or other liabilities (other than Indebtedness or other liabilities that are subordinated to the Obligations or that are owed to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary) of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (as shown on such Person’s most recent balance sheet (or in the notes thereto) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets and for which the Borrower and/or its applicable Restricted Subsidiary have been validly released by all relevant creditors in writing, (x) the amount of any trade-in value applied to the purchase price of any replacement assets acquired in connection with such Disposition, (y) any Securities received

 

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by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from the transferee that are converted by such Person into Cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the Cash or Cash Equivalents received) within 180 days following the closing of the applicable Disposition and (z) any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received in respect of such Disposition having an aggregate fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (z) and clause (z) of the first proviso in Section 6.07(h) that is at that time outstanding, not in excess of the greater of $30,000,000 and 15% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period, in each case, shall be deemed to be Cash); and

(dd)any disposition of Securitization Assets or Receivables Assets, or participations therein, in connection with any Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility, or the disposition of an account receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice.

Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to the contrary, no Disposition of Material Intelectual Property may be made from Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Unrestricted Subsidiary.

To the extent that any Collateral is Disposed of as expressly permitted by this Section 6.07 to any Person other than a Loan Party, such Collateral shall be sold free and clear of the Liens created by the Loan Documents, which Liens shall be automatically released upon the consummation of such Disposition; it being understood and agreed that the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to take, and shall take, any actions reasonably requested by the Borrower in order to effect the foregoing in accordance with Article 8 hereof.

Section 6.08[Reserved].  

Section 6.09Transactions with Affiliates.  The Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) involving payment in excess of the greater of $12,000,000 and 6% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA with any of their respective Affiliates on terms that are less favorable to the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be (as reasonably determined by the Borrower), than those that might be obtained at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction from a Person who is not an Affiliate; provided that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to:

(a)any transaction between or among Holdings, the Borrower and/or one or more Restricted Subsidiaries (or any entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction) to the extent permitted or not restricted by this Agreement;

(b)any issuance, sale or grant of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of any Parent Company or of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(c)(i) any collective bargaining, employment or severance agreement or compensatory (including profit sharing) arrangement entered into by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with their respective current or former officers, directors, members of management, managers, employees, consultants or independent contractors or those of any Parent Company, (ii) any subscription agreement or similar agreement pertaining to the repurchase of Capital Stock pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with current or former officers, directors, members of management, managers, employees, consultants or independent contractors and (iii) transactions pursuant to any employee compensation,

 

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Benefit Plan, stock option plan or arrangement, any health, disability or similar insurance plan which covers current or former officers, directors, members of management, managers, employees, consultants or independent contractors or any employment contract or arrangement;

(d)(i) transactions permitted by Sections 6.01(d), (o) and (ee), 6.04 and 6.06(h), (m), (o), (t), (v), (y), (z) and (aa) and (ii) issuances of Capital Stock and issuances and incurrences of Indebtedness not restricted by this Agreement;

(e)transactions in existence on the Closing Date and any amendment, modification or extension thereof to the extent such amendment, modification or extension, taken as a whole, is not (i) materially adverse to the Lenders or (ii) more disadvantageous to the Lenders than the relevant transaction in existence on the Closing Date;

(f)(i) so long as no Event of Default under Sections 7.01(a), 7.01(f) or 7.01(g) then exists or would result therefrom, the payment of management, monitoring, consulting, advisory and similar fees to any Investor in an aggregate amount for all such payments not to exceed the greater of $5,000,000 and 2.50% of Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as of the last day of the most recently ended Test Period per Fiscal Year, it being understood that during such Event of Default, such fees may continue to accrue and become payable upon the waiver, termination or cure of the relevant Event of Default and (ii) the payment of all indemnification obligations and expenses owed to any Investor and any of their respective directors, officers, members of management, managers, employees and consultants, in each case of clauses (i) and (ii) whether currently due or paid in respect of accruals from prior periods;

(g)the Transactions, including the payment of Transaction Costs;

(h)customary compensation to Affiliates in connection with financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities and other transaction fees, which payments are approved by the majority of the members of the board of directors (or similar governing body) or a majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of the Borrower in good faith;

(i)Guarantees permitted by Section 6.01 or Section 6.06;

(j)the payment of customary fees and reasonable out-of-pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, members of the board of directors (or similar governing body), officers, employees, members of management, managers, consultants and independent contractors of the Borrower and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and, in the case of payments to such Person in such capacity on behalf of any Parent Company, to the extent attributable to the operations of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries;

(k)transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, joint ventures, purchasers or sellers of goods or services or providers of employees or other labor entered into in the ordinary course of business, which are (i) fair to the Borrower and/or its applicable Restricted Subsidiary in the good faith determination of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of the Borrower or the senior management thereof or (ii) on terms at least as favorable to the Borrower and/or its applicable Restricted Subsidiary as might reasonably be obtained from a Person other than an Affiliate;

(l)the payment of reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses related to registration rights and customary indemnities provided to shareholders under any shareholder agreement;

 

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(m)(i) any purchase by Holdings of the Capital Stock of (or contribution to the equity capital of) the Borrower and (ii) any intercompany loan made by, to, or among Holdings the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary otherwise permitted hereunder;

(n)any transaction in respect of which the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent a letter addressed to the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Borrower from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of nationally recognized standing stating that such transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the applicable Borrower or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary than might be obtained at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction from a Person who is not an Affiliate;

(o)Payments by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary to Vault Co., a Sponsor associated business consulting firm (the “Consulting Firm”) to provide services as directed by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary separate from and in addition to the service to be provided under any sponsor management agreement which may include pricing, procurement, lean manufacturing, e-commerce or similar consulting services intended to grow revenues, decrease costs or improve Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA or other performance metrics and shall be provided pursuant to a separate agreement between the Consulting Firm and Holdings and/or a Restricted Subsidiary that will set out the scope, terms and fees (which will be at prevailing market rates or at rates more favorable to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries than prevailing market rates) associated with any such services; and

(p)any transaction effected as part of a Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility, any disposition or acquisition of Securitization Assets, Receivables Assets or related assets in connection with any Qualified Securitization Financing or Receivables Facility.

Section 6.10Conduct of Business.  From and after the Closing Date, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage in any material line of business other than (a) the businesses engaged in by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary on the Closing Date and similar, incidental, complementary, ancillary or related businesses and (b) such other lines of business to which the Administrative Agent may consent.

Section 6.11Amendments of or Waivers with Respect to Restricted Debt.  The Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, amend or otherwise modify the terms of any Restricted Debt (or the documentation governing any Restricted Debt) (a) if the effect of such amendment or modification, together with all other amendments or modifications made thereto, is materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders (in their capacities as such) or (b) in violation of any Intercreditor Agreement, any intercreditor agreement related to such debt entered into with the Administrative Agent or the subordination terms set forth in the definitive documentation governing  any Restricted Debt; provided that, for purposes of clarity, it is understood and agreed that the foregoing limitation shall not otherwise prohibit any Refinancing Indebtedness or any other replacement, refinancing, amendment, supplement, modification, extension, renewal, restatement or refunding of any Restricted Debt, in each case, that is permitted under the Loan Documents in respect thereof.

Section 6.12Fiscal Year.  The Borrower shall not change its Fiscal Year-end; provided, that, the Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, change the Fiscal Year-end of the Borrower to another date, in which case the Borrower and the Administrative Agent will, and are hereby authorized to, make any adjustments to this Agreement that are necessary to reflect such change in Fiscal Year.

Section 6.13Permitted Activities of Holdings.  Holdings shall not:

(a)incur any third party Indebtedness for borrowed money other than Guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Borrower and/or any Loan Party, which Indebtedness or other obligations are otherwise permitted hereunder;

 

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(b)create or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it other than (i) the Liens created under the Security Documents, (ii) any other Lien created in connection with the Transactions, (iii) Permitted Liens on (x) the Term Priority Collateral that are secured on a pari passu or junior basis with the Obligations with respect to the Term Priority Collateral and/or (y) the ABL Priority Collateral that are secured on a senior basis with the Obligations with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral, so long as such Permitted Liens secure Guarantees permitted by clause (a) above and the underlying Indebtedness subject to such Guarantee is permitted to be secured on the same basis pursuant to Section 6.02 and (iv) Liens of the type permitted under Section 6.02 (other than in respect of debt for borrowed money); or

(c)own or hold any assets or property or engage in any business other than (i) the ownership of the Capital Stock of the Borrower (ii) the maintenance of its corporate existence and activities incidental thereto, including general and corporate overhead, (iii) activities required to comply with Requirements of Laws, (iv) maintenance and administration of stock option and stock ownership plans and activities incidental thereto, (v) the receipt of Restricted Payments to the extent permitted by Section 6.04 and the making of Restricted Payments, (vi) to the extent not otherwise covered by the other clauses of this Section 6.13, any of the activities of Holdings or any Parent Company referred to in Section 6.04, (vii) concurrently with any issuance of Qualified Stock, the redemption, purchase or retirement of any Capital Stock of Holdings using the proceeds of, or conversion or exchange of any Capital Stock of Holdings for, such Qualified Stock, (viii) the obtainment of, and the payment of any fees and expenses for, management, consulting, investment banking and advisory services to the extent otherwise permitted by this Agreement, (ix) compliance with its obligations under the Loan Documents or any credit agreement, indenture or other agreement in respect of Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any Junior Indebtedness, (x) activities necessary or reasonably advisable for or incidental to the initial registration and listing of Holdings common stock and the continued existence of Holdings as a public company, (xi) activities incidental to the consummation of the Transactions, including the formation of acquisition vehicle entities and intercompany loans and/or investments incidental to the Transactions, in each case consummated substantially contemporaneously with the consummation of the applicable Transactions and (xii) activities incidental to legal, tax and accounting matters in connection with any of the foregoing activities;

(d)consolidate or amalgamate with, or merge with or into, or convey, sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets to, any Person; provided that, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom (A) Holdings may consolidate or amalgamate with, or merge with or into, any other Person (other than the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries) so long as (i) Holdings is the continuing or surviving Person or (ii) if the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger is not Holdings (x) the successor Person (such successor Person, “Successor Holdings”) is an entity organized or existing under the laws of the U.S., any state thereof or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes all obligations of Holdings under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which Holdings is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto and/or thereto in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall have received all documentation and other information reasonably requested with respect to Successor Holdings, which documentation or other information is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and (y) the Borrower delivers a certificate of a Responsible Officer with respect to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in clause (x) of this clause (A)(ii) and (B) Holdings may otherwise convey, sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any other Person (other than the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries) so long as (x) no Change of Control results therefrom, (y) the Person acquiring such assets is an entity organized or existing under the laws of the U.S., any state thereof or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes all of the obligations of Holdings under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which Holdings is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto and/or thereto in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent

 

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shall have received all documentation and other information reasonably requested with respect to such Person, which documentation or other information is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and (z) the Borrower delivers a certificate of a Responsible Officer with respect to the satisfaction of the conditions under clauses (x) and (y) set forth in this clause (B); provided, further, that (1) if the conditions set forth in the preceding proviso are satisfied, Successor Holdings will succeed to, and be substituted for, Holdings under this Agreement and (2) it is understood and agreed that Holdings may convert into another form of entity so long as such conversion does not adversely affect the value of the Loan Guarantee or the Collateral.

Section 6.14Amendments of Organizational Documents.  The Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, amend any of its Organizational Documents, if the effect of such amendment is materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders (in their capacities as such).

Article 7EVENTS OF DEFAULT

Section 7.01Events of Default.  If any of the following events (each, an “Event of Default”) occurs:

(a)Failure To Make Payments When Due.  Failure by the Borrower to pay (i) any installment of principal of any Loan when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration, by notice of voluntary prepayment, by mandatory prepayment or otherwise; or (ii) any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount due hereunder within five Business Days after the date due; or

(b)Default in Other Agreements.  (i) Failure by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay when due any principal of or interest on or any other amount payable in respect of one or more items of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness referred to in clause (a) above and the ABL Facility unless, in the case of the ABL Facility, such failure to pay results in the acceleration of the obligations and the termination of the commitments thereunder) with an aggregate outstanding principal amount exceeding the Threshold Amount, in each case beyond the grace period, if any, provided therefor; or (ii) breach or default by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any other term of (A) one or more items of such Indebtedness with an aggregate outstanding principal amount exceeding the Threshold Amount or (B) any loan agreement, mortgage, indenture or other agreement relating to such item(s) of such Indebtedness (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to Indebtedness consisting of Hedging Obligations, termination events or equivalent events pursuant to the terms of the relevant Hedge Agreement which are not the result of any default thereunder by any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary), in each case beyond the grace period, if any, provided therefor, if the effect of such breach or default is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause (with the giving of notice, if required), such Indebtedness to become or be declared due and payable (or redeemable) prior to its stated maturity or the stated maturity of any underlying obligation, as the case may be; provided that clause (ii) of this paragraph (b) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property securing such Indebtedness if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder; provided, further, that (x) with respect to any breach or default referred to in clause (ii) above with respect to the obligations relating solely to the financial covenant under any revolving credit facility (or any refinancing or replacement of either thereof) such breach or default shall only constitute an Event of Default if it results in the acceleration of the obligations and the termination of commitments thereunder, (y) any “Default” or “Event of Default” under the ABL Facility shall constitute an Event of Default hereunder if (and only if) the lenders under the ABL Facility have actually declared all obligations thereunder to be immediately due and payable in accordance with the terms of the ABL Facility and such declaration has not been rescinded on or before such date and (z) any such failure described under

 

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clauses (i) or (ii) above is unremedied and is not waived by the holders of such Indebtedness prior to any termination of the Commitments or acceleration of the Loans pursuant to this Article 7; or

(c)Breach of Certain Covenants.  Failure of any Loan Party, as required by the relevant provision, to perform or comply with any term or condition contained in Section 5.01(d)(i) (provided that, the delivery of a notice of Default or Event of Default at any time will cure such Event of Default arising from the failure to timely deliver such notice of Default or Event of Default, as applicable, but for the avoidance of doubt, will not cure the underlying Default or Event of Default as to which notice was required to be given), Section 5.02 (as it applies to the preservation of the existence of the Borrower), or Article 6; or

(d)Breach of Representations, Etc.  Any representation, warranty or certification made or deemed made by any Loan Party in any Loan Document or in any certificate required to be delivered in connection herewith or therewith (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Perfection Certificate) being untrue in any material respect as of the date made or deemed made and in each case, to the extent capable of being cured, such untrue representation or warranty shall remain untrue for a period of thirty (30) days; or

(e)Other Defaults Under Loan Documents.  Default by any Loan Party in the performance of or compliance with any term contained herein or any of the other Loan Documents, other than any such term referred to in any other Section of this Article 7, which default has not been remedied or waived within 30 days after receipt by the Borrower of written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent; or

(f)Involuntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, Etc.  (i) The entry by a court of competent jurisdiction of a decree or order for relief in respect of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary) in an involuntary case under any Debtor Relief Law now or hereafter in effect, which decree or order is not stayed; or any other similar relief shall be granted under any applicable federal, state or local Requirement of Law; or (ii) the commencement of an involuntary case against Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary) under any Debtor Relief Law; the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of a decree or order for the appointment of a receiver, receiver and manager, (preliminary) insolvency receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee, administrator, custodian or other officer having similar powers over Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary), or over all or a substantial part of its property; or the involuntary appointment of an interim receiver, trustee or other custodian of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary) for all or a substantial part of its property, which remains undismissed, unvacated, unbounded or unstayed pending appeal for 60 consecutive days; or

(g)Voluntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, Etc.  (i) The entry against Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary) of an order for relief, the commencement by Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary) of a voluntary case under any Debtor Relief Law, or the consent by Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary) to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case or to the conversion of an involuntary case to a voluntary case, under any Debtor Relief Law, or the consent by Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary) to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, receiver and manager, (preliminary) insolvency receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee, administrator, custodian or other officer having similar powers for or in respect of itself or for all or a substantial part of its property; (ii) the making by Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary) of a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or

 

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(iii) the admission by Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Immaterial Subsidiary) in writing of their inability to pay their respective debts as such debts become due; or

(h)Judgments and Attachments.  The entry or filing of one or more final money judgments, writs or warrants of attachment or similar process against Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets involving in the aggregate at any time an amount in excess of the Threshold Amount (in either case to the extent not adequately covered by self-insurance (if applicable) or by insurance as to which the relevant third party insurance company has been notified and not denied coverage), which judgment, writ, warrant or similar process remains unpaid, undischarged, unvacated, unbonded or unstayed pending appeal for a period of 60 days; or

(i)Employee Benefit Plans.  The occurrence of one or more ERISA Events which individually or in the aggregate result in liability of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

(j)Change of Control.  The occurrence of a Change of Control; or

(k)Guaranties, Security Documents and Other Loan Documents.  At any time after the execution and delivery thereof, (i) any material Loan Guarantee for any reason, other than the occurrence of the Termination Date, shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with its terms) or is declared to be null and void or any Guarantor shall repudiate in writing its obligations thereunder (other than as a result of the discharge of such Guarantor in accordance with the terms thereof), (ii) this Agreement or any material Security Document ceases to be in full force and effect or shall be declared null and void or any Lien on Collateral created under any Security Document ceases to be perfected with respect to a material portion of the Collateral (other than solely by reason of (x) the failure of the Administrative Agent to maintain possession of any Collateral actually delivered to it or the failure of the Administrative Agent to file UCC (or equivalent) continuation statements, (y) a release of Collateral in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof or (z) the occurrence of the Termination Date or any other termination of such Security Document in accordance with the terms thereof) or (iii) other than in any bona fide, good faith dispute as to the scope of Collateral or whether any Lien has been, or is required to be released, any Loan Party shall contest in writing the validity or enforceability of any material provision of any Loan Document (or any Lien purported to be created by the Security Documents or any Loan Guarantee) or denies in writing that it has any further liability (other than by reason of the occurrence of the Termination Date), including with respect to future advances by the Lenders, under any Loan Document to which it is a party; it being understood and agreed that the failure of the Administrative Agent to maintain possession of any Collateral actually delivered to it or file any UCC (or equivalent) continuation statement shall not result in an Event of Default under this clause (k) or any other provision of any Loan Document; or

(l)Subordination.  The Obligations ceasing or the assertion in writing by any Loan Party that the Obligations cease to constitute senior indebtedness under the subordination provisions of any document or instrument evidencing any Restricted Debt in excess of the Threshold Amount or any such subordination provision being invalidated or otherwise ceasing, for any reason, to be valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the parties thereto;

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (f) or (g) of this Article 7), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take any of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon such

 

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Commitments shall terminate immediately and (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, 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; provided that upon the occurrence of an event with respect to the Borrower described in clauses (f) or (g) of this Article 7, any such Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, 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, without further action of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.  Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, exercise any rights and remedies provided to the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents or at law or equity, including all remedies provided under the UCC, or equivalent applicable Requirement of Law, as applicable.  

Further, notwithstanding any other provisions herein or in the other Loan Documents to the contrary, no notice of an Event of Default may be given by the Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to any Default or Event of Default more than two years after the date on which the Administrative Agent or any Lender received notice of such Default.

Article 8THE AGENTS

Each of the Lenders hereby, each, on behalf of itself and its applicable Affiliates and in their respective capacities as such and as Secured Parties in respect of any Specified Hedge Obligations or Cash Management Obligations, as applicable, irrevocably appoints Nomura Corporate Funding Americas, LLC (or any successor appointed pursuant hereto) as Administrative Agent, including as the Collateral Agent for such Lender and the other applicable Secured Parties under the applicable Security Documents, and authorizes the Administrative Agent, in such capacities, to take such actions on its behalf, including execution of the other Loan Documents, and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of the Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

Any Person serving as Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated, unless the context otherwise requires or unless such Person is in fact not a Lender, include each Person serving as Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.  The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, the Administrative Agent or its Affiliates may receive information regarding any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such Loan Party or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Administrative Agent shall not be under any obligation to provide such information to them.

The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents and its duties shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duty, regardless of whether any Default or Event of Default exists, and the use of the term “agent” herein and in the other Loan Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any

 

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fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligation arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Requirements of Law; it being understood that such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary power, except discretionary rights and powers that are expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents and which the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the relevant circumstances as provided in Section 9.02); provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Requirements of Law, and (c) except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.  The Administrative Agent shall not be liable to the Lenders or any other Secured Party for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as is necessary, or as the Administrative Agent believes in good faith shall be necessary, under the relevant circumstances as provided in Section 9.02) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein.  The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or any Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in connection with any Loan Document, (iii) the performance or observance of any covenant, agreement or other term or condition set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien on the Collateral or the existence, value or sufficiency of the Collateral or to assure that the Liens granted to the Administrative Agent pursuant to any Loan Document have been or will continue to be properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article 4 or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or (vii) any property, book or record of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof.

Each Lender agrees that, except with the written consent of the Administrative Agent, it will not take any enforcement action hereunder or under any other Loan Document, accelerate the Obligations under any Loan Document, or exercise any right that it might otherwise have under applicable Requirements of Law or otherwise to credit bid at any foreclosure sale, UCC sale, any sale under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other similar Disposition of Collateral.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Lender may take action to preserve or enforce its rights against a Loan Party where a deadline or limitation period is applicable that would, absent such action, bar enforcement of the Obligations held by such Lender, including the filing of a proof of claim in a case under any Debtor Relief Law.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any of the other Loan Documents, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Secured Party agree that (i) no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce the Loan Guarantee; it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies hereunder may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms hereof, and all powers, rights and remedies under the other Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent, and (ii) in the event of a foreclosure by the Administrative Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a

 

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public or private sale or in the event of any other Disposition (including pursuant to Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code), (A) the Administrative Agent, as agent for and representative of the Secured Parties, shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such sale, to use and apply all or any portion of the Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any Collateral payable by the Administrative Agent at such Disposition and (B) the Administrative Agent or any Lender may be the purchaser or licensor of all or any portion of such Collateral at any such Disposition.

No Qualified Counterparty or Cash Management Bank in its respective capacity as such shall have any rights in connection with the management or release of any Collateral or of the obligations of any Loan Party under this Agreement.

Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably authorizes (and by entering into a Hedge Agreement with respect to any Specified Hedge Obligation and/or by entering into documentation in connection with any Cash Management Obligation, each Qualified Counterparty and Cash Management Bank hereby authorizes and shall be deemed to authorize) the Administrative Agent, on behalf of all Secured Parties, to take any of the following actions upon the instruction of the Required Lenders:

(a)consent to the Disposition of all or any portion of the Collateral free and clear of the Liens securing the Obligations in connection with any Disposition pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code (including Section 363 thereof), or any other applicable Debtor Relief Law;

(b)credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations, or purchase all or any portion of the Collateral (in each case, either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles), in connection with any Disposition of all or any portion of the Collateral pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code (including under Section 363 thereof), or any other applicable Debtor Relief Law;

(c)credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations, or purchase all or any portion of the Collateral (in each case, either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles), in connection with any Disposition of all or any portion of the Collateral pursuant to the applicable provisions of the UCC, including pursuant to Sections 9-610 or 9-620 of the UCC;

(d)credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations, or purchase all or any portion of the Collateral (in each case, either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles), in connection with any foreclosure or other Disposition conducted in accordance with applicable Requirements of Law following the occurrence of an Event of Default, including by power of sale, judicial action or otherwise; and/or

(e)estimate the amount of any contingent or unliquidated Obligations of such Lender or other Secured Party;

it being understood that no Lender shall be required to fund any amount in connection with any purchase of all or any portion of the Collateral by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the foregoing clauses (b), (c) or (d) without its prior written consent.

Each Secured Party agrees that the Administrative Agent is under no obligation to credit bid any part of the Obligations or to purchase or retain or acquire any portion of the Collateral; provided that, in connection with any credit bid or purchase described under clauses (b), (c) or (d) of the preceding paragraph, the Obligations owed to all of the Secured Parties (other than with respect to contingent or unliquidated liabilities as set forth in the next succeeding paragraph) may be, and shall be, credit bid by the Administrative Agent on a ratable basis.

 

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With respect to any contingent or unliquidated claim that is a Obligation, the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized, but is not required, to estimate the amount thereof for purposes of any credit bid or purchase described in the second preceding paragraph so long as the estimation of the amount or liquidation of such claim would not unduly delay the ability of the Administrative Agent to credit bid the Obligations or purchase the Collateral in the relevant Disposition.  In the event that the Administrative Agent, in its sole and absolute discretion, elects not to estimate any such contingent or unliquidated claim or any such claim cannot be estimated without unduly delaying the ability of the Administrative Agent to consummate any credit bid or purchase in accordance with the second preceding paragraph, then any contingent or unliquidated claims not so estimated shall be disregarded, shall not be credit bid, and shall not be entitled to any interest in the portion or the entirety of the Collateral purchased by means of such credit bid.

Each Secured Party whose Obligations are credit bid under clauses (b), (c) or (d) of the third preceding paragraph is entitled to receive interests in the Collateral or any other asset acquired in connection with such credit bid (or in the Capital Stock of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are used to consummate such acquisition) on a ratable basis in accordance with the percentage obtained by dividing (x) the amount of the Obligations of such Secured Party that were credit bid in such credit bid or other Disposition, by (y) the aggregate amount of all Obligations that were credit bid in such credit bid or other Disposition.

In addition, in case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, each Secured Party agrees that the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan is then due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent has made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, 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 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 and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts to the extent due to the Lenders under Section 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.

Any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Secured Party to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent consents to the making of such payments directly to the Secured Parties, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amount due to the Administrative Agent 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 any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice (including any telephonic notice), request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other

 

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distribution) that it believes to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent has received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by it.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all 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 in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Administrative Agent.

The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving ten days’ written notice to the Lenders and the Borrower; provided that if no successor agent is appointed in accordance with the terms set forth below within such ten-day period, the Administrative Agent’s resignation shall not be effective until the earlier to occur of (x) the date of the appointment of the successor agent or (y) the date that is 20 days after the last day of such ten-day period.  If the Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender or an Affiliate of a Defaulting Lender, either the Required Lenders or the Borrower may, upon ten days’ notice, remove the Administrative Agent.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation or delivery of any such notice of removal, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), to appoint a Successor Administrative Agent which shall be a commercial bank, trust company or other Person reasonably acceptable to the Borrower with offices in the U.S. having combined capital and surplus in excess of $1,000,000,000; provided that during the existence and continuation of an Event of Default under Section 7.01(a) or, with respect to the Borrower, Sections 7.01(f) or (g), no consent of the Borrower shall be required.  If no successor has been appointed as provided above and accepted such appointment within ten days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation or the Administrative Agent receives notice of removal, then (a) in the case of a retirement, the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to), on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a Successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the consent of the Borrower) or (b) in the case of a removal, the Borrower may, after consulting with the Required Lenders, appoint a Successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that (x) in the case of a retirement, if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment or (y) in the case of a removal, the Borrower notifies the Required Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then, in each case, such resignation or removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (i) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent in its capacity as collateral agent for the Secured Parties for purposes of maintaining the perfection of the Lien on the Collateral securing the Obligations, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a Successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (ii) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations required to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly (and each Lender will cooperate with the Borrower to enable the Borrower to take such actions), until such time as the Required Lenders or

 

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the Borrower, as applicable, appoint a Successor Administrative Agent as provided above in this Article 8.  Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder as a Successor Administrative Agent, the Successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring or removed Administrative Agent (other than any rights to indemnity or other payments owed to the retiring Administrative Agent), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder (other than its obligations under Section 9.13 hereof).  The fees payable by the Borrower to any Successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such Successor Administrative Agent.  After the Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.03 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the relevant Person was acting as Administrative Agent (including for this purpose holding any collateral security following the retirement or removal of the Administrative Agent).  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Disqualified Institution (nor any Affiliate thereof) may be appointed as a Successor Administrative Agent.

Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their respective Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.  Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates which may come into the possession of the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Arrangers shall not have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement, except in their respective capacities as the Administrative Agent or a Lender hereunder, as applicable.

Each Secured Party irrevocably authorizes and instructs the Administrative Agent to, and the Administrative Agent shall:

(a)release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon the occurrence of the Termination Date, (ii) that is sold or to be sold or transferred as part of or in connection with any Disposition permitted under the Loan Documents to a Person that is not a Loan Party, (iii) that does not constitute (or ceases to constitute) Collateral, (iv) if the property subject to such Lien is owned by a Subsidiary Loan Party, upon the release of such Subsidiary Loan Party from its Loan Guarantee otherwise in accordance with the Loan Documents or (v) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders or such other number of Lenders as may be required in accordance with Section 9.02;

(b)subject to Section 9.23, release any Subsidiary Loan Party from its Loan Guarantee (i) upon the consummation of any permitted transaction or series of related transactions if as a result thereof such Subsidiary Loan Party ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary and/or (ii) upon the occurrence of the Termination Date;

 

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(c)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 Sections 6.02(d), 6.02(e), 6.02(f), 6.02(g), 6.02(m), 6.02(n), 6.02(o)(i) (other than any Lien on the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary Loan Party), 6.02(q), 6.02(r), 6.02(s) (to the extent that relevant Lien is of the type to which the Lien of the Administrative Agent is otherwise required to be subordinated under this clause (c) pursuant to any of the other exceptions to Section 6.02 that are expressly included in this clause (c)), 6.02(u) (to the extent the relevant Lien is of the type to which the Lien of the Administrative Agent is otherwise required to be subordinated under this clause (c) pursuant to any of the other exceptions to Section 6.02 that are expressly included in this clause (c)), 6.02(x), 6.02(y), 6.02(z)(i), 6.02(bb), 6.02(cc), 6.02(dd), 6.02(ee), 6.02(ff), 6.02(gg) and/or 6.02(hh) (and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any thereof to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness is permitted to be secured under Section 6.02(k)); provided, that the subordination of any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent shall only be required with respect to any Lien on such property that is permitted by Sections 6.02(f), 6.02(m), 6.02(o)(i), 6.02(q), 6.02(r), 6.02(s), 6.02(u), 6.02(bb) and/or 6.02(hh) (and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any thereof to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness is permitted to be secured under Section 6.02(k)) to the extent that the Lien of the Administrative Agent with respect to such property is required to be subordinated to the relevant Permitted Lien in accordance with the documentation governing the Indebtedness that is secured by such Permitted Lien; and

(d)enter into subordination agreements, collateral trust agreements, Acceptable Intercreditor Agreements and/or similar agreements contemplated hereby with respect to Indebtedness that is (i) required or permitted to be subordinated hereunder and/or (ii) secured by Liens, and with respect to which Indebtedness and/or Liens, this Agreement contemplates an intercreditor, subordination, collateral trust agreement or similar agreement.

Upon the request of the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Loan Party from its obligations under the Loan Guarantee or its Lien on any Collateral pursuant to this Article 8.  In each case specified in this Article 8, the Administrative Agent will (and each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to), at the Borrower’ expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Security Documents, to subordinate its interest therein, or to release such Loan Party from its obligations under the Loan Guarantee, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Article 8; provided, that upon the request of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying that the relevant transaction has been consummated in compliance with the terms of this Agreement.

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

The Administrative Agent is authorized to enter into the Intercreditor Agreements, any Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement and any other intercreditor, subordination, collateral trust or similar agreement contemplated hereby with respect to any Indebtedness (i) that is (A) required or permitted to be subordinated hereunder and/or (B) secured by Liens and (ii) with respect to which Indebtedness and/or Liens, this Agreement contemplates an intercreditor, subordination, collateral trust or similar agreement (any such other intercreditor, subordination, collateral trust and/or similar agreement, an “Additional Agreement”),

 

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and the Secured Parties party hereto acknowledge that any Additional Agreement is binding upon them.  Each Secured Party party hereto hereby (a) agrees that they will be bound by, and will not take any action contrary to, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements and any Additional Agreement and (b) authorizes and instructs the Administrative Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreements and/or any Additional Agreement and to subject the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations to the provisions thereof.  The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the Secured Parties to extend credit to the Borrower, and the Secured Parties are intended third-party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements and/or any Additional Agreement.

To the extent that the Administrative Agent (or any Affiliate thereof) is not reimbursed and indemnified by the Borrower in accordance with and to the extent required by Section 9.03(b), the Lenders will reimburse and indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any Affiliate thereof) in proportion to their respective Applicable Percentages (determined as if there were no Defaulting Lenders) for and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, actions, judgments, costs, expenses or disbursements of whatsoever kind or nature which may be imposed on, asserted against or incurred by the Administrative Agent (or any Affiliate thereof) in performing its duties hereunder or under any other Loan Document or in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the Administrative Agent’s (or such Affiliate’s) gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision).

To the extent required by any applicable Requirements of Law (as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender under any Loan Document an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax.  Without limiting or expanding the provisions of Section 2.17, each Lender shall indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent against, and shall make payable in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, any and all Taxes and any and all related losses, claims, liabilities and expenses (including fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent) incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent by the IRS or any other Governmental Authority as a result of the failure of the Administrative Agent to properly withhold Tax from amounts paid to or for the account of such Lender for any reason (including because the appropriate form was not delivered or not properly executed, or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstance that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of withholding Tax ineffective).  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due the Administrative Agent under this paragraph.  The agreements in this paragraph shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, any Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

 

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Article 9MISCELLANEOUS

Section 9.01Notices.  

(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 facsimile or email, as follows:

(i)if to any Loan Party, to such Loan Party in the care of the Borrower at:

Leslie’s Poolmart, Inc.

▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Chief Financial Officer

Email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇

Telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice to any Loan Party):

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇; ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

Email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇; ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇

Telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇; (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

(ii)if to the Administrative Agent, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified on Schedule 1.01(d); and

(iii)if to any Lender, to it at its address or facsimile number or email address set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

All such notices and other communications (A) sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when delivered in person or by courier service and signed for against receipt thereof or three Business Days after dispatch if sent by certified or registered mail, in each case, delivered, sent or mailed (properly addressed) to the relevant party as provided in this Section 9.01 or in accordance with the latest unrevoked direction from such party given in accordance with this Section 9.01 or (B) sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent and when receipt has been confirmed by telephone; provided that notices and other communications sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, such notices or other communications shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient).  Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in clause (b) below shall be effective as provided in such clause (b).

(b)Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications (including e-mail and Internet or Intranet websites) pursuant to procedures set forth herein or otherwise approved by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent or the Borrower (on behalf of any Loan Party) may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other

 

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communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures set forth herein or otherwise approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.  All such notices and other communications (i) 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); provided that any such notice or communication not given during the normal business hours of the recipient shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient and (ii) 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 (b)(i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

(c)Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number or other notice information hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto; it being understood and agreed that the Borrower or any Lender may provide any such notice to the Administrative Agent as recipient on behalf of itself and each Lender.

(d)The Platform.  Each of Holdings and the Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by, or on behalf of, Holdings or the Borrower hereunder (collectively, the “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material nonpublic information within the meaning of the United States federal securities laws with respect to Holdings, the Borrower or their respective securities) (each, a “Public Lender”).  At the request of the Administrative Agent, each of Holdings and the Borrower hereby agrees that (i) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC”, (ii) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” Holdings and the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to treat the Borrower Materials as information of a type that would (A) customarily be made publicly available, as determined in good faith by the Borrower, if Holdings or the Borrower were to become public reporting companies or (B) would not be material with respect to Holdings, the Borrower, their respective Subsidiaries, any of their respective securities or the Transactions as determined in good faith by the Borrower for purposes of the United States federal securities laws and (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be required to treat Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not marked as “Public Investor.”  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following Borrower Materials shall be deemed to be marked “PUBLIC,” unless the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent promptly that any such document contains material nonpublic information (it being understood that the Borrower shall have a reasonable opportunity to review the same prior to distribution and comply with SEC or other applicable disclosure obligations): (1) the Loan Documents, (2) any amendment to any Loan Document and (3) any information delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b).

Each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable law, including United States Federal and state securities laws, to make reference to communications that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to Holdings, the Borrower or their securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” NEITHER THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT NOR ANY OF ITS RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, THE “AGENT PARTIES”) WARRANTS THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE

 

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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇, ▇▇ THE ADEQUACY OF, THE PLATFORM, AND EACH EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN ANY SUCH COMMUNICATION. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NONINFRINGEMENT OF THIRD-PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS IS MADE BY THE AGENT PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY AGENT PARTY HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO OR ANY OTHER PERSON FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER OR NOT BASED ON STRICT LIABILITY AND 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, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THE LIABILITY OF ANY SUCH PERSON IS FOUND IN A FINAL RULING BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO HAVE RESULTED FROM SUCH PERSON’S GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OR MATERIAL BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT.

Section 9.02Waivers; Amendments.  

(a)No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof except as provided herein or in any Loan Document, 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 and the Lenders hereunder and under any other Loan Document are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have.  No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by any party hereto therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same is permitted by this Section 9.02, 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, to the extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, the making of any Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default or Event of Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default or Event of Default at the time.

(b)Subject to clauses (A), (B) and (C) of this Section 9.02(b) and Sections 9.02(c) and (d) below and to Section 9.05(f), neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified, except (i) in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders (or the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) or (ii) in the case of any other Loan Document (other than any waiver, amendment or modification to effectuate any modification thereto expressly contemplated by the terms of such other Loan Document), pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and each Loan Party that is party thereto, with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing:

(A)the consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby (but not the consent of the Required Lenders) shall be required for any waiver, amendment or modification that:

(1)increases the Commitment of such Lender (other than with respect to any Incremental Facility pursuant to Section 2.22 or Extended Revolving Facility or Extended Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.23 in respect of which such Lender has agreed to be an Additional

 

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Lender or extending Lender); it being understood that no amendment, modification or waiver of, or consent to departure from, any condition precedent, representation, warranty, covenant, Default, Event of Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall constitute an increase of any Commitment of such Lender;

(2)reduces the principal amount of any Loan owed to such Lender or reduces any amount due to such Lender on any Loan Installment Date or any other date on which principal is scheduled to be payable hereunder;

(3)(x) extends the scheduled final maturity of any Loan or (y) postpones any Loan Installment Date or any Interest Payment Date with respect to any Loan held by such Lender or the date of any scheduled payment of any fee or premium payable to such Lender hereunder;

(4)reduces the rate of interest (other than to waive any Default or Event of Default or obligation of the Borrower to pay interest to such Lender at the default rate of interest under Section 2.13(c), which shall only require the consent of the Required Lenders) or the amount of any fee or premium owed to such Lender, it being understood that (x) no change in the definition of “First Lien Leverage Ratio” or any other ratio used in the calculation of the Applicable Rate, or in the calculation of any other interest, fee or premium due hereunder (including any component definition thereof) shall constitute a reduction in any rate of interest or fee hereunder and (y) any amendment to the “most favored nations” provisions shall not constitute a reduction in any rate of interest or fees hereunder;

(5)extends the expiry date of such Lender’s Commitment; it being understood that no amendment, modification or waiver of, or consent to departure from, any condition precedent, representation, warranty, covenant, Default, Event of Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of any Commitment shall constitute an extension of any Commitment of any Lender;

(6)waives, amends or modifies the provisions of Sections 2.18(b) or 2.18(c) in a manner that would by its terms alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby (except in connection with any transaction permitted under Sections 2.22, 2.23, 9.02(c) and/or 9.05(g) or as otherwise provided in this Section 9.02); or

(7)subordinates the Term Loans to any other Indebtedness or subordinates the Lien securing the Term Loans on all or substantially all of the Collateral to any other Lien securing any other Indebtedness, in each case, except in the case of (i) any Indebtedness that is expressly permitted under the Loan Documents as in effect on the Closing Date to be senior to the Term Loans and/or be secured by a Lien that is senior to the Lien securing the Term Loans, (ii) any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to an asset-based, factoring, securitization or other similar facility the incurrence of which is otherwise approved by the Required Lenders, (iii)

 

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any “debtor-in-possession” facility or (iv) any other Indebtedness exchanged for Term Loans so long as such Indebtedness is offered ratably to all Lenders holding such Term Loans;

(B)no such agreement shall:

(1)change  any of the provisions of Section 9.02(a), Section 9.02(b) or Section 9.05(a)(i) or the definition of “Required Lenders” to reduce any voting percentage required to waive, amend or modify any right thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder, without the prior written consent of each Lender;

(2)release all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Lien granted pursuant to the Loan Documents (except as otherwise permitted herein or in the other Loan Documents, including pursuant to Article 8), without the prior written consent of each Lender;

(3)release all or substantially all of the value of the Guarantees under the Loan Guarantee (except as otherwise permitted herein or in the other Loan Documents, including pursuant to Article 8 and Section 9.23), without the prior written consent of each Lender; or

(4)alter the ratable treatment of Obligations or the definition of “Cash Management Services”, “Cash Management Obligations”, “Derivative Transaction”, “Hedging Obligations”, “Obligations”, “Specified Hedge Obligations” or “Secured Obligations” (as defined in any applicable Security Document), in each case, in a manner adverse, in the aggregate, to any Cash Management Bank or Qualified Counterparty, as applicable, without the written consent of such Cash Management Bank or Qualified Counterparty; and

(C)no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent (or any Person that previously served as Administrative Agent) hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (or such previous Administrative Agent, as applicable).

(c)Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended:

(i)with the written consent of the Borrower and the Lenders providing the relevant Replacement Term Loans to permit the refinancing or replacement of all or any portion of the outstanding Term Loans under any Class (any such loans being refinanced or replaced, the “Replaced Term Loans”) with one or more replacement term loans hereunder (“Replacement Term Loans”) pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment; provided that

(A)the aggregate principal amount of any Class of Replacement Term Loans shall not exceed the aggregate principal amount of the relevant Replaced Term Loans (plus (1) any additional amount permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01 and, to the extent any such additional amount is secured, the related Lien is permitted under Section 6.02 and (2) the amount of accrued interest and premium (including tender premium) thereon and underwriting discounts, fees (including

 

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upfront fees and original issue discount), commissions and expenses associated therewith),

(B)subject to the Permitted Earlier Maturity Indebtedness Exception, any Class of Replacement Term Loans must have a final maturity date that is equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the applicable Replaced Term Loans at the time of the relevant refinancing,

(C)any Class of Replacement Term Loans may be pari passu with or junior to any then-existing Class of Term Loans in right of payment and may be pari passu with or junior to such Class of Term Loans with respect to the Collateral or unsecured; provided that any Class of Replacement Term Loans that is pari passu with or junior to any then-existing Class of Term Loan shall be subject to an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement and may be, at the option of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, documented in a separate agreement or agreements,

(D)any Class of Replacement Term Loans that is secured may not be secured by any asset other than the Collateral and with no higher priority than the Class of Term Loan being refinanced,

(E)any Class of Replacement Term Loans that is guaranteed may not be guaranteed by any Person other than one or more Loan Parties,

(F)no Class of Replacement Term Loans that is secured on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Loans in right of payment and security may participate on a greater than pro rata basis in any voluntary or mandatory repayment or prepayment in respect of the Initial Term Loans (and any Additional Term Loans then subject to ratable repayment requirements),

(G)any Class of Replacement Term Loans may have pricing (including interest, fees and premiums) and, subject to the preceding clause (F), optional prepayment and redemption terms as the Borrower and the lenders providing such Class of Replacement Term Loans may agree, and

(H)the terms and conditions of any Class of Replacement Term Loans (excluding pricing, amortization, interest, fees, rate floors, premiums, optional prepayment or redemption terms, security and maturity, subject to preceding clauses (B) through (G)) must be (1) substantially identical to, or (taken as a whole) no more favorable (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) to the lenders providing such Class of Replacement Term Loans than those applicable to the relevant Replaced Term Loans (other than covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Term Loan Maturity Date (in each case, as of the date of incurrence of such Class of Replacement Term Loans)), (2) reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (it being agreed that terms and conditions of any Replacement Term Loans that are more favorable to the lenders or the agent of such Replacement Term Loans than those contained in the Loan Documents and are then conformed (or added) to the Loan Documents pursuant to the applicable Refinancing Amendment shall be deemed satisfactory to the Administrative

 

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Agent) or (3) reflect market terms (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence, issuance or effectiveness (as determined in good faith by the Borrower); and

(ii)with the written consent of the Borrower and the Lenders providing the relevant Replacement Revolving Facility to permit (x) the refinancing or replacement of all or any portion of any Incremental Revolving Commitment of any Class or (y) the refinancing or replacement of the ABL Facility in full; provided that any such amendment described in this clause (y) shall also include corresponding amendments to this Agreement to eliminate the exceptions in Sections 6.01 and 6.02 that permit the ABL Facility, ABL Incremental Debt and/or any Indebtedness that refinances any of the foregoing (any such Incremental Revolving Commitment or the ABL Facility being refinanced or replaced, a “Replaced Revolving Facility”) with a replacement revolving facility hereunder (a “Replacement Revolving Facility”) pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment; provided that:

(A)the aggregate maximum amount of any Replacement Revolving Facility shall not exceed the aggregate maximum amount of the relevant Replaced Revolving Facility (plus (x) any additional amount permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01 and, to the extent any such additional amount is secured, the related Lien is permitted under Section 6.02 and (y) the amount of accrued interest and premium thereon, any committed but undrawn amounts and underwriting discounts, fees (including upfront fees), commissions and expenses associated therewith),

(B)no Replacement Revolving Facility may have a final maturity date (or require commitment reductions) prior to the final maturity date of the relevant Replaced Revolving Facility at the time of such refinancing,

(C)any Replacement Revolving Facility may be pari passu with or junior to any then-existing Incremental Revolving Commitment in right of payment and pari passu with or junior to any then-existing Incremental Revolving Commitments with respect to the Collateral or may be unsecured or, in the case of any Replacement Revolving Facility that refinances or replaces an ABL Facility in full, such Replacement Revolving Facility may be pari passu or junior to any then-existing Class of Term Loans with respect to the Collateral or may be unsecured; provided that any Replacement Revolving Facility that is pari passu with or junior to the Incremental Revolving Commitment or then-existing Class of Term Loans shall be subject to an Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement and may be, at the option of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, documented in a separate agreement or agreements,

(D)any Replacement Revolving Facility that is secured may not be secured by any assets other than the Collateral and with no higher priority than the Class of Revolving Credit Commitments being refinanced,

(E)any Replacement Revolving Facility that is guaranteed may not be guaranteed by any Person other than one or more Loan Parties,

(F)any Replacement Revolving Facility shall be subject to the “ratability” provisions applicable to Extended Revolving Credit Commitments and Extended Revolving Loans set forth in the proviso to clause (i) of Section 2.23(a), mutatis mutandis, to the same extent as if fully set forth in this Section 9.02(c)(ii),

 

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(G)any Replacement Revolving Facility may have pricing (including interest, fees and premiums) and, subject to preceding clause (F), optional prepayment and redemption terms as the Borrower and the lenders providing such Replacement Revolving Facility may agree,

(H)the terms and conditions of any Replacement Revolving Facility (excluding pricing, financial maintenance covenant, interest, fees, rate floors, premiums, optional prepayment or redemption terms, security and maturity, subject to preceding clauses (B) through (G)) must be (i) substantially identical to, or (taken as a whole) no more favorable (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) to the lenders providing such Replacement Revolving Facility than those applicable to the Replaced Revolving Facility (other than covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the latest Maturity Date of such Replaced Revolving Facility (in each case, as of the date of incurrence of the relevant Replacement Revolving Facility)), (ii) provided on then-current market terms (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) for the applicable type of Indebtedness or (iii) reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (it being agreed that terms and conditions of any Replacement Revolving Facility that are more favorable to the lenders or the agent of such Replacement Revolving Facility than those contained in the Loan Documents and are then conformed (or added) to the Loan Documents pursuant to the applicable Refinancing Amendment shall be deemed satisfactory to the Administrative Agent); provided that if such Replacement Revolving Facility contains a financial maintenance covenant and is documented under this Agreement, the Borrower may provide that such financial covenant will not be for the benefit of any Term Lenders and the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may make any reasonably necessary amendments to reflect  customary “cov-lite” terms;

(I)the commitments in respect of the relevant Replaced Revolving Facility shall be terminated, and all loans outstanding thereunder and all fees then due and payable in connection therewith shall be paid in full, in each case on the date any Replacement Revolving Facility is implemented; and

(J)any Replacement Revolving Facility shall provide that (A) the borrowing and repayment (except for (x) payments of interest and fees at different rates on the Additional Revolving Facilities (and related outstandings), (y) repayments required on the Maturity Date of any Additional Revolving Facility and (z) repayments made in connection with a permanent repayment and termination of the Additional Revolving Credit Commitments under any Additional Revolving Facility (subject to clause (C) below)) of Additional Revolving Loans with respect to any Additional Revolving Facility after the effective date of such Replacement Revolving Facility shall be made on a pro rata basis or less than pro rata basis (but not greater than pro rata basis in the case of borrowings and provided that any payments on a greater than pro rata basis shall be subject to borrowings on a greater than pro rata basis) with all other Additional Revolving Facilities and (B) any permanent repayment of Additional Revolving Loans with respect to, and reduction and termination of Additional Revolving Credit Commitments under, any Additional Revolving Facility after the effective date of such Replacement Revolving Facility shall be made on a pro rata basis or less than pro rata basis with all other revolving facilities, or, to the extent such Replacement Revolving Facility is terminated in full and refinanced or replaced

 

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with another Replacement Revolving Facility or Replacement Notes a greater than pro rata basis.

provided, further, that, in respect of each of sub-clauses (i) and (ii) of this clause (c), (x) any Non-Debt Fund Affiliate and Debt Fund Affiliate shall be permitted without the consent of the Administrative Agent to provide any Class of Replacement Term Loans, it being understood that in connection therewith, the relevant Non-Debt Fund Affiliate or Debt Fund Affiliate, as applicable, shall be subject to the restrictions applicable to such Person under Section 9.05 as if they had taken by assignment and (y) any Debt Fund Affiliate (but not any Non-Debt Fund Affiliate) may provide any Replacement Revolving Facility.

Each party hereto hereby agrees that this Agreement may be amended by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the lenders providing the relevant Class of Replacement Term Loans or the Replacement Revolving Facility, as applicable, to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence and terms of such Class of Replacement Term Loans or Replacement Revolving Facility,  as applicable, incurred or implemented pursuant thereto (including any amendment necessary to treat the loans and commitments subject thereto as a separate “tranche” and “Class” of Loans and/or commitments hereunder).  It is understood that any Lender approached to provide all or a portion of any Class of Replacement Term Loans or any Replacement Revolving Facility, may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide such Class of Replacement Term Loans or Replacement Revolving Facility.

(d)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 9.02 or any other provision of this Agreement or any provision of any other Loan Document:

(i)the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may, without the input or consent of any Lender, amend, supplement and/or waive any guaranty, collateral security agreement, pledge agreement and/or related document (if any) executed in connection with this Agreement to (A) comply with any Requirement of Law or the advice of counsel or (B) cause any such guaranty, collateral security agreement, pledge agreement or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and/or the relevant other Loan Documents,

(ii)the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may, without the input or consent of any other Lender (other than the relevant Lenders  providing Loans under such Sections), effect amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary in the reasonable opinion of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to (1) effect the provisions of Sections 2.22, 2.23, 5.12, 6.12 and/or 9.02(c), or any other provision specifying that any waiver, amendment or modification may be made with the consent or approval of the Administrative Agent and/or (2) in connection with any Additional Revolving Credit Commitment, in case of the addition of any financial covenant for the benefit of the relevant Additional Revolving Lenders, amend Section 7.01 to add a customary “standstill” provision, such that no breach of such financial covenant will constitute a Default or Event of Default for purposes of the Term Facility unless the applicable Additional Revolving Lenders have accelerated the loans under such Additional Revolving Facility and terminated the Additional Revolving Credit Commitments as a result of such breach and/or (3) to add terms (including representations and warranties, conditions, prepayments, covenants or events of default), in connection with the addition of any Loan or Commitment hereunder, any Incremental Equivalent Debt and/or any Refinancing Indebtedness incurred in reliance on Section 6.01(p) with respect to Indebtedness originally incurred in reliance on Section 6.01(z) that are favorable to the then-existing Lenders, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent (it being understood that, where applicable, any such amendment may be effectuated as part of an Incremental Amendment and/or a Refinancing Amendment),

 

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(iii)if the Administrative Agent and the Borrower have jointly identified any ambiguity, mistake, defect, inconsistency, obvious error or any error or omission of a technical nature or any necessary or desirable technical change, in each case, in any provision of any Loan Document, then the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall be permitted to amend such provision solely to address such matter as reasonably determined by them acting jointly,

(iv)the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend, restate, amend and restate or otherwise modify the Intercreditor Agreements, and Acceptable Intercreditor Agreement and/or any other Additional Agreement as provided therein;

(v)the Administrative Agent may amend the Commitment Schedule to reflect assignments entered into pursuant to Section 9.05, Commitment reductions or terminations pursuant to Section 2.09, implementations of Additional Commitments or incurrences of Additional Loans pursuant to Sections 2.22, 2.23 and/or 9.02(c) and reductions or terminations of any such Additional Commitments or Additional Loans,

(vi)no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except as permitted pursuant to Section 2.21(b) and except that the Commitment and any Additional Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased without the consent of such Defaulting Lender (it being understood that any Commitment or Loan held or deemed held by any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded from any vote hereunder that requires the consent of any Lender, except as expressly provided in Section 2.21(b)),

(vii)this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (i) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit any extension of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the relevant benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (ii) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the Lenders prior to such inclusion,

(viii)any amendment, waiver or modification of any term or provision that directly affects Lenders under one or more Classes and does not directly affect Lenders under one or more other Classes may be effected with the consent of Lenders holding 50% of the aggregate commitments or Loans of such directly affected Class in lieu of the consent of the Required Lenders; and

(ix)the Borrower may amend or otherwise modify any provision of the Loan Documents in a manner that is more favorable to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent at any time without the consent of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with an Incremental Facility Agreement or a Refinancing Amendment.

(e)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in connection with any determination as to whether the requisite Lenders have (A) consented (or not consented) to any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, (B) otherwise acted on any matter related to any Loan Document, or (C) directed or required the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to or under any Loan Document, any Lender (other than the Administrative Agent, the

 

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Arrangers or any Lender that is a regulated bank entity) that, as a result of its interest in any total return swap, total rate of return swap, credit default swap or other derivative contract (other than any such total return swap, total rate of return swap, credit default swap or other derivative contract entered into pursuant to bona fide market making activities), has a net short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments (each, a “Net Short Lender”) shall have no right to vote any of its Loans and Commitments and shall be deemed to have voted its interest as a Lender without discretion in the same proportion as the allocation of voting with respect to such matter by Lenders who are not Net Short Lenders.  For purposes of determining whether a Lender has a “net short position” on any date of determination: (i) derivative contracts with respect to the Loans and Commitments and such contracts that are the functional equivalent thereof shall be counted at the notional amount thereof in Dollars, (ii) notional amounts in other currencies shall be converted to the Dollar equivalent thereof by such Lender in a commercially reasonable manner consistent with generally accepted financial practices and based on the prevailing conversion rate (determined on a mid-market basis) on the date of determination, (iii) derivative contracts in respect of an index that includes the Borrower or other Loan Parties or any instrument issued or guaranteed by the Borrower or other Loan Parties shall not be deemed to create a short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments, so long as (x) such index is not created, designed, administered or requested by such Lender and (y) the Borrower and other Loan Parties and any instrument issued or guaranteed by the Borrower or other Loan Parties, collectively, shall represent less than 5% of the components of such index, (iv) derivative transactions that are documented using either the 2014 ISDA Credit Derivatives Definitions or the 2003 ISDA Credit Derivatives Definitions (collectively, the “ISDA CDS Definitions”) shall be deemed to create a short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments if such Lender is a protection buyer or the equivalent thereof for such derivative transaction and (x) the Loans or the Commitments are a “Reference Obligation” under the terms of such derivative transaction (whether specified by name in the related documentation, included as a “Standard Reference Obligation” on the most recent list published by Markit, if “Standard Reference Obligation” is specified as applicable in the relevant documentation or in any other manner), (y) the Loans or the Commitments would be a “Deliverable Obligation” under the terms of such derivative transaction or (z) the Borrower or other Loan Parties (or its successor) is designated as a “Reference Entity” under the terms of such derivative transactions, and (v) credit derivative transactions or other derivatives transactions not documented using the ISDA CDS Definitions shall be deemed to create a short position with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments if such transactions are functionally equivalent to a transaction that offers the Lender protection in respect of the Loans or the Commitments, or as to the credit quality of the Borrower or other Loan Parties other than, in each case, as part of an index so long as (x) such index is not created, designed, administered or requested by such Lender and (y) the Borrower and other Loan Parties and any instrument issued or guaranteed by the Borrower or other Loan Parties, collectively, shall represent less than 5% of the components of such index.  In connection with any such determination, each Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent in writing that it is a Net Short Lender, or shall otherwise be deemed to have represented and warranted to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that it is not a Net Short Lender (it being understood and agreed that the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely on each such representation and deemed representation and the Administrative Agent shall not have any liability for such reliance). Any failure by any Lender to so notify the Administrative Agent that it is a Net Short Lender shall negate such Lender’s consent to any applicable amendment or waiver and such Lender shall be deemed to have voted its interest as a Lender without discretion in the same proportion as the allocation of voting with respect to such matter by Lenders who are not Net Short Lenders.

Section 9.03Expenses; Indemnity.  

(a)The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by each Arranger, the Administrative Agent and their respective Affiliates (but limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses, to the actual reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other charges of one firm of outside counsel to all such Persons taken as a whole, and, if reasonably

 

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necessary, of one local counsel in any relevant jurisdiction to all such Persons, taken as a whole) in connection with the syndication and distribution (including via the Internet or through a service such as IntraLinks) of the Credit Facilities, in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and administration of the Loan Documents and any related documentation, including in connection with any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of any Loan Document (whether or not the transactions contemplated thereby are consummated, but only to the extent the preparation of any such amendment, modification or waiver was requested by the Borrower and except as otherwise provided in a separate writing between the Borrower, the relevant Arranger and/or the Administrative Agent) and (ii) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers or the Lenders or any of their respective Affiliates (but limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses, to the actual reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other charges of one firm of outside counsel to all such Persons taken as a whole and, if necessary, of one local counsel in any relevant jurisdiction to all such Persons, taken as a whole) in connection with the enforcement, collection or protection of their respective rights in connection with the Loan Documents, including their respective rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made hereunder.  Except to the extent required to be paid on the Closing Date, all amounts due under this paragraph (a) shall be payable by the Borrower within 30 days of receipt by the Borrower of an invoice setting forth such expenses in reasonable detail, together with backup documentation supporting the relevant reimbursement request.  

(b)The Borrower shall indemnify each Arranger, the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (but limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses, to the actual reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other charges of one counsel to all Indemnitees taken as a whole and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel in any relevant jurisdiction to all Indemnitees, taken as a whole and solely in the case of an actual or potential conflict of interest, (x) one additional counsel to all affected Indemnitees, taken as a whole, and (y) one additional local counsel to all affected Indemnitees, taken as a whole), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of the Loan Documents or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby and/or the enforcement of the Loan Documents, (ii) the use of the proceeds of the Loans, (iii) any actual or alleged Release or presence of Hazardous Materials on, at, in, under, to or from any property currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Loan Party or any Environmental Liability related to the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Loan Party and/or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto (and regardless of whether such matter is initiated by a third party or by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates); provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, or liability (i) is determined by a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or, to the extent such judgment finds that any such loss, claim, damage, or liability has resulted from such Person’s material breach of the Loan Documents or (ii) arises out of any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding brought by such Indemnitee against another Indemnitee (other than any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding that is brought by or against the Administrative Agent or any Arranger, acting in its capacity as the Administrative Agent or as an Arranger) that does not involve any act or omission of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.  Each Indemnitee shall be obligated to refund or return any and all amounts paid by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 9.03 to such Indemnitee for any fees, expenses, or damages to the extent such Indemnitee is not entitled to payment thereof in accordance with the terms hereof.  All amounts due under this paragraph (b) shall be payable by the Borrower within 30 days (x) after receipt by the Borrower of a written demand therefor, in the case of

 

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any indemnification obligations and (y) in the case of reimbursement of costs and expenses, after receipt by the Borrower of an invoice setting forth such costs and expenses in reasonable detail, together with backup documentation supporting the relevant reimbursement request. This Section 9.03(b) shall not apply to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages or liabilities in respect of a non-Tax claim.

(c)The Borrower shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without the written consent of the Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), but if any proceeding is settled with the written consent of the Borrower, or if there is a final judgment against any Indemnitee in any such proceeding, the Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee to the extent and in the manner set forth above.  The Borrower shall not, without the prior written consent of the affected Indemnitee (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnitee unless (i) such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnitee from all liability or claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (ii) such settlement does not include any statement as to any admission of fault or culpability.

Section 9.04Waiver of Claim.  To the extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, no party to this Agreement shall assert, and each hereby waives, any claim against any other party hereto, any Loan Party and/or any Related Party of any thereof, 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 or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof, except, in the case of any claim by any Indemnitee against the Borrower, to the extent such damages would otherwise be subject to indemnification pursuant to the terms of Section 9.03.

Section 9.05Successors 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 permitted assigns; provided that (i) except in a transaction permitted under Section 6.07, 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 the terms of this Section 9.05  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and permitted assigns, to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section 9.05, Participants and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Arrangers, the Administrative Agent 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 Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of any Loan or Additional Commitment added pursuant to Sections 2.22, 2.23 and/or 9.02(c) at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent of:

(A)the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided, that (x) the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any assignment of Term Loans unless it has objected thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within 10 Business Days after receipt of written notice thereof, (y) the consent of the Borrower shall not be required for any assignment of Term Loans or Term Commitments (1) to any Term Lender or any Affiliate of any Term Lender or an Approved Fund or (2) at any time when an Event of Default under Sections 7.01(a), 7.01(f) or 7.01(g) (with respect to the

 

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Borrower) exists and (z) the Borrower may withhold its consent to any assignment to any person that is not a “Disqualified Institution” but is known by the Borrower to be an affiliate of a Disqualified Institution regardless of whether such person is identifiable as an affiliate of a Disqualified Institution on the basis of such affiliate’s name; and

(B)the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for any assignment to another Lender, any Affiliate of a Lender or any Approved Fund.

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

(A)except in the case of any assignment to another Lender, any Affiliate of any Lender or any Approved Fund or any assignment of the entire remaining amount of the relevant assigning Lender’s Loans or Commitments of any Class, the principal amount of Loans or Commitments of the assigning Lender subject to the relevant assignment (determined as of the date on which the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent and determined on an aggregate basis in the event of concurrent assignments to Related Funds or by Related Funds) shall not be less than $1,000,000, unless the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent;

(B)any partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the relevant assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement;

(C)the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption via an electronic settlement system acceptable to the Administrative Agent (or, if previously agreed with the Administrative Agent, manually), and shall pay to the Administrative Agent a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (which fee may be waived or reduced in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent); and

(D)the relevant Eligible Assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver on or prior to the effective date of such assignment, to the Administrative Agent (1) an Administrative Questionnaire, (2) any IRS form required under Section 2.17 and (3) all documentation and other information reasonably required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

(iii)Subject to the acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section 9.05, from and after the effective date specified in any Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned pursuant to 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

 

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Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be (A) entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring on or prior to the effective date of such assignment and (B) subject to its obligations thereunder and under Section 9.13).  If any assignment by any Lender holding any Promissory Note is made after the issuance of such Promissory Note, the assigning Lender shall, upon the effectiveness of such assignment or as promptly thereafter as practicable, surrender such Promissory Note to the Administrative Agent for cancellation, and, following such cancellation, if requested by either the assignee or the assigning Lender, the Borrower shall issue and deliver a new Promissory Note to such assignee and/or to such assigning Lender, with appropriate insertions, to reflect the new commitments and/or outstanding Loans of the assignee and/or the assigning Lender.

(iv)The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary 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 their respective successors and assigns, and the commitment of, and principal amount of and interest on the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”).  Failure to make any such recordation, or any error in such recordation, shall not affect the Borrower’s obligations in respect of such Loans.  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.  The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and each Lender (but only as to its own holdings), at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior written notice.

(v)Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an Eligible Assignee, the Eligible Assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire and any tax certification required by Section 9.05(b)(ii)(D)(2) (unless the assignee is already a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 9.05, if applicable, and any written consent to the relevant assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section 9.05, the Administrative Agent shall promptly accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register.  No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 9.05.

(vi)By executing and delivering an Assignment and Assumption, the assigning Lender and the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be deemed to confirm and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (A) the assigning Lender warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim and that the amount of its commitments, and the outstanding balances of its Loans, in each case without giving effect to any assignment thereof which has not become effective, are as set forth in such Assignment and Assumption, (B) except as set forth in clause (A) above, the assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement, or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto, or the financial condition of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or the performance or observance by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any of its obligations under this

 

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Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (C) the assignee represents and warrants that it is an Eligible Assignee, legally authorized to enter into such Assignment and Assumption; (D) the assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreements then in effect, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(c) or the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Assumption; (E) the assignee will independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the assigning Lender or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it deems appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement; (F) the assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent, by the terms hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (G) the assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

(c)

(i) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, sell participations to any bank or other entity (other than to any Disqualified Institution, any natural Person or, other than with respect to any participation to any Debt Fund Affiliate (any such participations to a Debt Fund Affiliate being subject to the limitation set forth in the first proviso of the last paragraph set forth in Section 9.05(g), as if the limitation applied to such participations), the Borrower or any of its Affiliates) (a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its commitments 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 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 any 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 relevant Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in (x) clause (A) of the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that directly and adversely affects the Loans or commitments in which such Participant has an interest and (y) clauses (B)(1), (2) or (3) of the first proviso to Section 9.02(b).  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 (subject to the limitations and requirements of such Sections and Section 2.19) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.17(f) is delivered to the participating Lender, and if additional amounts are required to be paid pursuant to Section 2.17(a) or Section 2.17(c), to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).  To the extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.09 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant shall be subject to Section 2.18(c) as though it were a Lender.

 

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(ii)No Participant shall be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17 than the participating Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent expressly acknowledging that such Participant’s entitlement to benefits under Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 is not limited to what the participating Lender would have been entitled to receive absent the participation.

Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and its respective successors and registered assigns, and the principal and interest amounts of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (a “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of any Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to any Participant’s interest in any Commitment, Loan or any other obligation under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the U.S. Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and each 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.  The Register is intended to cause each Loan and other obligation hereunder to be in registered form within the meaning of Section 5f.103-1(c) of Treasury Regulations and within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Code. 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 (other than to any Disqualified Institution or any natural person) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to any Federal Reserve Bank or other central bank having jurisdiction over such Lender, and this Section 9.05 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 any Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(e)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an “SPC”), identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the option to provide to the Borrower all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to make any Loan, (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof and (iii) in no event may any Lender grant any option to provide to the Borrower all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would have otherwise been obligated to make to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement to any Disqualified Institution.  The making of any Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender.  Each party hereto hereby agrees that (A) neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17) and no SPC shall be entitled to any greater amount under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17 or any other provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document that the Granting Lender would have been entitled to receive, unless the grant to such SPC is made with the prior written consent of the Borrower expressly acknowledging that such SPC’s entitlement to benefits under Sections 2.15, 2.16 and

 

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2.17 is not limited to what the Granting Lender would have been entitled to receive absent the grant to the SPC, (B) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement (all liability for which shall remain with the Granting Lender) and (C) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes including approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of the Loan Documents, remain the Lender of record hereunder.  In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the Requirements of Law of the U.S. or any State thereof; provided that (x) such SPC’s Granting Lender is in compliance in all material respects with its obligations to the Borrower hereunder and (y) each Lender designating any SPC hereby agrees to indemnify, save and hold harmless each other party hereto for any loss, cost, damage or expense arising out of its inability to institute such a proceeding against such SPC during such period of forbearance.  In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 9.05, any SPC may (1) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, assign all or a portion of its interests in any Loan to the Granting Lender and (2) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guaranty or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

(f)

(i)If any assignment or participation is made by a Lender without the Borrower’s consent (A) to or with any Disqualified Institution or (B) to the extent the Borrower’s consent is required under this Section 9.05 (and not deemed to have been given pursuant to Section 9.05(b)(i)(A)), to any other Person (each such Person under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), a “Disqualified Person”), then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to the applicable Disqualified Person and the Administrative Agent, (A) terminate any Commitment of such Disqualified Person and repay all obligations of the Borrower owing to such Disqualified Person, (B) in the case of any outstanding Term Loans held by such Disqualified Person, purchase such Term Loans by paying the lesser of (x) par and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Person paid to acquire such Term Loans, plus accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder (and any such Loans acquired by Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, be retired and cancelled immediately upon the acquisition thereof; provided that upon any such retirement and cancellation, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans shall be deemed reduced by the full par value of the aggregate principal amount of the Loans so retired and cancelled, and each principal repayment installment with respect to the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.10(a) shall be reduced on a pro rata basis by the full par value of the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans so cancelled) and/or (C) require such Disqualified Person to assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in this Section 9.05), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more Eligible Assignees; provided that (I) in the case of clause (B), the applicable Disqualified Person has received payment of an amount equal to the lesser of (1) par and (2) the amount that such Disqualified Person paid for the applicable Loans, plus accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the Borrower, (II) in the case of clauses (A) and (B), the Borrower shall be liable to the relevant Disqualified Person under Section 2.16 if any Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate Loan owing to such Disqualified Person is repaid or purchased other than on the last day of the Interest Period relating thereto and (III) in the case of clause (C), the relevant assignment shall otherwise comply with this Section 9.05

 

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(except that (x) no registration and processing fee required under this Section 9.05 shall be required with any assignment pursuant to this paragraph and (y) any Term Loan acquired by any Affiliated Lender pursuant to this paragraph will not be included in calculating compliance with the Affiliated Lender Cap for a period of 90 days following such transfer; provided that, to the extent the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans held by Affiliated Lenders exceeds the Affiliated Lender Cap on the 91st day following such transfer, then such excess amount shall either be (x) contributed to Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and retired and cancelled immediately upon such contribution or (y) automatically cancelled)). Nothing in this Section 9.05(f) shall be deemed to prejudice any right or remedy that Holdings or the Borrower may otherwise have at law or equity. Further, any Disqualified Person identified by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent (A) shall not be permitted to (x) receive information or reporting provided by any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent or any Lender and/or (y) attend and/or participate in conference calls or meetings attended solely by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, (B) (x) shall not for purposes of determining whether the Required Lenders or the majority Lenders under any Class have (i) consented (or not consented) to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action with respect to any of the terms of any Loan Document or any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, (ii) otherwise acted on any matter related to any Loan Document, or (iii) directed or required the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to or under any Loan Document, have a right to consent (or not consent), otherwise act or direct or require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to take (or refrain from taking) any such action; it being understood that all Loans held by any Disqualified Person shall be deemed to be not outstanding for all purposes of calculating whether the Required Lenders, majority Lenders under any Class or all Lenders have taken any action, and (y) shall be deemed to vote in the same proportion as Lenders that are not Disqualified Persons in any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law commenced by or against the Borrower or any other Loan Party and (C) shall not be entitled to receive the benefits of Section 9.03.  For the sake of clarity, the provisions in this Section 9.05(f) shall not apply to any Person that is an assignee of any Disqualified Person, if such assignee is not a Disqualified Person.

(ii)The Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such, shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions hereof relating to Disqualified Institutions, Disqualified Persons, Affiliated Lenders, Net Short Lenders or Debt Fund Affiliates (other than with respect to updating the list with names of Disqualified Institutions provided in writing to and acceptable to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the definition of “Disqualified Institution” or providing the list (with such updates) upon request in accordance with this Section 9.05), regardless of whether the consent of the Administrative Agent is required thereto, and none of the Borrower, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates will bring any claim to such effect.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such, shall not (i) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Disqualified Institution, Disqualified Person, Affiliated Lender or Debt Fund Affiliate or (ii) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, to any ‎Disqualified Institution, Disqualified Person, Affiliated Lender or Debt Fund Affiliate.

(iii)Upon the request of any Lender, the Administrative Agent may and the Borrower will make the list of Disqualified Institutions (other than any Disqualified Institution that is a reasonably identifiable Affiliate of another Disqualified Institution on

 

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the basis of such Person’s name) available to such Lender so long as such Lender agrees to keep the list of Disqualified Institutions confidential in accordance with the terms hereof.

(g)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender may, at any time, assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement in respect of its Term Loans to any Affiliated Lender on a non-pro rata basis (A) through Dutch Auctions open to all Lenders holding the relevant Term Loans on a pro rata basis or (B) through open market purchases, in each case with respect to clauses (A) and (B), without the consent of the Administrative Agent; provided that:

(i)any Term Loans acquired by Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, be retired and cancelled immediately upon the acquisition thereof; provided that upon any such retirement and cancellation, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans shall be deemed reduced by the full par value of the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans so retired and cancelled, and each principal repayment installment with respect to the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.10(a) shall be reduced on a pro rata basis by the full par value of the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans so cancelled;

(ii)any Term Loans acquired by any Non-Debt Fund Affiliate may (but shall not be required to) be contributed to the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (it being understood that any such Term Loans shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, be retired and cancelled promptly upon such contribution); provided that upon any such cancellation, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans shall be deemed reduced, as of the date of such contribution, by the full par value of the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans so contributed and cancelled, and each principal repayment installment with respect to the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.10(a) shall be reduced pro rata by the full par value of the aggregate principal amount of Initial Term Loans so contributed and cancelled;

(iii)the relevant Affiliated Lender and assigning Lender shall have executed an Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption;

(iv)after giving effect to the relevant assignment and to all other assignments to all Affiliated Lenders, the aggregate principal amount of all Term Loans then held by all Affiliated Lenders shall not exceed 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans then outstanding (after giving effect to any substantially simultaneous cancellations thereof) (the “Affiliated Lender Cap”); provided that each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that the Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever incurred or suffered by any Person in connection with any compliance or non-compliance with this clause (g)(iv) or any purported assignment exceeding the Affiliated Lender Cap (it being understood and agreed that the Affiliated Lender Cap also is intended to apply to any Loans made available to Affiliated Lenders by means other than formal assignment (e.g., as a result of an acquisition of another Lender (other than any Debt Fund Affiliate) by any Affiliated Lender or the provision of Additional Term Loans by any Affiliated Lender); provided, further, that to the extent that any assignment to any Affiliated Lender would result in the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans held by Affiliated Lenders exceeding the Affiliated Lender Cap (after giving effect to any substantially simultaneous cancellation thereof), the assignment of the relevant excess amount shall be null and void;

 

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(v)in connection with any assignment effected pursuant to a Dutch Auction and/or open market purchase conducted by Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (A) the relevant Person may not use the proceeds of any ABL Facility or any Additional Revolving Loans to fund such assignment and (B) no Event of Default shall exist at the time of acceptance of bids for the Dutch Auction or the confirmation of such open market purchase, as applicable; and

(vi)by its acquisition of Term Loans, each relevant Affiliated Lender shall be deemed to have acknowledged and agreed that:

(A)the Term Loans held by such Affiliated Lender shall be disregarded in both the numerator and denominator in the calculation of any Required Lender or other Lender vote (and the Term Loans held by such Affiliated Lender shall be deemed to be voted pro rata along with the other Lenders that are not Affiliated Lenders); provided that (x) such Affiliated Lender shall have the right to vote (and the Term Loans held by such Affiliated Lender shall not be so disregarded) with respect to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action that requires the vote of all Lenders or all Lenders directly and adversely affected thereby, as the case may be, and (y) no amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action shall (1) disproportionately affect such Affiliated Lender in its capacity as a Lender as compared to other Lenders of the same Class that are not Affiliated Lenders or (2) deprive any Affiliated Lender of its share of any payments which the Lenders are entitled to share on a pro rata basis hereunder, in each case without the consent of such Affiliated Lender; and

(B)such Affiliated Lender, solely in its capacity as an Affiliated Lender, will not be entitled to (i) attend (including by telephone) or participate in any meeting or discussion (or portion thereof) among the Administrative Agent or any Lender or among Lenders to which the Loan Parties or their representatives are not invited, (ii) receive any information or material prepared by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or any communication by or among the Administrative Agent and one or more Lenders, except to the extent such information or materials have been made available by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to any Loan Party or its representatives (and in any case, other than the right to receive notices of Borrowings, prepayments and other administrative notices in respect of its Term Loans required to be delivered to Lenders pursuant to Article 2) or (iii) receive advice of counsel to the Administrative Agent or challenge the Administrative Agent’s attorney-client privilege;

(vii)no Affiliated Lender shall be required to represent or warrant that it is not in possession of material non-public information with respect to Holdings, the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary thereof and/or their respective securities in connection with any assignment permitted by this Section 9.05(g); and

 

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(viii)in any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (A) the interest of any Affiliated Lender in any Term Loan will be deemed to be voted in the same proportion as the vote of Lenders that are not Affiliated Lenders on the relevant matter; provided that each Affiliated Lender will be entitled to vote its interest in any Term Loan to the extent that any plan of reorganization or other arrangement with respect to which the relevant vote is sought proposes to treat the interest of such Affiliated Lender in such Term Loan in a manner that is less favorable to such Affiliated Lender (in its capacity as a Lender) than the proposed treatment of Term Loans held by other Term Lenders and (B) all Affiliated Lenders shall be treated as a single lender for purposes of any “numerosity” or similar requirement applicable therein.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender may, at any time, assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement in respect of its Loans and/or Commitments to any Debt Fund Affiliate, and any Debt Fund Affiliate may, from time to time, purchase Loans and/or Commitments (x) on a non-pro rata basis through Dutch Auctions open to all applicable Lenders or (y) on a non-pro rata basis through open market purchases without the consent of the Administrative Agent, in each case, notwithstanding the requirements set forth in sub-clauses (i) through (vii) of this clause (g); provided that the Loans and Commitments held by all Debt Fund Affiliates shall not account for more than 49.9% of the amounts included in determining whether the Required Lenders have (A) consented to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action with respect to any of the terms of any Loan Document or any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, (B) otherwise acted on any matter related to any Loan Document or (C) directed or required the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to or under any Loan Document.  Any Loans acquired by any Debt Fund Affiliate may (but shall not be required to) be contributed to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for purposes of cancelling such Indebtedness (it being understood that any Loans so contributed shall be retired and cancelled immediately upon such contribution); provided that upon any such cancellation, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the relevant Class of Loans shall be deemed reduced, as of the date of such contribution, by the full par value of the aggregate principal amount of the Loans so contributed and cancelled, and each principal repayment installment with respect to the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.10(a) shall be reduced pro rata by the full par value of the aggregate principal amount of any applicable Term Loans so contributed and cancelled.

Section 9.06Survival.  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 Loan regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or Event of Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect until the Termination Date.  The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17, 9.03 and 9.13 and Article 8 shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the occurrence of the Termination Date or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof but in each case, subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement.

Section 9.07Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  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 the Administrative Agency Fee Letter constitute the entire agreement 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.  This Agreement shall become

 

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effective when it has been executed by Holdings, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent has 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 permitted assigns.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by facsimile or by email as a “.pdf” or “.tiff” attachment shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

Section 9.08Severability.  To the extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, any provision of any Loan Document held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 9.09Right of Setoff.  At any time when an Event of Default exists, upon the written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent and each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations (in any currency) at any time owing by the Administrative Agent or such Lender to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any of and all the Obligations held by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, irrespective of whether or not the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall have made any demand under the Loan Documents and although such obligations may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender different than the branch or office holding such deposit or obligation on such Indebtedness.  Any applicable Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of such set-off or application; provided that any failure to give or any delay in giving such notice shall not affect the validity of any such set-off or application under this Section.  The rights of each Lender and the Administrative Agent under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender or the Administrative Agent may have.

Section 9.10Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.  

(a)THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT) AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT), WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT (AT LAW OR IN EQUITY) OR OTHERWISE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b)EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY U.S. FEDERAL OR NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK (OR ANY APPELLATE COURT THEREFROM) OVER ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT AND AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL (EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BELOW) BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE OR, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS OF LAW, FEDERAL COURT.  EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ANY PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR DOCUMENT BY REGISTERED MAIL ADDRESSED TO SUCH PERSON SHALL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS AGAINST SUCH PERSON FOR ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT.  

 

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EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS OF LAW.  EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT RETAINS THE RIGHT TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION SOLELY IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXERCISE OF ITS RIGHTS UNDER ANY SECURITY DOCUMENT.

(c)EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY LEGALLY AND EFFECTIVELY DO SO, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS OF LAW, ANY CLAIM OR DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.  

(d)TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS OF LAW, EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS UPON IT AND AGREES THAT ALL SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED MAIL (OR ANY SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR FORM OF MAIL) DIRECTED TO IT AT ITS ADDRESS FOR NOTICES AS PROVIDED FOR IN SECTION 9.01.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS AND FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING COMMENCED HEREUNDER OR UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS WAS INVALID AND INEFFECTIVE.  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 APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS OF LAW.

Section 9.11Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS OF LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY) DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.  EACH PARTY HERETO (a) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO 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 9.12Headings.  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 9.13Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Arranger agrees (and each Lender agrees to cause its SPC, if any) to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information (as defined below), except that Confidential Information may be disclosed (a) to

 

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its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, managers, employees, independent auditors, or other experts and advisors, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (collectively, the “Representatives”) and/or funding and financing sources on a “need to know” basis solely in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and who are informed of the confidential nature of the Confidential Information and are or have been advised of their obligation to keep the Confidential Information of this type confidential; provided that such Person shall be responsible for its Affiliates’ and their Representatives’ compliance with this paragraph; provided, further, that unless the Borrower otherwise consents, no such disclosure shall be made by the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Lender or any Affiliate or Representative thereof to any Affiliate or Representative of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, or any Lender that is a Disqualified Institution, (b) to the extent compelled by legal process in, or reasonably necessary to, the defense of such legal, judicial or administrative proceeding, in any legal, judicial or administrative proceeding or otherwise as required by applicable Requirements of Law (in which case such Person shall (i) to the extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, inform the Borrower promptly in advance thereof and (ii) except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by bank regulatory authorities, use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that any such information so disclosed is accorded confidential treatment), (c) upon the demand or request of any regulatory or governmental authority (including any self-regulatory body) purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Affiliates (in which case such Person shall, except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by bank accountants or any Governmental Authority or regulatory or self-regulatory authority exercising examination or regulatory authority, to the extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, (i) inform the Borrower promptly in advance thereof and (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that any information so disclosed is accorded confidential treatment), (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) subject to an acknowledgment and agreement by the relevant recipient that the Confidential Information is being disseminated on a confidential basis (on substantially the terms set forth in this paragraph or as otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, including as set forth in the Information Memorandum) in accordance with the standard syndication process of the Arrangers or market standards for dissemination of the relevant type of information, which shall in any event require “click through” or other affirmative action on the part of the recipient to access the Confidential Information and acknowledge its confidentiality obligations in respect thereof, to (i) any Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective Eligible Assignee of or prospective Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, including any SPC (in each case other than a Disqualified Institution), (ii) any pledgee referred to in Section 9.05, (iii) any actual or prospective, direct or indirect contractual counterparty (or its advisors, but other than any Disqualified Institution) to any Derivative Transaction or similar derivative instrument to which any Loan Party is a party and (iv) subject to the Borrower’s prior approval of the information to be disclosed, (x) to ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ or S&P on a confidential basis in connection with obtaining or maintaining ratings as required under Section 5.13 or (y) to the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the facilities or, on a confidential basis, market data collectors and service providers to the Administrative Agent in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement and the Loan Documents, (f) with the prior written consent of the Borrower and (g) to the extent the Confidential Information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section by such Person, its Affiliates or their respective Representatives or to the extent any such information (I) is received by such Person from a third party that is not to such Person’s knowledge, after reasonable investigation, subject to confidentiality obligations owing to you, the Borrower, the Sponsor or any of their respective affiliates or Related Parties or (II) was already in such Person’s possession (except to the extent received in a manner that would be restricted by this paragraph) or is independently developed by such Person based exclusively on information the disclosure of which would not otherwise be restricted by this paragraph.  For purposes of this Section, “Confidential Information” means all information relating to Holdings, the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries and their respective businesses or the Transactions (including any information obtained by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Arranger, or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives, based on a review of any books and records relating to Holdings, the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries

 

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and their respective Affiliates from time to time, including prior to the date hereof) other than any such information that is publicly available to the Administrative Agent or any Arranger or Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.  For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall any disclosure of any Confidential Information be made to Person that is a Disqualified Institution at the time of disclosure.

Section 9.14No Fiduciary Duty.  Each of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, each Lender and their respective Affiliates (collectively, solely for purposes of this paragraph, the “Lenders”), may have economic interests that conflict with those of the Loan Parties, their stockholders and/or their respective affiliates.  Each Loan Party agrees that nothing in the Loan Documents or otherwise will be deemed to create an advisory, fiduciary or agency relationship or fiduciary or other implied duty between the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, on the one hand, and such Loan Party, its respective stockholders or its respective affiliates, on the other.  Each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents (including the exercise of rights and remedies hereunder and thereunder) are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, and the Arrangers, on the one hand, and the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, on the other, and (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading thereto, (x) none of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any Lender, in its capacity as such, has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of any Loan Party, its respective stockholders or its respective affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby (or the exercise of rights or remedies with respect thereto) or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent, any such Arranger or any such Lender has advised, is currently advising or will advise any Loan Party, its respective stockholders or its respective Affiliates on other matters) or any other obligation to any Loan Party except the obligations expressly set forth in the Loan Documents and (y) each Lender, in its capacity as such, is acting solely as principal and not as the agent or fiduciary of such Loan Party, its respective management, stockholders, creditors or any other Person. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, each Loan Party waives any claim that it may have against any Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of fiduciary duty arising solely by virtue of this Agreement.  Each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that such Loan Party has consulted its own legal, tax and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate and that it is responsible for making its own independent judgment with respect to such transactions and the process leading thereto. Each Loan Party further agrees that none of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any Lender has any obligation to the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates.

Section 9.15Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.  The words “execution,” “execute”, “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including without limitation Assignment and Assumptions, amendments or other Borrowing Requests, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

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Section 9.16Several Obligations.  The respective obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and not joint and the failure of any Lender to make any Loan or perform any of its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender from any of its obligations hereunder.

Section 9.17USA PATRIOT Act.  Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act hereby notifies the Loan Parties that (a) pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act and the customer due diligence requirements for financial institutions of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (as published at 81 FR 29397, 31 CFR 1010, 1020, 1023, 1024, and 1026), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of such Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act and the customer due diligence requirements for financial institutions of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and (b) pursuant to the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, it is required to obtain a Beneficial Ownership Certification.

Section 9.18Disclosure of Agent Conflicts.  Each Loan Party and each Lender hereby acknowledge and agree that the Administrative Agent and/or its Affiliates from time to time may hold investments in, make other loans to or have other relationships with any of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates.

Section 9.19Appointment for Perfection.  Each Lender hereby appoints each other Lender as its agent for the purpose of perfecting Liens for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC or any other applicable Requirement of Law can be perfected only by possession.  If any Lender (other than the Administrative Agent) obtains possession of any Collateral, such Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof and, promptly upon the Administrative Agent’s request therefor shall deliver such Collateral to the Administrative Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s instructions.

Section 9.20Interest 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 Requirements of Law (collectively the “Charged Amounts”), 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 Requirements of Law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charged Amounts payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charged Amounts 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 Charged Amounts 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, have been received by such Lender

Section 9.21Intercreditor Agreements.  REFERENCE IS MADE TO THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTS.  EACH LENDER HEREUNDER AGREES THAT IT WILL BE BOUND BY AND WILL TAKE NO ACTIONS CONTRARY TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTS AND AUTHORIZES AND INSTRUCTS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT TO ENTER INTO THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTS AS “TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT COLLATERAL AGENT” (OR OTHER APPLICABLE TITLE) ON BEHALF OF SUCH LENDER.  THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 9.21 ARE NOT INTENDED TO SUMMARIZE ALL RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTS, THE FORMS OF CERTAIN OF WHICH ARE ATTACHED AS AN EXHIBIT TO THIS AGREEMENT.  REFERENCE MUST BE MADE TO EACH INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT ITSELF TO UNDERSTAND ALL TERMS AND

 

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CONDITIONS THEREOF.  EACH LENDER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING ITS OWN ANALYSIS AND REVIEW OF EACH OF THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTS AND THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS THEREOF, AND NEITHER THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT NOR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES MAKES ANY REPRESENTATION TO ANY LENDER AS TO THE SUFFICIENCY OR ADVISABILITY OF THE PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN THE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENTS.  THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 9.21 ARE INTENDED AS AN INDUCEMENT TO THE LENDERS UNDER THE ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT TO EXTEND CREDIT THEREUNDER AND SUCH LENDERS ARE INTENDED THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF SUCH PROVISIONS AND THE PROVISIONS OF EACH APPLICABLE INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT.

Section 9.22Conflicts.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between this Agreement and any other Loan Document, the terms of this Agreement shall govern and control; provided that in the case of any conflict or inconsistency between any Intercreditor Agreement and any Loan Document, the terms of such Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.

Section 9.23Release of Guarantors.  Notwithstanding anything in Section 9.02(b) to the contrary, (a) any Subsidiary Loan Party shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder (and its Loan Guarantee shall be automatically released) (i) upon the consummation of any permitted transaction or series of related transactions if as a result thereof such Subsidiary Loan Party ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary (or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary as a result of a single transaction or series of related transactions permitted hereunder) and/or (ii) upon the occurrence of the Termination Date and (b) any Subsidiary Loan Party that qualifies as an “Excluded Subsidiary” shall be released by the Administrative Agent promptly following the request therefor by the Borrower.  Notwithstanding the forgoing, no Subsidiary Loan Party shall be automatically released from its Guarantee (and related Collateral security) solely by virtue of such Person becoming an Excluded Subsidiary pursuant to clause (b) of the definition of “Excluded Subsidiary” other than as a result of a transaction permitted under this Agreement that was done for a bona fide business purpose and not in contemplation of adversely affecting the Secured Parties’ interests in the Guarantees and Collateral.  In connection with any such release, the Administrative Agent shall promptly execute and deliver to the relevant Loan Party, at such Loan Party’s expense, all documents that such Loan Party shall reasonably request to evidence termination or release; provided, that, in connection with such documents requested by any Loan Party, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver a certificate of a Responsible Officer certifying that the relevant transaction has been consummated in compliance with the terms of this Agreement.  Any execution and delivery of any document pursuant to the preceding sentence of this Section 9.23 shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent (other than as to the Administrative Agent’s authority to execute and deliver such documents).

Section 9.24Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

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

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

 

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

(ii)a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected  Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

(iii)the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.

Section 9.25Certain 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 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 or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement;

(ii)the prohibited transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable so as to exempt from the prohibitions of Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the 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 Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, 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 Commitments and this Agreement, or

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

(b)In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date

 

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such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent, each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower, that: none of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto).  

Section 9.26Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs.

To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Swap Contracts 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 ▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ 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):

(i)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.

(ii)As used in this Section 9.26, the following terms have the following meanings:

(A)“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.

(B)“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

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

 

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

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

(C)“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.

(D)“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).

Section 9.27Amendment and Restatement.  On the Closing Date, the Existing Credit Agreement shall be amended, restated and superseded in its entirety by this Agreement.  The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (i) this Agreement and the other documents entered into in connection herewith do not constitute a novation or termination of the “Obligations” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) under the Existing Credit Agreement, as in effect immediately prior to the Closing Date, (ii) such “Obligations” are in all respects continuing (as amended and restated hereby) as Indebtedness and obligations outstanding under this Agreement and (iii) all claims, actions, causes of action, suits, damages and indemnities by any Loan Party or any Agent or Lender on account of any action, breach, non-compliance or default by any Loan Party or any Agent or Lender that occurred, or any inaction by any Loan Party or any Agent or Lender that should have occurred, in each case, on or prior to the Closing Date, whether known or unknown, whether now existing or hereafter arising, whether arising at law or in equity, shall cease to exist and be forever waived, released and discharged to the full extent permitted by law.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

 

 

 

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Amended & Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement]

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[Signature Page to Amended & Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement]